I'm a lucky girl...

As the other week I had a couple of surprises through the post...

The first was a lovely RAK ATC from Alma, thank you Alma, not only a lovely surprise, but a lovely ATC, I love it, thank you so much...


Then I received the book I had won off of Sue blog. Which to be honest, cos life being just a little hectic at the moment, I had forgotten it. So it was another lovely surprise and to top it, she sent some lovely crafty goodies with it...


Also I went to see 'Thriller live' with my daughter and friends Friday evening at the Mayflower Southampton, which was a lovely evening. In fact I was there a few weeks back with the same friends seeing 'We Will Rock You' and to top it all, I now have our Harry Potter seats booked for when it comes out next month, again going with my daughter. So in all quite a good year for spending time with friends.

So I feel a very lucky girl, not only because I was lucky enough to receive such lovely things through the post and go to fab shows but I feel very privilege to have such lovely cyber buddies and friends.

So I want to say a thank you to all my cyber buddies out there that I not only receive emails and jokes from, but also the enjoyment I have while reading their blogs, so a big 'thank you'....xx

Saying of the week...

Don't worry about middle age - you'll grow out of it!

Big Issue Seller

Since Christmas, Clive been back to his figure making, he usually does it after Steven is tucked up in bed and has had his bedtime story of Thomas the Tank read to him by his dad, (mum is NOT allowed to read the Thomas the Tank stories, in fact mum is NOT even allowed to touch the Thomas books, lol). Anyway Clive doesn't start till about 9.30pm...

The last one he finished was a Big Issue Seller, he doesn't actually plan what he's going to do, just gets an idea and goes with it.


At the moment the one he is working on and this one weren't copied from a photo or picture, like I said he gets an idea and goes with the flow... Some of the figures he has done in the past he's copied from photos, like when he did my mum and dad on their wedding day.


Also the latest few he's made have been started with florist wire, then used milliput to mould the body and in this case the dog too.


This process can take days, maybe weeks depending on what has to be added and letting the bits dry before adding more...


In this case the head has been used from a kit, as has loads of spares, but he then adds all the finishing touches that he feels brings the figure to life, like with this one a bread and longer hair...


and clothes... The shirt or jackets are usually made out of tissue paper and PVA glue to strengthen it, as you can get the creases and folds...


and when he thinks it's finished it, he then sprays primer on it as not only does it give it a base coat, but also to see if he is happy with the figure before the painting, as it shows up the uneven bits that might need sanding or filling in...


Then it's the painting...


...and followed with a photo shoot outside, with one of our garden railway buildings...





I think I have one clever hubby... but did say to him, how can he be a Big Issue Seller and not have any Big Issues to sell, he said he had just sold the last one, lol..

Saying of the week...

Anyone who looks like their passport photograph, is too to travel!

Catching up...

Right what have I been up to...

Well, I'm still plodding along with the photos, am down to the last few hundred undated ones now. But have now placed them into a box, so will just try and sort out a few at a time as and when I get the odd half an hour. As was not only getting a little fed up with doing them, but also having them spread about all over the floor...

I am also sorting out my daughter's wedding invites, she has decided on a design, so now it's getting all the stash needed to start them, but as not needed to be sent out till next February, got a bit of breathing space with them...

Have also started attending the Portsmouth Learning Disability Partnership Board meetings again. I was asked to go on the board last year, but to be honest with Steven's transition, I felt I wouldn't be able to give it my all, as didn't have the time or energy, so I took a back sit... But things are a little better with Steven now and Sam seems to be settled in her house and with the wedding prep. So I thought I would give it ago, OK I forgot about the amount of meetings, especially starting at 8.45 and ending after 4, which of course I have to arrive late or leave early, as Steven still comes first...

Also the Yackety Yac group which I help set up is coming along nicely and we're getting speakers in every couple of months... I've lined up a couple of people coming from Direct Payment and Benefits for the one in July and hopefully have someone from the adult speech therapy coming later in the year. Oh yes and now we are on the official list of being a Support group for parents/carers of young adults in transition, YEAH, not bad, seeing we've not been going a year yet.

BUT to top it that, to CELEBRATE Steven turning 21 and of course Sam and Matt's wedding next year, I've book a family holiday. We're off back to Orlando for 2 weeks, for Steven is to see Mickey Mouse again, OK, and for me and Sam to go to the new Harry Potter World and as Gill reminded me, maybe a few craft shop visits while there. Not that I even thought about THAT idea till Gill mentioned it, hehehe...

(The last time we were there back in 2007, we had to buy another case just to bring my stash back I had bought, but on a downside, this time we are only allowed one case per person, BUT then as Gill has already commented, I'm sure Clive will not need a whole case to himself, lol)...

Crafting wise, well I've actually finished a little maze book I started 18 months ago for a friend who now lives in Scotland... I have also kept a few photos out of the ones I'm boxing up, to scrap, so hope to have them to show you (OK, might be in a month or 2, as you know how quick I craft)...







So it's all go at the moment, oh yes, hubby is back working, YEAH, as got a contract till July, but he is finding the commuting tiring but it's a job and that means some money coming in, lol...

Well that's all my news up to date, a little boring crafting wise, by hey, that's life, I will get some 'me' time soon hopefully....xx

Saying of the week...

Free your spirit and let the real you, shine through.

The wonderer returns....

Sorry not been around much, again not enough hours in the day. I've been so busy with meetings that I've not even got into the attic to sort out any more photos for weeks.

But last Wednesday I did get to Southampton to meet up with Carole, which was lovely as not seen each other for a couple of years.... OK not sure about the photo AND we were getting some funny looks while trying to take it, (we were in front of Carole's car in a multi story car park, lol...


After meeting up we had a mooch round a craft shop then popped into TK Maxx where we picked up some WRM packs which were reduced to a pound a pack, so seemed rued not go grab a few packs each, lol... They have 8 sheets of double sided card, grommets, ribbon or stickers in.


We also hit John Lewis where I saw this sheet of wrapping paper and I fell in love with it...


It has jars of my favourite sweets and just had to have it for my A-Z of me, yes before you ask, still not started it, well it does takes a lot of planning you know, lol...


We stopped off in Marks and Spencer's for lunch, then while having a nose round there afterwards, I saw these Rugby style tops for Steven. I had seen and liked them earlier in the year, but felt £29.50 was a little too expensive, but not at £12 felt they were a bargain, so used some of Stevens gift vouchers he had, had for Christmas.


Then it was time to split, but on the way home I stopped off at Whiteley Village, and managed to get this scrapbook with 12 inserts, papers and stickers reduced to £4.49 in the Banana book shop. OK not sure about the colour, but that can change that with paper and inks, (hark at me, who has not really crafted for months, yet buy more projects to do, lol).



It's a shame as I love going to Whiteley, we lost the papermill shop back in March, but I didn't realise then, the whole centre was closing, such a shame...

Saying of the week...

It's always sunny, but sometimes clouds get in the way.