RIP LITTLE BROTHER...

Just over two weeks ago I got the most awful phonecall imaginable from my mum...the police had just arrived at her door to tell her that my brother Stuart had hung himself at home...I fell to pieces and I would like to share these word that are doing the rounds on Facebook at the moment...

Given the recent news about Gary Speed I just want to highlight again the reality that someone can be hurting very much without showing outward signs, so the next time you feel like judging or being nasty to someone, take a step back and ask yourself: Is that person struggling on the inside? More people have been there than you will ever know. Depression and Anxiety disorders ARE NOT a sign of weakness. They are signs that you've been trying to be strong for too long. Put this on your wall if you, or someone you know, suffers or has suffered. Most people will not due to the stigma attached, but stats show that 1 in 3 of us will suffer from this at some point in life....so judge now at your peril, because you reap what you sow!!!

RIP Stuart and I hope you are at peace now...I will miss you!!

ALMOST FORGOT...

Almost forgot....this last week I was over at Simply Create teaching again....we plan on doing a canvas per season and this is winter...what do you think? The papers used are TPC Studio, Christmas Village and are available to purchase at the shop....

I used my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die to do the flower and my new bowmaker to make the bow behind it...fab little invention cos I am rubbish at tying bows...lol...

Lots of lovely white and clear buttons used to make the simple but effective tree and some red flat backed pearls for that little extra bling!!

Not sure when the Spring one will be yet but please phone the shop on 01975 564010 to keep up to date or check out the blog or email on simply-create@btconnect.com..My next class is a white printers tray using very pretty Girls Paperie papers which can also be booked through the shop....

TTFN

Kirsti

xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBBY...

Happy 9th Birthday to our beautiful girl Libby....This is her at just a few hours old...

and this is her a couple of months ago on the photoshoot...

She has grown up to be a beautiful girl with lots of long, thick hair...and a lovely coothy nature and the ability to make us laugh..(she can still be a whine tho...haha!!)

Tonight they are doing a fashion show at school to raise funds and she is singing(not modeling-they were given the choice and she chose to sing)...both her sisters are in the show as well and it promises to be a great night!!!...

I can't believe she is 9 already - it just seems to have flown by and before we know it they will all be leaving home and embarking on their own adventures called life!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBBY!!!

VINTAGE AND CRAFT FAIR...

On Sunday I attended the Vintage and Craft Fair organised by Janet Shek from iheartart in Aberdeen...

It was a very busy day with lots of sales....The music bunting went down very well which I was pleased about...
I sold the 2 wee hoosies that I had left and 4 of the birds, the gingerbread man and the silver angel wings...
Both the pirate door hangers went...
I also sold two of the canvases which I was pleased about...

There were loads of other stalls selling handmade wares and vintage goodies including Cushie Doo Vintage, Flourish, Katia, twentythreetwo, Emily Fraser, Camilla-Erika and Sugar Plum Crafts

Why not go and check them out...they have some gorgeous items for sale...

That's me for today...take care...

Kirsti xx

RIP GRANDAD COOK

Last Thursday Allan's dad, the kids' grandad and my father-in-law died...he was 73 and had been ill for some time...I won't go into the ins and outs... Anyway I thought I would do a LO in his honour...This was pictures of him taken at Christmas 2005...Libby had gotten a Stephanie from Lazy Town outfit from Santa and she was trying the wig on grandad....

TFL
Kirsti xxx

ANOTHER CANVAS CLASS...

A while ago I did the online She Art workshop with Christy Thomlinson and I loved it....and when Jacqui from Simply Create saw my first canvas she asked if I would have a go at teaching it in the shop which I did yesterday...this is the one the class was based around...

All the ladies went home really proud of themselves and so they should have been...they did a fantastic job....

Can't wait for the next class which is on Wednesday 9 November at 10.30am over at Simply Create in Alford...the theme for this one will be a winter wonderland...we are hoping that over the next year to do one for each of the seasons starting with winter next month...dates to be confirmed for the rest but if you pop over to Jacqui's blog I think she has a wee special offer on if you book all 4...The number to call to book your place on this or any other classes is 01975 564010...so what are you waiting for - spaces are limited!!!

That all from me today but hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will showing lots of photos as I have just ordered my first Digital SLR and it should be here tomorrow...can't wait!!!

Kirsti xxx

PHOTO SHOOT AND SOME NEW FAIR STUFF...

A couple of weeks ago we did a mini photo shoot with the lovely Evy from ByEvy Photography on a farm close to where we live...I was a bit worried as the weather had been atrocious through the day (had been soaked through watching Morgan play football and quite a lot of games had been cancelled) but our time slot was 4.30pm and it was probably the nicest part of the day...the kids had a lovely time and I even have some photos of Morgan smiling...so all good...this is just a couple of the photos that I got on disc all beautifully packaged up from Evy yesterday!!! I would thoroughly recommend her....

Onto the Ladies Shopping Night in aid of funds for Strathburn Park 2s and Playgroup...once again a lot of ladies turned out for this very well supported event and spent lots of pennies, especially at my stall so thank you ladies....

This is a couple of canvases I made this week as I am trying to move on with the stall items and get some new and fresh ideas in... these were both inspired by cards that I had seen on Pinterest (which is just the most brilliant site ever and if you aren't a member - why not????)

This is a button chalkboard which started out as a magnetic chalkboard but about 8 coats of magnetic chalkboard paint later it still wasn't magnetic...lol.. so I gave up and gave it a couple of coats of Claudine's black acrylic paint which works brilliantly as chalkboard....the buttons were mostly from blog candy won from the Artful Splodger(remember the box I gave to Sonja for her birthday - it was full of buttons when I received it) and I hot glue gunned them on which took a few hours and a lot of swear words!!!!!

This is a tiny wee box that got the same treatment as the bigger one except I used a Stampin' Up stamp and punch along with some Hero Arts Digi butterflies to create the top...I glossy accented the butterflies to make them pop....

These Christmas Countdowns are made from 'upcycled' stamp blocks and the kids old building block...lots of paint to cover them...the papers used are Festive Signature from MyMindsEye...and I stamped and embossed using some new embossing enamel from Stampendous called Vintage Silver...It's lush!!!

And that's it from me for today...I now need to get cracking with some orders that I had from last night...

TTFN(as the kids say)

Kirsti xxx

THE A-Z OF ME....

So this week seems to be the week for doing the A-Z of me and I had to join in...why not have a go yourself...lots of fun!!!

A. Age: 42

B. Bed size: Double usually to myself as hubby is away so often but I do end up sharing it with Niamh at least twice a week...

C. Chore that you hate: cleaning toilets...bathrooms in general

D. Dogs: Yeah...still missing my two love West Highland Terriers, Haggis and Charlie but hoping to get a Polish Lowland Sheepdog next year and maybe another Westie...the kids have already chosen the names...Alfie and Jackson!!!

E. Essential start to your day: Tea, bit of reading and a walk

F. Favorite color: Green at the moment - it was purple for years and years and years

G. Gold or Silver: Definitely Silver

H. Height: 5’6”

I. Instruments you play: Nothing I'm afraid...

J. Job title: CEO of our household...lol..

K. Kids: FOUR...one boy and three girls

L. Live: Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

M. Must haves: peace and quiet but that's more a would like than a must have...haha

N. Nicknames: Kirsticoo or KC...my friend's little boy(who is 26 now) used to call me Kissy....

O. Overnight hospital stays: 3 overnights when having the kids - 1 6 hour discharge...1 overnight with chest pains a couple of years ago...

P. Pet peeves: people who think they can park ANYWHERE they like...including disabled spots and parent and child spots when they have use for neither...bugs the crap outta me...Grrrrr

Q. Quote from a movie: Pretty Woman... [Vivian accidentally launches an escargot, which is deftly caught by the mâitre-d.] Vivian: Slippery little suckers. Mâitre-D: It happens all the time

Top Gun... Carole: Hey, Goose, you big stud! Goose: That's me, honey. Carole: Take me to bed or lose me forever. Goose: Show me the way home, honey....

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 2 brothers both younger

T. Tattoos: Not yet but watch this space

U. Underwear: Oh yes definitely...

V. Vegetable you hate: Easy...Brussell Spouts....UGH...don't even cook them at Christmas no matter how many other people like them...they stink!!!

W. What makes you run late: Kids!!!!!!!!! hate being late tho...

X. X-Rays you’ve had: wrist...fractured while arm wrestling in the pub with a bloke...ooops!! and teeth...also had one on my ankle when I fell out of a car after getting my leg caught in the strap of my bag(ballooned up to the size of a golf ball) and I was perfectly sober!!

Y. Yummy food that you make: Moroccan Meatballs discovered the other day...delicious and a hit with the kids so will definitely make again

Z. Zoo animal: Polar Bears...they are fab

So that's me, A thru to Z.
How about you? Are you taking part?

TTFN

Kirsti xxx

A BIT OF A BLOG HOP....

So I don't know if you remember a while back I posted a link to Kirsty from Curiouser and Curiouser...basically she made these little embellishments which she sent out to everyone who posted a reply on her blog and I was one of them....I have never taken part in a blog hop before so lets hope it works ok...

I decided to use mine as an embellishment on one of my wee hoosies as I had had a slight malfunction with my Cricut, the mat wasn't sticky enough so the chipboard moved and ended up cutting the house shape a little shorter than normal...

I really love the embellishment, it's so sweet and dainty...and I really love making these houses...they always sell really well as I think people like how each one is different...

I was using the Dymo machine to do the 'sweet home' part but it's quite hard to get black tape without getting red and blue with it making it quite expensive so I had a bit of experimentation with some printing it out on card stock and some Ranger Crackle Accents which worked a treat...

So I am hoping that if all this has worked you should have come to me from Katy and I should be sending you on to Kate....I am out all day at a fair over in Finzean today so if you are in the area pop along and support the school while they try to raise find for new play equipment....and thanks for visiting on your way thru the blog hop....

This weekend it is my good friend Sonja's birthday(I won't tell which one...lol...) and I thought I would make her something...well that did not exactly go to plan as I was going to decorate a paper mache letter 'S' but after a couple of disastrous attempts I gave up and ended up doing this box which has been sitting on my desk filled with buttons since I won it in some blog candy from the Artful Splodger a while back...


This didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted it to either as I was just going to stamp the whole box but of course the first stamp I used didn't work properly (one of the words was slightly indented so missed half of it out) so it was onto plan b... The box is coated with Distress Stains and then I stamped the Stampin Up Hydrangea onto the lid using Stazon and added a couple of pearl brads with the legs removed(hope they stay stuck!)...



I cut some paper from a brilliant Lost and Found pad that I bought the other week(bargain@!) and used it to cover the outside using ModPodge to seal...



and did the inside with more distress stain and put in some of my vintage style buttons that I got over at Simply Create and a stamp that I had a pair of....

This is the bottom...

and this is her card....

I did take some piccies of her blowing out the candles on the cake I had made at the Old Post Office Tea Room in Chapel of Garioch (thank you Christine - it was divine) and anyone local who hasn't been up yet I would thoroughly recommend it...anyway my camera is being a funny thing at the mo and keeps losing photos...would so like a digital SLR but I think I will have to save really hard for one of those...

So that's me for today - I do hope you will join in with the blog hop and I hope it works as it should do....

TFL

Kirsti

xxx

A MIXTURE OF THINGS...

Last Sunday it was my nephew's birthday and Niamh insisted on a new 'pretty' outfit for the party and if you know Niamh you know she doesn't do pretty so I was a bit reluctant to get anything as I had visions of her changing her mind at the last minute, however we are having a photoshoot on Sunday and I want all the girls in pretty dresses so I bought this outfit from Tesco for her...I also bought it for Libby but Ellie refused to have it so still need to get something for her.... On the same day it was the Fintray Sheltie Stakes(Shetland pony horse races!) and some of the girls from Evolution School of Dance were asked to come along and do some Highland dancing...Ellie is the second from the left...it was very short and very sweet but hey...they enjoyed it and we got a nice day for it so all good...

On Saturday I had a table at the Charity Day for Mistletoe Cancer over at Alford which was organised by Jacqui from Simply Create....as is my norm I forgot something and this time it was my camera so I have pinched these loverly photos from my good friend Judy's blog...she took the one of me and I love it and her friend Catriona from Blue Door Photography took the one of her and it is equally fab....it was a really good day and was good to catch up with some friends who had tables

I have another fair this Saturday over at Finzean Primary School so if you are in the are so please pop in from ...they are trying to raise fund for a new playground....

That's it for me...away to pop some washing in although there is no chance of getting it out as it's bucketing with rain...I am just waiting for it to go of a bit so I can get out for our morning walk with my neighbour Clare....

Kirsti xxx

BEEN THERE...DONE THAT...

OK I can now officially say....been there...done that...got the t-shirt...

Today I taught my first class over at Simply Create in Alford.....and I had an absolute ball...thank you so much to everyone who came and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did....

We did a version of this canvas which I did a while back while in an online chatroom with Darcy, Sonja and Rosie one Saturday night and drinking a bottle of rose...lol....was fun!!!

Anyways these are the ladies that took part in today's class and I think the next one (Wednesday 5th October at 10.30am) has a couple more...not sure if there are spaces but if you phone the shop on 01975 564010 they will be able to let you know...

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity Jacqui and I hope I will be able to do more in the future...

Kirsti xxx

CRAFT FAIR AND CRAFT ALONG EVENT...

This Saturday Jacqui from Simply Create is holding a craft fair and craft along event...this is what she has to say about it...

Why - In aid of Mistletoe for Cancer in Memory of Angela Kelman nee Harper a dear friend, sadly missed.

Where - Alford Village Hall, Greystone Road, Alford

When - Saturday 10th September 10:30 am thro' to 3 pm


Details - Are you sitting comfortably????? Then I will begin.....



So we have the most important Teas, Coffees and home bakes available for a little charge, loads of gorgeous handmade crafts available at numerous tables, a professional photographer to take gorgeous photos of your gorgeous kiddiewinks (booking required) and we have a raffle, tombola, games, all with superb prizes then we have pampering, glitter tattoos and a nail technician all available to make us look a million dollars! To top it all we will be opening for sale tickets to win BIG prizes just in time for (dare I say it) Christmas.


Now if that isn't enough then there is a craft along event running alongside this event where you can come along and knit, sew, scrapbook, make cards, chat whatever rings your bell, tea and coffee on tap and lunch all for £5! (Booking Required - call 01975564010 or email simply-create@btconnect.com), and you can still pop downstairs to shop, lots of games and fun guaranteed and as a special thank you for supporting this worthy cause you will receive a 20% off voucher to use in the shop this will be emailed to you on booking.



So if you would like to come to craft or take a table then phone or email me as soon as possible, or if you would like to pop along to shop, or just have a fly cup and fine piece then see you there.

Do please come along and support this very worthy charity...

Hope to see you on Saturday....
Thanks for reading today
Kirsti xxx