365+1

365+1...Day 6...FROST

Well my interpretation of frost today is the ice-cubes in the sloe gin and ginger beer I had with the coconut chicken curry we had for tea...delicious on both counts....

It's been quite hectic around here today...Sonja came over in the morning with Aaron for a visit and then it was lunchtime and then Camilla came over and cut the kids hair in the afternoon...far better than taking them all to the hairdresser and having to sit waiting for them...at least at home they get to do their own thing before their turn...

Just away to sit down and watch Coronation Street now with maybe another cheeky drink and one or two of my chocs that I have managed to keep hidden from the kids...

Looking forward to tomorrow's prompt!!

Kirsti xxx

365+1

365+1...Day 5...EXCITEMENT

This is the haul we bought yesterday to paint my new craft room...we had planning permission granted 5 years ago, one year after we completed the last extension but the quotes we got at the time were astronomical in comparison to what had previously been done so we felt we couldn't justify it...but after a lot of humming and haaing this last year we decided to get some quotes and were pleasantly surprised so we decided to go ahead...

I thinking building started the week the planning ran out:0)...so it's all but finished apart from the radiators, electrics and the dreaded painting...I have decided to wait until the plumber puts in the radiators though because it's baltic in there...lol..can't wait to move in and have lots more space for everything...It will be so good to have all the tools, ie Cricut, sewing machine, paper cutter, all arranged so that I don't have to put them away to have something else out...

So that's me for today...I'm glad I'm actually (so far) being able to keep up!!

365+1

365+1...Day 4...PRETTY

So today I have been experimenting with my camera using a homemade Bokeh, it's annoying me now and it's probably cos I don't understand enough about my camera, so I have resorted to taking a photo of one of my 'pretty' daughters, Niamh who is 6 which is probably a bit predictable...

Today we have been shopping for paint and lights, etc for my new craft room which I am really, really not looking forward to painting since it is bare plasterboard and will probably need more coats than normal and since the radiators haven't been fitted yet it will be freezing...why oh why didn't we build this in the summer...Can't wait to move in tho and have lots more space....

That's me for today...
Kirsti xx

365+1

365+1...Days 1-3... I am behind but only because I joined late....

And the first word is, rather predictably, CELEBRATE...

A lovely gift wrapped treat for me and Allan from Jen...our favourite bottles of wine and a box of mints...

The second word is NEW...
Now technically this isn't new but it is to me...I acquired it from the freecycle site Freegle from a lovely lady in Keig and it was totally free...i am so in love with it...I was going to give it a distressed paint effect after the new year but it's kinda grown on me so I may just sand it down and re-wax it...

The third word is UGLY...

This is the scene that greeted us this morning, torrential rain mixed with snow and gale force winds and we did have plans to go to Haddo House today:0(...not a very pretty sight and I do believe it is set to carry on and get worse for a few days...

So that's me caught up now and hopefully I will be able to stay caught up!!!

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

This year I also want to start scrapbooking again...I have really let it go this last year to 18 months and the kids are all growing up and I want to capture them before it's too late!! So with this in mind I have also decided to join in with the 'and now for something completely different' challenge over on UKS....

Hopefully this will kickstart the scrapping again....

Kirsti xxx

365+1...

So I have also decided to join in with the 365+1 Challenge hosted by Suzie...

Day one and two have been posted...with the prompts 'celebrate' and 'new'...since I am only starting today I didn't get day one and we have already taken down the tree, etc...will have a look around tomorrow in daylight...the photos I am taking are not great at this time of day so I will be playing catch up tomorrow(hopefully!)....

I would also like to take a photography course this year but they are quite pricey, even the ones at the college and I have been told that ILA are not redeemable against the photography courses:0((

So why not pop over and kick start your year of pictures with some friendly photographers...xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR.....

There seems to be an on-going trend to start your blog with a quotation this year so I thought I would join in with this one...

Though no-one can go back and make a brand new START...

anyone can start from now and make a brand new ENDING!!!

Carl Bard

This one sits at the bottom of my blog and I have to keep reminding myself of it now and then...it's been a tough year with more lows than highs it seems but I think we as a family are looking forward to that 'brand new ending' this year....

• I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my family,
• building up my craft sales,
• seeing more of my friends,
• trying some new crafting techniques,
• getting to know my new camera so I can have awesome photos,
• spending less money(if that's possible in this climate where everything seems to be getting more expensive by the day),
• getting fitter(I started running at the beginning of November but when my brother died I just stopped)
• and keeping my house more organised and tidier...

So that's my aims for this year...what about you? I just want to wish all my followers and fellow bloggers a very Happy New Year....xxx

The Felt Fairy - A Monthly Make 2012...

On a brighter note for a change I have put my name down for The Felt Fairy's 'A Monthly Make 2012'

If you fancy joining in just pop over here to sign up...Go on, you know you want to!!!

Kirsti xxx

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