Friday, 29 March 2019

WHOOPS!!!

Hi My friends

I had planned to have these cards on my blog on the 27th March, as I had spoken to Steph on the 26th and said they would be on my blog tomorrow (27th).

I went off to bed early hours only to awake to no comments also none on the 28th which was so unusual as June is always the 1st person to comment on my blog ( thank you June), but nothing! I guess you know what I'm going to say, YEP!  I hadn't pressed publish. I shouldn't admit to it but I worry about myself sometimes.

I made these notelets for a lovely friend and Head Mistress of the school I used to work in. I worked as Head of Kitchen and we had a lovely working relationship and when the school were doing special assembly's or play's we were asked to join in and of course I jumped at the chance. One time they were learning about pirates and Galleons, so I sat up one night and made a Galleon out of card with all the ropes for the sails. I made a large ships wheel that I attached to the serving hatch and used muslin to hang to make the sails in the kitchen and finally Me and my absolutely lovely kitchen crew dressed up as pirates. We had an absolutely FAB day and the little ones loved it, it took a lot longer to serve dinner that day and the children were so excited. I think we enjoyed it as much as the little ones.

Her husband had a health scare the end of last year and the last I heard was he was coping with the treatment and all looked good, thank goodness. I just thought I would send her some notelets as she loves to keep in contact by letters. I really enjoyed making these and they were quite quick to make also, well until I decided to do matching envelopes and box but was really pleased with the end result.

Later today, It's now (1.35am) I am being taken out for lunch by Claire & Phoenix for mothers day. Claire thought it might cheer me up as it is 40 year today that my mum died and she knows how much this year is special as it is our 40th wedding anniversary too and my mum was soo looking forward to my wedding day as she chose my dress and I was happy to go along with it. she never got to see me in the dress only the one you try in the shop and she cried when I came from behind the curtains, I'll never forget that special day. Paul and I are going to the church on Saturday.

Sadly we won't see Claire on Mothers day as that is also Evelyn's goodnight day 3 yrs ago and they want to do things as a little family, so a quiet day for us all this year.


Hope you like the notelets

Here Goes!!





This a 3d die from China, I think it was 1.99 & free P&P. If anyone wants any cut I would be more than happy to send you some, I just cut mine in white card and coloured with my ink pads.
















I Hope you all have a lovely Mother's day and get spoiled rotten. Enjoy what ever you are up to.

Lots of Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Saturday, 2 March 2019

Evelyn's Card

Hi My Friends

Today should have been/ is Evelyn's 3rd birthday. I really don't know how we have got through that time to where we are now, it has been very tough at times. The 2nd,3rd & 4th of March are the hardest. On the 2nd we found out that Evelyn had passed away over night and the 3rd was when Evelyn was born sleeping, and on the 4th when Paul Craig & me hugged Evelyn for the 1st & the last time and said our goodbye's will be etched in my heart always. I remember leaving the hospital in  Winchester in tears and it was snowing heavily as it did when Claire was born in 1982 and Craig in 1985.

Today we are going over to Claire's as I know it's been a really tough week for her and Toby, I've made a buffet to take over to save Claire from any stress away of feeding the Eldridge's & the Wards. A day of memories and if my knackered knees will allow some happy ones too grovelling on the floor with Phoenix or running up and down the hall with his little shopping trolley I bought him last week to cheer him up as he was poorly.


The card I made has to be about daffodils as Claire was given a bunch of daffodils the day they had to say their final goodbye to Evelyn and leave the hospital without her on Mother's day 2016. So the daffodil has a very special place in our hearts and we will remember Evelyn as a beautiful ray of Spring sunshine.




Here Goes!






























about 2.30am I cut some butterflies but forgot to add them before I took the photos.


Hope you like my card for Evelyn. Hope you like Evelyn's card even more with the butterflies.

Thank you all for looking in and for those of you who stay to leave a comment a very big heartfelt Thank you for your on going support, you are all very special to me.

Lots of Gentle Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Friday, 22 February 2019

Final February Birthday Card

Hi My Friends

A little apology ladies. I made this card a few years ago.

Last weekend (Sunday) we celebrated Claire's birthday and of course played with a very poorly little man, he did brighten up when it was bath time though. We left about 6pm and by the time we got home it was too late to even think about making a card for my sister's birthday the next day, and I was exhausted.

So I went to one of my boxes of cards I've made over the years and came up with the BIG BOW card. I put an insert inside, I didn't even have to make a box as all my cards get stored in their boxes and then into a storage box , so I wrote in it and voila! job done.

I gave it to my sister on Monday along with birthday money as she is the most difficult person to buy for. If you buy her a present and it's not right she cannot control her expressions and you just know immediately you've got it wrong, so we don't bother anymore, if she doesn't say what she wants we just play it safe and give her money. Pleased to say she loved the card and said she didn't remember when I had made it, so if I hadn't told her she would have thought I was amazing. Hey Ho! I'm just too honest.

Do you remember this one?



Here Goes!




















I hope you enjoyed seeing this card for a second time.

Sending you all Love & Hugs

Tina XX.

Sunday, 17 February 2019

Claire's Birthday Card

Hi My Friends

This is Claire's birthday card. The very first rose I made when I started to play with foamiran, which I wasn't willing to show  and put it in my (  maybe use later box ). I found it again today and thought maybe I could use that on Claire's card. I pulled it about a bit and took petals off and ended up with what you can see.

Phoenix has and is really poorly at the moment having just had his jabs, teething and this nasty flu like bug going around. It was Claire's birthday Saturday and we were going to get together to celebrate but Phoenix was too poorly so it was a see how he is on Sunday. It wasn't until early afternoon that we got a call to say come over which we did but my goodness Phoenix looked so bad and he didn't want anyone except his mummy. After a good hour he started to come around a bit and I did get some really special smiles and chuckles and while eating around the table we had some very funny conversations with him. He then had is bath, medication a bottle and we left when it all went quiet.

 I made this late and in the early hours and when I had finished I was so tired even to put up the little studio, so it's just in my messy workroom so the pictures are not that good.

In the next couple of months my work room is going upstairs, my work room that I work in now and the dining room is going to become our lounge and the lounge we have now is going to become the dining room. So a lot of work ahead, and when that is finished we then have to get the garden up together as we are having a big get together for our 40th wedding Anniversary on the 14th July. Plus I'm going to do all the invites too, so a lot of work ahead. I'll take pictures of the before and after if you'd like to see the progress.


 Here Goes!




















Well it's coming up for midnight Sunday and am really quite tired so I'll say good night.  I'll show my sister's card over the next couple of days. Take Care all and hope to see you all again soon.

Hope you liked the card!

Love & Hugs to all

Tina XX

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Birthday Card


Hi my friends

I hope you are all well?

February is my busy birthday month. Craig's was on the 4th, Paul's was on the 11th, Claire's is on the 16th and my sister's is on the 18th.

Craig normally opens his cards here and leaves them here too. I must say he did take his handmade Christmas card home this year though. Paul had bought him a saucy card this year so I didn't have to make him one. Paul's is shown here today and I'm hoping to put Claire's on at the weekend and my sisters next week. I have to say this is one of the most difficult cards I've photographed in a long time trying to get the background lit up. I must get a new camera. It's not a patch on my last one but it was a lot more money. any suggestions or recommendations for a good camera.

I haven't mentioned Phoenix for a while. He is now walking and is into everything, literally, but my goodness he's a lot of fun and he really is a lovely tempered little man and he enjoys very long cuddle time with me while watching Moana, such special moments along with his baby babble about the film.  Long may that continue .

I've added a video of Phoenix talking to himself in the mirror wrapped up in his towel after his bath and Claire caught it on her phone. 



Here Goes!


























I watch this every morning as it starts my day day off with a big smile.

Hope you like today's blog.

Hope to see you again soon.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Saturday, 26 January 2019

Marie Curie

Hi My Friends

I joined in the Marie Curie paint a Daffodil yesterday. It was my 1st attempt at water colour painting. I was a bit heavy handed with the shading and have tried to lift some of it out and make it softer but I thought I would just have another attempt over the weekend and rather than follow the recording on the TV I think I will try and copy the  picture on the packaging after the instructions Matthew gave about blending. I'm not happy with the back ground either. I purchased 4 lots, so I have another 7 tries at getting it right. If anyone has any tips please feel free to help me.


Here Goes!



Love and hugs

Tina XX


Wednesday, 9 January 2019

A Bit Late

Hi My Friends

I'm very late with my wishes for a Happy & Healthy New Year but I'm sending them to you, better late than never.

 In between Christmas and New Year I took Half Pint to Evelyn's tree to take some flowers and also to see the wonderful tags that Claire had put on Evelyn's tree. Claire posted on her face book to baby loss parents if they would like to share Christmas on Evelyn's tree and to be remembered here. Claire had 109 names worldwide and the 110th was added Christmas morning. Claire had written the babies names on a decorated tag then laminated each one so they wouldn't spoil. Some mum's & dad's have gone and collected their tags from Evelyn's tree and Claire is hoping to send the other tags to the other families.



While I was reading the tags a young dad came over, walked past me to the tree in front of Evelyn's, he was carrying a little book. He knelt down and read a passage from the book I could hear the sadness in his voice, he kissed the book and placed it underneath the tree and I heard him sobbing as he walked away. I was in tears myself by then knowing there was another family going through unbearable sadness. Then I looked at Evelyn's tree and saw another 110 families hanging on the branches.


I had a message from Henk Brandehof in the new year to say that Jane B who visited my blog had passed away. Paul & I met Jane & Henk when they came over to England. You'd have thought we had known each other for years. I got out of the car and because I told Jane what I would be wearing she came over and just hugged & hugged us. Jane was an amazing lady and an amazing artist too and gave me a piece of her work which I will treasure always. 



Last year Paul & I paid for Claire to become a fully qualified Yoga instructor, and she graduated 16th December. That was a lovely afternoon Toby brought Phoenix along, we didn't know how that would pan out as it was around Phoenix's sleep time. All the ladies accepted their certificates but Claire accepted hers along with Phoenix who was the star of the show. I can't put into words how much Yoga has helped Claire and now she has left teaching ( the end of the School Christmas term ) she is now looking into Yoga becoming a full time job. She already has quite afew classes booked so fingers crossed she's on a new path of healing.

With the healing thought in mind and Claire's post on her face book on where she is now and where she has been and is still working through thoughts I found this stamp from QUIETFIRE DESIGN over a year ago and hoped one day to be able to make a card for Claire, and so after her face book message I thought I would make this tag for the door handle to Claire's yoga room at home. I hope she likes it and understands why I have made it at this time.


Here Goes!!

First Evelyn's Tree











Claire's  Door Tag
 






I did this with the flash on so you could see the silver work.








Must get a new camera in 2019, and lighting.

Hope you Like it.

Again wishing you all a Happy & Healthy 2019.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX