
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Merry Christmas

Saturday, 21 November 2009
Boudoir Photography or 'How to look Good Naked'

I love Gok Wan's show 'How to look Good naked', I seem to cry everytime when people get their self confidence to go for it! The photographs are always artfully posed and not actually showing anything indecent.
When I atended Cheryl Johnsons Photography bootcamp earlier this year we learned about staging shots so although I had the therory, its rare that an opportunity arises for me to practice.
When my daughter Michelle got married to Ben on 10th October this year, I went up to her bedroom with Michelle whilst the 'official' wedding photographer was downstairs. As she was getting ready Michelle was up for me posing her on their bed for a few photographs. Although not quite naked, she wore her wedding underwear which consisted of blue frilly pants, white stockings and her blue robot shoes. She had her tiara on and only needed her dress to finish off the outfit.
I was so pleased with how this photo turned out that I had it made into a large canvas and presented it to her new husband on his 30th Birthday a few weeks later. Now its up on their bedroom wall, I can share the photo with you all.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Digital Freebies


I have posted a couple of new blog backgrounds in the store over at http://www.scrapdragon.co.uk/ for anyone that is in need of a makover. These two include headers and full instructions for loading them into Blogspot / Blogger minima templates.
After a very hectic hen weekend celebrating my daughters forthcoming wedding I needed to do a bit of digi creating as relaxation before I start on creating the bridesmaid dresses and favour boxes. Of course I would share the photos of the hen weekend but I am not sure if any could possibly be published. I will go and find a 'mild' one! As the hen night involved going out round Burton on Trent dressed up in a Moulin Rouge theme outfit. There was more bosoms, basques and feathers than there ever was in a French whorehouse! But at least it kept the local men entertained. I am sure some of those poor creatures will be fantisising for weeks on what they saw.
The following day we all went to Hoar Cross hotel and spa for a fantastic day relaxing. Highly recommended if you are in need of pampering.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
The family adventure




Considering the beautiful weather we have had this weekend, its shame we all ventured up to Scotland last weekend! We took out caravan and my daughter Michelle and soon to be husband Ben took their huge tent and we set off for Glencoe just near Fort William in the Scottish highlands. Our eldest granddaughter Amy joined us as well. At least she stopped being a teenager hiding in a darkened room with her phone and ipod for a week!
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
and Breathe....


Thursday, 25 June 2009
Nature's Garden Kit




- The first layout was a lovely little boy who loved to be photographed.
- The second is my daughter and husband at a ball
- The third was a tinkerbell dress up photo session
- The fourth was a photo taken of me at a weekend away.


ANGEL CINDY KAY HELEN LISA
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
The wooden bowl
A friend forwarded this to me and I just had to share it with everyone.
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
On a positive note:
- I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
- I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
- I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'
- I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
- I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
- I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
- I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
- I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
- I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
- I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
- I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about, I just did.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
A long awaited makeover...

Sunday, 31 May 2009
Roslyn Chapel

I have always wanted to visit Roslyn Chapel after I read about it in the Holy Blood and Holy Grail, which was the more factual book predating Dan Browns Da Vinci Code by about 20 years!
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Its a Girl Thing! A little sample....

Tuesday, 26 May 2009
visiting miss Daisy...

Friday, 22 May 2009
I knew it was one of those days...


When I woke up with my left eye swollen shut. When I prised it open it was very red and sore. I felt like Quasimodo. That sort of things happens occasionally when O get run down or have been very busy. Just in time for a bank holiday weekend then! Not only is it a long weekend and I was looking forward to going out for a bear or two tonight but we are off to visit baby Daisy in the morning.
Then I went down stairs and made a cuppa. Allan got up and went to refill the kettle and a bit of plastic fell off. When we looked the inside of the lid had corroded and the plastic was turning to powder. A new kettle was desperately needed, we had had that one for about nine years so we cant complain. But I felt sick when I realised I had just had a cuppa tea from that which meant drinking corroded plastic!
As I have just started Cheryl Johnson's Painting with Light the sequel online photography course I took my camera to work. As soon as I got there I was asked to take a photo of a team for the trust newsletter, and then realised I had the wrong lens on my camera. I managed to remember my previous training and set up the shot on manual. Although it did mean moving people around the group to get the right composition. I might post a sneak peek later. But I have posted a couple more photos taken when I was on the bootcamp weekend. A little baby hands and feet shot and a macro close up of a flower with bee wandering around.
I am off to put in more eye drops and feel sorry for myself as I cant go out and frighten the locals in the pub. I might have to have a glass of wine though to make me feel better.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Excellent Photography Bootcamp

Last weekend a few of us went off to Cheryl Johnson's Photography Bootcamp held in Saffron Walden. Armed with my trusty Canon 450D SLR and a bag of lenses I started on a nuge learning curve on photography. What a brilliant weekend it was. A great bunch of friendly people made the weekend spectacular. Monday, 4 May 2009
May Weekend

You would think that in National Scrapbooking day I would use the excuse to create new scrapbook layouts. But as every in my own contrary fashion. I went back to card making! I have as few to make one for a wedding and a couple of Birthday cards. I was just trying to get back in to the hang of them as I knew I had a pile of wedding invitations to complete.

Friday, 1 May 2009
April Free Collaboration Kit


Kindred creations have just loaded up the full free April kit. Here is a preview of my contribution. You can get all the elements of my kit and all the other contributers by visiting here Monday, 13 April 2009
Recovery from a holiday weekend

Well we were just about to relax after a hectic weekend of socialising and drinking (a little too much!) when our cat Pixie took ill again. She has been suffering from a form of brain injury and has been on medication for months. We have just weaned her off the steroids and then today she took a turn for the worse. Her head was almost twisted back behind her and her balance was very poor. Then about 6pm she had a kind of fit and couldn't stand up and vomited. I called the vet and luckily he arranged to go straight to the surgery. (apart from the additional cost of an emergency call out for a statutory holiday!) After a thorough examination and three injections I brought her home, and she seems a little better. I have to take her back again in the morning for a check up. I might means she is on medication for life to keep her at an optimal level of a disabled but happy cat.
I created the layout of Daisy using a template challenge from the pickleberrypop forum and used the New Live Dreams baby kit (from shabbypickle.com) which is beautiful.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Spring-a-ding-ding


I have just got this lovely kit from Silly Beans Scraps (www.getdigiwithit.com) and just how versatile is this little kit!
Sunday, 5 April 2009
I love Templates!


Thursday, 2 April 2009
Easter is round the corner

Wednesday, 1 April 2009
New Kit for April


Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Painting with Light



Sunday, 29 March 2009
March Collab kit
Anyway I published my part of the Kindred Creations digital collaboration kit last week (see below) but the full kit of all the parts is now available from here Grab yourself a mega freebie.
But dont forget to go on the designers blogs and leave a bit of love for their effort.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Mothering Sunday

Sunday, 22 March 2009
FREE mini kit for March

I've had a make-over
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Spring Awakenings New Kit & Blog Train





I have been working on the new Spring Awakenings Kit created by Designs by Angel as part of her creative team. To promote the new kit, a blog train starts today with free Brag book pages on different members of the creative teams blogs. Hunt them out and get a complete brag book free. All pages are co-ordinating designed with this massive kit. It is perfect for pregnancy, new babies and Easter.
The blog train, visit the Creative teams blogs listed at the end to pick up your additional FREE brag book page and check out their work. Dont for get to leave a little love and comment as a thank you for the freebies.
Visiting Daisy
We have just got back from visiting our new Granddaughter Daisy Grace. I cant beleive how much she has changed sine we first saw her. Daisy is now five weeks old and startign to smile and chuckle when we amuse her. the next time we see her will be Easter weekend when they all come to visit so that the great grandparents can see Daisy.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Thank You to everyone
There has been a lot going on this week since we got back from wedding dress shopping in Burton. Friends and family have all been buying little gifts for our granddaughter Daisy. We have a load to take down to Lyndsdey and Gary when we visit Manchester on Saturday. I made some little Thank You cards with Daisy's photo on as a digital page using the NewLife Dreams Oh Baby kit (its georgeous; I love the little feathers and sparkles! ) After printing the layout, I have made lots of hybrid cards with paper and ribbons so that Lyndsey and Gary can write out the cards and post them out to all who have bought for Daisy. I also decided to sign up for the Race for Life. There are a few people at work doing it and I have never attempted it before. But as my mum is currently undergoing treatment for Breast cancer, the least I can do is try and run a bit and raise some money to support the Cancer Research. I am overjoyed at the reponse to sponsor me so far as I only set it up on 9th March. You can see all the lovely people who have sponsored me so far on the right. Thank you everyone.
The Race cant do me any harm (I think) , at least it might motivate me to get into practice of at least walking the distance! That might spur on my weight loss motivation as I need to get out and move a bit more. I was weighed at my local Weight Watcher class last night and stayed the same. I wasn't too upset about this as I was actually surprised that I hadn't put on any weight after my holiday and was expecting to have an unexpected 'blip' this week. Especially after we had been out for a curry and drinks at the weekend. Oh well must try harder...
Monday, 9 March 2009
Wedding dress shopping
Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Monday, 2 March 2009
FREEBIE quickpage and sampler kit here
visit the links http://www.scrapdragon.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=966
Monday, 16 February 2009
Sunday
We were booked in for a luxurious Egyptian aromatherapy massage and had an hour of being pampered to relax us on our holiday.
We met some lovely people last night, Lisa and her mum Margaret from North Sheilds. There are also a few boys here up for a laugh and Steve kept us entertained all night. We must have been having fun as we didn't go to bed until 2am and this time it was Allan a little worse for the red wine!
Its quite strange blogging via phone as I can't see if it goes up alright! I have just had an error message so apologies if this has sent twice to the blog
------------------






