Dolly's Dreamings

FREE class - something different

I thought I would share soemthing different today.

It would make a great little Christmas book, or can be adapted to the front of a card as well.

The instructions you need are all in the is PDF HERE

Sunrise surprise

OK - so today's prompt was to take a  picture in natural light in your home. Then post that photo as just the photo. Just with a title. That clearly wasn't going to happen was it.

Firstly, brevity, as you have no doubt noticed, is not my strong point!

Secondly, I left home before it was light and it was dark by the time I got home.

So no natural light in my house today.

BUT

There was natural light outside my house this morning - in the form of a really stunning sunrise.

It was spectacular.

So here is my photo

It was my home (well just outside it but we are all friends so let's not be too pedantic)

The light was natural ... about a natural as it gets.

PLUS

I scrapped it and kept my writing to a minimum ... well minimum by my standards!

Have a fab weekend everyone! And thank you for so many comments on my blog. It made me ludicrously happy and I am off to return the favour tonight now it is the weekend and I have time

 

Life is never simple

Isn't it funny - well I hope everyone agrees and it is not just me - how when you read Shimelle's prompt something pops straight into your mind.

I read the prompt when i got home and Oh me Oh my how it rang true today.

Apart from the usual mundane work things which are way way too boring to go into, today saw something somewhat routine and boring that became a much bigger issue in my mind. Daft really, but heck ... that's me.

I had to to go to the doctors. I am not ill, just had a very small unexplained pain that I have had for weeks and decided to get it checked out. And it is OK. But the getting there was the issue.

It began first thing this morning when getting dressed. Now I don't think i am especially lackadaisical or a real slattern, but I have several categories of underwear. Actually I have more now than ever because I have the underwear that fits just about OK, the underwear that is now too big to work properly and the underwear that  is a good fit. Now combine that with my usual categories of .... underwear that is comfy and plain and just about OK, underwear that has been traumatised by the entire laundry process and really should be thrown out but its ever so comfy and you can't bear to part with it and smart underwear 'for best'! I mean do we all do that? Do we all have 'best' underwear? Why? I get so mad with myself. Why don't I just wear the best stuff every day and get rid of the traumatised stuff. The bra that has the tear in the lace. the bra that has lost three out of the four bows on the straps. the bar that paid a visit to the washer with something clearly much darker than itself, resulting in the interesting shade of deceased laundry grey. I KNOW I should, but I don't. So come a day like today when i am dressing in a hurry I pull on the nice comfy bra and, thankfully, get a glimpse of it in the mirror and remember I am going to the doctors later and realise I have to change. Now I KNOW he must see dozens of bras in all states and I KNOW they don't even register with him, but they do with me and so I can't go unless I have a best bra that I am not ashamed of. Vanity vanity, all is vanity! So, no time to do the job neatly, underwear flung out of the drawer in a rush and finally, dressed.

Oh if that was the only stress.

My car is being serviced and so I have Nigel's. Mine is a little baby dinky car eminently suitable for someone who is not the world's greatest parker. Nigel's is an American car built for American roads and American parking spaces. It is a monster and it genuinely doesn't fit in some spaces in tthe UK. Stress number 2. Worry about whether I will be able to find a space I could contemplate tackling.

Couple this with the fact I have just 10 minutes to get from work to the doctors at the busiest time of day and the fact that it is a journey that takes 15! And the fact that I have to have the right change for the car park and I can't find any because when I am in my car I have a little purse of small change for that very purpose and I am not in my car so there is no purse to save me.

Well, you get the picture.

One very simple task. Lots of stupid issues to deal with.

 

 

Anyway - all is well that ends well. I made it in time, i found the change, I managed to poke the car into a space, even if no-one else noticed I knew I was wearing a top notch bra and ... I am OK. The pain appears to be an inflamed joint that might respond to anti-inflamatories. Plus ... and this was the best bit ..... the doctor said I looked incredible (no that wasn't the bra bit!) and that I was half the woman I used to be. he was really impressed with my weight loss and that made me feel so good.

I hope you have all had a good day and managed to avoid little stresses.

And please tell me I am not the only one with categories of underwear!

Five of the best

I loved the prompt today about favourites. One of the things I really really enjoy about blogs is the ability to blog hop from place to place following peoples recommended lists, lists of favourites, clickable links etc.

I don't like blogs where there are no other blogs given as examples or no clickable links to follow as it means the trail ends there. To me, and it is of course just my opinion, you want the trail to continue, to learn and discover more and blogs are such a wonderful way of taking that journey.

I have made some of my most enjoyable discoveries by clicking on a blog's favourites and discovering a whole new world which in turn reveals countless other worlds.

It's fab ... and very addictive.

Now I was meant to link in photos and links today and I am a very very bad student cos I am not doing that today. Not trying to be a deliberately naughty student .... honest .... it's just that I have almost no time and I know what I want to do with this post. Sorry .... I was always bad at school as well!

I wanted to try and stick to interpreting the post with a page as well, but as time is limited I wanted to go for a page that recorded an easy favourite of mine.

I admit it, quite freely - I am a book-aholic. It is one of my real indulgences. I love books and yes, we have a room at home that really and truly is a library. It is a room dedicated to my obsession with book. There are books on anything and everything, old, new, plain, ornate, and all treasured. I am really really bad at getting rid of books. If I have read a book and loved it I find it hard to part with it. Consequently the library shelves are bulging. I do part with fiction books that were just a good read, but cannot bear to get rid of special fiction.
I am also guilty of wanting new books. I do buy second hand - I couldn't afford to feed my addicition at the rate of at least two books a week if I didn't. But I don't like them. Not because they are second hand ... that's not the issue. It's because they are not new! To me, nothing is quite so magical as opening a brand new crisp pristine book that no-one else has ever read. Oh I know they will have read the story. But not THAT book. The pages feel special, the process seems thrilling. It's like unwrapping something for the very first time. OK - I need to stop because I am sounding like an utter nutter. Again!

I am also very anal about the books. Once I have read a book I could generally pass it off as brand new because the spine will be smooth, the pages still pristine etc. I don't exactly do it deliberately .... it just sort of happens. My best friend won't ever borrow my books unless it is one I don't want back as she says she can't stand the stress! And the kids at school know I expect every book to be well treated. Sometimes I will catch them bending a book backwards and I will do the 'What would happen if I bent YOUR spine backwards ... well don't do it to a book then' routine. They will often say, 'Oh but it is my own book not a school book.' Doesn't wash with me I am afraid. EVERY book deserves to be treated nicely.

I think they also represent incredible value for money. £3.99 or so for hours and hours of escapism and pleasure. Now THAT is value.

Anyway - I made a page with my five favourite books from this year so far (and that is 5 out of a heck of a lot) Ot was quite hard to choose but I did. And they are all there for a reason. These are NOT my all time favourite books, just the favourites from this year!

Breaking Dawn was the surprise as I didn't expect to enjoy the series and came to them by a very circuitous route. But enjoy them I did and I think this was the best of the 4.

I was eager for the new Dan Brown and read it the day it came out. It was excellent with typical Dan Brown twists and turns and intrigue and I loved it.

A Thousand Splendid Suns was, in my view, better than the Kite Runner but just as traumatic and as hard to read. Very moving and thought provoking.

Incendiary was a very strange book that I wasn't sure of at first but loved by the middle. It was unusual, difficult, worrying and I would recommend it to you all.

The Shack just had to be there. If you haven't read it .... please do. Please don't be put off by thinking it is a religious book. Of course it is, and yes I am religious, but it can be read and enjoyed and learn from on many many levels. It was given to me as a gift - and it was indeed a real gift which made me think through many difficult things that have happened to me this year. I have dipped back into sections of it again and will continue to do so. It has made me re-evaluate things and develop a sense of inner peace over many issues. Read it.

Now, if you have reached the bottom of this amazingly long post, I think you deserve a reward. Treat yourself to an early night with a mug of cocoa and .... of course .... a good book.

Blogging Day 2

I am loving the blogging class and was pleased to read the guidance from Shimelle today as it does worry me how much info we put on public places.

I guess I am a 'heart on my sleeve' sort of girl. I  post how I feel, but I do try to be careful with things I post as well. Blacking out number plates yesterday was a good example.

I actually had a lengthy meeting with Ceops yesterday and some of the things happening as a result of things posted on the internet are truly scary. And children are so vulnerable and at risk. I was actually meeting with them as they are going to deliver some important on line safety education to our children. The internet and the use of information is very very scary indeed.

So thank you Shimelle, for such good advice and wise counselling.

The prompt today was also very good and made me stop and think. I have been working on project 365, a photo a day, all year and so looked back at my recent photos for one with a good story - and a story where there was perhaps a little more to tell which wasn't quite all for public sharing. The picture of our day at Street, the Clark's shopping village, was a perfect example.

I had been looking forward to going to Street for ages. I desperately needed new clothes as I had lost so much weight and the shops there are fab. Plus it is a lovely drive down there and a nice day out together. Life has a habit of throwing you curve balls doesn't it. I was really too ill to go, but figured it was a bit of a now or never moment. And your different success criteria change don't they.

I tried to record that in the journalling on the page. There were, however, a couple of other issues which are not for public consumption. perfect. The fact that I have alluded to them both here and on the page will remind me of them. It will give me the chance for that little private smile when I read back and think, 'Oh yes ... and THAT too!'

I have to confess I do that quite often .... leave little hints to things that Nij and I will 'get' but don't seem obvious to others. It's fun!

I am loving the class and loving all the blog hopping that goes on with it too. Such great fun and so many fab blogs to discover and enjoy. Thank you to everyone who has visited here too and left lovely comments. It has quite made my day x

Blogging for Scrapbookers - day 1

I have never been able to miss any of Shimelle's classes and when she launched her latest class, Blogging for Scrapbookers, it seemed to have my name written all over it. I blog every day. It is a sort of therapy. I NEED to do it. I get very irritable if I don't get to do it. It is part of my daily routine and those of you who know me well know I do routines big time.

The idea of a class teaching me how to make better blog posts, how to read and use the blogs of others, follow them more easily and link what I am blogging about with scrapping was all too tempting to resist.

OK - so I didn't even try. Resistance is futile.

There have already been some very useful tips about improving the whole blogging and surfing experience, and prompt one was to try and consider what you hope to get from the course. the rationale for you persoanlly.

I have decided I am going to try and make a page every day but this time I know my limitations. I managed LSNED ..... just .... but this half term is manic and if I try to make a paper page every day I know I will fail.

Failure is not an option either!

So I am going to make a digi page each evening and blog about things.

I took a picture of the most important part of my scraproom. It houses my computer which I use not only for digi scrapping but also for paper scrapping. I print all my own photos, I print quite a few embellishments, journalling tags etc and so my computer is not only where I sit and blog every day but is an essential scrapping tool. And yes .... that is where my ruler always lives. It wasn't put there for photographic purposes!

 

I hope that the course will help me blog more effectively, focus my thoughts, help me to discover new and interesting blogs I haven't visited before and meet new people on line. I hope it will do all of these things, but I KNOW it will be fun.

Thanks for popping along ... and do drop me a line in a comment.

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Catch up and Congratulations

Full of good news today - lots of it so prepare well for a happyy post.

Firstly I feel much better - not nearly so in pain as I was. The cough is bad and noisy and the chest hurts ... but less .... so yey. I am on the way to recovery.

Secondly I drove the big car to work .... Nigel's car .... becasue mine was having investigative surgery on an intermittent leak. The good news is they found it! We didn't think they would as it only happens occasionally, but they did and will fix it and have it back by Wednesday.

Photo of the day ... the big car!

Thirdly I photographed my pages from the weekend and here is one of the classes.

It was a fab class taken by MaryAnne. She showed us how to make a really neat tool which i know I will use again and again and add to all the time. The layout was sort of a by-product of the class as well. The photos are of Nij and I at Arundle this summer.  Apologies for poor photo - I haven't the time to scan it.

I really enjoyed having the chance to chat to MaryAnne as well .... always good to catch up.

Her second class was awesome but I haven't finished titivating and so will share it later.

One of the things she said was she was surprised I liked being told what to do as a head etc. I thought about that one and I think it is BECAUSE I have to make all the decisions every day at work that my idea of relaxing is to have someone else tell me exactly what to do. I love it.

Fourthly, there is a sale on at PBP and Catscrap in Dawn Inskip's stores. A massive 30% off the entire store. way too good to miss. Go check it out.

Fifthly and finally - I did say there was a lot of good news today - I am thrilled that no fewer than 6 separate people commented on my weight loss today.

I wore my new size 16 Per Una skirt and I felt good in it and obviously looked good too as so many people said nice things. Finally - people have noticed I have lost weight. I am now more than 3 stone lighter than I was on 28th August! And I am thrilled.

FREE Christmas gift bag class

I know it is only October but SERIOUSLY now is the time to start making those all important handmade gifts and this class could be just the thing to get you started.

This class is really simple and I have even made a template for you to make it easier still.

They would make great little bags to fill with sweets, toiletries, stationery and so on.

If you use the class please don't call it your own. If friends want it please direct them here to download it for themselves.

This is the link for the class download - CLASS DOWNLOAD

Likewise the template - please don't call it your own, please get people to download it for themselves. Download Bag box template

This was a class I did for It's A Creative World and the girls have such fab ideas running all month for Christmas. Do go and check out the other ideas. i promise you won't be disappointed.

Have fun making and please, if you download the class, leave me a quick comment here on the blog.

 

 

FREE Sunday class and home sense

OK - so the home sense doesn't mean I have suddenly got home sense, rather that i went shopping at Home Sense.

Home Sense has to be one of our favourite stores - we love it. You get really unusual and quite quirky things there and it is very American (well canadian actually but you get the drift)

We needed a new table for the lamp in the hall to go with the new decor and we had quite set ideas about what we wanted.

We didn't get it!

We fell in love with a 6 drawer black faux laquered leather caninet and just had to have it.

We were worried it wouldn't look right but it did.

My picture of the day is just a tiny part of it - it will be revealed in all of its glory once the new carpet is down on Tuesday. But surfice to say we both love it.

It is hard to photograph to get the beautiful design to show up.

I made my LSNED page as well (plus some DT work and a fair bit of very hot sunbathing)

I have had enough of home improvements now. Once the new carpet is down that is us done .... well for this year at least.

In 12 months we have had a new kitchen, a new bedroom, a new en suite, new windows and a new hall stairs and landing. Time, energy, money and creativity have now all run out.

What have I learnt today?

• Having always wanted a laquered cupboard I now have one - well a faux one anyways

• The sun still burns in September

• New weight loss photos show my shape is changing .... for the better

• Weekends go too quickly

And so to the class page.

As usual feel free to totally disregard it, use the general idea, use the whole idea etc but please, don't call it your own.

You can download the class HERE

FREE sunday class and excitement

OK - back to a FREE Sunday class.

I am sorry there was no class last week - 4 shared had been hacked and I couldn't access my files.

All seems to be well now so here is the FREE CLASS which is a fun page to make to use up three of those photos waiting in your stash pile.

As ever, I would love to know what you think and please, feel free to use it in any way you wish but plase don't call it your own or duplicate the class.  And go on - leave a comment. You know you want to!

I made my LSNED page for yesterday. We found the perfect vase for our new hall stairs and landing. We had been looking for a while and nothing was quite right but we found it yesterdaya nd it wasn't too expensive either. I am really pleased with it.

Now all we need is Nij to finish the painting, the new carpet to be laid and then I think our renovations will be complete for quite a while. We will have done the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, windows and hall stairs and landing in a year ..... and THAT is enough.

Now my BIG excitement today ..... and it is big excitement ..... is that we have booked a holiday. We haven't been on a holiday for two years and it will be three years when we actually go. At the end of next summer we are off to two of our fave places in the world Newport beach in Southern CA and Las Vegas. We also have Death Valley thrown in for good measure and a jeep to tour it in.

I am beyond excited.

My photo of the day is a screen shot of the Virgin site.

I have had a fab weekend. I really have. So much so I am almost ready to go back to work!