Dolly's Dreamings

Shooting cats

What a shocking title for a blog post.

But I am assuming you understood it meant the photography sort of shooting

 

I was excited to share this page as it showcases some photos I love of Tigers at WHF.

 

 

I used the new template collection Be Inspired 2 from Tinci at Pickleberrypop 

I also used the addiction collection I love from Fanette and Mel also at PBP

The pale green colours just made the tigers pop.

 

I am so glad this week has ended but it isn't quite ending ont he high I hoped. Nigel's car has gone kapput and is, as I type, being recovered and towed to a safe place to hopefully await repair next week. It never rains but it pours and you can bet your life it will cost an arm and a leg.

The good  news is that it was stationary when it failed so he is fine. The car isn't, but then it is just a car!

 

Today I am thankful for

• getting through a hard week
• Nigel being safe
• Friday evenings ... relaxation to look forward to.

 

This picture could have been taken in our bedroom!

 

 

 

 

 

and I am glad you are enjoyingt he quotes

 

Have a great weekend

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

A very sleepy blog today.
Another very very busy day and by no means done yet

But I am shattered. I think I am under the weather and it has been a hard slog. I haven't been sleeping and I just want to lie down ... but I have another few hours yet.

I have news of a sale though - that should perk people up

If you visit Dawn Inskip's facebook page and sign up for her newsletter there is an incredible 50% off as a newsletter special.

Now you KNOW how fab her stuff is as I share it here.

So go check it out. Please.

 

Barb you asked if we can take days off sick. Yes we can, but I guess teachers the world across ae the same... we rarely do and struggle in as we feel committed. Maybe sometimes we should BE committed! LOL

Todays page was for the Simple recipies challenge at UKS this month. The colours were pinks and lilacs and greys and the technique was to use fabric and aplique. So this is my take on it

 

 

The photo is a baby Kira, born to be adored. She was about 4 months old when this was taken and she was lying in the bath - which made a fab backdrop.

As usual, lots of stitching

 

 

 

and handmade glittered butterflies - and I HATE glitter so that was some sacrifice.

 

 

and the felt and fabric aplique. I stitched round the heart to add a bit more detail

 

and I also added mulberry paper to give more texture, along with flowers and ribbons.

 

The final challenge element was to use ledger paper.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a job almost done
• the chance to work in  a field where it might be difficult but it varied; it might be challenging but it is a job where you get to work with compassion and support.

 

I think I may want to BE a cat!

 

 

 

 

Dreaming of returning

I know today will have been a long day - hence an 'in advance post'

I  know it will have been a hard day - hence a dreaming post. After all - the blog is called Dolly's dreamings for a reason you know.

 

I have another page to share using Dawn Inskips fabulous new collection Little Things matter most. 

 

It is still on offer so grab it whilst you can.

 

This is what I made with it - and where I am dreaming of.

 

 

It really is our happy place. I have never forgotten that the first time I stepped out onto that white sand beach and saw the beauty I was going to get to enjoy for the next 14 days, I cried. It moves me still. I love the resort, I love Florida, I love Disney, I love being there. And I can't wait to go back.

One of the reasons I work the hours I do is that it enables us to go there. Nuff said!

 

Today I am guessing I will be thankful for

• Being home after a long day

 

 

 

 

My little family

Today is a very quick post as I am feeling decidely under the weather.

Throats are not meant to have ulcers on - I am sure I read that somewhere!

Temperatures are not supposed to be high - I am sure I read that too.

 

But I did want to share the Pickle Barrel bonus collection

 

I hope lots of you snapped it up as a freebie with your Pickle purchases.

 

This is what I made with it - my little fur family - a smaller family now with just 2 fur babies. We still miss Boo every day.

 

 

I love the colours of this month's Pickle Barrel. I really do.

 

Today I am thankful for

• some lovely goodies to nibble.
• bed - I am headed there soon

 

Final Pickle Barrel day

Ladies this is the last chance to grab the special Pickle Barrel bonus collections. The collections will, of course, still be in the store, but the special deals will have stopped.

 

Today's collection is by Two Tiny Turtels and is called Say Cheese. It is such fun and, like the other six packs, stuffed with goodies

 

 

 

It was a great fun collection to use and this is what I created with it.

 

Today has been a return to school after half term. The news channel before I left was also in back to school mode with a feature all about how awful it is that holiday companies hike up the prices int he holidays and it is unfair as parents have to pay the higher rates to go in school holidays.

Whilst I agree it is hard on parents and the holiday companies are making a fast buck I get SO ANGRY.

As a parent you have maybe 16 years of limited holiday opportunities. And if you really want to, you take your children out of school anyway.

What about the teachers? I have no children but for all of my adult life I have been limited to school holidays for my own vacations. No respite, no chance of an odd week at a cheaper time. Every single holiday taken in school holidays at the premium rate charges.

And yet none of the news articles seem to give teachers a second thought. Yes it is limiting for families but it is also limiting for the very people who devote their lives (and yes I firmly believe teaching is a vocation not a job) to educating the children. Yes cut the families some slack but please, don't just ignore the thousands of people whose profession also dictates they pay top whack for any holiday they ever take.

OK off my soap box now.

Today I am thankful

• for having a blog I can rant on - politely
• a good but busy day

 

 

 

and on an education theme .... and another reson why teaching is a vocation

 

Final day - relaxing

Today sees the last day of the holidays before a crazily busy second half term. So I have taken it easy today - partly as I don't think I slept a wink last night. I had a raging sore throat and a temperature and it was all a bit grim. Whilst the throat is still sore I feel fine today.

 

I have new scrapping to share - another with the Pickle barrel.

This time I used Anna BV's Your Own Way

 

 

I loved this collection - the colours were gorgeous and it was just the right amount of grungy.

 

I am awfully proud of Nigel and all he does.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a great half term
• recharge of the batteries ready for the next half term

This did make me laugh!

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous spring like day

It has been a gorgeous day today - a cold wind but wall to wall sunshine. Just lovely.

 

we even ventured out to take some pictures for the Snap 2014 challenges  - just local but they will be useful for my Home Town album

Photograph something white - a swan in Poole Park

 

 

 

Something beginning with C - Cross

 

 

Something beginning with C - Catch

 

 

Something beginning with C - Crossing

 

 

 

Water - Poole Quay

 

 

Something metal - tarin tracks

 

 

 

 

Something metal - RNLI sculpture

 

 

We had fun anyway!

I have another Pickle Barrel Page to share today - remember the Pickle Barrel event runs until Monday so snap up the bargains whilst you can.

 

 

 

This time I used the gorgeous Collection Happy Thoughts by the talented Lorie M whose work I always love.

 

 

This si the page I made with it - a photo of Nigel from last weekend at Mudeford and Avon beaches.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• glorious sunshine - restores the soul
• Band - we had such fun rocking it out this afternoon
• my turn to win at Yahtzee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting new project

I have to say we can't complain about the weather this half term. True it began with an almighty storm, but since then we have had very nice days and been able to get out an about.

This morning was bright and sunny and we were out by 9 am

Maybe if we had been properly awake we would have resisted the somewhat impulse purchase - but we are still both glad we didn't.

 We ended up at a dolls house shop. We both love miniatures and being creative and had toyed with the idea of a small shop box. Fun though that might be we would have little actual decor to do and that is the bit we enjoy. A shop would really focus on the shop products which, realistically, we would largely buy.

So when we saw a small Tudor house we fell in love. It wasn't very expensive and we went for the very cheap option of build from scratch rather than buy it really built. It will be a challenge in every sense and we have never really done 'Tudor' before, but if it works as we think it will look lovely. It has only two rooms and an attic - so nothing like as massive as my big house. We see distressed beams, thatch roof and maybe still a shop in the bottom too.

This is what it will look like when built - hopefully

 

 

and an ideaof what it might look like painted and distressed

 

 we think the bottom may be a shop or even a school room and we are toying with the idea of thatch for the roof! We'll see. We won't be starting it for a while.

 

Today sees the launch of the Pickle Barrel promotion for February. I have to say the colours are to die for this month - gorgeous turquoises and ochres and greys - really lush.

 

 

Remember, as always, you can get great value if you buy the 6 packs where designers load their collections up. Plus you get a free Pickle Barrel bonus kit if you spend $12.

Remember also the Pickle Barrel all coordinates - so mix and match.

You can't miss.

 

I was lucky enough to work with a lot of the collections this month so you will see a few in coming days.

This page was the first I made and uses Fayette's collection called Ups and Downs

 

 

Do go over and check out all of the collections on offer.

 

Today I am thankful for

• the fun of working on miniatures together
• half term fun
• Pickle Barrel lushness

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little treasure trove

It's been a lovely day here today and so we had fun this afternoon.

We both worked in the morning but earned time off for good behaviour, so after lunch we headed off to Dorchester. No real reason why other than it was there and it was close to Poundbury = the only place at Olives et al that sell the sesame nuts.

As it happened it was a good choice as we found a few bargains. Firstly we shopped in Poundland - always a bonus. They do have some bargains and we picked up batteries - how do we use so many - and best of all bird suet blocks which were much cheaper than we usually pay. Our birds cost us a fortune - we replensihed mealworms and peanuts as well as seed this week. Lucky old birds eh.

Then I wandered into the Works where they had a lot of scrapbooking things reduced. They usually don't have much I like but I bought two much needed 12 x 12 albums and refiils plus a load of embellishments, journalling blocks etc. I was a happy girl.

The visit to Poundbury was also successful and so we are well and truly stocked up.

I have news of an amazing collection now.

Dawn Inskip - who we spend a wonderful day witht his week - has a super new collection out. It is all lush Kraft papers - in Dawn's own special style - and a whole load of embellishments, tags and word strips.  The collection is called Little Things Matter Most

 

Just look at this lushness.

 

 

 

 

 

As ever her work is so detailed and you can snap it up for a bargain price right now - you know you want to

 

This is what I made with the collection - celebrating the view I had on Valentine's night when I returned home in the storm

 

 

I know how lucky I am .

 

Barb I am so pleased you caved and bought a Silhouette. I just KNOW you will love it,.

You asked if I did any of yesterday's disney page with it - yes I did.

The banner and the lettering was all cut on the Silhouette. I love that machine.

Today I am thankful for

• a little shopping expedition
• new fence panels arriving
• friends who are builders

 

Loved this image which is a visual demo of how empty we would feel life was if we didn't have fur kids.  They are the missing bit that completes our life.

 

 

 

Such a lovely time

No blogging yesterday - but for the best of reasons ... we were having too good a time.

Dawn Paul and Carly came to visit and we had such fun. It was great to catch up as we haven't seen each other in a  long time.

They hadn't visited our home before - meetings ahev always been on our travels ... including in Florida ... and they were keen to meet the CFH, especially Fiki. And they came with gifts. Yummy chocolates for us and the most gorgeous things for the cats. There was a smashing soft owl for them to play with, such an appropriate gifts with Carly's background, and the most luxurious blanket that Fiki has been curled up on for much of the day. The cats even behaved themselves really well.

It was wonderful to have dry weather to be able to show them some of the area and we went reound the harbour including many view points up int he Purbecks and a crossing ont he ferry. I even got to show Dawn her bear proudly displayed on the school sign.

Coupled with great food (no of course I didn't cook!) and a chance to look at Carly's amazing art (they are a very talented family) and hear her talk about the wonderful birds she works with, it was a great day. Plenty of talk about Disney too of course.

 

And talking of Disney - as you do - I made a Disney page today ... because I could.

It was based on an idea I had seen - well a couple of ideas actually - from Pinterest. See I DO use it not just look at it.

 

 

I had great fun finding logos to print on the photos and it was actually much harder than I thought to find photos that worked in that format.

 

I had great fun with the banner - eventually - and I just love the Mickey colours.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• friendship
• holidays
• Disney
• Our fur family