Dolly's Dreamings

New releases and new scrapping

It's new release day at Pickleberrypop and I have new scrapping to share too

 

Credits

Memory Lane Bundle by Chunlin

 

 

 

 

 

Credits

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/Heartfelt-Collection.html

 

 

 

 

 

And this was made for a challenge at Hey Little Magpie and scrap a sketch and it uses my latest painting.

 

 

 

 

 and this one

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apart from that my life has been pretty much trying to sort out the mess of Virgin Media where I can access one account on my phone only, one account not at all and one on my computer only.  It's been going on for a week and is pretty damned awful to be honest!

Today I am thankful that

• today I HAVEN't spoken to them and am accepting that my e mail is just a hot mess.

 

 

 

 

Sooooo tired

We have worked hard the last few days to improve the outside of the house out the back, which we had neglected a bit because we never really use the space.

We still have things to do but my goodness we have improved it. We still need to have a new set of stairs made but that will take time but we are in the process now. However, the set of steps down from he patio to the side of the house (it's a very odd set up because our house is s split level house) which were old, unloved, horrible and an eyesore have now been transformed. We did this on Saturday and yesterday we both ached all over. But it was worth it

 

 

The planters have all been painted and look like the steps too and the new furniture is ordered.

 

I have managed a bit of light scrapping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this is a digital page with a new collection by Lorie M

 

 

and finally I decided that I would try and paint something very different - out of my comfort zone - a pen and ink picture of one of my route 66 photos

 

I'm unsure but quite pleased I managed it

 

 

Today I am thankful

for a day off from the hard work!

 

 

Glorious weather

It has been really glorious weather the last few days. Yesterday we decided a day off from the painting was much needed and so we headed out.

We had a lovely walk and picnic on Weymouth seafront. It was like the summer (I was a tad surprised at how many children were apparently not in school)

 

 

 

 

 

and then we enjoyed a walk at Portland and an ice cream

 

 

 

and I have even scrapped some of the photos already

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was also thrilled to be a guest designer for Lottie Loves Paper and my page went live today

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel having a very good press and practice day at speedway (I missed him!)
• finishing a big project - a new blanket
• painting time

 

More positive

Well the last two days have been busy. We have agonised enough over what to do and what we can and cannot do with our outside space.

 

The summer house at £10,000 is out - didn't work for our space thankfully. The glass summer house at over £20000 is thankfully out. But we need to do something front and back.

We are having new steps made for the back which will be amazing. They will look smart and be maintenance free.

We were going to have all the paving slabs by the front door and steps ripped up and replaced with 20+ expensive new slabs. For the cost of that (when you take into account labour, materials and the risk they will damage the hand made bricks (that would be totally our luck) we have bought a tin of masonry paint, painted and sealed the slabs, painted the planters front and back, will paint the lower patio and have bought a beautiful corner suite and parasol for outdoors. we are having an electric awning over the balcony - gosh we won't know ourselves. Have to say I wasn't quite sure why I wanted to have outside seating etc today when I was outside for 4 hours painting stone planters and dealing with some of the biggest spiders I have ever ever seen. Indoors seemed wonderfully safe! However, it will give us a new lease of life with the ability to entertain outside.

I think it has all been worth it.

Oh and there has been beaches and scrapping too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too tired to edit the pictures, but it was lovely.

Today I am thankful for

• some resolutions
• refreshed areas
• new furniture
• progress
• sitting down!

 

 

 

Fruitless but fruitful

Well this weekend has been about ups and downs and ups.

 

We decided we wanted a glass verandah. It wasn't possible for all sorts of reasons. We have a huge plot and big garden but for it to make sense and come off the right room it blocked the view of the heath from three other windows and the heath is what we love. So today we went looking at summer houses because they would surely be OK. We fell in love with one and costed it all out to be painted, clad inside, insulated, lit, lovely flooring. Awesome. Came home and we tried every conceivable place and unless we want a view of the side of it from everywhere or want it to look at the house not the heath or want it situated in a cold dark unloved corner where it is covered by trees it is just not feasible. Plus, we never even sit on the patio at the back so realistically what is the point. We accept we would rarely use it and just liked the idea of it. It's a good job there wasn't a sensible option else we would have spent thousands for something we wouldn't make enough use of. So disappointing but a good exercise and think of all the money we have saved!

We did have a picnic by the river and saw this little lady (there was another birdwatcher there who explained if they have an orange under beak they are female)

 

 

Yesterday was about the scrapping.

 

Jackey this was made with some of your papers and it was a scrap squad sketch

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were made with my March JAC Box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this was for a UKS challenge

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• two little boys to come home to
• exploring options and being sensible
• the fact we have a lovely, warm, safe home filled with love - that's what matters (I'd have liked a summer house though!)

 

 

Days out and excitement

The weather has been glorious and we have enjoyed days out in very spring-like weather.

Yesterday we went over to Wareham to order an awning for our balcony and so included a lovely walk in Swanage

 

These are from Swanage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and today we went to Winchester, a town we don't know well and we picked up a little map of a short walking tour and I loved the old buildings and appear to have had a thing for doorways today

 

These are all the Guildhall

 

 

 

 

 

The mayor's house and the river walk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Bishop's Palace and Winchester College which is the oldest continuously running school in the country

 

 

 

 

 

 

The house where Jane Austen died and then random views around the town, cathedral close etc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and - for the first time since the pandemic started we also went for an unplanned meal out at Wagamama ... yum

 

 

 

and wow - if you have managed to get through all of those I better add some scrapping which is meant to be the point of this blog as well as ramblings of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and breathe!

 

I have to say - I love my retired life. I love what we do together. Some days very simple but always lovely and always way way better than being at work.

 

Today I am thankful for

• spring sunshine
• days out
• new projects to plan at home

 

Mega new releases and help for Ukraine

It is a very very special release at Pickleberrypop this week. As you will know from previous posts we have members of our Pickleberrypop family directly impacted by the war in Ukraine. we have three Ukranian designers who are struggling in the middle of a war and so many of the new releases have been designed with that in mind. Do go and check out the store as I have worked with 7 of the collections, for free as part of my Creative Team commitment, but there are many more in store.

Pickeberrypop is making sure no money from sales in their stores is taken in commission but goes direct to the designers ...Natalie of  TirAmisu Designs, Olya of Jasmi-Olya designs and Anna of Anna Designs by Indigo so please, if you can, support their stores.

In addition, Faye, who own Pickleberrypop, has designed the gorgeous collection peace on earth below and all of the money from that collection is also going to our designers who are so awfully affected by the war.

 

Scrapping is such a great community and so very special in all that it does and when a community comes together int he way it knows how, through art and creativity to help members of that community, it is very special and I am so very very proud to be a member of the Pickleberrypop family

 

Credits

Peace on Earth collection by Fayette Designs  

NB ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS COLLCTION GO TO OUR UKRANIAN DESIGNERS AT PBP

 

 

My heart goes out to Natalie who, in the midst of conflict, designed this next collection because it's her job and she needs to work.

Credits

Love Saves the World by Tiramisu Designs

 

 

 

Credits

Hope and Strength Collection by Chunlin Designs

 

 

 

 

Credits

Periwinkle Poetry Collection by On A Whimsical Adventure

 

 

 

Credits

Cloud’s Edge Collection by Heather T

 

 

 

 

Credits

Renew bundle by Natali Designs

 

 

 

 

 

Credits

Extraordinary Collection by Bellisae Designs

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being part of a huge supportive community

 

 

Too many cyber crops

This weekend there were cyber crops on at four different sites I enjoy playing with and it was all a bit too much - plus I lost most of yesterday as I wasn't very well.

However I have enjoyed some scrapping and managed to make some of the pages work for several challenges

 

Here is some of my recent scrapping

 

I love this one best of all - made for a Lottie Loves Paper challenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is for my iconic America album

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

two for the Cornwall album

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this of a robin

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• retirement - if you don't want to - don't!
• easy walks
• my home town (had a lovely walk round the old town today)
• scrap time

 

The worry of war

Like much of the country, of Europe, of the World, we are horrified about all that is going on in Ukraine and feel so powerless to help. They feel so close and yet are so far away.

We feel we must do what we can, which isn't a lot, but we did our second shop for products to go to Ukraine today. They need the money, yes, but they also need THINGS. They need things for people forced to flee and suffering and they cannot always buy what they need there. We again took a load of baby wipes, nappies, baby milk and, and I feel most passionate about this, sanitary supplies. I cannot imagine how the women feel to be fleeing their homes, leaving their men folk behind, trying to be brave and strong for their children and often elderly relatives too and having to worry about the indignity of periods without the means to do anything bout it.

For local people we took ours to the large drop off at Castle Point where it is now so well organised and they have lists of the things they need, but basically warm clothes, blankets, baby food, nappies, wipes, sanitary protection and medicine. In the UK you are not allowed to bulk but paracetamol and Ibuprofen and it is something I never ever buy here because I bulk buy it in America where you can buy as many of each as you want. We had to shop in several shops to get even a small amount of each to donate.

Most of you will know that I am on the creative team for Pickleberrypop and it is a very close 'family' there. Two of our wonderful designers are Ukrainian. Natalie from Turamisu Designs who, for the moment, is still in her home, and Olya from Jamin Olya Designs who has been forced to flee her home. Faye who own Pickleberrypop has sent out newsletters saying hat people can support these two girls by buying from their stores. They will get the money directly nd PBP are taking no commission or transfer costs. It all goes to the girls so please, if you can and you can use some beautiful digital designs, please support their stores.

 

These are the direct links to their stores.

 

Tiramisu designs

 

Jasmin Olya Designs

and technically I ought not to share this as it is not my work but her heart sings out in it. This was made by Natalie herself using her own products at her Tiramisu's store  and her heart shines out through it.

 

 

 

and using this collection featuring Ukraine's flower, the sunflower

 

If you can please support these girls. 

 

I have no scrapping to share today - my heart hasn't been in it. But I do have news. Yesterday we went to visit the amazing Jackey and her husband as she had contacted me via here (she is a regular reader) and was getting rid of a lot of her scrapping supplies and wanted them to go to a scrapper. I cannot begin to tell you how generous she was and I left with so many wonderful things which will be even more special as they came from her. I was very touched to be given them and they will be put to very good use.

However, the most amazing part was finding out they were both miniaturists and they took us into their doll's house room. Oh my goodness. I love my dollhouse and I think it's quite good as dolls houses go and it has been a labour of love for us both. However, theirs were on a whole new level. There were so many. A huge beautifully furnished big house which was all lit and so tasteful. A lighthouse - yes with light and accommodation, a fully working mill with water wheel, a shop, a Romany caravan and, my favourite of all, an adobe house which was so authentic from the build to every single item inside. The attention to detail was incredible in all of them. We have been to many dollhouse fairs and exhibitions over the past 22 years, here and in the USA and I have never ever seen more beautiful work of such excellent standard. We haven't been able to stop talking about it. It was a real privilege to see it. And her generosity even went to the miniatures oo and I have new food for our house and the equipment to make the curtains I have never dared to tackle.

If you are reading this thank you so much Jackey. I am thrilled.

 

Today I am thankful for

• the generosity of friends
• people working together to help others across the world
• the fact that I am in a warm, safe home, with my loved one, not in fear of my life. That must never ever be taken for granted.

 

 

 

New Releases and other stuff

It's been quiet here the last few days - I had a lovely time not doing much at art club yesterday and have a little light scrapping to share.

 

As a massive Friends fan I couldn't resist this and yes - it's why I took the photo!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Indy

 

and I'm afraid Indy again. They do get scrapped pretty equally though Indy poses more readily for the camera.

 

 

 

 

And it is new release day today so some pages of the very beautiful Alice.

 

Credits

Go Your Own Way Bundle by Jen Yurko

 

 

 

 

 

Credits

Keep on Smiling Full Kit by Bellisae

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• scrapping which helps keep me sane.
• Less pain yesterday than the day before and the hope that today will be less again