Dolly's Dreamings

Busy doing nothing

I've been busy doing nothing - and it has been lovely.

I have some new scrapping to share and some new art though

This was a new felted landscape I did yesterday

 

This oage was for a positive word challenge over at Pickleberrypop

 

 

and a quick picture of tree.

 

Today I am thankful for

• quieter days
• relaxing

Finishing touches

I am love love loving the new lounge. It is light and bright and empty of clutter and I love it.

Today we headed off to Southampton to IKEA to return cushions we didn't want and to buy some storage boxes. I cannot believe that the lounge looks so much emptier and tidier and yet I have 6 big kallax fabric baskets which I can use for wool (yes I do have a very very bad yarn habit.)

We also bought a bit of tech for the lights which MAY mean we can dim them. Not convinced as there were no staff that seemed to understand it all.

 

So I think for now we are done.

We had a lovely drive back through the forest and then a late lunch. What a lovely day.

I have a little bit of new scrapping to share

 

 

 

 

and I have some new art work to share

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lounge I am loving
• a lovely day out
• a bit of sunshine
• newly done nails  - I had my nails totally wrecked by radiotherapy etc and it was upsetting me so much. I was always known for having lovely long strong natural nails and they started to peel and  no matter what I tried I couldnt resolve it. So I started going to a wonderful girl who has sorted them out. They are very much my own nails - I have never wanted to go down the acryllic route - but she puts a protective gel on which has enabled the bad bits of my own nails to grown out and she commented yesterday how strong and healthy they are. I have never ever been a 'pampering' girl. I hate having my hair fiddles with, I don't like massages and pedicures etc but I am loving having my nails done and think I will continue. They are still quite short and natural coloured but I am a happy lady.

 

Our job is done

Thankfully we have now finished the lounge and I think this might be our last big renovation project - we have done everywhere and frankly we are too old to do that level of physical work. We are both shattered - but it was worth it.

We started out with the fireplace being changed back in February last year but I was still recovering from surgery etc and so we had to put everything else on hold.

Then we did a massive project int he bedroom in the summer which was traumatic but thankfully we didn't do a great deal of the work ourselves. We loved the bedroom so much as it was all completely neutral and very calming. So our thoughts turned to our dated lounge.

We set out with the idea to make it as neutral and streamlined as possible. We got rid f lots of clutter, lots of ornaments which no longer brought us joy and we opted for new whit furniture to go with the neutral colour scheme - and I have to say we love it.

 

There are still a few things to be sorted - the sound system, we want a larger tv (yes seriously) and pictures need to be hung - but its clean and fresh and neutral and the carpet is wonderful and soft and we are happy.

Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During

 

 

 

 

 

After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Koda seal of approval

 

I was so relieved to go to art today and relax

I tried pastels (I really don't like them) on black paper of Koda

Not my finest hour but it was a nice diversion

Today I am thankful for

• the lounge being completed
• peace and tranquility
• REST

 

 

Almost there

The lounge renovation is nearing its end - thank goodness. I am obsessively tidy and every room is in a mess, the whole house eneds a jolly good clean and I am done with it to be honest. Butt he end is in sight.

We have some more furniture to build, we have curtains to hand, blinds to hang, and the big job of cutting up and removingt he old carpet and then the new carpet is fitted on Monday.

We are now at the nice stage of buying the nice finishing touches like cushions and so on.

 

We headed to Swanage on Thursday in -2 chills but warmed up nicely afterwards in one of our favourite cafes.

 

 

 

 

and in amongst it I found time for batch cooking - veggie chilli and lasagne

I bought a new toy box for the boyz to match the colour scheme. Indy didn't quite get it!

 

 

 

I even found time for scrapping

 

 

Credits 

January Mystery box at Pickleberrypop 

Today I am thankful for

• a little warmth as I am going to be attending my first ever protest in our local park
• the end being close

 

 

Gorgeous chilly berry big deals

It is that time of the month again when the stunning coordinating collections are released by our Pickleberrypop designers.

And - for the next two days - they are all on incredible offers and they all coordinate together.

I worked with 5 of them this week.

Credits

The Beauty of Stillness Collection Designs by Laura Burger

 

 

 

Credits

Tenderness Bundle by TirAmisu Designs

 

 

Credits

Flurries of Fun Bundles Collection by Chunlin Designs

 

Credits

New Chances Bundle by Neia Scraps

 

 

Credits

Symphony of Moments Collection by Palvinka Designs

 

The end is in sight

Well today was a big day. Our lounge is big - very big - and today we painted all of the walls. And I'm not going to lie ... it was HARD work.

 

 

 

Now we just have the furniture to build, the old furniture to take to the tip, the carpet to cut up (has to be in manageable pieces) and then finally the new carpet laid next Monday and then move everything back in.

 

It was a bit more work than I think we imagined and we are no spring chickens any more, but the end is in sight.

 

I have more design team scrapping for A Trip Down memory Lane to share using Pinkfresh Studio Holiday Dreams.

 

 

 

 

and this one

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the renovations almost done
• design team work accomplished
• progress
• and today for my Christmas dinner - I wasn't well on Christmas Day so ate little so we are having mark 2 today!!!

 

 

Getting there

The lounge is coming on well. As I sit typing Nigel is painting the ceiling then all we have to do it paint all of the walls - twice!! Then we need to assemble the furniture ready, do a few more tip runs and wait for the carpet to be fitted a week on Monday. It's been bearable but several rooms are in a real mess with stored stuff and the boys are hating being shut out of their beloved lounge. But I think it will be worth it.

 

I have new scrapping to share 

 It is my turn to share my take on the weekly sketch. I loved this sketch but had several failed attempts at a star that worked with A4. It is easily possible but was beyond me so I cheated and went with circles!. The photo is of my goddaughter and her little girl modelling the Christmas coat I made for her. I used quite a few bits from the Christmas Printables - Traditional Christmas and also the circles stencil

This was the sketch (and if you don't belong to the Facebook group Scrap a Sketch I urge you to join. You will find a new free weekly sketch every single week and lots and lots of inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the little coat I made for her

 

 

I also have two design team pages for A Trip Down memory Lane to share using the lovely PinkFresh Studios Holiday Dreams collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being on design teams - I never take it for granted
• the lounge progressing well

 

 

Frosty new releases

In keeping with the cold and frosty weather (soooooo grateful to have heating) there are some lovely new frosty collections at Pickleberrypop

 

Credits

Framing memories by Kakleidesigns

 

 

Credits

January Feeling bundle by Carol W Designs

 

 

 

If you look closely you can see the little sanderlings on the shore (they are well camouflaged)

 

We had a day off from decorating today and enjoyed a very cold walk at Mudeford and then a thwarted journey home as the River Avon had still closed roads. But we still had a lovely time.

 

Today I am thankful for

• winter - cold but I love it
• a day off

So grateful for the heating

I am so grateful that we have had our heating fixed as it is now very cold. It was 0 degrees last night and I promise I wont take the heatingf or granted.

 

Wallpapering was completed yesterday and so we had a day off today - whoo hoo.

 

I am also keeping up with the photo a day so far - yes I know it is only the 8th. But here are my first 8 photos. I did photo a day 365 in 2009 and in 2013. This is my biggest yet as it is 366!!!! OK so it is only one day more. 

 

I have a couple of new pages made for classes I was teaching for ATDML a little while ago that I haven't shared here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a day off decorating
• heating
• projects completed.

 

Challenges of all sorts

The last two days have been a challenge indeed.

My New Year resolution was to actually sort out the Etsy shop I have had for four years that has set in glorious emptiness. I promised myself I would do it. 

Oh my what a faff that was. And oh my how many spam messages you get.

I am not sure it is sorted out yet but - if you fancy a look you can, possibly, find it by searching in Etsy shops for Karen Leahy Art or possibly clicking this link HERE which might take you to the shop!

 

I'm notexpecting to sell anything but it was a goal I set myself to set it up

The eating has also been a challenge. One of the valves failed - don't ask the technicalities - but it meant the heating was ON - like all the time and just getting hotter and hotter and hotter. dangerously hot. So we had to switch it off at the mains and it was cold. Anyway it looks - fingers crossed - like the engineer has fixed it today.

 

The other challenge was driving in some of the worst flood water I have driven in yesterday. I went to get my nails done and I was terrified. I have never seen it so flooded. It was really deep and really scary and really dark!

On to nicer challenges

 

Pickleberrypop host great challenges every month and I made a page for one of them. You can win great things so do go over and check them out.

Credits

Frozen Full Kit by Bellisae

Frozen playing with snowflakes by Bellisae

Frozen Paper Pieces by Bellisae

 

 

And of course there are challenges and sketches galore over at Scrap a Sketch. This wasn't a challenge but a Design Team page using one of the awesome new premium sketches.

 

It was  nice to share something that has now all been laundered and packed away. I had fun with the squares and I loved the juxtaposition of the squares with the large circle. I used a very old collection which just seemed to match the Nordic quilt cover we bought this Christmas. On refelection I think I ought to have used a less busy background but if Christmas isn't a time for More is more I don't know when is.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• completing a challenge I set myself to start a store
• heating - fingers crossed