Dolly's Dreamings

A bit of a catch up

Well I have contacted Typepad - again - about the ongoing problems of uploading photos. It has been almost two years and their response is that they know it is an issue and are trying to fix it. 

I am left with a dilemma. I could close the blog - I pay good money each month for it - but then I would loose everything and it goes back to cover some 18 years of my life and, as I have always said, the blog is primarily for me - my brain dump of my life. Or I could limp on and just post occassionally. So - we are limping on and posting when I can face the hell of typepad. 

Recently we have finished the renovation of the studio and are now starting on the final house renovation - the hall stairs and landing which we have been agonising about for years., 

We have now rubbed down all 13 - yes 13 - of the architraves in readiness for the new doors to be fitted then we can paint... architraves (doors are pre-painted), walls, ceiling. The new staircase is being installed in July and the carpet etc is fitted later that month. And that will be us done with decorating. From then on it is just maintenance which we hope will be little. 

We have enjoyed days out to the beach, to Longleat, to Mottisfont, to Cranborne Gardens and lots of art has been going on. I'd love to be able to share pictures so I will try a few selected highlights

art work I have been doing

 

 

 

 

scrapbook ages I have made 

 

 

Photos of where we have been refuse to upload. But imagine feeding meerkats, watching lions and tigers, walking a deserted beach and seeing beautiful gardens 

 

Today I am thankful for 

• almost being at the end of renovations
• wonderful days out 
• the chance to create art 
• a very blessed retired life with my soul mate 

 

 

Berry Big deals

Life has been good here. Lots of painting and lots of drawing too plus some days out and a bit of scrapping.

Today new Berry Big deals are released at OPickleberrypop and here are some of my pages to promote these gorgeous collections.

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Be Fearless Collection by Blue Heart Scraps

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/Be-Fearless-Collection-Bundle.html

 

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About Me Collection by TirAmisu Designs

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/About-Me-Bundle-by-TirAmisu-design.html

 

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Anything but Ordinary Collection by Fayette Designs

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/Anything-But-Ordinary-Bundle.html

 

 

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Garden Walks Collection by Neia Scraps

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/Garden-Walks-bundle-by-Neia-Scraps.html

 

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Be Kind .. but with spine Collection by Chunlin Designs

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/chunlin-be-kind-bws-bundle.html

 

 

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Notes from today Collection by Bellisae Designs

https://pickleberrypop.com/shop/NOTES-FROM-TODAY-collection-by-Bellisae.html

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine
• good friends
• productivity

 

 

International Scrapbook Day

Happy International Scrapbook Day

I have now officially christened my new studio and made my first few scrapbook pages ... one made whilst chatting to scrappy friends with a video call.

 

We enjoyed a wonderful day out at Exbury - at its peak

 

 

I am afraid typepad is now done for the day uploading pictures.

I hope you are all enjoying a great bank holiday weekend remembering these to whom we know so much as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE day

Today I am thankful for

• all sorts of hobbies
• a week's holiday (at home)
• brave people who died to give us our freedom

 

Glorious weather and a new scrap room/art studio

It has been glorious here. I love it when it is bright and sunny but I am already not loving the heat. I really don't like being hot and especially as we have been so busy refurbing the worst room in the house.

My scrap room had 30 years of stash in it. I cleared out boxes and boxes of stuff which felt really good. We then moved everything out, decorated, had new carpet and then built lovely new cupboards. Everything is now behind doors so is cat safe and looks oh so much better. It is a bright, well organised, clutter free space I am just going to love creating in. One side is all scrapping and the other is all art. (Oh and Nigel has a desk on the other side of the room and has some lovely new display cases for his models. 

Before

and if it hadn't taken me 20 minutes to upload those three before pictures I would have shared during - however, straight to after photos

 

I do love everything in boxes and labelled

 

I was going to share photos of longleat and scrapping but i ts simply NOT allowing it today.

I am hating TYPEPAD

Some recent art work - the first painted for the new room

 

 

 

No it is not allowing any more paintings

Today I am thankful for

• breakfast in the sunshine with friends
• a beautiful calm new room
• sorting the next DIY project - the last we hope
• Sitting in the garden
• A very productive check up with the eye consultant

 

I am NOT thankful for the way Typepad is behaving

 

Days out and new stuff

The weather has been glorious here - still chilly but unbroken sunshine.

We had a trip out to the Purbecks, a trip to Longleat where we got the best tiger photos ever and a trip to Bletchly Park which was spur of the moment and utterly worth it.

There was so much information to take in that we left when we were 'full'. It was a fascinating place and how they ever broke the Enigma code is a miracle.

In addition to all of that I have been painting and scrapping with new releases

 

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Found it! By Carol W Designs

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Art Box no 25 by Tiramisu Designs

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Brewtiful Break by Chunlin Designs

And by competing the Great Digi Scrap off challenges over at Pickleberrypop you can collect the massive Childhood Wonder collection for free.

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Childhood Wonder Mega Collaboration kit – collect the parts FREE  throughout March by completing GDSO challenges

 

I am going to try and share some of the tiger photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

sadly it won't allow any more photos today!!!

 

Today I am thankful for

• days out
• sunshine
• clever people
• tidiness
• breakfast out with friends

 

 

ooops too busy having fun

I know there are still people who check in here - bless you for coming.

I know I am neglecting my blog. There are several reasons.

Firstly typepad is just so difficult to use with it having hissy fits over every single picture.

Secondly I am focusing on my instagram account (@scrapdollyart) and facebook as they are easier platforms to share my thoughts and work If you are interested in seeingt he scrapping and art work then pop over and have a look at my two insta accounts.

My scrapping instagram is http://www.instagram.com/scrapdolly   and my art instagram is http://www.instagram.com/scrapdollyart. You do at least get almost daily updates on those as they work. 

Plus my news and photos all go on my facebook page

 

However, Typepad allowing - I will try and do a bit of an update.

The weather is gorgeous at the moment (after a lot of wind and rain) and so we are enjoying being out and about in the sunshine. We have had days out to Longleat, Weymouth, The Purbecks, Studland, Branksome and it's been lovely

Sadly Typepad isn't allowing photos today.

Art has been happening - a lot

A first attempt at acrylics - miniatures of course

Back to proper watercolours

My 10 2" square paintings for February

 

and a couple of my sketch a day pages

Today a new event has started at Pickleberrypop - The Great Digi ScrapOff GDSO 5

I am hosting a challenge and this is my challenge page.

 

On offer is a massive collaboration kit called Childhood Wonder which you can get for free, collecting one part each week for completing the three challenges for that week. It is an incredible incredible collection. This is the page I made with it

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine but not heat (I don't like the heat)
• days out
• Beautiful Dorset
• art and scrapping

 

Love is in the air

Gotta love the new Valentine related collections just released on heavily discounted offers today through Thursday at Pickleberrypop. I had such fun playing

 

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I’ll Follow You Collection by Jen Yurko

 

 

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Our Story Together Collection by Heartstrings Scrap Art

 

 

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Sweet Dreams Collection by Tiramisu Designs

 

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Graceful Moments Bundle by e t designs

In other news

There have been freezing cold beach walks (seriously cold) and a fabulous trip to Longleat - again - where I got amazing video of the tiger cubs.

And we have finally - it was a big big debate - agreed on a new front door.

Other than that life has been quiet and filled with art!

Today I am thankful for

• a decision made
• tiger cubs - they are adorable
• art time

 

A Bit of a scrapping catch up

There are new releases out today at Pickleberrypop so two digitasl pages first

 

 

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Lovely February Collection by Palvinka Designs

 

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Because Love Bundle Carol W Designs

 

 

and some design team pages for scrap a sketch  using some of the gorgeous new February Premium Sketches

 

 

 

Other than that it has been quiet here with just everyday things. Today was a good day - the light that has been out for three months was finally fixed and a blown window was replaced. See how mundane my life is at times.

And finally a few of my recent paintings

 

 

I'm afraid Typepad is refusing to let me add more pictures - again!

Today I am thankful for

• easy everyday days where nothing much happens
• essential repairs completed
• cnetral heating - it's very cold!

Feeling in Valentine mood - grab a freebie

Firstly Barb thank you for your lovely comments as always and Mary, thank you for yours too and I was sorry to hear of your illness.

I cannot believe it is February already. January has flown by and we seem to have been very busy - not doing anything special just busy busy busy

I have January things to share though. And them some February freebies

 

I do like challenge and I set myself a challenge this year of doing a sketch a day in a special gorgeous little sketch book which is aimed at getting me to practice my sketching skills every day. They are quick little sketches and are fun to do and I have now finished my first month and proud not to have missed a day. They are not great works of art and, where possible, I am trying to sketch something from the day.

 

 

 

 

I have also taken on a challenge to paint 10 tiny miniature paintings each month is a little journal. The paintings are just 2" square and its fun to do.

Here is the cover of the book I am making

and here is the January double page

 

I have news from Pickleberrypop to share too. We are in a new month and so there is a brand new free with purchase this month and a brand new scrap bingo challenge. The two kits are both called A Full Heart and you can get the first free with purchases this month and the second if you complete the scrap bingo challenges which are fun to play along with

 

 

This was made with the FWP kit

and this with the prize kit

 

Today I am thankful for

• the joy of hobbies
• challenges which keep me motivated
• decluttering - it is ongoing!

 

 

Quietly scrapping and painting

I have been quietly scrapping away and painting and drawing and generally having a lovely, non-descript time. We have had some nice walks, some lovely drives, we have braved the cold and we have eaten out and January, thus far, is proving a rather nice month for us.

I will share some of the scrapping if typepad allows

 

 

 

and as that only took 20 minutes to ad!!!! maybe some art pictures will be acceptable to the tyupepad gods too!

 

 

and that one of Corfe is already up on display - for sale - at The Nest along with 12 others - here is one selection of paintings displayed there

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely start to the year
• art opportunities
• safety - My heart and prayers lie with the people int he Greater LA area suffering such devastating fires. I cannot begin to imagine the fear, the desperation, the heartache.

Happy New Year and some scrapping

Happy new year everyone.

I hope tat 2025 treats us all with kindness and brings many happy times and few troubles for everyone.

Our new year was quiet but just the way we like it and we have enjoyed a few lovely walks in the beautiful January sunshine.

I also have scrapping to share

These are all digital pages from Pickleberrypop. There is a gorgeous new free with purchase pack running all month and a fabulous new challenge - scrap bingo - where it is really easy to win great prizes.

 

 

and these are a couple of paper pages

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the tap we thought was possibly broken isn't broken
• freezing cold glorious sunshine
• reduced reed diffusers