Dolly's Dreamings

Let's hope that was the one

Having been on high alert for heath fires all summer due to the extreme heat and lack of any rain, we had a small heath fire near us last night. Thankfully it was spotted quickly and two fire engines and a tender were there in record time and it was soo dealt with. Let's hope that is it and there are no more.

 

I am again so grateful for the firemen who work so tirelessly and that means the firemen all over the world, dealing with awful wildfires in California, Portugal and so many other placed, dealing with things like the collapsed bridge in Italy. They are remarkable, brave men and women. All respect to them.

 

I had a wonderful catch up with a good friend and past colleague today. It was lovely to see her but it did remind me why I am so glad I have left there. But we had a super time and it is so good to still be in touch with so many people I used to work with.

It was art this afternoon and my Tiger is nearly finished. I need to do his paws and body at one side yet, but he is almost there

 

 

I have a couple of pages to share today made for various challenges

 

This is one with a new collection called FureverFriends by Kathryn Estry that I absolutely adore

 

 

This was made for a challenge at both PBP and FTLOPP and it was to show what I do and what I dream of. It's a bit naughty really because truth be told I don't do a great deal of ironing these days and I dream of Disney rather than specifically the Caribbean Beach these days, but it made for a better page to use that resort.  The collection was called Orange Cream and Cabanas by Jumpstart Designs

 

 

and this was a sketch challenge at FTLOPP and I found it a very challenging sketch to use but I was quite pleased with the finished outcome

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• support from Social services yesterday. I cannot tell you how much work Nigel has done recently, endless hours of meetings and paperwork and sorting things out. It takes up hours and hours and hours sadly not everyone appreciates quite what he does. Sadly. But thanks to his tireless efforts we are slowly getting there with resolving issues with his mum
• Firemen and women - not all heroes wear capes. Quite a lot of them wear yellow helmets! 

 

 

 

Largely positive

I had a lovely day yesterday. No pain relief needed at all and a lovely friend I used to work with came to visit.

It was so lovely to see Simon. When he left that was one of the final things that made me determined I was going to leave. Simon was such an integral part of what the school used to mean that his leaving had a huge impact on me. I am thrilled he left for the best of reasons and now has his own school and is loving it. But goodness I missed him every day and it is always so good when we get to catch up. Lovely day. However, go figure, bad night. No pain really all day, horrid pain, even with pain relief, all night. No idea why. I think maybe it is the intercostal tendons that are sore now and at times they just go into spasm.

 

I also finally found a couple of decent bras. You would think that wasn't hard wouldn't you! I always buy my bras from M and S and I always buy them on line. The never have the full range of styles and sizes in store so it is just easier. I have a style I like and stick with it. Well, I figured I did. I ordered the wrong style in three colours first off. Just slightly different but actually bore no resemblance to the bras I love. I think bras are such a key thing to wear. They are not the comfiest thing int he world (hence why they tend to come off as soon as possible when we are slumming at home ladies!) and just the slighest thing I find can turn it from OK to 'Oh my goodness I am in an instrument of torture, get me out get me out get me out!' 

And no - I don't get them fitted. I went once and the contraption they put me in which they said was the right size, unlike the size I had been wearing, was an absolute no. I think wearing and all metal bra would have been more comfortable.

Anyway - they had to go back and I finally figured what I had done wrong (they look the same but one style had a bow and one style had an elongated bow but they look identical, same price etc.)

They came and I ordered three colourways and they might as well have sent three different sizes. I did double check they hadn't. They hadn't. One was perfect in every single sense. One was way-way too big and one was - well just off. Very off. Monoboob off. I actually put the three together, thinking maybe my boobs had suddenly changed dramatically between bra one and two and three. They were sooo different. So the perfect one was kept, I reordered the gorgeous magenta one I loved that was way too huge and when the replacement came - the same size - it was perfect. So, long process but new bras and 5 to return! HOW can things vary so much.  Hopefully, the issue of finding the right bra has resonated with some of you ... or maybe it is just me!

 

Went for a lovely walk today and also called into the library to get a few books on watercolours. I figured now I have been painting for a year it might be an idea to learn how to do it properly. I have a very tight and detailed style and I would love to be able to paint more loosely and abstractly. We will see.

I also have new scrapping to share.

 

This page is not the most artistic I have ever made - though it took an age - but I felt very strongly about it.

I saw the new pictures of the Caribbean Beach resort and how awful the new gondola stanchions look - so close to the buildings, not camouflaged etc. They have ruined our home resort. It was so very very beautiful and tropical and peaceful and they have destroyed it.

 

 

I stitched the flap on as I wanted to hide the photos of what it looks like now. The one on the front is the view we knew and loved. It now has a huge pole int he way and what on earth it will be like when the gondola is whizzing overhead I dread to think.

 

 

 

This is a cut file I have had for ages and never used so it was fun to use that yesterday too

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely visit from a good friend
• a pain-free day
• a fitting bra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A busy day and I'm back

First of all I'd like to say hello to you all.

I gather I vanished intot he ether for a while a couple of days ago.

 

Thank you to the really kind people who contacted me via facebook to let me know my blog had vanished. Apparently a plug in I used had been compromised. Loads of people had the same problem. I have to say Typepad are brilliant. Their help desk is super and they talked me through the fix.

I was a bit worried that I had lost my blog. I have been keeping my blog for 11 years - I almost cannot believe it. It goes back to 2007 and there have been times when this blog has saved my sanity. I have met some lovely people through my blog, I have had such lovely comments about it that have made me very happy. I LOVE that there are people who read my blog - some read every single post and that is lovely. It serves several purposes for me. It is my diary - my daily or every other day brain dump that just enables me to record what I have done, primarily for Nigel and I but I am glad other enoyit too. It is a place to share my photos and all the weird stuff I accumulate from the world like crazy pictures, funny images, amazing art works etc. It is also a place I can showcase my craft, both my paper craftingt hat is just for me and my digital work for the designers I am blessed to create for. 

Thank youthiose of you who are avid readers and those of you who pop in for the occasional visit. Thank you those of you who stop and leave a comment, and those of you who enjoy it silently. I am pleased normal service has beenr resumed. 

 

Yesterday was the final day of art week. I sold quite a few frames and plaques and did quite well onthe picture voting. There were 140 pictures displayed and I was proud to have one well in the top 10.  I did too much though and paid the price for it. My ribs have been bad and I have had  TMJ flare up so today has been quiet - well apart from the washing, cleaning and weekly shop!

 

I have new scrapping to share

This was made for a challenge at FTLOPP (I am love love loving their summer fiesta and the daily challenges

 

The Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian

 

 

This was another challenge and is a bit of a pretty paper overload

 

 

and this is a mojo challenge at Pickleberrypop and I am very grateful to Claire for letting me scrap her holiday photos.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a wonderful art week
• a clean house and finished laundry
• my blog - it has brought me great joy over the past 11 years
• the smell of coq au vin wafting up to me. I am jolly hungry 

Look away now if, like me, you have OCD as this is going to be truly shocking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely week

I have been at art for most of the week this week, stewarding at our art exhibition and painting. It's been lovely. Lovely people, lovely atmosphere, lots of friends have dropped in. Happy lady.

Managed half a tiger LOL so clearly not a lot of painting going on, more chatting.

 

He is starting to be revealed.

I do have new scrapping to share though ... made for various challenges.

This was using Lara Burgers Lolly bag and for a challenge using mint green, circles and beaches. Nigel caught me getting wet at just the right minute 

 

 

This was to use stencils, and a geotag

 

This was the UKS weekly challenge. Nigel is such a good sport. He posed so nicely in the dinosaur egg outside the cinema.

 

and finally the monthly challenge on UKS

 

 

 

I have an update on the collection for Dawn's memorial bench

Carly and Paul felt it would be too intense to have a bench at the bird sanctuary where Carly would see it every day and so they suggested Paradise Wildlife Park where Dawn and her family loved visiting. We have spoken to Paradise and they have agreed and we are now finalising the details and the wording.

Once the bench is installed I will post here, hopefully with photos too.

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely art week
• being able to do something for a friend and her family
• all the people who so generously supported the collection for Dawn's bench

 

An arty week

 

I am having a very arty week down at the church stewarding for our exhibition, but it is lovely. They are great people, it's very interestinga nd I am getting to paint as well, which is good. And it is easy work not taxing my ribs.I do have new pages to share though.

This is a page made for one of the mojo challenges at PBP - do check them out as you can win fabkits for doing the challenges. This is the kit for this month 

 

 

I made this for the USE IT ALL challenge and you get the kit to make it for free.

 

I also made this page this afternoon. It was a challenge at FTLOPP and you had to use flowers (mine are small and discreet) stencils (the dots) and a geotag.

 

Yesterday's challenge was also floral, alongside triangles, and there was nothing subtle about those flowers!!!

 

Today I am thankful that

• I am in far less pain
• I get to meet really interesting people
• it is cooler

and it has been a while since I have shared anything this stunning. I would so love one of my fur babies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The aisle I always avoid

When I go supermarket shopping I avoid the cold aisles like the plague. I have reynauds and even getting just btter and yoghurt is enough to set it off. Today - well I loitered. Seriously loitered.

I know we Brits are known for moaning about the weather but please, I have had enough. 29 degrees, humid and no sign of an end. The bedroom is like the tenth circle of hell, we are not sleeping and I long for the cold. Seriously. I am an Autumn girl. I no likey heat. My hair no likey heat either! Its a cross between barbed wire and a fuzzy wuzzy bear! Curly hair does not do heat and humidity. 

 

We got very hot setting up for the art exhibition this afternoon too. I finished my latest painting just in time. Thank goodness Nigelw as there as I still cannot lift, bend or stretch.

 

This is my latest picture (apologies for the glare as it is in cellophane for the exhibition

 and the others are the other pictures I have in the exhibition. They are not great works of art but having only painted for 14 months I am pretty proud to be honest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are local do come and visit. It is free and there are some great pictures on show (many of our group are very talented - not me!)

 

 

There is also a table top sale of all sorts of stuff ont he Saturday all day.

 

Some recent scrapping - largely made for FTLOPP challenges

 

Yesterday fruity was the challenge

 

today it was navy and minimal stash

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel helping me
• belonging to such a great art group - apart from their talent they are just lovely people to be with

 

 

 

 

 

An unexpected bonus

Today is the first day I can honestly say I am starting to feel a little better. The pain is definitely easing but I a made the mistake of trying to see what it was like without painkillers.

Mmmm

Little early for that - but it is definitely much better when I am on the medication.

 

I couldn't manage much at art yesterday as came home early feeling a bit sorry for myself but i was so lucky that I had a real treat. Nigel phoned to say his friend David from Wessex Marine was taking a Targa out to see the fireworks and would we like to go. Oh yes please. We love the fireworks. We know we are very lucky to live in a seaside town which puts on fireworks every Thursday throughout the summer (and Bournemouth do the same on a Friday) We love watching them but to see them from the water is even better. 

It was a beautiful calm evening (the reason why we said yes - rough weather would not have suited the ribs)

Lovely balmy evening leaving the marina, going along the quay and watching the fireworks

If you are not familiar with Targas they are stunning boats - maybe not so sleek looking but Oh my they are quality - built to a very high spec and they smell of wood. There is wood everywhere. It is a gorgeous boat.

 

 

Leaving Salterns

 

A massive boat transporter used for delivering the huge luxury Sunseeker boats amongst other things 

 

 

Our beautiful quay - absolutely heaving with people!

 

 

A big sunseeker. Poole is the home of sunseeker and there are always incredibly outrageous yachts. This one, David reckoned, would be about £22,000,000 and no, I haven't made a mistake with thee zeros 

 

ahhh   fireworks 

 

 

 

This morning we walked round Poole Park, along Baiter, up through the High Street to collect our daily frap.  (bear in mind I never have fraps any more I have green tea lemonade but heck, you get the idea) It was way way way too hot to be walking .

 

Just because they were pretty

 

 

A wonderful old shop we always admire in Poole High Steet

Love this tree. Actually I love all trees but this is a stunner

 

 

New scrapping to share

 

This was made for the mojo challenge - a template challenge - at Pickleberrypop using the Lolly Bag by Laura Burger and her free template

 

 

 

This was a page for FLOPP challenge yesterday - had to be music elements, a song title and splatters. The splatters are silver and look better in real life but I still don't like them

 

 

And this was another FLOPP challenge - this time music that you love and as I love Christmas music it just had to be this

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the fan running behind me as I type
• friends
• a lovely firework cruise
• pain killers. You don't realise how good they are till you try and stop taking them

 

 

Happy Birthday Pickleberrypop

It is Pickleberrypop's birthday today and there are amazing -a nd I mean amazing - birthday deals all over the store.

The designers have released their annual Lolly Bags - goody bags full of stuff that is at bargain price.

Oh my goodness - it really is like being a kid ina  candy store.

Do check them all out but here are some I have worked with this time

First this one by Lorie M - I love the colours

 

 

I made this of Crater Lake

 

There was this one by Fayette - so cute with great word art as always

 

 

Couldn't resist Nigel and his amazing cup cake from Hollywood Studios last year

 

This one is from reginafalango and is so pretty

 

 

 

 

This gorgeous lolly bag is from Tiramisu designs and is lovely

 

and the photo is Nigel's grandmother

 

 

and finally this one - that I loved - by Dita B Designs

 

and this was so lovely to use for the photo of Jakki and Alice

 

 

 

So do go over and check them out - uyou won't be disappointed

 

Today I am thankful for great stuff to scrap with I love being part of the PBP team.

 

 

spoke too soon

OK - so that will teach me - oooh I am so much better ... oooh I had a better night.

It appears I was a little premature.

I have had a dreadful couple of days - and nights - re the pain and finally gave in and went to the doctors today. I have been surviving on paracetamol and ibuprofen but not coping well with it. 

The doctor told me the pain could be this bad for three to four weeks and then moderately bad for a further 4 to 6 weeks

I have been given tramadol to try in the first instance. Not so sure about that but heck.

If it means I can sleep a little it will be a bonus.

 

Nigel took me out today bless him - and it was kind of OK though the bouncing in the car is fairly hellish. We went to the New Forest lavender farm, which is always pretty 

 

I loved these sheep. Nigel had to take it as I couldn't bend down low enough ... or bend down at all in all honestly

 

 

 

My lunch - the softest most delicious lavender scone. Wonderful and so pretty. Nigel had a bacon buttie!

 

 

 

Sick girl with very very dark rings round her eyes

 

 

 

 

I do have two more pages to share - made following prompts from the Shimelle layering class #layeringwithshimelle. providing don't stretch or reach I can at least scrap a little. 

 

This one did hurt a bit though as you have to press when stamping. But I was quite pleased with it

 

 

This was a monochromatic page - black and white and only one other colour. Well red shouts Disney doesn't it.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• seeing out of the house - it's been a few days
• the doctor - he was lovely
• the prospect of sleep - let's hope

 

Light at the end of the dark tunnel and Pickle Barrel goodies

 

I can finally see a glimmer of light at the end of my dark tunnel.

It is in the distance and is, as yet, quite a dim light, but it is there. I think!

We hit an all-time low with my ribs on Monday night but over the day Tuesday where I did absolutely NOTHING it eased and I slept better last night and it is less agonising today.

I have no idea why it suddenly became so much worse over Monday but I think, tentatively, I have turned a corner. I think!

 

I haven't been able to sit for any length of time and getting down paper packs and files and stuff has been beyond me so I have been restricted to laregly digital scrapping, which is OK as there has been so much lushness to scrap with. The Pickle Barrel products went live today and Oh my goodness they are gorgeous this month. The colours are wonderful. 

 

I worked first with a gorgeous collection by Tiramisu called Garden of Dreams which was wonderful

 

 

I cannot believe that my wonderful godson and his beautiful wife have just celebrated their first wedding anniversary

 

Then I worked with the gorgeous Imagine That! collection by Fayette ... it has so many fun elements and I couldn't resist this page

 

Finally, I worked with an incredible collection by Lara's digital world called Vacation and it was truly gorgeous with so many masks and great elements

I made this page which documents our previous Disney World ... The Caribbean Beach resort. It truly was the most beautiful resort ever ... in the past tense sadly. It has now changed. They have taken away two villages, they are erecting a huge DVC monstrosity there and you can see the massive gondola stations everywhere. The secluded Caribbean vibe has changed for ever. I am so sad. However, we LOVE our new 'home' resort of Port Orleans Riverside. Anyway, I digress. This records the beauty that WAS the Caribbean Beach resort 

 

 

Today I am grateful for

• that light at the end of my tunnel
• I love the new artificial flowers we bought for my pots (no watering - yey - I disapprove of watering)
• my wonderful husband who has been so marvellous when I haven't been able to do stuff.