Dolly's Dreamings

Blogging grinding to a halt

I am aware tat these days I don't blog much - but that's OK as I think few people read anymore anyway  I think it's because my days sort of blur into one - they follow similar patterns and I enjoy what I do immensely but I am aware probably others don't get much joy from the boring. So I am tthinking it is likely to be a once or possibly twice a week deal from now on and I won't feel the guilt.

 

Anyway - a catch up post here. I taught my second ever water colour class to stranger yesterday which went well and I have five more slots booked in.  We went to the beach, I painted, I am sorting out pictures for my next exhibition and life has been quiet fun.

Some scrapping I haven't shared from recent days (largely still challenges from the 12 days of summer and scrap a sketch work)

 

 

This is from one of the July Premium sketches and uses gorgeous printables from the Scrap a Sketch store

 

 

 

 

 

And a few recent paintings I haven't shared

 

 

 

and finally some more recent pages of my coast to cast sketch book

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the years of joy this blog has brought me - throwing down my random thoughts
• loyal readers
• gentle days doing simple things

 

 

I have to admit it has been hard

I am not quite sure what is going on in my mouth,jaw and throat but I suspect an infection. I was reluctant to call my dentist as she did say it would hurt for a week and she doesn't work on Fridays so it is now a case of waiting until Monday. However, I heal very badly. Malignant melanoma removed - infected wound. Nose issue removed - infected wound. Ankle operation - infected wound. And so it would stand to reason root canal - infected wound. Thankfully I had antibiotics the dentist prescribed last time that I hadn't taken so am popping those alongside the painkillers but oh my. And the pain isn't in my tooth at all. It is in my jaw and neck and my glands feel swollen and the sensation of burning is awful and unrelenting. But there is no swelling, no heat, no sign of infection outwardly so who can tell! But I am not a happy bunny and life has been tough the last couple of days.

 

I have scrapped but a little half heartedly as I can't concentrate

 

I realised I hadn't really scrapped much of the route 66 part of the trip yet and so have made a start

 

This is the very iconic Blue Swallow motel in Tucumcari that was just beautiful. I also found some old postcards on the internet which I printed as embellishments

 

 

and as Eagles fans visiting the corner at Winslow Arizona mentioned in Take it Easy was something we simply could not miss at all

 

 

and today I made another Mini book for the FTLOPP challenge in conjunction with the amazing Cal Summers from paper Scissors Story

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the hours passing
• pills
• Nigel being calm and insisting I take the antibiotics and being very supportive making me soft stuff to eat

 

I thought these buses were clever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and who knew wavy walls were a thing - apparently a very strong structure

Dental work again

I had the rest of the crown work done today and the new crown fitted and, unusually, it really hurt. I wasn't too excited when my dentist - who is wonderful and very caring - said be prepared for it to be sensitive for a few weeks! Yikes. I hope not.

Took painkillers before the injections wore off but we will see. The stress of the dentist has also contributed to an IBS flare-up that is ongoing this week. Still, things could be much worse.

We did a weekly shop at Tesco amidst some pretty empty aisles and it prompted us to go buy cat litter and dry food. we bulk buy their wet food but whilst we could find stuff to eat from what we have in if needed, the cats obviously couldn't cross their legs for a two week isolation period.

 

I have done a little scrapping today to share too

I made this for my DT work at A Trip Down Memory Lane and now, due to new legislation, I have to state I got the products - Heidi Swapp Storyline Chapters papers for free as part of my design team work.

 

 

And this is a page I made for a challenge at Scrap Squad scraplifting some great pages.

 

 

Today I am thankful that

• the dental work is done
• we managed to get loo roll

 

 

My best ever mini album

I am, for once, really pleased with myself. I have made a mini book I am really proud of - and that doesn't happen often. I made the book before we went away last year following instructions from the legendary Cal Summers over at The Scrap Lab and Paper Scissors Story. I knew it was for Route 66 but this last week I finally got around to filling it and I love it. Sorry, this is very photo heavy and hopefully, there is also a video now... it did have the song 'Get Your Kicks on Route 66' on but it breached copyright so had to remove it. Real novice at this video malarkay

 

 

 

 

Video I Hope

 

 

 

 

There are so many pockets and pull outs and flaps that I have been able to record the whole of the Route 66 section of our massive vacation in this sturdy book. It stands 5" x almost 9" and is almost 3" thick so it's a meaty little book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had fun making all the embellishments too

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't believe how many photos there are, how much room there was and how pleased we both are with this record of an iconic trip.

 

Thank you Cal for being so generous in sharing the design.

 

Today I am thankful for

• the generosity of fellow scrappers
• the completion of a project
• food for thought - and faith - from bible class today

 

 

 

 

A bit of sketching and a bit of scrapping

We went out for a walk this morning - just around town. I would like to stress I don't really buy clothes any more - I don't need any ... probably ever! But for the first time in almost a year I bought two new tops in the sales that I just fell in love with.

I also bought a new pair of boots - for the cupboard. I fell in love with my new boots I had before Christmas. They are like wearing slippers - so soft and light and fab. They are so comfortable and so I have bought another pair - for Ron (we always say things for later on are for Ron) I know if I wait, by the time I need them they won't be available any more so heck. New boots too.

Other than that I have made a start in my next commission (nervous about this one but then I always am when I start) and did a couple of pages in my traveller's notebook sketchbook of Route 66. I would have sketched when I was there, but there seriously was not time to do anything other than be there.

 

These are the first two pages (I will do the cover at a later date. ) They are very very very simple and sketchy as this is a technique I am trying to master. They are based on photos I took for this purpose.

 

 

 

and some scrapping from this week too

We didn't get many photos from Montreal so the pages will be few and far between

 

 

This was underwhelming - the floral clock at Niagara

 

 

Our first sunrise of the trip - Nubble Light

 

Beautiful sunny Balboa

 

and another Paige Evans cut file and Vermont in the fall.

 

Today I am thankful for

• new things - doesn't happen a lot ... I am very restrained these days
• starting my sketch book - was a bit scared to take the plunge