Is this week over yet?!

It's a bit late to be blogging but it's general election night and the alternative coverage is just too entertaining to switch off - plus it's a little exciting.

Not done any knitting or scrapping the last couple of days as I have been a busy worker bee designing a flyer for the new portrait services/products - it's looking good, just need the models' photos now. We have a newborn and a bump in tomorrow, can't wait!




Anyway, thought I'd pop on to share these picturesque Hipstamatic photos I took earlier of a cherry blossom tree in bloom over my car parking space at a local shopping outlet. It looked so pretty, I love blossom and have a huge canvas photo of me and Harry as a baby peeking from behind blossom-filled branches on my living room wall. I should probably get some pictures done of me and Alex in the blossom before it's all gone.




It has been a mixed week, I have had three lots of wonderful news from three friends but for me it has been a bit crappy with three bad things happening - please let me be done now, otherwise I'm going to my bed and you won't see me til Monday!

Bunting - check!

I got bored of sewing so many triangles the same for the wedding bunting so thought it was high time I made Harry's pirate bunting for his bedroom using this cute fabric I bought in the US earlier this year. It was quick and easy to do, probably because I cut corners by using only one side of fabric for each triangle and not sewing the edges - well I thought it would kook more authentic lol! Anyway I'm pleased to say he loves it :)







And now it's back to my knitting and my lovely pink spring V-neck top is coming along nicely.




I hope to be able to show you the finished garment soon - well, that's the plan anyway!

X

Bank holiday fun

Gosh it feels like a Sunday! Hope you've all had a good bank holiday weekend. We spent the day exploring Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, which was really interesting, although Harry didn't much like walking through 1840s Leeds (he was terrified!) and Gareth really didn't like reading about surgery in those days either (wimp!). But there was still lots of fun to be had on the exhibitions, including a 'toilet lid' that made trumping noises that kept Alex amused for a long while and the bendy mirrors that made us look ridiculously tall or short - hilarious!







After that we went into the city centre - something I very rarely do - and saw how much it has changed. Gareth spent ages browsing the music and game shops while I waited patiently with the boys and I was allowed a quick peek in New Look, where I bought some really pretty new undies, to much moaning from the males. Why is it they are allowed all the time in the world to look at boy toys but whinge whinge whinge when it comes to a tiny spot of girly shopping. So a whizz round Primark to eye up the pretty accessories was out of the question. Sigh. Anyway, while in New Look I spied a beautiful dress to wear to one of the several weddings we're going to this summer, it's just what I have been imagining I want to find, and I have a £10 off voucher that kicks in next week, so if I can find someone fashionable to take with me and give me their honest opinion and help me team up accessories I'm there!



I still don't have all the photos taken last week during the photography seminar, for which I had to don my wedding dress and pose for about 18 cameras - but I do have a sneaky peek for you. I heart it so much, and the others that I have seen a small glimpse of. Can't wait for those, I think a couple will go in little frames for our new bedroom when it gets re-decorated, re-carpeted and re-furnished this summer.

Anyway, that's about it. I have tomorrow off work as my mum's away still, but I have her Jack Russell Terrier to look after, Pip. He's very cute but a pain in the ass - sorry! He constantly whines and paces up and down and gets under my feet all the time. And Alex is really frightened of him (the threat of being licked I think is what he doesn't like!). Oh and he'll only eat expensive cuts of meat! Thank goodness he's only with us for one day!

x

Mojo gone AWOL

Just popped on to post this layout that I finally finished the machine stitching on this week. I do like it (apart from the small tear, which I credit to my eldest monkey Harry, thank you Harry) but I can't help thinking most of my layouts lack depth in layers and look so bare. I think I need to stock up on embelishments and bit a bit more slap happy, so to speak lol!



To celebrate International Scrapbooking Day yesterday I went off to scrap at Rachel/reward's house, although I only got 1 layout done - quite a come down from the 8 I finished last time I was there! I blame my loss of mojo, not having Rachel to guide me this time and also Rachel's lovely ma-in-law whisking us away to go wool shopping, which was most welcome! I was a bit naughty and bought two balls of a strange ruffle yarn, but after seeing it used to make a gorgeous handbag and the fact they had it in the same colour as a dress I want to wear to a family wedding next month I think the £5.20 was justified!

Talking of knitting, I really need to get some done. I'm supposed to be knitting a beret for my sister's birthday on the 24th, another hat for a secret birthday gift also later this month and I need to knit a shrug for me to wear to the wedding. I've also been asked to make the Order of Services for that, a million metres of bunting for another family wedding in August and shrugs for my best friend's wedding in October (her, me and the other bridesmaid) plus a ruffles bag if the swatch of her dress matches the yarn. Yikes! You might not see me for a while lol!

X

Rocking the frock!

Having Vanished and machine washed my wedding dress last week (please, save your gasps of horror, I've heard loads already, plus it turned out beautifully!) I finally got to flounce around it again today. I was acting as bridal model to a group of photographers attending a seminar hosted by my mum, a wedding photographer. It's been nearly six years since I last wore it on my wedding day and it felt so good, although craning my body into awkward poses and grinning so much will no doubt leave me sore tomorrow! Anyway, the photo above is of the gorgeous bouquet made up for me by the talented Stems Design especially for the shoot and it's currently looking just as pretty in a vase in my living room window. I heart it so much and will be so sad when it wilts.







As for photos of me, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few more days until I can get the previews and upload my favourites to here. Sorry! Can't wait to frame and scrap a couple of lovely pictures of me rocking my frock - and for anyone considering a shoot, do it! And if you're in the Yorkshire area, we are always in need of models to help expand our portfolio, and in return you'll get a free free pics, so get in touch. :)

X

Oooh I needed that!

I had the urge to scrap last night, and thanks to the lovely Rachel putting me together some page kits using my photos and a mix of mine and her stash (thank you lovely!) I steamed through four layouts! It felt great, I definitely needed and enjoyed that! I also got well on with a fifth but my mean husband wouldn't let me get the sewing machine out to finish it. It was only ten to midnight, I mean how rude!














Oh I am loving my iPhone, I snapped these pictures, Photoshopped them and uploaded them to my blog all from this slim, clever little device. How cool is that?!

As for the match yesterday, well, wow, it was awesome! What a sight walking into the packed stadium, it was like HD tv had come to life, so surreal. Anyway, I must be lucky as we smashed the opposition 4-1 which is almost unheard of for Leeds! Mind you, the other side, MK Dons, had three men sent off so that helped! Here are a couple of pics to add to my 'to scrap' pile, taken in Hipstamatic again but it really looks great here!










Been out exhibiting at a busy wedding fair all day, but got three appointments in the diary (one by yours truly!) and a baby portrait shoot booked to promote the re-launch of the studio so it's all good. Better get to bed as it will be a busy day at work tomorrow for sure (I have to go prop shopping at 9am for starters) and I'm shattered. Zzzzzzz.

Little update

Thought I better pop in and say hello seeing as it has been a few days and I don't want to fall down that slippery slope again!




I haven't been doing much scrapping or knitting this week (sorry Rach!) as I thought I'd better get started on the dozens and dozens of metres of fabric bunting I have to make for a family wedding in August. It seemed like ages away, but the lovely weather of late has reminded me that it's really not, plus I have so many triangles to stitch it's untrue!

I also wanted to share a few more Hipstamatic photos taken of my youngest Alex and my friend's little boy while playing in their garden yesterday. They are both such cheeky, playful little characters and make me chuckle :)

I must scrap these photos soon - soon as the hubby finally orders some printer ink, grrrrrr.

























I better go, I'm going to my first football match to see the mighty whites, ahem, Leeds United. Woo hoo! Just hope we can win, man do we neeeed a win right now!!!

X

Everything's looking posy

From My Blog Photos

Three days running, I know! But lucky for you guys blogging has become so quick and simple, and I don't even need to switch the computer/ laptop on! So you SHALL be hearing a lot more from me!

Anyway, I'm back to show you my latest little creation - a knitted flower head, which I knit up last night from a new Ravelry pattern and attached it to a thin wool band to wear on my head. It's so cute and comfy, and quite quick to make, I love it! My latest make has been inspired by my friend Rachel/reward, who has launched her own Folksy store of equally gorgeous knitted headbands - and I hope this pattern will be a new addition very soon. Check out her total gorgeousness at www.folksy.com/shops/thefunkybeau

Oh and my first day in my new job went well, spent learning new software, business blogging and brainstorming in a stress-free manner - not like any Monday I've ever known! Fingers crossed it continues once the ball really gets going!

Out to the Ings

From My Blog Photos

Had a lovely meal out with family today, followed by a fun walk round the nearby Fairburn Ings where I took much delight playing with my favourite of my nee iPhone apps Hipstamatic. Such a cool little tool! I used it to take all these photos.

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

From My Blog Photos

Ok, that was a lot of photos, sorry, but I just love them :)

Starting my new job tomorrow - will let you know how I get on!

Back... with a new look

It's been too long (sorry!) but I'm finally back having had a wonderful blog makeover courtesy of my lovely friend Rachel/reward (thank you hun!). Rachel has also helped me with all the layouts I have posted photos of in this post, which will hopefully kick-start me into scrapping much more often than I have been doing of late (I blame my new-found addiction to knitting - curling up on the sofa with a ball of wool is too easy!)

All the photos on these layouts were taken during our trip to Florida in February. We all had a great time, especially Harry - Disney World was made for five-year-olds!

So, what else have I been up to since my last post? Gosh, so much really! I finished my job as a newspaper reporter yesterday, which was a massively brave step, and will be starting work as pr and marketing 'expert' for my mum and her partner's wedding photography businesses on Monday. I'm so excited! I get to spend more time with the boys, work nearer to home in a much less impossible job, and will have more money leftover after childcare and petrol too.

The boys are growing up so fast too. Harry is loving primary school and is a bundle of imaginative questions lately. Alex is his usual cheeky, clever self and coming on leaps and bounds. I'm very lucky. :)

So, seeing as Rachel has now shown me how to blog from my iPhone, I plan to blog a lot LOT more... watch this space!