Starting again

Well I hope that the changes look somewhat better, I do struggle with this part of a blog. I really wanted to add my new page Food for Thought.

I feel that it is really important to review ones shopping habits and eating habits regularly and I am particularly enjoying going back to basics and preparing good food from scratch.

I am still making and using journals of all descriptions, sewing, knitting and crocheting. I have taken up needle felting again and also making pompoms for my granddaughter to play with.

Ailsa is a great inspiration for making fairies and peg dolls. I really must post some photos, watch this space.

Be blessed till next time,

Hannah

Spring has sprung

Sprint is definitely here. Spent a lot of my spoons removing a mouse 🐭 from behind the fridge this morning. Back in my bed about to work only planner.

Time flies when you craft

It's that time of year when there are fixed deadlines to meet. December 1st,the beginning of advent.

I decorated 24 jolly dolly pegs only to find that they are too heavy for my final project. So back to drawing board- 24 bottle caps waiting for resin to be poured and brooch backs to be glued on. I have also been busy making  Christmas presents. Can't she you those until they have been given. Don't want to spoil the surprise!
Stay crafty love Hannah.

inspiration wednesday 4.10.13

I really look forward to Donna's Inspiration Wednesday,there is something different every week. I can't wait to visit Michaels in Sault Sainte Marie this summer. Hope they have the Montana Paint Pens!!!

Happy Easter

Very excited as yesterday I went on my first guerrilla art mission. I made paper eggs and abandoned them in a space near me. I was inspired to do this by Sherry. She used bleeding tissue method I used my gelli plate prints.
It was a great feeling to think they will be found and treasured,or even tossed in the bin. At least someone else shared them briefly.
See you soon
Love Hannah x

Happy Valentine

This is the card I made for my hubby.

I used Creative Memories plain card as the base, I stamped red hearts in maroon archival ink on to dictionary pages. I chose the love section just because. I used a zig zag stitch to attach them to a piece of hidden white card to make them seem as if they are just stitched and mounted them on to the card with foam. I also used a piece of bias tape, lace and butchers twine. The words are from Tim Holtz Chitchat collection and the dictionary page.

Love to you all
Hannah

Why do I always leave it so long?

Here I am again, why do I leave it so long between posts??

If I posted more often I would not have to rack my brain as to what I have been up to. I have come to the conclusion that it takes time to become  ORGANISED and I am still getting to grips with it. I have to accept that the small steps and systems I implement now and more IMPORTANTLY stick to, will make it easier in future to be more organised.

So I am going to add another page to my blog called Organisation, to enable me to share tips that I have learnt and am using. Of course Art and Craft are my main passion and I figure the more organised I am in other areas of my life the more time I have to enjoy my passion!

The blogs I enjoy reading have lots of threads and links so I am aiming for that too.

I would love it if you choose to follow along with me on my journey of discovery and that you will find something useful.

See you again soon
Love Hannah

Getting Organised

Just read my last post and realised how dull it is without photos! As I mentioned I am going to get organised this year and update my blog more regularly, so here goes. I have notes!!!

Hope is my word of 2013

 Firstly I am using my Kate Crane 12 month Journal to record my goals and the progress I am making. 

 The  pages I have added are prints made with my Gelli Printing plate.

 I have also decided this year to have a go at 'Project Life/Project 365. I have been doing some research and realise that there are many resources available both to buy and as free downloads. It did seem rather overwhelming at first but I found Lisa. She is using a more traditional scrapbooking approach that really appeals to me. Check her at lisae-design.blogspot.com and her You Tube channel LisaEDesign. I haven't made a start yet on the first page for the year but I have learnt how to order prints on line, so watch this space.

I have been working in my art journal and have finished 2 pages and have one other underway. 



 This page was inspired by My Aunt Judy's Funeral
I attended on 15th January, thankfully she died suddenly in her own home.

One of her friends did the tribute and he said that she would be remembered for her 'Cheerfulness and Faith'. It was such a lovely service.

On my trip to Romania we sang along to a CD and this hymn was on there, so it was perfect.

 This year I am letting go old friendships that have naturally run their course for various reasons. I some how had to find a way to express my feelings and lay them to rest. Journaling as you know is such a good way.


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Page still working on.





I put my Aunt's funeral service booklet in my Smashbook for safe keeping and posterity.

 

Home Organisation

 I am endeavouring to live a more organised life and once again I am using my daily dairy to help me keep on track.

 

I must admit though I do get a bit confused as to where I need to record stuff. I make notes each day of some of the things that have happened so I can use for PL and my journals and scrapbooks.

I have been watching  home organising videos http://www.youtube.com/user/GretchenRubinNY ,http://www.youtube.com/user/DoItOnaDime and http://www.youtube.com/user/homeorganizing to help me achieve my goal. I am in the process of updating my home filing system using an idea based on the Freedom Filer. This system seems a good idea but is expensive to ship into the UK.

What system do you use? Does it work? would be interested to know.

I have made a brilliant grocery list/coupon purse, I tried it out at the supermarket last week and it worked.

And finally I have booked our flights to Canada in June.

I'll say bye for now, love Hannah

Happy New Year, welcome to 2013

Actually I am relieved that the new year has begun and I can put my new plans into action. I have written down some personal goals plus household changes such as a new bathroom and kitchen that obviously affect both myself and husband. In addition we are going to book our tickets to Canada to visit family in the summer. Who wouldn't be excited I feel most fortunate.

If you check out my new page you will see what else I have made a commitment to.

I am going to learn how to edit videos so that I can post more on You Tube and I also want to stream live shows/tutorials to raise funds to support www.hopecarrierstrust.org.uk

I also need to get more items into my etsy shop and link it to the international market, so far it is only available in the UK.

I have promised myself to be less intimidated by technology this year.

I had some brilliant birthday and Christmas presents, a GelliArt printing plate, a Moleskine journal, The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri Smith, a chef's blow torch and cupcake paraphernalia to mention but a few.

I have decided to use the journal I made at the Kate Crane Workshop I attended last November to record my progress towards my goals it is split into monthly sections. I posted pictures in an earlier post.

So that's it for now me thinks.
Happy crafting
Love Hannah

Reflections

My morning walk with Louis,over the flooded playing fields.

Tweeking

As you can see I have been tweeking my blog! Keith helped me yesterday with some of the basics so now I am trying to carryout the changes.Not sure I'm totally happy but feel that it looks better than it was. Hopefully a bit more reflective of my personality and art????

Since I discovered the joys of online communication with fellow artists and crafters my confidence to have a go has increased enormously. Whether it's videoing, blogging, tweeting and now instagram-ing I would rather have something out there than wait until I get it perfect I have made that mistake too many times in my life.'Embrace Imperfection' has become my new motto.

Tapes, Travel and Technology

I really am struggling with technology, trying to find the right download etc, please reassure me I am not the only one!

Hopefully some time next week you may notice a difference to the look of my blog, my daughter's boyfriend is a whizz with technology and he has agreed to help me.

As you can see I have been playing and with some good results I think.

I am really looking forward to my Romanian trip even though I know that it going to be a stressful and emotional trip. If I can manage to I will blog the completion of my travel journal so you can all see for yourselves what I get up to.

Just my travel insurance to sort out, thankfully someone else sorted out the flights, I just paid the money.

Okay enough, keep crafting and have fun.

Hannah x

Wow what a day, what a workshop

An early start for a Sunday, the alarm went off at 6.30am. I didn't exactly leap out of bed even thought I was really excited. The reason I was off to The Stamp Attic in Wantage to attend a Kate Crane journalling workshop.

My lovely hubby agreed to drive me there even though I probably could have managed the 154 mile round trip. I was relieved he did because it snowed heavily on the Cotswolds and we went through a few floods too.

The trusty sat nav took us almost to the door, well it would have been difficult because it was down an alleyway behind Costa.

I said 'bye' to hubby and Louis our puppy and clutching my journalling kit braved the elements to join the workshop.

I had such fun getting inky using Dylusions spray inks, to make a Year Journal from scratch. I loved Kate's laid back teaching style and enjoyed the company of fellow art journallers. Oh and of course my shopping spree.

The day ended all too soon and we made our way home to Hereford.

A long entry, mostly photos!

Will name this post when it's written as I have know idea what the focus of it is yet. Although I have been crafting in the past week, I seem to have been more caught up with family and friends.

Last Thursday evening I went on a three and a half mile walk around Goodrich near Ross on Wye. It was beautiful and thankfully easy going. It was lovely to watch the sunset over the Herefordshire countryside and then end up in a pub!

Unfortunately I did not take any photos, but hey ho I do have the memory and the inspiration that I always gain from being outdoors.

On Saturday afternoon, hubby, Louis and I went for a bit of an amble in a local wood that we hadn't visited before. It certainly made going to the supermarket a less daunting task. 

Sweet Chestnut

The dappled sunlight through the trees was warm and golden. The air was filled with the wonderful smells of early autumn.

I intend to use the photos in my smash book to record a small adventure.








Every day I take Louis out for at least one walk/play. It has made a remarkable difference to my sense of wellbeing. He loves to find other dogs to run around with, he also likes the river and so do I.

I really wish I knew how to format my photos within the post?

Anyone have an idea or actually know, please please leave a comment.

I am lucky enough to have the river almost on my doorstep so to speak.









Recently I joined Art Geeks, an online art community. Courtney Brooks showed us how she incorporates photos into her art journal pages.This was my attempt. I tried to upload to the Art Geeks Facebook page from my HTC phone but it didn't work? I like to think that it is floating around the ether some where.

The photo is of  the waterfall within Guiness Storehouse, Dublin. It was one that got left out of my travel journal for some reason, this was a good way not to waste it. It also sparked fond memories of the trip last February.

Talking of travel journals, my daughter and partner have just gone to Canada for a fortnight. So I took the opportunity to make them a journal, using mostly recyled materials and scraps. I didn't take photos as I was in such a hurry to get it to them I forgot. Maybe they will let me take snaps of the completed journal.

Well that probably is enough of my waffling.

Just keep crafting, see you soon.

Hannah  x

Hurrah my health and wellness journal is paying off.

In July I decided that I needed to improve my lifestyle choices in respect of taking control of my weight. I have a chronic health issue that limits my actvities somewhat. I made my journal to encourage me to stick to my goals and help me to visual a healthier future. Yesterday I got back into my size 10 jeans. I know that 10 is only a number but to me it represents the feel good factor  and reenforces the sense of my achievement so far because I feel more alive. Anyway here are a few photos of my journal.

A week of crafting

Well I have had a blast, my two nieces visited me for a week and we did lots of crafting. Laura is 14 and Martha is 11 so they have lots of ideas and have always been creative. To start with we made smash books, to record our week together and for them to smash other stuff through the year. I forgot to take photos of those and I am only just catching up with mine. But here are some of the other things we got up too.

Tea lights, a make and take from Hobbycraft

     We went to a local pottery cafe.



This is my plate ready to be glazed and fired.

Laura's plate

 I took a stencils with me.

This is Martha's plate

We made chocolate cupcakes and then decorated them.
They tasted delicious.

Hubby and I ended the week by taking them home to Cambridgeshire and did an overnight stay by the Thames in Oxfordshire.

We happened upon the Chiltern Craft Show and spent a pleasant few hours wandering round in the sunshine. I made a sheet of linen paper and bought a sheet of denim paper! Can't wait to have a go at home, not sure that my liquidiser will like it though.

I made a file folder record of the weekend.