Happy Christmas everyone

It has certainly been a very picturesque few days around here...hope everyone has been able to enjoy the weather with not too many problems. As you can see from the picture of the trees outside our window we had quite a snowfall overnight and even the normally mundane, suburban street views turned into a fairy tale landscape. I spent this morning doing some shopping and then had an afternoon of gift wrapping...if you are anything like me then you'll relate to the fact that the first batch of gifts look a lot more elegant and fancy than the latter ones! I start on them with all of the shimmery ribbons, bows and curls but before long I have abandoned all the frilly twilly business and am simply wrapping things in paper!

Well, I had a fun weekend up in Accrington. I was combining demonstrating with helping to make samples for the craft day hours on QVC on the 27th. Everyone who came along was in festive mood which made for a very enjoyable time on Saturday. That evening was Dawn's Christmas party and here are a few pictures form the evening... Amy (with her lovely cousin Christian) looking elegant except for her frog slippers! The dining room table laid out with cup cakes, chocolate reindeers and gingerbread houses...and here is Jacquie giving her rendition of a craft themed version of Victoria Woods's "I can't do it" which was hilarious and very clever. It was a lovely evening. The following day was much snowier but that didn't stop Joanne and her hubby from coming along as part of her birthday treats. Thank you to everyone who brought cards in for me.

Well, we are travelling to my parents' home tomorrow so are hoping that the journey won't be too tricky - think I'll take a flask just in case! So, I shan't be posting again till next year. Meanwhile, for those who I had no address to send a "real" card to, here is a little greeting featuring some of our pigeon family enjoying their breakfast today!

Hope everyone has a peaceful, restful Christmas and here's hoping that next year is a better one for us all. Best wishes, Lindsay

Last demonstrations before Christmas!

I am all set for my last demonstrations of this year and will be at Dawn's studio tomorrow and Sunday.....just hoping that the weather doesn't worsen overnight - even I felt cold today, and I never feel cold! Amy will be there too, so do pop in and say hello if you are nearby. I've made some "quickie" Christmas ATC's to give away "whilst stocks last" as they say! LOL!

I did my first Christmas shopping yesterday...yes, my first! I went into town and about an hour in to my trip it began to snow quite heavily and went bitterly cold. It made me quicken the pace that's for sure! Today I've been making cards and have posted them out, so am finally catching up with myself for the moment - though I've just been given a list of "things to do" (quite an exciting one!) which already runs into 2011!

This Sunday will be the fifth anniversary of when we lost little Cherry, though it feels a much shorter time than that, and, as Joanne said earlier this week about their beloved Toby, she is never forgotten. I'm reading a book at the moment called "The cat who went to Paris" which I can recommend to any cat lovers out there. The author always disliked cats until he was presented with a Scottish Fold kitten and was instantly and completely smitten! There are two sequels to this one, so I shall be searching them out. Joanne, if you haven't read it I will keep my copy for you after Christmas as it will especially appeal to you.

Kym - I'm afraid that I haven't had the card that you sent me. I've asked at the studio, but nobody has seen it - I'll let you know if it turns up, but thank you anyway for the kindness. Jacquie and Glen - thank you for your lovely Christmas card which I got on Sunday, it's very classy!

Well, I have a busy couple of days ahead and then two days to finish my shopping and make a few cards that I am hand delivering before spending Christmas at my parents'. If I don't get chance to post again before then, I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and let's hope that next year is a more positive one for all of us. Lindsay

Only words!

After all the photos on my last post, this one is going to be picture-less! It's been over a week too which is shocking. This is such a busy time for everyone of course though, myself included, as I am still working on new designs and demonstration samples.

I've been really enjoying "looking" at Tim's twelve tags of Christmas and also seeing pictures of how some of you are interpreting them and being inventive with what stash you have. Just wish I had time to join in, but I'm making mental notes of Tim's latest techniques to use on my demonstrations of course!

Well, what have I been up to since I last posted? On Saturday David and I were at Top Barn Crafts in Wrexham where I was demonstrating. This is (as I have mentioned before) a great spot to visit as, along with Top Barn Crafts, there are gift and clothing shops, cafe, restaurant as well as stunning scenery. It was a very enjoyable day, and I tried to cram in as many techniques as I could. I really find those sort of days challenging (in a good way!) where I am using a certain number of materials and mediums and then have to keep showing new and different ways to use them. David was so engrossed in what I was doing that he didn't take any pictures!!! So, hello to everyone that I met there and thank you to Theresa for organising things so well.

On Sunday I was at Dawn's Design Studio and had a fun day demonstrating as well as helping to make some samples for QVC whilst I was there. They are having a special event next weekend with bargains, make n takes, demonstrations as well as mince pies and mulled wine. Amy and Dawn will be there on Saturday and it will be Dawn and myself on Sunday. Included in other pre Christmas bargains all my Christmas wooden and unmounted stamps are on a special offer now too! I'll also be there the following weekend for my last demonstrations of the year.

This Saturday I'll be up at Dainty Supplies near Chester-Le-Street with lots of differet inking techniques, so pop in if you are in that vivinity.

I did manage to send Heather "something" for her latest swap! I really thought that I wasn't going to manage it and must aplogise to whoever receives my creations as they are probably not up to my usual standard!