I'm pooped!

I set aside today for having a really good pre-Christmas tidy, clear out and clean. It was a very gloomy morning with very little sunlight peeking over the yard arm until well after nine. Anyway, I set to work and carried on till mid afternoon when I decided to call it a day as I was desperate for a coffee and a bite to eat.

I am an absolutely awful housekeeper, partly due to the fact that David did all the domestic side of things while I cracked on with what I have to do. I've had such a busy few weeks that I really let things slide so there was quite a bit to get through today.

Anyway, I've completely done the workroom/vestibule that I never know what to call...Heather and I have started calling it the Doo-Lally-Pip room now, after my new stamp range and it seems like a good choice! Everything got cleared off the table, all the bits and pieces sorted through and lots of rubbish thrown out or into the recycling bin. I finally made a decision to clear all the drawers and cupboard space that was filled with David's clothes. I really struggled, but I went through everything and chose certain items that are extra special to me and have put those all neatly away. Everything else will go to the charity shop now. It was tough, but I know that David would have told me to stop being silly and use the space - he wasn't sentimental about objects and "things". 

So, I've now put my work materials in the drawers - inkpads in one, dies in another etc. I don't know how long they will stay in any kind of order, but it's a start. After a good clean I put some cheerful fabric over my table and along the shelf that I place my canvasses and altered art pieces on. I've upset a few spiders, but I think they will soon make themselves at home again!

I then tackled the lounge, made a huge pile of old paperwork to recycle, dusted, polished and tidied and threw another big bag full of rubbish out. Where does all the mass of accumulated nonsense come from?

I'll have to have another day of h*!**!!k tomorrow to tackle the two bedrooms, kitchen and conservatory, but I feel like I achieved quite a lot today so it won't seem such a chore tomorrow. I'll change all the bedding too, though I think it's going to take a long time to dry any laundry out at the moment and the thought of damp sheets over the radiators makes me shiver!

I'm just waiting for the plumber to arrive any time now as there is a problem in the kitchen - one of the floorboards has gone "squashy" which is a bad sign and I think there's either a slow leak from under the sink, or something to do with the temperamental washing machine. Hopefully it won't be anything too major and the florboard will dry out - eek! It's so weird to have to have "a man in" as, again, David always took care of any problems...he really could do anything.

Anyway, that's been my day so far. I'll share some more sneaky peeks of my new designs now - hope you like them. This first one is from the Crafty Impressions (a new range that PI are doing) All Occasions section and I designed this set with several ideas in mind - they will work well stamped in Glue n Seal, or using the new Ranger sticky embossing powder and dry glitters. I'll also be using them stamped in Archival black over alcohol ink or Dylusions ink sprayed backgrounds.

The set is called "Hope Blooms" (CICSA6012).

Next is a set called "Don't be afraid" (CICSA6023) which is from my Doo-Lally-Pip collection and has lots of useful quotes for cards or journalling.

The next set is also from the Doo-Lally-Pip range. This one is "Time Travel" (CICSA6029) and works really well with the Steamed Up set that I showed on last night's post.

The main character is quite androgynous - with or without the top hat! This was another set that took hours and hours to draw.

To complete tonight's little peeps, these last two are Tinchies (small single stamps) and are both from the Easter range, though they can obviously be used at any time of the year. They are both bunnies  - why do we call rabbits "bunnies" by the way?

This one is called "Bunny Behind" (CICST001) for obvious reasons - though I don't give them the names!

And this one is called "Rabbit Warren" (CICST005)

Well, hope you like them! If you didn't catch last night's post you can see more of the new designs there.

I'll post a few more tomorrow as well.

Well, I'm going to relax for the evening now. I decided on the chicken fried rice last night - it was more like a chicken kedgeree really and very tasty. I added some curry powder to the onions and then lots of different vegetables (it can be hard to get that five a day and now "they" say we should have seven!) before stirring an egg into the pan, adding the rice, soy sauce and finally the pieces of chicken. Yummy! So, it will be spaghetti tonight I think - unless I wimp out and just slam a lasagne ready meal into the oven. Must go and feed my two mischievous moggies first though!