Cream Crackered!

For some reason, that's how I have felt since Friday. I went down to Sudbury by train...just a mere four and a half hours, and, as this was my first visit to this lovely Suffolk town I would have liked to have a good look round whilst it was still light. However, as I didn't arrive until nearly five o'clock, all the shops were closing and it was such a gloomy day that I only had an hour of daylight. Anyway, I made the most of it and explored the mix of shop lined streets and small residential lanes. It's always fascinating to see the difference in architectural styles from town to town. Here I noticed that front doors seemed to be smaller than the norm - or maybe I was still dreaming about Fairy Doors!!! It was too dark to take any pictures unfortunately. I had a good wander and ended up walking around Waitrose as I didn't want to spend all evening in my hotel room! Still, I can happily browse the aisles for quite a while, and I bought some Belgian Paté de Fruits (posh fruit jellies!) for my mum - her favourite sweeties! I felt really tired, sore feet and heavy eyelids, so I had a lovely shower and then snuggled down for a really good sleep thanks to some cloudlike pillows and a comfortable mattress. Next day Roselyn (on the far right of the picture) picked me up and we went to her shop, Inspirational Crafts. I was teaching a morning and afternoon workshop with a demonstration in between. The first group of ladies made a card using stamps with Distress inks and Martha Stewart punches - no photos of this session I'm afraid as we were so intent on the project that I forgot to take any! However, here is the card which the second group, in the photo, made. Alcohol inks of course and some more punching - I am getting quite hooked on MS punches as they are just so simple to use, go through card and acetate as easily as anything and they are such lovely designs. I just received a pop up butterfly edger today which I am very eager to use as every other butterfly's wings can be lifted for a dimensional look. I shall post pictures once I have used it!

Many thanks to Roselyn who looked after me, fed and watered me and even gave me a slice of her daughter's home made coffee cake - very nice. Before I knew it I was back on the train - no chance of catching the wrong one as Sudbury Station has only one platform. I had three changes including going through my beloved (!) underground (mmmm...right) so it was a looong journey.

Next day I didn't wake until 10.30am which feels like the middle of the day to me, and I felt really stiff and tired - too much sitting in cramped seats on trains methinks. We then went over to mum and dad's - Heather had already taken them out for lunch, so we didn't go anywhere, just had a natter and gave mum her jellies, sorry, Paté de Fruits (!) and a bowl of Hyacinths. Little Tara kept us entertained with her antics too of course. Heather had left me the boards for my pages in her chunky book swap, which I am looking forward to getting on with in any spare moments. I do like to have a reason to do something for myself from time to time!

I am just about back to normal now - I don't often get that exhausted feeling, so I hate it when I do!

Below are the front and inside of the pop up card which I showed when I was on QVC on craft day, using my Boys Toys sets of stamps. I can never resist doing a pop up with a new set of stamps and these ones leant themselves to it very well. The metallic thread on the yoyo goes right through the front of the card to the inside. I like to do a fairly simple outside to these cards so there is more of a surprise when

you look inside!
I'll be updating my demonstration list soon, as I have more dates booked now, so do keep checking if you want to see if I'll be in your area. The places on my workshops at Dawn's Studio are filling up fast, so do give them a call if you fancy coming along to join in the fun! Heather is coming to three of them....there'll be trouble if she heckles me!
Well, I am going to watch David Dimbleby's "Seven Ages of Britain" now, as I missed it last night and it is an absoloutely excellent series. He's a great presenter of art and history as his enthusiasm and delight at the objects he's looking is really infectious. A real TV treat for a change! Will add more photos and dates soon, Lindsay