There are frogs in my garden now....

Yes, look what I found sitting around the flower bed outside my Doo Lally room this morning.......

 .....little green frogs..... with placards and hats? Okay, sorry about that, I couldn't resist posing them outside like this! I made these years ago when I used to sell some crafty makes through a shop in East Sussex. I made all sorts of things to sell there, from cards to paintings and anything in between that took my fancy. These little frogs were a best seller! 

When the shop closed I was sent all the unsold items back and most of them came to mum and dad's house....neighbours would call round to buy the odd card or gift. This morning I was having a root about, looking for some bits and pieces to donate to the charity shop that's being run by St Chads this week, and I came across these little fellas! So, after a little spruce up, they will be sitting in the shop this afternoon and, hopefully, hopping off with new owners by the end of the week. Brought back lots of memories when I found them....isn't it weird when you find things that you made years ago?

I have hardly known if I'm coming or going this week with one thing and another. All my usual work of course....sample making, prepping the kits for Saturday's workshop at Samuel Taylor's in Leeds on Saturday and trying to get on with more pieces for my Etsy shop. Tuesday was a different kind of busy though, as I started the day by shadowing Robert, our verger, as he showed me the ropes. The 45 minutes of preparation for the morning service went from emptying the waste bins in the church grounds, through switching on particular lights, setting up the communion table and lighting candles........at one point I remarked that I felt like I was on the Krypton factor with so much to remember! Hopefully another couple of "run throughs" will make everything stick in my mind.

After that I took a couple of buses to go and visit mum in the care home. Mum has Alzheimer's disease, but she still smiles and laughs with us, although some days are better than others. Usually Heather and I go together of course, but I've been going up on my own since Graham's illness was diagnosed....she has enough to cope with and going to the home can be upsetting sometimes. When I got there mum was in the dining room and her pudding had just been brought in, so I sat and fed her.....she's always had a sweet tooth and she does love her puds! This time it was jam roly poly and custard and, ooh, it did look, and smell, good! Another trip down memory lane - I think it was everyone's favourite school pudding and I clearly remember letting people go in front of me so I could make sure I got a nice jammy bit from the middle!

 Mum doesn't look very smiley here, but of course, that's because I had the camera out! The best part about visiting her is when she gets the giggles, which she does quite often. The staff all think she's wonderful as she's so cheerful.

Well, another couple of bus rides home and then I had to do some grocery shopping and one thing and another meant that the day had just whizzed by really. Next week is going to be a busy one, starting with Saturday's workshop/demo at Samuel Taylors of course. On Tuesday I am shadowing Robert in the morning again and then helping with my first funeral service in the afternoon. On Thursday I'm in at the deep end....setting up for morning service and then a funeral straight afterwards - both of which I'll be doing on my own whilst Robert is away. Later in the evening we are having a puppet rehearsal in church too, so I think I had better take sandwiches! Hopefully all will go well.

Then on Friday I'll be heading down for a big demo event at Coleman's warehouse in Rushden, Northamptonshire, so, lots of extra samples to be made before then of course. Busy, busy!

I've got to toddle into the village shortly to do a couple of errands and drop the froggies and a few other bits into the charity shop, so will just share the last of the new A6 Christmas stamp sets before I go. There are also quite a few Tinchie stamps as well, but I'm not going to post all those! So, final peeps, peeps!

Do you think I need to see someone about my snowman addiction?!? This sketchy set is called "Frosty Kisses" (CICSA6085) and I'm seeing lots of pale lilacs and icy blues for this one.

Another quotes, messages set now, this one is called "It's a time to give" (CICSA6109)....

 .....again, large enough to make the words a focal point on a card or tag, but also useful for inserts too of course.

Very last one of the sets now, and this is "Jack Frost" (CICSA6110) a rather ethereal Doo lally Pip character with a cracked ice border, some ice crystals and other freezing motifs!

 All the sets should be available in a few weeks, but I will update their progress on here of course. Hope you've enjoyed the sneaky peeks. There were moments when I didn't think I'd get all my designs done in time for the deadlines, but, as usual, everything finally came together.

Well, I must away to the village now, but not before I've "put my face on" or I'll frighten the horses as they say!