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About Me

Married to my soulmate with 2 beautiful girls,and our English Springer Spaniel, Suki. Living a country life in Cambridgeshire, whilst baking, gardening, and photographing our daily lifes, where they find a place on my scrapbook pages.

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My little place on the web

This blog is just that, my little place on the web.You will find my daily (or not so daily, hehe)life, my love for my new vegetable garden, baking, photography and my scrapbooking!

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My Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a way of life for me now.It has been for over 4 years. I love journaling, taking photos of my family and love colour and texture, these are all part of my everyday life and scrapbooking.

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its very late

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/28/2010 01:23:00 AM 2 lovely comments
but just wanted to check in and let you know that I have had the most wonderful day in London with my 2 bestest girlfriends. We spent a good few hours trawling the amazing halls at Harrods, and finished our day having Tea at The Ritz!!! ( a belated bday pressie).
We are home safe and sound, if not completly stuffed, and are armed with foodie goodies form Harrods to delight everyone tomorrow in the morning for breakfast, mmmmmm
Tomorrow I will share pretty photos from my day out in London, and a couple of projects that I am teaching at my crop, until then...
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Come join me here

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/27/2010 09:32:00 AM 0 lovely comments
I am teaching an online class over at Scrapbookiando at GMT10am today. Stephanie Hunt from Bella Blvd is also teaching!


More Photos

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/25/2010 10:32:00 PM 0 lovely comments
Today they are of Izzy, Izzy playing football!!
After spending what had felt like days in the house packing book orders last week, we all decided to go out for some fresh air last Sunday. The girls football came alongb too, and I tried my hardest to defend my goal, but decided after only a few minutes, my talents were put to much better use with a camera in my hands!

A few photos of Izzy in action. (click on photos to enlarge)


Actions from Pioneer Woman - colourized


Isabella, Izzy, my first born, my eldest, is growing up so fast. Measuring in at 4'9", with size 5 feet, at only 9 years 5 months old, is quite a scary reality! I see a beautiful girl, with so much heart and emotion, who loves to please everyone. A big sister, who cares and protects, and a daughter who gives so much love and happiness to us all, I know I am the luckiest mum alive!


Todays Pencil Lines the Sketch Book giveaway is over at Christiane Mullers blog. Keep checking back here for the next giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Playing with Photo's

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/24/2010 11:38:00 PM 5 lovely comments
Even though I am making myself do a perosnal 365 photo a day, I have not got my camera out for candid snapshots much this year, and it saddens me. We all went to the park on Sunday and even though everyone moaned
"Oh Mum you're not taking your camera are you!!?"
to which I replied
"of course I am!"

And I am glad I did. I actually took some snap shots. Yes I mean snap shots. Camera perfection was not on my mind, as i just wanted to capture the girls doing what ever it is they do at the park. I also played around with sun flare, and really like the washed out look I got.



izzy looks really impressed... NOT!

I then played around with some Pioneer Woman actions with this photo of Lilly on the swings. As I said not perfect camera shots. Which do you like best?



I love this photo too of Lilly, I used the Sunshine action on this photo, really liking this action!



After looking at my not perfect photos and actually liking them (!), i am going to start taking some more snapshots, and not worring so much about the perfect focus etc, becuase just sometimes, you will get a shot that you actually love, like this one above. Loving Lillys hair flowing in the breeze, and her pouty lips which were actually whistling at the time......
Will share some more snapshots tomorrow, this time of Izzy.
Hope you had a good day
Thanks for stopping by
Anna xx

PS Have you see yesterdays post????

Free Pencil Lines The Sketch Book!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/23/2010 11:11:00 PM 3 lovely comments

Fancy getting your hands on a FREE copy of Pencil Lines the Sketch Book, then look here at Shimelle blog, where she has  abook to giveaway. Over the next few weeks there will be lots more giveaways across the internet, so keep your eyes peeled! And if you cant wait, or dont rate your chances on a lucky dip then you can order a book direct from Pencil Lines.

Thats all for now, short and sweet blogging...
hugs
anna xx

Blog Crawl with 3 amazing manufacturers

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/22/2010 04:15:00 PM 2 lovely comments
and you are invited!!



Stephanie from Bella Blvd, Jill from Jillibean Soup, Nikki from Nikki Sivils, have all come together for one huge Blog Crawl! What is a Blog Crawl you might be asking... Well, on March 5th you'll got to Nikki Sivils blog and you'll see a gift that Jillibean Soup is giving away on the blog, along with a handmade gift from Nikki and a list of  design team girls that will be giving handmade gifts away using Nikki Sivils products, you'll leave a comment at each blog & then move on through the list. Then you'll head over to Bella Blvd and see the gift that Nikki will be giving away over there, along with a list of Bella Blvd's design team ladies and you'll do the same thing. Next you'll head over to Jillibean Soup and see the gift that Bella Blvd is giving away, along with all of Jillibean Soups DT gals, leave a comment then go to the next. There are over 50 handmade gifts and product giveaways!! Don't panic because you'll have the entire weekend of March 5th to visit all the blogs and leave a comment for a gift... it's an entire weekend of blogging and giveaways! We'll announce all the winners Monday morning!! Doesn't that sound like fun!!



Here is a sneek of my handmade gift using Nikki Sivils goodies!


I had an eventful afternoon in the hospital yesterday due to chronic stomach pains, caused by a stomach ulcer. Back on boring plain food and no coffee, yes you heard me right, I have banned myself from coffee, infact this very moment I have a mug of Earl Grey tea, I know not very decadent, Earl Grey should definitley be drunk form a tea cup, not a mug! So my weekend plans of creativity never happened, and instaed were swapped with a rug and a hot water bottle!
This morning we woke to lots of snow, but as in true Southoe fashion, it has now gone and is slushy!
I am still taking my photo a day, just need to edit them, and upload to flickr and add a few of my favs here. Is anyone else doing a 365 photo a day? Do share a link.

I am off now to cook a chicken dinner that was destined for yesterday. At least I will put a smile on Izzy's face, as she loves a good olde English Roast with all the trimmings!!
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Not Feeling Great

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/20/2010 10:31:00 PM 6 lovely comments
All good plans can easily go wrong. After a gorgeous meal out last night to celebrate the release of Pencil Lines the Book, it wasn't long before I started to feel poorly; i had put it down to my greed for the Peshawri Nan, which I am partial to a nan or 2!. This morning I felt no better, and remembered those gorgeous juicy tiger prawns I had in chilli, mmm, not the best for a stomach ulcer. I then had a lovely hot bubble bath this morning whilst everyone was out, and then had a baking session; lemon cake and crumbly cookies with jam middles!! A few tastes of aforementioned scrummy crumbly biscuits with jammy middles, I remembered why I was feeling not to bright. I did managed some fresh air to play football (not very me at anytime!), with the girls and Peter. Took some photos, playing with sun glare, of which I had planned to scrap today. Instead I  just moped most of the day feeling sorry for myself!
I am now curled up on the sofa with a hot bottle strapped to my tummy! And that my blogging friends is where the hot bottle will remain until bed time, which is in sight as I a bloomin knackered!

Hope you had a good day, thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Online Class

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/20/2010 12:11:00 AM 2 lovely comments
Here are the details for the class I am teaching next weekend at Scrapbookiando



Thank you, to each and everyone of you who have left comments on the web, and emailed me about Pencil Lines the Sketch Book, I am thrilled you love it as much as the Design Team and I do.

Catch up at the weekend, when i will hopefully be scrapping!
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Sneak Peek

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/17/2010 10:44:00 PM 2 lovely comments
I know its abit mean, but this is a layout for a class I am teaching for Scrapbookiando (online) next weekend. I will have all the details by the end of the week for the online crop! Stephanie Hunt from Bella Blvd is the other teacher, so it going to be a great weekend!



Lory has also asked me to come over to Italy to teach in the Autumn! Cannot wait. I think it will just have to be a family weekend away...

I am totally pooped wrapping and packing book orders all day. Thank goodness Peter arrived home early and helped organize the chaos we were in and I am now all packed to date! Phew...
Thanks for stopping by, start stalking the postie if you pre ordered a Pencil Lines book ( available here to buy)
Husg
Anna xx

Look whats in da house!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/16/2010 11:06:00 PM 7 lovely comments
Thirty two boxes filled with Pencil Lines the Sketch Book!!! After so much angst this last week I am so pleased to have them in my hands now.
Its been a tough year for me and this book. I had a publisher in the US and due to the financial market in the US the company no longer publishes, and my book no longer had a publisher. Heartbreaking you can imagine. After so much time and energy that was put into the book by myself and the design team, i decided to use a local publisher and self publish. Its been a long hard struggle, but totally worth it! I am hoping to take the printing to China for another run, when I will then be in a position to list on Amazon and approach distributors in the US. Next week I will put together a list of shops that are stocking Pencil Lines the Sketch Book.


I am packing all pre orders as I type. It will take a couple of days to pack them all, so hopefully UK gals will have them by the weekend to enjoy and start your sketch journey!

Thanks for stopping by and for all your patience and positivity with Pencil Lines the Sketch Book
Hugs
Anna xx

Pencil Lines and Nikki Sivils

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/15/2010 12:04:00 PM 8 lovely comments
Pencil Lines went live last night with sketch 174 and guest designer Sue Mylde. I love blog hopping, it is how I came across Sue's gorgeous work. Do you have a favourite artist that you fell a cross by accident? Please share...

Anyways back to Pencil Lines.... Awesome and inspiring gallery by our fabulous DT, do have a good browse, also do click on the DT's blog links on the right hand side for more info on their layouts.

With it being Valentines day, I wanted to do a layout about Peter and I. I had already chosen my journaling from a Foo Fighters song we both love; see this post.
I was all set to use the Valentines line from Nikki Sivils "Will He Be the 1", but I didnt have this line in my DT box. Hey that didnt deter me at all, as I pulled out the gorgeous "Flaming Butterfly" range and knew exactly how I wanted my layout to work.
These beautiful butterflies are begging to be cut out and "popped"



I used the shaped circle paper as my background to my photos, which i took earlier in the morning.



This sketch called for an overdose of Prima flowers, jewels and pearls!





Used American Craft thickers for my title and Jenni Bowlin mini alphabet for my journaling.
As always we offer a FREE digital version of the weeks sketch. You can download here




Enjoy your Monday
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Love is all around

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/14/2010 10:58:00 PM 1 lovely comments
Happy Valentine's Day !

How was your day? Mine started with breakfast in bed, delivered by Izzy and Lilly, followed by a tray of gifts for the girls and me!
We all got a soft cuddly toy ( I know I am such a softie!), and I got a new Momiji Doll.
Later in the morning, Peter and I had a silly photo shoot.
Here are a couple of the outtakes.

This afternoon I headed into my studio and had a play with the new Nikki Sivils line, "Flaming Butterfly"; I am in love with these papers. I then worked on a layout uisng January's Kenner Road kit for an online class Scrapbookiando; I will post more details on my class later this week.

If you are in need for some Valentine scrapbook ideas, look here and here

Hope your day was filled with love!
Hugs
Anna x

Lyrics for my Valentines

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/13/2010 05:28:00 PM 1 lovely comments
Tomorrow is valentines day, and with a self timer shoot lined up, papers from Nikki Sivils "Will He Be The 1" range of papers waiting to be scrapped, i googled the words to a fav love song;
These words will be the journaling to my layout.

Hello

I've waited here for you
Everlong


Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red, out of her head she sang


Come down
And waste away with me
Down with me


Slow how
You wanted it to be
I'm over my head, out of her head she sang


And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again


The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

Breathe out
So I could breathe you in
Hold you in


And now
I know you've always been
Out of your head, out of my head I sang



And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again


The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again


The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

Everlong - Foo Fighters
 
Do you have a favourite love song that is perfect for you and your Valentine?
 
Hugs
Anna x

365 update

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/12/2010 08:27:00 PM 3 lovely comments
A few of my favourite snapshots from the past week;


Day 39 : My favourite lamp, and spot in the dining room



Day 36 : Fresh carrots from the garden



Day 41 : My Nikki Sivils DT box arrived!!! I cannot wait to start creating



Day 42 : Lilly had  a very difficult decision to make today; to go or not to go to the Valentines Disco!

This weekend I have planned a very creative one. My "Creative To Do List" is so veeery long, but also so very exciting. Its been a long time since I ahve had so much creating to do, I am really looking forward to it all.
If you are wanting to pop yourselves on a creative retreat this year, I still have places left on the Scrapping Angels retreat for April 25th-26th. Details are here. The little snippets I am receiving from the teachers is making my creative juices drool!
We have My Minds Eye, Pink Paislee, American Crafts, Prima, Cosmo Cricket, to name a few of the manufacturers you will be working with. All new CHA 2010 releases!!!

I have also confirmed some new teaching dates for the Autumn; I will update my teaching schedule this weekend.
Pencil Lines the Sketch Book will be shipping from Monday; the weekend will be spent labeling enevelopes and boxes, with my little helpers!
I am going to be available for book signings at your LSS and crop, do let your shop owner and crop organizer know and get them to email me at albowkis@hotmail.com

And if you didn't know I am now tweeting, you can follow me here!

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

I am now a TWIT

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/11/2010 08:16:00 PM 0 lovely comments
Twitter·Blog


n. a nifty place to read official news from Twitter.
 
Follow me here
 
Catch you later with a 365 update!
Hugs
Anna x

Pencil Lines sk173

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/09/2010 02:14:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Pencil Lines new sketch went up on Sunday with guest designer Lisa Day. The design team did an amazing job as always! I havnt been able to join in these past week, but I am definitley going to find the time for this Sundays sketch!
As always, we offer a FREE digital template , which you can download from here.



Had an emotional day at work, due to 4 kids from my class going through some really tough times, and my heart strings are pulled every which way at the moment. I just hope their time at school brings happier memories for them.

Short post today, so thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Tough day

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/08/2010 09:50:00 PM 7 lovely comments
After a wonderful welcome back at school today, the afternoon was tough. I am seeing a hypnotherapist re some childhood problems, and today had me balling my eyes out for 1 hour and half and experiencing stuff that wasn't very nice. I am OK, and very pleased that my hazy memories have been confirmed, and i can start to move forward. I have 4 more sessions left and I know they wont be easy, and more tears will be shed, but in the long run , I am hoping that I can stop blaming myself and asking questions, I can start being the mum my girls love and want, and the wife Peter deserves. I can move forward and maybe, just maybe start to love me! Its a big thing to ask, but I actually believe I can come out the other side and see a brighter future.
Onto happier things...
This will make you giggle, a photo of me from my school days next to my BF Lisa,  popped up on facebook today!




Thanks for listening,
Hugs
Anna x

Look...

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/06/2010 04:07:00 PM 35 lovely comments
what the postie delivered today! Slight picture overload, be warned!





Expecting my delivery any day now. Order your copy today from here
Have a lovely weekend. We are having a few friends round for a Rock Band night; chilli is cooking and the house is tidy, just got to do a practise run of my repetoire on Rock Band, lol!
Hugs
Anna x

Mini Book Photos

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/06/2010 01:03:00 AM 4 lovely comments
At last I managed to photograph (not very well), the mini book I made with the free Valentine printables.
I love the simplicity of this mini album, makes a change from my usual cluttered pages I do, LOL.










As you can see, each page is uniformed with an embossed layer of card, white ribbon, acrylic shape and a scalloped printable. All the photo as black and white, except the photo on the first page of both my girls.

Supply list : Bazzill cardstock, Free Valentine printables, Martha Stewart corner punch, 2" Scallop punch, various ribbons, Autumn Leaves barcode stamps, Heidi Swap acrylic, KaiserCraft pearls, Bind it all wires, Mellissa Frances flower brad, Lil Davis bottle cap, Cuttlebug embossing folders, Papermania card blank

I made a quick card, using Scenic Route Loveland, and one of my printables. Simple layering, corner punch and a scalloped punched sentiment!



Supply List : Scenic Ropoute Loveland, Martha Stewart corner punch, Hambly transparency, Valentine printable, Papermania card blank

Don't forget you have until Sunday to enter my Valentine RAK; details here

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Such Sweet Tierney

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/05/2010 01:52:00 PM 6 lovely comments

Really excited to announce that I am now part of the Such Sweet Tierney DT. London designs and makes the most funky buttons EVER! I cannot wait to start playing.
I am so honoured to be joined by;

Pearl Lui
Shermaine Kruijver
Stacey Young

Go check out the new DT's blogs as you will be blown away!

Back later with more photos of my mini book.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Inspired...

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/04/2010 06:54:00 PM 8 lovely comments
I have been out most of the day, and the light here has been dark and gloomy again, so I have been unable to take any decent project photos, gggrrrr. Tomorrow regardless of light I will pull out my studio lights and tent and I will have my Valentines projects photographed!

In the meantime I have been browsing the net and have been completly blown away by artisit Alisa Burke. i suggest you run on over to her blog NOW, and be inspired by these beautiful "healed hearts" and her valentines wreath (scroll down); both of which I want to make.



Alisa has given a tutorial for both these projects. Next scroll further down to a video of her at work, truly inspirational!

I have been inspired today, have you? Who or what inspired you?
Don't forget to add your name to this post for a chance to win a RAK from me
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x

Valentine Projects

blogged by me domestic goddess On 2/03/2010 09:18:00 PM 6 lovely comments
This afternoon I have been playing with my valentine printable downloads. I made a mini book that I have wanted to make for months now.
I wanted this mini book to be very plain and simple; using a small selection of embellishments and keeping colour to simply white, pink and red. Basic page layout is the same on each page, again keeping simplicity throughout the book.


To add texture to my pages I used my cuttlebug embossing templates. Why I forget about these is a mystery. As soon as I placed my cardstock and turned the (broken) handle on my BigShotz, I am excited and inspired by the beauty that beholds, once the cardstock is churned out the other side, LOL.
Each page has a single strip if white ribbon, placed onto embossed white cardstock. I used my Martha Stewart corner punch on each page.

I then added one of the printables that I have already punched out using my 2" scalloped circle punch.
Next I rummaged into my forgotton embellishments and pulled out a selection of Heidi Swapp mini  acrylic shapes.


The opposite page is where I have added a photo and a barcode sentiment stamp by Autumn Leaves.
Little details like bottle cap, pearls and the Making Memories page tabs were all added to my final pages.
The front and back cover have been made using chipboard and then I have bound my book with the Bind-it-all.


The front cover has been left simple, using a felt rose I made last week. See tutorial here.
Ribbons have been tied to the rings and a "G" monogram has been finally added (girls).


Tomorrow I will add a complete supplies list and a photo of each page, the light has not been good to me today!

See yesterdays post to add a link to your creations using the Valentine printables. Deadline is Sunday night.
The winner will receive a Valentines RAK!

Tomorrow I will have a cute gift bag and card to share.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs
Anna x