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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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Bokeh Tastic!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/31/2010 06:50:00 PM 3 lovely comments
Love me some Bokeh, looks so magical and so easy to achieve! Its really just an out of focus picture of lights or any blurred background! LOL

santa bokeh

love the colours!


Wikipidia has this to say about Bokeh :

n photography, bokeh (pronounced /bɒkɛ/[1]) is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur,[3][4][5] in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."[6] Differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape cause some lens designs to blur the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye, while others produce blurring that is unpleasant or distracting—"good" and "bad" bokeh, respectively.[2] Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focus technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions.

lilly in focus with tree bokeh in the background

some suki loving

focus is not tack sharp as my ISO was high!!! to get a low apperture f1.8


You can also have fun playing with filters to get effects like this! So easy and fun. This website is great for showing you how to achieve Bokeh and using filters.

using a star filter


Go grab your camera and have some fun with your Christmas lights before you take the tree down  tonight!
Have a great evening what ever you are doing. We are having a quiet night in, never been known but looking forward to it.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year from mine to yours.
Anna xx

Sale shopping

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/29/2010 09:41:00 PM 3 lovely comments
This morning we traveled down to WGC, dropped the girls of at Sue's (thanks hun xx) and Peter and I headed into town to spend some gift vouchers Peter got for John Lewis's.
I am one happy bunny, as we are now the owners of a decent down duvet, 2 pillows, new dinner service and some new baking trays! I am so easily pleased, LOL.

It was then time to head onto Monsoon for me, where my pennies got spent! I bought a gorgeous red cable knit jumper, a pair of black cords and a stunning teal top!

Peter headed to Game and came out with Rock Band 3 and a keyboard!

Finally I had to head into my favorite shop "Excetra". I actually didn't buy anything, but I do have my eye on a few things! How cute is this!



Have you bought any bargains in the sales this year? Or are you not bothered?
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

The bit inbetween

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/28/2010 07:20:00 PM 4 lovely comments
Yep, its that "bit in between" Christmas and New Year, the bit where life kinda has to get back to normal; you know the stuff, the washing, ironing and cleaning stuff!! But the tree and decs are still up, everyone is home and all that scrummy leftover calorie laden food is still around in the kitchen, so its not really a normal week is it?! I always feel in limbo at this time of year. Want to start that healthy eating routine again, but cant because there's really no use with all that food and drink still around, I have no will power!
I find I spend this week trying to sum up my 2010 life and realize once again I hav'nt completed a single "NY" resolution, and I am thinking of making new ones, (well the same old ones tbh!) in under a week!
I question who I am, and what my purpose is in life, in fact I am a right misery for this week, I am like it every year, LOL. It also doesn't help that I had some flu bug for Christmas and today is the first day I have actually got dressed and moved off the sofa! I even took Suki for a walk today.

I am going to do my up most to shrug my misery mood and look at the positives that a New Year brings, and look forward. I have an unopened box of Nikki Sivils new lines to play with, my photography website to get up and running, and 2011 to look forward too!

Here are a few photos from the last few days.

Christmas lunch with all the trimmings!

new hats!

Boxing day walk/kiss!

photo by Izzy


Hope you all had a great Christmas!
Thanks for stopping by
Anna xx

PS: anyone else like me this "in between" week??

Merry Christmas

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/24/2010 08:21:00 PM 2 lovely comments
It's so definitely the most wonderful time of the year. My kitchen has been very busy; brownies, orange and cranberry mini cupcakes, mince pies and Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls!
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I hope Santa has been good to you!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in a couple of days!
Anna xx

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Easy Chocolate Fudge

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/23/2010 11:09:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Better late than never I say! Have any last minute gifts to buy, then why not make some chocolate home made fudge!
Izzy and I made this fudge the other day and gave to her and Lilly's friends when they left after the Christmas tea party we had.
The extra bags will go be hostess gifts over the holidays.


You will need :
 

550g caster sugar
550ml double cream
75g liquid glucose
150g dark chocolate melted




Place the first 3 ingredients in a saucepan. Use a sugar thermometer and heat over a low heat , stirring consistently until the sugar dissolves, then increase heat and bring to the boil. Boil until temperature reaches 118c.



Remove from pan and beat in the melted chocolate. Keep beating until it thickens.



Pour into a lined tin and allow to set over night.

Cut into pieces and place in cellophane bags to give as gifts!





Variations :

Use milk or white chocolate instead
Why not add some rum and raisins to a plain fudge.
Add fruit and nuts

How are your Christmas plans going? Are all your presents wrapped? All the baking finished?
If you are anything like me you will still be spending tomorrow running around like a headless chicken turkey!

I am heading off to bed for an early rise tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

My Angels

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/21/2010 04:52:00 PM 5 lovely comments
I thought I would share some favourite corners in my house at Christmas. Today I am showing you my collection of Angels. I love Angels and each Christmas I buy myself a new Angel for my collection. Sadly this year I found nothing I really liked! Hopefully I will spy one in the sales in January, although not quite the same really.

My Angels sit on my side board in the dining room. They vary in texture, height, size and details. From a simple wired angel to a tall felt and knitted angel.


Lilly made this Angel in 2006 whilst at Nursery




I love this vase full of baubles that sits on the dining room table. Shame I didn't turn the bauble round whilst taking a photo!


Do you collect a special something at Christmas time? Do post and share.

Thanks for stopping by. Tomorrow Chocolate fudge recipe!
Anna x

Easy Cranberry Sauce

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/20/2010 07:04:00 PM 0 lovely comments


Ingredients :

1 pack of fresh cranberries
1 cup of sugar or pure maple syrup
1 cup of orange juice or cranberry juice
zest of a clementine or what ever you have and the juice

Pop everything into a pan and bring to boil then simmer for 10 minutes.
The pour into jars (sterilize the jars if you are giving as a gift).

Enjoy with your Christmas turkey or in a cold turkey sarnie Christmas night!

Tomorrow a tour round the house this Christmas
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

6 Days till Christmas!!!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/19/2010 05:59:00 PM 1 lovely comments
I cannot even start to tell you how behind I am with Christmas this year, its just creeped up on me and poked me in the back!
I still have gifts to post to the north and south of England, and all my cards to post out!

Christmas card front


None of my homemade cooking gifts have been made and I dont think they will be now; although I have made some lovely scarves ( if I can say that) and some felt flower brooches that have turned out well. I also have been knitted extra chunky neck warmers and cowls, which I am dead chuffed with, may get Izzy to model one tomorrow!.
Well the girls and I have broken up and I have planned a kids Christmas Tea Party on Wednesday. This will let me catch up on some wrapping and baking chores!

My week looks a bit like this so far:

Monday

Make cranberry sauce
Post presents
Post Christmas cards

Tuesday

Make cupcakes and Christmas biscuits for tea party
Make sausage rolls for tea party
Decorations for Kids Party

Wednesday

Kids Tea Party
Wrap presents


Thursday

Make stuffing
Make mince pies
Make sweets
Buy Turkey

Friday

Xmas Eve food
Prepare Trifle
Cook Ham
Church Service

And I am pretty sure something really important has been missed off the list, LOL.
How are your plans going so far? Alot better than mine I am sure!

Thanks for stopping by. Drop by this week to see how my Christmas plans pan out and join me tomorrow for the easiest and scrummiest fresh cranberry sauce!

Anna x

Quick and Easy Christmas cards

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/16/2010 09:12:00 PM 3 lovely comments
I am not kidding, these are so quick, so simple and so easy!

You need :

White blank card
Buttons
Alphabet stamps
Ink

Choose words thats have an "O" in them and replace with a button.
I used "HOPE", "JOY" and "HO HO HO"





Supplies : Papermania blank cards, Autumn Leaves and KI Memories alphabet stamps, Ranger inks and Such Sweet Tierney Christmas buttons

Don't forget to visit London's blog daily for a free giveaway for her 12 Days of Christmas. Today she has a pink Christmas tree up for grabs and some of her gorgeous buttons!
Tonight I am wrapping a few presents and making fudge for teacher gifts!

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x 

12 Days of Christmas

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/15/2010 07:34:00 PM 0 lovely comments
Have to share with you London Tierney's 12 Days of Christmas over at Such Sweet Tierney.
London is doing a giveaway every day this week for 12 days ( I am a bit late sharing as day 1 was 11th December!).
Today London is giving away a whole bundle of goodies



All you have to do is pop over here and leave a comment, how easy is that!!

You have nothing to lose.... I will share some cute and very easy Christmas cards using London's gorgeous Christmas buttons tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Nikki Sivils

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/12/2010 11:23:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Dropping in to share a couple of layouts I did for Nikki Sivils. 
Using Nikki's new Christmas line Happy Holly Days, I made a layout of Izzy a couple of Christmas's gone when she was Mary in the school nativity play.





Supplies : Nikki Sivils Happy Holly Days paper, stickers, Such Sweet Tierney Christmas buttons, crochet flower, Prima flower, Angel Kiss flower

My second layout is using  Something for Everyone, and just as the name suggests this collection is just perfect for male, female layouts as well as everyday and heritage, I totally love this collection.





Supplies : Nikki Sivils Something for Everyone papers and stickers, Prima flowers, Cosmo Cricket chipboard, Bazzill cardstock, Tim Holtz ticket

These past few days have been hectic as we have been preparing the house for Christmas. I always have a mega clear out and tidy up before we put the decs up, its just another one of those silly traditions!
I will share photos this coming weeks of our trees and decorations as well as some of our family traditions.
Finally just got to say I am over the moon Matt won the XFactor. Although I absolutley adore Rebacca, but she will be better off doing her own thing. And Matt Baker is through to the finals of Strictly, yay!!!

Hope your weekend has been good to you,
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Photos of Izzy

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/09/2010 05:48:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Today I am sharing a couple of photos of Izzy.
Izzy loves hats! And if I am allowed to say so, thinks she loOks pretty stunning in any hat she pops on her head.

Here she is sporting a hat of her dads!



this is a knitted beret



and here we have a santa hat



I am currently working on some cute button projects for Such Sweet Tierney at the moment. Hope to share real soon. Also working on some Nikki Sivils projects and a little birdie tellms me that Nikki's 2011 releases are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!! seriously out of this wrold, I so cannot wait to get my mitts on them.
Hope you are all well
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Blogging from my iphone

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/08/2010 10:52:00 PM 0 lovely comments
Realised now that I am in bed that o havnt blogged yet. So am trying out blogging from my iPhone, pretty neat eh! The only problem I think I will encounter is I cannot add photos , which is a bummer as I wanted to share some photos taken with my iPhone and some mew apps I have downloaded. Instead I will tell you about my fav iPhone photography apps that I love and they are free how cool is that!
In fact this is pretty stupid to do without photographic evidence don't you think?!
Ok maybe I am sleep deprived and my bed is actually calling me to sleep in it and not blog!
I must stop rambling!
Before I go , did you see The Apprentice this evening? Can't believe Lord Sugar got rid of Liz and left Bagsy in!!!!!! shock horror! I had Liz down has a favourite as well. Just goes to show how little we know, lol
Night all
Anna x

Greeting Cards

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/07/2010 06:50:00 PM 3 lovely comments
I have so much stash, too much to be honest. I have embellishments I never open because they are "too" nice to use. I have decided to start using my "too nice" stash and made a couple of cards at the weekend with some gorgeous Prima flowers and Dear Lizzy trim.





I left the cards with no greeting, so I could add at a later date for when I send the card and I know the occasion.



Supplies: Prima flowers, Dear Lizzy ribbon, Cosmo Cricket chipboard, PaperMania greeting card, October Afternoon papers


The weather here has been so pituresque. It looks like the county has been dusted with icing sugar and glitter. I have taken so many photos, sad I know, and I will share tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Knitting and Felt

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/06/2010 02:17:00 PM 2 lovely comments
Winter has well and truly arrived, when you see knitting and hot chocolate in our house!
Visiting the knitting department in our small department store in town, I fell in love with so many beautiful wools I decided to knit some scarfs and make matching felt brooches for the ladies in the family!

Here we are in knitting heaven. This scarf will have tassles added to the ends for a feminine touch. Love the colours; greens, grey, purple and blue, reminds me of a bag Karen bought me last year from Monsoon. Its only taken me a couple of evenings to knit a scarf, not long at all for me. My next project is to make some long fingerless gloves!


Do you have a craft that you turn to in the Winter? Would love to hear.

Thanks for stopping by
Anna x

Pencil Lines sk 216

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/05/2010 08:12:00 PM 3 lovely comments
I have been a bad blogger this week. Life has been busy and my blog is always the first to go onto the back burner!
I have lots to share this week,  snowy photos, cards, layouts, knitting and my Journal Your Christmas (JYC) that Shimelle runs every year.

Firstly Pencil Lines has gone live tonight with sketch 216 and Piradee. I designed this weeks sketch.
Here's my layout:

I used photos taken a few weeks ago of Lilly whilst Suki walking. I love these colours, they all work so beautifuly together. I have layered Cosmo Cricket chipboard and the gorgeous Such Sweet Tierney buttons. ( check out the new look blog!) I used the chipboard leaves to give the impression of the leaves falling that Lilly had thrown.
Finished off with some pretty Dear Lizzy ribbon and a organza flower by Prima.








Supplies : October Afternoon pattern paper, Como Cricket pattern paper and chipboard and alphabet, Such Sweet Tierney hand painted button, Dear Lizzy ribbon, Prima flower, Martha Stewart punch

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join me this week for a fun packed blog!

Anna x

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Snow snow snow!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 12/01/2010 06:50:00 PM 3 lovely comments
Its seems the country is covered in a thick layer of snow, and as always we seem to avoid the worst of it with just an inch or two here in Cambridgeshire!
Suki has loved the little we have had and has been eating snow and running around like the scatter brain she is!
With all this snow and the latest copy of The Scrapbook Magazine falling through my letter box today, I thought I would share my winter layout as seen in the designer gallery and Pencil Lines the Sketch Book.



Supplies : Basic Grey pattern papers, Basic Grey diecuts, Prima flowers, Kaisercraft pearls, Basic Grey and Carolees Creatins alphabets, Creative Imagination Acrylic monogram and Ranger Ink

Hope you are keeping warm
Thanks for stopping by
Anna x