Scrapping Tonight

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.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/poshtotty_2006/DSC_0103-1.jpg

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!

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/poshtotty_2006/DSC_0094.jpg?t=1280148371

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.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/poshtotty_2006/DSC_0025.jpg?t=1280148242

Kit tastic

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/09/2006 09:50:00 PM 7 lovely comments

Kit 8 is finally done and not after alot of problems. This is not Basic Grey as expected, because my supplier, (after I have waited a month) still doesn't have it in, ggrr, so we now have some Junkitz instead. I love this kit, great for heritage layouts and autumn as well. I did my first heritage layout today using this months page kit. This is a photo of The Wilmots. My grandparents, who I never met as they were killed by a direct bomb on their house in WW2, and my Auntie Rita, Uncle Derek (who sadly left us when I was a child) and the youngest , my dad (inserts)*BIG GRIN*.

I hope I have done a good job here for them.

With leftovers and a few bits from my stash I made this little piece of Lilly dressed as a Victorian beauty. Doesn't she look so cute and adorable?

If you fancy 1 of these kits, pop on over to the website to purchase. I am also doing an add on this month of a Junkitz mantel book.

Love sketches, love challenges. Well it seems you do. Last night was the launch of my brand , spanking new challenge site "Pencil Lines" . A fantastic line up of talented designers who I am also proud to call friends. Each and everyone of them has worked hard behind the scenes to make my idea a reality. And they are still hard at work, gathering some amazing celebs for the launch of the guest DT in November.

Thanks to Anam for all her hard work behind the scenes doing all the fancy bits on the site, without her hard work we would not have had a site to launch!!

Pop on over to see what Pencil Lines is all about and join in the fun. The more the merrier is all I can say, and last night over 1000 of you did !!!!!

Its back to the scrapping board for me and some great DT assignments to start and finish, and Sue, you will be pleased to know a CJ is on its way to you.

hugs blogettes

Anna xxx

| |

New Challenge Blog

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/08/2006 06:39:00 PM 12 lovely comments

A new challenge blog had been launched today for cardmakers, scrapbooking and mini books lovers.

Pencil Lines is a challenge blog for sketch lovers and those who have never used a sketch before.

We have an international line up and some amazing guest DT members in the pipeline

Please come and visit and join in the fun

Ist challenge goes up at 9pm GMT tonight

hugs

anna x

| |

Memory Trends

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/07/2006 02:56:00 PM 10 lovely comments

I was so chuffed to have 3 of my layouts chosen for display at Memory Trends for the design team I am on with Zsiage.

I am now allowed to pop them up in full, so here are my creations!

Calling all sketch lovers, stay tuned as a brand new challenge website is being launched tomorrow night, with a very talented design team and some awesome and well known sketch artists all involved in a very exciting new site. Check back tomorrow when I will be popping a link here for you all to take part.

Have a good weekend
Anna x

| |

Same old same

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/05/2006 09:52:00 PM 8 lovely comments

Nothing much to say today, I have been working hard packing the back log of orders, so really have done very little else.

The weather here has been dreadful, really dark and gloomy, so Lilly and I snuggled side by side for soup, french bread and Chicken Run on DVD. That's the only thing I Love about days like these, cuddling up with the girls.

Tomorrow is jeans for genes day, so both the girls will be sporting jeans and a £1 in their pockets for charity.

Did you know Scrapping Angels are hosting a 1 day festive workshop in Buckden on the03/12, an absolute not to be missed day of festive fun. Already Annie and myself have some great productslined up and theclasses are shaping up fab!
We have the much talked about exploding box, a stunning mantle/wall Christmas banner,

Christmas tree dec's and a really stunning mini book greeting card, already planned. There will be a festive goodie bag, buffet lunch and of course Christmas crackers and some caroling!! Pop on over to thesite to book your place at only £45.00. Limited places available

A group of international scrappers have got together to bring you a new weekly challenge. watch this space as we will be launching very soon. I am so excited about this, it will be great fun, inspirational and appeal to all levels of scrappers.

Lastly I leave you with some projects I did for Creative Scrapbooking and Scrapbook

Inspirations. I really enjoyed doing the clippy kit project for Creative Scrapbooking, they make great gifts for girlfriends. The scrapbook T shirts were alot of fun and the girls really enjoyed modelling them, bless them.

Oops for someone with nothing much to say I sure do manage to waffle!!

hugs

Anna xx

| |

Tagged

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/03/2006 09:12:00 PM 8 lovely comments

The rules are: List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets.Tag 5 friends and list them. Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people.

Thanks Chanel for the tag

Not sure if I can think of 5 people who haven't been tagged, so if you fancy being tagged go for it! but here goes my 5 weird things;

1. I have double jointed BIG toes, and until recently realised I have my Dad's BIG toes, lol

2. OK , this may sound gross to some, but I am completely obsessed with having clean ears and I must "twiddle" with those ear buds every time I head into the bathroom. If I go away for the night and forget to take some buds with me, it really freaks me out, sad I know...

3. I love peanut butter and will sit and eat it out of the jar using my finger if i need a peanut butter rush that quick, oh and i don't do smooth it has to be crunchy

4. I still believe I am a size 12, 26 years old and gorgeous, until I get a glimpse in the mirror and see a completely different story :(

5. Discovered this week by some lovely cyber friends that I am a funeral director stalker, due to my obsession with the place last week, I was constantly visiting. OK morbid I know and I have been a good girl not been back in 4 days!!!

weird facts over now...

I love challenges although I am so useless at doing them, I still have never done a speshal dare, only done 1 effer dare and only managed to complete so far 1 of Ann{i}es challenges by Ali Edwards, BUT saying all that, I try most weeks to pop a sketch challenge of a layout and a card weekly on The Lounge. The girls seem to be enjoying them so I thought I would start popping them on here for you all. I love Becky Fleck sketches, so I often use her sketches. I will post the first sketch by Friday no time limit , but I will post a new sketch every Friday for you.

Photo is off some button flowers i found on Morgon's blog ages ago. These are just so cute and I know Emily has made these as well, and I must do these, I am a bit of a button hoarder so I definatley have plenty of buttons to use.

hugs

Anna x

| |

Anna does it Dawn Bibby style

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/02/2006 08:22:00 PM 12 lovely comments

Well not quite , lol, but I did do my first TV performance today, not sure if it has been left on the cutting room floor, but I will find out soon and will let you all know. I have been on the road since 7.30 am, filming, and then back on the road home, a fun packed day, and a very nerve racking one. I have been asked back to the studios, and we will wait with bated breath, just in case they change their minds. I don't even remember smiling, and I was lost for words at points, me , lost for words? yes, it is true

Now I must apologize as naughty blogger would not let me or several others post last night, so I have 2 prizes to draw and give away in this post.

By the why, do you lurve my roots!!! OMG how bad do they look. I have a colour consultation in November, eek can I actually wait that long. And yes I know the photo is blurred, but it doesnt show my wrinkles up so well, you see!

Just got back to some good news. 2 of my DT projects for Zsiage have been chosen for memory

trends, and I am oh so excited about this. Silly I know, but how exciting is that?

"Harvest" is with the new Flourishes collection. A delinght of reds and golds, perfect for the photo of Lilly in the corn fields. The other layout "I is for Izzy", is again using new papers and the 5" chipboard which I inked using Tim Holtz alcohol inks, then I utee'd with a pearl utee and finally added some Heidi Swapp bling! Lots of stitiching with my sewing machine as well.

I managed to complete 3 layouts yesterday, all for DT's, so only sneaky peeks I'm afraid.

Lovely Annie is coming over Wednesday, and I am dead excited. I always am when I see Annie, she is such a breath of fresh air, and then of course there is the adorable little man Dean to accompany Annie. Lilly and Dean I am sure will chat and play all day, while Annie and I put the scrapping world to rights and plan exciting projects for our next retreat! Which by the way is 03/12/06 in Buckden.

A 1 day festive delight of 6 Christmas projects to brighten your home and brighten the faces of those that love to receive beautiful handmade gifts.

To book your place, pop on over here.

And the winners are :

GEMS

CATHY

Ladies you know what to do, email me your postal addy and I will get packing some goodies up for you :)

Hugs

Anna xx

| |

and next up is......

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/01/2006 10:03:00 PM 3 lovely comments

JACQUI

email me hun your details and a set of Making Memorie Boho ephermera stickers are on their way

next prize goes out at 11pm so keep posting :)

| |

2nd prize goes to....

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/01/2006 09:36:00 PM 3 lovely comments

KELLY G

Hi Kelly, email me your details and i will post your goodies of a Paper Loft Flip Flop kit with matching cardstock

keep posting girls

| |

Ist prize goes to...........

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/01/2006 06:40:00 PM 7 lovely comments

ok ladies
first name pulled out of the hat is

Louise Squires

Louise, congratulations, I will be sending you the KI Memories kit, please email me your details albowkis@hotmail.com

Just keep posting until midnight tonight and i will draw another name out of the hat at 9.30pm, and every 30 minutes until midnight (see yesterdays post for details)
Good Luck
anna xx

| |

That's Life...

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/30/2006 05:26:00 PM 26 lovely comments

Yesterday was Dad's funeral, and "That's Life" was the song played while we left the chapel, and a very apt choice for dad as well, the lyrics sum his life up perfectly as do all the songs I selected.

I also found the strength to read a poem I wanted to very badly read on the day.

I miss you dad, I am lonely without you. I am devastated that you were taken from me. I am angry that you had to suffer so. It was hard to see you in your torment and pain. But that’s not how I will remember you.
I will always remember you full of life and warmth and kindness. I will remember the laughter and the love. I will remember the precious time we shared. I will remember your vitality and your generosity.
Your death left a gaping hole in my life. But hard as it is to be without you, I take comfort in the knowledge that you are at last in peace and free of pain.
Rest in peace dad. God bless you. Amen.

I had a Humanist service for dad as he was an atheist. Vanessa was amazing and summed up dad perfectly. Both Vanessa and Andrea the funeral director made what is a very sad day into a day to remember with joy, and I know dad would have said the same if he was with me.

I did have an unexpected guest at the funeral, my sister. Although a shock for me and one that had me suffering from palpitations when Vanessa came to tell me, it was also someone my dad would have been overjoyed at, that after too many years of no contact, did come and pay her last respects. Unfortunately she left in such a hurry I could not thank her in person, so Mandy if you are reading this, thank you for attending.

It was wonderful and a great support to have my Auntie Rita, Jacqui, my half sister Maria and my mother in law Pat by my side, and of course my most wonderful hubby, whom dad adored, and who has been a pillar of strength

I have a rose that I am going to press from my dads wreath. I chose a wreath of pure white and rich creams, it was beautiful.

So life moves on, and today I had a mass clear out of my office/scrap room. I am hoping this will unleash some much needed mojo,

still waiting!

But this mass clear out might not have unleashed mojo yet, but has uncovered lots of scrummy

scrapping goodies that I am passing on to my blogettes.

I have a pink scrap album, a KI Memories kit, EK Success punch, Making Memories boho chic embellishments and a couple of kits from the retreat weekend, to name a few of the goodies uncovered in my scrap room.

Just make a post between now and midnight Sunday (well the weekend is always quiet isn't it) and i will start forwarding some goodies to some lucky posters!

Hugs and thank you for all your support

Anna xx

| |

odd day

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/28/2006 07:12:00 PM 11 lovely comments

Really odd day today. packed trade orders, but seem to have messed up everyones invoices!, then just walked out of the house and took myself to St Neots and Saks the hairdresser. Got myself a smart new cut for tomorrow. Then trotted off to do some clothes shopping for the funeral. After that I went to Waitrose to shop for the food, then bought myself some new pink luggage! don't ask. Finally ended up at the Funeral Directors and said goodbye to dad and sat talking to Andrea the funeral director for an hour. Made my way home, and cooked a casserole, took Lilly swimming, cooked their T (as casserole is still in the oven) and now am at a loss. Guess i should do some housework for tomorrow and pack some retail orders.

This weekend I have lots of DT work to do and to prepare for my meeting on Monday.

Paul this is just for you, a photo of you and your best buddie, and a layout from the retreat is for anyone in general, lol. "Bonkers for Conkers" is from Annie's class using Chatterbox and Bazzill, and lots of scrummy Rhonna Farrer stamps.

hugs

Anna x

| |

Trying

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/27/2006 08:58:00 AM 4 lovely comments

to keep upbeat is bloomin hard this week, but I need your help bloggers, i need lots of silliness to keep me smiling.
The adrenalin of the weekend has finally passed and I must now start to stock take the shop, and get on with all the paperwork.

NEWS FLASH
Annie and I are planning a day of Christmas scrummyness on 3rd December 9am -7pm in Buckden. It will be filled with lots of mini projects, no layouts, no albums just lots of ideas to fill your home and family with the season of giving and happiness.
I so love Christmas and am really excited about doing a Scrapping Angels Christmas special, and even more so because it is with Annie :)

Watch this space for more info on price and booking.

I do have some great things lined up and this is what i will be focusing on, first meeting is on Monday, a much needed diversion after the funeral.
I am also meeting up with Mandy Anderson for lunch, and I cannot wait, she is so full of enthusiasm, and another much needed diversion!
Also Annie, Dean, Lilly and myself are also doing lunch next week, so I guess I have loads to keep me busy. Next on the list is to get some me scrapping time done, OK I know I have just been to a retreat and I actually acme away with some layouts I love. But i need more me time, lol.

Today Sue has been with me, helping stock take and drool over Angel Kiss blooms. She also came armed with breakfast, lunch and cheesecake, yummy, yummy, scrummy!!What a lucky girl I am .

I have just found my projects from the weekend so I will leave you with my favourite and finished project from Emily's class . This was an "About Me" large file folder, with an altered photo using paints, bleach and correction pens!
And a part of a completed LO that I did in Annie's class. Both I thoroughly enjoyed. I will upload the whole LO tomorrow when I can photograph in better light.

hugs
Anna x

| |

Scrapping Angels Rock!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/25/2006 09:50:00 PM 9 lovely comments

Yes we truly do, with an international cast to play with us on our first outing as well!!

The weekend was a huge success due to the massive talents of Emily Falconbridge and Annie Hafermann, and not forgetting my right hand angel, Sue Baru.

I have to also thank Spike Hafermann for his scrumptious hash brown i was fed Saturday morning and the big hugs little Dean smothered me with over the weekend, you guys are the greatest.

The classes were inspirational, the delegates fantastic company and all extremely generous with their pennies. We raised a whopping £100.00 for the MS Society I cannot thank you all enough and to all the wonderful sponsors on UKS for their generosity when donating prizes to the raffle.

Emily signed books and showered the girls with lots of scrummy prizes and Emma from UKS won the Cathy Z challenge and a signed copy of Clean and Simple, lucky girl! All the entries were of an exceptionally high standard, I am so pleased I didn't enter this one.

In true Anna style I ended up with Laryngitis for the weekend, and now barely have a voice to talk with, and I hear no one complaining!

Retreat #2 is already being planned and the dates for next year are April 28-29th 2007, at Wyboston Lakes. This event will be much bigger, loads more classes, lots more inspirational teachers. Booking will be available from mid October

Today has been a toughy on the personal front as I have continued with the funeral plans, starting the day with a visit from the Humanist who will be doing the ceremony on Friday. i also have been to the funeral directors to give them dads clothes, photos and pictures from the girls. tomorrow I will be visiting dad as well.

I haven't stopped crying today, I have got through the last few days only shedding a tear or two, but today I havn't been able to stop, crazy isn't it

For those who may not have received an email, I will be starting to go through orders that have been placed in the last week or so and they will begin to be posted this week

Thank you for all your emails and pms of condolences and thank you for the donations I have received for my fundraising page in aid of the MS Society . Please keep them coming. I will have a donation plate at the funeral as well, every penny counts as they say!

Off to bed for me now, hope to start uploading some layouts and projects from the weekend as well. For now I will leave you with some fab photos form the retreat courtesy of Annie, thanks hun xoxox

Anna

xx

| |

Birthday girl

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/22/2006 12:50:00 PM 8 lovely comments

Izzy was 6 yesterday, someone tell me where the last 6 years went! She is so grown up and beautiful, love her to bits. We had a small T party at Nana's yesterday, Izzy's party was on Sunday at a bowling alley, so this was just a little get together as it was her actual birthday!

Annie and Dean came round yesterday to help finalise the retreat that is tomorrow!!! OMG. Well it actually starts tonight for me, I have been frantically finishing layouts out, packing kits, packing stock , and Peter has been packing the car and writing fab lists for me!

Peter is off to pick up Emily and I leave in a few hours and head of to the hotel and start proceedings.

A HUGE thank you to all our sponsors that kindly donated products for prizes, goodies bags, raffle and classes

Stamps Away – www.clevercut.co.uk
Above Board – www.clevercut.co.uk
Stamp Galaxy –www.stampgalaxy.co.uk
Trading Memories www.tradingmemories.co.uk

Stix 2 – www.stix2.co.uk
ScrapGenie – www.scrapgenie.co.uk

Scrapbook Trade – www.scrapbooktrade.co.uk
Zsiage – www.zsiage.com

Ellison – www.ellison.co.uk
Letraset – www.letraset.co.uk

Scrapbook Inspirations – www.future.co.uk
Crafty Pastimes – www.craftypastimes.co.uk

ATDML - www.atripdownmemorylane.co.uk
Angel Crafts – www.angelcrafts.biz
Scrap Mad –www.scrapmad.co.uk
3djean me – www.3djeanme.co.uk
Scrapbook Central – www.scrapbookcentral.co.uk
Bubbly Funk – www.bubblyfunk.co.uk
Ashdown Publishing – www.ashdown.co.uk
Tracey Tomlinson
Donna Dee

Roz Roz

If you are not coming this weekend and would like to donate some pennies to MS please visit my fundraising page.

I leave you with some sneaky peeks of this weekends classes and some photos of the birthday girl

Hugs

Anna xx

| |

Daddy's Girl

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/20/2006 10:23:00 AM 21 lovely comments

It's true , I have always been a Daddy's Girl and always will be. This is a photo of my dad and me on my wedding day before I left for the church. I found this amongst my dad's belongings, and this sums up our love for each other. I was always my Dad's princess and to be honest, used to believe I was, lol when I was little. I think on this day I was a princess.

Firstly please let me thank each and everyone of you for your condolences and the lovely emails I have received. I hope in time to be able to return each of those emails.

The last few days have been tough while I have sorted all the paper work and legalities out. Peter came with me yesterday to clear my Dad's room as well. Yesterday was the day we received the post mortem results so we could then register my father's death.
Once I have funeral dates I will post here for anyone who may read this and wish for details.
Also any businesses out there, I am holding a charity raffle this Saturday where all proceeds go to the MS Society. If you would like to donate a prize please email me and let me know and I can then forward details of the lucky ticket holder.

I am currently working on auto pilot so that I can get through this weekend, my first Scrapping Angels Retreat. I also have my Izzy's birthday tomorrow as well, although her party was on Sunday.

This is the strangest emotion I have ever felt, and my heart goes out to all those who have experienced the death of a loved one.

I am heart broken, I am numb, I am sad, I am relieved, and I am living in the most surreal world ever.
Finally, again my thanks to you all, I could not have got through these last few days without all the beautiful and heart felt words you have left me, and the lovely cards I have received.

All my love

Anna

xxxx

| |

Goodbye Dad

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/15/2006 05:53:00 PM 43 lovely comments

REGINALD WALTER WILMOT

19/01/35 - 15/09/06

I love you, yesterday, today and tomorrow

xxxxxxxxx

| |

Retreat Ramblings

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/14/2006 09:20:00 PM 9 lovely comments

I woke up feeling much better today, and have been busily preparing for next weekend. I can't believe after months of planning the first Scrapping Angels retreat is finally upon us.

I had a lovely little parcel arrive today, these little cuties are our "Scrapping Angels" aprons. They are so gorgeous and made me very happy today.

Started filling the goodie bags as well, still have lots more to come, so I am very excited. Annie is due back from Seattle Sunday. I cannot wait so we can sit and start finalising the little things.

Poor Lilly has been a poorly girl today and had a day at home with mummy, asleep on the sofa. Why is it when our little ones become ill they suddenly look so fragile.

Went and saw dad today as well. He is looking very gaunt in the face and still terribly tired, but he did acknowledge me today , even if I was only there for 10 minutes, before he asked me to leave.
Today Izzy arrived from school with an envelope from another mum who owns a very posh beauty salon. You know the places that do spa treatments and day packages to just chill and be pampered. Well this envelope contained a gift voucher for me to have a discounted treatment with. I was gobsmacked. We have both had back operations this year and we were chatting about the after shock and stuff. She knew I was down about my weight and the lack of exercise I have been able to do. I cant wait to book my pamper session after next weekend.

I am off now to pack a challenge kit for the retreat and have another early night

Thanks again for all your uplifting comments and emails. I appreciated every single one.

hugs

Anna xx

| |

I am thankful

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/13/2006 05:06:00 PM 15 lovely comments

For people out there that I can call friends. I will be honest, life is pretty tough at the moment, but it is for many others too, and I have to carry on. I am living with a permanent muggy feeling surrounding me, which I guess is also know as auto pilot.

I have read all you emails, posts and pms, and tried to reply to most of you. Anonymous posts do make that tough though, lol.

It is with great sadness that I am having to come to terms with the fact that my Dad is a sick man and is loosing his battle with life. I am visiting daily and in close contact with the nurses at the home, but it is still not easy. I wish someone could tell me how long I have with my Dad. the not knowing is painful.

I so want to scrap, but my energy and heart is not there, instead the retreat is looming ever so closer and my energies are being poured into the final organisation of the weekend ahead of us.

This weekend is Izzy's birthday party and next Thursday she turns 6. Where have those 6 years gone? I know they tell you to enjoy every minute as the years fly , but boy they have wooshed by!

I am doing alot of reflecting these past few days, and have now found out who my true friends really are, and who my not so good friends are. Although painful , I think it has been a good thing, and I must learn not to trust so easily.

I am looking forward to the next few months, as business changes are made and a new partnership is formed. This is going to be so exciting and something for me to focus on.

Scrapping Angels Retreat#2 has been booked and details will be announced next month, so this too is very exciting!

On a personal note, I joined weight watchers today, yikes. I lost 4 stone after the birth of Izzy, and never lost my post pregnancy weight after Lilly. My weight has been an issue for me, so today was the day I had to do something about it. So be warned, Wednesday entries will Be weight related!!

Monday after school we all went for an autumnal walk around the farmland that backs onto our house.

We collected conkers, well actually we collected hundreds of conkers, and now our house is adorned with strings of conkers to keep spiders away!

We also picked blackberries and apples, of which I will make a crumble, yummy. And also stumbled across mushrooms. Who needs sainsburys!

I must thank each and everyone of you who reads my blog. Whether on a daily basis or just to pop in now and again. i have been blogging now for a year and 2 days! And have been astounded by the lovely comments left by friends, colleagues and cyber friends. Blogging has put me in touch with the most wonderful people i could have "met", and also started a new partnership (aha all will be revealed next month).

I just need to pull myself together now and carry on, leave the past behind me and concentrate on the future, as I am sure the future is bright, and I am off to find my shades....

With all my love

Anna x

| |

I am angry

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/11/2006 09:33:00 AM 18 lovely comments

with life in general,

with this small community of scrappers,
with my 70 hour week,
with my weight,

with family

with colleagues/friends that you trusted and realise only have their own interests at heart
with the loss of innocent life's 5 years ago today
with watching my dad's life slip slowly away from me.

But although I was going to pour my anger out in last nights blog entry, I went to bed. i am going to try and start today feeling a bit more upbeat, and list the good things in life. So here it go's!

I have a wonderful immediate family that love and adore me, who I would do anything for

I am healthy ( kind of!)

I am lucky to have found scrapping

My life is not as bad as some of my friends and colleagues life's are and i must be grateful for that

I have had 36 wonderful years with the man known as my DAD and must enjoy the few I have left with him now

I cannot believe 5 years ago today I was browsing in hamleys, a toy shop in Hove, and overheard some ramblings on the news about what i believed to be a bomb scare at the white house, to arrive back at my Uncles house and see before me the horrific scenes that we all know so well to be 9/11 and the fall of the twin towers. Still today those scenes shock me and make me cry.

Back to work, and the monthly page kits are going down a storm. August (much belated) have sold out and next months will be Basic Grey Gypsy, and will be released for general sale at the end of the month. These are limited addition and the only way to guarantee yourself a kit is by subscription. I only make a certain quantity up and they go to subscribers first and then on general sale!

The Retreat is coming together and with only days left till the BIG weekend it is all very exciting This weekend was spent planting bulbs, and my helper Lilly was brilliant. A layout is definitely in the making there.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend
hugs and please spare a thought for the victims of 9/11 today

Anna x

| |

just a quickie!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/09/2006 01:04:00 PM 5 lovely comments

Been a busy bee finalising retreat stuff, page kits, designing classes for the Luxurious Angels Retreat and the challenge for Scrappers Unlimited, BUT I did set a weekend challenge at The Lounge as the girls were feeling slightly unmotivated. I gave them 2 sketches and they are gorgeous by Becky Fleck, so if you have lost your mojo, have a go at these sketches this weekend and leave me a link . Upload by midnight Sunday

have a good weekend

hugs

Anna x

| |

Deadline completed

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/06/2006 10:46:00 PM 7 lovely comments

Yes at 11.10am this morning I completed 1 of many deadlines. Really pleased with this, can't wait to see it in print. Sneaky peek of a section to the left.

The girls went off to school with no hiccups, and Lilly has declared that school is "fantastic", what a relief for this worried mummy. Tomorrow Lilly start swimming and will be a duckling, how coot is that? She told me tonight "tomorrow is an important day isn't it mummy, school and swimming?" I am so proud of my little girl. Izzy learnt about being polite and using good manners at school today, now I wait with bated breath to see her use them at home, somehow I think this one 5 year old going on 15, will keep me in suspense a little longer!
I have been doing paperwork for the retreat this evening and I have a layout to complete for the delayed monthly page kit. Really sorry subscribers it will, without hesitation, be going out Friday.

Lots of behind the scenes stuff going on with Scrapping Angels. The new website will be launched for definite in January 2007. Our adverts will be seen soon in all you favourite magazines and there is lots of exciting stuff coming your way. I am way too excited.

I am also seeing the venue for Scrapping Angels retreat part 2 on Tuesday and details of that will be announced on October 1st.

I am now going to head for my bed at a decent hour tonight. I will make it before 1am tonight!! I have too I am pooped!

Hugs and goodnight

Anna x

PS: this is another school photo from yesterday, lol

| |

Back to school

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/05/2006 10:54:00 PM 6 lovely comments

Yes the 6 weeks summer holidays were officially over today as Izzy went back to school as a year 1 pupil, and my baby had her 1st day at pre school. Where have the last years gone? It all seems like a blur now, my girls are growing up so fast. What a change from my nervous Izzy I had last year, she looks so grown up and confident in this photo.
Well I returned to an empty house and sat down to a magazine deadline , that has to be sent tomorrow. I am loving this project. I am doing some great "outside the album" work with Scrapbook Inspirations at the moment and I am loving it.

This is full of mini projects that you can take out of the main project and work with on single layouts and stuff!!

Its all systems go as well with the retreat. More scrummy prizes are coming to my door and Scrapbook Inspirations are going to run a editorial on us!! So girls don't forget to bring your lippy!!!

Short and sweet today as I still have loads of work to do and none of it can I show you. I also have lots of DT work to do for Zsiage to display at some of the forthcoming shows in US. How exciting is that?
Hope all you mum's got through today
big hugs
Anna xx

| |

Happy Birthday Karen

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/04/2006 11:26:00 PM 1 lovely comments

Happy Birthday Karen!!! My very good friend. Here is your second surprise. the girls wanted to be with you so bad, enjoy!

File too big to email to you ,so you will have to watch it here :)

hope you like it
hugs
Peter,Anna, Izzy and Lilly
xxxxxx

| |

Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/03/2006 10:01:00 PM 4 lovely comments

We all love a surprise, don't we? This weekend Peter and I, with the help of Kevin and a few others, travelled up to Newcastle to have dinner with our bestest friend Karen, whose birthday is on Tuesday. She had absolutely no idea and for the first time in 11 years I got her back!!! and it felt good. A lovely meal at a restaurant in town with 1 bottle to many of white wine, made it the perfect night

As well as seeing Karen and Kevin, this morning Karen cooked a scrummy breakfast and Gillian joined us as well, which was a wonderful added bonus! Surprises are good, and our long drive home was made all the more worth it as we both knew how happy we had made Karen.

Back to it, and the girls are back to school on Tuesday. While I am completing deadlines, Peter will take the girls shopping to finalise any last minute school needs!

Finally, my Dad is back at the nursing home, we got him home Friday so I knew it was OK for us to make the trip up to Newcastle. He is doing so much better now, so thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. I honestly do not know how he bounces back every time!

I am off to tidy my mess of an office and leave you with a photo of myself and Karen last night.

hugs all

Anna x

| |

Best Friends

blogged by me domestic goddess On 9/01/2006 03:38:00 PM 4 lovely comments

Yesterday my best friend for 18 years came over to ours for the day with her gorgeous children. Sarah and I don't often see each other, mainly due to commitments of family life and distance, but when we get together, it's as if we only saw each other a few days ago!

We had a lovely day catching up on family gossip, and the children all played together well. The karaoke machine came out and Ben and Izzy sang You're Beautiful and some Queen numbers. What a giggle that was. Lauren helped Lilly do roly polys and handstands while Lilly was dressed as a princess, need we say anymore!?

Took some lovely photos of Lauren and all the children, will send these over to Anita to "wow" them for me. All fees go to raising money for charity, see Anita's website for more details

Once they left it was back to business and sorting out trade and retail orders, as well as a meeting on where all my fingers and pies should be. decisions have been made and all will be announced in October. Lots of planning behind the scenes until then!

I am off to see Dad at the hospital shortly and then home to finish of this months page kit with Sassafrass Lass papers , stamps and some fabby chipboard. I know it should have gone out yesterday, but bear with me it is worth the wait!

I will upload a taster later tonight.

Hugs

Anna x

| |