Layouts Catch Up

So I recently (ok maybe not so recently as it was in the first weekend of March) went away with my scrappy friends on our annual retreat. We where squirrelled away in the Hertfordshire counrtyside with the Black mountains looking down on us. We stayed in a wonderful place called Dukes Farm, Craswall in Hereford which I would highly recommend as it's brilliant. 

Myself and the Sparks outside our cottage called Goose Cotts. 

It was so warm and cosy with its wood burning fires and beautiful beams, a lovely venue to catch up with the girls (and boys...3 of our hubby's go too)where we could eat, drink and be merry!! 

Wot'a bunch of posers!! 

Jess, Gemma and as if you didn't know that's me on the right in Green in case you wanted to know who exactly the MAD IRISH WOMAN is?!??

We had great craic!! 

We always do...all someone has to say is legs akimbo or feckitty feck feck and the rest of us will probably dissolve into fits of giggles. 

The stories I could tell...

But there was some serious work to be done too!! I might not have made as many cards this year as I normally would've as we all fed our scraps to the talented Lee (for her amazing art journals!) but I did exceed my expectations on layouts. 

Drum roll please..............

I made 6!! 

Yes that's right 6....now some of you may snigger at this (it does nothing for a girls mojo to sit beside Jess, Gemma or Jules as they are the fastest Scrappers in the west!!) So without further ado here are my layouts. 

They all need journalling, titles, (well maybe only in some cases) and the dates, so other then that they are done. All of the above I have/will procrastinate about which is why I'm amazed I got so many done in the first place. 

Right that's it for now, peeps.  

Slan 

Txx  

Progress on THE SHACK (part 1)

So not sure if I've mentioned before but I have a CRAFT SHACK at the end of my garden. It's my equivalent to the bat cave, man shed or craft room, if you will. It has a bit of a story to it...

It's named in homage to my Grandad Leo...

Here he is with my Nanny...The Scarff's, my mam's parents. 

They have both had a huge influence on my life and at their house my Grandad built his SHACK about 55 years ago. It consisted of two buildings that joined together across the bottom of his garden. One housed The Glasshouse where all manor of gardening things happened & grew. The other was always The Workshop with the added addition of a drum kit which is how I remember it when I was growing up. I remember my uncles in the later & my Grandad pottering about the glasshouse usually managing to find us kids several jobs, which I might add we loved doing because he never made it seem like work. 

So you see it's only fitting that my craft space, my heaven (even if it is a messy one), my room at the bottom of the garden be called The Shack!! As it's where I potter about...I'm very lucky too as mine is a lot more substantial then the one my beloved Grandad built, although his IS still standing even if it has now become a run down ramshackle. 

My dad (Granda Pat) & The Sparks (my hubby) with help and lots of advice from my brother, Mark (he has his own office at the bottom of his garden) built The Shack over the course of about a year, finishing it last summer. (Please excuse the semi-naked workman figure of my father lol it was very hot) 

It was a labour of love and done on a budget that gradually increased as my plans for it changed. It's footprint is bigger then I intended (10ft x 14ft, slightly bigger then the traditional shed I was picturing in my head lol) All thanks to my dad as he knew I'd need every inch of it as it's already bursting at the seams. 

Leah helping with the roof timbers. 

With its 2 part cement base, timber frame, reclaimed window & door, foraged lights and radiator but a state of the art roof (I kid you not!!) just to keep it airtight and water safe so no constant worries about paper becoming damp, it should last well over 50 years. It is heated & has super lights so there are very little overhead shadows which is great when working on crafty projects late into the evening. It only needs a small step at the front and a new pathway leading up to it which will both be summer projects. The grass has become very water logged and slippery under foot due to the wet English weather this past winter and constantly threading up and down on it since the shack was finished has done it no favours either! 

So that's it for this first part...more of my SHACK story and photos next time. 

Thanks for reading

Slan 

Txx 

Me on a Monday/Memorandum Monday

A few FIRSTS in this post!!

FIRST Blog post of 2016.

FIRST time joining in with Sian from High in the Sky. (Lots of my friends already join in). More on this in a mo...

FIRST time baking Cinnamon Swirls for family breakfast on a Sunday morning.

So the idea behind Sian's Meme (for those who don't know is to blog about your weekend in some way!) This year Sian has decided to shake it up a bit by renaming it Memorandum Monday whereby you share something you did over the weekend FOR THE FIRST TIME!! 

So mine was learning that making cinnamon swirls out of a readymade tin makes for a quick, guilt free breakfast along side scrambled eggs on toast for a lovely family breakfast at the kitchen table. It is one of my goals this year to use our table for dinning rather then storage!!! 

Another goal is to learn to use technology better, something I'm borrowing from Sandra over at All Things Pretty. 

I am the first to admit I'm rubbish with techy stuff of any kind...I get my hubby to download & back up my photos from my iPhone, I don't know how to do simple things like making clickable links in this blog, (I have looked it up but can't seem to do it on the blogger app!) nor do I have PayPal, eBay or Amazon accounts (that work!!) I can barely manage my online banking & frequently get locked out of that for forgetting passwords & security questions!! 

Anyway I've rambled on enough already...for those that don't know me I can talk for Ireland & probably England too so tend to blog in the same manner!! 

slán go fóill 

(Bye for now) 

Tara xXx 

Cooking from Scratch on a Budget

Hiya how's it goin? 

I've been trying hard to cook more from scratch lately despite a poorly household in the last three weeks. It was a family collaboration today...so first up, Leah (who has been begging me to do some baking,) after discussing several choices she chose to practise making chocolate mini egg cornflake cakes. LOL 

It made me laugh...no baking actually required but she did enjoy making & decorating them!! As well as licking the bowl!! 

Then together we moved onto baking a Banana Bread using a recipe from "A Girl Called Jack" cookbook...it's suitable for vegans too which is an added bonus and it's a great way to use up overripe bananas too!! 

Leah liked the idea of adding sultanas as per the suggestion in the book so we had some Christmas Black Forest mix left over which had raisins, white chocolate, sweetened cherries & cherry flavoured dried apple pieces!! 

So that proved to be a nice edition...it was lovely warm too!! 

Lastly but by no means least is Jeanie1 (my lovely mother-in-law who has been looking after us this week) made a fantastic Venison Steak Casserole as she managed to get two steaks which should have been a fiver each for just 99p each in the reduced isle at Sainsburys. So along with diced up carrots, onions, swede, turnip & seasoning as well as lashings of red wine she made a sumptuous heart warming casserole for tomorrow's dinner!!! 

If you happen to read this...Thanks & I'd love to know what you've been cooking from scratch lately!! 

Slan Leat 

Txx 

Fiddling with Beads

An Evening Spent Fiddling with Beads...

So while watching "The Voice" last night I decided to have a sort out of my jewellery findings & beads!! Oh my, talk about seriously under estimating the size of the job involved!! I've been collecting and wearing jewellery for as long as I can remember so have quite a lot...I also noticed I've a lot of broken pieces just bagged or boxed up! The reasoning behind it...the bits & pieces will always come in handy for something else!! 

(As this is one of several boxes so I think I really need to watch a Hoaders programme or two, next LOL!!) Anyway after more fiddling I got the urge to actually make something as I kept finding bits that I'd bought for previous projects!! I found several kilt pins & lots of key chain clasps so after dismantling several old & broken pieces I decided to reuse the beads!! 

Here's what I came up with...the first piece is a kilt pin made with various plastic beads in red & orange with a pink button & 3 metal charms...a feather, a birdcage & another charm in the middle that I've no idea what to call LOL!! 

The next pieces are bag charms made in much the same way with various beads & findings from my collection reused & reappropriated. They all have a murano glass bead & at least 2 metal charms. 

This next one has lots of lovely glass beads & is actually quite heavy but looks much better IRL...should really have waited for natural light to take better photos but you get the idea!!

The next one is my favourite made in blues with lots of yarn wrapped balls & metal beads. 

So the first has already been sold which is lovely even if it is to family. LOL Thanks Aunty Joan!! 

Think I will spend the next few nights having a gradually sorting out & see what else inspires me. :)) 

Thanks for looking, let me know what you think & which one is your favourite!! Txx

Family Paddy's Day

              St Patricks Day 2014

We had a great CRAIC...

We decided to have a get together for St Patricks Day as we now have 3 little leprechauns in the family. My daughter Leah (7yrs), our nephews Finn (2yrs) & our newest little leprechaun, Jude (4mons), it was his first Paddy's Day!! 

All our leprechauns with Uncle Paa'trick!!

We started off with drinks & dinner out in the garden. The starter was either Dublin Bay Mussels in a White Wine sauce or Irish Smoked Salmon with a Dill sauce & soda bread. Followed by My Mam's Recipe for our Irish Stew (which isn't very tradition, we make ours with Beef instead of Lamb & it's got a much thicker & richer sauce) with more Soda Bread & Kerrygold Butter, another must have on Paddy's Day. Dessert was made by my mam...an apple crumble & an apple tart. We even had Tayto Crisps, Kimberley biscuits & lashings of Club Orange. 

Myself, Jennifer & Gemma gasbaging on the sofa about our upcoming trip to Ireland!! 

This is the cutest little leprechaun ever!!

(Photo courtesy of Gemma & Patrick)

We had loads of fun in the garden, Leah put on a show singing a couple of her favourites. While Patrick had even more fun throwing himself on the floor playing with the kids!!

Leah & I had great fun decorating the house for our party...we spent lots of time searching through Pinterest for ideas when we happened upon this idea, which we absolutely had to do!! So at least I can also say I also took part in See It, Pin It, Do It or SIPIDI which my friend fiona-staringatthesea.blogspot.com/

Leprechaun Pee with footprints...so funny!!

          Mam & Dad with Leah & Finn

Patrick & Finn with Mark setting up for the family photo in the background!!.

Leah & Finn playing with the Guinea Pigs. 

Patrick, Leah & Jennifer in the Garden. 

Ian eating Tayto with Leah, holding Red & myself & my brother, Mark in the only Paddy's Day Selfie I actually remembered to take!! LOL :))

I was also lucky enough to receive a St Patricks Day card (my only one this year :(( boohoo!!) from my lovely friend Karen. (Thank you darlin, I've made you an honorary Paddy!! :))

Leah & I in our Green outfits & very Traditional hats you understand!! 

So I hope you all had great CRAIC too...can't wait for next year, Leah is pinning & planning already!! 

Txx 

Return to Blogland

Hello Blogland, 

It's been a while, a very long while!!

I am hoping to return to blogging on a much more regular basis...I purposefully didn't make any New Years Resolutions as like a lot of people I tend to break them within weeks if not by the end of January!! 

So with that in mind my intent was simple, to get my head in the right place then start thinking about what I'd like to share (even if I am only talking to myself!! LOL) I love reading blogs...friends blogs, crafty blogs, organisation blogs, lifestyle blogs...you name it I'll read it especially if I connect with what the blogger has to say or their style of writing!! Or I'm awake & book less, insomnia can be useful for catching up with Blogland!! 

We are all curious by nature so being invited in to glimpse people's lives fulfils my voyeuristic side & if we learn a thing or two on the way well I feel all the better for it!! 

So word to the wise if you are reading this expect all sorts...(it's in the title really - I'm a mad woman, so the following will be the ramblings of said mind!!! You've been warned!!) I'm not limiting myself to just one topic as I'd like this to be about the journey, creative & otherwise, for the moment I'd just like to see where it takes me! 

I'm already working on a few projects but feel the need to be more organised this year! I'm into de-cluttering mode as I type & hope that by de-cluttering my surroundings my heart, body & mind will follow!! I'd like to look back at this next year & feel a sense of achievement!! The intent & motivation are there so we'll see...I'll let you know how I get on!! 

Feeling so much more positive in February & looking forward to what the year of the Horse might bring!!  

Lots of Love

Txx

Scrap Cardmaking Session

Evenin' All,

Back to share with you a few photos of some cards I made using up some scraps. I am keen to get into stash busting mode so got down to business when I had to make a few cards for some up coming friends birthdays I had recently. They have all had their cards now so I can share them with you!!

Both of these where made with black, white and grey scraps from my scrap bags. The card on the left has some washi tape, red velvet Ric-rack and a couple of pound shop stickers. (The flowers and ladybug) With some pearls and a Craftwork Cards Simply Sayings message in Gold. The card on the right has some twine with a heart that I used on my brothers wedding stationary so it seemed only fitting to send it to my SIL for her birthday!!

The card on the left was made with scraps from a Sarah's Cards Kit and the one on the right was made from a Class kit that was taught by Rachael Elliott at a  Sarah's Cards Retreat I went on in March 2011. I get such satisfaction from using up these bits and getting to the end of a kit... Trust me, it doesn't happen very often!! LOL Again both cards have Craftwork Cards messages which are a staple in my craft kit as they just give a quick and professional finish to any card.

So on that note I'm off to have a look around my desk and see what else I can use up!!

Nitey nite folks

Txx

Well how'ya folks,

Fabo day to report...

Trip to Clandon Park with my brother, his lovely wife and son. Great time looking around the house, park, Riley Classic Cars and the Guildford Quilting expo they had on.  All for free courtesy of National Trust's free weekend visits. We dived into the restaurant for lunch to escape the windy rain or rainy wind and managed to time it so we missed the main lunch time rush, sweet!!

A very bright day in between the April showers...we'll have to get some sunny's all round me thinks for next time!! (Jen we need a pic of Finn in his new pair of sunny's)So lovely spending time with family, it makes for a perfect day. I really enjoyed looking at the amazing quilts on display too, some fabulous examples. Even better was the fact I was allowed to take some photos!!

This is my favourite, I love the colours and the cut-away detail at the edges. I forgot to get the details but who ever the creator is they are very talented!! The exhibition is running from today until Sunday 29th and is part of the Textiles April Exhibition at Hatchlands Park and Clandon Park.

A trip to the National Trust Shop is a must and not just because it's shopping/spending money either, lol...but because they always have such cute things. However Leah came away with a new friend to add to her already large collection of named cute thingy's!! Please meet Purple Millepede!

Co-ordinating colours aside SHE is lovely and feels really funny, we had fun playing with her at lunch and Finn seemed to like the colour too. A few other items fell into my newly acquired National Trust canvas bag too...a cute pack of Guardsman tissues, a pale green butterfly dish, a little book of quotes and a selection of postcards.

I'm not sure why but I can't resist a cute tissue or a postcard!! I have amassed quite a collection yet every time I leave the house I never seem to have a pack when I need them, a tissue that is, typical isn't it, but I digress!! I am seriously considering getting a family membership as it means we will always have somewhere to go...even when it rains!!

On a completely different note I have now found PINTEREST and can feel a new addiction coming on, especially useful on the iphone for those dull moments one needs to fill!! haha Found loads of things to inspire, upcycle and try out...just need to find the time now!!
Right off to blog watch...

Tudaloo, nighty nite!!
Txx