Gelatos in this weather ?!

Over on UKS I belong to a team where we use sketches to help us scrap all those photos we have waiting.These were from a family holiday in Corfu in 2010. I try & play along when I can & the other weekend I managed to use Januarys sketch to create this page.

I used Gelato paints over a gesso base then added circles cut using my Silhouette. I'm quite pleased with the result & will certainly be using Gelatos again.

This was the starting sketch so as you can see I've stayed pretty close to it.

Thanks for looking x

Sheena x

70 years on...

Today is National Holocaust Day, marking 70 years since Auschwitz was liberated. This is not what I would typically blog about but whilst in Poland visiting friends in 2012 my family & I visited Auschwitz and saw for ourselves the vivid reminders of the atrocities the prisoners endured. Seeing these  camps with our own eyes had a profound effect on us all.

 The train tracks at Birkenau.

So today survivors & families gather to honour the victims and remember...

If you ever find yourself near Krakow I would recommend you visit so these atrocious are never forgotten. There is a recommended lower age limit for children due to the images & collections within the museum.

Sheena x

Using your Dies x

Last week over on the Hey Little Magpie blog I shared the pages I'd made for my January post so I thought I'd share them here with you too.

I concentrated on using dies & all the details of the dies used can be found in my post here.

Lovely.

Created using the AC Shimelle & Crate Maggie Holmes open book ranges.

Love L.A.

Created using 5 different dies & the AC Amy Tan - Stitched paper range.

Hop on over to the blog for all the details x

Sheena x

Project Life - November.

I continue on a catch up mission with my last year pages & here is November all finished.

November including...

... San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge,Coit Tower...

...Painted Ladies, mosaic staircase,eating, shopping, Botanical Gardens...

...flying home, purchases, Hobbycraft show, Fund raising, bonfire night...

... Scr@p Retreat, Explorers in London, Jackies 50th birthday album...

...weekend in london, seeing the poppies, Paul in NI...

...sewing retreat, crochet workshop,leg brace off, friend to stay, trip to the movies...

Well thats it for now. Just December left to tackle. Thanks for looking x

Sheena x

Crocheted for Christmas.

As well as sewing some Christmas gifts I also crocheted a couple of presents for lads in our family .I'm still smitten with the Edwards Menagerie book by Kerry Lord & used her patterns to make more animals.

Benedict the Monkey.

He is crocheted in chunky wool especially for little Jack who was rather taken with his new friend.

Austin the Rhino.

He is also made using chunky wool, this time  for our eldest Son who had asked specially for one.

I have another on my hook already as I plan on making more gifts during 2015 x

Sheena x

Catch up PL - Oct!

I'm in the process of trying to finish last years album, a month at a time, whilst I try & figure out a formula to make it easier for me  this year. So this is October, I warn you in advance it was a very busy month therefore lots of pages to share - sorry x

October including...

... Son's birthday,cake, crop, cinema trip...

 ... new coat, school pics, party, Ball planning... 

... Ball, surgery, lunch out, crochet...

... Hubby's  birthday, Ed Sheeran concert, party,breakfasting, fundraising...

...half term holiday, LA, Hollywood sign, Walk of Fame...

... 6 flags park, Disney, California Adventure, Farmers market...

... shopping, Universal Horror Night, Malibu, Venice Beach, Santa Monica...

... Warner Bros Tour, Rodeo Drive, Olivera St, Union Square... 

... San Francisco, Alcatraz Tour, Pier 39 & Fisherman's Wharf...

...Ghirardelli Square, Cable cars & museum, Lombard St, Chinatown...

Many thanks for sticking with it, looking back at this just makes it all worth while, now to start November!.

Sheena x

One photo & Twenty words.

Today I am joining in with this delightful meme created by Abi x

 

Savouring my time outside trying to move more & eat less,

boy I wish my legs were really this long!!

Sheena x

Xmas Makes...

Now that the holidays are over and life is getting back to normal I remembered I hadn't shared here some of the gifts I made for family and friends as their Christmas presents.I do like to make as many as I can when I have the time.

I'm really pleased with this quilt, a gift for my oldest friend, we were at school together, and backed with fleece for these cold winter evenings.

The fabric is Basic Grey, P B & J.

I made a few of these thread catchers too for crafty friends & family.

I received a fab thank you photo back from a friend showing her keeping her ball of wool in it to stop it rolling away when crocheting :)

It's a great feeling to hear your hard work is appreciated x

I have more to share just need to find the photos.

Sheena x

One Little Word 2015.

I'd like to wish you all a Very Happy New year xxx

For the past few years I've joined in with the concept of One Little Word, created by Ali Edwards, where you find a word to help guide you through the coming year. I like the way you can keep referring back to it during the year, to keep you on track. So with this in mind my word for 2015 is...

Savour.

One of the dictionary definitions I found said...

To enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible.

This makes the word - Savour - absolutely perfect for my 2015. I have to admit the  last year has been a difficult one for our family and also for some of our friends with heartache & tragedy touching their lives. 

I can't guarantee how things will turn out this year but we have some special milestones & occasions coming up that really will be celebrated & I intend to make the most of the good moments and savour them slowly. The word slowly was one of the aspects that drew me to this word as my life & I think most people feel the same about theirs, is going much to fast & I plan to try & slow it down a little if I can. 

I plan to savour...

- time spent with my loved ones.

- the company of my wonderful friends.

- having my children still living at home/ nearby.

- my health.
- opportunities that come my way.

- my time & not get stressed by self imposed deadlines.

I plan to revisit this during the year so watch this space...

Sheena x