Where has the time gone

We arrived on the Isles of Scilly on Monday 20.10.14 which means come Tuesday we will have been here for 3 months. We should have been packing up this weekend to go home instead, well will have to wait and see what happens. I am here for at least another couple of months. Ian is still enjoying work working out the budgets etc. Its strange working in the same organisation!!

We had Christmas at home with Tim which was fab and it was so good to see him looking so well and the house was clean and in one peace. We managed a trip to see the aged P's in sunny Kent. They are hopefully coming over to Scilly around Easter, watch out Scilly!!!!
New Year on Scilly was certainly an experience. I saw my boss in a whole new light!!!

We have experienced allsorts of weather over the last few weeks, storms, wind, hail and rain. Its been fab and yes I did manage to get Ian to go to the beach with me to dance in the rain!!! I did a journal page as a momento

I couldn't persuade him to go in the sea on New Years Day, ok perhaps a step to fab!!!

I have managed to do quite a bit of arty stuff whilst being here, Ian is convinced most of my craft room is now on Scilly - he is so, so wrong!!!!

One more

Work on the pantomime has been fun, I'll post pictures when it is over. Ian is now helping with the stage management. Its going to be a fun time.

I am planning to keep my blog updated on a more regular basis and I promise to show a picture of Ian as Father Christmas!!!! In the meantime keep warm and well. 

Lots of love 

Bev and Ian

Four weeks on

I have just finished my 4th week on the Isles of Scilly, how did that happen? I am writing this in Bristol as sadly we had to come home for a few days. Although under sad circumstances it was fab seeing Tim. We only gave him 5 minutes warning of our arrival at the house. Other than the kitchen floor the house was looking pretty good!!

Ian and I are having a fab time on Scilly, its giving us time to think and be. We've done lots of daft things, fish and chips in the rain, well the van only opens  once a week. Its was gorgeous and freshly cooked in front of us. Most days, unless it is really rough weather, we have lunch on the beach front. The locals just look and smile!!!

A selfie on the beach!!

We are both enjoying going to the local Methodist church. I am going to be running an art workshop before Christmas, We've joined U3A and have both been roped into the local pantomime!! There is even the possibility of a job for Ian, watch this space.

The scenery on the island is breath taking.

We start the journey to Penzance tomorrow morning and then get the flight on Monday morning, an 8 seater plane!!

I will miss Tim but am looking forward to going back to the beauty and peacefulness of Scilly.

Lots of love

Bev and Ian x

One Week on

I cannot believe that this time last week we were on en-route to Penzance. It's been a whirlwind week at home here on the Isles of Scilly and at work. Ian is doing a good job as a house-husband and is already known in the supermarket and hardware store!! 

Our house for three months:

From my office window I can see the beach and the boats coming in and out of the harbour. We live about 5 minutes from the office. I am loving walking to all appointments. Ian worked out I had walked about 8 miles last week.  

On Friday night, we had coffee on the beach and were lucky enough to see seals just off shore. The sunsets are gorgeous and Ian is in his element with his camera. This morning, after church, we cooked breakfast and then took it to the beach to eat. How lucky are we?

Off to work on my first day:

There has been a mass exodus of residents from the island as the school has broken up for two weeks.  Tomorrow, the ferry will bring over 300 people over from Penzance for the final weeks of the tourist season here.  It's strange seeing shops, cafes etc winding down for the winter.

Friday night after work, drinking coffee watching the seals:

Breakfast on the beach:

Tim is enjoying being at home and it was good to talk with him yesterday.

Have a lovely week.

Lots of love,

Bev x

Valentines Day 25 years on

I am still in shock that it is 25 years since I sent Ian a Valentines Day card. Due to the post he did not receive it until 15.02.1989. It took a further 8 weeks to get the message that I thought he was gorgeous!!!!

I wanted to make some a bit special and something different.

I took a  7 x 5 card blank and inked and embossed hearts around the edges as I did not want any white to show. I sprayed water onto brown paper and scrunched it. The background of the tag is made by using Sir Tim's distress stains and his fab new heart stencil. It is lush. The hearts were also heat embossed to give them a bit of a shine. Once the paper was dry I faffed around with distress inks and 'stuff'.  I painted a black mdf heart and embossed with black utee. The ribbon was coloured with distress ink. The 25 was a bingo number coloured with ink.

The card was put together using my famous heat gun.

Ian thought the card was 'pretty darn good'!!!!

 

Lots of love Bev xx

and another...

canvas creation. I used heart stencil, textured paste, rub ons and a utee flower.  This time I had no accidents with the melt pot which is more than can be said for when I used the glue gun. The moral of the tale is - never sneeze when holding a glue gun as it makes your nose very, very sore and you get no sympathy!!!!

 

 

Lots of love Bev xx

More creations

What happened to January, it seems a bit of a blur.  I am  enjoying faffing in my craft room and today I managed to use my melt pot and glue gun without incident!! Although at the weekend I did try and change the carpet with red paint!! A small amount goes a very long way!!! My gorgeous man helped me clean up the mess and I promised not to moan about him for a month!!! Its hard!!!!

I have done a couple of canvas's for raffle prizes. The first one is a technique I learnt on a workshop, tissue paper, paint and then gold paint. I used my melt pot for the hears and the rest is courtesy of kellogs, other cereals are available!!! The second one is paint, textured paste and rub ons.

I guess I am like most crafters as I am not certain whether they are any good!! What are we like.

The second canvas will not load on this post. Any ideas as to why??

Lots of love

Bev xx

Christmas craft 2

I have ner really got 'tags' as never know what to do with them. However, I made this one to go on a canvas. The background was left over ink on my glass mat. I have been recently using my melt pot thanks to the inspiration from the fab Hels Sheridan. If you get a chance her blog is just fab. Whilst tiding my craft room, I didn't have a space to sit!! I found some grunge paper so made the poinsettia using Tim Holtz die. To finish off I scraped some coloured textured paste through a stencil.

I am now going to enjoy the peace of Ian sleeping!!!

Bev xx

The Ashes Continued

Having watched the 1st and 2nd test through the night we vowed not to do it again as we couldn't keep up the pace!! Famous last words! For the first 3 days we tended to wake about 6 and watch until the end. On day four we decided to set the alarm for 4am thinking it would be all over by the end of play. How wrong we were. In a moment of madness, due mainly to the effect of red wine, we got up at 2.30am! We went back to bed for half an hour during the lunch break!! It was great fun and at one point we did think England might just win.

It was a crazy, daft thing to do and it has taken us a couple of days to recover!! Dear Tim uttered the immortal words:

'Why?'

Will we do it again for the 4th and 5th test - probably!!

Bev x

Christmas Craft

My first attempt at a Christmas house decorations. I got carried away and forgot to take pictures as I went along.

First attempt

 I added two coats of gesso, pale blue and  followed by snowtex and glitter.
The Christmas tree came from a poundshop. It had to be cropped and chopped to fit in!! The baubles and bells were originally gold. I used silver alcohol ink to jazz them up a bit. All the other bits and pieces were made using my bigshot and various paints.  The lights nearly learnt to fly as they were fiddly to use!!

 

2nd attempt originally a black and gold house, not certain what I was going to use it for. I again used gesso, paint, glitter and alcohol inks. I was a bit more adventurous with my big shot cutting out more bits and pieces. 

 

They were fun to do.   Bev xxx

  

                                                                                                                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're getting too old!!!

To continue our fab week!! We decided in a moment of madness to stay up and watch the 2nd Ashes test. As I go back to work in March this is something we would not be able to do again!!! The evenings started at 11.30pm with strong coffee!!  We did occasionally doze off about 3 in the morning! Often I would sit and complete a craft project. Art journalling in the middle of the night is great fun.

We had further caffeine during the teams lunch and tea breaks! We usually crashed for a couple of hours before Tim came home from school.

Although we did not win it has given us some great memories and confirmed we are mad!! Will we do it again during this series?? Probably, but not when they play in Perth as the match does not start until 2am!!!

Go England Go!!!!

Bev xx

What a week

We had a fab week last week. It started with almost 500 year 5 pupils going on a Star Trail where they were told the Christmas Story. It started with a  secret shared with Mary, the precious gifts brought for a special baby, the gifts we can share with others, a resting place in the desert and the holy refugees. It ended with the crib in Bethlem.

It was hard work but good fun, we even managed to print over 50 tags to give to the kids as reminder of the star trail. It was also good for Ian and I to catch up with old friends.

These are pictures of the different stations.

Oh dear

Despite my best intentions my blog is very neglected. I cannot believe we are only 3 weeks away from Christmas and 3 months until I return to work.
I have been enjoying my time off and have been doing a lot of art journalling and faffing with inks and paints. I have moved more into mixed media art and loving it. Ian thinks I should not be left alone in my craft room as I have burnt my toes, yes toes with utee, fingers with hot glue and have given up counting the number of times I have drunk the water for my paint!!!!

I am now going to try and be clever and post a picture of my desk. We live in hope.

 

I had not realised just how messy my desk was. The floor is worse, its like an obstacle course!!! It keep the boys out of my room. At the moment I am altering Christmas houses and making ATC's.

 

Lots of love xxx

Another year, another blog

Well it 2013 and I've been away from my blog for too long. Its been an interesting few months!! Despite a difficult summer with Ians health it is now looking good. Waiting for the consultant to confirm the nurses view he is in remission.

I have been doing lots of crafting and have being in my craft room. I am now getting into scrapbooking and went on my first craft retreat. Fab and met some great people. I've done Sir Andys timeworn course - brilliant with a capital B. I have just started the Evil Elixir course. I'm loving art journalling. I just love faffing with paint.

I will look to post some pictures of my efforts sometime soon.

Lots of love and happy crafting. xx

Here we go again!!!

Here's hoping that I will remember my new password so I can update my blog!! Still cannot believe it's six month since my last post. My gorgeous old man has spent time sorting out my blog. The joys of retirement. He has even linked it to my facebook page. Fingers crossed it has worked.

Watch this space for more news xxx

Another year and another forgotten password

My resolution is to keep my blog upto date and to remember my password!! Just about recovered from new years eve. I am to old for mixing vodka and champagne!!

I have spent today making the first page of my 366 day art journal. Lots of paint ink and glue, fab. Now have to cut out 31 squares so I can use one a day. I have also started a scrapbook for a special person who is leaving work in the middle of Feb (its not Ian, he leaves at the end of feb). Memo to self do not leave until the last minute!!!

I will post pictures of what I have been doing once I have worked out how to do it!!

Ian is doing really well. He is due is next test on Friday so a couple of stress free weeks ahead.

I will be back, I promise. Lots of love xx

Where has the time gone

Whoops! To say I have been bad a blogging in an understatement. So much has happened since October. Ian had had treatment for cancer and so far so good. I've done a year in my new job and still loving it. Tim is Tim complete with harem!! I cannot believe he is 16 this year and is now taller than me.

Ian and I travelled to Norfolk in March for Hugbinders and met some fab people, you know who you are. Lots of love xx. I won the coverted mirrow decorated by the very talented Fuchia.

Our exciting news is we are of to tea at Buckingham Palace at the end of June. Ian had a invite for long service with the MOD. I've got the hat just need the rest of the outfit. Trying to persuade Ian to wear a morning suit!

I am really enjoying my crafting and loving faffing with paint, glue and all things messy. I am hoping to be able to post some piccies.

Lots of love  bev

Not a good start!!

My plans to blog regularly went a bit wrong. Would have helped if I had written down my passwork!! Brain is addled by to much holy water!!
I have settled into my new craft room. Don't tell Ian but I cannot believe how much stuff I have acquired!! I have started making cards for my staff at work, trying to personalise them.
We have decided to go to the NEC next week. Ian has offered to carry my bags. Next step is to gain access to his credit card!!!
I am obviously going to have to become computer savy. I wanted to load some piccies but cannot find where they are saved!!
Hope you are having a good Saturday
lots of love xx

First blog post

This is my first blog posting. Feel very proud of myself as I set it up without help! I hope to post some piccies tomorrow. Just hope I remember my blog addy!

Lots of love bev xx