Christmas!!!

I have been back to thinking about Christmas, someone asked me on Monday how I could think about Christmas designs at this time, I made the usual jokes about about putting carols on and breaking out the mince pies. I didn't even try to explain that actually I felt like I had done Christmas and busy trying to get my head round Mothers Day. I think I am just going to have to tell myself there are two events that share the same name, Christmas for designing and making samples and a Christmas to enjoy with the family. This is when we get our main break from work.
Like most women I am going through the usual guilt of school holidays, do I get on on with works so much to do, despite clearing the decks, a few unexpected opportunities have come my way. Do I catch up with Housework, (highly unlikely). Do I spend quality time with my son (15) or do I just rest?? I usually mange to all these things in some part but not enough to feel I have done some thing useful. I guess this year is worse than ever because my timetable is so flexible. So now I have to decide what to do and when.

We have booked some shows for the Autumn so that is going to be hectic. Wrexham and Alexandra Palace to kick off September.

Well off now to play at doing housework and then of to the warehouse to look in boxes for some things I can no longer locate. Maybe I can make some cards later.

Lynnda

Summer Days

It has been a weird week. Not as manic as last week with all the packing, but still lots of things buzzing in my head about the future.
Just so you know I am still crafting here is a card I made during the demos at Newbury Artstamps
Our next show is Artstamps Wales in Wrexham in early September
just to give you an insight into this card
6" x12" piece of white linen card folded in half to make card base.
Background was created using three shades of glimmer mist on to glossy card stock.
The centre piece is a 2" square stampbord, the background was created with three shades of blue ink from the versacolour range, then some ink lifted by stamping with a clean hessian stamp.
once this is really dry I inked up a clematis tower stamp with veramark and laid the stampbord on to the stamp., then added midnight sparkle embossing powder.
Those who have seen a few of my cards will recognise that is a set of shapes I like to use.
especially the 2" stampbord on a 6" square card. then using square mats. I do get more adventurous but this does work over again, and I was being watched so maybe not the time to try something new.
Unfortunately the glimmer of the background and the shimmer of the glitter card mat do not show up on the photo let alone the midnight sparkle, best seen in the flesh so to speak, Hopefully you will see at a show in the autumn.
In view of a few health worries we are not doing as many shows as we first planned so that means we have dates available for demos and visits to clubs. If you have a craft club, event or shop you think would appreciate a visit from Oak House Studio then email me to see if we can fit a visit in.
oakhousestudio@googlemail.com

busy busy busy

I am a desperately trying to get samples together and pack to go to Newbury Racecourse for the Artstamps show there.

Andy is having a problem or two getting the stamp order ready, so haven't been able to start packaging that. I have to get the dog to some different kennels to the ones we usually use although we have been there before and I need to get some embossing powders packed

I am off out tonight to the opening of a new shop The Beverley Hat Shop so I have actually finished a card

very simple but I have used the lined stamp and

acrylic paints to make the band

and the poinsettia stamp to make the flowers

what do you think?

first card I have got finished off in week and I am giving it away tonight! I am making another one, I have got as far glueing the beads to flower centres they should be dry by the time I get make from the unit and packing and my trip to the kennels.

Christmas starts here

We are a little behind were I would like to be with the Christmas stamps but I thought I would share with you one set I am excited about. They are coming into production slowly and you might think I would be used to this slow pace by now but when the ideas have been buzzing round your head for weeks well months really and some of them are ones I didn't get done last year!! I know, but where does the time go.

Anyway this is a set I have been calling "build you own poinsettia" I am not sure what we will call it when it eventually hits the catalogue. It should be in production next week and goes on sale from 1st August but we hope to have them ready for the charity Craft Day on 19th July at Woodmansey Village Hall...more details here...www.beverleyscrappers.blogspot.com

The set consist of three different sized leaves or bracts. I have just stamped up a side of inexpensive red A4 and embossed in gold a selection of the shapes. I cut them out and then grouped them together using a piece of scrap card for a base and some powder pritt for adhesive.

I am sure I could use all sorts of subtle colouring using shades of red and green but here is a first go using basic red card.

I have used all three sizes on the large one and just the smaller two for the little one.

I think they will be great on cards, presents gift bags, crackers, table decorations etc......guess what theme we will be having this year...we also have wait for it ....... ...... three other poisettia stamps NEW this year plus the ones from previous years....

oh yes, break out the green and red. I know what I am doing this Christmas....

now I am inspired

I spent a couple of days this week with Glenda, Lynn and the rest of the team from Elusive Images. it was actually just two days. I set off Monday morning and was back early evening on Tuesday but it felt like a week. Lots of other people there I knew, Like Lynn and Nicki from Flutterby Crafts and Gillian from Stamp to your Arts Content.
Gillian is from a company that makes stamps in a place very near where I was born and it is always nice to see her. She is always full of tips and always willing to share, a true crafter.
Lynn and Nicki are girls I have met at Stitches over the years. I am really looking forward to going down to the Artstamps Show at Newbury so we can get together again (watch out Newbury) As I had gone along on my own this time Lynn and Nicki looked after me ( a lot!!) well done girls
Another face I was very pleased to see was Craole Ingram. Carole works for another well know stamper Paddy!, but we met when she came along to demonstrate Elusive Images at the Craft Place in Beverley a couple of year ago. We met again recently when she visited our stand at Post Sunlight Stamp Show. Carole is another real Crafter, and I was lucky enough to have her in the same group as Gillian and myself. So lots of inspiration there.
but that is only 4 out of 40 people on the "retreat". Everyone attending had lots to offer and I made more new friends.
Then we had The Elusive Images team headed up by Glenda and Lynn. Add into this mix 4 big tables groaning with Elusive Images products, super food including homemade biscuits in the breaks, and the most fantastic setting.

How much more can one girl take? well it not over yet, we had a lovely good bag for attending full of Eluisve Images stamps. Spot prizes through the two days, a trip to the warehouse to bag some bargins and a shopping list of excellent new products. I just can't wait for mine to arrive. I have bought lots of glimmer mists so if you are going to see us at the scrappers Charity day ( check out www.beverleyscrapper.blogspot.com ) or at Artstamps Newbury then you might just be able to get some glimmer mists or tinkabella inks for yourself!! You may interested to know I donated several of the stamp sets from My goody Bag to the Charity Craft Day, so go look at Beverley Scrappers Blog to find out how you could win them for yourself!!!
Sorry I don't have any pictures from the retreat but I had other things to do!! check out Glendas pictures on her blog

http://artylicious.blogspot.com/2008/07/retailers-retreat.html

Radio Star

It has been a difficult few days, with nothing seeming to go OK however I did get through a Radio Interview that lasted for about 20 minutes live late last night.

I was invited by Steve Redgrave on Radio Humberside to take part in their "every picture tells a story"

so thought I would share my picture with you here too.






this picture show me a fellow designer Elaine Kettle with some very early craft work, here we are presenting a comptetition entry for a garden on a saucer!! looks as those dresses. The sad thing is I have a pair of white boots on with that dress. I can't remember who won, but have started to think about if taking part in these sort of competitions, are part of what has made me want to trying something different, to stand out from the crowd in some small way.

I hope to have some more news about the new designs soon But Andy is still poorly, so get well soon Andy, it is not the same without him.
here is the link to the radio interview and the story they wrote, which is now on their site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/humber/content/articles/2008/06/24/117_eptas_lynndaworsnop_feature.shtml

I am going to try and have a quiet night, get some sleep, get to the doctors as early as possible tomorrow and hope tomorrow is a better day!!

Card Competition and ATC swap

Beverley Scrappers have released the details of the card competition and the ATC swap to run along side their Charity Craft Day. Surprise surprise!! the theme for both is make it PINK!
If you can't make it on the day a great way to support the group and the charity is to send you competition entries by post.
Check out the details www.beverleyscrappers.blogspot.com