About Me

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My name's Alison but for reasons too long to go into I'm known as Cockney Blonde or CB for short. I've been rubber stamping for several years but now spend most of my time either knitting or crocheting. However, with the advent of a New Year I have bitten the bullet and am tackling my usually hated pastime of sewing. I've even bought 'Sewing for Dummies' to guide me on my way. I've been with my hubby Dave for 24 years and between us we have 4 kids and 5 grandkids. We also have 2 cats and a dog, the latter features as my 'photo' image. I used to be able to blog daily but these days I struggle to blog weekly. Hopefully now we are settled into our new home in the country, I can get back to a daily (well almost) update from the room I now have to share with hubby. No more personal crafting space for me!!! Thanks to all the blogs and sites I follow for all your brilliant inspiration, and thank you to everyone who finds the time to comment on my blog.

Sunday 23 May 2010

Fingers Crossed I'm Back

I know, its been a while. I've gone from daily blogging to nothing for a week. There's a lot of stuff going on here at the moment so unfortunately my crafting has been sidelined. However I'm determined to get back asap, although of course I would now have a really busy work period ahead of me. Hey Ho! Guess the money helps to fund the habit.....oops mean hobby, lol.

Still, while I've been MIA I have got a wee photo I'd like to share with you as I'm really proud of myself. It was my birthday 3 weeks ago and hubby asked what I would like. We've been talking about our 'bucket' list....you know, things you want to do before you die, lol. Anyway, one of mine was to learn to horseride. So the darling bought me 5 lessons, and last week off I trotted (pun intended) for my first one.


Now before you start you have to complete one of those H & S questionnaires and one of the questions was 'what do you hope to achieve'. There were various boxes including walking, trotting etc. I wanted to know where was the box for getting on and off, cos as far as I was concerned that was going to be the hardest thing for me.


Anyway I surprised myself and in the half hour lesson managed to get up to a trot. Here is a photo of me looking rather nervous having just succeeded in getting on 'Caspar'.

Not bad for a 48 year old Grandma who's scared of heights. Photo is one of many taken by my very best friend who was staying last week and my son, who also took piccies of the chickens and other horses!!! There is also some video footage but I'm not sharing that.

Next lesson is on Tuesday and hubby is coming to watch this week.

Hopefully my next post will be a card as I am behind with some birthdays, x

Saturday 15 May 2010

Let Sleeping Cats Lie...



Aw! Aren't they sweet, bless them. Believe it or not these two are from the same litter!!! Benny, the black and white one, is a real cutie and can always sense when one of us is poorly or down in the dumps. He'll magically appear from nowhere to give comfort and cuddles.
Now Simba, is a different kettle of fish. Naughty doesn't even get near to describing him. He is such a mischievious little devil and an expert thief of all things edible or not.
We have got a third, older, cat called Henry. But being the wise old man that he is he prefers to sleep alone. Unless of course its cold outside and then he snuggles himself inbetween these two.
I'll leave you to enjoy the piccie as I may be off line for a few days. I have a friend coming to stay tomorrow until Wednesday and the PC is in her bedroom.
Until next time, x

Ooh La La #53; Gingersnap Creations #51

Phew! At last I've managed to get a card made and fortunately Ooh La La were asking for minimalist which made it nice and simple. I've actually made 2 the same as I have 2 friends at the moment who could do with some cheering up as they have both been in hospital.

I've inked up my new Lilac Stamp by Papermania with Adirondack Cranberry and Lettuce. I've then lightly dusted the image with my waterbrush to soften the edges and allow the colours to bleed.

I'm also entering it into the Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead Challenge which asks for Botanical. Not sure if it is suitable but hey! ho!

Hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x



http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/05/challenge-53.html

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gc51-random-redhead-challenge-botanical.html

Saturday 8 May 2010

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie...

What are you supposed to do when confronted with this really cute image???We popped down to the Cotswolds yesterday from West Yorkshire to visit my 95 yr old Auntie. She is amazing and still lives by herself and manages to cook a proper dinner everyday, and still keeps an open fire which she cleans and resets every morning. Anyway, Joss knows that she isn't allowed in front of the fire but took the opportunity of a quick nap while Auntie was out of the room. How cute is that.......

BTW, she (Joss not Auntie) had her stitches out on Tuesday and is healing well. I guess she thought she deserved some TLC.....

Hopefully back to regular blogging now. We didn't go away this weekend after all, just the day trip, but have finished laying a vinyl floor today so have spent this evening trying to catch up with messages.

'til next time, x

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Art Journalling and blogging off again...

I know, I know, I know, I'm usually blogging daily and entering challenges daily but this past week just seems to have vanished in the blink of an eye. Anyway I just wanted to share with you some of the piccies from my fantastic weekend of Art Journalling with the brill Dyan at Art From The Heart.
Hubby, Son and myself took the caravan to Knaresborough for the weekend so that it wasn't too far to travel each day and on the whole the weather was kind for us. Well, more for them cos I was busy, lol.
The weekend was really full on but I just wanted to share my first ever journal page with you. I have tweaked it a bit since the workshop but the essence of it remains the same.

We're off this weekend, again, in our caravan to visit my 95 year old Auntie in the Cotswolds so I'm not only missing Port Sunlight but also the official opening at AFTH:((( However, I am planning on taking my journalling stuff with me and having a play while we're away.
Finally I'll leave you with a piccie of my Certificate and hope to be back on a more regular basis next week, x