MIMM 3

OK, so here are the final pages of my Moleskine Journal.  This first set is about my present status - married, kids, pets etc and the accompanying page is about my home and my favourite way of relaxing.  I think I was supposed to use a brayer on these pages. I do own one but for the life of me I can't remember where it is, and to be honest I couldn't be bothered to look for it!  It's been years since I have needed it.

These two pages are about my handbag and make-up and perfume.  I tried to replicate my current bag, which is my beloved Cath Kidston day bag.  We were supposed to draw around the items and label them, but I thought it would be better to use a handbag template and take a photo and then list the contents of my bag.

These two pages are about my writing and music.  I haven't answered all the questions because I am still thinking of the answers.  I find it difficult to narrow down my favourite music (or anything really) because it depends on my mood at the time.

OK, on to family and friends,  Wasn't too sure about spraying ink through a doily, but quite like the effect in the end.  I quite like the splodges too, obviously I intended them to be there lol!

And the final two pages are about food and drink.  This was supposed to be one page but I had pages to spare and thought it would look better spread out.

And that is that!  As I said before, I still have the tags to do - just the twenty of them!  But I think I am just going to wash them with coloured ink to match each page.  It's more about what is written on them, but that dear readers is for my eyes only!

Thanks to Kirsty Wiseman  for producing such a great class.  I am so pleased I took the plunge.  It's been liberating.

M x

Summer Holiday Tasks - Update

Well, the summer holidays are at the halfway point and I thought it was about time to take stock and see how I am doing with the goals I set myself.

1. Complete my Me in my MoleskinE journal.

I've pretty much finished the actual book (more photos to come soon) and only have the tags to do that go in each page pocket. I'm really happy with how it turned out and can't wait to share the rest with you.

2. Make a start on my Christmas cards.

Well, up until this morning I hadn't made any, but this afternoon I have made 8 cards so far, and now feel on a roll to make some more. Edward thinks I am completely nuts to make them in August, but I know there is a method in my madness! Will share them with you over the next few days.

3. Tidy my craft area/make it work for me.

No, not happened yet!

4. Finish my new Flower Garden blanket.

In hindsight I think this was a tall order. However, it is progressing nicely. I made a plan of how it is going to look (it took me an hour and a half to do it!), using my Promarkers. Counting up all the hexagons was scary - I have to make 713 in total!! I have already made about 300, so still plenty more to do.


The thing that is slowing me down, is blocking out all the hexagons. I can only do about 13 at a time and have to leave them overnight to dry. It's definitely worth it as they sit better, flatter.

This is how far I have got in joining them up. It hasn't taken too long but I am glad I made the plan as I have to refer to it constantly.

5. Make more cards/be adventurous.

I haven't really done this yet either, but there is still plenty of time. It's typical though don't you think, that when you have lots of time to be creative, the ideas seem to dry up.

6. To enter a card on a challenge blog.

This has also not happened but I have been looking at the Less is More challenge blog and may give it a go soon. This week's challenge is a One Layer card using ink - sounds interesting, so I may give it a go.

So, I suppose I am quite pleased with how things are going. What I didn't want is too feel under pressure with the tasks I have set myself. If I don't achieve everything it doesn't really matter as long as I feel like I have done some of the things I wanted to do.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

M x

MIMM 2

So, the next two pages are about the state of my mind, on a good day and on a bad day. What makes me happy etc.


These pages deal with the heart and love. I really like the colours on this page and the way it is laid out. Again, lots of book print.

The final two pages in the selection are about how I view my hands and feet. These pages were really fun to do. I may go back and put Glossy Accents on my toe nails.

Well that's it for a week or so. I'm taking a short break. Have a good week and see you soon.

M x

MIMM 1

Or ME in my MoleskinE, but that's too long to keep typing. So from now on it's MIMM!

I have really enjoyed working on this journal. It has taken me completely out of my comfort zone as I am not a messy card maker as a rule. I don't generally get inky, painty fingers - but I have really relaxed and got into this. It was liberating!

Kirsty Wiseman, who devised the kit, provides a very detailed instruction manual, as well as a how-to video on UStream. There's also a private Flickr group so that you can see how other people have personalised their books. I did adjust a couple of things to suit myself - changed some of the colours and added more drawings, etc.

So today I am showing you the front cover, complete with faux coffee cup stain!

The inside cover has a tag with the date so that when I look back in years to come I will know when I created it. The first page deals with the basics, name age, photo etc. I'm really taken with the idea of using torn up book print - would never have thought of it myself. Of course it does go against the grain ripping up a book, but I chose a trashy charity shop book that I didn't like!

Page 2 and 3 are about my clothes (what I prefer to wear, my dream outfit), my body (best bits, worst bits), and things I would change.

I particularly like the border, it took a while to do but I think it's very effective. It was supposed to be a chequerboard effect but I didn't like it.

The next two pages are about my hair and skin. That isn't really my dream hairstyle (don't have one) although the colour is a bit cool!

Between each page I have made a pocket and there will be tags in each with more personal details (not for sharing though!), but I've yet to do those.

For colouring the pages I have used a selection of Distress ink pads, Glimmer Mists and some spray inks from the Dylusions range (Art from the Heart).

I'm very proud of it and look forward to sharing more with you soon.

M x

Good morning!

Well, I hope the sun is shining for you wherever you are today. It's a bit overcast here today, but will probably brighten up.

Edward is playing cricket every day this week at a cricket summer school. He was so excited today he could barely eat his breakfast!

I have been concentrating on my crochet - the flower garden blanket, and my moleskin journal (which I will show you soon), but I did have to make a quick card yesterday. It's for Mark's best friends who are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary tomorrow.

I used DCWV Luxury and Metallic stacks and kept it simple. Just added a bit of pale grey grosgrain ribbon and that was it.

I'm hoping inspiration is going to strike soon as I have another couple of cards to make (they're both for my mother-in-law - never the easiest person to make for) - no ideas springing to mind at the moment. I think it's because she likes traditional cards and I am much more contemporary. Ah well I'm sure it'll be OK.

Have a good day everyone.

M x

Sneaky Peak

So I've started another blanket. I know I wasn't supposed to, I was supposed to be finishing off my other hexagon blanket. But my mum gave me an old crochet book and I was very taken with these pretty little hexagons. They are so quick to make, just two rounds and they are done. The wool is the usual Stylecraft Special and I am using what I had left over from Emily's striped blanket. There's going to be quite a lot of white hexagons too, to join them together, but I don't have the wool for that yet.

I started joining them yesterday - thought I ought to do it as I go otherwise it's too mammoth a task. I had a false start with the first one, had to unpick it and start again, but now I am happy with the results.

All the flowers are going to have the bright yellow/orange centre.

I'm really pleased with how it's coming along. Realistically I don't think I am going to get it completely finished during the summer holidays but I think it will grow quickly.

This week has been quite a good first week. I have made good progress with my ME in my MoleskinE journal, but I'm not rushing it. I've been able to relax and rest and recharge. I don't know if I told you that I hurt my leg during a rounders match at the Year 6 leaver's party. I felt something pop as I ran to first base, and like a fool I carried on running! The next day I could barely walk on it. Then the pain started to recede, but on Sunday I realised I had a whacking great bruise on the back of my calf, and that it was still very sore. I already had a physio appointment booked on Tuesday for something else, so while I was there she had a look and said I had torn the muscle belly of my calf - recommended rest, ice and no running for at least 6 weeks! So there we are, just as well I'm on holiday otherwise it would be a bit tricky!

Isn't it great that the weather has improved (hope I haven't temped fate now!), it makes me feel so much better. Hope you are having a good week.

M x

Yippee!

The summer holidays are here!!

Well, it's been a roller coaster of a year but it finally came to an emotional end yesterday. I've had a brilliant two years with this group of children and it was hard saying goodbye and sending them on their way to secondary school. There were tears and hugs, presents and cards and lots of photos. The children and parents gave us some lovely gifts - lots of chocolates, flowers and some very generous Cath Kidston vouchers. I feel very lucky indeed.

And now the pressure is off and the holidays are here, and I've been thinking about setting myself some goals for the six weeks, and a few spring to mind.

1. To make my ME in my MoleskinE Journal from this clever lady here .



2. To enter into a challenge blog as suggested by the lovely Autumn Mist (check out her blog here .



3. To complete my current crochet WIP (more of that later).



4. Making a start on some Christmas cards.



5. Spending more time in general on my card making, trying out all my new products and being a bit more adventurous.



6. Tidying up my craft area and making it work more for me.

That's turned into quite a list - I didn't expect that. And the other thing is to find more time to share things with you.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

M x