Art Journal Weeks 44 and 45

The challenge continues with Week 44..."Inspiration- What inspires you?Are there certain times or places that you are more inspired? Include some inspirational words/pictures" I have to say that if I ever need inspiration I turn to the internet and sites like Blogger, Pinterest or good old Google. I also look in books a lot. I particularly like Pinterest because I can put all those things I find whilst I am surfing, in one place to find again later! Week 45 was about Patience "Are you patient, what in particular drives you potty? Use contrasting colours eg calm/angry". I think, for a redhead, I have a long fuse. I am a slow burn kinda gal! Things will mount up and mount up until POW! I blow! But once it is out of my system I am fine, calmness restored. And what makes me really see red are my children bickering, in fact ANY bickering; answering back, and that can be at home or at school; arrogance, a most unattractive quality and one that makes me see red instantly, so much so that I would not bother to continue a conversation with somebody who was arrogant! Lastly is meaness, I don't have a lot but what I have I share whether it be time or money etc and I don't like to see others keeping to themselves. Fortunately I am blessed with generous friends and family!

More SMASH!

Bit more SMASH. THis page is from when we took the Guides to the Big Gig at Wembley Stadium. Again I think I have blogged about this before but this is the bits and pieces from the day. It was an amazing concert, all girls in the audience so extremely loud, especially when The Wanted performed!
Now I think this page is more how I picture SMASH pages. A collection of images, colours and bits that I intend to use for our Christmas this year. It began with the candy cane ribbon and then I found the other pictures about and added them as a memory jogger for when I actually "do" christmas this year.

SMASH Book

So have you succumbed yet? I think I told you that I was lucky enough to be given a SMASH Book for my birthday. I wasn't sure if it was something I was going to share or keep private, but my Blog has been so abandoned of late that I thought I better scrabble about for something to show you!

This first page is bits and pieces from when we took Jess off to Uni, way back in September. You have seen the photo of the housemates already because I used it in my LSNED Journal. Thanks to Linda I think I am developing a thing for beach huts...Here we have bits from a trip to the show at Ally Pally. I went with friends who all craft together and we decided to make a list of things to try inspired by what we saw demonstrated there. And what is more I can proudly say we have done the marbling and the melt pot so far!

I am not quite sure if I have quite pitched this SMASH stuff quite right yet....but I am enjoying practicing!

Lots more Peg Bags!

When Burnice and Linda came over during the week we had decided to make peg bags. They really liked the ones I had already made and as I want to sell them at Gilly's Xmas Bazaar I made a few more. Burnice was making a green one for a friend and she had enough fabric to cut out an extra one which she very kindly gave to me to add to my little stock! These are the four I made today and I have another one already done so I shall just add a few pegs and they are all ready to go.

Art Journal Weeks 42 and 43

I have taken my time to do Week 42 because I couldn't decide what I thought! It was all about "Coincidence, do you believe there is more to it than just coincidence? Do you have any stories of coincidences? Include some numbers". I just couldn't make up my mind....

Week 43 was about being sociable. "Are you sociable, do you prefer large or small gatherings, can you do small talk? Can you amuse yourself, do you like your own company? Include an invitation". I always thought I was a social animal and hated to be alone with just myself, particularly as a child. But as my days have become crammed full with being a wife and mother to 4 I crave time alone. Now my lot are growing up I get time alone and I love it...just as long as it's not toooo long, a day is enough at a stretch. And I am much more choosy about socialising; I prefer to pick who and how I socialise. Life is too short to spend time socialising with people I don't know /like! Right, it's official; I am a Grumpy Old Woman!

No invite in this however...I couldn't work one in and I was in a painty mood. I also have a social gathering to attend today that I am unsure about so I think that is swaying my choices.

I crochet....

OMG! I did it! Remember that hexagon knitted throw and how it needed a crochet edge? Well when my friends Linda and Burnice came over we were too bust sewing to do it so last night I got a book out and had a bash......

...and I did it! Double crochet all round the edge, two rows deep! Obviously this pic only shows one row but it does finish it off. I know it's very basic but I couldn't be more excited....
...even tho' I think I have done it a bit tight and the blanket doesn't quite lay flat! Hey-ho, it's rustic!

We can see you-hoo!

I am a new addict to Pinterest; guess what I found on there? The pattern for these super cute owls. As owls seem to be "the thing" at the moment I thought these might go down well at Gilly's Christmas Fair. They are very quick and easy to make too!