Sunday, January 26, 2014

Spots & Glitter!

Hello all!

No, not shiny acne.....lol!!

It has been a slow start to my creative year, but I'm finding my feet, I am very pleased to say. I have done some class planning, for both home and away and have been chipping away, albeit slowly, at projects I am working on. My hubs and I have just started attending a Bible study group on Wednesday nights, so that eats into my schedule quite a bit, but I'm not complaining! It will work out. I start classes proper this week and have to get busy with cards, so I will have something to show you later in the week.

In the meantime, I'd like to share a very quick card I made prior to leaving for Cape Town. I had just received some awesome dies and really wanted to use one before my holiday. This is the card I made - no masterpiece, but CAS I think!


It really was a pleasure to put together with only two die cuts needed, which I cut out of black glittered foam sheets. Amazing the effect you get using these sheets. I need to thank my friend Ria for sharing this information! I also found this organza flower, already made up in my flower bottle, so added it with a clear rhinestone in the center and placed another above the 'i' in birthday. To balance the card, I used a cerise dot thingy (forgotten the name of these goodies - a touch of 'old timers' y'know) - ah! remembered - 'Dew Drops', at the end of Happy.
I think the happy die was from Papertrey, but could have been Simon Says Stamp, as I removed them from their packets and placed into my Artbin. The birthday die is a Britannia die from Johanna Sheen. Great selection of greetings in this elegant font available there.I do write the numbers on the back, but am just too tired now (11:45pm) to investigate, so do forgive me!

Do enjoy the rest of your weekend, wherever you may live and thanks so much for popping in. I do appreciate it!

Hugz and God Bless
Moz

Thursday, January 16, 2014

At Last ~ I Won the Quilt.......

Hi my dear friends!

I'm slowly getting back into the groove and here is my second post for January....wow!

I am lucky to be part of a group of ladies who get together at Maureen's lovely home every December, for a delicious lunch, lovingly prepared by Maureen! Always spectacular and she will not let us do a thing except come along, with a gift and enjoy ourselves.

What is so amazing is that Maureen collects Father Christmases, in any shape, size or form and has them all on display, every year, for us to enjoy. It is an extensive collection that has been growing for years. Friends constantly surprise her with a new one from their travels. The problem now, is that it takes ages to unpack and repack them and a chore that is dreaded by Maureen and her husband, but so enjoyed by us all! After lunch, we play a game where you are able to take a gift from someone else if it is your turn - great fun and always results in lots of laughter! Well, over the many years I've been part of the group, I have drooled over the quilt that Maureen's very talented daughter Karen makes. Every one stunning and coveted by us all, but soooo hard to get your hands on and keep!
Well, this year, I had the best luck and I brought it home with ME.....woo-hoo!! It is so pretty and I am so looking forward to hanging it up this Christmas and enjoying it the whole season through!

Karen's beautiful Christmas Quilt - 2013.

Is it not delightful?

I am so thrilled with it and wish to say a huge thank you to Karen for this gift and to her Mum Maureen, for her really special Christmas spirit and beautiful friendship! I'll treasure it all!

Thanks for stopping in and I'll chat again soon!
Hugz
Moz

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

I'm Back!!

Hello, all ye faithful, who still take a look at my blog!

It has been exactly one month since my last post and in that time we have had a wonderful Christmas, seen in the new year, spent holiday time with our darling family in Cape Town and returned home to our fur babies and lots of baby Koi!

After that mouthful, may I wish you, one and all, the best year ahead. May 2014 bring you and yours good health, love and happiness and with these three, but firstly, God's richest blessings, what more could we ask for?? Everything else will fall into line and really is superfluous. One can only say this when you are 'older' and been around for awhile. When you are young/er, so much of life gets in your way and clouds what is really important and necessary for your well being.

I've had lots of time to think, even though I've been mega busy, and have realised that I'm only capable of doing so much and pushing myself so hard will not make things happen any faster or easier! To say I was 'exhausted' by the end of last year, would be an understatement! I was totally wiped out! Still stitching gifts on Christmas Eve, when I should have been resting, not staying up till 2 am to get them done! Having said that, the joy on the faces when the gifts were opened, made it worth it.

From now on, I want to work smarter, I want a healthier life with more quality time with my loved ones and dear friends. I want more out of life, to be mindful, productive, caring, living in present, using each God given moment to the fullest. I won't have any more time than I had last year and no extra hours in the day, no matter what I do or say! It will be the same number of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months in 2014, but I pray daily that I will make the best out of what time is given to me! My word for 2014 is FOCUS!! It is what I say repeatedly during the day, and how I try to think things through and reach each days goals. Small ones, big ones, maybe lots, maybe only one, but to try to finish what I planned is the aim!

Sorry if I am babbling on, it just helps to 'write' it down and to know others read it! Kind of cements your commitment and I believe helps you to achieve your goals. So please, check up on me every now and then and remind me of what I said - that's what friends are for!

Over the next few days, I will show you some of my handy work that was ordered, or were gifts, that I could not share before Christmas. That will catch me up to the present and hopefully, I will be back on track with my creations!

Today I will share with you a lovely bear I made to order for a little lady in the UK called Layla. Her Granny and I worked together many moons ago and have stayed good friends and in touch. We actually had so much in common and finding each other was like finding a 'sister' that you never knew you had! I am pleased to say that 'Layla Bear' arrived in time and was well received by the precious little lady on Christmas day. I have been promised a photo of the two Layla's and with permission, I will share with you.


Layla 'banking' some sunshine before leaving for the UK!


A close up to show you the lovely sparkles in her eyes!

Thank you dear friends for staying with me, both through my absence and this long heartfelt post!

I have missed you all but I did manage to do some blog hopping whilst AWOL, so have kept an eye on most of you....lol!

Till next we chat, take care and God Bless!

Hugz
Moz