Crafts Galore

It has been a gorgeous day here today.  Too nice to stay at home so I have been out and about all day.   First I went to the library to return some way overdue DVD's, then to City Meat Market to pick up some ice-cream.  When I came home I called a friend and repaired her necklace for her, changed my shower head and installed a new Water Pix hand held shower head (because the old one leaked all over the floor and toilet when I turned on the faucets to take a bath), then took a walk to the mall and picked up a prescription for another friend. I think I just might stay in for the rest of the evening - I have lots of projects I could be doing but first of all I thought I had better create a new post.  The days are flying by and I can't believe that I have been home for three weeks since my visit to the grandkids.


On the 6th May I had a table at "Passport to Unity" and sold some of my creations.  It was a long day and as I was on my own, I regrettably couldn't take advantage of the fabulous artists and entertainment which went from 11-5.  Here are a few pictures of my table.

With the lovely Dawn, her hubby took this one.

I have been pottering around with a few things to add to my craft sales, e.g. these "vases".  They have a New York theme to them.

I should mention before I go any further, the beautiful flowers I received for Mother's Day from my darling kids.  This first arrangement was from my twin sons, my DIL and my grandkids from out of town....................

And this was from my son and girlfriend from in town..............

I am very blessed with great kids, and they do look out for me.  Thanks kiddos for the lovely gifts.

Here's another creation of mine, it's a little different, but I love it.

It kind of goes with the other picture I made, which I mentioned in my previous blog.

This last weekend I spent helping Pat with her sale at the Queen's Cupboard.  She plans on having one every Saturday so any local people reading this, come on down and see what's going on.  She very kindly is allowing me to sell my creations there also.  Excellent prices all round!!!!  This was my set-up last weekend..............

You don't think I helped Pat out with the sale and didn't buy anything for myself did you?  Before I show you what I did buy, I will tell you that I had to dispose of quite a few items around my place so that my apartment wouldn't look like a second-hand furniture store.  Next blog, I will post photos of how the apartment looks with all the new things and with the old items disposed of!!  Nearly forgot, this is what I bought and I adore it, it goes so beautifully with my cream/shabby chic look............

And, with an extra cushion I just happened to have lying around.

Well, I shall love you and leave you - until the next blog, stay happy and healthy.  Is there anything sweeter than this............

Rhys, with baby sister Katherine, May 2012

Nothing new to talk about!!

Hello there, I have nothing much to talk about except that I am working on some artwork.  I am looking forward very much to seeing my two grandchildren next week - can't wait to hold the new one and cuddle the elder one.  Grandma misses them so much, but living so far away I can only make the large effort to sit on a Greyhound bus for 13 hours a few times a year so I can see them.


Here are the latest creations I have been working on.  I wish I could sell them, time will tell and if I can't????

The Craft Shows will begin again for this year in May so I'll keep my fingers crossed that someone out there will like my weird and wonderful creations!!

Hope you all had an enjoyable Easter.  Mine was very quiet, didn't do anything except go for walks, but that's okay.  Okay, talk to you again soon when I hope to have something interesting to mention.

Oh, must remember to plug in my Sony E-reader and make sure it is fully charged for my trip, also my Notepad.  It's these things which are a pain really, because you have to remember to take with you all the relevant cords for charging - for the cell phone, camera, Notepad and Reader.  How on earth did we manage before, LOL

How blessed am I.

I am so delighted to tell you that my darling grand-daughter graced us with her presence on Wednesday, 28th March 2012.  Her name is Katherine Anne and she weighed in at 8lbs. 10ozs., a beautiful, bonny lass.  Here's a photo of her and I can't wait to go out of town (on the Greyhound bus - I picked up my ticket today), to visit and hold her in my arms....................

Unfortunately, her poor mum didn't fare so well.  After having a C-section, she became very ill, in fact very seriously, and they had to take her back into surgery where they found that she had blood clots.  She was in so much pain and had trouble breathing and spent the next couple of days in I.C.U. and the first night on a respirator.  We were all so very worried, especially my son and his mother-in-law who fortunately was visiting and stepped in to help with everything.  A girl needs her mum at a time like this and what a great mum she is.

They are home now and everyone is doing very well, thank the good Lord.  There were so many people praying for her - who says prayer doesn't help????  Big brother, who is going to be three in June, is going about his day quite unconcerned about all the excitement and every now and then will approach his little sister and give her a gentle pat on the head and then take off, LOL  Typical male.

Last Saturday I put on a Shabby Chic Craft Show here in my apartment building (forgot to take a photograph of course) and sold a few of my recently made crafts.  I have so much fun making all these delightful things but I really don't like selling them, I would rather give them away, but you really can't continually do that sort of thing.  You have to recoup some of the money you spend, as you all know, materials are not always cheap.  For the longest time we, here in my city, have been looking forward so much to having a Michaels store and one recently opened.  It was such a shock to find out just how expensive it is, even with their 40% off coupons, etc.  I was so excited to be able to purchase some mod podge, but not excited about the price and after using up my first bottle, I decided to go online and find out how to make my own, which works just as well and only costs pennies to make.  Here's a link just in case you would like to try making some for yourself.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_to_make_mod_podge_at_home

Yesterday I did very well.  A local store had closed and the owners of the building decided to use it for a couple of weeks to have a basement sale.  I guess for years they had stored personal possessions in the basement, including children's toys, unwanted furniture, etc. and decided to find homes for all that "junk".  I didn't realize just how good the "junk" was until my friend Laurie came home with a large, beautiful mirror made of wood and sporting some hooks for hanging a jacket, a hat or some other lightweight article.  (I noticed that she has already bugged her hubby to put it up on the wall in her entrance way and it looks great.)

These are some of the items I picked up dirt cheap for me to work my magic on and hopefully resell them..............

The items below are prints by Canadian wildlife artist Glen Loates, still in their original packaging.  I wonder if they are worth anything???

I also picked up something really spectacular for my darling grandson but I can't show it here just in case my kids read my blog.  It is my intention to present it to little guy when I go to visit and I don't want the surprise spoiled.

Last, but not least, I am excited to show you my first real work of art.  I have been attending an art course the last few weeks and today we finished.  Even though I say so myself, I think the end result is pretty good for a beginner and couldn't wait to go and get prints made of it so that I could give one to special people in my life, e.g. my friends at the Library where I used to work and my special friend Laurie who puts up with all my crafting nonsense and actually encourages me in my habit.  Here it is..........................

It's entitled "Gone South".  The print I gave Laurie, who is a wonderful artist, she has framed in a gorgeous frame with a lovely dark green matting.  I like hers better than mine, LOL  I will have to look out for a better frame because this one really doesn't do it justice, hers looks SO much better.

Well, I guess that's that for now - oooh, almost forgot, yesterday I met up with a few delightful ladies and had an Easter lunch with them at the Senior Centre, aren't they beautiful...............

and tomorrow I am having lunch at a local restaurant with another group of delightful ladies.  This retirement is getting better and better.  Forgive me if I boast and say that I am enjoying it, or should I say, "Loving it".  God bless, talk to you again soon.

Bedroom reno

Hello there, just a quick post to show you what I have been working on in the last couple of days.  I became bored with my bedroom decor so decided to lighten it up.  This is the old look......

And this is the new.  I'm loving it so much more.  I am now tempted to try painting my vertical blinds in green.  At present they are burgundy.  Do you like this look better than the old one?

As you can see, I painted the matting around my cherub picture in green and also the lampshade.  I also bought a cheap glass vase from the Dollar Store and covered it with material from another Dollar Store item and filled it with a selection of yes, Dollar Store flowers.  What would we (I) do without that store?

As this is so short, I thought I would throw in a few pictures of the little birdies I also have around my living room.  Where this new addiction came from, who knows.

Enough of those, here's a photo of the sweetest little chirper that I know.  This is what his mum and dad bribed him with to eat up his broccoli.

His new little sister is just about to be born, a week today is the expected date of delivery but............... it could come before.  I can't wait for my next trip to visit with them.  Til next time, be good.

I meant to mention that I will be having a Craft Show here in my apartment building on Saturday.  It will be only for the tenants unfortunately.  I will be introducing the new items I have made over the last couple of months.  I also have an album of them on my Facebook account, under the name "Chris's Chabby Chic Creations".