What a difference a month makes!

Yesterday (Tuesday) I decided to go back to the Bluebell Walk to see the bluebells.  I checked on the website and although they officially closed the Centre on Sunday, because the bluebells had been so late, they were still beautiful and the owners would leave the walk open until Bank Holiday Monday.  So along I trooped yesterday, book and camera in hand.  It was a beautiful day and I went quite early in the morning.  There was no one else around and it was absolutely stunning.  The heat brought out the perfume of the bluebells, the birds were singing, sun shining and all was well with the world!!

So here are some of the bluebells:

I show lots and lots more pictures but they are all of the bluebells - beautiful though, aren't they?

xx

Never Ending card

Whilst at Debden, I got fed up doing the little booklets so decided to make a never-ending card.  I have made a few before, but forgot just how long it takes to decorate.  Anyway, using the Crafters Companion Beatrix Potter CDs and stamps I decided to make one.  Here are some of the pages:

I was pleased with the result though.  Quite effective. x

Busy, busy bee!

I can't believe its nearly two weeks since we came back from Debden but as usual too many things to do!

It was brilliant, as usual at Debden.  Thank you very much Jill for being my 'chauffeur' - it was greatly appreciated.  For a change I actually got some projects finished - usually I just play around and have nothing to show for my efforts. 

As I have said previously I bought the new Jayne Nesterenko stamps, Patchwork Polly and saw an example of a little booklet using these characters.   I thought it was a good idea to make some little booklets for my three grand-daughters, using Patchwork Polly, Peter Rabbit and the Flower Fairies.   Will I never learn?  It always takes so much longer than you anticipate, doesn't it?

Anyway I had stamped and coloured the characters I wanted to use before going to Debden so was able to get going doing the books.  This is the book using Patchwork Polly.

First page:

                                     

Patchwork Polly

Jenny

Olivia

Julie

Helene

Chloe

They are lovely stamps, aren't they? 

xx

Off to Debden ....... again!!

 Way to go!!  I'm off to Debden again this weekend - can't wait!  Started to get my projects planned and booked my evening meal!  Booked the cat in the cattery, taken time off work, got some clean knickers and all my kit!  That's my lot.  xxx

Wow - what a surprise

 As some of you will know my eldest son is in Australia and  Mother's Day is not the same as ours.  It was yesterday.  This afternoon the doorbell went and look what I got

Aren't they beautiful?  I've got them in my workroom now and the perfume is wonderful.

I'm a bit like the Queen (not) in that I have two Mother's Days instead of two birthdays!

This is what my other son and daughter gave me for my English Mother's Day

Sorry the picture has not come out very well.  You can see my reflection but they had a photo  all my children and grandchildren whilst we were in Australia enlarged and framed for me.  I know I'm biased but I do have a lovely family.

The flowers were a lovely surprise.  I've been busy rushing around today - I had my boobs 'squeezed' last week, went for a smear this morning and then had to have a CT scan to check my sinuses are OK for the dentist in preparation for two implants I'm going to have done.  I've also had a blood test done and the doctor has given me MORE tablets to take and I'm off to see the nurse on Thursday for another check.  Talk about having an M O T!!!  Oh well hopefully once they're all done I can carry on again!

Bye x

What a Place !

Can you believe we're already into May?  Where does the time go?  Well despite my promise, I haven't managed to do much blogging - no excuse - just busy, busy busy!

Anyway, one of the reasons I haven't had much time, I had to go to a three-day conference at a hotel in the Ashdown Forest!  What a wonderful place - I've taken a few photos and thought I'd share them.

Believe it or not, this is the view from my bedroom window.  Stunning, or what?  That rhodedendron bush was as big as it looks.  Here it is close up:

I was there just at the right time!

Now, here is my bathroom:

Who has to step UP to get into the bath?  I was sitting on the loo when I took these pictures.  This is the rest of the bath

How wonderful?  Then, still sitting on the loo ?? this is the view into the room.  Although very attractive, could have been a bit of a problem if you had to get up in the night and were disoriented.  Luckily, I was OK.

Now the actual conference was held in the old chapel.  Absolutely stunning, but the acoustics were not brilliant.  Who cares though when you had all this to look at?

This was the ceiling

and this was one of the stained glass windows.

This is the back of part of the hotel.  My room was the three turret windows in the middle.  How lucky was I?

This is part of the inside of the hotel looking down into the foyer.

As you can imagine I've got lots more pictures but this is just a taste.  It was a beautiful venue and the conference was OK - but who cares?

x