3 more sleeps!!!!...



























...to the first official day of Summer and that means 3 more sleeps to SCRAPAGANZA!!! Counting the days now to our weekend away in Holland. Have been busy packing and printing photos and organising the troops (dinners, clothes etc) when I'm away. I cannot wait for this weekend it's going to be so much fun!!!























With all the happenings of the last few weeks I've forgotten to post up my Circle Journal from Bumbleberry cafe - What Inspires you... so here ya go...


Sign in

















My entry


















COCO















Audrey















Miniflan















Vicky














Jan














Orla (Alro)














Thank you so much to everyone who took part. I will treasure it - it's a beautiful CJ!

XX

Thank God for Photoshop :-)

Last month at Crafteire some of us had our photos taken professionally by the talented Kirsty Wiseman - just got my CD back and these are my fav ones - especially as they feature my favourite shade of BLUE

It's pretty impressive what photoshop can do for laughter lines/mammy lines... call 'em what you like but all I can say is ...thanks Kirsty!

Just had a busy few days. Last weekend we had no less than 2 parties in one afternoon. My kids have a better social life than I. First it was Leah's 5th Birthday party-complete with bouncy castle...

Then it was a quick dash across the M50 to my niece Emily's First holy Communion party with you've guessed it...another bouncy castle.

Mental not to self - must invest in bouncy castle business as it seems to be the most lucretive opportunity to fast track to millionaire status in Ireland! Anyway we had a lovely day and I took some photos of Emily in her beautiful dress. She's such a giggler and I couldn't stop her for the photos...

This is my dad with Emily - proud Pappy!

Then on Monday I was given an invitation by Annamarie to attend a craft retail day with Creative Impressions (or was it expressions?). Anyway a whole day to play with new products and make things. A nice little precursor to Scrapaganza (8 more sleeps!!!!).

Anyway today is election day so hope you all have gone out to exercise your rights :-)

Chat later

XX

KNOCK KNOCK.... it's An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern!


There I was an hour ago, frantically trying to upload the Scrapwest blog, Ed was putting the kids to bed so I pottered down to answer the door. Lo and behold it's the nation's leader Bertie Ahern canvassing for votes for next week's general election. There was a time that I would stop to argue politics on my doorstop, giving politicians my list of things to do and things to fix. However now that I have moved to the dark side of scrapbooking, I whipped out my camera, called Ed and the kids down and promised him my vote if he stood for a photo. Well the idea of a scrapbook layout was just too tempting. How shameless am I!!! If truth be told I like the guy - he works hard for the people in his constituency... Anyway as they say - this photo is one for the grandchildren!

So anyhoooo..... busy week this week. Have been working on some new and exciting projects with Annamarie. Can't say too much at the moment but watch this space... :-) All I can say is some of you might be packing your bags soon...


Speaking of packing your bags - I'm on countdown for Scrapaganza. This day 2 weeks I will be sitting in Lisa Bearnson's class (***celebrity exposure swoon***)!!! I have a mental agenda worked out for myself - 12 classes in all and 7 of them are in one day. AND I CANNOT WAIT!!!!
Can't believe I am going - wow that was one hell of a great idea Audrey eh!!!!



So for some crafts....tonight's Scrapwest challenge is Swirls and Filigrees set by Jackie. I took this photo last month when we had a picnic in the garden - hard to believe now that a gail force wind is blowing up a storm outside tonight...

So, it's been a while since I showed some of my jewellary so here goes ...

This is one of my fav's - I wear it all the time. There's something lovely about glass beads - all that bling. The twisty glass beads are a joy to work with...

This is one of the first ones I made. I keep chopping it up and doing it again but I think I'm happy with it finally. The combination of pink, purple and green is great as it suits most of my clothes!

I made this one for my dear mum on mother's day and she wears it a lot. I got the lovely big beads from Elven on craftsupplies in a swap. They are stunning beads -have three left so I'm saving them for special people :-)


I made something similar to this last week for Annamarie and forgot to photograph it so I made another for myself. It's a real chunky necklace - one that you find yourself fiddling with as all the beadstrands are unique. Another fav of mine...

Carrie gavce a fab class at Crafteire on beaded accents and this is one of the things we made - it's such a gorgeous technique. I cheated and taught this in a class a week later at a charity crop (but I did give you credit Carrie!) :-)




Carrie gave me these beautiful BLUE semi precious stones for my birthday and I was nearly afraid to make anything with them as they are so divine however I am delighted how it turned out. If I had to choose my fav this is the one...

Ahem ahem...

Look what I got today!!! Annamarie from www.thescrapbookstore.ie gave me this beauutiful rolling tote set as a thank you for teaching her class at Crafteire. I'm still in awe of it as it is stunning and gorgeous and full of pockets and holders and....Can you tell I'm just a little bit excited about it! Love the colour too - we will be travelling in style to Scrapaganza next month! Thank you so much Annamarie XXX (but waaaayyyyy too generous!!!)

If you tilt your head ....you get the picture haha!

I held my monthly class and crop today and we altered a clipboard with the new Basic Grey Scarlett's letter. It was great to see everyone -especially some new faces. I always love the hum of chatter in my crops - sounds of women having fun. Sure what else would you be doing on a Sunday afternoon!!!

Madeleine's Eye Holds Vital Clue


Madeleine McCann's family believe a new picture of the missing four-year-old could play a vital role in the search for her. The photo of the youngster shows clearly the her distinctive right eye, where the pupil runs into the blue-green iris.

The new poster of Madeleine
It is this distinguishing mark that will identify Madeleine to those on the lookout for her, according to aunt and uncle John and Diane McCann. The Glasgow couple aim to distribute the appeal poster, which features the Crimestoppers telephone number, as far afield as they can.
Family friend Andrew Renwick told Sky News that support for the search had been "overwhelming" and her family were extremely grateful.

Her right eye
Mrs McCann said: "The purpose of the poster is to highlight the distinction in Madeleine's eye.
"We want to make the most of it, because we know her hair could potentially be cut or dyed."
Mr McCann added: "The poster was designed by a friend of the family and I've begun emailing it to acquaintances in different parts of the world. "I'm asking people to circulate it the best they can and make it be seen."


If you blog or have access to forums please circulate this information to as many people as possible. If Madeleine is still alive, media attention and vigilance will keep her alive.

Thinking of you today Madeleine on your 4th Birthday
XXX

She did it!!!


Dubray books, Grafton St


Last night my dear pal Niamh Greene had her moment of glory at the launch of her first novel 'Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife'. The big launch took place in the rather cool 'Fallon & Byrne' on Exchequer St. The vino was flowing, courtesy of her publishers Penguin and everyone was so proud of her incredible achievement. She looked a million dollars and quite the celebrity signing copies of the 100 or so books which were sold last night. When she was up there giving her speech I really had to stop in my tracks and ask myself is this the same Niamh who sat in my kitchen sipping coffee for all those years. It just seems her life has made the mose incredible turn and will never be the same again.


Here she is, lady of the moment with the lovely (and much skinnier in real life- clearly the camera does add 10lbs!!) Blaithnaid Ni Chofaigh who hosted the launch and of course the 'Kate' inspired pretty princess Caoimhe.

Audrey really enjoyed the evening and was delighted to have her photo taken with Niamh before she gets to be REALLY famous :-)



It was a proud evening for Niamh's folks. They told me the whole experience has been like a wedding!


BTW today on 'The Afternoon Show' she was listed in the reviewers top 10 books for your holidays and Niamh's was the first book chosen with glowing reviews. She even made it into OK this week with another glowing review. She's currently Irish book of the month in Easons nationwide. I finished the book this morning and all I can say is -hysterical! Go and buy it today!

Go Niamh!!! Remember us mere mortals when you are living in LA negotiating film deals and hanging with your good pal Sharon Stone again (not a word of a lie)!!!!!

PS she will be featured in next Saturday's Irish Times Weekend supplement (12/5/07)!!!

XXX

Smelly Pigs....



We went visiting today to our friends in Meath. They live in the most beautiful house (well that's a bit of an underexaggeration - more like a 4,000 sq ft palatial mansion really on a few acres overlooking rolling hills and horse filled fields). They have 3 young children under 4 and our two got on famously with them - best friends instantly. The neighbouring farm belongs to their family so we took a stroll down to see the newborn foal which was born yesterday. It was so beautiful but I couldnt get a photo as the mother was very protective over her newborn. Lucy didnt like the smell of the farm and made up a song on the way home as she sat on Ed's shoulders which went along the lines of 'smelly pig - smells disgusting' - pooh! I roared laughing when I heard her clever little ditty....

This is their beautiful baby Grace - what a little pixie she is...

'I am the leader of chocolate!.....'



...and I have the evidence to prove it! Last week Lucy (aged 3 1/2) turned to me out of the blue and announced this rather strange proclamation. I grilled her further 'What does that mean, pet?' and she declare 'cos I like chocolate the most in our family!'. Technically and factually she is incorrect as her father wins that title hands down but I thought she was rather funny to announce this. Then yesterday morning I was pottering about, picking up things and when I moved the sofa I stumbled across this display... Foolishly I had gotten up at 8am, set up their breakfast and went back to bed for a snooze - (well it was the bank holiday) trusting them to sit quietly and behave and here I find a big lump of chocolate log except it was half nibbled by a little mouse (called Lucy) and it's not even 9.30am! Seriously think she has a chemical addiction....

Today Ed spent the day setting up the new bunk beds. As predicted the estimated 1 hour assembly transpired into 6 but the man got there in the end and the little ones got to sleep in their new beds - eventually - the excitement was palpable! I think it was 11pm when Lucy eventually dropped off!


In the middle of all this assembly our good friends BJ and Elaine called by with their little guy Jack and I got some nice shots of him -hasn't he got the most amazing bluish/green eyes.

We spent the evening watching re-runs of Dallas on Sky with a nice bottle of vino - bliss! Just like the good old days...

Ding Dong it's Argos Man!



Was awoken out of my sleepy haze at 7am with a knock on the door from Argos man. When I agreed to accept our new bunkbeds last week between 7am-12pm I honestly didn't believe that any company in Ireland would be so efficient and diligent to mean it. How wrong was I??? Having to make small talk to Argos man at 7am in my pj's while he filled my hall with boxes and mattresses was quite a challenge. Anyway the long anticipated bunkbeds have arrived to the delight of my little ones....It makes me laugh 2 years ago we ripped our house inside out knocking every corner out to add extra bedroom space and now the two of them who have their own bedrooms decide they want to share to be together. Who am I to stand in the way of their grand plan! Said boxes and mattresses will probably remain in our hall for a very long time judging by the amount of latts, screws and allen keys which came with the delivery. DH is out on a work night so he will probably break a leg when he stumbles home later...

My mum came over today which was lovely - usually we go to see her and when she comes here it's because of babysitting, car trouble etc ..but this time she just came over for lunch and sat all afternoon with me in the sweltering heat watching the kids play. Eva and I popped into Tesco this morning and she persuaded me to buy her a 'Sport's day kit' - normally I don't cave in so quickly but it was actually a great little kit and I am frantically arming myself with things to do this Summer when the kids are off so I figured a few egg and spoon / 3 legged/ sack races won't go amiss- especially if there are gangs of kids hanging around looking for things to do in my back garden.


Not one to like having her photo taken I caught her off guard running rings around the kids. Lucy was a terrible cheat - clutching her egg and spoon with both hands and only running halfway down the intended track and turning on her heels to get back to base and claim her prize - will have to sort that one out before primary school starts!


We had big bowls of ice cream to cool down - the look of sheer delight on Lucy's face was totally priceless!



I was tidying up the garden tonight and when I looked up I thought I was seeing things - Eva had washed her Barbies clothes in Barbie's official swimming pool and cleverly hung all the clothes out to dry.....Well as my mum would say there's great 'drying' out these days!

Have a great bank hol weekend - off to watch the lovely Diarmuid Gavin on the Late Late (Yum!)

XX

Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife...


Today is the long awaited day that my good pal Niamh launches her first novel...so of course I had to mark the occasion. I used the invitation to her book launch which takes place next Wednesday (Yay... free champers!!!) to make this little card for her. We had such a giggle up at Borders today, checking out the position in store and then having lunch in Starbucks upstairs. I even made my own demented secret confession to her which of course I won't be sharing here (tee hee!!!). And no I'm not... before any assumptions are drawn...just a little in joke between us - right Niamh???!

I made Niamh this little necklace from some beads I received in a lovely swap with Elven on craft supplies - they were really Niamh's colours and she loved it (phew!).

I have devoured the book all day - beating my own personal record for reading a book and I have to say - and this is not a word of bias - it's the FUNNIEST read!!! Really it is...i'm not just saying it! If you are-
(a) a woman,
(b) have kids
(c) dont have kids but know someone who has kids
(d) have the remotist morsel of a sense of humour...
..I defy you not to giggle your way through this book....so witty and sharp and I can't believe my little pal has been hiding her talent for so long. Go and read it - and then go buy it for your girlfriends...This lady is HOT! She has a great big book deal from Penguin so she's going to be around for a long time.,,,The bikini wax chapter had me rolling with laughter around the garden!


So... in the afternoon Linda and her gorgeous girls called down for a playdate and we spent a most pleasant afternoon in the garden enjoying this amazing unseasonal sunshine, crafting our little hearts out while the girls went on a 'hunt though the jungle looking for wild animals' (yep they really did!). Honestly their little imaginations are phenomenol (sp?) - who needs SKY+ when you are 3 and 6 and forced out to the garden to play.


They went to the toy room, brought down all the cuddly toys and then placed them in our big tree at the back of the garden and pretended to go on a bear hunt etc etc. I took lots of photos as it was hilarious watching them discussing the dead animal pile (that bit was a bit freaky I have to admit!). Poor 2ft tweety pie was found dangling from a branch by the neck...

Oh I love days like this....Afterwards I was eating my dinner out on the patio and I spotted Lucy having a quiet moment eating a bowl of chicken pieces and talking to her Barney who was singing away. She was all in a little world of her own completely surrounded by her teddies and cuddlies and I had to get a photo as it was priceless!





Isn't my baby such a cutie... {{{{wubs}}}}

XXX