An OMM

What, I hear you ask is an OMM? well now, let me explain... Today I arrived home to discover a packli in my mailbox baring foreign stamps and the return addy of Linda http://lindajos.blogspot.com/ a favourite Blog buddy of mine. The OMM occurred at the precise moment(M) I opened the box and found myself uttering the words 'oh my, oh my' over and over again! will you just look at this gorgeous little glitter gem packed full of Christmas sparkle and teeny tiny candy canes (which were eaten before photo was possible!!) oh bliss...

Not forgetting the backyard! photographed in my own snowy garden. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift Linda!

So, the tree is up, the snow is down, the baubles are shiny and the children are crazy, roll on the 25th! I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas packed full of 'oh my moments' enjoy enjoy!!

ATC take two

I followed Linda's advice to give these two a chance to speak. I'm not sure it was a wise decision as we know from previous experience they do have a tendency to bicker! The question is, which one of them went on the big wheel???

My page from Nathalie's http://nathaliethompson.blogspot.com/ QB5 Round Robin book, where all the trouble began!

ATC

I made this ATC yesterday and having photographed it I now think it needs a bit more, not sure what, but with any luck it'll come to me soon. I like the background which was done with watercolour crayons.

Tree please

Today we went to choose a tree and in keeping with the English side of the family, it'll be brought inside tomorrow and decorated. For a lot of Swiss families this only happens on the 24th when everyone leaves the room and the decorated tree and presents are delivered by the Christkind who rings a bell to announce their arrival. I grew up with a tree (of sorts) in the house in the run up to the 25th and it's a tradition I rather like. We never had a real tree but a crepe paper covered wire version which in later years was decorated with silver foil! no need to ask where my creative abilities come from!! Unfortunately we didn't get a tree pixie with this one, cute tho!

Cut and packed and ready to go

I suspect the tree will be bigger than the room when it's unpacked, it's always a bit difficult to tell when you're standing in the forest, kind of warps your perspective a bit. Might have to do a bit of bush whacking to get to the computer morn, I'll let you know...

Just a hint

I feel the need to prove I've been doing something other than coasting to the end of the year but as I don't want to totally give the game away I've just posted a sneak peek. I've been busy doing a couple of things for the QB5 gals which I sent today however I later discovered all of them have the wrong postage so who knows where they'll end up, probably back here and in time for Xmas 2010!

I'll give them a couple of weeks then will post the full pics!

It's official...

the world has gone mad. Let me introduce Lulu, an electronic cat taking Switzerland by storm. Apparently she's the must-have item of the year! How?? I hear you ask do I know that and why do we have one?? erm... Anyway, I was given instructions to go and collect her which I duly did and as I carried her out of the shop the trouble began. The thing started to miaow and miaow and miaow.

As I got onto the train I figured I was less likely to meet anyone if I sat in the bike carriage and all was going swimmingly until the train stopped, the doors jammed and the four people waiting in the corridor were serenaded by my bionic cat. At that point I was doing battle with the box and my Swiss army knife but the thing was so well wired to the bottom that it wouldn't budge. I felt sure there was an on/off button somewhere but I simply couldn't get to it. I now know it was in fact a 'try me' button causing the problem, kind of a 1 minute miaow loop. So, Lulu is now home and settled and well, what more can I say???

Nearly there

I'm gradually working this out of my system, bare with me! I'm about to run out of book backs so this current Rebecca Sower http://rebeccasower.typepad.com obsession of mine will shortly grind to a halt. This has to be my favourite so far as it has a very tactile quality to it, I just got happy with the glue gun!

First snow!

The 1st of December brought with it the 1st snow, not a lot but just enough to build this lovely bucket head couple in the garden. As I went slipping and sliding down the path it crossed my mind that it would have been a good time to have my camera but being more of an 'after the event' type I'm afraid you'll just have to be content with the snowys. Swiss chalet scenes will follow later in the season, I promise!

Below is my current top purchase! I can't tell you how long I've been looking for this pointing hand stamp and I'm feeling quite virtuous as I was in a shop in Zurich that I shouldn't have been in (on account of the prices) and low and behold they had Cavallini stamps AND they were 20 francs cheaper than everywhere else!! I took this as a sign and bought the box. I now plan to stamp post-it notes for my children, and write stuff like hang me up (jacket) and yes, I mean you!

Take two

My second book back has taken a while to come together and I'm still not sure. I've stuck it together anyway and I love the new wire hanger I made (sorry, I've just realised you can't actually see it!! too dark now to take another pic!) I found a much heavier wire today which bends and twists so much easier than the first attempt.

A button tree, what more could a gal want...

Inspired

Check out Linda's Blog http://lindajos.blogspot.com/ for some wonderful Silver Bella inspiration. The idea below comes from Rebecca Sower http://www.rebeccasower.typepad.com/ I think it's a fab twist on Inchies, loads more depth and interest. In the absence of a cigar box I attached mine to the back of an old book and then had a good old rummage in my 'stuff' box, it's surprising what was in there, I really must visit a little more often!

I love the winding, twisting and threading that this kind of project invloves

Revamp

I tried out a couple of new techniques on an old fav of mine, canvases. This time I went for an inchie vintage Christmas look with some Cavallini paper and a bit of antique ink. These pictures are really fun to do and I think the finished result is rather fab.

Monday ATC

I know how she feels!

I'm quite pleased with this card, I used various backing papers, acrylics and a metallic rub on gold

I started with a perfectly formed crepe paper flower which I managed to rip in the process, kind of suits the mood now!

Shopping alert!!!

Ok, so I mentioned in a previous post I went to an art supplies shop that I really had no business being in and this is why, ta da!!! the catalogue!! need I say more...

My dear friend friend Muriel did pick up this little gem, a colour index by Jim Krause, a very useful little book which tells you what goes with what, a great place to start if you're unsure of or looking for a colour scheme

Seriously...

Linda, if I knew what I was doing you'd be the first to know!! at this stage it's a box filled with cotton reels and not a lot more! it was quite a challenge just getting it all in the photo! I can see my Dymo letter maker twitching in it's box at the mere thought of a bit of text but what exactly??

I thought this lovely might like to be crowned 'Queen of the Reels' or perhaps the 'Reel Queen' all suggestions welcome!!