I've been thinking...

Hi folks...I've been thinking and you all know what a dangerous thing that can be for someone who's been blessed with an over-active imagination and spends lots of time on her own locked up in a craft space called the cubbyhole...in the past it's led to mad declutterisation and moving around of said cubbyhole sessions and I think I may well be heading for DIY meltdown.  My crafty space is looking a tad tired and grubby and I've fallen out of love with that dark red wall...it has to go...

and the storage units just don't fit in with the new colour scheme in my head so I'm thinking they would look much better with a coat or two of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in a nice light neutral colour.  I know what you're thinking...have I been at the magic mushrooms...am I completely out of my mind bonkers...NO to the first question but probably YES to the second but when I stroll in from the hall which is all sparkling clean and minimal although I still have to work my magic on the paintwork...the place that I spend more hours in a day in than any other in the house is in need of a great big make-over...

no way can I move everything out so what I'm thinking is...take down all the shelves...move everything into the centre of the room and try to persuade hubby to paint the ceiling whilst I'm off having fun working in Birmingham and then paint one wall and storage unit at a time...push it back in place and move on to the next wall and unit. Well that's the theory but putting it into practice may well be the stuff that nightmares are made of but you know me once I get an idea in my head...I go into all or nothing mode...in for a penny in for a pound...so watch this space. I told you that this thinking malarkey can be dangerous...perhaps I need to get out more and woohoo with that in mind...it's Friday and hot date day with my non crafty buddies...now I wonder if I can persuade them to come join the cubbyhole decorating team....lunch...coffee and all the cake they can eat might do the trick.

See you all tomorrow over at Penny Black Saturday

Hugs Kath xxx

It won't make the news but...

Hi folks...if you tune in regularly to The 9 o'clock News on TV...you'll know that most of the time it's a load of doom and gloom...the economy...the weather or at the moment...the whole Scottish Independence Referendum thingie...I personally don't think it's a good idea for Scotland to break away from the United Kingdom but we live in a free democratic country and I respect that everyone is entitled to their opinion...well I should say...everyone who was born in Scotland and is currently residing in Scotland...I fail to see why the likes of Sean Connery...David Bowie and the rest of the celebs who are jumping on the bandwagon are sticking their oar in when the result of the referendum will have no effect on their lives...they don't live here and don't pay taxes into the UK economy so really their opinion is of no consequence.  OK now that I've got today's little irritation off my chest...time for our little bit of news from the cubbyhole...unlikely to make tonight's news programmes but I'm shouting from the rooftops anyway that Saturday's workshop projects are in the bag after a bit of a stuttery start...

the kitting was coming along nicely too until I went to my workshop blank card box to find that I'd obviously been dipping in but never replacing...resulting in the sum total of 4 cards and where is my cubbyhole partner when I need him...the mention of the word "work" and The Furry Boy suddenly remembers he has a pressing appointment with his favourite snoozy sofa no less...so nothing else for it...the remaining member of the crew is left to look out the scoreboard and guillotine and get stuck into 2 boxes of 300gsm Diamond White Cardstock...

but I can always rely on the company of a certain Mr Buble (woohoo only 10 more sleeps until I'll actually be in the same room with the gorgeous man himself...albeit along with thousands of others) and a constant stream of caffeine to get the job done...said box is now fully stocked but I've got a sneaky feeling that the Fiskars Kitting Marathon for The NEC may well amend that statement and put me right back to square one.

And don't forget...what's good for the goose is also good for the gander...2 can play at The Furry Boy's little game so I'm ditching the work hat...ignoring the crafty list for today...the woohoo news is it's time to play with the new goodies and hopefully nail my DT card for Penny Black Saturday at the same time.

Hugs Kath xxx

Who's The Boss Around Here Anyway...

Hi folks...it seems I'm in the doghouse with the grumpy cubbyhole crew...I've succumbed to the temptation of buying gorgeous gorgeous crafty bits and pieces again...fallen by the wayside and failed miserably to resist...however you want to put it.   I popped over to The Papeterie on Sunday to pick up some workshop bits and pieces and hey ho...wham bam...I fell hook line and sinker for the gorgeous Capsule Collection-Blue Parisenne from Papermania...

now tell me truthfully would you have been able to resist these gorgeous flowers with matching Washi Tape...

 I thought not...or these super cute Canvas Shapes...

or this adorable self adhesive crocheted trim in the most gorgeous shade of Blue...

and I rest my case with this gorgeous Vintagey Fabric Self Adhesive Paper...

I'm thinking they would be perfect for some future workshop projects...so I've haven't been so naughty after all...it's all about managing to talk your way out of trouble and sneaking back into the cubbyhole crew's good books...crikey who's the boss around here anyway...it's a sad state of affairs when you have to answer to a Furry Hooligan and the person that checks in and out when he pleases...treats the place like a hotel...the very fickle Mr Mojo.
And guess what...my memory falls into the same category as my willpower...I arrived home without the bits and pieces I went to get in the first place...oopsie doops...can the cubbyhole piggy bank afford another visit before the end of the month.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

All systems go...

Hi folks...the Winter Olympics are over and with it my excuse for sneaking off to watch daytime TV and weren't they fabulous...I was glued to the telly fascinated by winter sports that I normally have no interest in...spending hours watching men and women speeding down a very slippery track on what is basically a fancy tin tray...scary but so cool and I have to confess over the years I've been hugely irritated by the antics of the snowboarders at my local ski centre but I've had a change of heart...you can't but admire the courage of the slopestylers...crikey those aerial tricks are amazing but I think I'll just stick with trying to staying upright with 2 long metal planks attached to your feet and after watching the thrilling but terrifying at times Men's Slalom Final...I'm itching to sneak in just one day of downhill skidding fun on the white stuff before the season ends...perhaps it might be advisable to wait until after the Hobbycraft show at The NEC just in case my dodgy (unintentional slopestyle acrobatics many moons ago) knee jumps up and bites me on the bum.

But will there still be plenty of this I ask myself...

because the weather's been playing silly beggars again...one day it's gloriously sunny and mild encouraging the spring bulbs to poke their heads through the ground...

and the next day it's back to blowing a hooley (TV aerial has detached itself from the roof and is currently swinging like a pendulum) accompanied by arctic...wrapped up like an Eskimo...dog strolling temperatures.

But I doubt I'll be worrying too much about the weather for the next few weeks...I'm destined to be marooned in the cubbyhole working my way through the list of projects for the March Workshops and hey I've been having lots of messy inky fun with the Dylusion Inks and Stencils for Saturday's Kath Klub at The Papeterie...I'll need a mega scrubbing session in the shower and I may need to look out the power hose for the cubbyhole...

but I've been very naughty...the old "Oh my goodness me...must-have" obsession has reared it's head again..is this an inherited gene that all us crafters are born with I wonder. I'll be sharing my wicked purchases with you tomorrow and I'm sure you'll understand why I was powerless to resist.

Back to the inky fun...see you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Back in the real world...

Hi folks...it's Monday and believe me when I say I had to check the calendar before I made that statement...I'm still in mushy brain mode with no idea what day of the week it is and it's hard to believe that a week has passed since Stitches...the hunky joiners have worked their magic in the hall and staircase...new flooring in the hall...new doors...frames and skirting boards leaving me zillions of those little pesky nail holes to deal with...I'm definitely back in the real world and getting stuck in to one of DIY's messy messy jobs...crikey my poor long suffering nail guru would be tearing her hair out if she could see my beautiful Shellac nails now but I can't crack on with the painting until each and every one is filled in and sanded down...

You may be thinking whilst I've been regaling you all with tales of my Birmingham adventures...behind the scenes I've been tackling the crafty list...have I heck...I seem to have joined the "fat lazy couch potato" club...the club where you get up in the morning with the best intentions in the world but can't resist sitting down to watch the Winter Olympics with yet another cuppa and before you know they've flown out the window...the day's gone and you're heading back to bed and the vicious circle of idleness starts all over again.
But I'm going to be in big trouble if I don't get my head together and my act in gear...the crafty list is screaming at me...with only 5 days left in the inconsiderately short month of February and a brain still in cotton wool mode...I'm planning a rocket up my bum kind of a day...donning the hugest pair of big girl knickers today in an effort to get back in the crafty swing.

And no surprises then that I completely forgot that yesterday was this old blog's

6th BIRTHDAY...
Post Numero 2576...crikey that is taking waffling to Olympic standards

can I just say a huge thank you to my followers for sticking with me and for all your lovely comments along the way...I don't always have time to come and visit you but the Furry Boy and this old crafty girl really do appreciate your visits...no time for big birthday party celebrations...it will be a cuppa or two and a slice of cake...albeit in the cubbyhole standing up with not a couch potato sofa in sight trying to ignore the box of new TH goodies that has arrived from Craft Obsessions...

A little blog birthday treat for the cubbyhole crew...

Wallflower Paper Stash which is divine...beautiful birds and botanicals and the Kraft Paper Resist-Motif Pad which is just absolutely gorgeous... 

and no way could this alphabet addict resist this pack of Letterpress Letters and Numbers...

 or the Alpha Chips...

 or my little guilty pleasure...Remnant Rubz...

Life just isn't fair...why do I have to work when all I want to do is play

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Stitches Part 4...

Hi folks...doesn't time fly by when you're having fun...Day 2 is done and we're still standing...time for the Fiskars crew to head back to the hotel in the company of my bestest bud and our honorary Fiskars buddy...the lovely Enfys for a yummy dinner and a good old blether but lesson learned...who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks...one glass of wine and a yummy hot chocolate was the only liquid to pass my lips...I was determined not to repeat the previous night's sleep deprivation...did it do the trick...did it heck...I tossed and turned until 3.30am...not ideal when the old alarm clock will be ringing it's head off at 6.00am...

the last day of the show is always a bit quieter so I managed to wing it with lots of coffee and the help of my Fiskars teamie...the gorgeous Hina and the newest recruit to the Fuse Fan Club...the lovely Steve.

I did manage a quick catch up with the lovely Diane Grimshaw Editor of Simply Homemade...my sweet bud Hels and the lovely Sue Wilson on the Creative Expressions stand but can't believe I ran out of time to pop and say hello to the gorgeous Leandra and Lin over at Paperartsy or the fabulous Finnabair and if you popped by to say hello and I've missed you out I apologise...my brain is still very much in mush mode. But before you know it's time to say goodbye to Stitches and head home...back to the real world loaded down with lots of bedtime reading...

and the new boys who will be joining my collection of Fiskars scissors...Servo Cut on the left...a must have for all you quilters and stitchers...they will cut through multiple layers of fabrics like a knife through butter (8 layers of denim tried and tested by my lovely Fiskars teamie Hina) and the Razor Edge which comes with a guard for a reason...fabulously super super sharp...they will cut papers beautifully and your finger if you're not careful (tried and tested by me...ouch) Fiskars really do make the bestest scissors in the world and I make no apologies about being super duper excited about the new members of the family...

and the punch I've been itching to get my hands on...

can't wait to get back to the cubbyhole and put them through their paces...Hobbycraft at The NEC is less than 4 weeks away...the Fiskars Workshop kitting marathon will soon be taking up our every waking hour but before that can happen I need to come up with a project.

Wish me luck and toodle oo for now

Hugs Kath xxx

Stitches Part 3...

Hi folks...woohoo we survived the mania of Day 1...now it's time for the Fiskars crew to have a fun night out at the Immediate Media Awards ..the crafty world equivalent of the BAFTAS...entertained by the very funny Singing Waiters Cabaret Act...fed and watered with a yummy buffet and beverages...guaranteed to have loads of fun in the company of  my  "2 peas in a pod" twin in another life buddy...the gorgeous Dawny P...her lovely daughter Nicola...the lovely Anne and the rest of the fabulous Lili Of The Valley Team...

Sadly despite being nominated...no awards arrived at our table...we was robbed me thinks but hey in true BAFTA good sportmanship style we applauded...put on happy faces and perhaps had more wine than we should have to drown our sorrows...

fun at the time but was it a bigga mistake-a...the Fiskars crew were not firing on all cylinders next morning...Xavier was calling in sick and heading home to Paris...coughing sneezing and feeling downright poorly and I wasn't feeling particularly hunky dory either after only a few hours of tossing and turning sleep but despite self inflicted over-indulgence the show must go on and on it did but I was wishing I had a tape recording of my demo spiel and I could have switched it on and mimed but as always it's the lovely folks who come along to share our passion for all things papercrafting that help you through a muddly head day and I was so excited when Charlotte and Pearl my lovely buddies from The Papeterie and my bestest bestest bud the lovely Enfys arrived and oh boy was I excited to finally meet Craftwork Cards exceptionally talented designers...the lovely Steph and Helen...to put faces to the lovely Crafty Mag folks that I send Fiskars projects to...Noona from Practical Publishing...Geena from Aceville Publications..the lovely girls from Craft Seller and Sarah Crosland Editor of Crafts Beautiful and in between the demos I managed to sneak some time out to say hello to my fellow Scottish buddy Jan from PI and the lovely Kaz Hall...(gorgeous photo Jan...absolutely no photoshop work required)

and on the way back say hello to the sweet Lindsay Mason and have a bit of a chinwag with the adorable Andy Skinner before the rest of the Fiskars team arrived...our fabulous boss Florence...our best buddy Richard and the brand new members of the team...Steve and Clare who were great fun...they were fascinated by The Fuse and I had to use my elbows to keep Steve from taking over my demonstrator role and after they made the most gorgeous rolled roses first time from die cut circles I fear my job may be in jeopardy.

But back to this new addiction...I couldn't help myself sneaking off across the way at every opportunity...absolutely fascinated by the gorgeous creations on the Pebeo stand...all beautifully made by the lovely Jenny Muncaster...the colours were stunning and the texture glorious...sadly the photos don't really do them justice...

we gave her some Fiskars AdvantEdge borders to use as stencils with Texture Paste and some die cuts to play with and this is what she made...isn't it gorgeous...

I'll be back tomorrow to share the "I need a new body" last day antics from the show.

Hugs Kath xxx

Stitches Part 2...

Hi folks...after the obligatory Full English Breakfast to charge up the energy levels...we headed off to The NEC for Day 1 of the show...to be greeted by this gorgeous creation...

and this cute chappie...

 and it would have been so rude not to introduce myself officially...

our first visitor of the day was ex Fiskars teamie...the lovely Rach who popped by for a hug...

from then on it was manic...no time to take photos...a day of non stop demo-ing...talking ten to the dozen but it can hardly be considered work when all you are doing is basically playing...chatting and catching up with special crafty friends...my Craftwork Cards buddy...the lovely Julie Hickey...the sweetest of sweethearts...the gorgeous Paula Pascual followed by our Fiskars teamie...the lovely Lynne who brought yummy cakes...then it was my fellow Tim Holtz addicts...Brenda...Jenny and Jennie from Artistic Stamper and my "2 peas in a pod" bestest bud the lovely Dawny P and just across the way...next door but one was my lovely crafty mate...Nikki...Mrs Polkadoodles who was demo-ing Graph It markers and Pan Pastels...

and our neighbours across the way...our lovely chums from Pebeo with the very talented Jenny Muncaster working her magic on canvas...her work is absolutely stunning...completely blew me away and I fear there may well be a whole load of Pebeo products being added to the must-have cubbyhole supplies list. I'll be sharing Jenny's gorgeous work with you all tomorrow.  The end of another busy day and the Fiskars team are heading off to the crafty equivalent of the Baftas...the CRAFTAS...the annual crafty world award ceremony which on reflection may have been a bigga mistake-a but I'll tell you all about that tomorrow.

I'm still not up to speed...there's a suitcase in the hall requiring my attention...if I don't get the dirty laundry in to the machine today it will be walking there all by itself and woohoo there are lots of new Fiskars Scissors to unpack and add to the cubbyhole collection...

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Stitches Part 1...

Hi folks...just like a bad penny...the old day after the day after syndrome has well and truly kicked in...that old ran all the way home hanging on to the back of the plane feeling...crikey the creaky old bones are protesting big time and I have to say I've got that down in the dumps feeling after a fabulous fun 4 days with all my lovely crafty buddies and my Fiskars family at the UK's equivalent of CHA...held once a year in February at The NEC. CHSI...affectionately known as Stitches is when retailers large and small come together to browse all the new products from loads and loads of craft companies.
I arrived in Birmingham after a wind assisted rather rocking and rolling flight to find the stand building team had worked their magic...just leaving the Fiskars girls with the task of unpacking loads and loads of products and the huge jigsaw adventures of fitting everything onto one great big empty wall...

but it's amazing how it starts to come together...with a lots of pitstops for lunch...

coffee and yummy French treats from our lovely Fiskars France team leader...the sweet Caro...

a few adjustments here and there...

 and voila...we're good to go...

and after a very long and tiring day...I have to make one very important visit to Personal Impressions and check out the Tim Holtz Wall...laden with all those must-have "I want one of everything" goodies...

and then my annual "feast my eyes" treat...gorgeous samples on the always beautifully decorated Sizzix stand...

and say hello to my Sizzix buddy...the very talented Pete Hughes

before we headed off to the hotel for a yummy dinner...a feet up unwind session and a glorious snug as a bug in a rug "asleep before your head hits the pillow" night to recharge the old batteries...I'll be back tomorrow to share more pics.

Hugs Kath xxx

I'm back...

Hi folks...I'm back after 4 wonderful fun days at Stitches...meeting up with lots of old crafty friends and having fun with my fabulous Fiskars buddies was just what I needed to top up the old batteries ready for another frantic production line frenzy of prep for the March workshops but today I'm intending chilling out...snuggled up on the sofa with my gorgeous bundle of golden deliciousness...I sure did miss my furry hot water bottle...before tomorrow's round of unpacking the suitcase...sorting out the laundry and catching up with all those pesky household chores that men never seem to notice need doing.
So until I get the photos downloaded from the camera and sorted out...I'm sharing one of the Fiskars samples I made for Stitches...an Art Canvas using the new Intricate punches...

See you all tomorrow when no doubt the day after the day after aches and pains will have set in.
Hugs Kath xxx