Be Still My Beating Heart...

Hi folks...Happy Monday to you all...the start of another working week for most folks...including me or perhaps I should rephrase that...a week of PLAY in the cubbyhole...losing myself in the wonderful world of mixed media...continuing on my Wanderlust 2016 Adventure...great fun so far...

but I'm waiting for my poor postie who's probably slipping and sliding around on the icy pavements to deliver a parcel of mixed media goodies and before I'm marooned by the next snowstorm supposedly heading our way this week...I'm off to my local art supplies store to complete the shopping list.

And talking of Mixed Media...I'm in "Be Still My Beating Heart" mode...suffering from Bulging Wish List Syndrome...lusting after all the new Tim Holtz goodies from Ranger...I feel like a kid waiting for the sweet shop to open...itching to spend my pocket money...loving all the new kids on the block products...

Distress Crayons

or brushes...perfect for some Mixed Media paint application...

or the icing on the cake...the Distress Picket Fence Ink Pad...

Work or Play...enjoy your day
Hugs Kath xxx

A Nightmare 24 hours...

Hi folks...I wasn't intending posting today but after lots of e-mails and PM's on Facebook...I just wanted to let you all know that Aberdeenshire in general and this creaky old crafter in particular have survived the worst 24 hour storm in living memory and come out the other side...albeit a bit battered and brushed. Torrential rain followed by heavy snow wreaked havoc across the region on Thursday...

Many communities have been devastated and hundreds if not thousands of residents evacuated to safety but us Scots are nothing if not resilient in the face of such adversity and the good news is the rain and snow has stopped. Radio and TV channels were very slow to react...in fact the unfolding disaster didn't even get a mention on the evening STV news but the wonderful guys at Fubar News rose to the challenge and posted up to the minute weather and road condition updates non-stop on Facebook...1908 updates in the space of 24 hours...allowing motorists to avoid danger areas and make it home safe and the situation would have been catastrophic without the emergency services who worked tirelessly in atrocious conditions to make sure everyone was safe but sadly there were far too many incidents like this one...using up time and valuable resources to rescue the "I am invincible" brigade...obviously not everyone has been blessed with common sense...

I take my hat off to the Police...Fire Service...Local Authority Personnel...Power Companies and all the folks who rallied round to help people in a time of great need including local hotels offering free accommodation and hot food to stranded motorists.  We're not out of the woods...many roads are still impassable and communities under water but what a difference a day makes...a "not seen for some time" bright yellow object has appeared in the sky...

it will take some time but hopefully the water levels will recede...the big mop up Aberdeenshire operation can begin and the lives of those affected get back to normal.

Stay safe if you're out and about and enjoy your weekend.

Hugs Kath xxx

Crazy Crazy Crazy...

Hi folks...after a couple of days of persistent drizzle...we're back to full blown monsoon conditions...it's crazy crazy crazy weather. I took a trip into town yesterday to source some PVC Tablecloth type material to use with the Power Punches at the NEC Workshop...

and darned near didn't make it home again...I was almost blown off my feet crossing Dunelm's car park and the surface water on the roads was unbelieveable...like driving through one gigantic puddle. And it got worse as darkness fell...for the first time in my memory...Aberdeen was virtually cut off from the rest of the country...airport closed...train services cancelled...all routes out of the city only passable with extreme care and with lots of side roads under feet of water...it was a long nightmare journey home for commuters. And Mother Nature isn't done yet...it's now snowing heavily...more chaos for today's commuters...I know it's Winter but this is the craziest freakiest weather ever.

Looks like I'm going to be housebound for a while so it's time to ditch the lazy lifestyle and get back to some crafting...what I hear you ask has caused the big turn around...we've gone from doom and gloom to itching to get back to the cubbyhole in the space of 24 hours...could it have something to do with the fact that the Furry Alarm Clock has been made redundant in favour of the more reliable mechanical one or maybe it's down to Mr Holtz teasing me with sneaky peeks of the CHA 2016 new release products...

Idea-ology

Sizzix Alterations

Stampers Anonymous

I want everything and up to now the wish list resembles the till receipt from a weekly food shop but right at the top of that list is the stamp set that I can't wait to get my inky paws on...

Crazy Cats...Miaow

if you loved Bird Crazy...you're definitely going to want these too and how cool they've been designed to work with all the accessories from Crazy Things. And not forgetting...there's a brand new Tag over at "12 Tags of 2016" on the list of things to do and a little Christmas treat parcel of goodies from Simon Says Stamps to keep me out of mischief and the left over Christmas Cake tin...

but first I'm setting off on my Wanderlust 2016 Journey...can't tell you how excited I am about this adventure into the world of mixed media and art journalling...

If you haven't yet dabbled or don't feel confident about working with mixed media...this would be a great place to start...a whole year's worth of downloadable video workshops (more than 50) allowing you to work at your own pace... with amazing teachers...technical classes and information as well as sponsor discounts...give-aways and challenges. You can find all the details and sign up HERE. I just need to choose which journal to use and I'm off...

Stay safe if you're out and about and enjoy your weekend

See you soon

Hugs Kath xxx

It's all going pear shaped...

Hi Folks...life as we know it is going pear shaped...my Furry Alarm Clock has gone completely bonkers again and we've been sleeping in until 10 o'clock-ish and for this usually up with the birdies crafter...that's a shock to the system...the lazy lifestyle means we've lost 3 hours out of our day before we even start...breakfast has become lunch and so on...in other words...life at the moment is completely topsy turvy...
And with the rain still chucking it down...

with the best will in the world...I just can't gee my ginger...can't seem to drag myself away from snuggling up on the sofa...distracted by all the latest CHA Release Sneaky Peeks from The Maestro...

 and catching up with the latest edition of Simply Homemade...

which happens to include my "Tattered Poinsettia" Winter Floral projects..

But I need to get back on track FAST...so suggestions on a postcard please
Hugs Kath xxx

P.S. by the way...cloudy with showers my ass...it's a cross between a monsoon and a hurricane out there.

Would You Believe...

Hi folks...would you believe I've been a bit reluctant to return to work after the festivities but I've run out of delaying tactics and the project for the Fiskars Workshop at the NEC in March is now snapping at my heels...

the problem is Mr Mojo has only just returned from his Christmas break and too many lazy couch potato days have taken their toll. And the weather hasn't helped either...the UK has been well and truly battered by Mother Nature over the last few weeks...I know that other areas have also been badly affected by flooding but when it's in your own back yard it's a shocking hard to believe wake up call and it's heartbreaking to see some of the places I visit regularly so badly affected...

one of my favourite shopping destinations Rustiques flooded...

the Cambus O' May bridge totally destroyed...

Braemar was totally cut off when the A93 disappeared into the river...

Abergeldie Castle has withstood the elements for 450 years but is now in real danger of collapsing into the river...

and Ballater...a favourite destination for Friday Girls' outings has been particulary badly hit

but three cheers for the ordinary folks who have gone above and beyond to assist in any way they can...for the emergency services who have worked tirelessly to make life more bearable by organising food and clothing banks...setting up emergency kitchens and the local hotels and residents for providing food and accommodation for the poor folks whose lives have been turned upside down and for local courier companies and supermarkets for providing drivers and vehicles to transport food donations...without them life would be a whole lot bleaker. Shame on the Government and Councillors for being so slow to react to what has been a national disaster and with no sign of any let up in the weather...the horrendous devastation and turmoil for all those affected is certainly not over.

Feeling very humbled and thankful that after today's soggy doggy strolls I'll be returning to a safe warm dry home.

Hugs Kath xxx

2015 in Cards (Part 2)

Hi folks...here we go with the second half of my favourites from 2015...

JULY

A Crafty Itch

When Life Gives You Lemons

AUGUST

Travel Memories

It's That Crazy Bird Again

It's Those Crazy Birds Again

SEPTEMBER

Remember The Everyday

Hats Off To Crazy Things

OCTOBER

Oops

Playtime 1...Kitting O

A Sparkly Trio

NOVEMBER

Get Your Skates On

Ready To Rock 'n Roll

DECEMBER

Tis The Season

Winter Work In Progress

I'm off on a little "time away from the cubbyhole" jaunt...it's time to put as much miles as I can between me and the left overs in the fridge...not to mention the "I have no willpower" Christmas sweetie mountain...

leaving The Furry Boy and his Dad to tidy away the Christmas tree and decorations.

I'll catch up with you all when I get back.

Hugs Kath xxx

2015 in Cards...

Hi everyone...well can you believe Christmas is over for another year and we're into day 3 of the new year...it was lovely to spend time with my family but I'm looking forward to getting back to the normal routine after all the mania that goes with the holiday season especially the whole over-indulging "just can't resist" food thing. I left the Christmas table 2 days in a row absolutely stuffed and swearing I couldn't eat another thing and yes...you've guessed...an hour later I was stuffing my face with cheese biscuits and chocolates and I wonder why I now look and feel like a beached whale.
Time to share another annual tradition...started way back in 2009...a look back in time at my favourite cards and projects from 2015 and I just couldn't choose one so apologies in advance for the big photo fest...

JANUARY

Canisters Vintage Style

Off On A Tangent

FEBRUARY

"12 Tags of 2015"

Love Is In The Air

MARCH
Spring Is In The Air

Bird Crazy or what

APRIL
Besotted or What

A Beautiful World

MAY
Woohoo

Time to "get pasted"again

Carte Postale

JUNE
Oh Boy 

Enough for one day...I'll be back tomorrow with the rest of the year
Hugs Kath xxx

Happy New Year...

A guid new year to ane an' a'

An' mony may ye see

An' during a' the years to come

O happy may ye be

An' may ye ne'er hae cause to mourn

To sigh or shed a tear

To ane and' a' baith great an' sma'

A hearty Guid New Year

2015 was a busy old crafting year and I'm looking forward to doing it all over again in 2016...it keeps me out of mischief most of the time and even more importantly out of the biscuit tin. A big thank you to all the lovely crafty folks who have joined me for workshops in the last 12 months...to my lovely bloggy buddies and teamies past and present for your love...friendship and support throughout the year and an extra special thank you to the folks who have kept me company here...I wish you all a very happy healthy and peaceful New Year..step boldly into 2016...follow your heart and may all your dreams come true.
Let's not forget all the people who have had a miserable Christmas and are facing a challenging time in 2016 especially those affected by the devastating floods and once again the spirit of all that is good in the UK shone through...well done to our wonderful emergency services and everyone who went above and beyond to help folks in need.

Stay safe if you're out and about

Lots of Love and special hugs

from Kath & Buddy xxx