It's Friday...with a special message!

Hello Everyone

As you know my mum has promised you that i would do a blog post to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers.

The news was a big shock at first but i am not thinking about the negatives and only focusing on the positives. My family has been helping me getting through it, like going to the harry potter studios and helping me bake cakes for the classes.  My mum and I have been watching all the films to get ready to go to the studios, well i have and mum has been sleeping through them.

Also i would like to say thank you for all the comments, cards and gifts i have received with all the kind words. A special thanks to Anne (Nana Anne) for the lovely pictures and videos you have sent me of Australia and the emus.

I will be going to the hospital to meet the surgeons that will be doing the operation but i thought it would be better not knowing all the details because it would only worry me more.

Thanks again for the kind words and prayers from all of you.

Elliott x

(No Elliotts' were influenced in the writing of this blog post!)

Handmade Lovelies!

Hello friends

Over the past week or so Elliott and I have been receiving the most beautiful 

cards and today I thought I would share some of them with you.

(Apologies if I haven't featured yours today - I have some on display at home and some at the studio

so I'm greeted with loveliness in both places!   I intend to feature them all over the next little while).

Carole has created this masterpiece, she said that at first she was going to go 

with butterflies but then remembered Elliott and I are currently involved with all things Harry Potter!

A superb card - thank you so much Carole.

I would quite like one of those magic wands....

Janice created this pink beauty with a stunning butterfly - this one matches my bedroom perfectly!

Thank you Janice.

 Isabel created a lovely tag card with a perfect sentiment.

 And a very sweet message inside.  Thank you Isabel.

Thank you so much for your kindness.  And also thanks to all of those who have emailed and 

left comments, sent flowers - I know I've said it before but I cannot stress it enough - 

it truly really undoubtedly helps at this difficult time.

Take care dear friends.

Winner!

Hello friends

No blog post yesterday but making up for it today by announcing the winner of 

Ornate Squares

Very blurred action shot of Bella!  

 Wrestled the winning piece of paper from her and it was relatively unscathed!

The winner is....

SUE (aka Stitch-a-Greeting Sue)

Congratulations - drop me an email with your address and I will get the dies sent out to you.

The Harry Potter film viewing is going to plan - Elliott has drawn up a schedule 

that we have to adhere to otherwise we will not fit them all in before next Tuesday!

Now for something crafty - revisiting previous projects at the moment.

How about a chalk board using Nested Tea Cups to decorate it.

I often look around bargain stores, 99p, Poundland and it amazing what items you can pick 

up to alter - this was a children's chalk board that I just added a few die cuts, lace and twine.

Elliott hasn't forgotten about his blog post...definitely on its way soon.

Take care friends.

Reorganising our focus...

Hello friends

With everything that is going on here you might think

smiles are few and far between...simply not true! 

We have, as I like to call it, 'reorganised our focus'.
Leading up to Elliott's surgery we are planning some fun events.
First thing...Harry Potter.
I've booked tickets for Elliott and I to visit the Harry Potter Studios in London next week.
It will be a day after visiting the hospital so a nice treat to look forward to.

I found out you can take as many photos as you like at the studio - that will be a long blog post!

In readiness for this day out we are going to watch the entire film series on DVD.
We might be a bit goggle eyed by the time we get there!

We found out last week that following surgery, Elliott will require 6 weeks of radiotherapy,
5 days a week at The Royal Marsden Hospital.  To prepare for that we have
found wonderful iPad apps including Scrabble, Monopoly and more -
so thankful for modern technology!

How about something crafty now..
I'm going to share some older projects for those who may have not seen them
(apologies to those who caught them first time around).
A scrapbook layout I designed for Scrapbook Magazine featuring Daisy Flower Topper and Foliage.

Who says you can't have a flowery scrapbook page with boys!
Special thanks for all the emails too, I'm replying to each one but I'm a little behind.
Take care my special friends.

Cake and Butterflies

Hello friends

Here it is...little drum-roll please...

the cake that Elliott made!

Victoria sponge with fresh cream and homemade blackcurrant and apple jam 

(the jam was made by my mum, Elliott hasn't quite stretched to jam making just yet!)

I can also confirm that the taste test went well and everyone agreed it was delicious.

So, Elliott you have now been awarded the job of Class Cake Maker!

Talking of the class, what a perfect day following a difficult week.

It was the butterfly frame class and here are some of the ladies with their projects -

I love that all the creations are different.

Paula and Suzanne.

I met Paula at a photography class last year - she's such a lovely lady - we also have matching dogs...
(I must tell you more about this at some point!)

Paula brought along her very nice friend Suzanne.

 Sue (I've been so looking forward to meeting Sue, we've been emailing for quite some time - 

she lives in Yorkshire!) She happened to be travelling and I made sure 

I had a class arranged for when she was in Kent.

 Mary (thank you Mary for my wishing stone, I'm going to be keeping that close by).

Valerie finished off her frame at home and sent through a picture of the finished item.

I think the Bitty Blossoms work so well between the Heart Squares.

 As you can see a stunning collection of butterfly frames featuring so many dies including Les Papillions One and Two, Scalloped Squares, Vintage Lace Motifs, Lace Doily Motifs and more.

Also, as the class was about to start I received a special delivery...

flowers from Nikki - so incredibly kind and thoughtful - please stop by Nikki's blog - 

her creations are beautiful.  She is also trying out for design teams at the moment so I have 

everything crossed for her.

I am running the Butterfly Frame class again on Sunday 5 May and there is one place left.

Enjoy your Sunday friends...did you get the sunshine yesterday?

What do you think - can we really begin to think Spring is here??

Take care.

While the cat is away...

Hello friends

Another day of such wonderful comments and emails yesterday, you are all so supportive and 

it truly mean a great deal.

As mentioned, Elliott is drafting his own blog post - that will be coming along soon.

Talking of Elliott...here is he yesterday baking a cake for today's class!

I had to go up to my London job yesterday so I was running out of time.  

He offered to make a cake with the help of my Mum.

I will post a picture of the finished cake tomorrow and will let you know the taste verdict!

Also while I was at work someone had a bath...

 I wouldn't say she likes baths but she is well behaved in the bubbles.

This is in readiness for the special event of picking out a winner for yesterday's Ornate Squares!

That will be middle of next week.

Wishing you all a brilliant weekend - thank you for sharing your weekend details with me,

some really interesting things going on - enjoy! 

Take care.