Thank You

A few people asked about the words of the poem on the "Best Friends" Layout.....

THANK YOU

Thank You May for all you've been to me throughout the years,
Thank You for your sympathy that wiped away my tears,
Thank You for the love you gave so like a gift of flowers,
Thank You for the friendly charm that brightened many hours,
Thank You for understanding all my hopes and fears,
For your wisdom and sincerity that chimed so in my ears,
Thank you for each kindly act and thoughts so deep and true,
It is the grandest thing in life to share the years with You.

Love Mum

Cavan Retreat

Yesterday I was lucky enough to go on the most relaxing scrapping retreat in Cavan. It was a last minute decision as I didn't get the apartment keys as expected. And what a welcome break it was.












The Silver Bear Centre was a fabulous location. Perfectly set up as a crafting environment, with great facilities for coffee breaks - and even the odd biscuit.












Elaine kindly drove us up, we scrapped the morning away and then chilled outside for lunch. It was so relaxing I didn't want to come home. The afternoon was filled with more scrapping time, and then sadly to home.

Thanks so much Annamarie for such a wonderful day - I really hope I can make the next one. Thanks also to all the other ladies for such great company. See you all soon. x

ScrapWest - Best Friends

This is my ScrapWest LO for Friday night. There have already been some lovely comments about this one - thanks ladies. Although I can't really take all the credit. As you know I'm putting together a book as a surprise for my Mums birthday in September. I asked my Gran to contribute and she wrote out this poem to be included in the book.

For those of you who don't know, this is my adopted Mum and my Gran is her step Mum. Her birth mother died when she was only four years old. Mum and Gran have shared a very special friendship spanning over 55 years. I'm so pleased Gran contributed to the book as she is such a special person and it will mean the world to my Mum.

Congratulations

This is a very special post to say CONGRATULATIONS to my dear sister, Jill and her toy boy Ger, who got engaged this morning. I'm thrilled for them, you couldn't get a better couple and I want to wish them both a long and happy future together!!!! Love you both x

2 LOs for Mums Birthday Book

It seems like forever since I did some scrapping that wasn't for a challenge. Of course with moving house imminent and my Mums birthday in September rapidly approaching I figured I'd better get moving on her surprise birthday book! Here are 2 LOs I completed for it.


"You Shine" was taken in my Grans house, and I guess it must have been when May was still a teenager. Believe it or not the dresser with the orange glass wear, and the picture on the wall are all still in exactly the same spot 50 years on. Only the wallpaper has changed ;-) I got these fab K & Co papers at Scrap-a-ganza and was delighted to get to use them for this photo. I just love the innocence and dream like quality of the image.


This is a tinted photo of May at a friends wedding. Given the 'dated' feel of the image I was surprised that it went so well with these funky Sassafras Lass papers (from The Scrapbook Store), but I was really pleased with the result.

I'm getting excited now about the book. I showed it to my Gran and her reaction was so positive that I can't wait to see Mums face. Also Gran contributed her own piece for the book which you can see on ScrapWest this Friday - please drop in and take a look, I love to hear your feedback!

ScrapWest & Wet, Wet, Wet

I need to catch up with posting up my Scrap West submissions! It was my turn to set the theme for 13th July and I chose ScrapWest as the theme! We were delighted when the fab Kirsty Wiseman agreed to take our photo at Crafteire and this was my take on it.


Last weeks theme was set by Jackie and was entitled "Wet, Wet, Wet". I had great fun with this using photos of Joe at various degrees of a dive on holidays in Malta a few years ago. I loved using the shell and the netting and tying all the buttons in place - it felt quite authentic somehow ;-)

Tagged

I was really chuffed that Carrie nominated me as a Rockin' Girl Blogger ;-)

The Rockin' Girl Blogger idea originated from Roberta Ferguson. It works like this ... you have to give her credit, put up the badge and finally, add 5 other rockin' girl bloggers to the list.
My chosen bloggers are:


Kate

Eva

Karen

Meg

Noelle

You girls rock!!!!!

Harry Potter Party

Last night we celebrated the launch of the final Harry Potter book at a costume party in Belvedere House. We had such fun! Loads of people made a great effort to dress up, including us.


We took loads of photos. Above is our group [L-R: Joe, Audrey, Eddie, Daithi, Rachel].













Choosing the costumes was so much fun, my talented friend Annette was a great help and is responsible the two above: My own slick witch look, and Eddies Dementor - which scared the living daylights out of a number of children.










It was brilliant having a like minded witch along! And she even let me play with her Unicorn!




Although she lost interest in us once she found the man of her dreams!




I thought Joe looked fabulous, rather like a distinguished Rincewind. And my brother Daithi had the Weaseley look to a tee!
















This last picture is especially for Aoife who kindly warned me about the Trolls in Belvedere when we visited Karen last weekend. She even donated some very brave cuddly toys to protect us! Thanks Aoife, you're the best.

Mid Summer Nights Dream

Yesterday evening we attended a magical performance of a Mid Summer Nights Dream in Belvedere House.




We picnicked on the lawn, in the rain, before the show (admittedly under a big umbrella, while sitting on a waterproof rug), but it was still great fun.



Thankfully the rain cleared up for the play to start. And the actors threw themselves into the performance with great gusto - even rolling around on the mucky ground ;-)

I was so excited about attending an outdoor performance of this play, and I really wasn't let down. Even the early rain enhanced the experience as the sweet smell of the damp grass lent an authentic feel to the play!





And the suns' light was so amazing as it glistened on the trees.





I'm so pleased I had the opportunity to see this. It really was magical.

Now I'm really looking forward next weeks Harry Potter fancy dress party!

Wednesday Stamper - Buttons

When I saw the most recent Wednesday Stamper challenge was Buttons, I immediately knew what I wanted to do. I love this fabulous old photo of my Grandad and his sister, and especially the quaint 'button up boots' she is wearing.

The images are printed on cardstock, torn and inked at the edges, and layered on fun vintage button patterned paper. The title and background script are stamped. Some coastal netting and a selection of AMM buttons are used to embellish.

ScrapWest - City LO

This weeks theme, set by Lainey, was the perfect opportunity to scrap these photos I took for my Mums book.

The pictures are of the street where she grew up in Cork.

The papers are the delicious K&Co papers which I picked up at Scrap-a-ganza.

Movement for Cheryl

Hello! I've been missing for a few days on a short break to west Cork. Amazingly the weather was beautiful there over the weekend. As a result I have a lot of catching up to do both blogging and crafting!

Here are two of my shots for Cheryls 'Movement' assignment this week. It was a tough assignment, but has really got me thinking and looking forward to trying out some new ideas.

The first shot is some gentlemen from the Irish Navy - they were berthed in West Cork for the weekend due to the major drugs haul - and I was lucky enough to catch them popping into town for a pint on Saturday night ;-)

There were a number of Herons trying to snaffle free fish from the hardworking fishermen. My second shot is of this rather cheeky chap coming into land.

I was thrilled to get home to find out my 'Frame the Shot' no. 2 was selected for images of the week, and my Up Close & Abstract 'Square Rainbow' was shortlisted for last week! It's so encouraging, and I'm enjoying photography so much more as a result of this course.

Up Close & Abstract

This was the brief for our homework for Cheryl this week.

I started out with no real ideas, other than trying the old food colouring in milk trick if I was stuck. Anyway tonight I cast my eye around the craft room, and hey presto!

I have to admit the ink palette images are so simple, I almost feel like its cheating ;-)

But I am so pleased with the impact of them, I had to run with them.



Finally, the Diamond Lines were really fun to shoot, as it was a challenge to get the lighting right for them. Although in fairness, even though it was a much harder shot to take, it just doesn't have the same impact as the rainbow palettes.

Frame the Shot - Cheryls Assignment

I'm so delighted with Cheryls course, I can't tell you!

Last week my dramatic shot of Joe got in 'Images of the Week', so I am over the moon about that. And I've just found out I've been shortlisted for 'Images of the Week' again this week!

My 'Frame the Shot' entries were taken at Leixlip Confey Train Station.

I decided to take a stroll, between showers, one evening last week to see if I could snap anything for the assignment. I had in mind some natural style image framed by trees, or some such. Of course, the final product is nothing of the sort.




Instead I took these rather industrial looking images of Confey Train Station from the canal. But aren't they striking?

I was lucky to catch the lovely soft evening light as it reflected in the water and also from the metal railings.







The second image has been shortlisted by Cheryl, and it is my favourite, although only just. Up close the wooden sidings on the canal in no. 1 are so textured and the colouring in them is fab, and no. 3 somehow manages to be dramatic and yet dreamy at once.