Bow Fest. . . . . . . .

Good morning chaps and chapesses. Hope you are all well.

I've had a few days away in the Cayman Islands registering my new hairdryer for tax purposes. I'm going to offer to rent it to Lewis so that I can claim its for business use........

Now, today its another sample I made for John's last shows and is another that is made with a Christmas stamp that isn't a Christmas card, showing they're not just a one trick pony.

Ingredients

White and purple card

Presscut Square dies

Crafts Too Fancy Lattice embossing folder

John Next Door Build a Wreath stamp set (Bow)

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements stamp set (Sentiment)

Memento Dewdrop Grape Jelly ink

Teeny purple bling

This could do for a birthday card.

Well, I went for my sleep test results and came home with a bloomin CPAP machine. I am borderline for having to use it and thought I was being suffocated when they got me to try it at the hospital but I said I would try and get used to it gradually during the day before even attempting to sleep with the thing.

If I thought the sleep test equipment was bad, the mask and tubing makes me look like the love child of Hannibal Lecter and Nellie the Elephant.

Once again, I think Mr D was reminded of what attracted him to me lol!!!

Mr Lockwood gave me a stern talking to about making sure I give it a fair go so I have promised I will. If all else fails, I can use it to top up the air in my tyres.

As most of my breath holding was whilst on my back, I am trying to keep off my back by having plastic air freshener tops stuffed down the back of my vest (I tell you, if the aliens ever landed in this house..............) but it is working at keeping me from rolling onto my back.

After popping those interesting images in your head, I shall leave it there lol!!  I'm off to have a nice chianti and some fava beans for breakfast.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps............hope you have all joined the John Lockwood fan page on Facebook. Its an homage to our favourite cheeky chappy, the face of Bassetts and Pepsi.

Live For Today . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Is it wet where you are? I think our moment of Summer was last week.

Another dear blog chum has had some sad news so to all of you that are having to cope with sadness, I send virtual hugs.

It's a bit of a quicky today as I have my Cardioversion follow up appointment with the Cardiologist today. Its been 3 months now since I had it, so I'm guessing he may take me off my antiarrhythmic tablet. Double edged sword as without it, the A/Fib may return (quite a high chance) but its a nasty drug and he doesn't like someone of my tender years being on it for longer than 6-12 months. I've done 6 months so we shall see what he says.

Also got a mammogram on Saturday. Never had one before but they have dropped the age you start having them so I've had an appointment. Heard varying degrees of horror stories about them (being wedged between house bricks and bruising to name two lol!!!) so I'm really looking forward to it!!!

Now, this is another one of the samples I made for John's shows at the end of last year (there are a few more to come).

Ingredients

White, sky blue and cobalt card

SW Indian Ocean Background die (centre one from set)

SW Mauritius die (centre one)

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements stamp set (leaves and sentiment)

Memento Dew Drop inks

Thin white ribbon

Pearlage

A simple looking card that I think you could get away with for a fella.

According to Chef Lockwood, after he finished laughing at my pate pebbledashing, I should try adding some cream next time to stop it turning solid. Not sure when or if there will be a next time. Maybe I should leave it to folk who know what they are doing lol!!!

Anyhoo, I'm offski. Keep everything crossed for me being manhandled over the next few days. . . . . . . now, if Daniel Craig were doing the examinations. . . . . . . . . 

TTFN

Ang x

When in Doubt . . . . . . .

Good morning mon petit pois. Hope your fettles are fine?

A little behind (if only, lol!!!) again as I have had a good few days and when I'm feeling funky, I like to gadd about, not manic gadding but gadding nonetheless. 

Thank you, as always for your concern. I have a cardiology consultant appointment at the end of the month.

Have found out this week through a recent blood test that my haemoglobin has dropped further so I am slightly anaemic. This may be causing some of my issues. So if anyone has any good chicken liver recipes, where they don't actually smell or taste like liver, I'd be very grateful.

Been on a microwave hunt too, which yielded a very nice Breville combi from Tesco with £25 off, hurrah!!!

I promise, I will catch up visiting over the next day or so to see what those who blog have been up to.

Now, I was rooting through my folders and realised there were some cards I hadn't shown from last Autumn. They were samples I made for John's shows in October, I think. I'm guessing they got forgotten as I had my first Cardioversion at the beginning of November. They were showcasing John's stamps and dies from the Indian Ocean Collection.

Ingredients

White, sky blue and cobalt card

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements sentiment

SW Indian Ocean Background die set

CE Jacobean Floral embossing folder

Memento Dew Drop Nautical Blue ink

Navy and white ribbons

Pearlage

I think you could get away with this for a male, even with the pearlage.

Wendy, I don't mind the odd food item from Lidl. They have a nice bakery, good continental meat selection and we get our cheese from there. Also, their flowers are very good value.

Maria, hope it won't be too long before you find a new job but enjoy a bit of a break first.

Elaine, I've told you, I'll drive the removal van, you make the tea.

Jackie, some exciting incidents in the race. Felt sorry for poor Max after his amazing start.

Maureen, you'll have to let me know how to say "bog off" in Geordie. Is it as simple as "wai eye bog off" lol??? Glad you are up and about without the sedan chair and winch.

Nursey Harrop, there are easier ways to get down the stairs. Have you thought of a Stannah?

Darnell, you make me blush lol!!! 

Sue, glad not to see any BBC News bulletins from Doncaster lol!!!

Well, time for me to go and put my feet up as made mushroom soup and some feta and sundried tomato scones today, so I'm flagging a bit.

Hopefully meeting Mr Lockwood for breakfast today and then have a flower arrangement to do for our friends funeral on Friday (the lovely chap who passed away a month ago).

Enjoy the rest of your week.

TTFN

Ang x

P.s. . . . . . . . a couple of gratuitous wisteria shots to see if June and Maureen are awake (and hopefully another nice memory for Jan too).

Lilac Doodles . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is well, warm and happy.

A sunny and breezy day expected so I shall hopefully have some washing out later. The last of the chillies and tomatoes have been plucked from their plants so I guess its really Autumn now.

Bizarrely, I mentioned our old friend Flash on my last visit. He has been fairly quiet of late, or I have missed any mularky but right on cue, he does something strange.

I think it must be Autumn as he appeared outside on Sunday morning sporting a rather fetching pair of burgundy tartan pyjamas (guessing it was the McFlash clan colours???). He took in a deep draught of the fresh morning air, with hands on hips, went back inside for about 5 seconds and re-emerged with what looked like a fish (mackerel sized) dangling between his finger and thumb which he then deposited in his wheely bin.

It takes allsorts eh?

Now, today I have another card from John's shows last week, using the Doodle Rose Wreath die.

Ingredients

Ivory, black, wisteria and amethyst Foundation card

Sue Wilson Doodle Rose Wreath die

CE Swirling Hearts embossing folder

John Lockwood Fern Frame Elements sentiment

Mei Flower black satin ribbon

Pearlage

I made the pattern shape by cutting a square out of the amethyst card and then cutting each corner of the square with part of the Doodle Rose Wreath. I then backed it with ivory card and cut out the extra ivory bits in the corners with the centre die from the set.

Suzzie, I hadn't got this die on my radar until John gave it to me but it is more versatile than you would first think.

I love a bit of lilac/purple action and I know that there's a few of you ladies do too.

Thank you again for your best wishes. The virus hasn't emerged as anything like a cough or sickness etc, just obviously lurked beneath and did its deed on the heart.

Marion, apparantly is very common and affects folk differently so I hope you don't suffer too much with yours. 

Jacquie, always try and keep my chin up but these days its a choice of which one (chin) lol!!!

Jan from Northampton, congratulations on the arrival of your new Granddaughter. . . . . you'll need those baby sets now lol, but I bet there's some beautiful lace that's been made for an outfit?

Anyhoo, that's me for today. I'm scheduling and my dumplings need attention . . . . . .stew, ladies, stew lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Indian Ocean. . . . . Wish I Was There

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is ok but if not, here's hoping all will be well for you soon.

Now, I was lucky to have some of my samples shown on John's shows this week and this was one of them. These background dies are gorgeous. With this one, I just simply layered them all at different levels. Simple but hopefully effective.

Ingredients

Cream and plum Foundation card

Sue Wilson Indian Ocean Background dies

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements stamps (sentiment)

Cream and plum ribbon 

Memento Dewdrop Sweet Plum ink

Pearlage

Hope you got to see and enjoy the shows. John is back on Hochanda again next week. Such a busy boy!

Sorry this is a short post but I am having my Cardioversion treatment today. The hospital rang a couple of days ago and offered me a cancellation or I would be on Decembers list. 

With the way I have been recently, I had to say yes, and although I need it to be done, I confess to being terrified.

So, I don't know how long I'm going to be out of blog, or any other action but hopefully I'll be back here and visiting you all soon.

Thank you so much for your kind concern and encouragement during the last few months and for all your visits and comments during the last 3 years. 

Hopefully, the Cardioversion is successful and I can get back to feeling myself again (Maureen, don't go there Lol!!!)

Keep everything crossed guys.

TTFN

Ang x

A Paddle in Mauritius . . . . . . .

Good morning lads and lasses. Hope all is well with you and yours?

I haven't had a good week and this past few couple of days have been decidedly bad. I don't think I had shaken off the virus and it has had its wicked way with me again. 

Anyhoo, regarding the post title, sadly I'm not on a beach in the Indian Ocean, I've just made a few samples to help John out for his One Day Special shows on Hochanda, starting tonight at 8pm and continuing on Wednesday at 9am,12, 4 and 7pm.

Now, the Mauritius is a very pretty die set and I had fun using it.

Ingredients

Bright white and cobalt Foundation card

Sue Wilson Mauritius die set

John Lockwood Fern Frames Elements stamps

Pearlage

I thought about how I could use the main die differently and came up with the idea of using it to go around the edge of a piece of card so it almost looks like the die cut is inside out (if that makes sense lol?) I then used the next die in to cut the indented areas around the edge (again, if that makes sense lol?)

I should have taken a photo at the prep stage but I'm happy to do that and post next time if I have confused you all lol!!!

I hope that you all get to see John's shows as I'm sure that he has some treats and techniques in store.

I have enjoyed having a reason to get in the craft room and play and take my mind off some of the rougher bits of the last few days.

I'm trying to get round to visiting everyone's blogs but please forgive me if I fall behind again at the moment.

Thank you for visiting and I'll show the rest of my samples over the coming days.

Take care all.

TTFN

Ang x