September 2010

Well im back! Been a long time i know, but ive had commitments that have stopped me crafting for the past 2 years.

Many things have changed in my life! Ive been on a roller coaster of a ride. So many ups and downs. i guess we all have them from time to time eh?

Now im showing and breeding my english bulldogs and i now have French bulldogs. One is doing very well in the show ring for me. I have his two daughters that will hit the show ring this month with their first championship show in Derby.

Sadly this feb i lost my gorgeous Daisy May Duke. That was the biggest kick in the gut. Ive not only lost my best friend, ive also lost my little girl. Even now 7 months on i still cant except she has gone. But i do believe its Daisy that is sperring me on to get this blog up and running again, and she is the one wanting me to return to something i love. Art is in my blood. So a big Thank You to Daisy May Duke !!

My first project for this year will be a memory book for Daisy May Duke. I have many ideas for this book. Putting them together will be very difficult as just saying her name or looking at her photos reduces me to tears. But i have the support of family and friends. Once it is done i know i will be able to start moving on. She will be my inspiration throughout this journey that i have to continue in life.

If there are any themes, ideas or links you would like to share with me to take these first few steps backing to crafting then please say so. I shall also be doing a number of ATCs again!

Thanks to Jaqi for her lovely messages on Facebook. They means so much to me x

NOT FOR TRADE. SAMPLES ONLY

While the broadband has been off today i decided to make a few tags and some atcs as samples for Karen. All the stamps used here are in her shop for sale. Lucky for me i get to use them first to have a head start in producing the samples. Think you will agree Karen does have one of the very best selections on the internet. I know these are samples but i can produce any you would like from this section? Have a great day and please keep fingers crossed i stay connected :).

NOT FOR TRADE......SORRY!

I know ive been quiet for the past week but ive had my eldest daughter and her boyfriend over. Had to do a lot of catch up and shopping with my girl :). Also ive been baby sitting Arnie again. Have to take him back to the vets on Tuesday as he is limping on the leg he has operated on twice now. I can hear a click when he walks so i happen to think the plate has moved. Looks like another operation will be had on that poor knee. It will be the 3rd time if it does happen. I'm not happy about it at all.

Also ive been caring for Poppy my other bulldog. She went away to be mated and i have to make sure she is kept quiet and that she don't get into fights with the others. If she does she will absorb the pups. Bulldogs are the hardest breed to get pregnant, hence the reason why they cost thousands each to buy. So im being dogs body and nurse maid,lol.

I have managed to make some samples for Karen with all the new stamps she sent me. Got loads and loads to play with but not enough time to do them all justice.

Karen has some of the most amazing brands of stamps in her shop and they really are a joy to work for. All of the above samples are not for trade. Sorry about that, but if you see one or two that you like and would like me to create it for you as i swap i will happily do that. Just tell me what you like and i will get it in the post.

While playing i thought id make a tag with the Zetty stamps. God i love them so very much. Im working on the next batch. Never be put off by them as you can really create amazing pieces of art with them all.

Have a wonderful sunday?

Tina

xx

The Queens Dresser Draws

Ive been mega lucky to be the owner of 20 plus of these stamps. They are very collage and artistic, but so very easy to use. Since they were simple they needed very little added to them. Ive used the Big N Juciy ink pads for backgrounds. Ive either sponged the colours or used my speedroller to apply the inks. Then ive used a stamp from Scrapz from Paperbag Studios elements range. Its just lines but if you add embossing powder to the image you can make the stamp look like a distressed frame. Ive done that on afew of the atcs for effect. The eye stamp is from Scrapz as are the phrase stamps. I know thye are quick but i hope you agree very effective?

Arnie is getting better day by day. He is alike an old man hobbling about to walk, but he is walking which is amazing as he did have both legs done again. He will have his stitches looked at on friday. Some area's of the cuts have healed nicely, but he has some parts that have not, so the stiches to them will stay in longer.

Thank you everyone who has asked about him. Means a lot to me.

Hugs

Tina

xx

Im so very lucky indeed as i know have 9 sheets of the Paperbag Studios stamps from http://www.scrapz.co.uk/catalog/index.php All that range Karen sells are stunning and so very easy to use. You can stamp them as a single image or layer them. How simple is that? Also ive added 2 atcs using stamps from Karen The Queens dresser draws. The stamps i got were Titanic, a ticket and barbed wire. Thank you hun, they are gorgeous, and im enjoying them so very much indeed. Ive added cut outs from a collage sheet i have. Think they are quiet fitting. Ive got a parcel arriving of even more stamps from Karen. They are now up on her shop and i can tell you to get there fast as they will sell very fast. They are so very artsy and suitable for atcs, cards, altered art and tags. Cant wait to get my collection and start playing. Also while you have time please pop over to Karens blog http://bloggingourartout.blogspot.com/ and have a go at her challenge. The charms you could win are gorgeous. Just what every girl needs in her stash. The challenge is super easy as well. Anyway, enjoy my atcs and please tell me what you think? Im a bit fuzzed as im baby sitting the old boy again. Scroll down and you will see the update on my baby :( . Hugs to you all especially my best buddy Karen, :)

Thank you for all the messages and the emails. I thought id update you while i have 5 minutes to spare.

Arnie damaged his second crusher ligament in his what was then his good knee. So on Wednesday he was x-rayed and they found his spine to be perfect but the crusher damaged. Then they x-rayed his knee of the crusher ligament he had done nearly 4 weeks ago. Well, that showed the bone to have moved.

So on Wednesday at 11am he underwent 6 hours of repair surgery. They had to re-open his first leg that went wrong and place the bone back, then they started on the new knee. I was a nervous wreck all day.

Bulldogs dont take kindly to be putting out for so long. They can and do die. Its just too much for them and their hearts to take. Ive never prayed as hard as i did then. I just hoped it would be a simple op, but when i spoke to the assisting vet Michael that evening he said Arnie had both legs done and would be staying over night.

We collected him yesterday after we had a carpet laid. Yes we have beautiful wooden floors but Arnie has lost balance on them and slipped. So for 9 weeks we have to have the carpet down to help him walk better. He has to stay in the living room and i can open the side door to allow him out into the stable block for a wee and some fresh air.

I guess you are wondering how the hell he walks with 2 legs done? Well i thought the same since last time he hopped on 3. That bothered me, but believe it or not he can walk all all 4 legs. Ryk the vet told me that they cope better with both legs done than they do with one.

I tool some photos for you of Arnie so you can see the large scar and the smaller one. The smaller one is the repair to the bone.

Last night he didnt sleep well at all and wee'd on the carpet, but that cant be helped. Today is a new day and as the days goes by he will leg better. Least on the plus side he will never ever get crusher ligament damage. He now has 2 plates in the knee's.

I will try and do some atcs today while i leave him with Hubby. It will give me a break. I need a break.

Hugs

Tina

xx

Sorry that ive not blogged for a while. Its been so hot here on the south coast with temperatures every day of 24 degrees plus. I cant work in that heat so ive been doing other things. Also my poor Arnie is back in the vets. As you may remember he had a knee op over three weeks ago. Well last night he saw our cat and made a chase for it. Only three strides and he was down. So we made him a bed in the living room and he stayed there all night. he could barely walk today. The vet thinks he has twisted his spine as he has a tremour in his good leg. Hence the reason not to stand or walk. He has been dosed up with very strong pain killers and is sleeping over. The vet will x-ray his knees and spine tomorrow. If he needs operationing on they will have him there. So i wont be blogging for a while longer as i have to be nurse to him when he gets home along with the other animals. Bye bye for now xxxx