A Girl Who Loves Craft

Grungy frames

2009-07-09T19:59:00.004Z

In day 4 of the photoshop course we learned how to apply a grungy frame. I have always wanted to be able to do this ( and now I can ).... This is most impressive stuff. I applied it to a picture of K and her rabbit.

We are now on countdown to the kids finishing school for the summer. W and J finish a week today but K finishes on Monday. They are off for just over 6 weeks. I would of liked to have gone away for a week in these hols but we shall have to see what comes up.

Susan x

Day 3

2009-07-08T20:25:00.004Z

It looks like this photoshop course is going to be great. It is in small chunks which are easy enough to get your head around. Today we had to age a photo and then frame it and put tiny stars on so it was a mix of all the lessons. I like that as you only commit things to memory if you keep redoing them. Here is my pic for today. This is my friend and her daughter. I think it adds something special to the photo, makes it arty. I am just so pleased to be learning something with this programme.

I had an invitation to attend a bear show in Austria today. I am so honoured as it seems like you can only go by invitation. I believe the show is in October so I need to see if I can manage to make it there. I have always wanted to go to Austria as it looks so beautiful.

Susan x

A lesson with brushes

2009-07-07T17:48:00.004Z

Well again Ive learnt something new today. How to use brushes in photoshop. I didn't even know what it meant. Ive now learnt how to add brushes and change their colour and resize them. Wow. Here is the picture I used and the box around the cherish is a brush and then I added text to it. The possibilities are endless now. Im going to search around for some free brushes to use as apparently there are thousands.

Sweet J

Susan x

Photoshop Elements Course

2009-07-06T18:20:00.002Z

I found a free course on the internet a few weeks ago giving tutorials for photoshop. Its a lady in America who runs courses and she offered a free 2 week course on framing your photos. You can't sign up for it anymore because it has already started. I have learnt so much just from lesson one today that Im thrilled. We had to frame a photo and use word art on it so heres my attempt.

She runs loads of courses in all aspects of photoshop and photography. Take a look at www.JessicaSprague.com

Susan x

Bonfires at midnight

2009-07-05T21:50:00.004Z

Well we had a very eventful evening last night and not in the best way either. I was on my computer last night in the conservatory at about 9pm and I started to smell smoke. I just thought it was a bit strange to smell smoke that late. Well my son had been in the garden and he comes rushing in telling me there was a fire in next doors garden. We flew outside and tried to look. I have a 10 foot conifer hedge between next door and us so you can't see a lot but we could smell it. Now they have a tiny garden and then a path which runs along the hedge which is about 6 foot wide, we have the same our side. Now guess where they had the bonfire. Right the other side of the hedge at the side of the hedge. Well there were sparks flying over the hedge and up my house as they had built it up so high. I just couldn't believe it. They have only moved in last September and because of how our houses lie and this big hedge, I have never met them. But to have a bonfire at night within 10 feet of someone elses house is out of order in my books. I wouldn't of minded as much if they had the decency to come round first to tell us to shut our windows and to warn us but no. I was so worried it ruined my night. My little girl was asleep in the room just above where they had it so her room filled with smoke. It was awful. Then to make it worse time was ticking on and each time we saw it die down they built it right back up again. I was trying to force Hubby to go round but he was telling me to calm down all the time. In the end it got to 12.30 am and hubby shouted through the hedge asking them what time they were going to put it out as it was 12.30. Then 15 minutes later we heard them put a hose to it but the smoke then was just awful.
Now am I being hyposensitive or do you think this is what we should put up from our neighbours. I like to think of myself as a considerate neighbour who likes to keep to herself but be friendly so Im very upset someone has no thought for me or my family.

We have had a pretty nice afternoon today though. The kids wanted to go to the pictures today so we dropped them off and then hubby, K and I went round the shops and out for lunch.

I have put Freckle on ebay tonight for a starting bid of 99p.

Freckle

Click on his picture to go to his auction.

Susan x

Update

2009-07-03T23:52:00.002Z

Well after my last post my sis ended up in hospital with little J. She went in because he had screamed solidly for 8 hours give or take a few minutes for bottles. The hospital were excellent in that they saw her straight away and then kept them in to observe him. She was there all night and then all the next day. He was fully examined from head to toe and observed when he was screaming. They don't think its anything serious and have given sis a list of things she needs to do and they are at the end of a phone. She has come out today not knowing what exactly it is but more confident in the fact that someone is finally taking notice of her. So fingers crossed.

I was gutted today when Andy Murray lost his match. In the UK we don't have many people to pin your hopes on so its especially bad when they loose. I do think Andy is a superb player though and he will get there soon.

The heat has finally subsided a bit today after a really really heavy downpour and storms this morning. I understand the words tropical weather more now. We have had thunderstorms here almost every day for the past week.

Im not working this weekend and my Mum is having the kids for tea tomorrow so Im hoping hubby and I can go out and treat ourselves to tea tomorrow afternoon. We don't get to spend much time together as we pass like ships in the night. He works nights and I work days so we usually only spend an hour a day together and then with 3 kids you don't have much conversation that isn't listened into by little ears. Mind if we saw each other lots then we wouldn't have anything to talk about would we.

I have been working on a little bear this week. Im hoping to have him finished for Sunday, fingers crossed again.

Susan x

Heat Wave .....

2009-07-01T22:08:00.005Z

Oh my its so hot around here at the moment. I have been hoping for nice weather for so long and now its gone over the top. The humidity is awful and then we are having way too many storms and showers too. I shouldn't be moaning as I hate the winter with the cold and gloomy weather we have in the UK so I will shut up now.

My little baby nephew isn't very well at the moment. He is constantly screaming, I mean up to 10 to 12 hours a day. My sister is going out of her mind with it. She has had the health visitor, midwifes. 3 doctors and then a trip to A & E and all with no joy. They thought it was colic at first and then they thought it was silent reflux. Sis has changed his food 3 times and had him on gaviscone infant, infacol and other stuff too, none of which have helped much. She changed his bottles, then the teats and keeps him upright more which hasn't helped much either. She got in at the doctors again today and saw a lady doctor who fully checked him over and she wants him to have a days monitoring by a pediatritian. So fingers crossed she will get an appointment soon so that the baby can get treated.

Here he is a few weeks ago when he was asleep. We gently put him on his tummy for the picture.

And wasn't Andy Murray fantastic tonight. Mondays match was brilliant and had us on the edge of our seats but tonight he had a confident air about him. I can't wait till Friday for the next match.

Susan x

Sunday night

2009-06-28T22:14:00.004Z

Well its Sunday night so my weekend is almost over and what have I done. Not a lot....... I did a bit of spring cleaning the boys room yesterday. Oh boy, I found alsorts of interesting specimins of stuff under the beds and on the floor. I filled a big bin bag with rubbish. J seems to think the bin is behind his chest of draws where I found 15 empty crisp packets and numerous other pieces of rubbish. I just think teenage boys are from a different planet. It needs another sort out of their toy chests now but it looks 100% better than it was so it will have to be a work in progress.

Today we had our dinner at Mums. I love Mums Sunday dinner and we had a lovely time. We got home and I was taking pictures of a bear for ebay when I got hijacked by this little lady who covered my bear in a blanket and demanded I take her picture instead.

This is taken in the conservatory, which is a playroom come office.

This was taken on the trampeline. She was totally posing for both of these pictures.

Here is Chadwick, the bear I was photographing and I put him on ebay tonight. You can go to his auction by clicking on his picture.

Susan x

Another Technique

2009-06-26T21:58:00.005Z

I figured out how to put a frame on a picture tonight after lots of practise in elements. The frame is actually in the photo. Im not 100% sure what I did but if I practise some more I could even start creating my own stationary for my bears.

Heres Freckle, the picture that I practised on.

Susan x

What hit me?

2009-06-25T22:37:00.002Z

Oh my goodness, I was ambling nicely through the beginning of this week with a busy Monday, catching up on shopping, ironing, banking etc. I even went for a 5 km walk on Monday evening and I was fine, full of energy and life. Then in the middle of the night on Monday I was awoken with a feeling like Id been hit by a train. I had such bad stomach cramps I thought I might of been in labour ( in my dreams). I had the most ferocius stomach upset Ive ever had. Without going into detail I couldn't move for 2 days. The only thiong I can think is it must of been something I ate ( or drank ) as no-one else has been ill. I did eat 5 flap jacks on monday as I had the monthly munchies and then I had a sachet of some slimming tea which smelt and tasted vile. but I had to drink to see if it does what it says on the pack.
Still Im fine now so I should be thankful but I just couldn't believe how you can go from full of life to not being able to get your head off the pillow to being full of life again within a week.

So as you can gather I haven't done much else this week. Yet.....

Susan x

Fernando

2009-06-20T20:47:00.005Z

Fernando

Well here we have my lastest bear to be put on ebay. I love coloured bears but don't tend to make them very often. He is from my Hairy Hoodlam range. If you want to visit his auction just click on his picture.

Ive had a very lazy day today. Apart from a bit of shopping this morning I decided to have a lie down on the sofa this afternoon as I was so tired. I had a headache which Ive had alot this week and I felt a bit dizzy. I slept for about an hour which was a much needed recharge. Sometimes I get so tired that I have to have an afternoon nap. ( Do I sound old now )

Susan x

Wow look at me...

2009-06-19T13:05:00.004Z

Well I had a few cancellations today due to people being ill or changing their times so Ive had a few hours to play. Look at my header.. I can't believe Ive done that myself. Its not perfect, but Im thrilled Ive actually done something in this photoshop elements programme. Ive had to change my background as it didn't go with my lovely new banner but thats a small price to pay. The actual background to the banner I found on the internet ( hey Im not that clever yet). It was free here. They have loads of freebies so a bit of credit where its due.

Thats enough use of my brain today I think, Ive got a headache now.

p.s I don't know how to fit it in the frame its supposed to be in in this blogger but its better that I had before.

Susan x

Tootsies...

2009-06-18T22:54:00.005Z

I went to take some pictures of my new baby nephew on Monday. He is absolutly beautiful and I can share his tiny toes with you. I haven't had permission off my sis to put his full pic on here yet and I don't want to do it without asking so tootsies it is for now.

Well I have to say a big thankyou to Ruth for explaining photoshop elements resizing to me. I have never come across a programme that has had me going round the twist before. I have now been resizing like mad all night to get the hang of it so thanks Ruth. Ive also played around with saturation and come up with a cool effect that I like. So heres my little princess deep in conversation with her toy dog.

S x

More pics

2009-06-15T17:47:00.002Z

No Im not vain by putting a picture of me on here, I have an ulterior motive. By putting a photo on blogger it reduces it in size so I can resave it again. I am just not getting this whole resizing photos on elements. I did have a program called photo impact but I can't find the disc to put it on this computer and that used to resize pictures just great. Im finding photoshop elements to be so difficult in some ways. Also everytime I touch up a photo in either elements or picassa it becomes really bad quality. I think I am going to look for a course on photography and editing pics as its getting me down now. By the way this pic was taken by a photographer called Kirsty Wiseman who takes brilliant photos.

Now here is another one taken with my camera on automatic, ( which is mainly all I use ) but I have done no editing.

Susan x

Picture of a Show Table

2009-06-14T23:49:00.006Z

Here is a photo of my table at the fair last week. Its not very often I have this many bears together at once so I took a pic just to document it.

Heres a pic of Kaitlin that I took today too.

I went over to Liverpool today for a shopping trip. My friend and I can shop for England when we want to but today was possibly one of our best trips. We got the train from Hooton station as we don't ever like the idea of driving in Liverpool. Trains come every 15 mins even on a Sunday so that is fab. The main reason we were heading to Liverpool was for their Primark shop. It is enormous with 5 floors of clothes for all the family and household items too. I spent £50 and I swear the amount I bought anywhere else would of cost double or more. It is so cheap. We have to really watch the pennies now, ( like everyone else in this country with the resession ) so you can get a real sense of pleasure when you spend a little on such a lot. We had our lunch by the Albert Dock and then afternoon tea in the Beatles Hotel. Serious shoppers need at least 2 refreshment breaks you know.......... So a day well spent.

Susan x

Sidney is on ebay

2009-06-13T22:40:00.009Z

I placed Sidney on ebay today. Click on his picture to go to his auction.

I have also been playing in photoshop elements again as Im determined to get to grips with it. Ive now found I can do some basic editing quite easily as they have a quick fix section, just for me.......he he...

So a few more pics.

I took these at Chester Zoo in the new Butterfly House. Its truly amazing how close you could see these wonderful butterflies.

Susan

Fabulous Weekend in Stratford

2009-06-10T21:44:00.006Z

If you have never been there you want to put Stratford Upon Avon on your list of places to visit in your lifetime as its fabulous. Its hard to explain but its a small town with such a laid back pace and beautiful scenery and fabulous shops. We love it. The weekend was great. It rained all day on Saturday but it didn't really matter as we browsed round the shops and sampled the wares of various pubs too. We found a lovely chineese restaurant which had an all you could eat buffet for dinner in the evening which was lush.

The main reason for us going to Stratford was for the Teddy Bear Artist Event on the Sunday. It is so well orgainised and such a welcoming fair, everybody was in really good spirits. It is run by Samantha Potter and her family and they don't make any profit because they donate all the proceeds to the British Heart Foundation. I did well with my bears and have even had lots of interest since I returned home too. I will definatly be booking for next year too.

I have been doing more messing about in photoshop elements over the last few days and here are a few pics from our holiday in Torquay.

The kids on the beach.

Susan x

2009-06-05T22:23:00.002Z

Im packing all my things now for the bear fair at Stratford at on Sunday. Ive made quite a few new bears. With everything that has gone on over the past few weeks I will be glad of a weekend away. We are heading there early in the morning so we can spend as much time as possible in Stratford tomorrow. My mother in law is coming over to look after the kids and is staying the night here. So Ive been sprucing the house as much as possible for her to come.
Ive been for a 5km walk tonight with a friend of mine. We walked up a huge hill and then back again. It took an hour there and back and my legs are killing me now..... I am going to try to do it 3 times a week though and try to get fit.
If anyone is going to Stratford at the weekend then please come over and say hi. I know quite a few people did come over at Kensington which was nice.

Susan x

2009-05-31T00:02:00.003Z

Here is the same pic using the Picassa 3 software. Its a nice and easy software but doesn't have alot of features. But is less more?

Susan

Photoshop Elements

2009-05-30T23:14:00.005Z

I have had this program for almost 2 years and have never used it. I just couldn't get my head around it at all. Anyway I bought a book (more like an encyclopedia) to teach me how to use it. It cost half the price of the program but I figure it will be worth it if I can use it on my photos. I love taking pictures and currently I edit them in a free program I found called Picassa 3 which has been great but I now want to do a bit more. I have been playing tonight and found a photo I hated. It was awful of me, I had a really shiny face ( as you do when all your makeup comes off) so I wanted to disguise this. This is what I di with it.

This is way better than the original and its fun. The biggest thing I wanted to learn was how to resize the photos. It hasn't sunk in though.....

Susan x

It never rains but it pours....

2009-05-25T21:41:00.010Z

I seem to have had a lot happen in the past 6 mths and the past few weeks have really been the icing on the cake.

Firstly my Mum had a fall 2 weeks ago in my garden and she broke her hip. It was so awful and it has really opened my eyes to how the NHS is run. We had to call an ambulance for Mum as she couldn't even get up when she fell. No-one was allowed to go with her as the hospital was on shut down. ( This means no visitors are allowed as they have an infection which they are trying to contain) Poor Mum, she was frightened on her own. This continued for 2 days when we were finally allowed in to see her. They didn't operate on her for 2 days and she had been in so much pain. I am very dissapointed with alot of the care my Mum has received. I am not saying its the fault of the nurses or doctors as most of them are lovely and I mean truly lovely, but the odd few have been awful. I think its so sad that one more wonderful service we had is going down due to cost cutting and running it like a business.

My little sister has had a little baby boy in the meantime. He was born on Thursday 21st May. She has called him Jamie Frank Peers. He is just so cute and tiny too. Im hoping to take some nice pics of him soon.

Kaitlin woke up with a rash today. Chicken Pox has been going round her play school so I have been really worried it might be that. It hasn't turned into spots just a rash on her tummy and back and she has been full of beans today so it might be something else. Here hoping anyway.

One of my hobbies is photography ( Im only just starting ) and I promised my friend I would take some pictures for her at the weekend. Its great practise for me. Im considering taking it further as I love it. Heres a few pics of her.

And heres my daughter with my friends daughter.

How cute are they..

So heres hoping things calm down a bit for a few weeks.

Susan X

14 years ago today....

2009-05-08T23:13:00.003Z

Saturday, I had my first child. Wow doesn't that make me feel old. I can remember every minute of the day too. It was Chester Races and I went into labour at 4pm in the afternoon and we needed to get to the other side of Chester to the hospital. Needless to say we made it and I ended up having Will at 10pm in the evening. I don't feel a minute older than I was that day although my body certainly looks it.

On the diet front I have lost 5 Ibs this week. Hooray...... Ive descovered green tea. Apparently its a great antioxident and is well known to help you loose weight. ( I don't know how true it is but I will believe anything).I have also started excersising so I think that has helped. I have doubled the amount of water Ive been drinking and my skin feels alot better. I have been suffering from spots on my face for a while and these have got alot better. So Im getting nearer to the stone mark now.

Its panic mode for the bears. I have 4 weeks till the fair now and I haven't actually sewn any. I have cut a few out though .....

Susan x

May Day

2009-05-01T13:26:00.003Z

This year is flying by isn't it. It was only Christmas 5 minutes ago and now we are looking towards the summer. I really want to buy some nice plants this weekend and tidy up the garden. I love flowers and always wish Id got more plants when the summer gets here so Im going to make an effort.

Im starting to get the conservatory / office / playroom sorted now. My cupboards from ikea are fab and have sorted all of the toys out. Ive filled alot of paperwork away and its mainly the desk and bookcase left to do now.

I am going to be having a table at the teddy bear event in Stratford in June, so Im now going to get all fluffy cutting out this weekend. Ive decided to make a few more smaller bears for this fair and more Pandas and try to have a theme.

We went to Torquay and had a brilliant time. The hotel where we stopped was part of a group called the Torquay leisure Resort and I would recommend it to anyone. There was soooo much for the kids to do they had a whale of a time. The food was lovely and because we were half board we didn't need to spend much on food.
On the way home we stayed at the Alton Towers hotel. We got a great deal and paid less than half price. This was fabulous. Really swish. If you stay at the hotel you get to go into the theme park 1 hour before it opens which is worth its weight in gold. The boys ran round going on all the big rides before 10am so there was no queuing. So Id really recommend the hotel just for that...

Its along time since we had a holiday in this country and I for one will definatly be doing it again later in the year.

I put weight on in Torquay which was a bummer. Only 4Ibs but Ive been trying ever since to shift it again so I ended up getting back to just 3 IBs lost in total. Now Im only a pound of where I was so its getting there. 8IBs down now. How hard is it to loose weight though.... I want to aim for another 7 Ibs this month to take me to the next stone down.

S x

Catch Up

2009-04-10T22:47:00.004Z

I don't seem to have blogged lately as Ive been busy so its catch up time tonight. Well I lost another 3 Ibs and then this week I put 2 IBs on. So we are up to 7 IBs lost now. I could pinch myself as I know what Ive done. Ive eaten chocolate till it came out of my ears and we haven't reached Easter yet.. I can only put it down to that particular time in each month when I eat anything and everything sweet in sight. So hands slapped and back to it next week.

We have booked to go away for a few days. We have found a cool looking hotel in Torquay as we think going abroad at the moment is too expensive. When you have 2 boys who are now classed as adults on a plane its a bit much. I used to go to Torquay when I was growing up with my Mum and Dad and I loved it and this country has so many nice places to visit. It is supposed to be warmer than here and the hotel has loads for kids so if anything it will be a nice break. Last year I only took 3 days off work so I think I need it. When you are self employed you don't tend to take many hols as you don't get paid whilst your off....

Oh Ive been to ikea twice now as I like the cupboard I bought the first time so much I went back for another. Phil has put them up and they are now filled with toys. How can a 3 year old have so many toys. By the way I love ikea.

Saturday nights have just got better now. Robin Hood has started again which I love and Primeval is back on too. There is a girl in that who has the most gorgeous hair. Shes called Abbey in the show and the hair style is very short, very white and elfin like. There are only a tiny amount of people who could carry this kind of style off and I wish one was me as I would love it. Anyway who could want to go out now on a Saturday......

I have my next bear fair coming up in June. Its called the Teddy Bear Artist Event and its in Stratford upon Avon. Im very concious I need to make some new creations but Ive been having a long look at my style and I want to concentrate more on some smaller bears.

S x

6 Ibs down....

2009-03-28T00:14:00.002Z

At last Ive managed to loose a bit of weight. In just over a fortnight Ive lost 6Ibs. Im so chuffed. I know its not much and I can't even tell really but it has made my week actually loosing something. I want to loose 3 stone if I can by Christmas so fingers crossed. Watch this space. Ive only cut out the fatty food, chocolate ( bar the dairy milk I had at lunchtime ) and crisps ets. Ive eaten more at meal times and then not inbetween and Ive made proper food, from scratch...

My best friend and I went to warrington tonight to go to ikea. I adore that shop and wish we had one nearer. I have come back with a storage cupboard thingy to put Kaitlins toys in and a picture for my hall and a new dustpan and brush. I could buy the whole shop if I had the money,
although its very reasonable anyway..

I am hoping to have a feature in an American magazine soon. Teddy Bear Review wrote to me to ask if Id like to go in a feature they were writing and they asked for some photos too. I hope I got everything to them on time. Im thrilled about it though.

Our clocks go forward this weekend. Its already getting to about 6.30pm before it goes dark so from Sunday it will be at least 7.30pm Wey Hey .... I can't wait for summer...

S x