Out With The Old and In With The New

As the year draws to a close I can look back on some wonderful times - I have to say 2012 has been very good to me, unlike some of my friends who have lost loved ones.

So here is my 2012 in layouts

In January I felt the pang of Gracia returning to Uni, after such a lovely Christmas together it was, as Denise predicted, much harder to let her go this time.



February saw the wonderful news that Gracia had come 1st out of 360 in her genetics exam



and as a result she was offered a transfer from Biomedical Science to Medicine for Sept 2012



In March I made my final page for Miss Smith's Just One Sketch class and have to say that loved almost every page I made for this and my favourite one was the one without any photo.



I taught two classes at ATDML retreat and made new friends and cemented old friendships.

• 25 dresses
• 11 pairs of trousers
• 42 t-shirts
• 14 jumpers
• 12 hoodies
• 2 skirts
• 7 pairs of shorts
• 13 assorted pieces of night wear
• 1 lab coat
• underwear, tights, bedding and towels!

In July I shared the love I have for these two using a photograph from 10 years ago but I think she would still sit on his lap now if given the chance!



At the August crop we took a photograph of our hands (mine Debs & Denise) holding onto each other to show solidarity, to send to Deb and it could not have come at a more opportune time.



September came around all too soon and Gracia returned to Newcastle to start her 5 year course.



I celebrated how quirky and funny our girl is in October.  She has no qualms about how silly she looks in public just as long as it makes us laugh.



I taught another class in November for ATDML and the layouts showed the differences between how Gracia and I like to play



compared with how Josh and David like to play.



In December I taught at my own crop and at Ann's crop.

A piece of home decor for mine




and a layout showing just how compliant my littlest girl is for Ann's.



So another year has flown by and the next is almost upon us.  I wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful 2013 and hope it brings you all you wish for yourselves.

Reasons to be cheerful:

1.  New friends and old.

2. We have sailed through 2012 with very little upset or ill health (disregarding David's constant migraines).

3.  We are lucky to have a family to love and who love us.

Christmas Wishes

From our house to yours - A very Merry Christmas and hoping that 2013 brings you everything you would wish for, for yourselves. 


 Reason to be cheerful:-

 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6

Not getting left behind for once!

Well, I am so glad that I went with the decision to do JYC2012 and to keep it simple.This has given me a little something to do every day, even if it is only writing the journaling on a scrap of paper, and enabled me to keep up.  I can't say the same for getting them on my blog daily but I am off work for the next 10 days so will try harder, I promise.

So here we have it (with apologies for the number of photos) - Days 5 to 18 not always in the order of Shimelle's prompts but recording our build up to Christmas 2012. 

Count me in!

I enjoyed Kirsty's last class, Take one Sketch,  so much that as soon as I saw this I thought 'Count Me In' I do like a bit of tale telling! Such a bargain at only £6.00 too.

Reason to be cheerful:

The fabulous Kirsty has designed another class and I can't wait to start - loving that I have something really exciting to look forward to after Christmas.

Speechless Sunday

These girls totally rock x


Reason to be cheerful:-

One brilliant, mega, super duper, fantastic, amazing time had by all yesterday!  Thank you so much Enfield Scrapmates xxx

The Great Christmas Crop Extravaganza

This is just a very quick post to give you a little glimpse of the wonderful time we had on Saturday.  It was so lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves so much. 

First of all a very big thank you to Denise who despite being awol in Germany had designed a beautiful make and take for us to do.




Secondly a huge thank you to Jane who made the lunch which included homemade smoked mackerel pate, home made chicken liver pate and gorgeous home made coleslaw amongst other delicacies





We started the day with the Make and Take and then Ann taught a two page class. 


 Then it was time for the aforementioned delicious lunch.

After lunch we tackled my project which was a piece of Christmas home decor.

 So there we have it - a very busy and productive day was enjoyed by everyone.

Reasons to be cheerful:-

1.  Denise and Jane who made my day so much easier.

2.  Ann and Karen for their lovely classes.

3.  All the lovely ladies who I got to spend the day with.