CONGRATULATIONS WILLIAM AND KATE/CATHERINE-wishing nothing but the best for you two!

What a beautiful dress and lovely occasion. Hers's hoping they have a wonderful life together, but if not, no one can take away the day!!!

My prince may have turned into a frog but it still was a great day and.........notice any similarities?!!!!!!!!! Lace, veil, train uniform and Aston............well a bit of a stretch of the imagination.

Loved the choice of flowers white and green- my bouquet would have been white, but it was supposed to be a copy of my Mother's posy. My tiara was wax orange blossoms borrowed from my Durham college bedder and I still prefer it to diamonds.  Would have had sleeves like Kate's but the shop only did this dress with spanish style and they did look lovely on the day.

Ah, nostalgia, as I said no-one can take away the day......

Premature celebrations............

As usual the bitty bits , labelling etc.etc.etc. took longer than I thought.......................midnight was the actual finishing time for the penultimate /PPFmodule.................just praying alarm will get me up in time to drive it to college for the early hand in (and early morning traffic!). then..............................on to the last module of my degree (hand in two and a half weeks time) and the end of the course..... after six years part-time study............

PPF finished and somehow in the Bag/Box/File..........!!!!!!!!

It has taken all Easter and some, due to technical hitches, but got there in the end!!!

Just the labelling left to do..............................I think?!!!!............................................

3 visits to P.C. World and 2 printers later...............

Finally able to print again! My much beloved Canon MP 470 is on its last legs after many years of over use for my degree. Thoiught it would be a simple job to get a newer version of the same thing.....

IT is never that easy!!!! Spent over 2 evenings on the internet, two visits to P.C. world, one especially to see the Canon rep, all to no avail.  The amazing high tech printers DON'T come with detailed information to allow you to find out, before buying, what they can do! Also PC World only has a fraction of their stock plugged in and full of ink.....and guess what.?...they are some of the most expensive. Although the ill informed so called experts were all lovely and did their best I still ended up  having to race back to the shop last night , just before closing to swop the one I was told would do the job....and didn't ....for one that is more or less....... (and of course is twice the price with 5 inks not 2)......................

............I am still looking for a working 470 on e-bay......

Panic over....Photobook arrived this morning Hurrah!!!!!!

Slept in and guess what? Mr Fedex woke me with  a Photobook as my dog escaped through door!!!!!!!

I am thrilled that it is here in such good time ( although I did pay for it , it is here earlier than expected , as fellow student Mavis reassured me it would be).  My only disappointment is that my snow flake cover is grey not white. Never mind, a minor gliche..its here in time for handi n and that's what matters at this stage of the game!!!!:-)

IT.....................the good news and the bad .....!!!!

GOOD NEWS....my photobookis in transit (at Stansteat 4.00am today) woooooo!!!!:-)

BAD NEWS- Computer CD/DVD drive playing up and printer so overused displaying ink absorber full sign....which internet research told me means basically getting a new one . Wasted two evenings researching on computer ythen a few hours at the retail park trung to understand the problem, then trying to find a new printer which will do the same as my old one (which I had built up an extrememly close relationship with over the years of this course and had grown to love).  Impossible it seems....especially as Cannon give scanty details of printing capabilities and the technical guys in the various retail outlets have no idea either. So....more sleepless nights and wasted hours on Saturday when I hope the Canon regional manager is better informed!

Of course it had to happen when most needed...3 weeks before the course ends....the Chris computer effect strikes again!!!!!:-(

Never mind, the photobook problem seems to be sorted so hopefully , have allowed time for problems into my planning,? this one will be too

Easter sunshine /FMP experimentation

WONDERFUL  weather....as always when there are modules to do ( not next year though ,well unless......)

Decided to put PPF to one side and try out some experimental backgrounds I've been intending to do since before Christmas, for my FMP.  Best of all ....I could do them and enjoy the beautiful day.  Had great fun and one of two went well along with some disasters.  Camera batteryflat so cannot post images yet, sorry:-(

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!

HAPPY EASTER- to any one who has seen my blog before this yellow orchid will seem familiar! It is the one I used in my Spring card and gift collection. It was so like a daffodil that I had to use it as an oriental floral substitute.  Thought an image of the real thing was appropriate for my Easter greetings and ....just incase you haven't seen my original......

Childhood inspiration- a little pink kimono!

When I was a child my favourite uncle brought a bright pink kimono, with a gold work dragon, and pyjamas back from his travels as a gift for me. I have never forgotten how much I loved dressing up in that little outfit. That,combined with another uncle#s fictional stories and drawings of Eastern ladies inspired me with romantic thoughts and imaginings which have continued to this day. Recently I found the set, hidden in a box, a little the worse for wear but still good enough to photograph and blog to show the original source of my love for the Far Eaast.

Blurb/Bookify done but will it be delivered in time?!!

After the 3 days downloading of software debacle and being told by Blurb support to use their on-line bookify system, I spent all afternoon sorting and uploading pictures.  Then I spent all evening creating my Photobook. I actually enjoyed the process as I like that kind of thing...as this blog shows! Just have a problem with getting into IT systems it seems!!!!!

With a sigh of relief I went to submit/place the order- only to be informed the earliest shipping date is the 25th of April..............with up to 4 days in the post (well and some with our postal system these days)aghhhhhhhhh

So have paid an extortionate price for 1-3 day delivery and am crossing every part of my body in hopes that this very expensive representation of my creativity will arrive in time. 

Not a 'pretty' blog this time ....more like an anguished tweet......do hope the rest of my year have had better luck with their efforts.

HENRICK SIMONSEN-finally a modern artist producing work I love!!!!

Have just discovered in GALLERINA, a modern artist whose work I would love to own-well some of it- and emulate/be inspired by WITHOUT plagerising !! HENRIK SIMONSEN  has produced a number of beautiful paintings sold by a variety of galleries, (including the excellent Gallerina, Darlington).  They involve detailed images like the beautiful Leonardo drawings I love but on contemporary textile design like backgrounds.  I have just researched his work on the internet and found that he has dealt with many of the subjects I have chosen for my FMP 'Oriental' theme..... PAGODAS, ORIENTAL LADIES, BUTTERFLIES ETC.and done them brilliantly! Thankfully he hasn't produced card and gift....YET!!! Just as well I found him at the end of the project as I may have decided not to bother!

Have not been able to link to his website which hasn't many images anyway but found some lovely ones at http://www.forstergallery.com/.  Look and see if you agree with me!!!!!!

The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum-link for details of this exhibition-don't bother with the knitting though only about a dozen, rather disappointing

Fantin-Latour Preview

Evening drive into Teesdale, with fresh green trees, blossom and Spring lambs, was a real breath of fresh air after I.T. problems (just been informed by on-line Booksmart support that my computer is too old for their software...which will explain why it wasn't working)

Flower pictures were pretty, if a bit chocolate boxy.  Fantin-Latour was very popular in his day-a contemporary of Whistler and the Impressionists- and apparently this is the first exhibition of his work. I liked his white roses and lily pictures best (surprise surprise after my Mother's Day flowers comments!!).

Sorry but I can't post any images as photography was NOT allowed.

BLOW BLURB PHOTOBOOK- OFF TO FANTIN-LATOUR EXHIBITION PREVIEW!!!!

Am giving up after, two days of waiting for 3 attempts by Blurb software to UNINSTALL my son's version.  Have had hours of frustration, although trying to remain calm and do photo's etc. whilst waiting for it's never ending failure to move on from Uninstalling to installation.  Have even installed updated Java in hopes that will cure the so and so. Shall try another photobook if third time ISN'T lucky!

Meanwhile am going to follow my flower passion and possible future option, for study/extending my artistic skills, by going to The Bowes Museum preview of Fantin-Latour , 'Painting Flowers' Exhibition. More of that on my return!!!!!

Belated Mother's Day Bouquet pictures!!

Sooo wrapped up with trying to produce beautiful images/designs I forgot to post pictures of the beautiful WHITE roses I was sent on Mothers' Day!

I love blue ,white and green, but rarely choose bright colours for interior decoration or clothing.  As a result I am trying to 'push' myself, as well as extend my portfolio, by using 'strong' tints- red, green, yellow- for designs like my winter pine twig collection.

However, still prefer the beauty of  pure colours, like white and green for myself.....hence white NOT red roses sent to me by my family for Mothering Sunday!!!!!!! Although, certainly wouldn't turn away a bouquet of any flowers if they happened to be in bright colours (except perhaps one of those awful clashing coloured ,cheap and nasty supermarket bunches!!!!!)

Amazing what can be created from one small sprig of Oriental pine!!!!

As promised, pictures of the last two weeks of creating.......................

Hope you like them?!!!!!

Unfortunately, creative process will have to be interupted YET AGAIN (the story of this project and VERY FRUSTRATING ) as I need to stop and concentrate on finishing off all the bits and pieces-including a copy of this blog- for my PPF, which has to be handed in in two and a half weeks time!!!!!!
.......................and the sun is shining.................and I'm trapped inside with the computer.......never mind not long now until modules are finished and can enjoy the sun like everybody else!!! :-)

Apologies! So busy creating haven't had time to blog!!!!

Have spent the last week or so frantically trying to produce some of the ideas my head is bursting with............

I have been stitching punching and printing cards and papers for my winter collection, based on images/designs that have evolved from one drawing of a pine twig. From one sprig of pine I have produced stars, snow, trees and even a firework display (that hasn't really worked). From  tiny acorns/sprigs, mighty oak trees/many card and gifts grow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-)

Pictures to follow................