Happy new year ( in April )

Please excuse the randomness of my next few posts

We have enjoyed a busy couple of months and I have lots of crafty makes to share - far too numerous to upload to one post, so I am intending to share them over the next few days until I am all caught up again

There is no rhyme or reason to their posting so please don't get confused by the lack of chronological order

It has been a stunningly sunny and beautiful day here in Cornwall

I took advantage of the agreeable weather and spent all morning mowing and tidying the garden, it looks much happier for a prune and spruce up

I  am now cream-crackered and fit for not much else, hence an hour or two faffing with photos and updating the old blog 

Here are some "happy new year " cards I made back in January. I don't usually make this type of card, but, with so many friends living at the other end of the country, I think it is a lovely way to keep in touch

I used the same stack of papers and ribbon for each card, in an attempt to cut down on procrastination ( and mess !)

And here they are, all close up and personal, so you can see the details and the foiling in the papers

Personally we have had a good start to the new year but unfortunately a few of my close friends and family have not been so lucky, many of them seem to be dogged by misfortune and /or ill-health, there will be several get well cards to share in the next few days

Neil and I have been to our first festival of the year, Winters End in Poole - Dorset

I also managed to sneak some time, a whole afternoon to spend with my lovely friend Pat who has recently moved to Bournemouth, it was like we had not been apart and we were chatting and giggling away, both enjoying the same naughty humour

- as always !

Robbie came with us and we camped in the campervan, in the middle of a forest - in february - yes we are a little bit bonkers

The festival was fantastic, some amazing talent, bands we were familiar with and some new ones too

The three days were an absolute blast and the weather, although cold, behaved itself and kept dry and sunny. Thankfully all the gigs were indoors, so no need for wellies and woolies.

See you tomorrow with another little update and some more crafty bits to share

Love and sunny kisses

Tracey

xxx

Year in review

2017 has been a very kind year to Neil and I, we have been on the receiving end of good fortune several times throughout the year

We have also seen some incredible bands, new and old talents alike

We got up close and personal with Broken Witt Rebels

King King

Bryan Adams, Neil won tickets to for his gig at Eden, along with a stunning meal, and he emailed Bryan's manager to get backstage passes to meet the man himself

Local band Assassins of Silence impressed us twice

We were blown away with perfornaces by the Temperance Movement ( in Plymouth ) and The Cadillac Three ( in Cardiff), two 'new to us' bands that Neil discovered and we both love

We celebrated 25 years of marriage, it was a celebration that Neil managed to make last for several weeks and he made the event truly special

We visited Padstow and Port Isaac 

Throughout the year we enjoyed visits from some special friends

Tony and Carol

We met up with Tim and Ally at Ramblin' Man festival

We loved the festival, Robbie came with us and we are looking forward to it again next year

Kev and Jackie came to Cornwall, we had several days out with them and we had so much fun, they have booked to come again next year and we will be travelling to see them too as Neil is going to be best man at their wedding

We attended the British Summer Time event in Hyde Park for the first time, this was part of our anniversary celebrations and we had an amazing few days in London

Neil got to see one of his Rock heroes Tom Petty before he sadly passed away

The animals have gotten closer and closer

Sox is still the boss, but they are all incredibly protective of each other

We enjoyed loads of beach days, woodland walks and fun times in the park with the dogs

Amy and Robbie both finished uni

AJ started his second year studying ICT at college

Amy is now working and living in Leeds

Rob is home with us, working locally and obviously making all the pets happy

We have had some lovely evenings out with our new friends in Cornwall and have been back up country to visit our old friends and family in Grimsby

Mum and dad have spent a month here in the summer, which was much needed and much appreciated by us, miss them sooooooo much,  and I have recently spent a few days with them

This is, by no means, all we have done this year, just a few highlights that have made 2017 a memorable year

Now, looking ahead to 2018, all I really want is for my friends and family to be happy and healthy

Happy new year to you all, whether you are a friend, family, colleague, blog surfer, acquaintance or just someone who stumbled here by happenchance, I am hoping 2018 is kind to us all

Love, good health and happy times

Tracey

xxx

Little letters of love

Hello again

This is the last of my New Years Cards

I made this one for my very special friend Beryl

I really enjoyed making these cards and will definitely be doing some more next year. But, by far the best bit, was sitting down and writing the letters I put in them

Not because the notes contained anything profound, they weren't Shakespearean in nature, nor were they full of clever anecdotes or poetic achievements

The fact was, that as I wrote each letter, I indulged myself by thinking about the special people I had written to 

As I jotted down the families activities over the christmas period, I recalled fond memories of times spent talking to the recipients in person, sharing memories, stories, laughing and sharing

I feel very blessed with my family and my friends

The most important things in life are not things !

 Love and little letters of love

Tracey

xxx

Pretty in peach

Good evening

As promised I am back with another New Years card

This one was for my lovely and very special friend Pat

I added a little celebrational bling to the subtle colours with some Stickles and gems, the background paper has a little glitter in it too but the camera did not pick that up unfortunately

I am delighted to say my lovely and very talented friend Jan has accepted the challenge and already has a christmas card on her blog, so be expecting one from me very soon

You can check out Jan's inspirational blog HERE

If anyone else wants to join us in getting a head start on the christmas cards, please free free to jump in, I would love to see them

I have one more New Years card to share which I will return with tomorrow and then I must crack on with the multitude of birthday cards I need for February

Love and peachy kisses

Tracey

xxx