Read 'em and weep

There's a little bit of history to this one.

I was married for over 20 years, but sadly once we'd left army life, and the kids had left home, we grew apart. Eventually, in 2006 we called it a day and went our separate ways.

This song seemed to be forever on the radio, or TV, or jukebox. It's been covered by several people, but none of them are a patch on the original.

It's a giveaway :)

This is post number 200, so there's goodies on offer :)

Three weeks ago we had a workshop at the Cubby Hole with Sarah Anderson, where we produced a goodie box from an old, cheap and tatty cardboard box. According to Sarah mine is "so Pirates of the Caribbean / Dead Man's Chest", personally I think it's more "Scavengers of the council tip".

Anyway, the good news for you lovely people is that it now has various goodies in it, and one of you will be receiving them.
You can't have the box though because
a) I like it, and
b) Customs are liable to confiscate it as a hazardous item!

Just leave me a comment and I'll add your name to the list (if you're a follower you get listed twice).

I'll draw the winning name on July 1st, when I get back from leave.

Good luck

Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

One of the current trends over here and on the net is a WW2 poster that has recently come to light and been used for everything from aprons to mouse-mats.

The posters message is very simple "Keep calm and carry on". Details of the original are to be found here.

Inspired by Glenda the Good Witch from the Octopode Factory, I've created my own variation on it.

For those who aren't over here, the title comes from Dad's Army, an old comedy series about the Home Guard.

Twinkle Twinkle Bat

Yesterday was Mad Hatter Day here in UK, and the Mad Hatter's tea party is the theme for the latest challenge over at Altered Alice.

This is my entry and it's the Mad Hatter reciting his favourite poem;

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!

How I wonder what you're at!

Up above the world you fly,

Like a tea tray in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!

How I wonder what you're at!

Unfortunately we never learn the rest of the words as he is interrupted by the dormouse.

The sky has a starry look, created by using salt (one of the techniques on offer at Marit's Summer camp). Unfortunately it doesn't show too well in the pic.

The DT over at Alice have all brought goodies for the party, but let's face it - it can't really be a tea party without.....

Tea Loaf!

Help yourself to nice thick slice, liberally spread with butter :)

Karen's Fairy Friday Charity Auction

Please go and take a look here, then here.

Thank you

Conspiracy theory?

Just a little bit of (digital) silliness using some images from Marit's Summer Camp.

I do have something else to show, but I'm saving that for a special post coming shortly....

So, keep watching this space.

White Space?

Last month's challenge at the Cubby Hole was "Homage to White Space" and after a little bit of thought (very little really) this was my take on it. I think it took about 15 minutes, and most of that was trying to find where I'd put the frame!

Most of the others haven't been blogged yet, but I would recommend that you take a wander over to Papillon for a fantastic take on the theme.

Taking part

This is an A5 size page for a Circle Journal (one of three). In order to get myself crafting more, and spending less time faffing about I've committed myself to a couple of projects.

The first is to take part in a Circle Journal based on the "Wheel of the Year" with some friends in the US. Rather than posting big bulky books around, we'll make 3 pages for each of the festivals and send those to each other instead. We'll be starting with the upcoming Solstice, and this is the first page. There's another to follow. The photo was taken on the Solstice last year at Llanuwchlynn. The words are my own, and are below (easier to read).

The second step towards more creativity is to join in an online workshop - Marit's Creative Summer Camp. We started yesterday and this is my first piece inspired by one of the prompts.

Dawn Chorus
No man made noise, just the sound of the birds preparing to welcome the coming day.
I watched the Eastern sky grow in colour, while listening to the change in the chorus as the sky brightened. At first all I could hear were thrushes and blackbirds, each trying to outdo the others, but as the light increased so did the volume, as one by one other voices were added to the line up. First the robin, punctuating the vocal duel with his call from the depths of the shrubs. Then the doves and pigeons adding their bass line from the fence. Still the thrushes could be heard from the tops of the birches, but now new voices were added, as the rooks and the crows roused from their slumbers in the old oaks.
Finally the first rays of the sun shone out, and with them came a crescendo of noise, as the less talented singers joined in; the sparrows chirping, starlings bickering and the magpies squawking.
I sat at peace with the world, enjoying a symphony of celebration at the dawn of the longest day, knowing that nothing man-made could ever match Mother Nature’s own sound and light show.