Making a start with thanks

Good morning all
Thank you for all the lovely comments and good wishes yesterday.  It doesn't seem to be my year, but I will keep pushing on, I have to,  I have so many people supporting me! Bless you all.
Welcome to our latest followers, I hope you will enjoy your visits to my blog and if you have a blog yourself,  I will be along soon to see what you are up to. 

Have you noticed we are almost at the Big 100 followers!!  

That means a draw for Two winners soon, how exciting!!

I'm sorry but I haven't a finished project to show you.  All I have is something I will be working on for a little while, so I am going to show you bits as and when I complete them.  Also I have the pictures of the beautiful gifts sent to me by the lovely Linda W.  I have been looking at them again today, I can't stop admiring them.  I have managed to move them off the desk, well...... almost...they are in a special drawer next to where I sit, so I can take a look now and again....lol!!
First here is what I am working on.....Hardboard Notebooks using my Bind-it-all (eventually)

I used the tissue paper method to create a faux silk background for the outside of my notebook.  I managed to acquire some bronze toned tissue and used lots of Mod Podge and then let them set hard below a stack of heavy boxes to keep the chipboard flat.
Next I used some Faded Jeans and Black Soot distress inks to distress the surface.

I used some travel papers inside and coated them with Mod Podge also to give them a wipe clean surface.  Again I used some distress ink to 'edge' the sheet, but just lightly this time.

 I made a small, half size Notebook to match.
These shots show the bronze tissue before and after adding the Faded Jeans and Black soot ink.










I hope you will bear with me as I am very slow working.  I really am not up to speed yet, my mind wanders too much at the moment.  I will show you more as I progress I promise.

Now to the lovely creations I gave you a glimpse of yesterday.  Linda Wescott has been so busy!!

First the stunning Fimo pieces.  I can't wait to start using these!!

Aren't these Steampunk pieces just fabulous!

This crochet work is so beautiful and this is only a fraction of the pieces Linda sent to me.  I couldn't fit all the pieces in without making the picture look messy.....I am no window dresser, thats for sure!

Last, but by no means least, the amazing semi precious beads.  Oh, I can't wait to make something special with these...............that's if I can ever part with them.   At the moment I just keep touching them......LOL!!

Linda, you are so very talented and a most generous lady.  From the bottom of my heart I thank you, I will treasure them all always.
Well that's it for today folks.  I will try to get something completed today; as soon as my beautiful Grandson goes home to mum and dad.  I haven't had him for a little while and  have missed him loads and loads.  Now he can lift my spirits.......... he always makes me smile!!
Have a great day all, whatever you're up to.   Big hugs Linda xx

I'm back at last!!!!!

Good morning all
It is so good to be back with you and before I do anything I must say a big, heartfelt THANK YOU to you all for the lovely well wishes, comments of concern, emails and e-cards.  You have held out the hand of friendship and kindness to me on several occasions now and I am truly, truly touched by the deep feelings and generosity of spirit, thank you so very much.

As I explained in my last post, I came down with a chest infection and had antibiotics off the doctor.  Well they helped but did not clear it all away as quickly as I would have liked.
I have to be honest now and explain that I was already extremely low.   Firstly I did too much when I started the decluttering/reorganising.   On top of this my life was changing dramatically and very, very emotionally too.  My 9year relationship came to breaking point and we have now separated.   It has been happening for a while now and I think the strain of it took me to an all time low and therefore, I wasn't strong enough to fight the chest infection as easily as I should have.  I do hope you will understand but I am going to end that there now as it is very personal and still very, very raw.
Again, I want to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to write to me on my blog with such kind words.  I have been able to keep reading them, even when I was unable to get to my pc/laptop, as my daughter set up my new phone to access not only my emails but my blog also.
I am just so sorry for taking this long to get back to you.
Well it's up to bed for a rest now and then I am actually going to go into the craftroom to create something new; probably just a card for today, but who knows.  Also, I have some pictures to take of a selection of stunning gifts I received in the mail today.  They are truly exquisite, so I have to show them all, I hope you can stop by and take a look.
Here's a little sneak of what to expect (taken on my mini camera for now).

 

A little glimpse of some of the exquisite pieces created by the talented Linda Wescott.  Thank you Linda xx


Boy, it's so good to be back.  I'll be along to your blogs properly soon too I promise.
Bye for now.  Biggest ever hugs Linda  XX