Holidays and New Cards

Hello everyone,

 I thought I would show you a few pictures of where we lived for nearly fourty years. We returned to the farm for Christmas to be with our farm family - had beautiful weather and lived on blue cod and paua!!

Here we are sitting at Long Point while the men and my grand-daughter Jade, are paua diving. Michelle, our daughter-in-law made paua patties for tea but I'm afraid I cannot eat them! The general concensus though, was that they were delicious.

This photo is looking inland over the farm from the house. Hugh spent some considerable time driving the tractor, smoothing out gateways,  roads etc. He was in his element - I reckon he almost forgot he had a wife in tow!!

Cameron, our son, has just bought an adjoining farm which goes right down to the coast. This is a paddock he has just worked up on the new property, and sown crop.  Must admit, even though I wouldn't go back to live, I still think the views are fantastic. Wouldn't you all agree? He has a boat, so goes out fishing quite a bit, hence the blue cod - nother nicer than fresh blue cod!

Now, just to keep ones focus centered, I will add a card that I made for an order. Don't know what I did before I had my Grand Calibur - I use it all the time and really enjoy doing so. I do like making different shaped cards.
Trust you are all back into work mode after a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, as I am! I do like getting back into routine. Getting a bit set in my ways, I'm thinking!!

Happy crafting to you all and may you know God's blessing,

Betsy  xxx

Three cards for the New Year

Hello to all my blogging friends.
As 2012 begins we hope and pray that it will be a more positive year for many of you that have been under considerable pressure and strain. Surely it can only get better! May you all experience God's loving care and His blessings, for this new year that we have entered.
We had a lovely time, down in the Catlins, over Christmas, with a number of our family. All, couldn't be with us this year as we have to share them with their in-laws, every other year.
It is great to be home though - back to a semblance of routine. I have been trying to tidy up the garden today but still have a lot to go. Am feeling a trifle stiff tonight!
Now I thought, as it's been some time since I blogged, I would show some cards that I have recently made.

I made this card using my Grand Calibur, cutting the Grand Labels 23, three times, smaller each time,with different card and paper.They are attached at the top with strips of double sided tape. The heart shape is the centre of a silver heart doily. I handmade the flower using the navy card, then used the Cherry Lyne flourish die. The initials are also cut out of navy card, after attaching jac paper to the back, with the Harmony Cuttlebug Alphabet. This is a tip for having initials already adhesived, to put on the finished project.

This perhaps is one of my MANY favourite colour combinations. To make the border, I cut a strip of card, one and a quarter inches wide, then using Martha Stewart punch, punched along both edges. Very simple but effective I think.The girl image is from Moonlight Magic Studios - a wonderful site for finding vintage images.Kaisercraft flowers were used and gems attached round the scallop circle.I used my bow-tie to tie the organza ribbon into a double bow.

This card, and the previous one, were made using the Basic Grey, Out of Print range. I cut the brown card, then using Martha Stewart, Round The Page punches, cut out the edge. My base card was then made to fit this shape. Again, I've used Tim Holtz Rosette die for the flower, placing a gorgeous button I had on hand, in the centre. Don't you love the Bakers Twine?

Now in closing, I must just show you a photo of my three lovely daughters. They came to spend the day with me for my birthday, with the kids, and took Hugh and I out for lunch. It was supposed to be a surprise but the son-in-law let the 'cat out the bag.' Anyway, we still had a super time together. You girls are pretty special and I love you dearly.

Thank you for checking this out - it is great to get your comments as it makes blogging seem worth while.
With love and blessings to you all,

Betsy xxx

A Few cards Made with Lovely Sweet Nothings

Good evening to all my blogging friends.
As I am going to be away tomorrow again, I will make an effort tonight to put up another blog. Had a fun day at Arfull Crafts today - it is always most enjoyable spending the morning with  like minded ladies. We actually made a neverending card today - most of the ladies found it rather a challenge but it kept everyone on their toes!
The last Card Temptation Kit pack I did, for Artfull Crafts, was the lovely Kaisercraft, Sweet Nothings collection. I thoroughly enjoyed working with this range - it is very sweet, in fact so much so that I have continued to make more cards. Thought I would show them to you.

Well, I had better make that do tonight. Don't you agree with me that the papers are lovely? There are so many colour combinations that can be acheived using this range.  Just love it!!
We are heading down to the farm again for over Christmas, so in case I don't get back onto the computer before we leave ( Hugh is planning going earlier rather than later!) I do trust you will all have a happy Christmas as well as a safe one. It is so wonderful being able to get with families over this holiday time.
May God bless you all,

Betsy xx

The Wedding at The Weekend.

In my last post I told you of a wedding that we were going to, over the weekend. It was absolutely lovely, so thought I would show you a few photos of the gorgeous couple and the family. It was very Indian and I was even persuaded to wear an Indian outfit as well! We had the groom's aunties staying with us - what super ladies they were. Aunty Kushma had brought a couple of outfits but of course could only wear one, hence Betsy got the beautiful cerise pink one. See what you think!!

'Fraid my skin needed a little tanning and my hair needed a little dyeing to match the lovely Indian ladies but it was altogether, rather fun. Could also do with a bit more height!!
As I have been in Timaru for most of the day and haven't done any work here, had better go and show something for my day.
May you all know God's blessing,

Betsy xx

Not many days now 'til Santa's here!!

Phew - it sure is hot!! Am feeling rather like a grease spot!!
We had our patchwork Christmas dinner today, which was most enjoyable. Before that, I went to Timaru to the Radiology Dept to get a Ultra Sound on my old hip. The Xray I had on Tuesday was just fine, but the Surgeon is wondering if the muscle has pulled away, as it is held by a couple of stitches. Oh, the joys of getting older!! The motto of the story is when you get to 71, and have just had a hip replacement, DON"T sit on the floor to do your work! The after effects can be rather painful!!

We had a lovely day last Friday as a few of my special friends got together, of course to do card making. I have a nice photo of them - hope they don't mind me showing it to you all.
Well, I can't put up all I have been doing lately, as far as card making goes, as it is still very secretive. Kaisercraft have me fully employed but I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel now. Mind you I really do enjoy working with all their lovely new collections! I'm not complaining at all!
I will put up another couple of orders I have done though.

A very simple card made for a Golden Wedding. I use this 3D rose quite a lot and it is always appreciated.

This card is made for a wedding that we have been invited to tomorrow. I do hope they like it and that the day is wonderful for them. They are a lovely Fijian- Indian couple, so we are looking forward to that. Just hope it is a little cooler though - not cold just cooler!!
Sounds as though it is tea time by the noises coming from the kitchen.
With many blessings to you all, thank you for checking this out.

Much love, Betsy xx

A teaser.

Hello to all my blogging friends. Just a quick post tonight as I have had a busy day at Artfull Crafts in Timaru. It has been rather an effort today as I have a very sore hip and found it quite a job getting round. A doctor's visit in the morning to see what I have done to it. It is my new one too!!
Anyway, I have been fully occupied lately working on some of Kaisercraft's new year collections. You're sure going to love them! I can't really show you what I have done, as that would be spoiling the fun but I will give you a little teaser. Here are just two peeps.

Of course, those that know me will be saying, "that's her colours"!! You'll all be surprised though.
 I will also include a card I made for an order, using my grand calibur. The roses were made using the Tim Holtz tattered florals die - I do enjoy making these roses. They were sponged with sepia ink then sprayed with glimmer mist.

Actually, I have also done the new card temptations kit for December. Took it in to Liz today. Know you will all enjoy doing this kit as much as I have.
I was supposed to be going down to Cromwell, to my daughters, for the weekend but looks as though I will not be moving far. She is organising a Razzle, Dazzle and Bling fashion show as a fund raiser for pre- school. It should be a lot of fun - when Jo does something she puts her all into it!

Must go and find somewhere comfy, may you all know God's blessing.

Betsy xx

A great weekend

Whew!! What a great weekend was had by all. It has been very busy altogether but we have enjoyed it. The weather didn't perform as it should have, there was plenty of mud underfoot, but at least it did not keep raining. This afternoon it  has been back to it's usual - lovely and warm.I'm looking forward to a few days off, just to catch my breath.  Think I'm getting a bit old for all this excitement. It's really not that far 'til we will have to be getting into Christmas mode!
I have decided to put up the three quillts I had displayed in the exhibition. Hope you enjoy.

I made this quilt for my youngest little grandson, Harvey. His bedroom is all done out as a pirate ship so it does rather suit the theme. The favourite fabric in it is the one with the flames, so he says. He is a delightful four, but tells me he is no longer four but four and three quarters, thank you Nanna!!

This second one was made for my lovely daughter-in-law and of course my son. It does look amazing in their bedroom as I have tried to co-ordinate the colours to match the wallpapers and drapes.They have a new house on the farm so I hope they enjoy it. I have made one for the three kids so I think Michelle was feeling a bit neglected, not having one on her bed. She's up with the play now!

I fell in love with this pattern some time back and just had to make it for, guess who! Me!! Mind you ,I haven't a clue where I'm going to hang it. There is certainly no wall space in our little house, I tell everyone it will hang in the garage along with the other ones I have done- they usually look at me rather funny!! But I do have a very nice garage! Anyway, it is a wallhanging designed be the famous McKenna Ryan, all patchworkers will know who I am referring to. It really was fun to do, although it took me some time. Maybe Betty, at our patchwork shop here in Geraldine, will rescue it, as she has done with another two of my quilts.

For some reason, unbeknown to me, the wrong date comes up on the top of the blog. It is actually Sunday evening and I do feel it is my bedtime. Will have to get Graham and Liz to come out and give me some more computer tutition - don't know what I would do without them. Anyway, feel it's a minor complication when taken overall.

Have a great week, with special blessings to you all,

Betsy. xx