Just Create Dammit!!!!

Despite the fact I design for craft magazines, I want to let you into a little secret.....I find the creative process quite difficult. OOOOOOOKKKKKAAAAAYYYY BIG admission huh?

Quite often I lose my mojo and apart from my mag work ,my output isn't what you could call prolific.

I used to go to crops and sit there completely lost with no focus, I dragged stacks of stuff with me and then end up making the tea whilst other peeps rattled off two or three layouts.

Magazine projects usually take me a while because I agonise over what supplies to use and whether my editors will like the stuff I send - or just show them to the rest of the staff saying "look at this loada pants Currie has churned out this month!!!!".

I think I know the reason why the whole process takes so long. I am disorganised, my craft room is stocked up with lots of stuff I don't use anymore and so I can't see the woods for the trees when I come to choose supplies to use. Plus my whole system isn't working, I had stamping stuff and papers in lots of different places.

I had a Eureka! moment the other night reading a book called "The Organised and Inspired Scrapbooker", quite apart from drooling over the studios, the book is very useful. I actually think looking at other peoples gorge studios is like stash porn. Any-hoo I am not much of a scrapbooker, I am a card maker as you know, but this book is lovely, buy it if you can.

So I have spent some time over the last few days, reorganising all my stuff into more logical order and purging the old. I am not quite done yet, but I am getting there slowly, once I am there I'll be sharing pics and tips.

Last night I sorted my Bazzill and patterned paper, Alan managed to launch a full Cropper Hopper worth of papers down the stairs helping me (sheesh!) Anyway I had taken delivery of 3 new Cropper Hopper 12x12 paper holders courtesy of Sarahs Cards yesterday so all my paper is now organised.

I have 3 deadlines looming so last night I thought I would make a start on one at 10pm, and whaddya know? By 1:30 this morning I had done the whole project, I am totally knackered but so happy I got such a creative spurt, long may it continue.

On another note all together, check out this website, you'll need a Tena Lady by the end of it (caution - swearing...) http://www.peoplewhodeserveit.com/

Joe Cool

How cool is Barack Obama? It was so exciting to see the inaugaration yesterday, I know I am a real sap, but I really did feel like I was watching history happen. I dragged Alex in front of the 6 o'clock news to watch. He lasted 20 seconds "Mum, I'm going, the Pink Panther is on......".

As for me, well I feel a whole lot better, back to fighting fit again since Monday, long may it continue, thanks for all your kind wishes xxx

Kate, The Pilot and Feeling Like Poo

"OH HO!! Chemo....ay?? Bring it on, I can handle it, feeling great, life going on as normal, what's all the fuss about"

That was pretty much my take on the whole treatment thang until this week. I feel like crap! No energy and evil mood swings due to the whole "let's take your periods away and start you on the menopause girly". Alan doesn't know what to do with me, I am alternating between Uncle Fester lying on the sofa to snarling, spitting baldy wife. Yesterday I spent a good half hour walking round the kitchen sobbing and sniffling, not knowing "what to do with myself". Everything was crap and Alan doesn't really "do" hysterics bless him.

Part of my sadness has been caused by thinking about Mum and Dad, boy do I miss them.It's at times like these when you need the old unconditional love that parents can show you. I need a hug from my Mum for sure, but it ain't going to happen.

Nothing made me feel better yesterday, in the end I found something to interest me on the TV and spent a couple of hours watching the re-run of The Golden Globes. Cor what an event, not the best thing to watch to crank up the self esteem when you are bald and bloated, but I still enjoyed it. The place was wall to wall celebs and glam, the dresses! the hair! I would give my right arm and possibly my left to be there and glammed up like that. Several years ago, my pal was nominated for an Oscar (yep really) I like to live vicariously through the success of some of my glam mates. He said it was the most terrifying night of his life, everywhere he looked there were "A"-Listers and he did not want to win as he would have to get up on stage.

I would like to stand up for Kate Winslett, I thought her speech was brill! I lovd the "gather" bit LOL!!

Our Kate has been lady in waiting "awards -wise" for several years , blow me she goes and wins two! Of course then the press jump all over her for being over - dramatic, she's an actress for God's sake, that's her job, DOH! Let's celebrate the fact that she is British arrgggghh!!!!! I am a bit of a Kate fan, can you tell?

Talking of good news, what about the pilot who averted disaster in New York this week?I was listening to the Jeremy Vine show on Friday and some ARSE rang in, huffing and puffing saying "this pilot should not be called a hero, he trains for situations like this, he was just doing his job" Arrggggh!! what did the guy have to do to be a hero, land blindfolded with one arm tied behind his back.......Good news, it seems to be wasted on many, don't you think?

Bit More Digi

I have to admit I am a bit of a digi-holic, I drool over digi kits , download them (cos they are very cheap) and then..........well I let them sit and do nothing with them.

So here I am sitting with my laptop on my knee, I had just a handful of old kits on this machine and a couple of pics so here's what I made. It's not brillo, it only took me 10 mins but here it is any-hoo.

Back At It

Well the chemo has hit me harder this time for sure, not exactly feeling hideous, but a bit low on energy, didn't sleep well last night with heartburn and hot flushes ick!

Never mind, today I got delivery of some new stash for my crafting, some yummo goodies from Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug and.........the new Hero Arts catalogue. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Hero Arts. Their products are totally gorge and their designers just come up with the goods every year. 

Also, I have decided to put to use one of the ten million digi kits I have purchased to make a card, I've gone hybrid.  Sorry this pic isn't cropped and purty.

Before I made this card, I was a bit sceptical about the quality of the printed images but, with my trusty colour printer, not a posh one either, it seemed to come out fine. 

If you have ever used digital scrapbooking stuff before, it is sized for 12x12 scrapbooking rather than cardmaking. 

What I did was to  create a new file in Photoshop sized at A4  or whatever you use and dragged the elements I wanted onto the page. I then resized the elements and filled  the sheet. I then printed the sheet and cut out what I need, the cutting is quite theraputic actually! The same goes for any patterned paper, resize the images to make the patterns smaller for your cards.

Anyway I thought I would share, since this is supposed to be a "crafty blog" eh?

Frugal Cooking

I have been reading the most fabulous books, called Nella Last's War and I am now reading Nella Last's Peace. You might have heard of a one off TV drama with Victoria Wood in it called "Housewife , 49" well it was based on the first of the books.

During the war there was an experiment called "Mass Observation", people were invited to write diaries and send them in to share in their wartime experiences. Nella lived in Barrow -In -Furness and wrote her diary from 1939 till her death in 1968. The diaries were written on bits of paper and she would bundle them up and send them off every month or so. The diaries have been edited and published and if you did see "Housewife, 49" I urge you to read the books as the TV programme really only scratches the surface.

Anyway Nella writes very often of the meals she made during the war, she was a genius with the old rations and it is very interesting. So decided to search online for some wartime recipes, I just had to share this one with you, it sounds like a VIZ top tip, it's hysterical........


Mock Duck
Ingredients
2 lb Sausage meat
1 lb Cooking Apples, peeled and grated
1 lb Onions grated
1 tsp dry Sage
Method
Spread half the sausage meat into a well-greased baking tray or casserole
dish.
Top with the grated apple, onion and sage.
Add the rest of the sausage meat and shape the top layer to look like a
Duck.
Cover with well-greased baking paper and bake in the centre of a
moderate oven for 45 minutes.

I have a number of points to make about this
1. If you are gagging to eat duck, this ain't going to fool you!
2. How in the name of all that is holy do you "shape the top layer to look like a duck"
3. If you really were that mad for duck just go visit the local pond and bag yourself one....
4. Let's pray the recession doesn't make us all plumb these depths

Pull Up A Chair

Well I have succumbed to the Chemo fatigue and I am in bed taking it easy. Feeling slightly better than yesterday but still tired so I though I would have a duvet day.

We went to Centre Parcs in Penrith at the weekend, it was a welcome break out of Edinburgh for a few days. Saturday it was freeeeeeeezin' lots of left over snow and lovely trees, it was like Narnia. My sense of direction is usually pretty good, but I kept getting lost like a total dimbo. Everywhere looked the bloody same, trees, lodges, trees, lodges.

We went out on our bikes, Alex had a complete melt down having realised his bike brakes don't work too welll. He fell of his bike a couple of times and bitched and moaned for ages, can't think where he gets that from ahem!!! It culminated in a total tear stained temper tantrum, he threw his bike down saying " I hate this bike and I am never going to ride it again" whilst I stood by wetting myself laughing, I know, it's mean but he was off the scale.

The park was full of people who probably haven't sat on a bike in months/years and were still suffering from post Christmas excesses, I being one of them.

Chemo meant that the fabbo swimming pool was out of bounds due to the infection risk, as too was the gloriously appointed Aqua Sana spa pools and steam rooms....bummer.

I was able to indulge in a manicure, don't wish to be unkind but the manicurist was spectacularly fick! I had to fill in a questionnaire, about my medical status. Up until now I have always been able to tick all the "no" boxes. This time I had to tick the surgery and chemo boxes. So she asks what cancer I have had, when I told her she said "ohhh my Nan died of that when she was 50 , it just kept coming back" gee thanks kid. She didn't know what a mammogram was either....guess we won't see her on Mastermind any time soon.

On Sunday it poured with rain and we had booked Alex on a pony trek. We spent an hour trudging through horse poo and mud! Later on in the day I had booked a facial. It was booked for 5:30pm and it was cold, dark and lashing with rain. The only mode of transport available is shanks' pony or a push bike. So I set off on my bike wearing rain jacket, wig and hood. By the time I arrived at the spa I was sweating like god knows what , I had to change into a robe and wait for my therapist. I was waiting and a dreaded hot flush came over me, I soooo wanted to rip off my wig and fan myself and as soon as I got into the treatment room I did! The therapist got quite a shock.

So all back home now and chemo number 4 was yesterday, I felt rather sick all the way through and very tired too, thank goodness that was the last of the Epirubicin, my next concoction is CMF which is apparently a lot milder.

My hair is starting to grow back, bizzarely, it's not a great colour though. I was "fake" blonde and whatever is coming back is a mix of dark and what seems to be white!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG badger head here I come. I am not allowed any hair colouring treatments to be done until 6 months after the end of treatment either. My wig is getting on my nerves now, I think it might be time for a scarf, although I have always avoided them since I think it looks more like you are having chemo.

I have become addicted to Twitter and have found a great blog written by a very funny 29 year old lady, she is undergoing treatment for cancer and she swears like a trooper so be warned if you are of a delicate sensibility (I'm not) you can find her here http://alrighttit.blogspot.com/

Magazine wise I am currently very busy working on 3 projects , bless my editors for still wanting me. I have spent hours trying to decide what products I need to buy, if you have any suggestions or would like to donate lovely stash for me to play with - don't hold back ha ha!!

Right too knackered to write any more, back to land of nod...

Feeling a bit yucky

Chemo Number 4 was today and I have to admit to feeling a bit yucky. Tired and and feeling a wee bit sick.

Oh yeah and since chemo can induce early menopause I have been having random hot flushes at night and during the day....they are not nice. It's not too bad when you are at home, wig and clothes get removed (not ALL clothes obv.) but not good when you are right.

Looking on the bright side though, I am now half way through my treatment AND this was the last of the yucky strong ones- phew!

Off to bed now, hope to feel better in the morning.

Shop Rage

Almost got shop rage today!! For the second time in two weeks I was behind someone in a shop queue and as they were getting served they spent the whole time talking on their mobile phone.

The first time was in M&S and the shop assistant was almost purple with rage. The perpetrator of this rude act was quite frankly not the most attractive, svelte or fashion savvy individual on earth either ( I know that's not kind of me!!!). 

Today it happened again in Monsoon whilst I was buying a couple of hats, same deal, same kind of physical appearance and I wanted to SMACK HER IN THE GOB!!!!! As she walked away I said "HOW RUDE" actually cos I am a coward and she was about 3 times bigger than me I didn't say it too loud as she looked like she could turn violent.

Bad manners really make my blood boil, I mean it was just outrageous. Don't get me started on people who drop litter either, talk about red mist!

Aaaaand relaaaaaaaaaax...............phew.

I couldn't try the damn hats on cos of the wig situation, I didn't fancy faffing about with the hat I already had on and the wig so I just bought two hats. One of them is fine, the other one looks like a pigging tea cosy, ah well...............

That there T'internet

The internet is just fab , OK I feel like I am stating the bleedin' obvious but today I tracked down and old friend from my University days via Facebook. He is an American boy and we were such good friends in my third year, I adored him (blush!), we had such good times.

So this morning I contacted him, and he answered and,well, it just made me happy. Let's face it, we all need happy eh? 

So this post is dedicated to my old friend Tom....

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great new year, 2009 it's hard to believe isn't it!

I have really piled the pounds on over the festive season, I am OBSESSED with food. I have this mega urge to make stuff like bread for heaven's sake, and I will be dragging out my old soup recipe book very soon.

Dark goings on near where we live, you may have read that a lady out walking found a head in a bag on a footpath in Edinburgh. Well that find was less than a mile from our house, I wondered why the local footpath was cordoned off during a walk the other day......spooky and quite grisly. We saw all the forensics wandering about in their white suits on the path the other day too.

Just before Christmas I decided I needed to get back into my magazine work. I took a break, not knowing what effect my treatment would have. Since I have felt so well, I decided to get back into it and as a result all my lovely editors want me back, and I now have 4 commissions - yay!!

I spent yesterday making cards using Stampin' Up! Products and I am pleased with the results. Got to start work on another soon. 

Talking of Stampin' Up! ( I can never resist the chance of a promo!) they have a great offer on at the moment called Sale- A-Bration. Basically if you spend £45 or more (before postage) you can choose a free stamp set from a little brochure. If you are interested, send me an email and I will email you back a pdf of the brochure.

Yesterday I had a lovely surprise in the post, Julie Hickey sent me a beautiful handmade card to wish me a happy New Year -thanks Julie!!! 

New Years Resolutions

Well now I am living in the 'Burgh, I am turning my nose up at the tourist fest in the city centre today, I'll be dissing the Festival by next August (I think not!!)

Instead I am off to a paaaaaaaaarty, gonna get all dressed up and have a great time.

I have a list of resolutions, most of which will not be achieved but I  will try for some of them...

1. Finish chemo and radio and get on with living (this one will NOT be broken)

2. Grow some hair !

3. Lose weight

4. Get Fiit (geddit?) and lose weight

5. Do more papercrafting commissions for magazines

6. Grow some veg

7. Book on a stand up comedy course or get back into am-dram

8. Expand my cooking repertoire

Well that's about all from me from 2008. I wish you all a fab evening and a happy and healthy 2009, thanks for reading this piffle and writing your lovely comments................xxxxxxxxx

Techno Techno Techno

Well hubby and I have had a go on the Wii Fit today, our major athletes have nowt to fear, I am soooo bad. No wonder I was the dunce in PE, it's laughable really.

I am totally in love with twitter at the moment - check it out here www.twitter.com, great fun on a phone or PC.

We had a scoot round to some more neighbours this afternoon for a drinks party, it was lovely and my first time in a tenement flat, how amazing!! The Scottish really have a knack for unusual building that didn't even figure in England.

Off to see a panto tomorrow (oh yes I am!!) which will be the first time Alex has seen one. Should be a right giggle.

2008 goes down as first sober Christmas in years for me, chemo gives me hideous heartburn which doesn't go well with my usual tipple of white wine......someone suggested trying margheritas ha ha ha!!!

Seasons Greetings!

Well I am a lucky gal, I managed to get through Christmas without any yucky side effects. I made Christmas lunch and stuffed myself, even managed to sip a couple of glasses of fizz - yay!!

I was thoroughly spoiled, I got Wii Fit (currently I am Wii FAT) , I also got tickets to see Russell Brand, lots of fabbo vouchers and nice smelly things too.

Yesterday morning we all went to our neighbours and had a couple of drinkies and nibbles, and we watched Dr Who at another neighbours later on. I LOVE our street, so sociable!!

Today we have mainly spent sitting on our bums, although we did go to the park and the most amazing thing happened, Alex learned to ride his bike!!!! Best present yet! We have been trying for ages, we actually started last new years day but he just didn't like being on his bike, bless him. Today, it just "clicked" and he had such a big smile on his face when he did it, and there was no stopping him.

Sorry it's a bit late but I would like to wish you all a VERY merry Christmas, and thanks so much for all of your lovely comments, you've really kept me going over the last two months - you are FAB!!!

It's Nearly Here

Housework all done, if anyone dares to even breathe on ANYTHING and mess it up, they're dead! Ironing all done and so is the shopping (smug? me? never!!) Just got a bajillion presents to wrap, ugh...I am not fond of that job.

This year, having ordered a turkey and a goose for 3 adults and a 6 year old, I lay in bed one night and thought "stuff that", no pun intended. I was going to have to queue for it and it was going to cost lots. So I cancelled my order and Alan was appointed official Christmas hunter gatherer and was dispatched to go forth and find a turkey crown. It is now in the fridge and if he whines one more time about having to eat turkey, which he does every year (yawn!) he gets strangled with tinsel.

I had chemo number three today, that leaves only one more of the strong stuff, then just 4 more to go. Keeping everything crossed that I will not have any yukky side effects.

Jingle Bells

So school is now finished until January and so am I yay!!!!

We went along to the nativity play on Wednesday morning, it was so funny and also a "kleenex moment"

I went to see the Jean Muir exhibition at the museum in Edinburgh on Thursday after coffee with some of the other mum's . We then took our kids for lunch, they were just about reaching melt down by the time we left. Dreadful weather too, totally peeing down most of the day. When we got back it was veg on the sofa with White Christmas and Lemony Snicket. 

The door bell rang and I jumped up (wigless and hatless) and opened the door. I don't know who was more astonished, me or the guy standing with a brace of pheasants, a case of wrong door matey!

To top that off the Mormons arrived yesterday morning...............do I look like a pheasant eating Mormon to you?

Right , gotta hit the shops (joy of joys!)......

Trick or Treat?

I have had a very nice and ahem! a slightly too much wine to drink weekend. Really it's not good form when one is on chemo to go and get blotto. So it's on the wagon for me with the occasional small lapse over the festive season. Mind you I have chemo on the 23rd so I don't think I shall be indulging on Christmas Day.......poo.

My copious beverage supping was done in a succession of neighbours houses - hence I felt like I was trick or treating. I would like to publicly apologise to the 4 neighbours who were treated to my inebriated self. I didn't get into any fights or anything but my Saturday evening began in the Living Room on George St and went downhill rapido after that.

Apparently I watched Strictly, I remember most of that, then I watched X-Factor (details a wee bit blurred at this point) although I do remember that Alexandra won, how AWESOME was her singing with Beyonce?

SO I had a bit of a sore head yesterday, but I still managed a big trip to Sainsburys and a pile of ironing so at least I was a bit productive.Going to be good from now on - promise........................

PIGGY

OMG!! I cannot STOP eating, I am deffo going to look like humpty dumpty soon

Bewilderingly (is that a word?) I still feel fine after chemo 2 - as those over the pond like to say "huh? What gives" I think it's all a ruse, someone is going to jump out and say "hey!! April fool"

Yeah I wish!

Seriously though I have a ravenous hunger like aaallll the time, and don't get me started on my problems with wind and heartburn - yuck! Apart from that I feel fine.

Got some good news yesterday my best friend Janey is coming next week and I am soooooo excited. I've got lots of things planned for us to do, including a couple of girls nights out, we haven't done that in ages!

Christmas prep is in full swing, got to order my turkey and goose this weekend then I can relax. Most of my Christmas cards are made, but not yet written, that's the crap bit.

I have been having a bit of a nightmare with one of my wigs, the long blonde one was expensive and still looks "wiggy", it's OK with a hat, but I can't go on a girls night out with a flippin wooly hat on, they'll chuck me out for being a right nerdy.

Yesterday I decided to wash it to see if it would calm down a bit. I stuck in on a vase in the bath to dry. A few hours later I walked in to the bathroom and saw it out of the corner of my eye, I got the shock of my life, it looked like the back view of severed head!

I am reading a great book at the moment called "Nella Last's War", its the diary of a housewife from Barrow during the war as part of the mass observation experiment. I love history, and if I had the chance I would love to work as a TV researcher for documentaries (bliss). Victoria Wood made a TV drama based on the book called Housewife, 49 but I haven't seen it, it was on last week and I missed it - drat! Talk about "make do and mend" it is a brilliant insight into making do with very little, something we may all have to face soon. I have an urge to grow my own veg, I must be getting old.......

Stampin Up Offer

Thought I would share an offer with you. Stampin' Up! are doing a great deal right now, spend £150 before postage and you get

1. A free stamp set
2. A free hostess set from the catalogue
3. £15 worth of free merchandise

A list of the free stamp sets is here
http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/eng/5750.asp

ALSO because this is the Season of Goodwill I am offering FREE postage on ALL orders until the end of the month.

You can order from me wherever you live, your goodies will arrive at your house, no need to host a workshop! If you have a crafting friend or three combine your orders to make the £150 total if you like!

Right I have a squillion Christmas cards to make, I'm off!!!

Arthurs Seat

So on Saturday hubby says "I know let's go for a walk up Arthurs Seat" for non Edinbuggers , Arthurs seat is a small mountain by the parliament and HolyRood palace. My response was "I know let's go shopping" but he won.

You know those TV programmes where they drag overweight teenage delinquents on a walk and they bitch and moan all the way..................yep that's me.

Well first off, even though I have posted pics of my baldy head and my wigs on t'interweb, quite frankly the thought of anyone looking at me with a wig on giving me the "ohhh I think you might be wearing a wig look" was not something I relished. I was bad tempered and horrid and almost refused to leave the car. It was a cold day and I was bundled up with loads of layers, a big scarf and my wig and hat.

So by the time we were half way up the damn mountain I was sweating buckets I whipped off the wig and hat (after making sure no-one was about) and stuffed it in the rucksack, then I put another hat on.

Here's the view from the top ( in the background you can see the castle), crap pic with my compact camera rather than my DSLR. If I had dragged my big camera up the hill I was in such a foul temper I think I may have jumped up and down on it.

The vultures were ready to pounce..............OK so they are crows...

I was rewarded with a trip to the Christmas market and mulled wine and german grub - yum!

We then went on the big wheel and it was FREEEEEEZING. Wigless and wearing a thin wooly hat was not warm at all. Cue arty big wheel pic.

I had my second dose of chemo today............now I sit and wait to see if I am going to be feeling OK - fingers crossed everyone!