It is COLD in the UK :D

This is the view I awoke to this morning...

It may look an awful mess but it means I'M BACK!!! I'm back in the UK :D

I've already gone to see those people that are essential to see, so now its time to resettle into the country, get my life in order etc. It all starts today so showing you this photo is a bit of an incentive to actually sort. The mess to sort out includes... piles and piles of washing, piles and piles of recycling, piles and piles of paperwork then piles and piles of stash goodies to organise :)

I'm going to be Miss Procrastination and show progress reports! It is after all a WIP of a design nature... OK that is a stretch.

Also in crafting-land, Laura who blogs as Dragonfly Mystic received my biscornu exchange pack, she posted some lovely close up photos, this is just one I took before it flew away:

I plan to put up the patterns as soon as I make it a bit more user friendly. I knew I was going to design the biscornu for my partner since it seemed like fun - I couldn't wait to experiment with this continuing line thing (where the 'ground' continues around the circle, with parts of it on the underneath/back square) and I think it worked out. I'm thinking of another design with boats on waves... Laura was very nice with her comments so as per the Rules in my first post:

7) Share ideas and encourage others. (Pattern to come)

8) Never worry that your work 'isn't good enough' or that others might not like it.

10) If someone praises you, believe them and say thank you nicely!

So thank you nicely Laura!!!

I'm a bit worried about the biscornu my partner has sent, mail was always slow in reaching the base but I hoped there would be enough time before I finished my tour. When it reaches Iraq it should be automatically forwarded to me but I feel bad for my partner whoever he/she is - I know I'd be worried about it, so I'm sorry I've left too soon (but also I'm NOT sorry that I got out of there when I did)!!

First Post

I've decided to create this blog to show off my craftings to the Internet Craft Blog surfers out there. In 'real' life I don't usually show off my crafts as my hobbies aren't shared by many of my peers. However, I know there are plenty of brilliant people out there just like me and who might share in my happiness at little things like seeing prettiness in something 'ugly', or the big things like finishing a project that has been years in the completing...

I'm going to write out my 'rules' - these are my reminders and an explanation to readers of the philosophy I try to stick by...

1) Never work to a deadline unless others require it (i.e. Round Robins, exchanges etc). This includes gifts as the recipient doesn't even know you are making it for them - you can always get something different and complete it for next time!
2) Do not oversubscribe to anything that requires working to a deadline.
3) Never worry that your 'stash' is too big.
4) Never worry that your 'stash' is too small.
5) If you don't feel like creating anything, or posting on the blog, don't. Never start a post with 'I'm sorry I haven't posted for so long'. Even if it has been a year, breeze on in with what you want to say.
6) Try to be original and design things yourself - try not to use a pre-coordinated pack of papers and embellishments or create a pre-designed card. That is more 'assembling' than creating! It is OK to be inspired by others though!
7) Share ideas and encourage others.
8) Never worry that your work 'isn't good enough' or that others might not like it.
9) If you think something you've just created is rubbish, acknowledge the lessons or skills learnt!
10) If someone praises you, believe them and say thank you nicely!
11) Don't worry about piles of unfinished items or 'works in progress' they can sit till you are ready - you have a lifetime to pick them up (or your descendants can)!

I have been a 'crafts' person as long as I can remember, I've tried a lot of things but the things I return to over and again are:
embroidery and cross stitch, sewing clothes and soft furnishings, scrapbooking, pixel art, beadcrafts and jewellery making, photography, drawing/doodling

That's all for the first post, I'll return soon with what I have been up to recently!