been so bad

wow...this poor blog has been a bit neglected by me.

this week has been crazy. My kid is sick...again...I may need to keep her home from school because she's been barfing a LOT today. This weekend has been a whirlwind again....I sooo long for a quiet weekend at home, just me and the hubby and terrors...of course...folding laundry while watching a movie....and napping. I need my weekend naps....

well...my whole point to blogging tonight is because I am not sure I'll have any time tomorrow to tease yall....LOL

tomorrow is reveal day over st SFTIO for Feb's kit....entitled PASSION. OOOH La La!!!!

SOOO

sneaky peekies...just for you.

Treasure Pleasure........

......today the sun shone over our little spot of the world & though it was a crisp day it had an element of Spring, fresh green grass,pastel blue sky-pretty! My heart & my head  flooded with  light & I sprung back to life....our home was washed with magic & the colours sang in its golden glow.I fell in love with my treasures all over again, & set to with my camera to capture some of the loveliness I rediscovered upstairs....I was still in my pyjamas & about to embark on some Spring cleaning! Having seized the day....tonight I am in need of my bed & book,virtually unable to blog & somewhat distracted by a gripping episode of 'Silent Witness' that Mr M is watching....hence I couldn't get this text to sit with my pretty pictures- (below)! Heres to many more sunny days ahead....
P.S click on the pictures to see them supersize & have a look at my dust!    

Eye candy........

Annie Blackberry NEW SEASON LAUNCH!

Welcome to War and Peace and No Place Like Space! My 2010 Summer/Autumn collection. In The Secret Garden is still going strong and so you're welcome to order from that summer 2009/2010 collection.

Most of the pieces below are available only for either a limited time or as more charms become available (vintage charms will naturally run out). I only have 1 available of the gun and 2 of the copper chandelier with charms :)

Our new wee puppy, Timmy, is a one-off and I've bought him :)

Annie :) xx

Be simple.....

.....well,well,well....I am in the workroom,not sat by the fire as I usually am these wintry evenings....I am multi-tasking,having tidied my Blog,Iam tidying my Life......!!!!! Anyway I just picked up this book,as oft I do-Aunt Kates Day-by-Day Book;'A thought,a recipe,a household hint-for every day of the year',so I turned to 27th January which in 1937 was also a Wednesday! When I read the thought for the day it seemed so very appropiate as I have just read a dear friends Blog-post about writing letters as opposed to keeping in touch by more modern means,keeping it simple,Its so easy to get pulled along on the current of the modern world,sometimes we need come up for air.....That aside,Aunt Kate also gives us a recipe for Chocolate Cream Sandwich,then very thoughtfully a hint for removing cocoa stains-for when we drop our choc sandwich on our pretty crepe blouse,whilst shovelling it into our mouth!(click on picture for a read)....more from Aunt Kate coming soon girls!

for BupBup....... 

Pull up a chair........

.......its amazing what you find down by the beach! Imagine my surprise when I spotted this pair yesterday morning on my way to school! I could think of nothing else as I taxied the little people up the road & bundled them off into the classroom.....what if a fellow chair-fancier (or Kirsty Allsop!) had salvaged them in my absence or what if they had toddled off for a stroll on the sand,maybe a dog in need of convenience had lighted upon their spindly pins! I was delighted on my return to find the dear souls still there taking in the view......what to do? First a little kerb crawling,drive slowly past  & oggle......then,park up at a stones throw,so as not to look too keen......next,alight car & walk past with a casual air,look out to sea-to blend in with the tourists.....turn,glance furtively around the deserted car park & up at windows to check for twitching curtains....get out mobile phone,take a photo,take a seat,phone mama to ask advice......look around once more,grab a chair in each arm & head for home! Oh the thrill-& so early in the morning too! This is becoming a habit (remember the coathanger in an earlier post?) I can only guess at their story,I was even a little sad to remove them-they were so perfectly placed for bay-watching,all they needed was a tartan rug & a Thermos to complete the scene,then it struck me that maybe this was some 'installation art' that I was disturbing! Then I was taken with the idea that a row of  'chairs' of different designs would make a wonderful alternative to the park bench- imagining them in a higgledy-piggledy line in parks & on seafronts.....obviously they would need to be nailed down,just in case they went walkabout!

So they both went slowly down,

And walked about the town,

With a cheerful bumpy sound

As they toddled all around

And everybody cried

As they ran up to their side

''See,the table and the chair

Have come out to take the air!''

Edward Lear-The Table and the Chair.     

Please excuse the mess............

Essential maintenance work is being undertaken........

......oh dear me,the green eyed monster has reared its ugly head! I am currently experiencing some Blog envy.....yes,I am ashamed,but at least I'm honest! I have resigned myself to the fact that January has been pretty much a non-starter for me,certainly for 'paperdolly',I won't even try to excuse myself,instead I will look on this month of inertia as a period of contemplation & research....in other words,I have been reading,watching,looking,drinking tea & spending my evenings by the fire-laptop perched on my knee-being drawn in to the world of Blog that Mr M likes to call-Bloggington! There have been brief daylight excursions into the workroom,some finishing off,some repairs,a modicum of tidying,but nothing of note & certainly not worthy of Blog-space! Meanwhile over in the shiny land of Bloggington....there is much happy-making afoot,those lovely little Blog folk-clad in polka dots & vintage florals-are stitching,knitting,baking,homemaking & then sharing it with those less fortunate,filling us with joy & eliciting in me those shameful, covetous feelings! I am now 'following' so many of these charming folk,that most evenings find me popping into half a dozen Blog dwellings for a little look around their wonderfully presented 'homes',with so much kerb appeal & such loveliness to be found within......then,while I'm there I have a little rummage around & take a peep at the Blogs they 'follow' & before I know it I've been whisked away on a Blog adventure again! So its time my Blog-spot had a little makeover,as I'm not too hot on technology it could get messy......
............sorry for any inconvenience!

New Prompt

is up over at the Scrappiest!!!!



head on over and check out the sketch.

to make the lines I sanded the paper and it left it "folded" somewhat. Then I passed my ink pad lightly. I used one of IAAS' past kits.

This is my teeniest terror...with her obsessions: her baby!!!

this weekend has been B-U-S-Y!

wow...have I had a whirlwind weekend...:O

can you believe that I cleaned up my mess that was a scrappy table to then junk it up again??? :DUH:

anyways I wanted to share a LO made using SFTIO's January Possibility Kit.



This one has a mini book using the maya road envelope as a cover. Head on over and check out the tutorial I threw together. :)

there you get to see how it's made and the details. :)

I am now mentally preparing myself for the start of a new week. And I am starting it off with a dental visit. :D

well I hope you all enjoyed your weekends...I need a whole other 3 days to recuperate from these last 3!!!

the soundtrack of your life

hi again!

just wanted to come and show off a layout created for AAM's latest prompt!!!

I got them mixed up and started to photograph stuff I needed for the other prompt...and TG I checked again in the DT forum...crisis averted!

SO...I am a big music lover. I couldn't do a list of songs because the list is way too long. SO I chose the song which held most meaning to me and just speaks to me, for me, you know what I mean!

Like a child



This song is sang by Crystal Lewis. I have listened to her music for as long as I can remember...and boy do I wish I could sound a fraction of what she sounds like. She can SINGGGGGGG!!!!

here are the lyrics to the song:

LIKE A CHILD
© copyright 2001 Chris Lizotte
I'm coming to this place
Tired and far away
I'm longing for some peace
To help me through this day
So here's my life Lord, Here's my plea!

I want to see your face
Feel your warm embrace
And lay here like a child
In your loving arms
Where I'm safe from harm,
And the sorrow fades away

There's healing in your name
So I cry out to you,
Forgiveness is your way
Won't you see me through
So here's my life Lord, here's my plea!

I want to see your face
Feel your warm embrace
And lay here like a child
In your loving arms
Where I'm safe from harm,
And the sorrow fades away


SO I know I already scrapped this photo of Nani &I. BUT this is the only photo I have that conveys what that song means...in my head, it clicked automatically.

I used CCG's latest color combo...trying to make my way back into participating there. :D

and I used paper from a kit I got from IAAS.

sooo...what are you waiting for? head on over to AAM, check out what the DT has there and head over to the MB as well. If you join us you can be eligible to win a kit from IAAS!!!! :D Happy scrapping!!!

things.

I was over at Nancy's blog and she inspired me to try something a bit different...


SO...

this is the latest card I made. it's my fave. for Lexi...



today I smell like this, even though I am not into the whole creepy skull thing...I just turn the bottle to face the other way. it smells YUMMY



I am craving this:



DH made this and wow....was it awesome. He got the recipe from here.

I can totally see myself rocking this out!



and these with a cute pair of jeans....



I am stalking the mailman for this:


can't wait for these goodies to get into my hot little hands!!!!


K....gotta run.

I have a dream....

had to find some way to commemorate what today is...MLK day.

Things have been wild and chaotic in my neck of the woods. They had to close the schools down on Friday due to violence involving a 13 year old stabbing 4 kids...one died.

SO my dream is ongoing...finding a place to live in which my kids won't have to miss school due to nonsense like this. I call it nonsense because it really is so stupid to me that kids are walking around with weapons. I am still shaking my head over this.

anyways I am here to show off some LOs done for The Scrappiest!!! Last weeks and this weeks...a brand spankin new prompt is up!!!!

check it out!

last weeks:



and this weeks:



both using Studio Calico's Home Front. They were generous and sent some goodies out to Liz for the DT go and see how we all rocked it out!

I also wanted to show you all another LO from January's possibility kit over at SFTIO.



basically an honest LO about our business...how when we first opened it we had so much hope, we thought there were so many possibilities out there awaiting...and how it's possible we may be shutting it down...and how heartbreaking it is for myself...just seeing how it is our baby....

seriously...I love being a part of design teams for SFTIO and AAM. I was getting tired of scrapping fluff. Now I say that in the most in-offensive way...it's nice to scrap about the good things and pretty stuff...it's the safest way to go. These 2 places challenge me and push me more to get out of that little box I always seem to put myself into.

now if you scroll down a bit...you'll notice I had to take a LO out...it's going to be pubbed!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEE!!! my very first. and I am excited, honored, gushing, and all that good stuff.

well, take care my lovely peeps. off to do some scrapping!!!

Grey sky,red shoes......

......January is the time for new beginnings,a fresh start,a clean page,the first chapter in the 2010 year-book,so much potential,my head is dancing with imaginings on a grand scale for this decade of dreams! Dreams of;stitching,drawing,making-sorting,gleaning,baking,writing-reading,reading,reading!!!!!! But January is not an eager participant in all this activity,it's brooding & sulky after all that December merrymaking-occasionally cracking a smile with some winter sunshine. My mind may be turning cartwheels but the flesh is weak & I fight a daily battle to stop me from doing this..................... ......& as well as taking comfort between the,all enveloping,pages of my new book,my ears are being soothed & caressed by the velvety tones of Morrissey,whilst I fritter away the first month of this year of promise.....its all in the planning!

.....however,having cast aside the brooch I started stitching during the 'snow' (it wasn't holding my attention) I took up with an old friend instead-this was a little vintage doll I started 're-dressing' last year,it was to be for my mama for Christmas until time ran out! This is a little 'hobby' of mine which I find very therapeutic-I buy old souvenir costume dolls,which are in abundance at car boots across the land,those funny little dolls brought back from happy holidays,cherished in childhood then abandoned.I strip off their 'national' attire & then make new tiny clothes for the plastic people,the dolls themselves are so charming with their chubby cheeks & quirky expressions,I have always had a soft spot for them and have adopted many dolly orphans over the years. Some of my favourites have macabre painted toes in place of shoes,this little cupie however has painted ankle socks & red shoes,she also has spiky fingers & a very stroppy demeanour-I love her! Here she is in my 'sofa-sewing' box,most cross at having to wait for me,originally she was dressed in a kind of Dutch costume but with a dear little felt pixie hood which I retained & trimmed-the red shoes & hat meant she was destined to become Red Riding Hood in polka dots...........

...........so,here she is today,all dressed up,just before going to live with her new mama-better late than never-such a cutie pie but still stroppy-mama is used to naughty girls,she had 2 of her own!

This big girl needs to pull her thermal socks up & seize the day before January becomes February,there will always be grey days but there beats within a bright red shiny heart!

What You May Not Know About Annie Blackberry...

Hey Friends!

Thank you for reading this :)

I have actually been having a tough time of late. After losing our gorgeous chihuahua Gracie to a car accident at only 10 months of age quite soon after a miscarriage, I have also just lost 2 of my beautiful triplet rats, Edwina and Lady Penelope. Edwina was put down after suffering from cancer and Lady Penelope I found dead in her cage four days ago. This has affected me greatly. I shared a great bond with these 3 animals and their loss (esp. Gracie's) is inexplicably hard.

I have suffered the past 12 years with varying degrees of mild to severe depression which I 'caught' after a severe illness and burnout. I have also suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for the same amount of time and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) my entire life. I also started having convulsive seizures three eyars ago which thankfully have all but stopped. All these things have been diagnosed through a neuropsychiatrist and other top professionals. I have gained A LOT of weight due to the antidepressants and am slowly overcoming the shame of this.

A lot of the time I am quite ok, some of the time I am not and occasionally I really am not. At the moment, I'm really not. Please don't despair! I would never harm myself or do anything silly but sometimes I just need to be honest and upfront about how I am so I can feel that people may understand. I also want to remove some of the remaining stigma about mental illness. I think at one time or another we've all experienced it and if we haven't then we are extremely fortunate. I still have a lot of people whispering to me in the shop or emailing me in confidence to share with me that they too suffer from depression or another mental or physiological or biological illness. While I absolutely respect their right to keep it to themselves, I also feel sad that they feel ashamed of it or feel, somehow, weird.

I actually consider myself a pretty normal person. I would describe myself as extremely sensitive and can not bear to see others in any kind of pain. I think this means that I have no rose-tinted glasses though which to see life, so feel every bit of pain (and joy) to its fullest extent. I believe that my illness is physiological - a combination of a biological physical illness and an illness of the brain. I have a lot of counselling, prayer, read a lot of books, visit the doctor a lot and am limited in what I can or can't do (I find leaving home for over a day very hard for example). I sometimes do not understand people's actions and so seek explanation so I can try and assimilate this into my understanding of the world (someone may hurt me so I seek to know why, brassing them off trying to get my brain around what has happened, not to judge but to be able to process the situation and let go of it). Do I appease the OCD and keep looking for an answer and make ppl confused and angry or do I leave well enough alone and say nothing and be unable to let go?

I am a pain really but I also know that I am kind, loving, compassionate and a damn good laugh! If you are willing to accept me despite my foibles then I am extremely grateful. I have lost many friends thru lack of understanding on probably both our parts but have gained so many more through mutual understanding and a willingness on both parts to love.

I am Anna Sjardin-Killick, Annie, Annie Blackberry and I have OCD, depression, CFS and functional weakness and occasionally, seizures. I am at times grumpy, annoying and too intense. I am also fun-loving, humorous, talented and compassionate.

I accept me.

Thank you for accepting me.

Anna xxx

Back to life.....

.....today we ventured back into the real world..........the world that exists over the sea,beyond this tiny island I call home! Me & my little ones had last left the island last Monday before we were sent a small Mc-flurry of snow,however,it was not the snow that kept had us housebound but ice-our winding country style roads simply do not like it & the gritters save their grit for the more substantial roads. At times like these those much maligned,burly beasts-4x4 monster trucks come into their own & those of us sans 'Chelsea Tractor' must sit it out! School was shut for a week,the children were blessed,having only just emerged from the Christmas break,parents awaiting that back to school bliss,were less enchanted by it all! We had our day in the snow,then spent day after day,the 3 of us in the one room-the room with the fire lit-sure Country Living is all a bed of roses in Kirsty All-slops world,but in reality the idyllic country abode in winter can be as harsh as the snow queens palace! All draughty windows & doors & as for that rustic slate floor it simply transforms itself into floor level refrigeration,perfect for keeping ones feet on ice,3 pairs of socks & 1 pair of slippers (upgraded with sheepskin insoles) are no match for a chill which penetrates the bones! The woodburner was doing overtime providing us with 24 hr glow-wolfing down coal & logs,I provided my 3 hungry birds with homebaked crumbs from the kitchen-baking to keep warm,until the cupboards were bare,Mr M took on the role of hunter-gatherer venturing out to forage for food & rescue my mama from her hilltop home! Our enforced confinement took on a surreal & timeless quality,island life out of season is always secluded,in contrast to the months when we are just another stop on the tourist trail,but this was something else! Of course we are never really that cut off from the world in these days of virtual communication are we,as I type on my laptop-whilst watching TV with my mobile at my side....no-one is ever far away. Just before Christmas I started a book about the lives of the Brontes-a gripping read,that had me longing for bedtime & sneaking little reads at every opportunity. I chanced upon the book in Oxfam when I was on a desperate search for reading matter having just finished a book,reading is an insatiable hunger is it not,whilst absorbed in one I like to have another lined up ready to be devoured-after a respectable pause of course! Having conquered Wuthering Heights earlier in the year,I was hungry for more Bronte & when I saw on page 1 of this dog eared paperback that their mother Maria Branwell was born in my own home town of Penzance,I knew this was my next conquest.Oh, what lives they led up on that bleak Yorkshire moor,at the mercy of the elements with little to comfort body or mind,all of them virtually blind & suffering the pains of illness & heartbreak-not a cheery read-yet still they had a passion to write as though their life depended on it & it did. So in the days of this recent cold snap I was eeking out the final chapters as the Bronte sisters were eeking out their final days-racked with consumption,consumed by unrequited love,isolated & without hope & suddenly my own discomforts seemed so slight. When the end came,the last page,the final word,I was as always bereft-especially as the weather meant that my new book from Amazon had not arrived,I was like Charlotte longing for the postman,alas I waited in vain.....then yesterday it arrived... 'The Collected Works of the Bronte Sisters' oh goodness it is a tome 1,475 pages! I am not even sure I will be able to read it in bed,it is worthy of a lecturn......obviously it will keep me well fed for quite some time.......& I am secretly wishing for more snow!

Oh Happy Day!

I love Sundays!

As a family this is the one day guaranteed that we can spend as a family, together. No work..(except for emergency lock outs) no school. Just the morning spent in church, we go home to eat and relax the rest of the day, getting mentally prepared for the long week ahead.

I have another layout to show from SFTIO. ready to see?

I can only imagine



This LO is basically a mom wondering about all the different possibilities for my kids. as I see them growing up and developing their own personalities, their likes, and their talents. there are no limits for them. they are so bright, intelligent, so endearing, I can totally see them making me an even prouder mom. I can't express to my terrors enough how much potential and possibility/ies I see in each of them.

I updated my previous post with a photo, if you wanted to take a peek. :D

today

my baby girl turned 9. I have some photos of her taken today but havent had time to upload them yet. I made her whats got to be my fave card. I always hate my cards...this one I LOVE!

she had a decent day today. had a 2 hr delay for school...didnt get to wear a dress like she wanted to due to the  weather, but mommy did stay up late last night washing and blowing her hair straight. It looks so pretty nice and smooth.....she got a cooking momma game and a DSi. she carried on and on!!! LOL

I am in shock at how time flies, I mean I was just recalling on facebook how it felt like it was just yesterday that I was jumping over snow banks to try and bring on the labor pains. I had of false labor pains with that child.

anyways, Happy bday schmoopsie poo, once again.  I love you, baby!



gotta go to bed now.

xoxo