Inspired by the retreat ......

Happy Tuesday folks,

I've got a bit of a busy week this week ..... I'm off on one of my trips to the UK again on Friday (whoo hoo!) so lots to do before I leave.  
I need to get my head in gear and get the old craft room sorted, as well as getting everything else organised, and seeing the little man off tomorrow on his first day at school (oh .... bless him!) His uniform is all ready ..... Alex is definitely ready (a bit nervous, but very excited!) not sure that his mummy is though ...... better get the tissues ready too!
By the look of things I'll be burning the midnight oil a little, to get everything done in time ..... the list is rather a long one this week!

It's going to be a fun weekend though ... I'm not travelling alone this time either ...... two of my crafty pals are going across with me.  It's going to be a craft filled few days ..... a bit of retail therapy perhaps, a nice meal out here and there and then we're all off to the Clarity Open Days ......

I went along last year with my buddy Susan, and we had a ball!

Speaking of Clarity, do you remember back in July (oooh .... was it that long ago!) ....... I was lucky to go to the two day Clarity Craft Retreat down in Crowborough.  What a fab time we had ...... if you ever get chance to go on one of these .... DO IT!!!  It's two days crammed with learning techniques and picking up tips on how to create fabulous pieces of artwork .... all taught by Barbara Gray herself with a little help from the fabulous Paul Church from the DT.  You don't actually come away with finished projects as such, but you do have a mind full of ideas and a folder full of details and instructions that you can refer back to over and over again and ...... pieces of art that you can then re-create or complete and transform into something fabulous at a later date.

Here's one of mine that I didn't actually finish on the day but, taking a leaf out of Maria Simm's book (another member of the Clarity DT) I'm going to make an effort to get around to finishing off all those half done projects ...... we've all got boxes of them ...... well, I have anyway!!
Maria's called them Finish It Friday projects ....... this wasn't done on Friday by the way but it is finished now .....

So simple to do, but very effective.  I love the vintage, distressed look with that splash of colour.

I've simply stamped the columbine flower (I think I've got the right one! ....... from the Gentian & Columbine set) onto an old book page and then added colour using Spectrum Noir pencils ..... so pretty!

A little bit of tearing and distressing around the edges and some words added from the Million Thank Yous set  .......

And I finished off by adding some natural twine and a pretty painted wooden heart button

Well that's one finished ....... it's a start!

OK ..... I'd better go and check on the old suitcase situation. I have started packing but I'm trying to keep things to a minimum ...... well I need to save plenty of room for all that new craft stash that is no doubt going to find it's way into my bag .... ooops!  I've only booked hand luggage too ...... so ..... it's only 3 pairs of shoes this time!!!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
And, if you're in the area at the weekend why not pop along to the Clarity Open Days ..... I believe there's still some tickets available .... it would be lovely to see you!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx