Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Art By Susan Brooker: Tiffany
Art By Susan Brooker: Tiffany: I'm feeling the Christmas spirit creeping in... I wonder what could be inside? On the desk today... Here's the finished pai...
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Art By Susan Brooker: Don't Look Back
Art By Susan Brooker: Don't Look Back: I started this one a while ago but only recently finished it. 'Don't Look Back' is oil on a deep edge canvas 60cm x 60 cm, and...
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Knitting and Crochet
I am so pleased with the new design templates on here, thanks Blogger, and have updated mine, I think it looks great but awaiting comments.
So I have been making cards and boxes and gift bags and really do need to sell some, space is becoming very limited and as I cannot just sit still and do nothing have taken up knitting and now crochet again. I forgot how satisfying crochet is, it grows so quickly and once you get your head out of knitting mode can actually design as you go along (well I do anyway) so here are some of my latest crochet tea cosies, they are made with chunky knit acrylic yarn so do keep that teapot nice and warm. I know most people use tea bags theses days but a good tip for saving a bit on buying is to use a teapot for your teabags, you can get at least two cups from one tea bag you know ;) (yeah really a miser me!)
So I have been making cards and boxes and gift bags and really do need to sell some, space is becoming very limited and as I cannot just sit still and do nothing have taken up knitting and now crochet again. I forgot how satisfying crochet is, it grows so quickly and once you get your head out of knitting mode can actually design as you go along (well I do anyway) so here are some of my latest crochet tea cosies, they are made with chunky knit acrylic yarn so do keep that teapot nice and warm. I know most people use tea bags theses days but a good tip for saving a bit on buying is to use a teapot for your teabags, you can get at least two cups from one tea bag you know ;) (yeah really a miser me!)
This one is for a medium sized teapot approx 4 cups.
This one is for a larger teapot approx 6 cups and is two sided light lilac colours on one side and darker on the other.
This one is again for the larger teapot and is made with the brightest of colours to cheer you up on those dull days.
I will be selling these on my website for £7-00 each plus p&p for the larger ones and £6-00 for the smaller one or if anybody wants me to make one for them please contact me through the website. http://www.pambigreetings.co.uk/
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
The Swans and Babies
Saturday, 5 June 2010
The Lakes in Pictures
At last, as promised, pictures of my heaven on earth. Hope you enjoy as much as I do.
However, my tranquillity was totally shattered this morning, the sun is shining and I am expecting the Lake to look beautiful as usual and then.............noise?........shouting........laughing............what is going on? The Cubs and Scouts have taken over the Lake.......and were they enjoying it........they were canoeing, boating, swimming..........oh such fun for them and for me to watch, it was great. The whole place seemed to be heaving with people today and it was really wonderful to see families out enjoying themselves with the dogs and children all scampering around. The place is so vast thought that I still managed to find a bit of quiet and have taken some pictures to prove how beautiful it is.
I am going to take pics as the seasons change and will post them as and when, enjoy.
However, my tranquillity was totally shattered this morning, the sun is shining and I am expecting the Lake to look beautiful as usual and then.............noise?........shouting........laughing............what is going on? The Cubs and Scouts have taken over the Lake.......and were they enjoying it........they were canoeing, boating, swimming..........oh such fun for them and for me to watch, it was great. The whole place seemed to be heaving with people today and it was really wonderful to see families out enjoying themselves with the dogs and children all scampering around. The place is so vast thought that I still managed to find a bit of quiet and have taken some pictures to prove how beautiful it is.
I am going to take pics as the seasons change and will post them as and when, enjoy.
This is the view as I walk in through the gate.
Around the other side.
Just a few of the inhabitants.
Blackberries later me thinks....yum yum!
The Cubs and Scouts have a great time.
Also just want to let you know about http://www.ukhandmade.co.uk/ and the online Summer Edition of their magazine, it really is informative and a good read and below are some 'bookmarks' I made from their tutorial on pages 14 and 15.
Friday, 4 June 2010
My Dads Card
This is my first picture taken with new camera of one of my cards, it is my dear ole Dads 'Father's Day Card' I can show it here as I know he doesn't use the internet....well at 88 he did try but not really his thing.
Camera Arrived
I am so excited my camera has arrived and for me is, all singing all dancing (I hope), it looks like it should be just point and shoot but it does have one or two gadgets which I am going to try out. Anyway, I have taken a few pictures of some of my knitted items just to see how they come out on here and to show the 'zoom' feature which I think works quite well, you can actually see the stitches.
This is just point and shoot.
This is just point and shoot.
This is with one click zoom
This is ZOOM you can see the stitches.
Now all I got to do is to take it with me tomorrow to take the pics of the Lakes as promised and there were some brand new Baby Swans.........aw sooooooo cute.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Watch this Space
I have ordered my camera, I only hope it does what I want it to. I did quite a lot of research and this one seem the best in my price range. I want it to take pics on my walk and for taking pics to put on my website etc. So watch this space the first thing will be pics of my walk especially showing the babies that are about at the moment, hope it comes soon or they will be all grown up ;)
Talking of baby animals what you think of my gadgets? I love it as every time I come here there is a different picture and they are sooooooo cute! The 'Daily Puppy' always makes me smile too.
Talking of baby animals what you think of my gadgets? I love it as every time I come here there is a different picture and they are sooooooo cute! The 'Daily Puppy' always makes me smile too.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Somebody Must Know......
Phew what a change in the weather but this is Britain I should expect nothing else. I sat here this morning watching the rain fall waiting for it to stop and thought, ‘you know what I am not going to let a bit of rain stop me’ after all I am a ‘proper walker’ now (well I went out yesterday in the wind...). Suitably attired (rain mac) with umbrella I set of for my walk. I have to say at this point the best bit is actually walking in through the gate, it is like stepping into another world, it even smells different and after my first deep breathe I stride off along the path.
Apart from the lake looking really beautiful with all the little drops of water pooling on it and the sounds of the rain falling the first thing I noticed was the snails........yes snails...........not just one or two but hundreds of them, all over the path, in the bushes, up the sides of stems and alive but hardly moving. Why? I have never noticed them before. Was there a ‘Snail Rave’ last night on the other side of the path and these are the ones that got caught out in the rain and are now struggling to get back? Or is it ‘Snail Bank Holiday’ too this weekend and these are the ones trying to get away early before the Friday rush like Caravaners do every Bank Holiday? I really am intrigued and somebody out there must know......I expect it is something scientific to do with phases of the moon and rain fall etc., but the idea of the ‘Snail Rave’ has put a smile on my face...;)
Any scientific information gratefully received......thanks.
Apart from the lake looking really beautiful with all the little drops of water pooling on it and the sounds of the rain falling the first thing I noticed was the snails........yes snails...........not just one or two but hundreds of them, all over the path, in the bushes, up the sides of stems and alive but hardly moving. Why? I have never noticed them before. Was there a ‘Snail Rave’ last night on the other side of the path and these are the ones that got caught out in the rain and are now struggling to get back? Or is it ‘Snail Bank Holiday’ too this weekend and these are the ones trying to get away early before the Friday rush like Caravaners do every Bank Holiday? I really am intrigued and somebody out there must know......I expect it is something scientific to do with phases of the moon and rain fall etc., but the idea of the ‘Snail Rave’ has put a smile on my face...;)
Any scientific information gratefully received......thanks.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
My Walk
As you will note I have not blogged for quite a long time, I have to be in the mood and frankly I haven’t been for some months. Recently however I have decided that I must get off my butt and move (I do have a serious weight problem) and once I had given myself a good talking to thought I would start walking. Not hard to do, and thankfully I still can, so started by walking to the shops. This proved to be far too expensive and not something I looked forward to, any excuse and I would put it off or go in the car on the pretence that I couldn’t carry that much and walk too.
I have lived in this area for 40 years and have just found ‘The Lakes’, I sort of knew they were there but was always too busy and didn’t have time. Well now I do have the time and think I have found the most beautiful place ever. It is 2.5k walk around the lakes and the scene is forever changing, there are ducks and swans and birds in abundance and trees and wild flowers and.....and.....do you get the impression I love it? I have walked the 2.5k every day this past week and not only am I getting my exercise (which I don’t even notice) I have spoken to so many people and actually come home with a smile on my face. Watching the dogs in the water and the swans chasing them out, watching the children feeding the ducks, watching the baby ducklings, I have done it all this week and have loved every second of it.
As the week has worn on I have actually wanted to get up and go for ‘my walk’, the week started off fairly drab but the weather today has been spectacular (Sunday 23rd May) and there were many people at the lakes, wind surfing, swimming, boating and just generally enjoying life. I think I have found out what a lot of people around me have known for ages that life is worth living and generally does not cost a lot and the old saying ‘the best things in life are free’ is so true but you do have to get off your butt and find out!
I have lived in this area for 40 years and have just found ‘The Lakes’, I sort of knew they were there but was always too busy and didn’t have time. Well now I do have the time and think I have found the most beautiful place ever. It is 2.5k walk around the lakes and the scene is forever changing, there are ducks and swans and birds in abundance and trees and wild flowers and.....and.....do you get the impression I love it? I have walked the 2.5k every day this past week and not only am I getting my exercise (which I don’t even notice) I have spoken to so many people and actually come home with a smile on my face. Watching the dogs in the water and the swans chasing them out, watching the children feeding the ducks, watching the baby ducklings, I have done it all this week and have loved every second of it.
As the week has worn on I have actually wanted to get up and go for ‘my walk’, the week started off fairly drab but the weather today has been spectacular (Sunday 23rd May) and there were many people at the lakes, wind surfing, swimming, boating and just generally enjoying life. I think I have found out what a lot of people around me have known for ages that life is worth living and generally does not cost a lot and the old saying ‘the best things in life are free’ is so true but you do have to get off your butt and find out!
Friday, 28 August 2009
Really Important Question.
When I was a child in the forties and fifties before I went to school my Mum would ensure that I had clean underwear and a clean cotton hanky. We were allowed to wear skirts, shirts and cardigans all week but to go out in yesterday’s underwear, or be caught with a dirty crumpled hanky was just not done. As a teenager in the sixties however we had paper hankies (note the spelling) and facial tissues all in smart boxes to be seen on your dressing table and even little handbag size packets of hankies to be taken everywhere, those beautifully embroidered cotton squares were put to the back of the drawer never to see the light of day again.
Men however were still expected to carry the half tea towel sized piece of cotton in their top pocket all neatly laundered and ironed with precise square creases. It was considered almost a uniform for men to have that little triangle or strip of white cotton handkerchief peeking from the top breast pocket of their business suit. The ‘mods’ of the sixties even had ‘faux’ or ‘fake’ as we called them, little oblongs of cardboard with several points of white cotton cloth sewn to the edge of the cardboard which would sit neatly in the top pocket of his ‘Italian Bum Freezer Suit’ which would not need laundering or ironing. Man size tissues were not readily available until around the seventies.
When I first got married, as a dutiful wife I would wash and iron my husband’s handkerchiefs and would curse under my breath at the unfairness of it all. My mother-in-law bless her, did come to my rescue and used to do some laundry for me including the dreaded hankies, but looking back, I do wonder if it was to make sure her precious only son was correctly turned out with neatly ironed shirts, underwear (yes she ironed underwear) and hanky. As the years have gone on most men have left their white cotton squares in the back of the drawer where they should be and will use the really manly MAN SIZED tissues the only person not doing this.......you guessed it ......my husband.
Now, after forty years I absolutely refuse to iron hankies and even with the front loading washing machine I still have to handle these little squares of snot and put them in the machine and hang them out to dry, thanking god for ‘Marigolds’ every time. So the question is, how can I persuade the most stubborn man that was ever born to get rid of these germ infested squares and use tissues like everybody else?
And while you ponder this really important question take a look at my new Christmas Cards.
Men however were still expected to carry the half tea towel sized piece of cotton in their top pocket all neatly laundered and ironed with precise square creases. It was considered almost a uniform for men to have that little triangle or strip of white cotton handkerchief peeking from the top breast pocket of their business suit. The ‘mods’ of the sixties even had ‘faux’ or ‘fake’ as we called them, little oblongs of cardboard with several points of white cotton cloth sewn to the edge of the cardboard which would sit neatly in the top pocket of his ‘Italian Bum Freezer Suit’ which would not need laundering or ironing. Man size tissues were not readily available until around the seventies.
When I first got married, as a dutiful wife I would wash and iron my husband’s handkerchiefs and would curse under my breath at the unfairness of it all. My mother-in-law bless her, did come to my rescue and used to do some laundry for me including the dreaded hankies, but looking back, I do wonder if it was to make sure her precious only son was correctly turned out with neatly ironed shirts, underwear (yes she ironed underwear) and hanky. As the years have gone on most men have left their white cotton squares in the back of the drawer where they should be and will use the really manly MAN SIZED tissues the only person not doing this.......you guessed it ......my husband.
Now, after forty years I absolutely refuse to iron hankies and even with the front loading washing machine I still have to handle these little squares of snot and put them in the machine and hang them out to dry, thanking god for ‘Marigolds’ every time. So the question is, how can I persuade the most stubborn man that was ever born to get rid of these germ infested squares and use tissues like everybody else?
And while you ponder this really important question take a look at my new Christmas Cards.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
‘Blogged Today’
Having my own website is very new to me; blogging is even newer and more alien! I am told and I think I understand that blogging is like having a diary that people can read, well for my generation that is totally off the spectrum! We (my generation) as children always coveted those lucky friends that had those lockable diaries, the one with the little key they wore around their necks and who came in to school after Christmas showing the beautifully packaged little book with key on suitable ribbon around their throat. I wonder how many of them (the diaries) survive today and if they did ‘write in them every day’, it was absolute torture for me to have to write the one line required in my school diary. I ‘went to Nana’s’ almost every evening because I just could not think of anything that I actually did at home to write about. In my teenage years if I did receive a diary as a present I would make the effort to write for about the first couple of weeks and then lose interest and the diary never to be found again.
The only time I really used a diary was at work, I had the big day a page diary so that I could list all my appointments, meeting notes, things to do lists, and keep all my contacts, addresses, phone numbers etc., and in January transfer all the important information from the old book to the new one and keep the old one for at least five years just in case I ever needed to look up so and so who I met fifteen years ago, how times have changed. I now do rely on my laptop to remind me of appointments, birthdays and my contacts list is there forever but I really should remember to update it when people move! AND joy of joys I have a ‘to do list’ right there on my desktop reminding me of all the things that I haven’t done. Well this is one thing I can tick off; I have ‘blogged’ today.
http://www.pambigreetings.co.uk
The only time I really used a diary was at work, I had the big day a page diary so that I could list all my appointments, meeting notes, things to do lists, and keep all my contacts, addresses, phone numbers etc., and in January transfer all the important information from the old book to the new one and keep the old one for at least five years just in case I ever needed to look up so and so who I met fifteen years ago, how times have changed. I now do rely on my laptop to remind me of appointments, birthdays and my contacts list is there forever but I really should remember to update it when people move! AND joy of joys I have a ‘to do list’ right there on my desktop reminding me of all the things that I haven’t done. Well this is one thing I can tick off; I have ‘blogged’ today.
http://www.pambigreetings.co.uk
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Christmas in August.
I know most of you do not want to know how many shopping days till Christmas so I will be kind and not tell you but being a card maker my Christmas starts in August.
These black and white cards are not the usual colours of Christmas but I thought I would try and see how they turn out, after all although a lot of people like to send cards at Christmas they are not all of the Christian faith and these are really 'Happy Holiday' cards.
These are more traditional images and colours of Christmas.
I have also made some notelet sets which would make a nice gift, I know people do not write these days and email rules, but it is always nice to receive a hand written thank you note .
These black and white cards are not the usual colours of Christmas but I thought I would try and see how they turn out, after all although a lot of people like to send cards at Christmas they are not all of the Christian faith and these are really 'Happy Holiday' cards.
These are more traditional images and colours of Christmas.
I have also made some notelet sets which would make a nice gift, I know people do not write these days and email rules, but it is always nice to receive a hand written thank you note .Saturday, 15 August 2009
Writing Set
I have made this writing set as neutural as I can so that it could be given as a gift to a male or female, it has everything needed to keep in touch,6 sheets of printed writing paper.
6 blank notelet cards, could be used for a birthday or just to say 'Hi'.
6 handcrafted matching envelopes
6 white envelopes
4 tags
2 matchbook note books, always handy to make a note to self to take with you in handbag or pocket.
I know people do not write to each other these days but lets not lose the art altogether and by giving this to a dear friend or relative will let them know how much you value contact with them.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Gift Boxes
A couple of new additions to my gift boxes range all on the website.
Just finished these gift boxes and put them on my website. I thought I would make them so that after the gift has been taken out then they can be used as trinket boxes for jewellery or hair grips etc. I know my daughters always had boxes of bits and pieces on their dressing tables and I think these would look good instead of plastic boxes. Having said that my daughter (whose birthday it is today) has just started selling the plastic shoe boxes on her website http://www.wix.com/desertdiva/desertdiva and I think they are just what I need, I love putting things in boxes and having a place for everything. So between us I think we got it covered!
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Baby Card
I have just finished this Baby Card and have put it on my website and unfortunately found out that I am restricted with the number of photo files I can upload to my site. Don't quite know what to do now maybe I will have to keep changing the pictures on my website and actually archive all my pictures here or something. Or, which is what I know I should do..........upgrade my package......but gotta sell first!
Anyway here is the Baby Card .
http://www.pambigreeting.co.uk
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Updated website.
I have just updated my website and put some blank cards on which can be customised if necessary, its very difficult to know what to make unless you have an idea of the recipient and that is what I would like to do, as I have before, the customer tells me who the card is for, some little bits about the person, age, gender, hobbies etc and then I make the card for that person. I then take photos and send them to the customer and once they are totally satisfied I then send it to them and they buy it of course (hopefully ;))
I had one customer wanting a special card for her daughter and she said she wanted a traditional type of card with a proper verse inside, not soppy and sentimental but a nice verse, which is what I made for her and she was very happy about it and I know her daughter will keep that card because it came from her Mum and she knew she really had put some thought into buying it. Another wanted a card for her daughter's 40th birthday and she was into horses, so I made a card with a huge rosette and 40 in the centre, the parents loved it and so did the daughter I am reliably informed and she has said she will treasure it.
It is nice to know that the cards I make are kept as keepsakes but more than that it is nice to know that if you received a 'pambi greetings' card that the person sending it has gone to the trouble of asking me to make it and that it has been made with care and sent with much love.
I had one customer wanting a special card for her daughter and she said she wanted a traditional type of card with a proper verse inside, not soppy and sentimental but a nice verse, which is what I made for her and she was very happy about it and I know her daughter will keep that card because it came from her Mum and she knew she really had put some thought into buying it. Another wanted a card for her daughter's 40th birthday and she was into horses, so I made a card with a huge rosette and 40 in the centre, the parents loved it and so did the daughter I am reliably informed and she has said she will treasure it.
It is nice to know that the cards I make are kept as keepsakes but more than that it is nice to know that if you received a 'pambi greetings' card that the person sending it has gone to the trouble of asking me to make it and that it has been made with care and sent with much love.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
www.pambigreetings.co.uk
Have taken over my website, my son is too busy, so I have completely re-vamped it and to be honest I am quite pleased with myself for doing it.
I have put some of my cards on for sale and have reduced the prices so hopefully will evenutally get some sales.
Now I am trying to get it noticed.
So if you read this then please go have a look at my new website and I would be very interested in your comment, good or bad, as I need all the help I can get!
http://www.pambigreeting.co.uk
I have put some of my cards on for sale and have reduced the prices so hopefully will evenutally get some sales.
Now I am trying to get it noticed.
So if you read this then please go have a look at my new website and I would be very interested in your comment, good or bad, as I need all the help I can get!
http://www.pambigreeting.co.uk
Friday, 10 April 2009
New Website
My clever son has just made my new website to sell my cards, I am really pleased with it, not quite finished yet but really thrilled with it.
http://www.pambigreetings.co.uk
Still can't get to grips with putting photos on here but now you can see some of my cards by visiting my website.
http://www.pambigreetings.co.uk
Still can't get to grips with putting photos on here but now you can see some of my cards by visiting my website.
Friday, 27 February 2009
First Blog
Really getting to grips with the twenty-first centuary or what! My kids will love this, Mum Blogging!
What I really want to do though is to show the cards that I am making. I have a shop on Folksy and everybody there seems to blog so here goes, nobody will read this anyway ;)
Have just put some Mother's Day cards in my shop on Folksy which I am quite proud of:-
http://www.folksy.com/shops/pambi
If anybody does read this I would be interested in your comments, good or bad, I don't mind criticism but love it when people like my cards. I might even work out how to put pictures on here sometime.
What I really want to do though is to show the cards that I am making. I have a shop on Folksy and everybody there seems to blog so here goes, nobody will read this anyway ;)
Have just put some Mother's Day cards in my shop on Folksy which I am quite proud of:-
http://www.folksy.com/shops/pambi
If anybody does read this I would be interested in your comments, good or bad, I don't mind criticism but love it when people like my cards. I might even work out how to put pictures on here sometime.
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