Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Anniversary Album


This is my first project in a very long time. As it was a commission piece I had no choice but to pull my finger out and get gluing. It did me the world of good though. It made me realise that yes I do still love scrapping and making.
The photos aren't that great because I was in a hurry and not being fussy with them.


Such a good looking couple they made it easy to work with their photos. (I hope they get engaged next..lol)

I used Making Memories papers from Grimsby Crafts.

Saturday, 3 March 2012

ART DECO NAPIER NZ 2012

I often wonder why peeps brag about how many photos they took on holiday...that was until we went away for a month and I returned to find myself having to edit 700 of the bloomin things!! So I am going to share a few here with you and so my family can read this too.

Art Deco Weekend is held every year in my home town the famous little Art Deco city of the south Napier NZ.
I spent months before our holiday sourcing suitable clothes and still failed on some accounts, thankfully the wardrobe mistress stepped in and helped advice us with Georgias costume and my accessories.

Wednesday evening: Mother and I kicked off the weekend a little early with a soiree at the local 1930's theatre.
It was terrribly entertaining and great value for money. darrrrrrhling. We met an english couple who had round the world cruise tickets that culminated in their stay in Napier.......6 weeks on a boat just to get there, now thats what I call travelling in style. No kids, no jet lag and double the luggage allowance!!


I wore my nude coloured flapper style bias cut dress..shame you can't see the beading as it's covered by the huge grey fur.
Mother is holding her new beaded bag that we bought for her from E-Bay. The clasp needed a little tlc and mum being an expert needle worker sorted it in no time at all.

I had my hair cut into a 1920's bob by Raymond the local hairdressing celebrity.

Thursday saw us all travelling to meet a steam train and share in the annual Wellington to Napier run.


The train was soooo late, I reckon Ben could have got us home quicker on this Jigger!!



We waited ........


and waited..... 



and waited.....


...in the meantime, Georgia ruined her lace gloves by throwing stones onto the railway lines and I made lots of new friends and we all kept the station coffee shop open until late!!



(Emma on the right rides vintage bikes, boom boom my beating heart..more of those in another post)


I wore my silk day dress and the altered hat, but forgot my brown fur......I think I need more practise at this lady thing, my gloves stayed in my handbag the whole day too...honestly it's just not the done thing to be gloveless, when will I learn!!


The kids looked gorgeous and Mr I.T did me proud too....what a fine pair of Yorkshire men they make!




........and finally 2 hours late the steaming, hissing monstrosity that we had all been waiting for,  hurtled into the station with it's delicate wooden carriages shaking along behind it.

(This little train spotter was particularly excited..I can't possibly think why???)





For some of the tired passengers it was a long trip, for others a long wait, and for one little boy the ride of a life time!!


The end: the next episode has less trains and more cars and planes...all vintage off course!!

Love and furs
Ruth xxx

Monday, 30 January 2012

Napier, New Zealand here we come!!



Ooh that was quick..here I am......nah just kidding I wish!!


See you when I get back!!

Ruth xxx

Friday, 20 January 2012

Try Something New...

This months challenge at Happy Daze is to try something new.....I tried out my new sewing machine, but it could be a new technique or a new product or something you have never done before.



I made a slip cover for a book rather than cover it with paper. I used beautiful silver embroidered lace trim from Happy Daze and spritzed the calico with pastel mists.



The papers are Websters Pages HollyWood Vogue and are perfect for my Art Deco theme.




Sticking with the Art Deco theme is a layout of my sister in her flapper finery.
The title is because her beaded headpiece is actually a 1940's (ish) replica necklace that I sent to Mum one birthday or christmas. It certainly looks better on her head than it did in the shop!

Maybe my next layout will feature me in my flapper dress.....hmmmm


To enter this months competition simply add you name to the widget here:

Love and pearls
Ruth xxx

Sunday, 1 January 2012

A few photos and the usual chit chat.


Christmas was the usual early morning/late night/bleary eyed occassion that it is.
It didn't stop Ben smiling though.



Chaos ensued and I went into cardboard recycling mode
aka neurosis overdrive (again)!!


The tree fell over...it was my fault for letting Georgia hand out the presents!




And we enjoyed our Annual Boxing Day meal with the cousins.


The New Year brings exciting adventures to New Zealand so I don't know when I will be posting next but make 2012 a good one for yourselves and your family.

Love and suitcases
Ruth xxx

Happy New Year

I wanted to give my work colleagues their christmas presents, with a touch of my crafty magic, and went for the old decorated bottle trick...why buy boring wine carrier bags when you can make these for free!!



I used brown parcel paper, border punches, string and shrink plastic (for the neck of the bottle)
 and a  Circular Catslife Press stamp from Happy Daze.
The large tag stamp is from PaperArtsy.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

Love and Rose'
Ruth xxx

Saturday, 17 December 2011

A Cute Christmas Couple and a couple of catch ups !

I made this card as a momento for a couple who are celebrating their First Christmas Together.
 It was commissioned by one of their Mums.


The card opens out and says inside:
 " Love is the real thing the rest is just tinsel"
(what a cool quote!!)





I used Webster Pages 6x6 Die Cuts, and a Happy Holidays sentiment stamp from Happy Daze and a Papermania Stamp Set.

I hope they like it xxx

This year I have decorated my mantle piece like a curiosity shop. It is full of all those little things rather than one big swag or ornament. I have finally found an excuse to display my red flocked Pierrot doll!! It's tacky and kitch like the flocked reindeer but I love it!!


I don't think I have blogged this little altered frame.
 |It also has a 50's kitch ornament in it and is made with Websters Die Cuts. You can see it on the HappyDaze Facebook page.

The Father Christmas is Gisella Graham and I found it in a charity shop.
The elves behind are this years new additions and look like they are from The Grinch movie.

and finally my tree is up with only a couple of new additions this year, 3 White flocked polar bears and some more white felt hearts and Bens train from Santa.


Being train obsessed we have been on a Santa train ride....it wasn't quite the Polar Express so he was a little disappointed!

..and Georgia has been doing the rounds caroling with the local choir.



If I don't catch up with you before the New Year have a lovely Christmas and I will see you in January...and also some lucky peeps will see me in Febuary in New Zealand!!!!

eeeeeeeccckkkk can't wait..it's more exciting than Christmas..almost..lol

Love Ruth xxx