Project Wednesday ~Dossing in the Garden

Well, usually my projects are little more paper based than this weeks, but it's nice to have a change, right?
I had a long weekend this week thanks to my bosses rotaing so I took full advantage to spend most of it in the garden! The weather was supposed to be terrible but it actually turned out pretty good, I even got to see the sun a fair bit! I admit it's getting chillier, but it's not enough to stop me at the moment (if it gets much colder it will though, I'm terrible for avoiding the outdoors!).

I was given some tiny little seed pots that were going to be thrown away so I dived straight in with filling them with compost and now they all have peas or beans in them XD Some other peas that I started off about 3 weeks ago were starting to outgrow their seed tray and although I'd planned for them to be planted out by Dad they were just getting too root-y so they got planted outside, and the seed tray is already being used for broad beans! I still have two more sets of peas to germinate so I'm sure Dad will still have something to do :]

It's not all been legumes though and I've also been paying some attention to the front garden where I hope to plant some flowers for colour. I don't trust vegetables to stay out the front, although the general consensus of the neighbours appears to be that if it comes from the ground its poisonous! Later on in the year I'll probably end up putting some peas out along the fence line though as they've done pretty well there for the last couple of years. (I think people think they are boring sweet peas xp) I'm trying to make a bit of a feature in the front garden with some plant pots as the middle piece is getting so boring to me! The cherry tree is offset from the middle and not big enough yet to draw much attention, so I'm hoping to get this pot set to have lots of nice blooms and some trailing plants down the side. I've never attempted anything like this before so fingers crossed!

Out the back garden I've got two lots of onions in, they like the sunshine so I've tried to get them in prominent spots, and because I don't usually have a lot of luck with getting them to grow as big as I'd like I've done a little research this year and put a whole bunch of compost and slow release plant food in before planting them :] I'm hoping that'll give them a head start while I concentrate on watering to try and get them chunky XD

And of course with all this I feel the need to bring a little paper organisation in somewhere so I created this chart to keep track of everything as it's planted and grows. I'm really looking forward to filling it in, but I feel theres more I could do with a more garden-focussed journal, but I'm not really sure where to start, or how to go about it. Even Pinterest isn't bringing much up for me!
Do you have any ideas, or have you done any garden themed journals or crafts before? I'd love to hear about them!
Catch you soon,

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Sunday Catch-up ~Busier than I thought!

Here we are again, back at Sunday! It's been a more eventful week than I hoped at the beginning as one of my coworkers swapped shifts with me so I didn't have to do all 12 starts, which although I lost out on a little money, was way better for my mentality xp I did miss a lot of the good weather by having to be at work, but at least I got to enjoy a little of it, including this great sunset on Thursday, which I nipped out the back gates at work to take a picture of in the middle of service!

Thursday daytime I had a good day trekking around the shops and found a fair bit that I wanted to buy- luckily I'd only taken so much money with me, perhaps something I need to do more often ;p

It did mean on Friday I'd got all that out my system and I got a little time to focus on the garden, dragging planters about an putting in some new things, I still have a lot to do but I'm pleased with how it's all doing so far :] I'll save you from any pics of dirt this week though xp

On Friday I went out with Face to a factory shop nearby where they sell surplus of all the products they make. They sell a load of brand name foods so cheap it's totally worth the trip out to see what you can find x3 This time we found a massive tub of caramel flavour frappe mix! So guess what we did when we got home? They were really good too! I was surprised at how easy it came together with just a little bit of mix.

Yesterday was a super busy day for me, my first day off in over a week and I was ready for it! I dyed my hair in the morning (though the less we speak of that at the moment the better) and then went to get a new tattoo from the girl who does Face's. It was a good afternoon of scratchy pain an i think well worth it! Excuse the picture, I promise you none of it's blood!

In the evening i went to see my friend Sami in Wolverhampton and we went out to Isosushi, which as recently opened up x3 We ate a little too much but it was well worth it! If I had a shop like this near where I live I would be poor with the amount of sticky rice I could buy on demand *.* Maybe one day... After we went back to her house for some Matcha latte and a look around the garden in the dark x3
Today I was waiting for the weather to warm up a little and I'm off to go have a play in the garden again x3 Did you have a good week? Let me know! I'll catch you soon!



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Spreading Kindness

I don't really have a focus today, I just wanted to write a little about some of the stuff that happened to me the other day, and how it sparked a bit of a realisation :]
It started when I didn't have to go to work at 12- one of my coworkers kindly agreed to take on my early start so I could start later. I think my boss noticed that I appear to get a little stressed out after too many long shifts, particularly when the sun is shining and I'd blatantly rather be outside so she'd asked him to cover for me. Just a little thing, but it improved my day so much.
I started by getting out into the garden and putting some of the indoor plants out into the sun to enjoy the weather. Then I thought I'd go do some shopping for a few bits and pieces I'd decided I needed ;p
I started at the garden centre and found some little seedlings past their sell by date, so I got those cheap, another act of kindness, even if it was only by the shop Xp
I went on to get some food for my dragons, and while I was at the retail park I bought some compost, it was really cheap too at only a pound so I got three bags- I don't understand, I buy compost every year, so where does it go? I don't have a massive pile of dirt from last year that would explain it! Anyway...
I moved on to Wilkinsons as I wanted to get growbags still. Around where I live you can no longer park for free unless you park miles away, so I went to get a ticket, but found I only had a two pound coin and the machine doesn't give change. As I was wondering what to do a lady came to use the machine and kindly swapped my coin for two pounds so I didn't have to overspend X3 It's not much, but to a cheapskate like me..!
And Wilkos has a lot of things I want at the moment, I think I'm going to have to go back soon! In the meantime though, I just bought the growbags I was after. And you know what, as I was carrying them the 5 minutes back to the car, I got three offers to help me carry them, (I was obviously looking pretty weak in my attempts to carry two grow bags and maintain their integrity xp) from total strangers, how cool is that? I didn't accept their help which maybe I should've but I thanked them for offering.


When I got home I began unloading all the stuff from the car, and my next door neighbour came over and asked if he was alright to mow my lawn! While Dad's away I haven't mown it and since the weather's been good it's kind of gone nuts, so it really was in need. I was hoping to try and do it at the weekend even though the forecast wasn't very good, so this was an awesome help x3 I edged the lawn as he mowed it, trying to look like I was helping!
What was strange was all this kindness in just one day. I didn't know what to think! Maybe cause the weather was nice and was putting people in a good mood or I was just looking pretty pathetic, I'm not sure. But I really appreciated it, and I noticed that all my offers of help were from an older generation. I'm not sure what that says about my own, but it does make me feel like I should put more effort in, even if it's just at work when I see someone struggling with their bags or something.
Kindness is still alive and kicking it would seem, in a country that people are often complaining about getting worse, and town that many dismiss as being soulless. Maybe those complaining need to think about helping others a little more?

Project Wednesday #6- Completed Banksy Diary

Hey, if you were here on Sunday, you may remember that I was thinking about writing about my Thai Smashbook today. Well, I admit, I changed my mind XD Instead, I've decided to write about another ongoing project that has another stage complete: my diary/journal:


Like I said the other day, I've not been consistently writing a diary for a while before this, until about November when I decided to start it back up, give it another go and all that xp
Usually my diaries are full of all sorts of cut-outs and doodles and what not but as this one was just an aim to get back into the swing of things, I thought I would leave it simple and just put stuff in if I really felt like it, rather than feeling I was forced to find something to decorate a page. Because of that, it doesn't make for the most interesting flick though, but those interested in journal-keeping might like the peak into another's book x3
I've moved on now to one of the ones I previewed in my last post on journals- the pink UK ferris wheel book :] I'll let you know how it goes, in fact, I may just go write in it now while I enjoy the sunshine :]
Catch you soon,

Sunday Catch-up #5- Ups and Downs

Oh, sorry, I'm a little delayed in my catchup this week :x
Last week started really well actually and then went into a bit of a decline, and I don't really have many photos this week because of it! Here we go with what I do have though x3
Monday was a good start, I had the day off and I spent it around the house as the weather wasn't so good. I was doing as I promised myself in one of my earlier posts and catching up with my Thai Smashbook x3 I'll post a little more about that on Wednesday I think.

Tuesday I was at work at 3, but as I was determined to enjoy the good weather I went out to Attingham Park. I took a a public footpath in, which went through some fields with some sheep and their lambs x3

When I got in, I wandered round the walled gardens, my favourite bit of the park x3 I hadn't timed it spot on though and didn't get much time to wander before having to come back home via Tesco and go to work.


He's always so polite, typical chef! On Wednesday I had another day off, and barely stopped! I was all over the place with Face buying meat and then by myself locating other items for a barbeque held at his Mum's house in the evening. Some of our best friends came round too and we all had a really fun night x3
The week gets pictureless after this as I spent Thursday and Friday in bed all day with sickness XD I had some sushi on Tuesday that I didn't look after very well before eating so I think it took me out! I barely got up for anything, I was so lethargic and my appetite completely gone (very unlike me!) Ah well teach me a lesson I suppose.
By Saturday I was back at work on 12-11, and Sunday the same, which is why I really haven't had much time to pop by here. In fact I'm on Midday-Midnight shifts all week so I'm not going to get much time for anything in the next few days and next weeks Catch-up may be pretty bleak too! I may skip it if it is, there's not much to write about having to go to work all day every day xp
How did I get time to come by today though? I rolled myself out of bed at 9.30 to wash my hair. I'm not feeling to good for it but it had to be done and it has given me time to come by here so not all bad x.X
Catch you Wednesday :]

Project Wednesday #5 ~La De Dah Smashbook

The weather has been really lovely this week so far, except for Monday, my first day off this week. I took that as an opportunity to get very invested in one of my Smashbooks, so while smashbooks are in mind, for today I thought it was time to come back around to my La-de-Dah book, and show a few more pages from it :]
So, this first set of pages is kinda just one page but I put in an extra page using the front cover of a magazine, then covered the back with pics from inside :] I went to see the Libertines in Hyde Park, London, and I was so excited! They are my favourite band easily and to see them back together again was just overwhelming. This page is a mix of stuff I collected from the BST festival, magazines and even a patch I had lying around x3

This next set of pages is one of my favourites in the whole book! I did a 100 Happy Days challenge with my sister, and and once I was done I got all these tiny pics printed out and spend ages cutting them to size to do this page! The page wasn't big enough for all the pictures though so I put in another 'expansion' page to fit even more pics in. I actually wanted to be able to lift the pics with a washi hinge originally but I couldn't think of a way to do that that wouldn't make the page look messy. So there isn't much writing on this one, just a keep it simple page :]

When I was at work one day I came up with this super awesome idea for a business and spent the next two days or so finalising all the details XD Once I knew exactly how it would all work and what would be included I thought I would make it a page in my smashbook XD I'm not one for making my own businesses so it'll never go further than this page, but it was fun to think about it x3 The right hand page is more of a daydream wish for when I move out.

This is a simple page for my birthday. This page started out being the page after the christmas page but after adding an expansion pack it made it's way more towards the middle of the book! I really think I could've done more with this page, but I didn't seem to have enough little things to stick in to liven it up.

I'll leave you with this one for now. In January our town hosts the first big tattoo convention of the year, Tattoo Freeze. I'd been before but not for a couple of years so I thought it was time to check it out again! I ended up getting a tattoo too, the sparrow in the corner (which by September I had re-worked to look a lot better ;x) but I had a good day and collected a bunch of stuff that needed sticking somewhere ;p
I really enjoy smashbooking, but as with most of the crafts I choose to do, I am not quick at it. These pages all took me quite a while to put together and although some came out better than others I'm pleased with it overall. Give it a few more weeks and maybe I'll put some more up from this La-De-Dah smashbook :]

Sunday Catch Up #4

So, this week. I've not been too busy, but it turns out that week off has done me some good, I think. I've not been too put down by work and this week has gone fairly quickly :]
Monday was a beautiful day, just like the day before, only thins time I had a little time to myself. And of course, I wasn't really sure what to do with it! After watching Face work on his car and doing a bit of writing in the sun, I decided to wash my car! It's been a long time coming, my poor car was filthy from the winter and a few motorway trips. But now look at it! So shiny x3

Tuesday was a day for the garden, and I put a few peas and beans in the greenhouse to go with the ones already outside. I also checked everything else I have growing, so far not much progress on anything I planted the other day, but as you can see, this Lemon tree is going for it! It's been in the conservatory all winter and it going crazy with a growth spurt that sent it right up to the roof! I've had to move it to a lower table so it doesn't crush itself XD

On Wednesday I decided spending the last two days around the house on beautiful days was enough, so I went to check out the local cherry gardens. I was a little early though, as although it seems all the wild ones are in full bloom, the curated ones were only just about there. So I did get a few nice pics around, but not quite what I was hoping for.

Thursday was my first day off since my 'holiday' and was ready to enjoy it XD I decided to go out tiki-touring after having a quick meet up with a friend, but she had no other plans so came with me! We had a good time doing a little cruise of the Wolverhampton/Bridgnorth area and taking some pics along the way. This one is of the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, and the view on a lovely summer-like evening :]

Friday's picture isn't very interesting, (another of dirt!) but I was excited to find that these mini-sweetcorn have already started to pop through! Today was another day off, and I actually got up to a bit but didn't really get any other pics that this one. Oops.

Yesterday I didn't do anything interesting before wok, just a bit of gluing in a couple of books, sitting inside away from the wind before I went to work. When I got in I was asked to do a drawing on the chalkboard wall in one of the function rooms for a promise that had been made to the guests that evening. It was a Las Vegas themed birthday party so I got a couple of pics for reference and got to it. It took about an hour and a half to two hours but it was fun and certainly not something I get asked to do often. If work was like this more often.... ;p

Today the weather has totally changed, it's mostly overcast, the wind is more blustery than ever and I'm glad I have a lot of things to amuse me indoors, although I have to go out soon to go to work xd I've hung some washing out but I'm starting to get a little worried it's going to try and blow away :x I think I'll have to go get it in and dry it inside after all! I've just been messing round with this and that, including this pair of cameras Face bought for me, aren't they pretty? X3
So, a pic for every day this week! That may be a first so far! Did you get up to much this week? Was it nice where you were?

Project Wednesday #4 ~Travel Journals

So, with my This is Not a Book complete, you'd think I'd have time for another type of art journal, right? Well, yes and no. I think I'm going to try and focus on finishing a couple of my travel journals first.
I like keeping track. After a holiday, I tend to forget little details, and it's those kinds of things that are what you want to remember, of course. So I try to keep journals while I'm away. It usually goes that it works for a while, but then I get overwhelmed or just want to relax with everyone else for the evening so I put it to one side. I'm terrible for it. Because the longer I put it down for the less I want to go back to it.


This is the one I partially did during my trip to Japan.
My Japanese one I set up like a smashbook, decorating a lot of the pages before I went so I would just have journal and stick instax photos or leaflets in. But as ever, I got really carried away with it and each day was taking me a solid two hours before I could go to bed. I started to get really frustrated as my boyfriend watched TV (which is MASSIVELY distracting to me) and fell asleep without me. What I hoped would make it easier was possibly taking even longer than normal as I got really particular over little things instead of focussing on the major idea- taking notes to remember the holiday by.
And I do this every holiday! I have yet to learn that I can't be left alone for an hour to write while I'm on holiday, I'm either with people who are too active or I feel like I'm wasting time when I should be out exploring a new place!


This is my Ibiza Journal from 2014
So, they inevitably get put to one side as I decide I'll finish them off at home, when I get back and have all that time to myself. Which, you may guess, I don't really get. I seem to work a lot for someone who generally starts their working day at 3pm. If I have any time to myself before that I'm sleeping from late bedtimes, or eating before I have to go to work XD
Wow, I realise this sounds like a massive whinge-fest but I didn't mean it to be that way, sorry! I guess I'm trying to explain why it's been this long and I still have these journals partially completed when I really like how I began XD
So, my next project is this:
It was the Smashbook I took to Thailand in 2013, which I managed about a week and a half of out of two weeks. Sadly, it's been so long now I've forgotten a lot of the details but I still have all the photos printed out so I'm hoping to at least get them stuck down and a little bit of information around them. I also plan to do more 'progress reports' on this one, either here on video.
Is it just me, do you struggle with travel journals? Or do you have an easier way to keep track? I'd love to know!

Sunday Catch Up #3

Man, quickest week ever or what? Of course, because I had a break from work this week went crazy fast for me. It's Sunday already ;/
Ah, but there's no point moping about it now, I've done as much as I could towards stuff I wanted to do, although I would've liked to get outside more, the weather just wasn't up to it. It's been pretty windy and cold out there this week and that does not appeal to me at all xp So, Monday I spent in with my This is Not a Book (I've been going about this a lot recently, huh?) trying to get it completed. This week I wanted to focus on my 'projects' to at least get a couple completed, something that doesn't have to sit on my mind when I'm at work then!

I also wanted to try making some different foods. I've not been able to take advantage of being able to cook my own food really since January, so Monday I turned my hand to try and make Baked Eggs with Spinach.
They came out well if I do say so myself! Very rich, but also very tasty XD Sorry, the picture doesn't really do it justice. I'm no food photographer!

Because I work so slowly, Tuesday was also pretty dedicated to the TiNaB, and some of my only pictures today were taken for the book, including this one for the challenge 'This is a Methodology'. This book makes me do some pretty stupid things...

I did a few things on Wednesday which mostly involved getting food for the dragons then spending way too much on food for myself at Tesco, even though the house has plenty of food x.X I'm terrible for it. I did a little housework when I got back though which included going an checking on the greenhouse. Dad set some strawberries off in there before he left and I've been keeping an eye on them. He also put some potatoes into big tubs and I'd started wondering if they'd just rotted away, but would you look at this! Just as I begun to doubt them, there they are! I guess we are going to get some early new potatoes this year x3~

Thursday I went to visit a friend in Wolverhampton, nearby. We walked around the town a little and got a film she'd just finished processed to see how her new film camera had performed. She also let me borrow her Holga 120 for the spare flm I managed to buy from Ebay when buying some 35mm film. I've never used 120 before so it should be fun! I don't know if this camera particularly suits me though XD

Friday, after a week of work off and on, I was finally able to film a flick-through of the TiNaB and upload it to Youtube! It's been a long time in the making, that video. I'm not very good at doing things speedily XD I also got a lot of housework done and even made some cakes, two other things I wanted to get done this week XD

Saturday I had lot planned for, but it all fell through at the last minute. Don't you hate it when that happens? Xd So I focussed on my online stuff for a while then as the weather was good, went outside to do some gardening. It was a lovely day for it and it's about time I put some effort into it for when Dad gets back XD
Sunday I don't have a picture for actually, I spent all day at Face's Mum's with his family, just spending Easter together. We had a massive dinner then played some board games, it was a good laugh and we didn't leave til late :]
And that was my week. I had a great week away from work, now if only I could have another!