My Month in Numbers - January

I'm counting again this month. I'm joining Julie and her Month in Numbers

and I've changed my strips strategy. Instead of stacking them up, this month I've laid them side by side for a different layout look. Still trying to keep the colours in tune with the month, though, so I have picked a "pale and interesting" scheme for January. Then I couldn't resist adding a little bit of tartan. For a nod to Burns Night and the tartans we often see in magazine spreads at this time of year.

There are a couple of little spaces I'll be filling up with non-internet worthy stuff, but what you can see for now:

529 miles to Paris, for that much talked about school trip

31 days of photographs for 365+1 successfully taken

3 days of work experience with Bernard the Barrister for The Tall One. He loved every minute and would start work now if he could. Oh, and 3 extra dance sessions for The (Not So) Small One.

2 knitting projects still piled up beside me on the sofa. They'll be finished by this time next month...

4 purchases from Ikea, including a bargain mirror which is taller than I am and which we are turning on its side and hanging above the bathroom basin

and finally £50 for a provisional driving licence. To be closely followed by a set of lessons. Maybe he won't need too many. Here's hoping..


This month there is a Month In Numbers Pinterest board to follow. See you there?

Oh, Paris

The (Not So) Small One is in Paris this weekend. For a school trip which has involved at least twenty packings and repackings of the pink suitcase; along with a Parents Information Evening, a barrage of emails and more form filling than any sane mother needs. It wasn't like that when I went to Paris.

When I went to Paris, at the age of fourteen, I set out with one school friend to join up with a party of teenagers we didn't know; and a teacher none of us had ever met. I had only the name and address of the French family I was to be staying with, a phrase book and enough French Francs to (just about) last me the fortnight. It could have been hell; but it turned out to be closer to heaven.

We stayed In Chartres and our base was a cloistered school right next to the cathedral. I leaned how to love Brie and how to enjoy dressing on my salad. How to fry frites in goose fat and how to snack on chocolate wrapped in bread. I spent an afternoon sitting in on classes at a Lycee and an evening swapping stories with the Girl Guides. We took grammar lessons in the mornings and outings in the afternoons; and every night we went home to our "families" and tried to make ourselves understood.

It frightens me a bit to think of it now, if I'm honest. How did I dare? With the support, I suppose, of a mother who gave me a push and trusted me to get on and make as much as I could out of the opportunity I'd been given. We had no form filling, no safety analysis, no waivers, no handholding. Was that a good thing? I don't know. I guess there must be a happy middle ground. Somewhere in between. But I hope The (Not So) Small One, with all those forms filled in, gets a chance to stretch herself and discover just how much she really does know.

And that seems like a good place to end for today and remind you that it's Storytelling Sunday next week. I think I'll be trying a photo and a story-in-a-couple-of-sentences this time round. You could use a 365 photo if you like; but all kinds of stories are, as always, very welcome.

My Monthly Make

I owe Annie The Felt Fairy a post. And an apology. Last year I took part in her year long Monthly Make challenge. It was a lot of fun and I was quick to say Yes! I'll do it again in 2012. It's even bigger and brighter this time round, with a monthly cheerleader to keep us all going. I'm going to be Miss November. But before then, I wanted to get stuck in cheering on January and February and - well, I hope to enjoy all the January makes by the end of the week.

And I have finally got round to posting my Make:

Felt pinafore and beret. Tights and tshirt top in jersey from an old tshirt

It's a set of dolls clothes made from some patterns I bought on Ebay about three years ago:

Patterns from D-Zinerclothes4dolly

Our doll isn't a Helen Kish, it's a Madeline (from the books by Ludwig Bemelmans). We have a collection of the characters, The (not So) Small One and I, gathered up over the years and pictured in an early blog post here. Sometimes we still find the time to dress them up; and sometimes I still like to make them something new to wear. Trouble is, once I start, it's hard to stop. I've got a rucksack to do..

But maybe that's for next month. There is still plenty of time to join in with the Makes - it can be anything at all and you may post a picture on the Flickr Group or find out more by reading The Felt Fairy. February's hostess will be Natalie of Hungry Hippie.

Annie, I think I'm back on track.

Photo365+1

Today I'm catching up with Photo365+1. Yes, I am still remembering to take a picture every day (those prompts are a big help!). I'm looking forward to ordering a batch of prints - maybe at the end of February. I don't think I'll be able to hold off much longer than that. Most of the things I probably wouldn't ever have thought of photographing before: but now each picture gives me another story to tell..

9. Water - tenuous? Maybe. But I always end up ironing on a Monday

10. Metallic - I picked out the bell to photograph, then spotted the old street directory I bought in a charity shop. It has an ad for a scrap metal merchant on the spine.

11. Item of clothing - my bag du jour. Could do double duty as "metallic"

12. Translucent - a bag of pine nuts for making pesto.

13. Inside the Fridge - I like to keep chocolate biscuits in the fridge becasue I only really like them when they are cold. I loathe warm, melty chocolate.

14. Guilty Pleasure - CD's I have had for a very long time and still play regularly.

15. Generous - A box of treats sent from friends in San Diego. We are having fun trying out some new delights.

16. Snack - I couldn't resist adding the purple cover of Scrap365 to the picture of my purple wrappered snack bar.



17. Naughty - A pile of scrapbooking stuff I haven't put away.

18. Pleasurable - More scrapbooking - a new Amy Tan daybook from Gotta Craft

19. Something bad for you - A favourite photo. My car. I need to do more walking..

20. A Sign - A junk mail catalogue which made me think. A trip to the museum would be good..

That's it for today. The next set of photos will be "hot". But think more blowtorches than babes..



Pass The Page: The Hop

Wow, it seems like quite a while since I spotted Julie at Letting the Days Roll By's post about playing Pass the Page! It's Chinese Whispers for scrapbookers - one page design passed along a chain of scrappers. The catch? You only get to see the page created by the scrapper immediately before you in the chain..

So, back last year, Julie sent out her design. And Julie's is the best place to start if you'd like to see how this one has progressed. It came to me from Lizzie of Lizzie Made and, after a lot of thinking, I turned it into this:

Then I passed it on to Clair at Obstinate Pursuit and that's where I'm headed right now. How has she changed it and made it her own? I'm looking forward to finding out...

and pssst! if you check out all the pages, leave a comment. There are prizes involved and you'll find out more as you go round..

Many thanks to Julie for organising Pass the Page - let's do it again sometime!



A Good Grey for January

Oh grey gingham check, I think you might be my favourite of all the patterned papers in this month's Midnight Rooster kit.

So many different ways it could be used. I went for a country look in the end, with a sixty year old photo from a diferent time, a different life. I wrote straight onto the Studio Calico tissue paper Scraps, just a brief note about the days when a girl could get out and enjoy the sunshine; and her legs did what she told them to.

My second page uses a photo from our Norwegian holiday last year:

I liked that added-on building. It made me wonder if women were the same the world over, through the years, all of us looking for a little extra space. Just to keep things tidy.

The tag is another handmade Midnight Rooster special. And the little hearts?

I cut those from the packaging Tobi created specially for the embellishments in this kit. She thinks of everything. I have nearly used it all, but my scraps asre safely packed away inside the plastic folder they arrived in.

That's me for today. But please do drop back tomorrow for my contribution to Pass the Page

Tuesday? It's Booked

I'm feeling book-ish today. It started when I made a little notebook with some more pieces from my Midnight Rooster Nantucket kit.

Seam binding and both alphas came with the kit. And inside has two fabric pockets cut from the piece in the kit too. The tabs are cut with the Slice and the cut-out title comes from a leftover: I used the title I cut out on one of my layouts

Because I often use patterned paper as backgrounds I had three pieces of cardstock to play with - and that "bookplate" pattern from Studio Calico gave me an idea. I cut each sheet into pieces 6x8 inches and sewed them together around three sides to create pockets. Then into each pocket I slid a labelled card for each day of the month. I'll use these to make a reading record for 2012.

For January I already have

• The Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos by Heidi Adnum. This one is definitely recommended! Lots of practical advice divided into chapters dealing with different crafts; case studies from crafters; everything you have ever wanted to know, beautifully presented
• The Art of iPhoneography by Stephanie Roberts. This was a surprise Christmas present and I'm enjoying dipping into it. I especially like the chapter called "Shoot How You Feel"
• On Writing by Stephen King. Which I bought and read last year and have hauled out again after I found that article on over used words last week.
• Charles Dickens: a Life by Clare Tomalin. So much I didn't know..

..and that leaves me with the winner from last week's Pass The Book Year Two (thanks again Melissa!) . Tantalizing Textures will be going to Fiona from Fiona's Flotsam. Fiona, please drop me an email with your address and I'll get that in the post.

Midnight Rooster

It's Midnight Rooster week here on High In The Sky. I'm a huge fan of this kit club! When Tobi asked if I'd like to be the January guest designer, I couldn't have been more excited. There is something a bit special about the way a Midnight Rooster kit is put together, from the colour and the texture right through to the wonderful handmade, exclusive embellishments.

Today I'm showing two of the layouts I made, with more to come. This kit is packed!

See the stamped tag? That came with the kit. As did the October Afternoon Flyers I made the kit from, and the Studio Calico Scraps I used for the kit tail

There's another handmade tag and some more of the lovely October Afternoon Farmhouse collection

I enjoyed putting these pages together - everything in the kit coordinates so cleverly - and I didn't stop until I'd used almost every last scrap. More later in the week!

A Bit of Better Blogging - Part Seven

I'm tying up loose ends

on several projects this week. So I've put together my latest collection of better blogging finds for today. I hope you see something of interest:

1. Pinterest - Good or bad for bloggers? This is a must-read. It's persuasive, it's heartfelt and I couldn't agree more. If you love Pinterest, read this! By Darcy of Life With my 3 Boybarians
2. Clean Slate Blogging by Judy of Cats Eye Writer. There is always somethng to think about here. I also enjoyed her Harry Potter Headlines.
3. Blog Posts that Start Life as Something Different - using comments to create content. By Sarah Arrow at For Bloggers by Bloggers
4. Keeping up with the New Facebook by Paint The Moon. Tips for setting up a fan page. I need to have another look at this one myself!
5. Also, How to Get More Likes on Facebook by How To Make My Blog.
6. And finally, I had to include an older one I like Ten Most Overused Words on Craft Blogs from Crafterminds (thanks Sue for recommending this site!)

Have a browse and think about blogging goals for 2012. Or maybe you've done that already?

Pass The Book Year Two - Tantalizing Textures

Today I'm passing on a book from the lovely Melissa's Pass The Book Year Two.

It's Tantalizing Textures by Trudy Sigurdson. Any book on texture is bound to be a winner with me! This one is going to get you going back through your stash looking for flowers and fibres and metal and all kinds of bits you might have in hiding.

It even helped me to find a little mini album I'd tucked away. It's one of the first scrapbook-y things I ever made, and when I remembered about the metal label on the front, I went to find it.

Inside is a no-ugly-spared view of our house, not long after we moved in. I wanted to record the worst so that I could see how we changed the place. Take the utility room, for example.

Funny, the other thing I notice now is how my paper crafting has changed too..

But, back to Tantalizing Textures. If you'd like a look at this one (and are happy to pass it on through your blog when you are finished), leave a comment and I'll draw a winner in a week's time. Everything you need to know is on Melissa's page right here. Good luck!

Oh, and if you have a Pass The Book Year One book sitting on a shelf - would you think about passing it along soon? Many thanks!

Photo365+1 Challenge 2012

You will probably laugh when I own up to this one. So I'm going to say it quietly and get it over with. Sometimes I think I'm going to run out of photos.

I do. Two years ago I decided to do something about it. I resolved to take a photo a day; and I found a 365 app to help me do it. I gave up after a week. Without any idea about what to photograph, I didn't photograph at all. And that's why I'm delighted to have stumbled upon Suzie's 365+1 Photo Challenge 2012. I love the idea of a word prompt every single day for the whole year. Check out the blog - if you haven't already (I know some of you are right there with me) - she has a whole bunch of enthusiastic followers with a determination to succeed.

I'll be posting my photos in batches; and I have challenged myself to do a bit more digi by using the lovely templates from Pugly Pixel. Simple to use and free to download. Easy. Like Sunday morning. Hope you have a good one.

1. Celebrate - Santa looked like he had overdone it a bit on New Year's Eve

2. New - my new diary

3. Ugly - peeling paint. Ugly or attractive, or a bit of both

4. Pretty - a little of something I'm working on for a Guest Design Spot

5. Excitement - The Tall One in his suit on his way to work experience at the Law Courts

6. Frost - it was so warm here we turned the heat off, so I looked elsewhere

7. Drink - our coffee machine

8. Cosy - my inside boots. I like having warm feet

So, that's my first week and a little bit more. The last four were taken with the Hipstamatic app and I think I'll be continuing with it for the rest of January. After that, who knows?

Oh Bugsy

Everyone remembers the first couple of times they went to the cinema. Don't they? The very first film I saw was Disney's The Apple Dumpling Gang, with a friend, for her birthday. The next year we queued up for Bugsy Malone.

How much did I love that film? As soon as I saw the big old car sticker on the Times & Seasons sticker sheet from Gotta Craft that's what I thought of.

I wanted to drive one of those cars. I wanted Mary Jane shoes and a cloche hat and a handbag that shut with a snap. I even thought about finding myself a gangster boyfriend. Though I was only ten at the time. Instead I used to lie in bed at night and sing myself to sleep. "I could have been anything that I wanted to be.."

Everything on the page (apart from the October Afternoon buttons) is from Glitz and Echo Park, from Gotta Craft. Sandra will be open again on Monday 9th January. She is busy adding lots of new American Crafts stock and I can't wait to have a look..



My Month in Numbers - December

It's been pretty quiet here so far this morning. Everyone else is having one last long sleep before school starts back tomorrow. We've covered almost everything we wanted to do in the holidays, though. It's been good. We finally saw the new Sherlock Holmes film yesterday, we've finished up the leftovers in the fridge, so probably the only thing left is for me to post my December Month in Numbers. I've been following along with the excellent Julie from Notes on Paper as she counts.

One last chance to scrapbook a tree I thought - a slightly different take on the paper strips design I've been using over the past couple of months.

- We had two trips to the dentist for a girl who has been an absolute star about the whole business. Her stoicism knows no bounds.

- We have eaten four jars of Christmas mincemeat, all turned into delicious pies.

- We got up at 7.00am on Christmas morning. You can tell they are getting older, can't you? Used to be 5.30

- I took 6 days away from the computer over the holidays. I think my eyes thanked me for it. Let's be honest.

- My Facebook page gained 51 likes (but of course there is always room for one more). It's been a fun experiment for me and I'm enjoying adding little extra bits and pieces on there

- and, finally, I've added in the 300 stories gathered by Storytelling Sunday in 2011. Because I'm proud of that number - and I hope you are too. We have made an amazing start already for 2012! Thank you so much to everyone who made time to join in during their festivities. And a special hello to the newcomers. It's good to see you. Come back soon - February sounds good!

I'll be back before then though. Thursday, more than likely. Have a good start to the year whatever you are up to!

Storytelling Sunday 2: The Words, The Pictures

Happy New Year, Storytellers! I'm hoping 2012 will hold a lot of everything you love.

Round here we love stories. We love them so much that we're ready to make a start on a whole new year of Storytelling Sunday. And we hope you are about to join us.

I think they may be about to join us

The other day I was talking to Uncle Dave about my plans for the new season, about how I wanted to get the photographers involved, and the bloggers who enjoy from the sidelines; and he jumped up and down and shouted

"You've got to persuade them! It's so important! And I'd like to help."

And I thought - free Ivy League level storytelling advice? From a real Professor? Let's have some of that! And this is what he wrote:

"From what I’ve heard, some great bloggers would like to join in the fun of Storytelling Sunday but are feeling a little nervous.

Now it may well be that you don’t feel you are a great writer: after all, you haven’t written many novels recently. But that’s alright - people who do that are authors, and Storytelling Sunday isn’t about authors, it’s about storytellers. And everyone is a storyteller.

At the fancy university where I’m lucky enough to teach literature, students come to study great novels written by brilliant people so different from the rest of us. But I don’t let them do that until they tell me what they did yesterday, or how their pet cat is, or what happened at lunchtime. They think it’s too easy and a bit silly until they realise what’s going on: exactly like the famous authors, they’re telling me stories; and in fact they (and we) talk in stories all the time. Almost every time you speak, you tell a little story.

But, what if our stories don’t seem interesting? Well, that’s not our decision to make, because a story doesn’t become a real story until someone hears it or reads it. That’s when the magic part happens. You just can’t tell how the most ordinary little story might speak to someone else and bring memories flooding back, or spark an idea.

All you can do is tell your story. The thing you do every day."

Thanks Dave! Has he got you thinking? I think he's right. All you can do is tell your story. Right here. Right now. Words, if you like to work them. Pictures if you prefer. Write your post, add your link and we'll come and visit. Good Luck! The new season starts here..

Small Print: which I'm not making small because I'd love you to read it. I firmly believe we're telling stories in the round here. One person starts and then turns to the next. You can't do it in isolation. So I'm asking everyone who adds a link to be sure to say hello to at least a couple of the other storytellers. There are some stars out there who managed a lot of hellos last year - your efforts didn't go unnoticed! - but it's up to everyone to become a part of the audience. That's when stories work best. Uncle Dave says so.