When you find you have some Extra Time

Well it has been an interesting week to say the least. The sun was shining (for a change) and I was listening to the radio and then silence! my radio is wireless so if the internet goes down so does the radio. Later discovered that the guy who was cutting the grass verges didn't see the Marker Post and chopped the top off and sliced through all the cables that connect us to the Internet and telephone.  It made me realise just how much we rely on the internet and it was a shock as to how much I missed being able to google a new recipe, add a picture, check my facebook, my Etsy shop etc.

I would say that for me a normal day using the internet I would spend a good two hours a day, so I now had that extra time on my hands so I decided to make good use of it while I could. I started with defragging and cleaning up my computer, even cleaned the screen and keypad. Spent a long time sorting out pictures (been meaning to do this for months). Then we were told that it could be a week before we were going to be connected again. So for me it meant that apart from popping to a friends house with my laptop to check my mails etc which took me less than 15min I turned back to crafting as I dont need internet for that (thankfully)

Made a couple of journals

 I finally made myself a thread catcher after the casters on my chair almost succeeded in catapulting me across the room when I tried to move my chair as they were chock a block with threads and hair (threads I can understand but where did the hair come from)? and I spent longer trying to remove all the threads from the casters than it did to make the catcher, so no more blocked casters and hopefully I wont ever have to clean the ruddy things out again.

Playing with lace and made a set of earrings, also made a black  pair.

Made this sachet for a little girl called Olivia and it will be in the post tomorrow

Made a few more bee and swallow sachets up as they sold the other day (yay) 

This for me was the best make though a dress for my grand daughter Poppy from a pair of old curtains. So for the 3 days that I was offline I felt that I made good use of my extra time (approx 6 hours) and fully intend to try and spend less time on the net.... time will tell but I am working on it. How long on average would you say you spent daily on the net?

CassandraZ Artistic Beaded Tree Sculptures

I have just literally discovered Cassandra's on Etsy and instantly fell in love with her beautiful beaded Bonsai trees and cake toppers. I love her wonderful attention to detail and the  fact that they are wrapped around  river rocks. The Love birds are adorable dont you think? Follow the link above and  would love to know which one is your favourite. xx

World Bodypainting Festival

This year the World Bodypainting Festival will be held in Austria from 29 June to 6 July, and will celebrate the unique art of painting directly on the human body – with models transformed into head-to-toe masterpieces, depicting anything from alien-like appendages to fruit like faces.

The competition takes place across multiple categories, including sponge paint, airbrushing and face painting, all featuring different techniques and materials to achieve the transformations. In many cases, the models are fully nude, with every inch of their bodies covered in paint (think: a full-body tattoo). Other models wear over-the-top props such as outrageous headgear or wing-like attachments.

Even amateurs can get in on the action, with workshops and lectures that teach the basics of body paint (classes cover topics like “Airbrush for Beginners” and “Zombie Skin”).

Further Information

Early Summer Bride

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An Abnormal Giveaway

July 2012.... I was sent a link to a blog post that a friend thought I may be interested in. I headed over to the blog and I discovered that the blogger (Sara Jane Potter) was challenging herself to write an exciting contemporary novel on line.
She put up the first instalment on the 28^th August, and now here we are in May 2014 with just 3 more instalments to go. I have to admit that I thought Sarah was taking on quite a challenge, so the least I could do was to read the first instalment which I did and was from then on left eagerly waiting for the next one. So far I have read 38 instalments and might add that it is the first time that I have ever read a novel on line, and I do admit to finding it challenging as (I prefer to be lounging book in hand). I have truly enjoyed reading this novel, it made me laugh, left me guessing and kept me in suspense and I am still looking forward to the next instalment.

Therefore, the mission now is to see this book in print and get it in my hands and read it in the comfort of my hammock/bed/chair, preferably with a large glass of wine close to hand.

Sara is now in the throes of trying to get the book published and in anticipation of that is going to offer 3 of my readers a chance to win a signed copy of her book when this happens and I sincerely hope that it will be soon.

This is the opening lines of the novel “ABNORMAL” and it was enough to make me want to read more and I hope it does the same for you. Good luck, and if you’re lucky enough to be one of the winners all I ask is for your patience, you won’t regret it.

He's with me when I jump through the window.

I later wonder if he told me to do it. I'm fast asleep when I jump. I fall the single storey and hit the Watsons' trampoline, which is wedged inside their tiny back yard.

As I bounce, I awaken.

I almost scream but swallow it. It's dark but for the glow of the streetlight wavering down the lane. My long hair whips me like a sheet in the wind and I lose what little balance I have, slamming into the wood-panelled fence and smashing my face. Stars explode before my eyes in dazzling streaks of blue. I shake myself, tripping and slipping like soap between the trampoline and the fence, pooling onto the scratchy surface of the Watsons' guinea-pig hutch. I’m orientated once I hear the scuffled horror of Boblet racing to his bedding compartment beneath me. But it aint quite over yet. I slide finally to the unforgiving ground like a sack of beet, like some meagre sacrifice, slumped before the cage. 

Copyright © July 2012 Sara J Sheikh. All rights reserved.

http://www.sarajanepotter.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/AbnormalANovel

http://www.novel-by-sjs.blogspot.co.uk/

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