Yes, I get it, I'm CRAP

I really, really am.

Not written this for a million years. Feels like it.

And I made loads of stuff too.

This is a baby shawl for a new baby girl what I am going to visit this evening. Her Mam's been a bit poorly. 

And I had some left over grey from the wrap I made for my Grandmother's birthday/Christmas, so I took an unprecedented step and made myself something. I'm really proud of this and I've worn it loads. 

So it's Mother's day this weekend AGAIN! I can't believe a year has passed so quickly. I normally do something special for Mammy's day craft wise but this year what with job hunting, trying to set up my business, college, photo shoots, sorting the house out and spending time with my loved one, I ain't had time to do any more than cards.

Those who expect to receive them look away now please! Birthday card for Lady J too.

So what with a couple of house moves for me and my nearest and dearest, the ever pressing conundrum of "stuff" has once again become important. Like, how much of it do we actually need? A lot less than most of us have.

I've done a fair bit of Freecycling today and over the last few weeks. Seriously bonkers the amount of stuff we all have. So I have a new policy for presents. I'm only buying things that don't last for ever. Shall I explain?

Stuff. It takes over your life given half a chance. It breeds and multiplies. I don't want to add to people's stuff hoards, so, I'm buying gift vouchers for cinema/kindle books/treats, flowers (they die eventually), yummy treats (they get scoffed), toiletries. No one buys toiletries any more! I was hoping to get a shed load for Christmas but the haul was minimal. Lady J and I have had many a convo about this of late. It's her birthday this weekend.  

Guess what she got?!

Saturday Night Slap

I'll tell anyone that will listen that the thing I find most difficult about make up artistry is the constant references to the faces of women from the world of celebrity and popular culture.

I can't stand it. I despise  the X Factor, the Voice, Big Brother, all such nonsense, and I find it galling to have to know what particular celebrities have been wearing on their faces when they mime to their songs written by someone else on prime time T.V.

One of my least favorite celebrities is Kim Kardashian. Having never watched their T.V. show I have no idea what they are all about, I'm sure they're all perfectly nice people, but I can't stand the furore that surrounds them/her.

Unfortunately, her make up stylist is really very good and uses unusual techniques to create her bespoke look that has now become her trademark.

I watched a brilliant tutorial (about 6 times as it's brilliant, quite complicated and reallyclever) and really wanted to practice the technique, so I bribed Meg with the gorgeous curry the boyfriend made us all for our tea.

Apparently I still owe her custard though. She's got a heavy cold so did NOT feel like it at all.

SO here's the before shot:

Freshly cleansed toned and moisturised, primed using M.U.A. face primer and M.U.A perfect eyes primer.

Mid way scary shot:

Several layers of 2 shades of foundation, high use of extreme highlighting/concealing and extreme contouring. It's quite liberating applying make up in this way but really quite scary. You can easily see the way it's going to work though.

Finished product:

 Normal flash

Lovely vintage Instagram filter. Want to follow me on Instagram? Betty Red17 is my username.

I really like this look and technique and while Meg looks nothing like Kim, it's very flattering and I'll use it in the future. Could use a bit more practice on it though. Volunteers always welcomed!

Betty 

xxx

Crochet Heaven - or Hell?

We all do it.

We have great Christmas ideas months before the festive season.

Then something happens. Then something else, and before you know it you're racing to complete something for the big day.

Well this year I failed.

It's my grandmother's birthday on New Year's Eve and she's really tricky to buy for so I thought I'd make her a crochet wrap. She likes things like that and I've never made anything for her before, other than food!

So, I managed to finish it today. Fringing done - it's actually really nice. Very lose crochet which makes it light. I have a considerable amount of wool left so I'm considering knocking myself up something - I'm feeling a tank toppy thing - something thin but warm I can wear under my new motorbike jacket I had for Christmas for the many, many trips out we'll be having very soon.

This is the wrap - what do you think?

"Lady J" met her crochet nemesis this year too. Her gent Glen (keep your eyes peeled for his new blog!) wanted a crochet blanket, a granny square one, so, relative newcomer (2 years) to crochet Lady J, knocked out this blinder.

Ihave to say though, there was some choice language being thrown about by the end of both of these projects, I don't mind telling you!

This Is Your Life

2012 was a difficult year for an awful lot of people.

Don't get me wrong, I do know a few people for whom the year wasn't totally horrendous. But not many.

They say that we are given the life we are able to handle and at no time has that been truer than the last year. A lot of people very close to me have been tested to their limits. And for some it's not over yet.

 But this is a new year, and I demand more from it than last year put out.

And a lot of people are making good progress already. My best friend is about to move back home with her gorgeous gentleman who is going to be starting a new blog himself. I've missed her. Things are starting to move for her now.

Another good friend who I met through this blog actually is thinking of starting her own and she has a lot of skill to share. C'mon Karen! Let's get going!

The diary is starting to fill up already. Don't be taken in by the gloomy economic climate and weather - we can force the sun to shine on all of us.

An email received  from someone I barely know but have great respect for reminded me of how "feisty" I am. I've not felt it particularly for a while, but actually, my strength is coming back. It's time for me to take control back.

2013 is full of promise and potential for all of us. I will set up my business, I will be successful, I will see my friends, family and loved ones happy and if things go down for one of us (it's inevitable at some stage I suppose), we will all be there for each other - no matter what.

THIS IS MY YEAR

Wanna share?

Homemade STILL rocks.

There's been a lot of it this Christmas I'm really pleased to say.

From our little Gwdihw door stop to replace the one chewed by brown and white Spaniel made by gorgeous El:

And the home grown veg chutney, again, hand made by El:

To my lovely cinnamon whirl brooch, made by lovely Liz:

And the pretty and useful grey wrap for my Grandmother's joint Christmas and birthday present, made by me...

... yeah you guessed it, I haven't finished it yet. Not like me one bit, is it?!

This is one I DID manage to finish by the skin of my teeth! It's another of the frilly scarf/wraps that seem to be very popular currently...

... with a bit of a gratuitous spaniel shot in the back ground!!


 The radio (iplayer link) was fantastic fun on Christmas eve and I got to meet the music historian and fabulously unbelievably geeky (in the best possible way) Phil Davis - you really should listen to his programmes, they are fantastic, but I had to work hard to not be star struck to meet Terry Walton

And what a lovely pair of gents. I could have sat there with them all day! And then pressies!

Louise so kindly bought me a lovely craft book, useful and inspiring it is too with some really unusual projects I'm just dying to have a go at.

Speaking of projects - you remember I taught Barry boy stand up comedian and Elvis impersonator Mike Bubbins how to make a Christmas cake on Radio Wales a few weeks ago?  Well here's the picture he posted Christmas day and it was a triumph! I didn't doubt it for a second, Michael. ;-D

It was lovely to spend some time with Meg just before the chaos too We went to Manchester to see Thunder - one of our fave bands, little did we know when we booked it back in the summer that we'd be travelling on the worst weather day of the year. Flooding, train cancellations, motorway closures horrific driving conditions and a £6.50 single whisky!

Its all part of the fun though, eh?!

Got some great ideas for next Christmas too......

Festivities

It's feeling quite festive here today.

I replaced my slow cooker yesterday so the smell of a peppery pot roast chicken in wafting through the house as I put the finishing touches to the Christmas cake I'm doing in Blue Peter "here's one I made earlier" stylee for the radio show tomorrow.

Lady J's Yummy Honey Christmas Cake is a hit with everyone. It contains little flour, no eggs and some fun chemistry and makes the most moist, beautiful gooey, yummy cake in the world - I think it's all the honey.

The decoration is also Lady J's idea - she's good at those and favours a no nonsense approach. I like that.

The baby sock advent calendar is a little late going up but today I think it might have to. We're still settling in here you see and there's decorating to be done so I'm reluctant to put up the decs yet as I'm hoping to bash out a bit of painting in the Cwtch ready for Christmas.

But it smells Christmassy, it feels Christmassy - we're spending the day with my Brother and Sister in Law, their 3 boys, my Mam, Stepdad and Grandmother - a real family Christmas. We ordered the turkey crown yesterday - and I'm going to make a Christmas pud. Another first!

I still don't have a tree though. Fancied making one out of wire. Do you dare me?!?

Oh Lordy.

I LOVE  learning things. I love learning about myself, and I love learning about life.

Part of learning is forgetting things then remembering again.

I think it's fair to say that these last few months (years) have been really stressful and demanding, but I've started to see the light at the end off the tunnel. As my page says "THIS is my time to shine. Is it yours?"

Creativity never really leaves you but it does have times where it's less prevalent.

With my radio stuff, the alterations I've done for a few selected friends, and , of course my make up artistry, I've been plenty creative. But there's a few things I've managed to overlook. Well I have been kinda busy.

I've managed to overlook the fact that I have a whole house to turn into a vintage paradise.

And the great thing is that it's all mine. I answer to no one, I do it as I want it.

Sounds awfully grand and expensive but I think we've established that I'm pretty damned resourceful and can probably do the lot for £100. I have a lot of materials that I can use and adapt, you really can polish a poo. Makes for an interesting talking piece.

I just made a lovely but obsolete duvet cover into a set of curtains for my romantic vintage bedroom, but I did it out with necessity, not love. I've forgotten to love it.

So I picked up my bits and bobs crochet blanket I've been putting off, I moved some of my gorgeous furniture about and the project starts right now. I can't believe I've forgotten how much I love home design and how happy it makes me.

Wow, I am seriously lucky. Working towards the career of my dreams, my friends are the most amazing creatures in the world and I have a fabulous house in a fabulous place and it's mine, all mine. CREATIVITY IS MY HIRAETH.

Stay tuned for crochet, baking, LOADS of make up, dress making, interior design and general vintage junk. I am so excited I probably will not sleep tonight!

Damn you Kirsty's Vintage Home!