Take a walk with the Cole girls

Take a walk with the Cole girls from Shona Cole on Vimeo.

Kitchen re-do video

The dust has been cleared away and I am officially back to an organized life. Phew, my advice - don't go into a kitchen renovation lightly. It really does affect every part of your world. Thankfully, I am loving my new kitchen; the space and style suits our family. (you can see a little of what my old kitchen looked like in this post from 2009)

The new look Cole kitchen

I have a lot of catch up to do in terms of Somerset art deadlines, so it will be a while still until I am back to regular blogging. I promise to be here on Saturdays. After that, if I get to visit your blog and do more posts I will consider it gravy.

Here is a video I made last night of my kitchen.



Mentioned in this video are:

Shannon Mucha, my dear friend who came over on numerous occasions to help me arrange my house and reestablish order.

And the Wishstudio playgroup 'wish play create'. I am leading the first of 5 weeks of crafting classes. Mine is on August 30th. You can sign up for it here at the Wishstudio.

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I am busy planning my year schedule. One thing I am super excited about is that Laura is starting ballet and jazz. I just have this feeling that she has what it takes to be a dancer and this could be the beginning of that path. I found a class that is on the same time that Lily is at gymnastics, so schedule wise it is doable. I have always loved dance. I recommend this dance video, the quality of the recording is not great, but the feeling is all there. It is a beautiful picture of marriage.

My dream has always been that one of my children would be a dancer, one a singer/musician, a writer and one an artist/photographer. (I do not tell them this, I do not want to be a stage mother and I don't want to influence them from their God given path, but I am sure that it oozes out at times). Oh, but to see talent develop in front of me would be bliss.

Laura will be doing ballet this year!

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On to this week's giveaway. 

To recap - I like to giveaway something handmade to folks who sign up to follow my blog. It is a way to practice giving and to say thank you for being a part of my blog. I have been doing this on Saturdays since late last year. I use the random generator to find a winner. 

This week I am giving my 'winner' a choice of gifts. 

First choice is this little birdhouse. It is wooden and decorated with scrapbook papers, stamps and paint. It was featured in a Stampington magazine, but I can't remember which one! 

You can see it hanging from it's beaded handle in my craft room:

The second choice is this ATC notebook. I showed how I made it a few months back in this blog post.

and the choice goes to

Nelesc of The Reconstructed Life

Let's talk over email. I can get your mailing address and your choice and mail it off next week.

Thank you to everyone who is listed at a follower of this blog. I appreciate your shout out of support.

Melody & video of Maximus

Echo has begun again.

Shannon's photo is on the left, mine the right.

Check out Shannon's version here.

And Susan's here.

And Chrysti's here.


Max rolled over for the first time today:

Look what I did today from Shona Cole on Vimeo.

ok, more like lurched and fell over, but it was a delight!

Lovely

Visit Michelle for a sweet winter poem.

Sticky2 and foil demo & Giveaway #2

I am not one to buy and buy the latest craft products. I like to use what I have to the fullest. But here is one I may need some more of: Sticky 2 and foil by Christine Adolph.



They are so simple to use:

Step 1
Choose the surface you want to give to a decorative shine to.



Step 2
Trim the image from the Sticky2 sheet that you want to use. I have the Romance collection designed by Christine Adolph.



Step 3
Peel off the backing and lay the image on the surface. Burnish the image. It turns a darker blue as it adheres. Discard the clear plastic cover.



Step 4
Lay the foil, colored side up, and rub with your finger. I have the foil packet called 'Sunset' which has red, pink and orange foil sheets.



Step 5
Peel off the foil and find it has stuck to the image, so now you have a shiny version of the image.





You only use the image once, so here enters the need to purchase another packet! Oh well, it is all in the name of crafting ;)
(and no, I get no commission on these, I simply want to share what I am using)

I used these products to decorate a mini valentine book that I have sent off to Stampington (I know, it seems unseasonal of me, but when you for planning and shopping purposes you have to think seasons ahead)



Here is a tutorial by Christine herself:



Next tutorial I will be doing is 'altered photos', as requested by Trudy, so check back next week, the day after Christmas, or Boxing Day as it is called in Ireland!

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Some new folks have signed up to 'follow' my blog. I am always surprised when I notice a new person has signed up. I don't take it for granted. I see those interested in my blog as like minded folks, and in life those are hard to come by! So I want to visit your blog and see your view of the world. I am sorry if I have not made it to you to say hello, I am still trying to get to those who signed up during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway!

Now on with this week's giveaway! Chosen by random generator, the winner is

I WONDER WOMAN

Congratulations!

Pick your prize from the choices below (click on image to see a larger image) and post it in the comments. I will contact you via email so you can send me, privately, your physical address.

Choice #1 - Collage wall hanging, aprox 15x8, the hanger is included :)




Choice #2 - A child's necklace with shrinky dink stamped pendant. About 13 inches long. Suitable for girls 5-9 years old (I think, but you know your own kids or grandkids) or for young at heart grown ups!



Choice #3 - White and blue balsa wood angel Christmas ornament, with soldered pendant. Aprox 8x2 inches.




For everyone else - Please check back in next Saturday to see if you win something. I will offer a new set of prizes. I will try to offer a range of things in the hopes something will appeal to you when it's your turn!

And of course, if you are not listed as following this blog, you are welcome to do so! Join in the fun.

The things I see

The things I see from Shona Cole on Vimeo.

Poetry is not always just words.

Soldering tutorial

This is a very good tutorial on basic pendant soldering. It features Vanessa Spencer at Stampington & Co.



Thanks Vanessa! I love those decorative scrolls and I want, no need one of those clamps, it would make things a lot easier.