Final Charity amount raised for 2015

Just a quick post to say I am incredibly proud to announce I have raised £555 (nearly £600 with gift aid) for HMSA. This charity helps and supports people like me with Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me with this. In 2016 I will continue to use crafting to raise money for another charity. Details to follow.

Happy New Year everyone.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 343 - 2015 highlights!

Hello desk dashers. Here we are for the last share of 2015. As always I'm linking up with Julia and others

 Here's my desk -

 So there's my new calendar & planner stickers

So in the window you can see my new A4 planner - it's a mix of business and personal so perfect for me now with my charity work. There's my new colouring books I had for Christmas - Secret Garden, Doctor Who & Harry Potter. New diaries and new pens. Plus the usual Book Art WIP.

Thought I'd share some of my highlights for 2015 as well - 

Bristol Rovers getting to Wembley and winning promotion back to the football league. Me and Keagan were there to witness it - such an amazing day.

My 40th birthday was just 3 days before Wembley and 2 days before the WOYWW May crop. These were taken by LLJ - receiving my card and present (Wooden desk storage made by Julia - I use it everyday.) and cutting my Bristol Rovers cake (what else would it be?!).

As a parent you encourage and support your children. Ever since Keagan was a small boy all he's ever wanted to do is to become a jump jockey. He knew in order to do that he had to try and get in to the world's best Racing college in Newmarket. No easy task as they only take about 200 trainees per year and those trainees are not just from the UK but from Europe too.

As you can see by these photos he was accepted onto the course and is up there in Newmarket right now. Literally living his dream. 

He has to pass the 14 week course to be able to work full time in a racing yard. Once in the yard he has to prove to the trainer he has what it takes to be a jockey. He then has to go back to The British Racing School to take the 5 day course to obtain his racing licence.

Seeing my boy fulfil a lifetime ambition has to be my highlight of the year!

Take care Zo xx

Hello & Festivities

Well hello on this Bank Holiday Monday.

I thought I'd pop onto Blogger to catch up with you all. I hope you all enjoyed the festivites and my thoughts go out to any of you affected by the flooding. I know many crafters around the country are watching rising water levels.

The last few days have been very happy and full of excitement. On Christmas Eve I finally launched the website/shop that I'm running along with my friend Lisa. I've worked on the site for a few weeks so to finally publish it live was exciting. You can check it out here - 

Creative Together

I spent Christmas day with my parents and other family & friends. As you know Keagan is at The British Racing school so wasn't at home this year. First time in 17 years I've not been with Keagan, but we got to see him on Boxing Day and yesterday as we went up to Newmarket Boxing day afternoon. We travelled back last night. Lots of congestion on the M11 & M25. Many travelling back after their Christmas visits I think! 

Here's some pics from my weekend - 

 So my dad (left) Uncle (middle) & my mum can't do sensible photos. Faces are always pulled!

Here's me in my new top.

My Baxter didn't miss out he had a stocking but his main present is on order -  a new blue bed with his name on it!

So Newmarket and The British Racing school was next. Keagan had to work on Christmas Day and all over the weekend. Horses have to be fed and mucked out no matter the day, but we did get to spend a few hours with him Boxing night and then on Sunday.

 Opening presents

 Keagan is looking well & has put some muscle on!

 I bought him Tetris Bop It. Turned out to be a great present!

Me and my boy when we took him out for lunch yesterday. 

Won't be long and he will be home on his weekend off. Then he will be home in February.

Hope you and yours had a wonderful time. 

Take care Zo xx

 

Creative Together

So many of you will already know that myself and my friend Lisa are starting a new venture. We are setting up an online shop called - 

The shop is at www.creativetogether.co.uk and it will go live later this week.

We will sell many handcrafted items - Book Art, stationery, decorative boxes, frames & cnavases. Plus Lisa is a qualified Florist so she will make a professional range of floral items. 

You can find out all of our news and see photos of what we make over on our Facebook page and I've just set up Twitter also.

I would love for my blog friends to follow me in my new venture. I will also post about how we are doing and share some of our products here.

Here's a pic of me and Lisa at the WOYWW crop earlier this year - 

Take care Zo xx

Friday Smiles - week 150

Happy Friday!

I'm back to join up with Annie and her Friday smiles - my smiles this week are all about my Companion dog Baxter. He is a Terrier X. Though what no one seems to agree!

I rescued him in 2013. He is now 10 and has always had many issues due to his upbringing and poor treatment. Behaviourist were very worried about him when he first went to the home. Even setting up a video to monitor him. But they quickly worked out he was so scared of the kennel noise and other dogs!

He improved a lot with them once they moved him away from dogs and into a quieter area. He also has legs problem where the bones didn't grow properly. So he can't do long walks yet has energy to burn. He thinks he's still 2 I swear!

So I fell in love with him & took him home. It's been hard but over the last 2 and half years we have come a long way. I have the time & patience to work with him you see. He is my best friend - always by my side or on my lap! In fact he is on my lap now as I type.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 341 - Bit of yellow

Good afternoon everyone -- I'm back to join up with Julia & all desk dashers

I'm actually typing this while talking to Keagan who is telling me all about his morning riding out at The British Racing. They are being allowed to go much faster now & experiencing some proper racing exercise speeds. He's getting progress reports and is receiving good feedback from his instructors. He is now in his 7th week! Half way through.

Right desk - 

 Yep a mess. I've been colouring so my pencil tins are out. I've been keeping boxes from parcels I receive to reuse.

 There's a book art project on the go and that's a a packet of yellow tissue paper and ribbon I've just received ready for my packaging. There's Creative Together flyers (blog post to explain) I've designed too.

Had to share this - once I cleared my desk Baxter decided he wanted to get in on the act. Here he is watching the world go by!

Take care Zo xx

A sneaky peek!

Hello!

Just a quick post to share a few pics of items that I've been loading up to our online shop. It hasn't gone live yet but you can follow all the news and be the first to know when we are live over on our Facebook page - Creative Together

Here's a few of the items I'm adding  - 

That's it for now!

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 340 - Wobblers!

Happy Desk sharing day! Otherwise known as WOYWW lead by our wonderful leader Julia!

As always I'm here to share my desk but first I'd like to say I have some exciting news and an update on Keagan on my post from earlier in the week. I know many of you would want to know/see this so I thought I'd say!

Right back to the desk - 

 So right side has a Christmas Wobbler sheet I've not made up yet.

 The window side sees cards left to dry over night.

I really love these wobblers such fun. 

I announced on other social media that I'm not sending Christmas cards this year as I have decided to make a donation instead to my charity fundraising. However I have made these for close family. 

I will pop for a visit before next Wedsnesday!

Take care Zo x

Exciting News & catch up

Good Monday to you!

I'm back to share some exciting news with you all. In a few weeks myself and my best friend Lisa (Lisa came to WOYWW crops with me) will be launching our very own website/shop. It's called - 

I'm busy working on the site (I designed the banner above too) and it hasn't published yet, however I have set up a Facebook page where you can keep up with news & updates and see photos of the kind of projects we will be selling in our shop. Here's the link - 

Creative Together facebook page

I would love it if you all popped over and liked!

Proceeds from the items I sell will be donated to BANES Young Carers this charity helps so many young carers in our area including my boy, Keagan. My items will include Book Art and decorated notebooks.

Lisa is a qualified Florist so as well as papercrafting projects she will also sell floral items such as buttonholes, corsages and hairbands for example.  

We have been friends since playschool (nearly 38 yrs now!) and we both have always loved craft/art. Over the years we've attended craft fairs together and have always shared ideas and techniques hence the name - Creative Together! 

On a personal note, I visited Keagan this weekend. As you know if you visit me regularly, Keagan is attending the British Racing School in Newmarket to start his career in horse racing. I'm happy to say he is settled, looks well and is enjoying his time there. Here's pic I took - 

So that's my news and update.

Take care Zo xx

Friday smiles

Good morning! I'm here today to share my Friday smiles and join up with Annie and the rest.

My smile is huge today. All because I am visiting my son, Keagan, this weekend!!!!! He has now been away 5 weeks and it's the longest we have ever gone without seeing each other. It's been so hard, but made a bit easier as I know he is happy and chasing his dream.

My bestie is coming to look after Baxter too. I'll leave you with some of the photos I sent Keagan this week of Baxter and of my Christmas tree!!

 Those who know me won't be surprised that it is blue and white/silver!

 Baxter snoozing next to me.

Here Baxter was waiting to see if I would give him a bit of my ice lolly!!

Take care Zo xx