Memory Box

I have moved

2008-10-21T22:48:00.003+02:00

As from now you can find me over at "Facts and Fairytales" where I will post about the things you were reading here and the things you could find over at "Naald en Draad" I really hope to see you over at my new place real soon. And don't be shy, drop me a line.

Some things never change

2008-10-19T18:49:00.004+02:00

Whenever my df Anita and I go somewhere, something happens, something funny, something silly, something awkward, just something. And yesterday was no exception. We were heading for Bedum, for little workshop from Birgit Koopsen in Marja's Hobbywinkel.
When we drove into the village, the car suddenly started to bleep. She needed oil, badly!!! It kind of took me by suprise, but df apparantly had had this problem before, because she pulled over straight away and got some oil from the boot. I thought this was just hilarious and had to take some pictures of course.

Abou 10 minutes later we reached our destination and made these little beauties. I hadn't seen Birgit for a while so it was great to catch up with her again, she even had the cheek to ask about my lovelife. Well, for all the others girls that might wonder what I've been up to lately..... It's quiet, something is brewing, but it's still quiet.
After the fun time with Birgit and Marja, we went to a beautiful shop for homedecorations, I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.

more Lay-outs

2008-10-09T10:42:00.002+02:00

As promised, 2 more lay-outs

This second one is the quickes LO ever. The paper is already so fantastic that I only added the flowers. The picture of the girls was taken by Anita Mundt

contest LO and Tim Holtz

2008-10-08T09:11:00.003+02:00

A little while ago, I participated in a contest over at Dolls and Decorations. I had to make a lo where purple would be the main colour, it had to have a tree in it, I had to use paint, silver, a bow and the word happy (which I turned into happiness) I didn't win, but I don't mind, I just love this LO

This morning I read Tim Holtz's latest entry on his blog I just love this man, he is sooooo creative with his paints and inks and stamps!!! Just look at the tag he made! I have to get myself that spiderweb stamp, never mind the skeleton, I can just think of all kinds to do with the web. I've also discovered that I stay away from a lot of techniques out of fear of messing it up. But instead of not trying them out I should literally try them out, not straight away on my lo's but on sampling bits. Hmmm, will I have time today???

I also went to a crop yesterday with my df JJ and I acutally finished 2 LO's!!! (you'll see why, tomorrow, when I'll be putting the photo's up) I love going to crops, it's nice meeting up with women who share the same passion, be it scrapbooking, quilting, cross-stitching, whatever. So if you've never done that yet, try it, you might make new friends, get new ideas or just have a chatty evening.

Got my mojo back

2008-09-18T10:27:00.002+02:00

Looks like I've got my mojo back. A LO last week, and this one yesterday. If I keep this up, I've got quite some LO's still coming before the end of the year.

A Layout, a card and some new stuff

2008-09-14T11:40:00.002+02:00

I've got a lot to show today. First of all a new LO, it had been ages since I last did some scrapbooking, but after visiting a scrapbookstore again, I also got some new inspiration. The photograph on this picture was taken by the talented Anita Mundt.
I also made some cards but sofar I've only taken a picture of this one, it's for an internetfriend of mine in the UK, this one is for you Kat!!
For my birthday I got a gifttooken from my df Sandra, who has also started a scrapblog, and I decided to treat myself with a cute little chipboardbook which I'm going to fill with the things I love, I can make this as big or as small as I want, but somehow I think I'm going to ad to this througout the years. I also bought some new paper, I didn't plan to, but this is just too gorgeous, put another colour cardstock underneath the paper on the left and your flowers will look totally different. And last but not least, the RAK I won from Birgit, I've known Birgit now for a couple of years and totally love that woman, she was my first inspiration and she always will be. Winning a RAK from Birgit alway fills me with joy as I know how generous she is. She also know my taste quite well, and it really shows in the RAK I got. Thank you so much!!! Well, I guess that's it for today, maybe I'll upload my other cards tomorrow (and yes, I've already started on my christmascards!!)
Have a lovely Sunday.

First cross-stitch design

2008-09-04T08:53:00.004+02:00

Yesterday I had my first go at designing a cross-stitchpattern. With a little help from my friend Ria (who explained how to work the program) I came up with this little "Scottish design" I've had so many positive comments already (I put it up on my other blog yesterday) that I've decided to make a few more designs in the future.
Hope you like it too.

Bad blogger

2008-08-30T16:22:00.004+02:00

I know, I know, I have been a really bad blogger, but the month of August was a bit of rollercoaster ride for me, and I just couldn't get myself to do any blogging, in fact, I could hardly get myself to do anything.

First there was my birthday on the 10th. Actually, that was the nicest thing this month, in fact, it was the nicest birthday since my divorce in 2002. The people I love and care for all dropped by and some of my friends had really given my gifts some thought. As I live on diasbilitymoney my bankaccount doesn't leave much space for luxury stuff, so my df Anita got me a token for a treatment at a beautysalon and a massage and my my df Jelly-Jetty gave me a coupon for a meal out with her at a great tapasbar in Groningen. They both know how I love and miss these things and they made me really, really happy. And I was spoiled with plenty more goodies.

The weekend after my birthday I had invited a friend over for the weekend. We've known oneanother for quite some years, but lost touch. Last March we reconnected, in fact we reconnected that well, that we thought meeting up together would make everything fall into place. What a disappointment that turned out to be. I think our expectations were way too high. Thankfully we are able to maintain our friendship. But it was a bit sad anyway; we've got so much in common, so many shared interests, but there was no sense of attraction whatsoever on my part.

And if that wasn't enough a voice of the past was heard. Kind of pointing a finger at me for him having caught a little problem. I was shocked, not so much of the fact that I might have caught something of him (and definately not the other way around) but because he had the nerve to half blame me. I went to my GP straight away for some tests and guess what; all the results were negative, so who's been a bad boy??? Still, it really upset me that the guy I once thought to be my big love, accused me after six months since last having seen him, of giving him some kind of sexual disease.

Having to go throught these tests, my GP also so thought it wise to do some other tests as I am rather tired lately and out of breath very quickly, just as well he did, once again I'm retaining too much fluid behind my lungs, so medication is up again.

I'm gonna end my entry with something positive again, last week I had my first afternoon of voluntarywork at the WereldWinkel, I guess you can compare it with an Oxfam shop. I'm pretty sure I can manage one afternoon or morning every week, and who knows maybe one day even more. I love the stuff we sell, the food, the artwork, the jewelry. Next week I'll take my camera so I can show you some pictures of the place.

And I'll try to blog more in September

MAMMA MIA!!!

2008-08-01T10:13:00.002+02:00

Last tuesday dd and I went to the cinema where we watche Mamma Mia!! What a fantastic, entertaining movie. As a young girl a was a big ABBA fan, and it was great to hear those tunes sung by Meryl Streep (what a voice!!) Pierce Brosnan and others. Okay, so sometimes things were a wee bit over the top, but that is what makes this film so much fun!!! One thing is for sure, when this comes out on dvd it's mine, 'cause I already know that this is a great "cheer me up" So if you want to go down memorylane, or want to have a good laugh and a girls' night out, I highly recommend seeing this!!

A bit of this and that

2008-07-22T21:27:00.002+02:00

There's not much going on at the moment, I'm meeting up with friends and family, I'm trying to raise some kittens, I stitch, I knit and just get on with life. I'm not going anywhere for the holidays so no big changes there either. But what I can show you are some more pictures of my girls (all 3 of them LOL)

And this, yes I've finished knitting my first winterscarf. This one is for me, but I've had so many positive reactions that I'm custom knitting now. I'm working on a scarf in sandcolours right now, and that next one will be in rich autumn colours. If you're interested in size and or prize, just mail me.

Celtic Midsummer Festival

2008-07-07T11:49:00.003+02:00

Last Saturday I went with my df Petra to a Celtic Midsummer Festival. I've got a thing for the Celts (escpecially Scotsmen) as long as I can remember and so does Petra.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we had a wonderful day. The music was nice, the food was good, the bands were great and we met some interesting people. Here are some pictures of our day.
A Celtic Family
The Germand band Faun. I'd never heard their music before but I'm hooked.
The Sassenachs, unfortunately their pipemusic came from a keyboard, but the music was fantastic anyway
And how about this young lady? She was kind enough to pose for me and I'm definately going to make a LO with this picture!! Such a nice young girl too!
This bbq was just out of this world, never tasted meat more tender, yummie.

Of course I've got loads more pictures, but this way you get an idea. We also found out there's going to be a Midwinter Festival on 20 and 21 December. Guess who's got one of those dates blocked in her diary ....

MY BABIES

2008-06-29T18:48:00.003+02:00

Maybe you remember that we had to put our dear cat to sleep in May. Well dd and me didn't like the house without a cat, so last monday we went to the animalshelter to look for a new (adult) cat. Well, we ended up with these two

This is my little baby Saartje (Dutch for "little Sarah) she's only 9 weeks old and the cutest little kitten ever. She makes the tiniest little sound when she wants my attention and I'm totally in love with her.
And this little lady is Terror Abby. Yes, you've read that right: Terror, 'cause this little madam (who's 4 months old) most certainly is. She races throuhg the house as if she's lived here always. She "attacks" poor little Saartje who doesn't stand a chance yet and is full of mischief. But she's also very sweet and loving. In fact, this little lady actually picked us when we went over to the shelter. She loves to snuggle up around our neck and giving us little kisses. Still, she is a little terror ;-)

Jessica and Jennifer

2008-06-12T19:18:00.004+02:00

Jessica is my 19 year old neighbour girl. She's really ill, she needs a new kidney, but none of her relatives is compatible, so she'll have to wait for a donor. About 5 weeks she was taken into hospital with an infection, which was hard to fight and she lost her will to fight a little bit too. I felt really helpless and just had to do something, so I asked the ladies from the messageboards to send me a card for Jessica. The response was huge!!!
Yesterday I decided to go up to the hospital and surprise her with the first 61 postcards. Yes, that's what 61 postcards look like.
I decided not just to hand them over to her, but pimped a brown paperbag. First time I did this and I quit like it.

But there was more through the Regenboogboom foundation, I was able to get this beautiful quilt for Jessica as well, it's absolutely gorgeous and is now lying on her hospitalbed. These are so-called dreamblankets. They're being handed out to children and adolescents who are terminally or chronically ill.
I don't know who made this quilt, but I can't thank her enough. Jessica was very surprised and happy with all these tokens of affection of people she doesn't even know. It broke my heart to see such a young girl, lying in that hospitalbed, wanting me to take her home. We kind of made a pact that she's really going to try her best to get better so she can come home in a fortnight and we can celebrate her coming home.
When I drove back home, I drove towards a rainbow and to me that was a symbol that all will turn out well.

My own daughter Jennifer, who will be 19 in October, passed her exams today and I'm afwully proud. This means she'll be going to the University of Groningen in September to study psychology, how proud can a mother be???

a different look at things

2008-06-11T06:49:00.002+02:00

This blogentry is not entirely my own. I came across this post on Kat's blog Secrets of a Butterfly
It's called:
A multitude of Facets

Within ourselves there is a multitude of
facets waiting to be unveiled. On the right
day,the most fortunate of us are able
to loose our inner boundaries,allowing
ourselves to take on a new and refreshing
image. in that state of existence,where old
habits are cast aside and new thoughts are
given a chance,we discover a luscious cross
field where we take in impressions,colours,
and shapes with a completely open mind.
A truly enriching state.
This invigorating process of self-development
is known and described in many cultures and
often praised in ancient,however eternally
young,symbols. The region bordered by the
Caucasian Mountains in Russia is home to the
famous Babushka doll,which with its many
reincarnations is the most inspiring and pre-
cise icon of eternal fertility and self-renewal.
The Babushka invites reflection-and rightfully
asks the eternal question: Do we live well
enough with our old forms and facets,
or do we give our inner, unborn truth
the new chance it really deserves?
(words from a Pilgrim jewellery leaflet, picture from google)

To tell you the truth, I'd never looked upon those little dolls like that, but when I read it, it all made sense. All I want to do now, is to find a really nice set to display, just to remind me of all the layers of me, of layers I need to shed and renew, and of the layers I like and that can stay

The second LO

2008-06-05T22:05:00.002+02:00

This is the second LO I made with photographs taken by Anita Mundt The shots are very different but to me, they both radiate happiness.

my beautiful peonies

2008-06-03T22:10:00.003+02:00

My garden is a mess, a jungle, I'm not fit enough to do it properly myself, and it's hard to find someone who's got the time to help me. Sometimes it annoys me, but most of the time I can live with it. But.... amidst the weeds and the grass there is my beautiful peoniebush, I planted it about 3 years ago and it's getting prettier every year. This time I decided to cut them and put them in a vase for me to enjoy. Boy am I ever happy I did, the smell that comes off these flowers is soooo sweet and every time I look at them my heart fills with joy to see such beauty. I think I'm gonna buy myself a dark variety too.

StM "Perfect Day"

2008-05-30T21:21:00.002+02:00

As always when I enter the Scrapping the Music challenge, a last minute entry. The photographs were taken by Anita Mundt Photography and Design. The photoshoot really was a perfect day for the girls.

HAVE TO MAKE UP

2008-05-30T08:30:00.002+02:00

After yesterday's "goofy" picture of my dd, I have to make up of course, so here are 3 of my favourite pictures of her, taken during the photoshoot with Anita Mundt. Anita also took great shots of her best friend and of the girls together, I might put those up later.

Little changes and Her Space/My Space

2008-05-29T08:04:00.003+02:00

You will have noticed that I haven't been blogging much lately and I certainly haven't been scrapping much. This has made me decide to change the course of this blog a little, yes, I still will be scrapping and showing it here, but I've also discovered I love doing other crafts (which you can see here) and there are so many other things that go on in my life that also fill my memorybox, that I've decided to make this a more general blog. Naald en Draad will continue to be my needlecraftblog, but over here you'll read about all kinds (if you're interested haha)

Soooo onto something else, for quite a while now Anita Mundt and Kirsty Wiseman are running the blog Her Space/My Space which is a daily photochallenge. I do not always participate, but these are two of my latest shots

Beast

Goofy (Jennifer is sooooo going to hate me for this)

I totally missed this

2008-05-18T08:51:00.004+02:00

Somehow I missed some comments lately. One was from my dear friend Leontine she gave me this award
Thank you girl, you're very special to me!!

"All" I have to do, is pass it on to 5 girls that cheer me up, I know so many more girls that do, but here are 5 of them

Rachel (and her fabulous little boy Macs) Rache, your blog really cheers me up and Macs is a great contributor
Birgit Birgit, you've been my scrapbookinspiration since day one. I totally love your work and what's more important, I totally love you as a person. You're one very special lady!!
Beki Girl, just about everything on your blog cheers me up, especially your BAGS!!!!
AmandaJean your quilts are amazing and inspiring
Ria you haven't been part of my life very long yet, but already we're embarking on great creative journeys, thank you so much!!

And the ones I didn't mention here, know who I mean, love you girls!!

for cardmakers

2008-05-18T08:29:00.003+02:00

I discovered Mirkwood Designs a site where you can find great templates for making cards. I printed out this one to make a birthdaycard (I saw some examples at The Paris Salon and really liked them) and this one to make a weddingcard. I'll show them when they're ready. I also hope to do some scrapbooking with this shot I took of my dd

I've been spending a lot of my time on my needlecraft, but obviously I still have the scrapbookingvirus running through my veins too.

She's gone

2008-05-12T23:50:00.002+02:00

Last month she turned 17. Tonight we had to put her to sleep. Her backlegs started to get paralized and when I phoned the vet he said we'd better come over. Considering her age, it was best to let her go. Rationally you know all this, but when an animal has been part of your family for 17 years, it's very sad. The house feels a bit strange tonight. I keep thinking she'll come asking for food, or hide when it's bedtime and she's got to go to the kitchen. I guess it will take some getting used to.

photoshoot

2008-05-10T11:50:00.003+02:00

In an earlier post I wrote about my daughter's prom. Of course I took some shots, but I think she deserved a little bit more than my shots, so yesterday I took her and her best friend for a photoshoot to Anita Mundt in Burum, Friesland.

This morning I found these two pictures in my mailbox

As you can imagine, we're very curious to see the rest now!

2 quick cards

2008-05-01T14:31:00.002+02:00

There are a lot of people moving house at the moment it seems, so I quickly made 2 little cards, playing with watercolours (not my forte yet) I think they're simple but fun. TFL

Koninginnedag (Queensday)

2008-05-01T09:18:00.005+02:00

On 30 April the Dutch celebrate "koninginnedag" it was the birthday of the late queenmother. As our queen celebrates her own birthday in January, it was decided that the celebrations would continue in April. A lot of people are dressed in orange, the colour of our Royal Family, and there are open fleamarkets everywhere. I had a very lucky find, this book on Gustav Klimt, one of my favourite painters

I also found two dvd's "Green fried Tomatoes" and "City of Angels" Hours of fun and all of that for 5 euro's!

There was also an intercultural market in the town I went to, with nice food, music and dance.

Some of the ladies of my voluntarywork

Traditional "horsedance" these children were so serious about this, great to watch!

One of the bands (I've known the boy in red since he was only 5 and my babybrother's best friend)

A card and a sneak

2008-04-25T21:38:00.002+02:00

Looks like I've got some mojo back! I made this card this morning
And a LO with one of my dd prom-pictures. I like this LO so much that I'm gonna try to get it published in a magazine, so for now only a sneak.Thanks for looking, have a great weekend.

Creative Buzz challenge #4

2008-04-24T16:11:00.005+02:00

Today we ask you to write a letter to someone who will never receive it.For instance, to someone who is no longer here or to someone who you don't even know but who did something for you or one of your loved ones to help, or maybe even quite the opposite.To the baby you would have loved to welcome in your life but that never came... or to someone you lost contact with. Maybe you have regrets, maybe not.Who ever it is to, write from your heart!

With the other challenges I didn't really have a LO in mind straight away. But with this, it was so easy. I wrote a letter to my father who passed away 30 years ago, this August. As this letter is very personal, no showing of journalling this time (I know, I'm normally not too shy to share my journalling, but this is different) just the LO. TFL

Creative Buzz challenge #3

2008-04-22T22:54:00.002+02:00

If I would win a million dollars...

My life would be a lot easier, it wouldn't even have to be a million, a couple of thousand would do, just enough to make me stop worrying, to let me buy what I want, when I want. Go shopping with my daughter instead of just windowshopping, get rid of the bills instead of hustling them around and see which one gets paid this time. Oh and I would so love to go on a holiday again, soak up some sun and recharge my batteries. But until then I can only dream and get on with it, 'cause girls like me don't win a million dollars, nor do they find prince charming and his fabulous castle.

Creative Buzz challenge #2

2008-04-22T22:45:00.002+02:00

Be inspired by quotes!

I was inspired by the quote the girls put up

"You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do" Eleanor Roosevelt.

Deciding to leave my husband and start a new life for myself was the scariest thing I've ever done. Leaving a good man and a stable and secure life for insecurity and, as it later turned out to be, a lot of instability. A lot of people didn't understand it, I had everything a girl could wish for, but I was so unhappy. My life isn't easy, and it's pretty scary at times but I've never regretted my decision and am proud that I faced my fears and did what was best for me.

Creative Buzz chalenge #1

2008-04-22T22:38:00.003+02:00

Write something funny someone in your environment said. That could be as little as only a few words or as much as a whole conversation between you and somebody else.

This is the story about my daughter's love for meat and one day I'll take a picture of her eating an enormous hamburger and this journalling will go with it:

"I AM meat!!"
You love meat, always have, always will I guess. When you were about 10 you once said "I'd love to be a vegetarian, but I just love meat too much" And recently you put it even stronger. When I started a diet, we also scaled down on the meat (I never realized how much meat we actually ate) You started complaining that the pieces were awfully small, when I told you that we didn't really need more then that you just look at me in dispair and sighed "But mum, I AM meat!!"

Cards

2008-04-22T07:26:00.002+02:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to the "ArtSpecially" event in Zeist, where I bought quite some new stamping stuff. Amongst that lot came a beautiful set by Tim Holtz. We'd used this set in a workshop and I'd totally fallen in love with it so I just had to get it. My scrapmojo is totally down the drain, but last friday I managed to make to cards and I really like them. Someone actually thought they were bought from a shop!! That really made me feel very proud!! TFL

Just have to share this

2008-04-20T09:29:00.005+02:00

Last night my daughter had her "Gala" (promnight) and we had to take some pictures of course, and I just wanted to share some with you. Silly enough, I didn't take shots of the girls individually, but hey I know there will be more to come when she's at Uni.

Very Proud mum

Best Friends

The back is also worth a look

Being silly is sooo much fun

Jennifer, Anne-Kees and Hilde

MemoryLane Scrapbooking and The Creative Buzz

2008-04-20T07:40:00.004+02:00

Remember I won a prize at Memorylane Scrapbooking a little while ago? Well this is what the mailman brought me last week.

I totally love it, the fresh colours really give me that summerfeeling (and it isn't even really spring over here yet!)

Over on The Creative Buzz there is a new challenge which is right up my alley, it's all about journalling. The first challenge is to write about a something funny someone around you said, and I've got just the thing for it. Thanks girls for this inspiration!!

7 Gypsies

2008-04-07T09:28:00.002+02:00

I love all the fun 7gypsies has, I just should do something with them, I've got the cutest little filefolders lying around and just don't know what to do with the, so girls, I'm gonna bring them over to a crop one day for some solid advise ;-)

6 Yorkshire puddings

2008-04-07T09:21:00.002+02:00

I don't make them as often as I would like, but when I do, this is one of the tins I use (I also have one for 12) Hmmm maybe I should invite my family over for a proper English dinner again sometime

Scrapping the Music "Stronger"

2008-04-04T14:07:00.002+02:00

This is my take on this weeks StM challenge, last minute entry (as always LOL)

5 was a family

2008-04-04T08:29:00.003+02:00

This time it's an old photograph. This is what my family used to be, my Dad, my Mum, me and my two younger brothers, this is the christening of my youngest brother on 23. March 1975.

Little did we no that our family in this shape and form would stop on 20. August 1978 when my father died. My life hasn't been the same since, I was emotionally incomplete, only now, after 30 years and quite some hypnotherapy sessions I'm finally coming to terms with it and finding me again. So 5 to me, is a special number

4 pieces of crockery

2008-04-03T20:41:00.003+02:00

I guess deep down I'm a snob 'cause I love nothing better than wining and dining in style and what better way to do it at home with my Edme tableware. I totally love it's purity and simplicity. Unfortunately halve of the set stayed with my ex, so I have for of everything now.

please say a prayer

2008-04-03T10:13:00.002+02:00

For Angie and her family. I came across her heartbreaking story through Rachel's blog. It brought me to tears to read what this little family is going though right now and the thought of what is lying ahead of them makes me feel very small and helpless. I'm very impressed by the strenght of their faith and I realize that the only thing I (or you) can do for them is pray. So please, think of them in your prayers, light a candle and send them strength.

3 fabulous perfumes

2008-04-02T20:10:00.004+02:00

I will not leave the house without a little spray of something and these 3 are my favourite perfumes

"Glow" by J.Lo, Burberry Brit and Cerrutti 1881. They're all a bit heavy and sweet but I totally love them

2 toothbrushes

2008-04-01T20:55:00.003+02:00

This is my take on challenge #2. There's two girls in this house which means two sassy tootbrushes And as we're taking about the number 2, a second picture so you can see what the bottom halves of these brushes look like too (I also noticed that I've got to go out tomorrow and replace them)

1 very special keepsake

2008-03-31T10:47:00.003+02:00

Anita Mundt and Birgit Koopsen have started "The Creative Buzz" with the buzz comes a blog and on this blog they've started a challenge called "7 in 7" a challenge to get inspired by the numbers 1 - 7. Today we start with 1 and this is my picture

This bracelet belonged to my grandmother and she specifically instructed my aunt that it should go to me. Although I've got more of her jewelery this particular bracelet will alway very special to me.

my artsy journal and I won!!

2008-03-25T11:38:00.002+01:00

I have no mojo at all at the moment, so all I'm doing is scribling in my artsy journal and lots of cross-stitching. I really want to get into scrapbooking again and I see lots and lots of great challenges, but it just isn't happening, but I also know that it will hit me again, totally unawares.

I also just discovered that I won the little quiz on the MemoryLane Scrapbooking blog this really pleases me as I've been having such a rough time lately, who knows, it might help me finding my mojo back ;-)

letting go

2008-03-17T13:06:00.001+01:00

I have a beautiful 18 year old daughter
I have to let go, so she can discover her own life
Letting go fills me with irrational fears

I have to let go....

R.I.P. OMI 12-04-1923 - 15-03-2008

2008-03-16T09:43:00.005+01:00

Last night my OMI slipped away. She fell very ill last year, but kind of got on with things. Then a couple of weeks ago things just went bad very quickly and about 1 week ago she was admitted into a carehome, we thought and hoped that she would recover well enough to celebrate her 85th birthday with us all, but unfortunately things went from bad to worse and so last night, she gently slipped away. It will be strange to go up to Germany in the future to visit my relatives and not being able to see my grandmother, but I know she's in a better place now, so rest in peace omi.

the writer in me

2008-03-10T08:58:00.002+01:00

Long before I started scrapbooking, I started writing. I started my first journal/diary when I was 10. I wrote poems and short stories and loved it. I haven't always been consequent, but I've always felt the urge to write and I've filled quite some journals. Lately I've started taking this journalwriting more seriously again. Nowadays I'm not just writing in my "normal" journal, but I've also started a kind of an art journal in which I use drawings, tickets, photographs, quotes, whatever inspires me. It's a learning process, the first couple of pages are quite bland compared to the ones that I've been working on last week. I surf the net to find inspiration, not only for the art part, but also for the writing part, there's still so much to learn in that respect as well.
I've also started a new blog (in Dutch) where I want to pay more attention to writing, for the Dutch girls that are interested this is the link Hersenspinsels uit Groningen (only one entry so far) I came across a very inspiring blog about journal writing and I'm really happy with this lady's advise and tips.
And, writing is something I can do while lying on the couch with my foot up, 'cause bad luck struck again. After the hernia (which is quite alright at the moment) I twisted my knee last week and I have to rest my leg for at least a week, I'm so fed up with resting but I do realize it's necessary, as my knee is rather swollen and sore. Just my luck...

Got Mojo? I have a dream

2008-02-29T19:40:00.003+01:00

**EDITED**

I took another shot of my LO, I think the colours are a bit better now.

I found a new challenge blog called Got Mojo? and made this LO. Unfortunately I had to take the picture by lamplight so the colours aren't fab, I"ll post it again tomorrow, but this way I'm still in time for the challenge.

My dream is for all these women to get the respect they deserve, they come from all kinds of countries and try to build a life here, they work hard to master this strange language that's called Dutch and they try and fit in as best as they can, I feel priveledged and blessed that I can help them with this process.

Scrapping the Music part 2; she's not just a pretty face

2008-02-27T17:01:00.003+01:00

And this is my other entry for scrapping the music, this time I used the line "she's not just a pretty face" it's very different to the other LO but I like it just as much. Now we'll just have to wait and see what happens sunday, keeping my fingers crossed...
Something completely different, I'm gonna be without internet on thursday and friday, if I'm lucky I'll be back on by fridaynight, if not, I'll have to wait 'til monday, which in my eyes is totally unacceptable, so another pair of fingers crossed.

Scrapping the Music; She's a mother of 3

2008-02-25T16:27:00.003+01:00

The new "Scrapping the Music" challenge is up, and I love it so much that I've decided to make two layout's, one about my mum and one about my daughter. This is the one for/about my mum (obviously)

Happy Birthday

2008-02-24T15:23:00.003+01:00

Today my friend Karin is celebrating her birthday, last month my best buddy Ton did, I couldn't be there then because of my hernia, but tonight I can be.

These two people are very special to me, they've stood by me in good times and even more so in the bad times. When I was in hospital for 4 weeks in 2004, they visited me almost every single day. When I had my problems with my hernia, they went for my groceries and came over to cook and listened to my moaning and grumbling. We do a lot of things together, my daughter adores them and I couldn't imagine life without them, so this is for them.

a sneak and Gareth Malone Rocks!!

2008-02-23T08:12:00.002+01:00

A couple of posts ago I wrote about Corinne Delis' challenge, last friday I finished my LO obviously I can't show it yet, but here's a little sneak

Something completely different is Gareth Malone; who? Gareth Malone!!! The last 4 fridays I was glued to my television between 10 and 11 pm to watch "The Choir; boys don't sing" (all this can be googled for those who are interested) Gareth Malone is a 32 year old choirmaster with a passion; make the nation sing. And boy does he get them to sing or what! In the first series (which I unfortunately missed, so I had to make do with a compilation broadast) he got a school choir to sing in international contest in China.

This time he went to an allboys school in lancaster and managed to get a choir together with 90 boys and managed to get them singing in the Royal Albert Hall. It is amazing to see what this passionate man can achieve!!! I sat watching the last episode with joy and pride and a thick throat, this man has had such an impact on some of these boys, it's just beautiful. Unfortunately last night was the last episode, all I can hope for is that Gareth and the BBC will come up with another series.

First LO of the year!

2008-02-16T13:03:00.003+01:00

Well, this is it, my first LO of the year, for the Scrapping the Music challenge. To be honest, I'm very pleased with it, I love B&W LOs . I'm still working on the LO I spoke in my previous post, but I've got quite some time to finish that, so that's why I made this one first.
I also made shocking discovery yesterday, I've got so much patterned paper it's embarrasing. The problem is, I love this paper en then don't know what to do with it!! I tend to work with cardstock, ribbon, rubons, letters and journalling most of the time adding a button or some embelishments every now and again. So it's time to get Ali's book on patterned paper out and make a good study of it.

My DD is over the moon. Ever since last year we really enjoy the music and performance of Mika, we've got both the cd and the dvd and play it a lot. Jennifer is a big fan and so is our gf Ton, Jen would love to go and see Mika in concert and Ton said he'd go with her. Now guess what???? He's performing on 8 July in Amsterdam, and the tickets are booked!! Ton girlfriend will also be going, but I declined, an open airconcert is a little bit too much for me I'm afraid, so I'll make do with the dvd's. I'm so pleased for Jen, it'll be her first concert and I'll instruct her to make pictures if possible.

I'll be going over to my grandmother's later on this afternoon, she turned 89 last tuesday and we'll all be visiting her in the home she's in now, it'll be so much easier for her this way. It'll be nice to see my cousins and there children again too, grandma's birthday is the only time really that we're all there, so lets hope she's got plenty more years in her, she seems to be fit enough at the moment. My other grandmother will be 85 in April, unfortunately her health is a lot poorer, she developed cancer last year and we have no ideal how much longer she'll be with us, as she lives in Germany, it's not so easy to visit her often, but the weekend in April is booked.

back on track

2008-02-11T08:30:00.000+01:00

Well the worst seems to be over. I can sit on a chair again for a reasonable amount of time and the pain is controlable. Just as well, cause this beautiful weather is making me itchy, I want to do something again. Speaking of itchy, I got my first mosquitobite of the year yesterday, lucky me ;-(
This morning I want to get going with a lo based on a sketch by Corinne Delis, it's for a competition, so who knows.

Well that's it for now, keep an eye open for more blogging soon.

hernia

2008-01-22T09:05:00.000+01:00

If you're wondering why it's so quiet over here, it's not because I'm without ideas or without anything to say, but after having been sofa-ridden for a week, I was diagnosed with a hernia yesterday. I can't really sit for more than 5 minutes and spend most of my day staring at the ceiling, watching daytime tv and thinking way too much. I have no idea how long this is going to take and it's driving me mad. I've got a head full of ideas for all the online challenges and I can't do a thing!! I guess my only option is to write them down and do them later.
Okay, I"m off again, my back is screaming by now.
Hope to be online and scrapping soon again.
Oh, and about the bad guy... I"ve decided I'll let him go, too much to worry about ;-) And I deserve someting easier and better (so proud of myself!!)

There's something to be learned

2008-01-09T17:16:00.000+01:00

At the end of December my bf Anita and I got talking to a guy who used to hang out in the same places Anita did when they were young (I hung out with a different crowd) great going back on the 80s road! 10 Days later we met him again, or should I say I, as we were talking together most of the time. And he totally got under my skin, as some people do. Then yesterday I spoke to a friend of mine who told me some things about him. Things that didn't shock me, but I'd rather not heard, things that have happened to him, things he's struggling with.
And then it struck me. I attract guys who are needy, emotionally starved or unstable, they see this strong, independant woman and cling on to me. And I fall for it, again and again and again. I let them "use" me and when they're strong and fit again, they leave me. Who's the fool here???!!! Why do I let them get away with it? Yes, I love to care and look after someone, but I would also like someone to do that to me!!
I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned, just gotta figure out how...
And this guy? Haven't seen him for a week now, and I don't like it, so yes, I'll fall for it again I guess, but right now I don't care, he's too cute. (thanks Celine)

my word for 2008 and a 365day challenge

2008-01-01T21:47:00.000+01:00

Last year Ali Edwards came with the "word"challenge, mine was "colour" For this year I have chosen "Love" This is a word with loads of possibilities, my first approach will be love for myself, so others won't keep crossing my boundaries. Too often in the past I just let things happen, no more, I'll love and defend myself a little better. I will also do things so I can start loving my body again, this means loosing weight and move more ie go for walks or ride the bike.
I also came across the 365 day challenge on Scrapping Angels and I'm really gonna try and keep this up. This year I want to be alive!!

Only a few more days

2007-12-27T09:03:00.000+01:00

And we'll be starting a new year. What will this new year bring? What is it, I want to achieve in this new year, will I meet new people, will I loose people? Nobody knows, and I think that's just the way it should be. I don't think we should think too much ahead, wishing our lives away, it's important to embrace the here and now. Live the moment, sure some things you have to plan, but don't forget what's important is what you are doing right now. I find that todays society is rushing and running all the time, too materialistic. Altough I moan and grumble about my financial situation at times, there is a positive side to it as well, I'm no part of the rat race, I don't have to live up to the Jones's simply because I can't and I discover and realize that there are things that are far more important. When was the last time you paid your (grand)parents a visit with some real quality time (and I don't mean just now over Christmas) when was the last time you had a proper conversation with your teenager, or had a games evening with friends or family? It's the little things in your life that make it big. So slow down and cherish.

I won!!

2007-12-21T23:29:00.000+01:00

Remember Birgit's give-away? Well guess what... I won!! Lucky me, 'cause the prize is her Snowflake mini-album this really is a nice christmas surprise and I totally love it! No snowflakes here in the north of Holland yet though. It's cold, it's frosty, but that's it and they're already talking about warmer weather again, so it looks like another green Christmas. Ah well, we'll be enjoying ourselves anyway. For those of you who haven't had a personal message

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

One Little Word ~ HOPE ~

2007-12-19T12:41:00.000+01:00

This is my entry for the OLW challenge

My favourite ornament

2007-12-15T16:43:00.000+01:00

Birgit asked on her blog to post a picture of our favourite Christmasornament on our blog and tell something about it in order to win a fab RAK.

I have a lot of things I really like, but I think that this is definately my favourite.

I must have bought it about 20 years ago, it's not fancy or flashy, but pure and simple and that is what Christmas is really all about to me. Yes, I love all the colours and the music, and the tree and decorations. But deep in my heart it's about the birth of my Saviour and I find it represented here in these glass statues in it's purest way.

Baby it's cold outside

2007-12-15T00:35:00.000+01:00

So what do you do on a fridaynight when you can't sleep? You make a last minute layout for Scrapping the Music the problem with that is that the pictures are not too good, so maybe I'll put up another one taken by daylight tomorrow, but this way at least my entry is in on time.
I painted the chipboard letters with a dabber then covered them with 2 layers of Utee and doodled on them with a silver pen. The snowflakes at the top were done with embossing powder and then brushed over with distress ink. Journalling says: I don't like the wintercold, but I love snowpictures. The rest is obvious I think. TFL.

50 Red Roses

2007-12-12T10:35:00.000+01:00

This is what was delivered to me yesterday, I was in total shock, never before have I been sent 50 red roses. My brother gave me 40 roses in all kinds of colours when I turned 40, but never before has a guy sent me 50 roses (in a vase, clever thinking, I don't have a vase big enough haha) as a display of his feelings.

But somehow I'm not completely comfortable with this display of affection, the reason being that my admirer is 20 years younger than me. Yes, I feel flattered, yes, I feel very special, yes, he's a great guy, but there's this nagging little voice in the back of my mind saying: this isn't right, you're way too old. Very confusing. Any good advice anyone????

Scrapping The Music

2007-12-07T15:04:00.000+01:00

And this is my entry for "Scrapping the Music" I could have used almost any sentence from this song as it kind of reflects the state I'm in at the moment. They're also looking for new DT-members and I'm definately gonna give it a try as I love working with lyrics.

All About Eve

2007-12-07T14:56:00.000+01:00

This is an "old" challenge for "All about Eve" I was too late to join the challenge, but it fits very well in my weight-loss album
Journalling says that I don't like to look at my body, as it is pretty confronting to realize I haven't been looking after it properly, so I look at it the way I look at a scary movie, between my fingers. As it happens, my best features are still visible; my mouth and my blue eyes.

OLW Full

2007-11-21T14:23:00.000+01:00

This is my take on the One Little Word challenge

x-mascard challenge Nancy and then some more

2007-11-18T09:48:00.000+01:00

Nancy put a christmascard challenge on her blog and this is my take, it's my first attempt with this card, but I will make more I think, I quite like it.

And once I started with one card, I really got into it and made some more

2007-11-15T15:09:00.000+01:00

Over on the Daring Cardmakers blog I found a challenge to make a card, using corrugated card, this is what I came up with (it's for my friend Leontine who moved house a little while ago.

I also made a birthdaycard for Ingrid I hope she likes it. I love to doodle every now and again, and I thought this made a nice card.

Unfortunately the light wasn't too good, the card has a more purple-ish colour.

Cookies and Cake

2007-11-14T10:37:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago my df and I bumped into this nice guy on our evening out. The three of us hit it off and yesterday we all got together at Anita's for a cup of coffee. As all three of us are single we shared of lot of dating disasters and lots of laughters and we introduced DJ to the cookie and cake theory. You meet guys (or women) that fall into to the cookie catgory, nice with your cup of tea, but nothing special, and then there is cake, something so delicious you can never get enough of it and it will always be your favourite. We're all on different stages with this funny theory, but one thing is for sure, in the end we want our cake...... and eat it.

Something totally different, I hogged Anita's Scrapbookmagazine last night, and it's been inspiring me to get going again with scrapbooking, all that needs to happen now is that dd and her friend clear the table; that won't happen just yet though, they're working on a schoolproject, why oh why don't I have scraproom LOL

2 out of 3

2007-11-08T11:03:00.000+01:00

ain't bad, right? I found myself another garage and these guys fixed my car for € 50 less!!! And my friends crisis has been kind of solved, and I'm sooooo happy and grateful for this. So this only leaves the cashflow problem. Although it's doing my head in right now, I am truely convinced that this too will get solved eventually, somehow (I can't think how right now, but it will) If only my health would stabilize, I had to see my gp this morning because I'm out of breath a lot, so off for some labtests and hopefully some results next week that we can work with. This afternoon I'll be going into town with dd, I promised her we'd go out for a meal to celebrate her bd and she's to pick out some nice new pumps (buying shoes with this girl is a nightmare) just keep your fingers crossed we'll succeed ;-)

stressful week

2007-11-04T11:41:00.001+01:00

It was not the best of weeks, I had some serious issues with the guy who was supposed to fix my car (I'm seeing someone else about it on tuesday) one of my closest loved ones got into a serious crisis which affected and upset me quite a bit and my financial situation still seems to be at an all time low (why do they think that when your child turns 18 you don't need any more bennefits?? It's not like she's suddenly stopped going to school and started working!! University still has to come!!! Idiots)

But there were some good things too, I got 4 more lovely siggies, I went to the Kreadoe in Utrecht with my mum, we celebrated Jennifers birthday, I won some tickets for the cinema next week, and I got in touch with some people I'd lost touch with. Nevertheless, I am hoping for a more balanced week next week....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART

2007-10-31T10:48:00.001+01:00

I love this girl to bits and today she's 18!!! She's everything a mother could hope for and more, I feel very blessed with this child. She's wise beyond her years but still so much of a child at times.

And like when she was about 18 months she still likes to be silly

Wearing oma's sunglasses

More siggies

2007-10-29T12:38:00.000+01:00

These are the latest additions in my siggy collection I'm on a list now, so I'm pretty sure more will follow.
I also made some birthdaycards, but guess what.... I forgot to take pictures of them, I'll have to ask the recipients to take one and send them to me, cause I like to keep a file of the things I make.
I've also had my third quiltinglesson, I'm starting on a christmas placemat right now, I'm not using traditional christmas colours, but have chosen colours that go with my interior, as soon as the star is visable I'll put it on my blog.

Well, that's it for now, off to do some quilting ;-)

Big Girls and insensitive men

2007-10-24T09:10:00.000+02:00

Last monday I was pretty upset, in fact I was so upset that I didn't even want to blog about it. But now I can. It's a bit of a story so sit back and drink your tea/coffee.
On sunday afteroon I had a date and it was really nice we had a lot to talk about and time just flew (we're talking for 3,5 hours) We spoke about all kinds including big girls, he said that it was about character, intelligence, that certain little something, if all those things fitted together size could never be an issue. Who would want a beautyqueen if she had nothing to say.
Anyhow, the conversation went fab and we even texted later on that evening.

Big was my surprise when I found an email in my inbox mondayafternoon, saying that he really appreciated me as a person, and that we had great conversations, and that I was intelligent and sparkling, but that he could never be attracted to me. He'd never dated a "big girl" and always kept them at a distance, but he felt so at ease with me that he would love to be friends, and he didn't tell me this to upset me but he just wanted to be honest. Sometimes honesty is not the right thing...

I was totally flabbergasted, I would never have guessed that someone would actualy be so shallow, especially not after our conversation on sunday, he had just been saying the things he thougt I would like to hear.
Yes, I am a big girl, and yes, I could do with loosing some weight, but I'm also intelligent, creative, fun, caring and lots and lots more. I've decided not to respond to any of his messages or mails, he hit me where it hurt really bad, but I also realize that is says something about him, and that a guy like that isn't even worth my friendship.

Thank God there are guys like MIKA who write a song that will give all BIG GIRLS a big boost.

2007-10-22T11:03:00.000+02:00

This is my entry for OLW, the Dutch journalling says: I want to believe in myself; I want to become more focused; I want to fulfill my dreams.

second block; Tile

2007-10-20T14:56:00.000+02:00

This is the second block I made at my quilting class, I'm gonna make another one with the same colours and two in different colours and turn them into a little pillow. Wednesday is my third class, and I'm very, very curious about our next block.

Siggy's

2007-10-15T09:00:00.000+02:00

In quiltingland there is phenomenon called "Siggy" or signatureblock. Quilters all over the world make their own signatureblock (the block is D13 from the "dear Jane" quilt and swap them. On this block you have to put your name, hometown, country and the month you're sending it in. In the middle you put something that says something about you. I put a bobbin with yarn in the middle as I love crafts with yarn, be it sewing, knitting, cross-stitch. I was quite pleased with the result.

The lady who organizes the swaplist here in Holland is Annelies, she makes list with participants and as soon as she's got your siggy, you're on the list and the fun can begin. This is her Siggy.

Through a quilting messageboard I got in touch with Elise, this is her siggy.

Elise and I have decided to start the "State Fair Sampler"
I won't be using blue, but probably purples or pinks, haven't made up my mind yet. The sampler will end up looking like this

Thankful

2007-10-07T08:24:00.000+02:00

Last week I was tagged by Katrina for a "Thankful"meme and list 6-8 thinks I'm thankful for, so here they are:

1. My marriage, for even though it ended in divorce, it gave me my beautiful daughter
2. The internet, because I've met amazing women through it, some of them I can even call friends
3. Modern medicin, without it I wouldn't be sitting here
4. My senses, so I can see, smell, feel, touch and taste all the different seasons (and boy are they useful in autumn)
5. The people that came upon my path when I needed them, so I could "find me" again
6. The comfort a simple cup of tea can bring (in that respect I'm very British, not Dutch)
7. I'm thankful for being born in this country, althoug we're a small country, we're pretty opinionated and we're being heard
8. I'm thankful to be a life

The girls I'm tagging are
Felicity
Leontine
Anita
Megan
Wilma

Good luck Girls

Scrapping the Music

2007-10-01T08:23:00.001+02:00

Last weeks challenge at Scrapping the Music was to make a LO using "My Sacrifice" by Creed as your inspiration and this is my endresult
This week's song is "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns 'n Roses; go check it out, it's fun!!!

oh my goodness, a sneak?!!

2007-09-28T12:38:00.000+02:00

This is a litlle sneak of the challenge on Scrapping the Music This is sooooo my thing, I love lyrics, so I think I'm gonna be active here ;-)

Quilting and Knitting

2007-09-27T09:10:00.001+02:00

At last, at last!!! Last night I had my first quiltingclass and (I think everybody starts with this) we had to me a "log-cabin" square. I gave quilting a try years ago, but totally lost it, the way I'm being tought this time is much more fun. I think I'm the youngest lady in the group (or I just look a lot younger haha) and there's one American lady who's been living in Holland for 10 years now. She's going to teach me how to make pumpkin butter and a proper pumpking pie, can't wait... The picture is doing the colours of my log-cabin some injustice. The light colour is a pale lilac with very tiny flowers, and the middle ring is purple not blue. I'm really sorry I have to wait for a fortnight for our next lesson :-( but I may give it some more exploration myself.
Another thing I've started is this scarf. It turns out really warm and fluffy and dd is already very happy with it. I'll have to make a shop tour now as the place where I got this only had two balls of this yarn left. Fortunately there are more of those places around here, and hopefully I can find some more there. The scrapbooking is still not happening, but that's okay, I know that it will come back in its own good time and until the I'll do other funthings.

Close to perfection

2007-09-24T09:52:00.000+02:00

Life isn't perfect, people are not perfect, but looking at this beautiful rose in my garden yesterday, I thought that this is pretty close to perfection.

My "lovelife" is far from perfection. Yesterday I went for a walk with a guy I've known for about 7 months now. He's gentle, kind, funny, goodlooking, sweet and we get on. But there's something missing: chemistry. No matter how much we both would like this to work, it's just not happening. We've kissed and I feel nothing, no tingling, no butterflies and definately no fireworks. I think this is sad, you get on, you like each other and that's it. I don't think it's gonna happen, not after hanging out for 7 months. So, 5 years after D-day I'm still single, and you know what.... it's starting to grow on me, I'm not quite sure yet if that is a sad or a good thing

RAPALJE

2007-09-23T10:51:00.000+02:00

I've been wanting to do this post for a entire week now, but got caught up in all sorts, but here it is at last. Last week I went to an open air concert of a Dutch band called Rapalje These Dutch guys play Irish/Scottish/Dutch folk music and I've known them from way back, when they played in pubs. They've done pretty well for themselves and play in theatres, on festivals and are also very popular abroad. I totally love their performance and made some nice shots I'd like to share.

birthdaycard

2007-09-15T10:46:00.000+02:00

cards is all I seem to manage at the moment, but I don't mind, the other stuff will be back soon enough ;-)

Autumn

2007-09-14T17:26:00.000+02:00

Well, slowly but surely it's happening, autumn is creeping in. We thought our summer was like autumn, but there's definately a different smell in the air. I love the crisp smell of autumn, and as much as I like the sommer, I totally love autumn with it's changing colours and and the above mentioned smell. I love lighting candles in the house again and cuddling up on the sofa with a good book or watching a nice movie. So I thougth I'd change my banner as well. This picture was taken last year when I visited a pumpkinfarm with my dd.

On the creative front nothing much is happening right now, I'm working on a photoswap and am making some birthdaycards, but that's about it, I guess my throatchakra is still a bit too blocked, but I'm sure it'll soon change and the creativity will be flowing again. In about 10 days I will also be starting my first quiltinglessons and I'm really looking forward to that, I've seen so many nice quilts on the internet that I can hardly wait to get started, mind you, I'm pretty convinced that we won't start with a proper quilt straight away ;-)

You just have to read this

2007-09-05T17:41:00.000+02:00

When checking out Jenn Hall's blog I came across this Now, if you think you've got it rough, have a read of this and I bet you feel a lot better. Have fun!

OLW "BALANCE"

2007-08-31T17:12:00.001+02:00

I really wanted to keep this simple, it's all about the journalling. If it wasn't for my beautiful daughter I would have totally lost my balance these last 5 years. She just knows how to keep things in perspective. Thanks sweetheart!!!

Art Slam Journal

2007-08-23T09:56:00.000+02:00

At last my first entry in my Art Slam journal. This was in my head since sunday and last night I finally put it on paper. (And I'm not a night-scrapper!!!)

two more cards

2007-08-22T10:44:00.000+02:00

IN MEMORIAM

2007-08-20T19:54:00.000+02:00

My father died today, 29 years ago. And I still feel the physical pain of that on a regular basis.
Today was okay, I felt the pain last saturday when I visited his grave.
It's not always bad when I go and visit his grave, but this saturday it was, as I was feeling the pain of loss in general. Loss of people I love, be it through death or other circumstances. I had to deal with loss that day too, and standing at my dad's grave was just the push I needed to cry, to get rid of all the pain of losses, that I had been building up for a long time. Loosing my dad, my marriage, loosing my health, my lover, my job, some very dear friends and plenty more losses. But today is okay, yes, I've lost a lot, but I've also gained a lot, I've found new friends, I'm finding new inner strength, I've found my freedom, my peace of mind and I'm sure that one day I'll find a new love.

So today I'm remembering my father, with a smile on my face

card

2007-08-17T10:41:00.000+02:00

not much to tell at the moment, so I'll just show a card I made

42, but does it matter?

2007-08-15T09:19:00.000+02:00

Well, it's happened. Last friday I moved up one step on the 40's ladder. Do I mind? Not really, to me every birthday is a gift. I know that there are a lot of girls dreading the big 40, well I'm happy I made it, two very good friends of mine who also suffered from a CHD (congenital heart disease) didn't make it to their 40's, they died within 10 days from oneanother, one of them 35, the other 37. I was devestated, I'd just been given a longer lease of life by getting a new heartvalve, and these two just slipped away. So no, I don't mind, I feel blessed. I was in a dark place for a long time during the last 5 years but I feel that I'm finding my way out of it slowly but surely, so I'll celebrate, I'll celebrate every birthday, every happy little event, every friendship be it IRL or online, celebrate life.

Awards

2007-08-14T08:25:00.000+02:00

Kat seems to think I'm a nice person and therefore has given me the nice matters award (I just know you're gonna knit that sweater girl LOL) I would like to pass it on to

Brin because she is soooo inspirational

Fifi because she is just fab with interior- and exterior design

Crabapple (don't know her real name) cause she has such a fun way of blogging

And last, but certainly not least, Megan because she puts a smile on my face every morning, thank you sooo much for that!!!

I was also send this by Paula a while ago. Now, I've already sent of a couple of cards as there are a lot of birthdays at the moment. Also, this thing is going around very very quickly so I'm not nominating anyone particuliarly, but will just ask you all to brighten up someones day by sending somebody a card to let him/her know you're thinking of them. And I may not be sending cards to all of you, but you're sure thought of on a regular basis ;-)

my little cousin Hylke

2007-08-08T10:52:00.000+02:00

I already told you that my cousin Mirjam, gave birth to a little babyboy, so yesterday we went over to visit them. And he's soooooo sweet. So here are some pictures

The giant granny square afghan I made

A little card

DD thought he was ever so sweet

He thought sleeping was far more interesting than feeding

I have to admit, a tiny little creature like this makes your heart melt and all the maternal instincts come to life straight away, but boy I'm glad my dd is almost 18!! And if I want to be all maternal, I'll just get in the car and visit this little guy.

lucky winner ;-)

2007-08-05T09:46:00.000+02:00

I am such a lucky girl!!! I totally love the work of Jen Hall and last week she had this fantastic give away of her beautiful kit and her online class. So I left a comment and guess what????? I won!!!! Thank you ever so much Jen, really looking forward to the kit and can't wait to start the class!!!

oh my soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many girls before me already, but this Dutchie would just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to win one of your beautiful inspiring packs and online classes. The packs are soooooo nice and colourful and I'm all about colour this year (it was my word for the Ali Edwards prompt in January) so yes, I would love to be picked and get going with these colours!!!
Posted by: Brigitta July 31, 2007 at 04:31 PM
(Brigitta - all those O's - Tbird asked if you didn't know how to spell!)

One Little Word AUTOMATIC

2007-08-02T09:45:00.000+02:00

This is my LO for the One Little Word challenge.

Journalling reads: After popping pills for 20 odd years you would think that taking my daily dose would come AUTOMATIC. Unfortunately it doesn't. Most times I do remember to take them in the morning, but very often a little too late. Most times I remember to take them at night. But the afternoon dose gets forgotten way too many times. Time to set an alarm.

tell tale signs and pay-it-forward part 2

2007-08-01T09:33:00.000+02:00

Yes I know, a lot of people think that I'm younger than I am (42 on August 10) but there are definately some tell-tale signs that give away that I'm actually as old as I say I am. To begin with I've been cheating with my hair for years, oh sure, the colour I use is only a shade darker than my own, but you have now idea how much gray it has to cover (I started going gray when I was about 16!!! but didn't really have to do anything about it until I approached the big 3) And yesterday tell-tale sign two entered: READINGLASSES.
This is a funny story really; in spring I can't wear my contacts due to hayfever and I noticed that I started taking off my glasses when reading, scrapping, x-stitching etc. so I decided to see the opticions who carfully told me it was my age catching up, instead of putting reading glasses on I had to take my glasses off. Well, this works fine with glasses, but once back to wearing lenses it was a different matter. So yesterday I went to the Hema (like target or wallmart I suppose) and got myself some readingglasses. I can already feel a LO coming up ;-)

Now as for the Pay-It-Forward swap, I've been cheating a little my bf Anita wants me to make something for her and I would love something made by her, so I signed up there. This does mean though that the first 3 to leave a comment will get something made by me especially for you. So go ahead girls ;-)

Also, my youngest cousin Mirjam gave birth to a little babyboy last saturday, which happened to be her 26th birthday!!! Congrats Mirjam and Pieter with your little son Hylke (this is a good, solid, Frisian boy's name) we'll be coming over next week to admire him!!! I'll take a picture of the giant granny square afghan I made for him later today and show it to you.

Pay it Forward

2007-07-29T13:32:00.000+02:00

Checking out Martha's blog I came across a really fun kind of swap. What I like about this is that it gives me a year to think of something fun and crafty to make for three of you! So, here's the rules as I understand them; be one of the first 3 bloggers to leave a comment on this post and you win. What, you ask? The winners get something home-made and crafty from me within the next year, but you have to promise to post the same on your blog and follow suit for 3 new people. If you think this sounds like fun, just leave a comment and I'll get in touch with you. Wonder who will join ;-)

I've also written a little update on my Weight Blog my weight watching has completly come to a stand still and I really want to pick it up again. I find it really hard, always have, always will, but I do realize something has to happen, I've also decided to make that blog bilingual, hoping to find more weightfighters and support, so please leave a massage there if and when you feel at home there or just want to encourage me ;-)

a new LO and some cards

2007-07-27T14:09:00.000+02:00

Yep, I got into it again this afternoon and made this LO. It's a rather old photograph of Jennifer but I love the story behind it. She had to go to bed (being only 2,5) but older kids were playing outside, so she put on a skirt and top on top of her pj's and had some fun anyway ;-)

And a little while ago I also made some cards, they've already been sent away, but I thought I'd share them anyway

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II

2007-07-27T09:06:00.000+02:00

Yes, I'v finished it, and no I won't give anything away. Except for that I thought it was a really good book, with a pretty dark atmosphere. In fact when I started reading chapters in bed, I ended up dreaming of being in it myself, I make a pretty impressive witch I must say LOL. Things I suspected 2 years ago after reading the Halfblood Prince, turned out to be right, which made me happy, and the last chapter of the book is fun to read. So all I can do is recommend you'll go and read it, if you haven't read any of the Harry Potter book, just start with number one, that still might read a little bit like a kids book, but I promise you, you'll get totally captured and won't be able to stop 'til you've read the final story.
Have Fun!!

I ROCK!!!

2007-07-25T12:13:00.000+02:00

I ROCK; according to my bf Anita Thank you so much girlfriend. Well, I can think of some girls too who I think totally rock

Birgit for inspiring me so much (looking forward to seeing you again soon)

Jo-Anne who is the sweetest woman I've ever met

Megan who is capable of giving me a great feeling everytime I read her blog!!!!!

Felicia who I think is as silly as me ;-)

Beki because I think she is sooooooooo talented

Brin who is an amazing writer and photographer and gives me food for thought ever week.

You deserve it girls!!!!!!