Monday 29 June 2009
A Croppin' I will go!
Don't forget to slip slap slop in the sun everyone, happy Monday!
And because loads of you wanted to know which of the beauties was mine and I can pretty well be flattered into anything (and because I've finally got her permission!), here's another picture of my Prom babe.
Saturday 27 June 2009
Class of 2009
Thursday 25 June 2009
WOYWW turns into WOW!
So there you have it, two Dunnit WOYWW, one a true wow!
Wednesday 24 June 2009
What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday
Show us your work surface: floor/table/desk/lap tray - no matter,we just want to see what you're doing this Wednesday! Leave a comment so I and any others can visit your glory surface!
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Drawing board > reality
Saturday 20 June 2009
Question:
I visited Eadaoin's blog earlier, I was going to leave a facetious comment about muffins, but her current post made me think a bit harder, because of course, it ended with the immortal words 'what do you think?' so I told her. And then I thought, dear interweb, that you may like to know what I think too. I'm absolutely sure you have an opinion, even more sure that anyone with an ounce of computer skill and a good scanner will have a very firm opinion! See, this lovely gal has been lucky enough to find a shed load of black and white photos in the attic which will tell hundreds of stories. Most exciting and inspiring for sure; the possibilities almost motivate me! However, Eadaoin thinks that she should copy the photos for scrapping and 'keep the originals safe'. I don't. I think she should avoid cropping them at all costs, wherever they are annotated on the reverse she should copy/scan that, and then do the scrapbooker's thing with the originals. I don't think they could be stored anywhere safer than an acid free album; the invitation to enjoy the pictures and their stories is implied by them being in an album. Safely storing them in an attic (however carefully archived) sort of belies the reason the photos were taken in the first place. In my opinion. Of course, I'm the first to admit that my massive collection of photos will not entirely end up in albums -I'm selective about the ones I scrap because of the quality, story or blahdy blah, and of course, I like to talk about doing this stuff much more than I actually do this stuff - I will always have archive photos to go in the attic for sure. But they won't be originals that are faithfully reproduced in albums. No ma'am, they will be the ones that don't tell the story but I don't want to throw away. Like the fifteen pictures of sheep that Miss Dunnit took from too far away and in less than ideal conditions. Some of them have told the story in an album, the rest are in my 21st century shoebox (the hard disk, actually).
So how do you do it? Forget about the digital luxury - what would you do in Eadaion's position? Lordy, I can hear some of you clapping your hands with glee at the scrapping opportunity this would offer. Grab one of those fresh muffins and a cuppa and let us know. The floor - or rather the worktable - is yours. (Blogger allowing. I think the bugs have gone..if you see a late comment from me, you'll know I've been allowed back into the ether!!)
Friday 19 June 2009
Wednesday 17 June 2009
What's On Your Worktable? Wednesday (already)
The idea of showing your worktable has really taken off over on UK Scrappers - there's a great thread running on there if you're in the mood for a browse. And take heart, tidy workers, you are certainly not in the minority - I think we're pretty evenly distributed, actually. Not a scientific survey though, so probably better not to quote me!
What you can't see on my desk is a pile of 'stuff' awaiting attention, on the far left that my poor camera just can't stretch to. You see, it's my work desk, so I tend to use it to do domestic paperwork and other bits of everyday stuff...if it needs my attention, it has to be on my desk. So that I can move it out of the way to craft and then ignore it, usually! Currently waiting for me to finish shrinking (!) and move on is a pile of flocked papers, a couple magazines waiting to be (proof!) read, a list of workshops that I've foolishly agreed to conduct over at Kraft Crazy in Tidworth and most importantly, and certainly the priority, on the top - a cup of coffee and a home-made banana muffin. I know. Home-made. Impressive huh. I'm so smug I can barely type. Of course, if the bananas hadn't been left to go soft and horrible I wouldn't have had to make the muffins. And they were allowed to go black and squishy because I took my eye off the fruit bowl for a couple of days and forgot to force feed them to the Dunnits. I should probably make room for the fruit bowl on my worktable to avoid further guilt. I can bear it though, because I made the muffins and besides, it's strawberry season and that renders other fruit obsolete don't you think? Which is just as well, I'm sure you agree, because there's really no hope of fitting fruit onto my worktable. Could this be a life metaphor?
Let's see your desks then - leave a comment with a link or something so we can all visit - grab Annie's fab button from the column at right if you want to clutter up your blog with fab designer buttons!
Monday 15 June 2009
Last Wednesday, (WOYWW) you couldn't see this little cigar box on my worktable, but it was there..the gift I mentioned. I was still working on the tags to fill it. It's full of snippets of info about 1969, or wise words about being 40. Or rude words about being 40. OK, both. Now you already know that I'm not going to refer to this as an 'altered' cigar box. Because it's still a cigar box, I have painted it a couple of colours and stamped on it and stuck things to it. But it's still a box. And you can see that I can't quite get my head around the shabby chic 'altered' look that involves the grunge colours either; it's just not me. So if Mrs Parsnip, the recipient of this vintage 40 box looks carefully, she'll realise it's a project I enjoyed because I chose the content, colours, stamps, blah blah , and because I wanted to make something for her. Her happening to like it is a double whammy on the bonus front. Ultimately, if you're crafting to give away, you have to enjoy what you're doing, don't you? Otherwise the motivation is lacking and also the inspiration - if you're pleased with the result, giving it away is easy - you can make yourself a promise that you'll make another to keep. If you've done it in a style or colour series that isn't close to your heart, the chances are you'll just be glad to get it over with. A bit like the moment of becoming 40. Important, but in the grand scheme of things, better when it's over! Many happy returns Mrs Parsnip!
Friday 12 June 2009
Too much of a good thing..
WOYWW was so much fun, thanks for taking part..man, your tables desks and surfaces are interesting..and very tidy. I had a conversation with my lovely mother about it and I think she's embarrassed by the mess on my desk..it's so public! Anyway, do it again next week please - if you want to join in and don't have a blog, email me a picture and I'll post it here for you! You can also make a link by clicking on the text at the foot of any post 'Link to this post'...sounds easy huh!
I've been given an award by Ann and Teresa...I thank you both for it..actually I just love it - would love to be the owner of the original sign. Of course, it must be passed on and indeed it shall be...do visit these blogs if you don't already, they are surely an antidote for my blathering. Anne, Kit, Pam,....I'm sorry not to fully obey rules, but frankly, how can I single out just a handful? The other thing about this one is that you have to list ten things about yourself. Well I will, but perhaps you better set the alarm in case you fall asleep.
1. My favourite colour is yellow. I never wear it and I rarely use it, but I love it.
2. I'm a font junky; I have 27 alphabet stamp sets. Because I need them.
3. I love coffee; taste, smell, hit. Or as a flavour - ice cream, icing, cake, mmm..
4. I have to will myself to eat an apple - smoothies are the best invention, now I drink my fruit!
5. There are no circumstances in which I would eat a chip butty - the two textures - blurgh!
6. I'm a gin and tonic gal - but don't rule out Bailey's or Southern Comfort!
7. I tend to 'proof read' almost everything; on this basis - have you read a copy of Creativity from DoCrafts lately - sheeze, the spelling! And yes, it DOES matter.
8. SURPRISE: I am opinionated and judgemental.
9. I am still easily intimidated by tall, slim, talented, pretty or any combination thereof.
10. I would not survive alone on a desert island. Ugh, my own company forever!
Wednesday 10 June 2009
What's on your workdesk?
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Some laundry, a hammer, and tears
Sunday 7 June 2009
Housekeeping
Saturday 6 June 2009
All I have to do now is finish....
In the cold light of day, 'What's On Your Worktable Wednesday' seems to appeal to a few of us, so let's do it. Anne said we could do with a logo thingy and I couldn't agree more. I've just spent two fruitless hours at Blogger Help trying to understand how to make and distribute a button. Haven't a clue. Anyone wanna help? Or shall we do this discreetly, and erm, button-less?!
Wednesday 3 June 2009
This Christmas card thing..
Monday 1 June 2009
A very pleasant young man quickly attended, explained that he'd photograph my cherub and then print an 8 picture sheet from the Kodak machine. Now of course, this wouldn't be a normal Dunnit story if I didn't digress a bit. Here's the bit: the young man who served us was wearing the uniform of the business - a polo shirt with the company name embroidered on the chest. This is how I knew that he would be able to help us. Otherwise I would of course, have assumed that he was another student, doing much the same as us. You see, he was that young. Slightly too long, curly hair and an awkwardness that tall youths posess in spades. So when a second chap appeared, obviously grown up, sporting a neat clippy beard, not wearing the polo shirt uniform, I did what I hope loads of other people have done. I assumed he was in charge and talked almost exclusively to him. I had a lot to say - I want this smart and new studio to offer me and my scrapbook chums some short lessons in improving our digital photography. Meanwhile, Miss Dunnit and the helpful young man tripped away to the studio, took a couple of photos and printed off the preference in an ID format. Conversation with my beardy friend included a quick tour of the studio (amazing - and very very white), the viewing room (fabulous little amphitheatre type furnishings, would make a great mini lecture room) and the office. We talked about the time involved in creating such workshops and the difficulty in fitting such things in to coincide with customer leisure times. I was big enough to acknowledge that really as a photography business, they may well be all about the photo supply rather than teaching us a few tips from their hard earned experience. I even (jokingly) suggested that he must be tempted to suggest we read the camera manuals. He didn't even blink as he said that he truly wished we would! And then he told me that Mark (of Mark Fell Photography) would definitely be in touch at some stage because I wasn't the only 'scrapbooker' to have come up with this amazing and original idea. He was being a tiny bit sarcastic I know, but I just think 'ha! great minds think alike'! Mark stepped forward and asked for my email address. You're way ahead of me. Mark is the young man. The one I'd assumed was the help, purely on my perception of his age and therefore experience. I'm pretty ashamed. I apologised and he was incredibly graceful in brushing off my embarassment. I hope he stays as young looking forever, as when he gets to my age, it'll be a wonderful thing. Meanwhile, he's clearly already learned how to deal with mouthy apparently half-blind 40-somethings. His good grace and utter lack of arrogance is a real lesson in something - dignity for a start! Of course, Miss Dunnit was part horrified and part smug - she just loves it when I make a fool of myself over something that involves the sort of standards I'm always preaching - you know the pre-judging thing and books and covers and blah blah. Oh my. The good news though is that her ID pass photo is a million times nicer than it would have been from a photo booth moment; which means that when she loses it, if it's picked up by someone of a parental nature, they won't be able to tell from her picture whether she's a well adjusted-emo-goth-manga-hard-working-layabout-loser student or otherwise! And don't ask me, I'm no judge at all.