Oh Lordy.

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

Part of learning is forgetting things then remembering again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Damn you Kirsty's Vintage Home!

My Week in Pictures...

I know you'll find it very difficult to believe but I'm very excited and been very busy.

Finally, my CRB check has come back, they know I haven't been in prison now so I can return to work.

Let's hear it for being a fully contributing member of society!

I've been lucky enough to have a plethora of (mainly) ladies who require the services of my make up artistry in learning. And I have so many more to do it's so exciting.

Beautiful Andi, make up or not, she always looks amazing. Gorgeous face.

Pretty Peacock color eye I did on me that I could NOT get to show up on the camera! Need some darker pigment - hello Mr. & Mrs. Bourjois

My new MAC 187 limited edition foundation stippling brush. 'Tis a joyous thing!

Practicing Edward Scissorhands make up on my arm

Meg's Make Up Yesterday

I've been asked to do some make up for a burlesque show next week and a whole raft of other things which is fab and a very well respected photographer has given me their approval too.

I'm also excited about the MAC event I'm going to tomorrow. It's keeping my mind off Lady J's surgery tomorrow. Already got everything crossed for you, oh lovely bezzie.

Anyway, her'es some photos of my disembodied hand I've been making too inspired by a similar thing the full time version of my course are doing.

And I finished the scarf/wrap thing commission I have been asked to do. Must be honest, I don't want to send it! It really is gorgeous. Forgive me modelling it myself but the dogs wouldn't stay still ;-D

Must dash, got radio show prep to do. Traa!!

Slow Down! It's the Weekend

No chance. Too much lovely stuff going on!

At this time of year it's so lovely to get a gorgeous day like today has been especially when you get to spend it on top of a mountain with one of your very best friends and 4 silly dogs.

We walked and talked and walked and talked for miles, my legs were all tingly when I got back from a combination of the exertion and cold. They've been doing that a lot recently - but for a different reason than today.

SO the dogs are all shattered and sleepy, not to mention smelly from swamp diving all afternoon again, Meg and I have just scofffed and washed up after a "pretend Sunday dinner" as we like too call it and I've dispatched some of or furniture to my Grandmothers house for storage until such time as the new house situation rectifies itself. Universe - I have faith in you - throw me a bone?!?

I've realised recently that I can realistically only achieve half of what I set out to on a daily basis but I still find myself pushing for more.

I can't wait to get settled and creative again. With Meg now being fond of a sewing machine too there's going to be much fun had. My MUA training is more than keeping me going creativity wise and I was lucky enough to work on 2 new friends last night who were really thrilled with their results and I've got 4 booked in for this week. I'm after some photo shoot experience now so I've approached some local photographers offering my services and I'm really looking forward to getting called on. "Lady J" has furnished me with some make up challenges to be going on with.

So while I try to keep my eyes open for Downton, I look forward to another packed week of (hopefully) work, fun, friends, creativity, making up peoples faces, dogs family and loved ones.

And I really hope to finish this beautiful commission piece for my lovely twitter friend Cwtchy ...

So, lots of exciting stuff going on.

Some of my girlies have kindly allowed to colour their faces in so my abilities are growing and I'm learning every time.  Been messing with my eyes today while listening to my mates Ian and Toxic's rock show, and did my own eyes to match my favourite specs.

My first regular slot on BBC Radio Wales with the gorgeous Louise Elliot went really well despite my being incredibly late and parking shockingly under the watchful gaze of the lord of the airwaves that is Roy Noble!

Thursday's Show

Then, I get into the studio only to discover that the guest due after me was FAR more organised than I so the lovely Liz Tobin of Vivino Wines was swapped with me. This would not be remarkable if I had known of Liz for 7 years as she is the sister of a bloomin' good friend. We couldn't believe that we bumped into each other there of all places!

I'm feeling a wine shop coming on!

I'm working on a crochet commision piece at the moment similar to the teal wrap/scarf  I did for myself the other day, and when I'm not doing that I'm packing boxes and having lovely chats ;-D

What Time is it?

It's funny how some articles (some may call it "tatt" - I did) come into your life, you HATE them, but then when they go, there's something about them you miss.

In this particular instance it is a clock. Friends that know me know exactly which clock I mead and exactly how vile it is. There is only one person who did not think this clock to be utterly vile, that was the person it belonged to. It truly was vile.

And now it's gone

... and I miss it.

Well, actually, let's be a bit more specific here. I don't miss "it", I miss it's tick.

I love a tick tock. Apparently, some people find it immensely soothing (me) where as a lot of people find it to be incredibly disturbing. I'm glad I'm the former.

So I needed a new tick tock for my bedroom.

Go and buy a new clock?! Don't be silly.

From this brand new but unattractive clock, and these bits and bobs...

I made this.

It makes a lovely tick.

I love a collage.

My Generation

I had some left over yarn from my wrap I made last year (funnily enough it was the night Downton Abbey started last year that I'd started that!) and because I bought the wool when I was away on holiday I bought an awful lot more than I needed. I had no idea what to do with it, it wasn't quite enough to make a jumper and I didn't know what to do with it.

A little while ago when I made my regency dress I made a shawl to go with it. Remember that? Well it's dead useful, if you're a bit chilly it just sits on your shoulders enough without being too heavy or bulk, so I thought I'd make another. The teal wool is my favourite colour, so I knocked up this baby and I'm really in love with it.

My beautiful (borrowed from gorgeous Roo) vintage mannequin Anna is modelling it. Isn't she gorgeous I'm not keen on giving her back ever, but one day soon I'll have to. :(

Can you see my little Cath Kidston pin on it too It has a mini sewing machine, scissors and cotton reel on it too.

So, generations.

Meg's first seams! All tidier than mine, I should add!

For years I've been trying to get Meg interested in crafts and making things and creating clothes. Gradually it's happened with modifying and personalising garments, charity shop shopping and car booting, so imaging my DELIGHT when she comes home from a college "what to do" crisis (her original course choice didn't work out) to tell me that she's on a full time Fashion and Design course and can I teach her how to thread my sewing machine!?!? I can barely contain my excitement.

Things are great for us at the moment. I originally thought that going on my media make up course would be for recreational purposes but having spoken to some people, done some research and thinking, I'm going to go for it. I want to set up a freelance business doing everything from kids face painting and bridal stuff to full on media T.V. work etc. With my arty abilities and drive, Meg's contacts - we'll be fine. Looks like we both have new careers to look forward to.

Meg's currently in London having catwalk modelled for the first time today for a hair competition. Sadly the team didn't win, but she did because she looks bloody smashing.

Oh and this weekend I did something I said I would NEVER DO.

For years, I have had recurring nightmares about being in school. I despised every second of it you see. I was very "good" but the teachers had no time for me because I was easily capable of being a straight A student but I have just never been interested in academia, and being a "stinking sweaty" (local term for a fan of rock music) my tiny group of friends were regularly abused, spat on, pushed kicked all that. SO I hated it. I said I would NEVER go to a reunion and that I was still in contact with the only people I was interested in from school. But Sarah really wanted to go, and she encouraged me to go with her, so I thought "to hell with it". And my goodness did we have a good time. Not had a nightmare since either ...

Me and Sarah - friends for over 30 years! (Before we were born :D)

I had a bit of a dodgy emotional day yesterday due to lack of planning, but I feel so much better today. I must dash, got stuff to put in my diary. Whether I'll make it to all of it I don't know because I'm very excitedly going back to work!

So anyway, Downton. My friend Becky asked me for a "brief history of Downton" as she'd not yet seen it. I facebooked her this précis and it went down quite well so  I thought I'd share... GOD BLESS DOWNTON!!!!

Old money family gets skint so Lord Grantham marries rich beautiful, kind but savvy american socialite and has 3 daughters, Edith, Mary and Sybil. Edith is bitter but romantic, mega jealous of her prettier sisters, Mary is beautiful but heartless. She shags a Turkish bloke that comes to stay in the house (Downton Abbey) who very sadly had a heart attack in her bed so her, the 2 sisters and the Mother have to move his body back to his room where he can be "discovered", This is hidden from Lord Grantham to protect Mary's reputation. Lady Sybil is a bit of a suffragette and loves politics, despises inequality. She has run of with her beau (the former chauffeur) to marry him and live in Ireland much to Lord and Lady Grantham's digust.Because the Granthams had no sons, the fortune has to be left to the upper working class cousin Matthew who is lovely but doesn't want it, eventually he learns to live with the responsibility and as he's feisty and different he and Mary fall in love despite his being engaged to another bird (luckily she died of Spanish flu so he didn't have to marry her). The Dowager Countess is Maggie Smith and Lord Grantham's Mother and she disasproves of everything and everyone generally unless she has something to personally gain from it but underneath is actually a bit of a softie but she loves a fight and "keeping up appearances", Below stairs, Bates and Anna managed to get married but Bates is now in jail as the crown thinks he murdered his lunatic wife who tried to blackmail everybody, Daisy married her sweetheart on his deathbed despite not loving him so refuses to claim her war widow's pension and she's being trained up by Mrs. Passmore the cook to help her more in the kitchen. Mrs Passmore got cataracts and because Lord Grantham is such a top bloke instead of sacking her he paid for them to be removed. Lady Grantham got pregnant and it was a boy but miserable maid (can't remember her name) deliberately put soap under her bath so she would fall and hurt herself and she did and she lost the baby. This season we should see Mary and Cousin Matthew finally get married after she got shot of her newspaper owning horrible beau, Bates SHOULD get out of jail and the 1st world war has just finished. During the war the Granthams turned their house into a recovery centre for injured officers where they THINK they found the other heir to the fortune who was thought to have drowned on the Titanic. This hasn't been pursued but if it DOES prove to be him with amnesia then cousin Matthew is off the hook but it means Lady Mary will marry a humble solicitor and not keep the aristocracy profile.

Never Happier Than When I've Glued My Fingers Together

Okay so for some reason (!) I seem to have a little blog-phobia.

This is ridiculous so I'm weaning myself back into it by just doing a small one.

Today, I have done the most creative thing I have done in some time. Don't get excited, it won't be in the Tate, but it made me happy for a few hours and now I have no finger prints.

In my drive to turn my entire house into a big pink ball of kitsch-retro fluff, I turned this:

Into this:

That is all, thank you and good night.

Hi five me.