OUAS 15NOV2011 "Life's Journey" and TCR #86 "Ann's Cottage"

My goodness what a week! am behind with just about everything both at work and in blogland. My apologies to all of you!

Friday I was at a meeting in Gothenburg, which is on the south-west coast of Sweden. The alarm clock rung at 04.30 a.m. and I can tell you - IT'S PITCHBLACK out there at that time!! Had premonitions when I got the Gothenburg airport for my flight back home in the evening; massive queues everywhere ... and sure, I was right. The carrier that was supposed to take us home had been hit by lightning (simply never happens in our parts of the world) and had been taken out of traffic.

I am normally a very kind and accommodating person, but when 120 people charged up to the service desk demanding a seat on the next flight I almost flipped out. Smug 30 something business men in slick suits waved their gold cards and what do you know, they were first in line to get onboard. Do I have to say I had to wait for another 2 flights before finally heading home.

Well enough of that. Today is Sunday and in Scandinavia it also means it's First of Advent. From all windows electric candle sticks and/or electric advent stars spread their soft glow into the darkness. Some families start baking ginger breads and most people also have their first of maaaaany drinks of the traditional GLÖGG. It's similar to mulled wine but about twice or thrice as strong as we put in brandy or vodka or rhum together with cinnamon sticks and lots of other Christmassy spices before we let the brew simmer gently.

Before I tuck into my first saffron bun and first cup of glögg, I'd better share the page I made for OUAS 15 November challenge.

This time the journalling criteria focuses on YOU as a woman OR ANY female in my life. What is the best thing about being a woman? Motherhood? Shopping? Make Up? Girls nights? Gossip? The journalling can be as long as you wish and in any language, but one must journal at least 2 sentences on the best part of being a woman. The journalling critera has to be combined with Nadia's pretty sketch.

I flipped the sketch and had a horizontal line instead of a vertical one. Here it is.



Been admiring and saving the new Basic Grey Piccadilly papers since I got them, how pretty can papers get?! feminine, sweet, bright and happy absolutely gorgeous colours/patterns. With the challenge I wanted to use some really wonderful papers and finally got the courage to cut into the pack. Well, I'm sure you recognize me in the photo. It was taken last summer right after my birthday.



Self-explanatory journalling. Oooh just look at the red and blue in combo!!



Instead of punching and layering across my page, I used a wooden leafy branch from KaiserCraft. Chalked it in green, mixed Gesso with water and washed everything several times for a mat effect. IRL the milky whiteness has dried in really cool soft and subtle patterns. Then I touched up the edges in a darker green + Chestnut Roan.

After my two passed weekends of Christmas card making, I had some left over fabric strips. Cut off some snippets and tied them around the branch as a reminder of all the good things of being a woman. You know, like the old-fashioned way of tieing a string around your finger to make you remember something.



I had some left over squares from a chippie window that I've used in a couple of previous layouts. Covered them in different patterned papers and in a jiffy I had dimensional tiles without having to wait for them to dry.

Nothing but pure Prima sweetness in this cluster. Also in the cluster at the top of the page. Don't know if you can see the itty bitty yellow bloom nesting between the blue roses, it has a dark blue pearl centre. I ordered a bunch of them in assorted colours and matching jo jo fabric bloms on Etsy from one of the most sweetest ladies that I've ever met online: Natalie Jo from PiccalilliPatchwork. She custom made the cutest little pieces of magic for me, I'm still saving the little treasures for something very special.

Check out her shop HERE




Friday was also release day of a new palette over att TCR. We're in His Room this week and playing with these elegant colours; Rusty Red, Light Grey Blue, Pale Beige and Dark Grey Blue.

Here's what I came up with;

The cottage in the photo is the birth place of William Shakespeare's wife Ann Hathaway. I took the photo back in 2006 when hubby and I spent a week in the Cotswolds, UK. Almost surreal to walk around in her house, it's been beautifully kept.

The red backing paper that peeks through the punched pattern of the blue paper, is from Swedish Maja Design's latest collection, Vintage Winter.

The blue paper is from Paper Studio's collection Déja Blu. And the beige paper with the script is from Paper Studio's collection Countryside.

I have written before about the amazing online store in Holland that I found earlier this year. Bea, the shopowner, is a miracle of service and she offers the most astonishing collections of current and older collections that have been discontinued in other places. If you're a K&Co fan as I am, Bea's shop is the place to visit.

Go have a browse in her shop Scrappapier, if you click HERE you will come to the page where you can see ALL the lines that she offers.



More Prima goodies and a Dusty Attic chippie frame that I've left raw.





I am so happy you wanted to come for a visit, thank you ever so much! Have a wonderful week whereever you are, take care!

xoxoxo Eila