29 days of giving!

oh dear i accidentally deleted my whole post when it was nearly finished, bummer!

okay so again....

hi everyone!

fisrt i would just like to tell you about http://www.29gifts.org/, it's a 29 day giving challenge i joined, i came across it while blog hopping and signed up straight away! i like to think i give every day anyway, as a mother we do give every day but that doesn't really count, it does, but you know what i mean. it's not all about money, giving is also letting someone come on to the road in front of you, letting someone pass you in the line at the supermarket, making someone a cup of tea, holding doors open, picking up a lost glove, going out of the way of a mum with a stoller, .... little things that might just makes someone's day! and be honest, it does feel good to give doesn't it! well i joined this challenge just to be a bit more aware, it is important to give, that is my belief anyway.

I still feel the flu in my body, my head still aches, my throat still hurts, my joints ache and my ear is still thumping but okay i suppose it will pass and i'm hoping it was a good flu aznd will be so kind as not to come back all this Winter!!! i 'm hoping!!!

i haven't been very busy, i've actually done a bit of reading, watched some tv, that doesn't happen very often!

but i did make this layout with the December sketch for Hobbyfarm where i'm a designteam member

i finished all my Xmas cards for my list, it was a long list so i made lots of similar cards yet not one the same! and i'll be sending them all out this week, well nearly all of them, i still need a few addresses. i'll be putting all the names in a hat this week and letting my youngest draw a name for the Xmas present, who knows? it might just be your name! i don't know if i will announce it on my blog or let the lucky person just be suprised, hummmm what shall i do?

i also made this single ATC, not much of a job hihi! but a hint of my Xmas cards!!!!

i'm working on something with Claudine Hellmuth's sticky-back canvas! it's cool but i'm not showing until it's finished and i'll be giving it in workshop soon!

ah before i forget, i have a few dates for my workshops at Hobbyfarm!!! the first will be on 21st of February 2009 we will be doing this decorated teabox, covering 8 great techniques on Adirondack Alcoholinks, Dye inks, brayering, metal embossing,... really worth joining! it's a brilliant workshop even if i say so myself hihi! if you would like to join don't wait too long, some places are already taken and i know that my workshops fill really fast once the word is out at Hobbyfarm, so you are warned, sign up now if you want your chance to join me on this "Be Rangerized" journey!!!

also 21 of March i'll be doing a Clearbook filled with techniques on Alcoholinks, blending, mixing, details, different methodes of applying and loads of ideas for layout, embellishments and so much more, too much to mention and too much to miss so sign up as soon as you get the chance!

2 more dates are set for my workshop at Hobbyfarm: 18 April and 13 June, i don't exactly know what we will be doing then but probably a beeswax collage and altered art, i will work out more details and come back on it.

so!!! i'm off to do some TIM tags!!! you know what TIM tags are? if not!!! ooooh dear!!! go check out his blog befoer you do anything else!!!!! and see the most beautiful techniques on Xmas tags ever! he is genius!!! he really is! i still feel so honoured and blessed to have spent two full days of learning from him at Ranger U, and from Claudine and Suze!!!!

it's been a good year!!!!

ps if you see typos!! !well it's because my hands are kind of letting me down, they are aching and i can tell when i'm typing that my fingers react later than they should ans letters get switched or i even hit the wrong key with funny word as a result, please read through them :-) i try to fix them when i notice but sometimes they slip my sight...

have the most wonderful day!!!!

Christmas Card List

Xmas is coming! soon!!!! believe me!

If you would like to be on my Xmas Card List then all you need to do is comment to this post, or mail, if you mail be sure to put Xmas Card List in as subject so i can sort the mails into the right box! I don't care if you live on the other side of our planet! if you are on my list you will recieve a handmade Xmas Card, don't forget to add your address (in mail, don't post in comment here! just give me your email so i can ask for your details later), i promise to keep it private and never to use it for any other reason than your Xmas Card! You have my word on that! You have up to the 1st of December to get on my list! and one lucky person will recieve a present along with their card, i will randomly choose from everyone on my list!! i'll put all the names in a hat !

Don't be shy! put your name on my list, i want to spread some Xmas Joy!!!

xx Tanya

Creating with Ranger

Why do i love Ranger so much? bacause their products are so versitile, brilliant quality, easy to use, fun to use, their colour range is perfect for my style! i just love them!

these days i see myself using pretty much nothing else when it comes to inks, paints and powders! i have them on my table 24/7!

am i addicted to Ranger stuff?

i don't know but when i start smelling Tim's wonderful Grungeboard and have a sniff of the Distress embossing ink then i often wonder if there is is magic hidden in their products to make us love them... well i think they are magic anyway!!!

there, you have it! i love Ranger stuff!!!!

so what have i been up to?

i 've been working on my 2009 workshops, "be Rangerized 1" workshop a 13 technique workshop covering distress inks, paint dabbers and Perfect Pearls, "be Rangerized 1+, a 20-23 technique workshop... all in handmade portfolios, Tim Holtz style!! you've got to love him!!!

i have finished my "4-Seasons" workshop!!!! (i called it 4 seasons because of all the colours, the flowers, snowflake, embossed leaves, are you with me on this? i thought of the title after i had made it! hihi!)

Ranger techniques on Metal, Glossy paper and Mica or Glass, using Alcohol inks; Dimentional Pearls, Adirondack Dye ink and Archivals, including resist techniques, Agates, Embossing, monoprinting,.... so much to do in this workshop

these photo's don't do the colours justice! they seem to clash in the picture but in daylight they match perfectly! going from Spring to Winter... nor can you pick up on all the beautiful shiny details! shame! it's this dull Autumn light... it's such a dull day today!

My first "4-Seasons" workshop will be at Hobbyfarm in Eeklo, we still have to set a date but we will be doing that very soon, you can get yourself on the list to ensure your spot! i only take on 15-16 people at a time, i like to have enough time to assist everyone.

(Color Core Black magic pp, Ranger Glossy pp, Adirondack alcohol inks, Prima flowers,...)

i made a birthday card that needs to be sent off today! my eldest daughter Inez is 21 this Saturday! yes!!! i have a grown daughter! it's hard to believe sometimes, where does time go!!!! ohhh don't get me started!!!

i'm off to get myself a cup of tea and back to the drawing board so to speak, so many ideas for workshops jotted down, now i have to make them happen!!!

have a nice day!!!

my new shoes!!!

yes yes yes! today is the day! i got rid of my huge ugly heavy walking boot! okay! it was useful! i don't want to sound too ungrateful towards my friendly boot! after all it did help me through the last 9 weeks!!!

but now!!! i have new shoes! well i don't really love them yet, i had to buy this specific type of shoe! doctor's orders really! he said, and i quote! " thick soles, no heels, ankle high, shoelaces, heavy duty, nothing girly! go for CAT or Timberlands" so first off to the medical store to go but support stockings for my foot-ankle-leg! my leg is so thin! no power in the muscles what so ever! so, got the stockings! cost me a fortune but okay i'm not one to complain (am i?...) then off to the shoe shop, i did have a quick look in the women's section and sighed and went on to the Timberland section! i had already decided i needed black ones! and of course, and i kind of already knew this! they only had brown!!! you know natural colours! so after a bit of a pout i did try on the brown ones and the first ones were way to difficult to fit over my swollen ankle but the next were fine, so soft and souple so i kept them on! i walked out with my new brown BOY'S boots! yes! i had to get them from the junior men's section!!!, well it looked a bit like walking haha! i have a strange twist to my step at the moment but it will get better!

i'm happy!!!!

what else have i been up to? my eldest son turned 19 on Saturday so we had cake, played poker the whole afternoon and went out for dinner in the evening, quiet birthday for a 19 year old but that's what he likes to do!


*i made him a birthday card inspired by the latset Tim Holtz November technique, go visit his blog!

*I'm working on my 2009 workshops, working out some ideas, incorperating Ranger products into my ideas, not that that is hard! i'd use Ranger anyway hihi!

*I've nearly finished reading "Pillars of the earth" ohhhh i so don't want to finish it, i hate saying goodbye to a good book! do you know the feeling?

so there you have an update :-)

big hug!!!