Hi

It has been two weeks and counting with NO INTERNET and I feel like a fish out of water!!!!! I am amazed at how I depend on the Internet for every thing from business to personal contact with friends and family. and I hate using public computers so until my connection is up and running I am going to be hard to find around here....... and I must say that I miss catching up with you girls on your blogs.

so until I don't know when............ stay blessed.

I've been Tagged!!!

I'm back, yes it's been a long time and no I haven't been sunning myself in tropical climes I have been buried under work work and more work. I had a presentation today in a local network group which was organised by my business advisor, I was so nervous when it as my turn to get up and give my presentation. but it was all good in the end and just listening to other people in the same situation as me was very encouraging......

I have been tagged by Miss Melanie and it's my first time!!!!! so this should be interesting

1. What is your occupation?
Designer & crafter

2. What color socks right now?
None

3. What are you listening to right now?
An old British/ West Indian sitcom called Desmond's on Sky TV

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Fish and Rice and a fat coke {naughty girl}

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
I don't have a car, but yes I can drive a stick shift or Manuel as we Brit call it

6. If you could be a color what color would you be?
Green, mint or sage or sea green any green will do......

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My Mother

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Yes, a very interesting person who always had an opinion or advice to give, and I like honest feedback and people with personality

9. Favorite food?
Oh this is a hard one, it depends on my mood, pineapple, peanut butter, strawberries, raspberries, but not together.

10. Favorite drink?
A good tropical fruit juice

11. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Tennis @ Wimbledon which starts in about two weeks time.

12. Have you ever dyed your hair?
No

13. Pets?
No, But I hope one day in the future to have a westie and a horse!!!!

14. Favorite Author?
The late Bebe Moore Campbell {RIP} I read so many books that I don't really have a favourite any more.

15. Last movie you watched?
A movie on BET "commitments" it was something to watch, but nothing to write home about.

16. Favorite Day of the year?
My birthday, I take time out and do my own thing spend the time with family and friends.

17. What do you do to vent anger?
Play music, and have time to be alone to think

18. What was your favorite toy as a child?
A blue helicopter, I was into boys toys in a big way both me and my sister until I was about 9, 10 then the dolls came into play.

19. What is your favorite time of the year?
Christmas time, people tend to be more friendly and cheerful and giving!!!!!!! and the food helps.....

20. Strawberry or Blueberry?
I like both but strawberry is the winner by far

21. Do you want your friends to participate?
I think most of my blog friends have already participated!!!!!!!!

22. Who is most likely to respond?
Oh I don't know........

23. Who is least likely to respond?
Well all the ladies who have already been tagged.....

25. When was the last time you cried?
I cry usually from laughter when I get a good joke, which is quite often

26. Who is the friend you had the longest that you are going to tag?
I would say melanie & T Baby. and I am going to tag Shell

27. Who is the friend you had the shortest that you are going to tag? Shell

28. Favorite smell?
Mandarin orange

29. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese

30. Favorite car?
I don't have a favourite but I like the Audi

31. Favorite Quote or motto?
"if you fail to plan, you plan to fail"

32. Number of keys on your key ring?
three maybe four???

33. How many years at your current job?
Less than a year being self employed

34. Favorite day of the week?
Friday

35. How many states have you lived in?
well I will adapt this question to how many counties, London, Hertfordshire & Northamptonshire

36. Which political label most closely reflects your views?
do we have to talk politics ??????

37. Worst injury you've ever had?
I got bitten by a dog at age ten

38. What is your favorite book?
My all time fave is the Bible

39. What were you doing at 12:00 last night?
Watching TV

40. What famous person, dead or alive, would you most like to meet?
There are so many people I can think of but maybe not someone famous just a regular women who lived in Paris in the art nouveau movement. to see what she wore and to get a first hand information on how women were regarded in society.

OK now am tried....... until next time

Stay blessed

Audition

I went to an audition with my sister in south London on Wednesday, I have alot of respect of people who go through this, she was auditioning for a TV show looking for singers.
There was about 20 people in the studio and they had to sing in front of the group as well as the shows producers, at times it was hilarious because there were the obvious time wasters and then the real singers but what ever I think of them shouldn't matter they were following their dreams and all power to them!!!!!!

Hi

Just a quick note to say hi, There's so many things to do and not enough hours in the day. it's all business around here, I am developing new designs and glued to the mobile phone and the computer and as usual this blog is suffering.

But I will challenge myself once again to post every day for a week from Monday but the twist will be I have to post a photo of a creative venture everyday. this might be a card, scrapbook layout, some knitting, drawings, or some fashion designs!!!!! so watch this space.

In other news I made my first Etsy sale today it was only for a sample but I am well happy!!!! I have always up until now made sales through meeting with my customers and word of mouth over the phone or email so this makes a good change.

Stay blessed ............

Shop

I have finally done it, I have an Etsy shop!!!!!!!! Well if the truth be told I signed up for the shop in November last year, but I didn't have the time to really sort everything out until now.

Since my last post I have been working none stop, last Sunday I meet with a client who wanted Invitations and she wanted them ASAP.................. So I worked flat out until Thursday afternoon when I delivered the order.

I was so tired the I actually slept until after 9am on Friday morning.

Saturday I set up the shop and posted my Invitations for the first time, which took forever.
I was seriously on the computer for like 6 hours I don't know if it was the Etsy shop's network or my computer but it was moving so slow.

Sunday I had a relaxed day spent time reading your blogs, I watched two movies one was an old favorite "You've got mail" with Meg Ryan and Tom hanks, and the other was a British/Indian film "Brick Lane" and I cooked Sunday Dinner for myself and my brother.

Just a brief recap of the last 8 days

Stay blessed until next time.

Sunday

OK I just about managed to blog for a week with the exceptions of the two days that I forgot. {even though I did post twice on those days} this hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. so I have no excuses I have to try to do better with this blog, I'm aiming for three times a week and I will see how it goes from there...............

I worked today but it was good, the client I visited had a 10 month old baby girl who was so adorable. which made the visit so relaxed because sometimes going into people's homes can be very intimidating not knowing what to expect. Both Mother and Baby were so open and welcoming it was easy for us to work out what she wanted for her Invitations, this order is such short notice so I will be working flat out until Thursday when I deliver. well it's 10 to Midnight and I need my bed so stay blessed until....... maybe tomorrow

Saturday

I have done it once again forgotten to post Saturday I was occupied making samples for a client and arranging meetings for Sunday.

I have decided to keep the exercise programme going Monday to Friday, five days a week is enough for me at the moment.

earlier in the month I joined myspace {with a little doubt whether it would be any good for networking for my business} and I have been pleasantly surprised by the response, so if there is anyone out there who is maybe thinking about joining I say go ahead and see what happens, because at the moment the promotion of the business is the hardest but most rewarding thing just letting people know that you are here and trading. luckily there is a big trend across the globe for handmade goods which makes it easier for people like me.

later......

Friday

I have that Friday feeling it's been a good day. I spent the day networking, sending out promotional emails and letters. and doing general paper work, I have been sitting at the computer for hours now so I am out..............

Thursday

Hello again, I have a laid back day didn't do anything special just a little sketching and plenty of TV

But I have some sad news come in this evening my former pastors wife was on holiday with her Sister and her youngest child in Spain, and her 15 year old son died of an heart attack!!!! how does this happen to a teenager???

Take this as a lesson people live your dream because life is to short to live unhappy.

Peace

Wednesday

OMG I totally forgot to post yesterday so here it is...... I decided for a change of scenery and I went to the park I really enjoyed the time, I found the church tucked away in the old town, along with Victorian grave headstones and a lovely walled flower garden.

I was invited to a birthday Dinner of which I declined, and I spent the evening with my sister, niece (13) and nephew(17 months) instead. She has that teen spirit and the new baby energy going on, which I find fascinating because when you walk through the door the toddler comes running trying to talk to you in his baby language and Tisha has her teenage girlie things that she is telling me about.

This was taken a few months ago, on the day of the his Christening

I didn't get back home until well after midnight and I remembered to blog when I was already in bed.....

Until later when I post about today's adventures

Tuesday

Hello I am enjoy another day of good weather, I actually wore a t shirt wow summer is coming people and I can't wait because last year it rained all the way through summer it's no wonder Rhianna's song Umbrella did so well in the UK charts, I'm sure it was Number 1 in the charts for 9 or 10 weeks, well at least someone profited from our bad weather.

I am an avid reader I have more books than have space to store them, they are in my mother's Loft & in my sister's cupboard I'm the person you know that has piles of books and magazines in nearly every corner. But since last November I haven't had the time to do much reading my sister bought me T D Jakes latest book for Christmas but I not pass chapter 2 yet which is so not like me. from what I have read so far it seems like a good read.

I would highly recommend this book by Sidney Poitier It's inspiring, when I think of where he came from to where he is today.

In other News.... I accepted a place at university today to study Fashion Design this has been a childhood dream that has deluded me which I started before but I had to drop out due to a serious health problem, at one point I didn't think I would be here today but thanks to God I am now well that is why I can't let the dream die. so yes I will be going back to University at 32 and I am so happy right now. and I will be posting my college adventures on this blog for the world to see.

am out until tomorrow...........

Monday

OK as I said on Saturday I want to blog everyday for a week, so here I go......

I use to hate Monday mornings it was the fact that my weekend was officially over and then it was the 6.30am alarm just the whole thing when you work outside the home. it was a beautiful Morning and I was determined to stop the lying to my self.... you know the one you tell yourself about diet and exercise that you will start on Monday morning well the diet I have been working on since last year on and off. Last month I went for a weigh in at the doctors and I lost 12 pounds and I am so happy, I am due to go back some time this week but the issue is getting the appointment now is it me or is everyone sick these days. at my doctors clinic it feels like you have to book weeks in advance to be seen....

so I started walking today I dusted of my trainers and went for it I was told to do at least 20 minutes to start of with and then over the weeks to follow increase the time slowly, I managed to do 30 minutes and I feel good for it.

Until tomorrow..............

Yes

I am still alive and well, just busy I know I have been a bad blogger. but I really think this is a matter of habit. From Monday I challenge my self to post every day for a week and maybe I will get into it more, even if I' m only rambling on I want to make the effort. I finally have a website up for the business.

It's friday

Thank God it's Friday, and I have no plans for the weekend and I LOVE IT...... all I want to do is catch up on some reading, watch TV and do a little sketching and that's it, so I suppose this is a plan after all.

I hope every one had a good Easter break

In other news I have finished my business plan and things are looking good, I don't have the money to buy everything I want straight away, so I will have to do it bit by bit {this is real life} but I'm a positive person and I choose to look at the brighter side of life. After the wedding show my mission was to set up some sort of website. and I found out about googlepages which is free so this is in development and I hope to have it up and running by Sunday. I need to set up an Etsy shop, as am typing this I realise that it is going to be a busy weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

these are a few of the samples I brought to the show, I know I have to work on my product photography so be easy on me, have a good weekend.

It spring

Officially it's the first day of spring here in the UK, and this makes me soooo happy I am fed up of being cold even when the heating is on in the house, am so looking forward to seeing this....

This is from the garden last year before I started blogging.

In other news I know I have been a bad blogger but I have a good excuse. as I have mentioned before about starting my business I had a wedding show to attend last Sunday, and for the last month I have been designing and making samples for the show I've been knee deep in card, paper, ink etc but it has been worth it. I only got a chance to take a few photos of the show before the public was allowed in which I will post over the weekend. it was my first show so I didn't know what to expect but it was good meeting my potential customers face to face. my sister played the role of my assistant for the day, In the days leading up to the show I was so emotional I was happy, nervous, sick anxious and everything in the middle, I was thinking will people like my work.

I can laugh about it now but on Saturday I was sick with a fever and vomiting, I felt under pressure. I think this was due to the fact that your business is your baby and you are responsible for everything. and with all the money and time I have invested, I wanted to put my best foot forward, over all I enjoyed the experience and I can't wait to attend another show.

Happy Easter, don't eat to much chocolate (yeah right!!!) and stay Blessed.

It's

My Birthday, Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

Time to update

I have been going to business workshops, meeting with my personal business adviser and just doing the research to complete the plan. which is so time or rather life consuming.

It was my sister's birthday on saturday.... so a BIG SHOUT OUT to my sister DIONNE HAPPY 30TH and it's mine tomorrow I will be 32 where does the time go, one mintue you are 16 wanting to grow up and then you find your self in you thrities..

this is my birthday cake jamaican style

as my birthday approaches I always get in a reflective mood and I start to look back to see if I have achived the goals I have set for my self, and to look at where I am going because I believe there is always room for improvement. I want to live the good life now not wait until am 50. early december a friend died who was in her early forties and it had such a big impact on me I think I went into shock because she had so much to live for and now it all over, life is so short so I have promised myself to do what makes me happy. I have nothing to prove to anyone but God.

Knitting

one year ago I decided to learn to knit, my progress has been very slow I haven't made a complete garment yet, But I have started making little sample square in order to learn different stitches.

Don't laugh....I used cocktail sticks to hold down the corners. if their are any knitters out there I could do with some help......... have a good Tueday

sometimes

it's hard finding good reliable suppliers, I went to the craft supply superstore today to pick up a few things to finish an order I have to complete by the weekend. it a good shop but it's the kind of place that has a bit of everything scrap booking, sewing, knitting card making and so on. I use to get so excited when I planned a shopping trip there, but what I have realised is that they don't have much variety and in my opinion it's a big shop of nothing if you are looking for the basics it will do, I just find it disappointing and I am spending more of my time on line in the pursuit of finding the products and services that I require. I am fed up of searching through eBay in the hope I will find someone who is selling what I want and praying to God that they will send the product I have paid for. I would prefer to shop at the smaller more friendly craft shops but then the issue is they are so expensive so I just can't win............. sorry for going on about this, it's just what I'm dealing with at the moment.

Wow

it has been over a week since my last update...... where does the time go??

So what have I been up to?????

last week I was busy making samples for clients. and posting them out, well since then I received an order the other potential customer got back to me a couple of hours ago.

These two are for a wedding coming up in march

In other news, I woke up on Saturday morning with a stiff back which I didn't take much notice of because you know how it is sometimes you have a rough night. so I thought I just slept badly and hurt my back. As the day went on it got worst and that night I only got an hour of sleep. I was in so much pain, now anyone that knows me will tell you I don't do pain well at all. By Monday I had pain down the entire right side of my back and chest it was so bad I could hardly breathe. At this point I was getting worried {but you may have noticed I haven't mentioned going to the doctor I also hate going to the doctor or hospital} so I was at home popping pain killers like they were skittles....Ha Ha Ha.... I can laugh about I now.

A friend called and when I told her about my condition she said it could be trapped wind, my mother came up with the same thing and then when my Sister came over and told me about a similar pain she had years ago and the doctor told her it was trapped wind, I thought they must be on to something. my friend recommended drinking hot ginger tea or ginger beer which should shift the wind. well I am happy to report that it has worked and today I feel close to normal every now and then I feel a little pain but nothing compared to over the weekend thank God.

Business

I went to my meeting with the Business adviser on Friday, It was interesting he gave me a lot to think about, designing and creating is the most exciting part for me but in order for the business to have a chance there needs to be proper plans put in place, which includes facts and figures (yawn) but is has to be done so, my adviser booked me in for a few business workshops to tackle the boring stuff.

I spent most of Saturday on the Internet researching things for my business, which as most people know you plan to go on the net for an hour and then you spent half the day, you get so distracted {well that's my excuse} that when it's time to come off, you still haven't done what you set out to do in the first place.

My little sister turned 26 on Sunday, we had a family dinner to celebrate it was fun, and as usual my mum cooked up a storm in the kitchen the food was sooooo good. It wasn't until this morning that I realised I didn't even fire up the camera this shows how new I am to this, it would of been the perfect scrapbook moment damn.... for our family this the official start of the Birthday season.

I have two clients who would ike to see some samples and get quotes, by next weekend so I off to work on this. I will post a sneaky peak of the samples once they are done.

Crazy

Maybe I am crazy starting a blog, setting up a business and considering moving house within the next 4 weeks, I feel tried just thinking about it. But that's me I guess always doing 3 or 4 things at any one given time.

As I mentioned before I am in the process of starting my own business designing and making stationery, I want to open a Etsy shop soon so watch this space...... I have a meeting tomorrow with a business adviser who will be helping me with the planning and looking at any further training I might need, thankfully this service is free from the local county council to help people starting out, and there could be some financial help available, which is good because right now I am counting every penny. I will keep you updated with how the business is progressing.

As promised my scrapbook layouts

This is my first ever scrapbook kit DCVW I bought from QVC UK the kit is called Far East

My Mum at fifty {Beautiful}

This is when she was in her twenties, I would like the scrapbook to chronicle her fifty years showing her various styles through the decades.

I must run I am looking after my nephew his is 3 and full of raw energy!!!! he likes watching the cbeebies channel (which is the BBC's children channel for my American readers) Have a good day.

Hello Blogland

Hi, my name is Sharon, I discovered this whole blog community about 10 months ago. and since then I have been snooping around other people’s blog
Now I feel that with a New Year a new beginning and a great time to start a blog of my own, I didn’t know there was such a community of people out there loving each other the way I see you gals do. I love everything creative I sew, crochet, card-making and I am learning to knit and I have just completed my first few scrapbook pages. I will post these soon if you promise not to laugh…..I will be posting about my life and the little creativity that I have been blessed with. so please be patient with me as I am very new to this. and I hope you will come on this journey with me, until next time stay blessed.