Dotee Doll Number 2

Dotee 2, originally uploaded by jilleebee.

Meeces!!

I've joined a Swab-bot swap called "Craft a craft for my cat" and, as the title suggests, you have to make a gift for your swap partner's cat! 

I've decided to make some knitted catnip mice and  I'm quite pleased with the way the first one has turned out. I've adapted a pattern that I found on the internet slightly - there are loads of free patterns available! 

Battersea Dog and Cat Home even have some patterns but if you use these please make sure that you make some extra mice and send them to the cats in need - only fair! The little pirate is my favourite :)

Fishy Update

Well one week on and Lua is still fit and well, which makes me a very happy girl indeed!

I went to the pet shop this afternoon and updated the nice man on Lua's progress. He informed me that he thought the Rescue Remedy may well have sorted out Lua, as a fish breeder he knows actually uses whisky to  revive his fish if they are poorly!!! I'm not sure if they insist on a single malt or plain old cooking whisky but that's another one to bear in mind if anything like that happens again which, touch wood, it never will!!

Fishy Miracle!

On Saturday morning I went in to feed my two goldfish, Lua and Lua, as normal but when I looked in the tank I was really upset to see big Lua lying lifeless at the bottom of the tank. I went straight downstairs to tell Mr S and he went up to see for himself. Luckily, he was more sensible than me and on closer inspection noted that Lua was still breathing.

I really wasn't sure that there was anything we could do for him but I looked up his symptoms on the internet and was surprised to see that this is quite a common thing. I would add at this point that I've had fish off and on throughout my life and that big Lua is about 10 years old - little Lua is about 7.

One of the things that was suggested was to change part of the water and increase the oxygen levels in the tank. I did this and it made no apparent difference. In fact, I had to switch off the big tank filter as the airstream was too strong and poor Lua was pulled along by it.

I then did what anyone would do in the circumstances. I rang my mam and dad!! Dad suggested trying Rescue Remedy - excellent idea (and why didn't I think of it??!!). I went straight up and put 4 drops of Rescue Remedy in the tank, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

 The rest of the morning was a bit of a rollercoaster, as Lua seemed to improve slightly, only to end up back at the bottom of the tank. the good thing, though, was that he was now upright, rather than lying on his side.

Later on, we went up to check on him and he was making attempts to swim, with little Lua nudging him from below to try and help him. Later on still, we found both fish on the bottom of the tank lying close together. Little Lua's fins were down and he looked so miserable. It was a very touching sight (and they say fish have no brains and no feelings??)

We went to the pet shop for advice and the man was extremely nice, offering some extremely helpful tips, which we said we would try when we got home. However, when we went upstairs again, we found Lua making attempts to swim! It didn't last long and he soon floated down to the bottom again but it was a major improvement on how he had been earlier!!

Rather than bothering the fish with putting the lights off and on, once it was dark we left them alone and hoped for the best for the morning! When I went in to check the next morning, I couldn't believe what I was seeing - both Luas were gliding majestically around in their tank with their tails out and fins up, like nothing had ever happened!! What a relief!!

I still don’t know what was wrong with him but he seems completely back to normal. Maybe Rescue Remedy is magic? Who knows but I'm just thankful that my lovely fishy is better!

Messing around in photoshop

As the post title indicates, I've been messing around in photoshop! I was trying to do an Obama style picture for a little mini project I'm doing but couldn't get it to work. However, after many trials and tribulations I altered this photo of Himself and I was quite happy with the result!

I also had an idea for a set of ATCs that I want to do. I started heading in that direction last night but actually ended up doing something else instead! I'm quite proud of the background, which is all my own work! The witchy lady is from Ten Two Studios



Mad Dog

Last week we took a little run up the coast. We stopped off at Cresswell along the way - one of Himself and Ollie's favourite places. They went off to explore together while I waited back at the car. This is Ollie coming back to tell me all about his adventure!

Easter ATC

I've made this as a "sorry for being rubbish" present for a friend. She sent me the most fantastic parcel ever the other day which included an Easter Sweetie Barbie (hurrah!!). I'm putting together a parcel to send to her but it's nowhere near ready yet and I suddenly thought that sending a whole bunch of chocolate Easter goodies to Texas in the heat that we seem to be having at the moment might be a Very Bad Idea. So, I'm currently working round the problem but in the meantime I'll send her this and hope she forgives me!!

Sherry is a superstar

One of my fab friends on flickr helped me out with the stamp issue. It's not the exact same image but I think I like it better anyway! Thanks Sherry!

I coloured the image in photoshop - I like how it looks on here!!

Do You Have This Stamp?

I'm desperately searching for the stamp pictured below. I saw it featured on a blog and it would be ideal for a card I have to make. If anyone has this stamp could you please let me know? I've so far only found one for sale on ebay but its in the US and will take too long to get here! Thanks!

Trying to draw

I've signed up for an ATC swap. The theme is Rhinestone Cowboy and although I have loads of ideas and I can see exactly what I want in my mind, it just won't come out that way on paper!!

I'm so jealous of those who can draw....I particularly love the whimsical big eyed girls that people are drawing at the moment. I tried one. It looked like an insect!!

Today, I followed a "how to draw a cowboy" tutorial, This is what the cowboy was meant to look like.....

He's pretty good isn't he? Cool and rugged and good looking - just what you'd expect from a cowboy!

This is how mine turned out:

LOL! Oh dear........

More clART news

I'm getting there slowly but surely with the website. 

It's had a few more tweaks and I'm learning a lot more about what can and can't be done with the package we are using. One thing I don't like, though, is the way the adverts imply that it is a free site! Don't get me wrong, they do free sites but to use your own domain name you have to pay for the privilege!

Have a peek and see what you think http://www.clart.co.uk

Crowabout ATC

I made this from the same collage sheet as the picture I posted earlier. Wise words of advice, I think!!

Crowabout

This is my first attempt at a Crowabout challenge! I really enjoyed doing it Apart from anything else, it's excellent photoshop practice!!

I hope it illustrates the story I'm trying to tell.....the chap top right is blowing love and kisses to the lady who is catching the love and kisses in her net.  Meanwhile, the chap top left is pining for her, hence the fragile heart. He wants to send her his declaration of love but doesn't know if he can handle the potential rejection.........or something like that!! net lady looks quite smug to me, she's obviously enjoying all the attention!!

Sugarbush Dog Groomers

One of my lovely facebook friends had this video on her wall - it made me smile so much that I wanted to spread that smile!!! Enjoy!!

Tragedy

I noticed a post from one of my facebook friends last night. She said she needed help and that tragedy had struck. I know people often exaggerate for effect on their facebook status (ahem!) but in this case I'm sorry to say there was no exaggeration.

The lady in question runs a cat rescue from her home in the US and a few nights ago her house burned down. Apart from the obvious horror of the situation, this lady has lost up to 15 of her rescue cats and her little dog. I cannot imagine the devastation she must be feeling and I can't stop thinking about her.

Her facebook friends have rallied round and have started a collection for her. Last time I looked it had raised $345. Other people have offered practical advice and are trying to find her somewhere to stay (the Red Cross provided a hotel for 2 nights). She was left with the clothes on her back - unfortunately it appears she wasn't even fully dressed when the fire broke out but a kind neighbour gave her a coat.

 

I feel 2011 hasn't got off to the very best of starts. This lady is only one of many people who have lost their homes, their belongings and their pets (I'm thinking here of the people in Australia, Brazil, the Philippines and other places where natural disaster has occurred over the last few weeks). I only hope that the year improves....let's face it for some people it couldn't really get any worse.

These situations make me feel so helpless. I can't do anything to help this lady apart from make other people aware of her situation and hope that someone can help her; I can't do anything to help flood victims except hope that the water goes soon so that they can start to try and rebuild their lives.

 

Sorry for the gloomy post - I shall aim for a more cheerful subject next time!

Skullz

It was one of my new work friend's birthday this week. She is a big fan of skulls so I wanted to make her a skull themed birthday card. Unfortunately, despite a great deal of effort, I failed in my quest and ended up buying her a card. Admittedly it was fabulous!

Anyway, in the course of my fiddlings about I came about www.melsbrushes.co.uk and was delighted to find some dias de los muertos brushes! Hurrah! I just LOVE the imagery associated with the day of the dead festivals, so I was particularly excited to find this site!  http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/ Fantastic!!!

So this is what I came up with:

 

The bottom card is actually my favourtite!

2011

Happy New Year and new decade everyone!

It's hard to believe that Christmas was last week and work starts again in a couple of days. Naturally, being me, I'm now emerging from my holiday fugue and thinking of all the places I could go and things I could do......never happy!! Well I suppose there are a couple of days left so I'd better get cracking!

I need to make a thank you card for my auntie and get that posted off to her asap so I've got my Crafty Individuals "meet under the tree" stamp earmarked for that. I've not used it before so let's see what I come up with!