Shooting Star

10 March 2009

I made a purse!

Just a quick update on what is going on with me.... not much really! Well not much relating to jewellery anyhow.
We visited family in Kent a few weeks ago which was very nice to see everyone and catch up on what they are all doing. We then went to Wales for a friend's birthday for the weekend. That was really fun, our friend had hired out a Youth Hostel for two nights and with 30 of us you can imagine what the party was like!
Then last week we took a trip to the newly opened Ikea in Southampton which suffice to say is very big... and busy! We did get what we wanted though and after our new chest of drawers being delivered on Sunday we just need to put them together and I can have a tidy bedroom for once (or for 5 minutes anyway).
This coming weekend we are having some friends over for dinner but I am out of inspiration with what to cook. Where we have been away for a few weekends and had busy weeks in between we have not really cooked proper meals, just cooked to eat rather than cooking a delicious supper. So I am out of practice in the kitchen.
Back to this purse - this year I am trying to think of different ideas to give people as birthday gifts. I am trying to steer away from buying things that people don't want or won't use. So far I have made a variety of sweets/chocolates that have gone down very well and this time I thought I would try my hand at making a purse. I found a tutorial on this great website that is full of crafty ideas posted by others who seem to be just as into crafts as I am. The tutorial itself is http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=101026.0 but I would recommend checking out the whole site as there are many good ideas on here. The tutorial was easy to follow and I made my purse within an hour (that's an over-estimate on time) and I did make two in case something bad happened to one!
Unfortunately I am in the library so cannot post any pictures of the purse, but will do over the next few days when I have finished the second one. I may keep this one for myself!

22 February 2009

New Logo

You may all have noticed my new logo which has been specifically designed for me by Rosie Wibberley of Snapping Rosie Photography.
Please check out her blog to see her profile and more about her work.

15 February 2009

29 Days Of Giving - The First Week

For the past five days I have been taking part in the 29 Day Giving Challenge and to be honest I have found it quite difficult! The first day was easy - I was going to a book club and took along some blueberry muffins I had made. The following days presented no extra ordinary opportunities to give something a bit more than I normally do.
I feel that I am quite a friendly, kind and caring person anyway so when I signed up to the 29 Day Giving Challenge I did think it would be easy. Although I do give a lot to others in my job, i.e. help, attention, time and thought, I do this almost every day and it is something that I do because it is my job. I signed up to the challenge so I could make a more conscious effort to be a better person. I don't know if anyone else ever feels that they are just going through life doing the same things day in and day out and not really appreciating the people around them, but I do at times. The challenge has prompted me to think more about how I speak to people and what I do for others and actually I do more than I thought. It has been eye opening to actively think about my actions and how they will impact on others.
Most of the things I have given this week have been kind words, a smile to a stranger and an ear to a friend, but I have felt good about giving these things and I know they were appreciated. perhaps making myself feel good about giving is not part of the challenge but I know it will help me keep giving for the remaining days in the challenge.

10 February 2009

29 days of giving - Day 1 (9th February 2009)

Yesterday I signed up to begin 29 days of giving. I stumbled upon this idea by chance as I was looking at other's blogs. It seems to be a very popular idea in the US and hopefully will develop worldwide. Here is the website to explain a bit better than I can what it is all about http://givingchallenge.ning.com/ the basic idea is that you give something every day for 29 days and I imagine by the end of 29 days you will be so used to giving it will become natural to do so.
So yesterday was my number 1 day and I made some blueberry muffins to share with my book group. Although I do love baking and sharing my baked goodness, this proved to be quite a mission! I worked all day, got home at 5.30pm, waited til after dinner to start the muffins, prepared all the ingredients and then realised I had no eggs! I then had to run out in the pouring rain to buy some, all the while keeping an eye on the time. The muffins were only just ready when I had to leave my house but by the smiles on those eating them, the muffins were a success.
I will be updating my blog to keep up with my progress on the 29 days of giving, so please check back.

08 February 2009

Valentine's Gifts

Valentine's Day is less than a week away, so come and buy your gifts here!

To buy any of these gifts, please email me (at star_027@hotmail.com) with your choices and how you will pay. You can either pay in cash or via PayPal.
If you choose to pay via PayPal I can post the item first class to you the next day so it should reach you the day after that.
Postage is £1.50 per item and each item will be individually wrapped in tissue paper before being packaged in a protective envelope.
If you have any queries, please ask.