Monday 30th June 2014

Well today has been slow but it usually works that way when I'm in work ! 

Today I should of been off and in for the plasterer but he decided to mess us about last night at about 9 o'clock so we ditched him. The guy came into my house thinking he owned the place Saturday morning telling me what I should and shouldn't do with my decorating. I think that put me off him from the start. Ahh well ! Next door seem to know someone decent so I guess it's a phone call and we'll see. Just another set back though....will I ever get my living room finished !?!?

Today again I've not done much ! I've sorted out a few things on the website, answers the phone took message but best of all I managed to spend £18 in the post office ! I guess that's what happens when you leave all of your post and do it all on one day. So I had swapbot and penpal letters going out to all of my Instagram lovelies.

As you might see from my Instagram pictures I did a bit of creating last night. I made a bookmark for a group swap and totally fell in love with it..... It's not mine though it's my lovely partners when they get assigned. I am rather tempted to make another one and keep this one though. 

Tonight has become another creative night after being annoyed at a few people that are part of a swap I am in that includes my partner ! I decided that I was going to cut some more blank books marks and create a few.

These I've changed up a little with a few funky shapes here and there ! My first is quite simple and girly where as the second is just totally random with the London tube stickers.

I'm not keen on either of these but maybe someone will enjoy them in there most precious book. I still need to add ribbon but that's not a problem. 

Anyways I've been up early and feel like I've slept for 10 mins so it's time to get the boys off the couch and into bed ! 

Night all !

Carpe Librum Swap -- 55 Book Related Qs, Round 3

Hello,

The following are questions I have answered for a Swapbot Swap. I love to answer questions especially about books and other stuff I'm interested in. Some of the questions stumped me a little but I managed to get through them.

I've only just been invited to join Carpe Librum and I'm totally grateful for the invite as there is some fantastic swaps on there that I've signed up to. I'm really looking forward to reading through my other partners answers also. 

Well I hope you enjoy my Answers.

Emma

@emmalouiise91

1 Favourite childhood book?

Alice through the looking glass

2 What are you reading right now?

The Secret Museum by Molly Oldfield

The Goddess of Roses by P.C Cast

3 Do you go to a library? If so, what do you currently have checked out there? If not, is there a reason?

Yes. We have a small library down the road from us they don’t have many books but I like to go to see what’s new in. I currently have The Secret Museum out.

4 Do you collect any authors/series or certain types of books?

Yes I collect series by:

P.C & Kristen Cast - The House of Night Series

P.C Cast - Goddess Summoning Series

P.C Cast - Partholon Series

Rachel Caine - The Morganville Vampires.

J.K Rowling - Harry Potter

Maggie Stiefavter - The Wolves of Mercy Falls

Cassandra Clare - The Mortal Instrument

Veronica Roth - Divergent Series

Richelle Mead - The Vampire Academy

Stephanie Meyer - Twilight Saga

I love Fantasy & YA Books mainly anything to do with Fairies, Mythical creatures, Wolves, Witches, Vampires.

5 Do you have a yearly goal on amount of books you want to finish?

No I’m thinking about starting a list of books to finish though as I have soo many I want to read.

6 Do you have an e-reader?

Yes I have iBooks on my iPad.

7 Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

I like to read several books at once. I tend to get distracted easily and unless its a book that can get my full attention I tend to read a few at a time.

8 Do you have a blog where you post about books? If so, give your URL

I have just set up a new blog that I will be posting about the books I’ve read, reading and want to read plus reviews. There’s nothing on there yet but I’m hoping to start soon ! http://patternandpaper.blogspot.com

9 Do you follow any blogs about reading/books? Which ones?

I have a few people I follow on instagram

10 Favorite book you’ve read this year (so far in 2014)?

Divergent !

11 Least favorite book you read this year (so far in 2014)?

I don’t think I have one.

12 How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

Urm.. Not very often haha

13 What is your reading comfort zone?

Fantasy. I’ve tried reading crime and other books but I’m just not tuned that way.

14 Favorite place to read?

In bed or on the couch when no one is in and it’s nice and quiet with a lovely cup of tea.

15 What are your thoughts on book lending?

I will lend a book to someone I can trust wont ruin it or lose it. I lent my House of Night series and The Morganville Vampire Series to a family friend who is 13 and she took such good care of them. I would like to share them with my cousin but she has a younger brother who I’m frightened will destroy them.

16 What are your thoughts on pirated books?

Urm..I don’t know....I’m guilty of downloading one or two that I really really wanted to read and couldn’t afford them at the time but I’ve gone out and bought them when I’ve had the money as I like to have books physically

17 What are your thoughts on "Banned" books?

I don’t understand why books would be banned ? Is it down to religious reasons ? I dunno seems stupid. People should be able to read whatever they like without being judged.

18 What are barriers you have to reading more? (work, family, ect)

Time, Work, Decorating. Theres simply not enough hours in the day

19 How many books have you read in the last six months?

Around 7-8 I can’t really remember it might be more..

20 What makes you love a book?

Strong Character Descriptions, Action, An interesting story line.

21 What will inspire you to recommend a book?

If the person seem interested in general to the genre of books I read or if there looking for a change in what there reading.

22 5 of your top read genres

I’m not sure if these are genres ??

Fantasy

Dystopia

YA

23 5 authors you read a lot?

P.C Cast

Rachel Caine

Richelle Mead

Veronica Roth

Cassandra Clare

24 Do you read non-fiction? Biographies?

Yes. I have read Miranda Heart, Kat Von D, Lee Evans, Mainly comedians and or people I’m interested in. I’m looking for Artist Biographies also.

25 How many times do you read a week?

Everyday if I get the chance

26 Do you feel you read better with or without noise?

Without Noise !

27 What influences your book choices?

A fantastic front cover, blurb ( I think that’s what it’s called )

28 Favorite reading snack?

Chocolate.

29 Do you literally judge a book by its cover, title, or author?

Most of the time yes. If I’m out at the supermarket and see something on the shelf and unsure I’ll write it in my phone and look it up then if I want it I’ll go back for it.

30 What is the longest book you have ever read? The shortest?

Longest I think would have to be Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer

Shortest I think would be Lenobia’s Vow - P. C Cast

31 How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

Not great because Authors have put there lives into these books and spent months / years creating them and it must be really disheartening but everyone likes and are interested in different things so what I might not like others might. I guess it balances itself out.

32 Do you make up stories, or ever think about an alternate ending for a book because you want to?

Sometimes or I wonder what would happen in a different situation and what the outcome would be.

33 Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve read one yet.

34 Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

I’m not looking forward to starting the last book of the House of Night series by P.C Cast as it will end me truly I will have nothing else to look forward to each yearly release ! I may possibly cry !

35 What book do you try to steer people away from?

Crime, Books with rape or kidnap, Books with bad things happening to children.
Edit: I totally read this question wrong ! I'd have to go with slut books like Fifty Shades of Grey. I'm guilty of owning all of them. But that was because I liked how the front cover looked on the set and then a few weeks after everyone was going nuts so there sat there and I refuse to touch them !

36 What book do you recommend most to others?

Anything by P.C Cast she’s a fabulous and descriptive writer and a very entertaining Author.

37 Do you ever re-read books?

Yes I have re read Breaking Dawn more times than I’d like to count along with The House of Night Series and Partholon Series. I’m currently re reading The Goddess of Roses

38 Favorite fictional character?

Aphrodite - The House of Night

39 Favorite fictional villain?

Hmmm...... I like Neferet - The House of Night Series or Bella Lestrange - Harry Potter.

40 Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?

Anything that’s on my to read list it probably the only time I get to sit and full concentrate on new books

41 The longest I’ve gone without reading.

A month or two

42 Name a book that you could/would not finish.

Allegiant - Divergent Series

43 What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

My Partner, the TV, the Dog.

44 Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Divergent, The Mortal Instruments, Harry Potter

45 Most disappointing film adaptation?

Twilight I think they missed out quite a few key points from the books Breaking Dawn especially

46 The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

£60 I think that was online and I was buying a mix of reading and design books

47 How often do you skim a book before reading it?

Not very often if at all. I’d rather read it intently and if I don’t like it a few chapters in then I’ll either stop or skip on to see if anything is might be worth reading but I’ve never really been disappointed with a book.

48 What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

If I find another book that intrigues me more. I’ve done it recently I stopped reading Neil Gaiman Never Where to read the Divergent Series. I still haven’t gone back to it yet to finish it off.

49 Do you like to keep your books organized?

Yep. There currently in boxes at the minute but when I have them out on display there always all together in series and then the stray single books get put together. I can wait to get my new bookcase

50 Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

KEEP ! I never give them away ! I still have the Beatrix Potter Sets my mum bought me as a baby. They’ll be coming to there new home as well soon.

51 Do you read for enjoyment or to gain knowledge?

Both. Although the knowledge side of things has only just started recently. When I started to read The Secret Museum I was learning so much about different artist and there cultures that was fun to know about not like when your in School or College and your forced to read texts because it’s part of the Curriculum. I’ll definitely be going to the big library in town soon for more books on my favourite artists and other stuff I find interesting.

52 Name a book that made you angry.

Urm... I can’t think of one... There’s probably one from school that I read that made me angry.

53 A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

I really can’t think. I guess Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi I read quite a few bad reviews about it but when I read the write up on the book it sounded interesting and I really enjoyed her unique writing style.

54 A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer. I think it was because I liked reading the Twilight books and this was from another characters point of view and her little story of becoming a vampire but it was really bad. I didn’t want to know about anyone else really apart from the main characters and the special abilities they had. It was really weird read and almost as though she was looking to keep the books alive for just a little bit longer. Thinking about it now it annoyed me.

55 Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

I’m not really sure what this means........

Saturday 28th June 2014

Today has been a long a productive day !

I work up at about 9:30am after going to be at 2am......I was transferring all of my pen pals information from my Filofax to my iPad. I really don't use the Filofax and I'm currently spending more time on my iPad so I thought why not ?

The kitchen has been doing my head in for days now it was a mess there was plates and cutlery everywhere glasses because Matt can't wash one he's used he has to bloody use all the ones that are clean then wait till I've washed them as he doesn't wash up !! So I decided today was the day that the kitchen got a full spring deep clean. I spent all morning doing that and with the bug for cleaning ( very rare for me ) I decided that I would go around the whole house and do what I can to tidy up. I've washed and put away clothing as since we moved in here we've just had a mound of washing...it's more like a small hill now.

Matt went to work early this morning so it was just me and deputy dog not that he's much help he'd rather make more of a mess. So all the house work was just about finished when Matt landed back home at about 1:30pm. The plaster turned up to look at the front room for Monday......Yeah I don't why either.....

Matt's managed to do a little more in the living room boxing in stuff and making things neat and clean for when this plasterer turns up on Monday and I decided I would have a tidy round my craft room and sit and write letters. I've managed to finish off a few that I'm behind on so that's good progress. I soon get bored when I'm writing my letters and have to switch things up by sorting out a swap or going checking on Matt and the dog or going outside for a smoke. ( Yes I smoke.....You'll get over it )

Turns out where going to Summat to Ate tonight for tea after me bloody taking stuff out for tea ! Nice one Matt ! I give up really I do he comes in a moans at me when I haven't got anything out and then moans at me when I do have stuff planned because he's arranged for us to go out without telling me !

Anyways......Bath time to get fresh for tonight and the dog must of had the same idea as he barged through the bloody door whilst I was getting out and decided it was his turn whilst the water was draining out. He's become quite partial to the odd bath now. So now we both smell divine thanks to my new Imperial Leather Wild Berry Foamy Soapy stuff I bought from Tesco's it's a new range there doing and yes I did buy it cause I thought the bottle was pretty! hehe.

Oo ! I managed to put a whole in my wall also ! I thought it would be clever to try put a nail in the wall so I could put up my washing lines to hang my postcards and art work and this is what I did instead so I sneaked back down with the hammer and nails and put them all back haha

I'm now sat here at my desk writing out this blog post after thinking it would be a great idea on keeping an almost Journal / Diary. Whether I keep it up or not is another question but for now it seems like a good idea and a wonderful way to look back on what I did on certain days even if it is something boring.

My Accessories for today ! I made a loom band..It kills your fingers making them without the loom plate thing whatever it's called...

That's all for now..

<3

Something Truly Beautiful !

" As Dusk Fell, There Was A Magical Feel To The Evening; One Could Almost See Groups Of Fairies Flitting About The Shadowy Fields...."

The above quote or sentence I found on the back of the most extraordinary book this morning.

As you may know by now I'm a member of Swapbot. I'm signed up to quite a few swaps at the minute and very excited to be getting mail ! Not as excited as I was this morning though when I was stood at the back door letting the dog out and a heard a thud on the floor ! I ran to the hallway to find a thick package addressed to me with Journal / Smash Supplies Swap #5 on it. After feeling the package up I was convinced that my partner had sent me a smashbook.........that wasn't the case though !

I ripped into the package and pulled out the most stunning looking book and paper ! This was an entirely different kind of journal ! This was Fairyopolis. a Flower Fairies Journal ! When I opened it I was expecting blank pages with fairy partners paper but again that wasn't the case. I can't really describe to you how excited and curious and stunned I was by this book. I've always been into the idea of fairies and mystical creatures since I was little. In the note that Georgene sent me she said that she had three if these books and that it was time to let one go and she sent it me, she also said that she now has two, one that she can keep nice and one that she can cut up for projects ! I don,t really think I could do that but then again I'm one of them people that get far to precious over there book.

The pictures don't really do it much justice but I hope you'll enjoy my pictures and more importantly the journal.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Georgene who sent me this wonderful journal. No words can describe how grateful I am for it ! 

A Productive Day !

Today has been fabulously productive !

I started off the morning actually finding a decent theme for this blog ! It may be plain but I love the bright colours ! I also learned how to add my own social icons to my blog as well as finding some beautiful icon templates on Pinterest ! You can find anything on that site. After putting everything together I know have a fully functioning blog that I am uber excited about keeping up and blogging many different things !

That pretty much took half my morning up ! And I was at work....then I moved on to actually blogging which you'll see in my previous posts. Josh tried helping me out with finding me some themes and telling me about different people that blog and review products I think he said it was PR Request on twitter. I looked into that but I don think its really for me and I don't want to have to stretch myself thinner by committing some something else. 

After that I kinda decided that I didn't have any journal cards that where also question cards as I like to send mail tags and questions to my pen pals so I designed some simple ones on Photoshop. That's that problem sorted. I didn't really have much time to print them off so I'll do that tomorrow at dinner !

In between all that I actually did some work and then it was time for home and shopping ! It's nice to have my cupboards and fridge full. It makes me feel better.

I haven't really had much time to do anything else I stepped into my craft room at around 10:30 and managed to get an envie or 2 ready for penpals and one of the swaps I'm hosting on Swapbot. 

I love it ! Simple yet striking ! This is going to my partner for my Note Card Swap when I assign the partners on Saturday. I really hope she likes it !

Now I'm sat in bed writing this wondering how much more I can actually ramble on for before sending you all to sleep or falling asleep myself ! Another early start in the morning. Got to be out for 6am but up side is I get lots of printing in before everyone else gets in yay !

That's all from me. 

Night all ! & sweet dreams !

Emma <3

Best room in the House....

My studio !

One of the requirements when we moved into the new house was that I was allowed the small bedroom as my studio / craft room. A place where I could go a draw, write letters, store my craft supplies and put up all my inspiration and stuff I've been sent over the months !

Matt caved in in the end under the condition that nothing gets taken down stairs cause then he'll turn the room into something else ! I made the promise and because it was the smallest and easiest room to start with operation decorate started ! 

This is what the room looked like before we touched it ! It was originally a boys bedroom.

Hidious I know ! And it looks tiny which it isn't ! We got in there and stripped everything out.

I was unsure about how I wanted it to be laid out and what I wanted in there but matt decided to use a draw set the previous owner had left in the other bedroom and use it as a base for my unit to sit ontop of and then attach it to a single wardrobe that was also left so I had plenty of storage space !

When I was looking at paint in B&Q I was adamant I wanted a teal or turquoise colour with white. We picked out this beautiful colour ! The picture really doesn't do it much justice ! 

Once all the painting on the walls was finished we decided to tackle the floor ! I thought it would be a bad idea to carpet it as I'm so messy...... Finally we agreed on leaving it with the original wood panels and just paint over them....the final product was a shock ! I loved how it looked with the diamond pattern, something matt had seen on google and thought would be a good thing go try !

After the floor was finished and dry it was time for me to officially move in !!! Eeek ! I was sooo eager to get everything in there and arranged ! I set out my desk, put all my stuff in my draws, added my bookcase and plastic box and then my other odd bits !

This is what it looked like after me first putting everything in there...

It was very plain and simple and rather tidy for my liking. I was still waiting on my shelf and rail to be put up which finally got done this week ! And now here is how my desk looks !

That's definitely more like it ! I adore my room and get withdrawals when I'm not in there. It's my safe haven and my creative space and I can't thank my beautiful boy enough for doing it for me and letting me have it in the first place.

I still need to put up all my art work and postcards and other bits I have I just need to find a way to put it up maybe I'll have a look on Pinterest for some inspiration and any thoughts please feel free to comment !

The building site we call a home...

Welcome to my world of home decor !

The pictures below are what our back room looked like when the previous guy was in there ! This is going to be our living room as well !

We started this room about a month and a half ago stripping the walls and pulling the carpet up etc. I managed to bust the plaster as well which I was annoyed about but it was stuck to the wallpaper and there was nothing I could do !

This images above don't look to bad ! But it looks far worse now haha ! We have spent a month looking for a cabinet and finat found one that would fit.....not keen on the colour though but I guess we can work with it !

Matt decided he was going to sit it ontop of a frame / boxing so we could run all the wires underneath and through the wall as he has this thing about wires being everywhere haha there's secret compartments now. 

Apologise for Matthew on the sofa he was having a bit of a minute after all his hard work ! But now you can see the state we are in but hopefully this weekend we can have all the boxing in that needs doing and then the plasterers can come in a do there job ! Then onwards and upwards with the painting and adding our accessories.

From Wordpress to Blogger

This post was originally on Wordpress but the site is kinda weird to use for a blog as I'm so used to using it for a website host instead so I decided I'd change back over to my trusty blogger / blogspot as I've seen a few people's blog on this site and would like to follow them.

It's been a long time since I've blogged especially about my day to day life.

I've had many blogs over the years and majority have been for my graphic design and illustration work but I need a place where I can write, vent and share my daily life. I might not post everyday but I will when I remember or of I have something new to discuss or vent about !

I've tried so many times to keep diaries and journals and with everything else going on it's just not happened but the one thing I do have in my hand everyday is my phone. I'm constantly checking my Swapbot as well as my Instagram so it makes sense that even though I'm a lover of writing by hand I make my diary and journal digital so I can dedicate more time to doing it and not stress about whether I've printed certain pictures off and brought my journal or it's in my bag when I go anywhere.

So here's to what I hope will be a long relationship and possibly a long friendship with this blog and other like minded people !

That's it for now I guess....ready and waiting to go to sleep so I'll pick this up in the morning !