Keepsake Kollections - from Focus on Life

Teacher card

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:40:00 +0000

Aw my very good friend Nicola-Jane finished work on Friday as she's off to pastures new, training to become a teacher

We had a lovely last day scoffing her home-made cakes and enjoying the delights of "walk in a funny way day" - well done to all those who joined in - shame on you if you didn't - ha ha!

Here's some piccies of the card I made her - its a tri-fold card with a curved top - the decoupaged teacher has lovely auburn hair like my pal (ok, yes, its really ginger!) - with some inspirational teaching quotes lovingly pasted onto pieces of patterned velum and textured paper - topped off with various cute embellishments, a little padded gold heart, a flower button & my fave, the little teeny tiny clothes peg!

So here's wishing you all the very best in your new career Nicola chuck, I know you'll keep me posted how you're getting on babe

...until next time, share what you've learnt with someone who'll appreciate it x

Libby's Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Isn't it wonderful how young and old can now share their talents and thoughts through the amazing world of Blogging!

I just paid another visit to my buddy's at the Craft Forum and just wanted to share this new Blog with you, made by the young daughter of my good friend Nat http://libbyart.blogspot.com/

Well done Libby, your work is lovely, a crafting artist in the making! Keep up the great work and, most of all, enjoy being creative. It's a lovely road you're on

...until next time, I hope you find the joy of making something for someone you love x

Dear Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:53:00 +0000

Well our Dad gave us a bit of a scare on Friday night, whisked away to hospital in an ambulance he was, suffering with chest pains - but after an ECG and various other tests ruled out a heart problem, the doctor thankfully said it was muscular so he was released and sent home

Luckily my niece Tina is a nurse at the same hospital and, although she's finished work recently awaiting the imminent (3 weeks!) arrival of her first baby, she managed to join my brother in law at the hospital so she could help make sure her Grandad was seen to and looked after as quickly as possible

Dad's a very young 80 year old with a health record that a man 20-30 years younger would envy so it was quite a shock at first, followed by relief that he just has to rest and take painkillers then he'll be back to his usual, sprightly self

Here's a piccy of the man himself and his youngest (moi!) at his recent 80th party...

...and a photo of his Take It Easy card we're dropping round when we visit tomorrow night...

...until next time, if you feel the need, take it easy too

Told you I made a card!

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:48:00 +0000

Hee hee, as I just told my crafting pals at http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/index.php?referrerid=9261, I've made a card at long last so I just gotta show you the evidence...

...yes you guessed it, the recipients a copper so I chose a funny photo of real sleeping policemen - then mounted them onto (no, not horses) a gatefold card with some torn linen papers and used (at long last!) my velvet papers to make the feely-funky-fifty numbers

Hope you like it Les, Happy Birthday!

...until next time, dont fight the law, cos the law wins

Happy Birthday To Me

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:14:00 +0000

Woo hoo! "Happy Birthday To Me"

42 years ago today little Shaz came into the world, what a momentous occasion that was, did you see it on the news? :)

Hey I'm not a football fan but at least it makes my 1966 birth year a memorable one for lots of people

Well my Bongo got fixed last week, had a new front differential, good as new again now!
And Dad's 80th party was lovely, he was very surprised and I'll show you some piccies very soon.

...until then, take a look at this wonderful card I received in the mail from my very good crafting pal Ruth from Tip Top Toppers http://www.tiptoptoppers.co.uk/ she's put my Billy Bongo on, how cool is that! Thanks Ruth lovey x x

Hi there

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:50:00 +0000

Hi Blogland! Long time no speak!

Oooh I've had problems in Bongoland the past couple of weeks!

Its similar to Blogland but everything has 4 wheels and 8 seats and guzzles diesel and my particularly lovely Bongo is poorly at the minute - first my tyre went completely flat about half mile down the road and it turned out the valve had gone so it just blew all the air out in one blast! - then we heard very uncomfortable noises and the mechanic says it looks like we need a new wheel bearing and seal

But I'm lucky enough to have a vehicle that has a Fan Club! So I've been visiting the wonderful Bongo Fury and getting a lovely welcome and some great advice from the forum members here http://www.bongofury.co.uk/ so if you're intrigued and fancy looking at what these Bongos are all about, take a look!

And at long last I've done some crafting! Just a card for my neice and for my workpal Nicola BUT my camera is still having to share batteries with my puter mouse so I coudnt take piccies before I had to give the cards out! - maybe I can borrow them back and blog some photos

And I'm due to make an NLP presentation to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council on Wednesday so I'm really looking forward to that, cant wait - hang on, yes I can, cos I need to do the prep work first - 2 more days will come in handy!

Last but far from least, its Stanley's 80th Surprise Birthday this evening so I have his photo cake sat in my kitchen - so I'll steal these mouse batteries when I've said bye bye then I'll be ready to take some snaps this evening and show you

...until next time, whenever that may be, dont forget me and see ya soon! Bye bye...now where's that mousey?...

Chit chat

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:59:00 +0000

Hello again, hello...didnt a song start like that once?

Just a quick catch up on what's going on in the Focus on Life world at the minute!

Looking forward to Dad's Surprise 80th Bash on 1 June, cant wait to see his face when he sees his personalised Kaleidescope invitations and matching cake! Watch this space for piccies

But before that, dont forget to pop along and see me on Saturday 24 May at the Craft Fair being held at Falinge Park, Falinge Road in Rochdale. I'll be taking along my framed pictures and also some personalised invitation samples as suggested by my Craft Forum buddies. Be great to see you in person, come say hi!

On the Neuro Linguistic Programming front, I had a meeting last week with a Mental Health Manager from Oldham Borough Council and I'm really pleased to say he's hoping to include my name on a list of approved Practitioners who can be brought in to to do a variety of Workshops for a variety of different audiences with different needs (hey, I'm different too so I'm just the girl for the job!). We're going to start with a presentation to his team quite soon so I'll definitely keep you posted on how that goes

And on the subject of all things cerebrally-related, I'd love to share this further Stress article with you from my friend and colleague Paula Heap of the Life Coaching Practice which is part of our ongoing Health features on Christine's wonderful AboutMyArea website - there's even a quiz for you to take too, give it a try here http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Lancashire/Rossendale/BB4/Health-and-Fitness/Health-Awareness/93860-Stress-Prevention-and-Stress-Test

...until next time, dont stress out...work out!...or go out!...or freak out! x x

Personalised Invitation Service

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:36:00 +0000

I've had such lovely feedback about my Dad's invitations from my work-mates and my Craft Forum buddies here http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/index.php?referrerid=9261 and a suggestion that I take some samples along to my next Craft Fair as they think there could be a market for them

Thanks guys and I'll definitely take your advice, the only ones I'd done before these were my own 40th party invitations with various photos of a tiny Shaz on! I must try to dig out some copies of those to show you soon, gappy grin and all!

...until next time, nite nite, sleep tight, dont let the bedbugs bite x

Stanley's Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:59:00 +0000

My lovely dad Stanley will be a very young and sprightly 80 on 7 June bless his little quick-quick-stepping toes!

As part of his present, I've designed and produced his party invitations - although he doesnt know it yet of course cos its a SURPRISE PARTY

So here is step one - scanning in the photo I used

...step two was producing his very own, unique Kaleidescope design

...and step three was bringing it all together into an invitation...I've had to scan in a copy of the original as the programme I used to bring it all together wouldnt download to Blogger

The real life invitations are much nicer than this image portrays, theyre printed in best photo quality onto nice glossy paper and I really like the little motto in red which you might not quite be able to read clearly - it says

...may you always have old memories and young hopes...

So I'm about to get the old guillotine out and will be dropping them round for my step-mum tomorrow so she can get busy sending them all out

...until next time, note to Shaz - remember my camera on the night so I can post you some photos!

Bye for now Maddy

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Aw, I just heard yesterday that my brother and sister-in-law had to say goodbye to their much loved dog Maddy recently too, a blow made all the harder as they lost her mum Casey just recently too (http://focusonlife-shaz.blogspot.com/2008/04/bye-for-now-casey.html)

Our pets give us such unconditional love and devotion, its no wonder we grieve their passing as we would any member of our family. I remember Casey having her pups and they kept Maddy, so named after Madonna as she slept flat on her back with her paws wide open...

Bless her little heart now in heaven - a big part of me cant help thinking she and her mum just wanted to run together again without pain

...until next time, welcome to Doggy Heaven Maddy, Casey wags a big hello to her baby!

Mini Me

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:20:00 +0000

How cute is this? If I do say so myself of course!
One of my UK Crafts Forum buddies came across this website which allows you to make little "Mini Meez" of yourself and what fun we've had with them!
Not only can you select your own build, facial features, hairstyles, accessories, clothes, shoes etc but you can also choose different "attitudes" which is a lot of fun!
Our most ardent Craft Forum mini meez fan has even made some famous Mini Meez and we're playing guess the famous person...do we have too much time on our hands I hear you ask?!...not a bit! We just ignore the cleaning, ironing, washing up and all the other boring jobs...

So say hello to Mini Shaz and, if you've met me in person or seen my photo on here, let me know how she compares? Aside from not being able to choose a 4' 11" titchy mode, I think she's pretty spot on!

If you'd like to play along and make your very own Mini You, just visit www.meez.com

...until next time, when we may have a Mini Community!

It's weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:38:00 +0000

And what a lovely weekend it is so far, I hear the weather forecasts are good, I hope that stays true for you wherever you are

D'ya know I was at home on Wednesday and completely forgot to say Happy St George's Day! So although I know this is late, I just wanted to share with you the wonderful celebrations that were held in Morley, West Yorkshire http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7351194.stm

I had every intention of making some St George's Day greetings cards to try and start up a trend for them and never got around to it this year - maybe next year, especially if we could drum up some local interest in marking the day somehow - keep you posted!

And just in case its raining in your heart, take some tips from my friend and colleague Paula from The Life Coaching Practice and read her second article about Stress here http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Lancashire/Bury/BL0/Health-and-Fitness/Health-Awareness/91901-Cures-for-Stress

...until next time, remember you can make your own fair weather every day, take care

Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Oh yes, we cant deny it, the S word hits most of us at some time or another doesnt it?

So I wanted to share with you the next instalment in our AboutMyArea articles written by my good friend Paula and published by our good friend Christine http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Lancashire/Rossendale/BB4/Health-and-Fitness/Health-Awareness/90947-What-is-Stress

...until next time, "you gotta have friends"

Mental & Retail Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:45:00 +0000

Is that another week and weekend almost passed by again? I'm sure my internal clock is running fast lately, I feel like I'm in a Stephen King tale called "The Langoliers" where I'm standing still and everything and everybody around me is moving really, really quickly because I'm in a different timespace than everyone else!

...OK so thats really just an overly-dramatic way of saying I've been a bit busy LOL

Regular readers will know I'm also a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner and it seems to be about time I re-jigged my Beloved Blog a little to give some more space to my "Paul McKenna" skills alongside my Keepsake Kollection pieces...I was thinking of something like...

"Where else can you get mental and retail therapy?!"

My latest collaboration is something I've touched on in a previous post, namely writing some regular NLP related articles for our local AboutMyArea website. I'm very pleased to say that my first feature on "insomnia" has been featured here http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Lancashire/Rossendale/BB4/Health-and-Fitness/Health-Awareness/90050-Insomnia and I'd like to say a big thank you to Christine for inviting me to participate and I'm really looking forward to working with both Christine and Paula from The Life Coaching Practice whose article on "stress" I'll share with you next time

...until then, for mental and retail therapy, who you gonna call?...Focus on Life!

My crafting helper

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:05:00 +0000

So it was great to participate in another Fair on Saturday...

...and the good news is I've booked a Rochdale Craft Fair in May now too...

...but the bad news is (there has to be some or it feels left out) I just havent been able to steal any time of late to make something new! Ggggrrrrr

So until I get back with the programme again, I just thought I'd share my little crafting helper with you

Yeah you're right, he doesnt look like he's helping much does he? Hmmmm

...until next time, I promise faithfully with hand on heart that there will be not a trace of ginger and white hair in the card I make for you!

Heywood visitors!

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:37:00 +0000

Craft Fair photos, originally uploaded by Susan Margaret.

Hey this is me and my lovely Craft Forum friend SusieQ who came with her hubby Bob to visit me at the Heywood Craft Fair yesterday!

I was doubly-blessed by visitors yesterday as another Forum buddy Goldy also came to see me, how lucky was I?!

I've posted this link before but here is where we all hang on a regular (very regular!) basis if you fancy joining us - you'll be made very welcome http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/index.php?referrerid=9261

The fair itself was pretty quiet sadly but we did have rain, rain, rain all day - until it was time to pack up ironically - ggggrrrrrrr

But I do wanna thank my stall neighbours Lorna & Karen for their great company and lovely comments on my work and great tips about upcoming events and all sorts of things. Thats the lovely thing about participating in Fairs. No matter how many or how few potential customers visit on the day, you can always rely on meeting some wonderful crafty like-minded folk and the ideas and information that are exchanged on the day are worth their weight in gold

If you're a new visitor to my Blog and especially if we met at Heywood, a big HELLO and WELCOME and THANK YOU for dropping by and I hope you find something here to inspire or entertain you

...until next time, enjoy the rest of your weekend

Heywood Craft Fair this Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Ooh things are still a bit barmy about these parts - I had a great meeting on Monday evening which will result in Focus on Life (AKA me!) writing regular NLP related articles to appear on a local community website soon - watch this space for more news!

But until then, I did just want to remind you that I'll be at the Craft Fair at Heywood Civic Centre this Saturday so here's a bit more info about the venue including the postcode if you need it, it'd be lovely to see you http://www.venues.org.uk/profile_page.asp?VenueID=1810

When you come and say hi, if you shout "Shaz I've seen your Blog" at the top of your voice, I'll even give you a discount on your first order just because you've given me and my neighbour stallholders such a laugh!

...until next time, keep those Keepsakes handy, you never know when you might want me to make them even more special than they already are

Bye for now Casey

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:33:00 +0000

Before I tell you who Casey is, I just thought I'd do a "catch up" of what I was up to last week and why I was AWOL from my beloved Blog more often than usual for me!

Monday was my first day at my new job and I've had a thoroughly enjoyable first week. Not only are all the people really warm and helpful but the whole environment is very rewarding. My department are speech therapists so they help those with communication challenges and we also have Service Users helping out in the office 3 days of the week and its so lovely to see them enjoying carrying out whatever tasks they can in the office and getting such fulfillment from it - well done and thank you Oliver, Suzanne and Johnny!

Tuesday evening saw a great turnout for our Valley at Work special event with our guest speaker (see my Enterprise Island post)

Wednesday I dived into helping out with the phones at work. One of our girls was away ill and it was the busiest phone day and actually quite fun for me just learning who on earth everyone was. That might make me sound like a bit of a saddo but, for someone who'd been at her old day job for 17 years and knew the world and his wife, it was quite refreshing to be the new girl learning everything from scratch! If the chance arises to learn something new, try to take it...

Thursday evening was absolutely brilliant! I was chuffed to be invited by http://www.startup-lancashire.com/index.html to a Kickstart Your Marketing seminar from http://www.mercurymarketing.co.uk/ and I cant praise it enough. Geoff is a wonderful public speaker bringing a wealth of marketing experience and tips in a fun and informative way. I even chatted with Geoff about my business and Blog during the interval and that speaks volumes for how approachable he is, I very rarely do that with public speakers! I hope you'll visit his site and try to catch him if he's ever in your area, I can highly recommend his events

and Friday evening I went to a great 2nd Birthday gathering for our local online community forum http://www.rossendaleonline.co.uk/index.php Lee organised a brilliant night in Rawtenstall with food laid on for us and we got the unique chance to put faces to forum names. We ate chilli and garlic bread together and some of us even exchanged tattoo viewings!

Sadly yesterday I heard that my brother and sister in law had said goodbye to their beloved dog Casey who passed away on Friday after going downhill for some time (but well enough for the vets to allow her to stay with them during her final weeks). So bye bye for now Casey and everyone will take care of your daughter Maddy until you run with her again in Doggy Heaven. This is for you sweetie...

...until next time, take time to say "I love you" to those you love, human or animal

Enterprise Island

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:21:00 +0000

Where have I been? Off on a little entrepreneurial (is there such a word?) holiday to Enterprise Island!

We had our first special Valley at Work event last night, something a bit different to our regular monthly meetings. We were enlightened and entertained by Iain Scott, the man behind Enterprise Island.

Iain's most definitely a man worth listening to - and meeting - in the flesh. Being a "corporate escapee" myself I could not fail to be instantly enamoured with a man sporting a kilt and the most unique non-corporate hairdo I've seen in, well, ever!

And anyone who dispels the myth that entrepreneurs must be "born" goes on the good guy list in my book

As regular readers will know, I've been a member of the Valley at Work business group since its inception in September 2007 and we're going from strength to strength in Rossendale with members now totalling the 100 mark and aims to double in size.

You can visit the Valley at Work site here http://valleyatwork.co.uk/default.aspx

And I can highly recommend you visit Iain here http://www.enterpriseisland.com/

...until next time, you may well be an entrepreneur too and just not know it yet!

My Angel in Disguise

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:18:00 +0000

Oh pesky batteries are still in my mouse instead of in my camera...so until I get around to taking a piccy, I'll retype this little verse for you which was inside the card my baby bought for me whilst I was having my job interview on Friday

When everything seemed hopeless

You helped to pull me through

And nobody will ever know

How much I owe to you

My life was full of sadness

And I needed setting free

I was searching for a saviour

And you were there for me

The thought of everything you've been

Brings tears to my eyes

My strength, my truth, my wisdom

My angel in disguise

...until next time, I hope you're an angel for someone special too

Clocks forward

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Have you all remembered? Spring forward, Fall back?

So as its (apparently?) Spring and tomorrow Summertime begins (????) dont forget to put your clocks forward tonight - well at 2am Sunday morning if you want to stay up really late and do it right

Dunno about you but I like to put mine forward before I go to bed, then I feel a bit "naughty" cos I've stayed up even later than usual - and I dont miss the lost hour next day

Out of batteries in my camera (had to steal them for my mouse!) so keep you posted on those piccies of my card and gift I got off my darling yesterday

...until next time, enjoy your last day of spring

Result

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:50:00 +0000

How's this for service?

I thought I'd consider doing some temp work for the first time as it could fit in so well with my plans for Keepsake Kollections, my craft fairs, my NLP articles (forgot to tell you about that yet!) and my Valley at Work commitments etc.

So off I trot yesterday morning for my agency appointment, did my tests, did very well, happy so far, trot off home - the same afternoon, the agency rang me to ask if I could attend an interview this morning.

So off I trot again this morning for my interview, lovely place, lovely people, I start on Monday!

Who managed this feat I hear you ask? Well with a little input from me (LOL) all this was accomplished by Justine at the Rochdale branch of http://www.mpeople-recruitment.com/index.html so thanks Justine!

...until next time when I'll share with you the congratulation card and present my baby bought for me whilst I was having my interview (yes, he has that kind of faith in me!)

Foiled again

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Did I tell you about the instructions that came with my new Continuous Ink System kit?

No? Well, to me, they read and looked like Dr Jekyll's laboratory - bottles and caps and syringes and tubes all over the place! - and never having seen it set up in "real life" before I was stumped! - especially when it mentioned screwdrivers! - screwdrivers?!

So today our friends, who use the same system, very kindly visited to help install it - but the whole kit has to go back cos there are two "twiddly bits" broken off and, after much deliberation, the consensus of opinion was that these "twiddly bits" being intact could be pretty essential to the process...

...so for the time being we're still printer-less until further notice and our Velvet Andy Warhol inspired creation will need to wait just a little while longer to be born

All the more to look forward to when we're back up and running though!

...until next time, I just hope your twiddly bits are fine and dandy x

Craft Fair 12 April - Heywood, Lancashire

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:34:00 +0000

I just spoke with a lovely lady called Evelyn at the Heywood Civic Centre, Heywood in Lancashire and booked a stall with her for the Craft Fair theyre holding on Saturday 12 April 2008

So, as ever, I'd absolutely love it if you could come along and say hi!

Big thanks to my very nice stall-neighbour (Rae?) who mentioned this event to me whilst we were chatting at the Bacup Craft Fair on Saturday

...until next time, keep smiling

Missy Legs

noreply@blogger.com (Focus on Life) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:11:00 +0000

So Missy Legs is Bonny Lad's sister and I thought I'd share some of her photos with you today. There are usually more of him cos, well, frankly he does more daft things than she does...err usually...

The bar is open!

I love you!

...well you did leave the door open

I can see it - why can't I get it?

Oh it's nice to have company when you're not well...

...until next time, if you suffer from insomnia, make like a cat!