Mrs Birks Blogs

As my blog has reached its first birthday, I decided it was about time I finished this blog post which I started ageeeeessssssss ago.  What's it about?  Blogging! When I wrote my welcome post a whole year ago, I mentioned that I have taught about blogging for several years and watched as students created their own blogs.  I was always put off creating my own blog because I didn't really think I had anything to say and I couldn't decide what topic to blog about.  I am typically one of those people who put off doing things because I don't think it will be good enough or that it's too difficult so why even start? I listen to what Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way  describes as "creative blockers".  When I finally started blogging I discovered that I have quite a lot to say and quite a lot that I'm interested in - who said a blog had to be about just one topic?  I'm really enjoying reading blogs about my interests (there are so many clever and i

We are not the sort of family who can afford to spend loads of money on Christmas and with that in mind, I always try to add something handmade to gifts that we might have bought.  In the past I have made Christmas stockings filled with little goodies but this year it was the turn of the scrabble and button picture.  Scrabble pictures/coasters/mugs/cufflinks/rings are everywhere at the moment.  What I like about them, is that you can make them really personal and decide exactly what your picture/brooch/coaster is going to say.  I combined my scrabble words with textured papers, photographs, glitter and feathers to create three different frames, each one completely individual to the person it was intended for.  I haven't photographed all of them but here is one made for Auntie Vicki which is very pink and fluffy!   As I say, cost is always a factor, so I was pleased to pick up these photo frames in IKEA for £3.50.  I had seen others in Hobbycraft but had resisted buying the