Celebrating my 60th!

Enjoying my 60th Birthday. Wow, I can't believe I'm saying that! Not so long ago that would have made me a pensioner, but now I have several more years to go. But at least I get free prescriptions now :-) I look on growing old as a privilege so many people never get to have and consider myself lucky to have reached this age with not too many trials and tribulations through the years and very lucky to have the love and companionship of my lovely Ian for the last 13 years. Looking forward to the next 20 years with joy and excitement :-)

Also looking forward to my super stepdaughter Caitlin, together with her lovely husband Dan and my absolutely amazing grandson Jonah, all coming for a special birthday lunch of roast leg of lamb, which Ian has been preparing all morning. Caiti is supplying the pudding, which I don't know what it is so that will be a nice surprise. ( I hope, she once made banoffee pudding which had to be dug out of the dish with a hammer & chisel!) Only joking :-)

I'm feeling very lazy today as really we should be doing a lot more packing today as it's only 4 weeks at the most until we move house. But frankly as today is not only my Birthday but Easter Day I'm determined to just relax and enjoy it, and not worry too much. Will just have to put in an extra effort in tomorrow as we're back at work on Tuesday! I can feel that old Tempus Fugit even as I write!!!!

Love this new 3 Ring Binder!

I've been busy working away creating some new stuff for my "Precious Things" Zazzle store and came up with this great Tropical Paradise design for a 3 ring Binder cover, It's based on an old vintage wallpaper catalogue cover from 1915 and I think it makes a great journal cover, although the wording on the front can be changed to anything depending on what it is used for.

Tropical Paradise Personaliseable 2" Ring Binder by preciousthings
Check out Personalise Binders online at zazzle

Adventures in Moving Land!

Sorry I haven't been very visible recently but I've been so busy with organising our house move (should be in about 5 weeks!) I've had no time to keep up with the blog for which I apologise (you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find somewhere that will take 2 dogs!), we had to get a full service done on the boiler (and then discovered it has a cracked valve that will need replacing!). Also arrange a new certificate from FENSA for the double glazing we had done when we first moved in and having to get the council surveyor out to sign off the building work we had done when we put in the new downstairs toilet - to name just a few of the things that have raised their ugly head before we can exchange next week. And I haven't even begun to pack It just seems never ending! But if we can get contracts exchanged next week we can complete at the end of April - or even sooner - which would really put the cat amongst the pigeons! We are looking at what seems a nice place on Saturday, so I'm hoping that will be OK and we can get it without too much trouble. If so I'll regale you with more of our exciting adventures in moving land.

A Valentine & Wedding Anniversary Greeting

Today is a special day for me as not only is it Valentine's Day, but it's also my 12th Wedding Anniversary, so I thought I'd post these little expressions of my love for my darling hubby!
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE
SUGAR IS SWEET AND SO ARE YOU MY LOVE

Click card to enlarge
Click 2nd icon from right on the bottom to play full screen

Review of 'Dreamwalker' by James Oswald

Dreamwalker by James Oswald


It's been a (very) long time since I've read any fantasy fiction and I only got Dreamwalker as a freebie for my Kindle on the strength of having enjoyed the author's Inspector McLean Mysteries so much. I'm so glad I did as I have really enjoyed discovering the world and characters that James Oswald has created. The parallel lives of Sir Benfro and Errol and their adventures have really captivated my imagination and I can't wait to see how their fates intertwine, so have already purchased Books 2 and 3 of the trilogy. The book is beautifully written and I loved the snippets inserted from various ancient tomes of dragons and men at the start of each chapter. You'll love it if you like fanatasy fiction and worth a try even if you think you don't!

View all my reviews

September Sales on my Zazzle.com Store (Kaleidoscope Kreations)

I've had another good month for sales on Zazzle.com from my KALEIDOSCOPE KREATIONS store. One order was from a customer in Australia for 24 assorted postcards, another for a wallclock to a customer in California and I've sold another tie to a customer in Michigan.

I was also delighted to sell a case for one of the new iPhone 5 mobile phones to a customer in Connecticut, USA. I had only just put up a load of cases for this model when I sold this one and she picked one of my favourite designs as well!

My other big sale was 3 throw pillows/cushions with a monogram design to a customer in La Habra, DE (not sure where that is!.
Smaller sales did well too, I sold several magnets with Rudolf Valentino, Theda Bara and Mae Murray designs to a customer in Toronto, Canada, and a customer in Texas bought a selection of my kaleidoscope designs on Greetings cards.

I have also been busy adding new designs and products to my VINTAGE VARIETY store, which is quite an eclectic collection of vintage material, old adverts, engravings, fashion, movies etc, anything that catches my eye and I like enough to add. Hopefully people will like my selections enough to buy them :-) So please check it out.

Kaleidoscope Kreations Monogram Letter A Pillow by CharmaineZoe
View other Kaleidoscope Pillows

Kaleidoscope iPhone 5 Case by CharmaineZoe
Shop for additional iPhone 5 cases at Zazzle

Kaleidoscope Kreation No.SC2 Clock by CharmaineZoe
Browse other Kaleidoscope Wall Clocks

Swirling Leaves Tie by CharmaineZoe
Create your own neck ties with zazzle.com

Grandson Jonah Comes to Visit

Had my little grandson Jonah to stay again last night and we had a great time. He's a lovely little boy who's been through a bad time with leukemia, but seems to have come through all the chemotherapy etc ok and actually started school this week, so he was chattering away ten to the dozen telling us all about it. I let Grampy put him to bed and read him a story last night :-) I've got him ensconced in front of some Tom & Jerry YouTube videos on Grampy's laptop at the moment while we have breakfast :-) He's off with his Mum & Dad in a fortnight to Disneyland Florida thanks to the Wish Upon A Star Charity, so looking forward to that with great excitement.

August Sales on my Zazzle.com Store

Quite a few multiple sales this month for things like greetings cards, postcards, stickers and magnets, to customers in the U.S., Netherlands, Germany and the U.K. I had one customer in Michigan purchase a tie and then return and buy another one a week later. So he obviously liked my designs. I love selling ties, as they are such personal items and the thought of someone on the other side of the world walking around wearing my designs gives me a real thrill, and is such a compliment to my work. I have loads of lovely designs at THE TIE RACK. So thanks Harry and to all my customers this month.

Golden Swirls Tie by CharmaineZoe
View more Kaleidoscope Ties

So what's new at the store this month? Well, I've been working on some of the new products now available from Zazzle. These include clocks, pitcher jugs, teapots and playing cards, as well as cases and covers for iPad's, iPod's, Kindles and Laptops etc., - so if your looking for something a bit different to decorate your home or electronics then check the store out at KALEIDOSCOPE KREATIONS, where there are over 3,000 products to explore. New customers always welcome :-)

July Sales on my Zazzle.com Store

This month sales have mostly been American again (most of my customers are in the U.S.) but also had sales in Australia, Germany and what I think is my first sale to Finland. Most sales have consisted of smaller items such as greetings cards, and postcards, stickers, magnets buttons/badges, and keychains, but also sold a hat (the Finland sale) and a big canvas print of the boys (Pepsi and Max), which went to a customer in Florida and a bumper sticker. So to all my customers, many thanks :-)

So what's new at Kaleidoscope Kreations? Well, the really big news is my new Pillow throw/Cushion Dept. I now have hundreds of gorgeous designs to choose from at http://www.zazzle.com/charmainezoe/gifts?cg=196221954003498549. These are split over 6 different collections to make it easier to browse through them.

My New Cushion Shop Opens!

I had my lovely little Grandson stay over with his Mummy and her friend for the weekend. We were going to the Company BBQ this afternoon but got some sad news which meant we didn't go in the end. My Son in Law had gone up to visit his Grandfather who he hadn't seen in years but who was seriously ill. Sadly he died this morning but at least Dan had a cahnce to say goodbye and know that his Grandad had not forgotten him and recognised him, and was even able to do a bit of reminiscing with him before he died. Caiti of course wanted to be at home when Dan got back to be able to comfort him so they decided to leave early and we made the decision to forgo on the BBQ as none of us were in the mood. We just made ribs with grilled sausage in buns and a salad for lunch before they left, which was easy and suited everyone.

While they were amusing themselves watching the TV I was working away on my PC. I wanted to bring my Zazzle Store up to speed with some of the new products that are now available, so spent some time adding some great designs to a load of cushions and pillows. These are now available in my new 'store within a store'. Below are some of the many designs available, just click on the link underneath to visit and see the rest.

VISIT MY NEW CUSHION STORE AT KALEIDOSCOPE KREATIONS