Moxie Fab Thanks Blog Hop

Welcome to a really special post! This is probably one of the biggest blog hops EVER! Hopefully you’ve joined me from Moxie Fab World

We are honouring Cath Edvalson. I know I’ve already posted about her- but this is the better post! We decided to create a blog hop to say THANKS! She coined the phrase ‘Moxie Fab’ to describe anything truly amazing, splendid or gorgeous- & I guess she never knew how big it would come or how much we all think of her. I went all the way back to look at the first post.. Cath described what it was to be all about..

“But more than that, Moxie Fab World is a place where we can all get to know one another a little better. It’s a place where we can enjoy a stout cup of coffee, a warm spot of tea, or a sweet sip of cocoa and gather around our computers on our own time and on our own terms. It’s a place where we will share ideas, explore the trendy possibilities, and uncover the magical opportunities we have to connect with one another in this most heartfelt of hobbies, paper crafting.” (Nov 11 2008)

It has remained true to her wish for it. She has little idea about the place she holds in our hearts- without ever meeting her you just know that she is sincere and real. I don’t know her amazingly well, but whenever I’ve corresponded with her, you get a lovely impression of her. She’ll always leave a lovely comment when visiting your blog, and some of her comments on my cards have made me sigh with happiness. This card that I’ve created says ‘Cath’ to me. She loves colour & is a real wordsmith (note the letter type paper in the background).

She will get to read some amazing tributes along the way. What she doesn’t know is that in the space of less than a week, a secret Facebook group was set up just to organise this. We thought we’d get a few.. but there are 756 members! Not all of them were able to join in- but we have retailers & individuals. At the moment there are about 276 people signed up to hop. Having that many people wanting to honour her makes her special indeed. There were many who wanted to be part of this hop-

There are some people that we have to thank in all of this. A lot of the administrative work & problem shooting was done by the amazing, lovely and funny Virginia Lu & Taheerah Atchia. Chatting with them through the week has totally made my week. They have been utter stars. Thanks go to Kryssi Ng who put together the fantastic graphics for the blog headers & button. Michelle Liimatainen did some sterling checking of the spreadsheets & we must particularly say a big Thankyou to Aris from Inlinkz who has been so helpful in trying to organise the link system. Before it sounds like an Oscar’s speech- big thanks to Stacy Croninger for letting us begin at Moxie Fab World & Susan Opel who is cheerleader extraordinaire! Thank you to all of the girls (& gent) who have posted or been part of the group. With such a large group, you’d think there’d be difficulties- but they’ve all been a super supportive bunch; the epitomy of what Cath envisaged for Moxie Fab World all that way back in 2008.
 So, here’s to you Cath! Inspiration supremo, Trendsetter and trendwatcher, Champion of the beginners (and the rest!) and Confidence cheerleader. If it wasn’t for you & gaining confidence through joining the Moxie Fab challenges, I’d never have plucked up the courage to submit to Paper Crafts (as it was then). We all think you’re wonderful- we can’t wait to see where you take your sunshine next!

Grab a few coffees (in fact, better go get a flask)- some of the brightest & loveliest people have all joined to say THANKS to Cath. Next up is Jennifer Ingle. I just know you’re about to see something amazing!

For a list of all of the links of those taking part (in case you get lost or a link doesn’t quite work), check the Inlinkz symbol just below or pop back to Moxie Fab World who has the list there too.

You’re a Joy! & Broken Boots!

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for all of your comments recently- they are all really lovely to get.

This is a super simple card- using a set from a new company that you’ll be hearing a lot about in the near future. It’s one of those cards that remind me of lots of people. Some people are just complete ‘joys’ aren’t they! One of those is Cath Edvalson. This card is for her. She’s one of those lovely person that sprinkles sunshine wherever she goes. I know that tons of people hold her in really high regard & she is stepping down from being the mastermind & contributor at Moxie Fab World . We know she’ll be planning a new and exciting future & so I simply had to post and say THANKS! One day, if I ever get to visit the US, and had a wish list of places to go and people to see- she’d be on that list somewhere right at the top!

Some of my most exciting challenges (wins or not) have been over at Moxie Fab World. Cath would post unique challenges that made you think & get really creative. Some of my fave cards have come as a result of entering her challenges. I loved being part of last years ‘Trendy Card’ list & I can tell you, if Cath visits your blog & leaves you a comment..well, your day is totally made! She posted daily a inspiring picture which often left you thinking about colour or design or just how beautiful nature is. She will be so missed – she’s irreplaceable!

If any of you have missed this link up- there’s one over at MFW- you could join in too and leave her your best wishes and thanks.

This week has seen me prepping for an all day workshop. I do love teaching- I could do it happily all day. Prepping is less fun- but I’m nearly sorted! We have had a few hiccups this week- let me tell you about one!

I play taxi a considerable amount of the time. I’d picked up 2 kids, went elsewhere to pick up 2 more & was waiting half an hour before picking up the last one. We popped to Tesco to pick up some bits ready for Bonfire night. As we’d loaded the shopping, one of the kids was messing around. They couldn’t close the boot on account of being too diddy, so I asked an older child. This child didn’t take too well to being asked.

They went to back of the car & instead of pulling the door down (it’s a hatchback type), they grabbed the rods that allow the door to open and close. They obviously did this with some force & then whacked the boot down.

There was a crunch noise.

Not a good sort of ‘crunch’. It was in fact the sound of metal bending. Not realising what they’d done, they decided to give it a second go, further damaging the car. I was out of the front seat in a hurry but the second bending had already occurred. Granted, I didn’t know this is what had happened until I looked into the boot.

The boot was not going to shut. Nor could I  drive home with an unstable boot in the wind. I knew that if I let it drop down any further, it would bend the metal further & possibly break it. So I had good (?) idea no.1…I balanced the boot on my head & phoned my hubby.

‘Hi Steve, I have a slight problem”

“go on” he said, sounding unphased

“One of the kids has broken the boot & I’m balancing it on my head’

“Pardon? You’re balancing the boot on your head?”

“Yes, I thought it the best thing to do”.

I could hear him explaining the ridiculous situation to his colleagues. “Hang on, can’t you manage?”

Well I couldn’t, I don’t have any tools in the car. I will be getting some shortly. He arranged to come & I waited, in the cold & now with the light fading, watching the shoppers in Tesco come in and out.

After 5 minutes the boot was hurting my head. Daughter no.1 came to my rescue- fortunately we’re about the same height. Two of us stood, like complete numpties balancing a boot on our heads.

Did anyone stop? Did anyone check we were ok?

No. Not a sausage!

Our friends who visited that evening for Bonfire Night, remarked it was little wonder that no-one stopped- we must have looked a little odd.

After a while, it hurt too much. I took the rash decision to rest it on one shoulder. When the cold & weight got too much, I simply shifted it onto the other shoulder. There I stood, for at least 15 minutes. The other daughter (who I was supposed to have picked up by now) wasn’t responding to my phonecalls. Then my phone died. The end of the story was seeing a very bedraggled daughter make her way crossly up the hill joined also by my husband who removed the strut (after trying to return it to the original shape) & closed the boot.

The offending child became public enemy No.1 to the other siblings who were freezing and less than patient at that point.

Needless to say, my shoulders are a little stiff. If you ever see someone in that predicament- do say hello, or help them; they’ll be very thankful! All ended well, we enjoyed some fantastic fireworks, bacon butties & gingerbread cake washed down with some hot chocolate. The perfect end to an otherwise imperfect day!

See you on Saturday for a very exciting post- you won’t want to miss this one!

xx