Is it the time of year?

I've been feeling a little down this week. Clocks have gone back today, so the nights are drawing in, and most of the time it's dark when I leave for work and dark before I return home. That's not why I am down though. We are two months away from the end of the year and, as always it's a time to reflect on how the year has gone, and it's left me wanting. But it's also left me thinking. Why should I measure my life year by year? Just because this year has not gone as well as I had hoped so far does not mean that it's a failure by any means.Success is measured by ourselves, not by anyone else. So while this year has been a bit mediocre, it is not over yet so that could change, and if not I have already started planning next year's resolution. (more on that story later)

Decluttering wise, not pictured is a printer and an ink cartridge. I got fed up of the printer after it used up all the black ink printing out the first draft of the Ghost Lights, a full half of what it should have done in page count. I gave it to my brother, asked him to take a picture of it to send me, and lo and behold he didn't.

Deodorant. Ran out so bin.Not that impressed with Dove tbh.  

A make up brush. I have tons of these and this one is a bit crap. Bin.

Eye liner. I've never been good at eye liner. This was a freebie. It's good quality, but it's been used and I'm always wary about sharing this kind of make up, so it's bin bound. 

A make up palette. I dropped it on the floor, so the eye shadow went everywhere. Bin. 

A hair band. Looks lovely, feels like my head is stuck in a nutcracker and it's squeezing as hard as it can to reach the gooey goodness inside. Charity shop.

I've also been making stuff (obviously)

This is a number 5 tag. I started off by covering it in tissue paper, then using texture paste on the top. I then sprayed it with Lindy's sprays (shades of teal) I die cut stars and painted them silver, sprayed and stamped a rocket ship, then stamped a sentiment.

This is a size 8 tag. I started by using distress pads to ink the background, with the splatter stencil used to make some patterns. I then stamped wish on the side, and a jar with some butterflies as well as some plants at the bottom. I then used crackle accents on the jar and left it to dry overnight. Interestingly as I hadn't left the ink to dry it gave it an almost ethereal quality behind the crackle. The plants did not turn out how I hoped so I used some remnant rubs to fill in the gaps, as well as using them to make a quote. I stamped a few more butterflies and put them over the original ones in the jar to give it some dimension, and finally sprayed a ribbon to tie to the top.

I've also made a key chain, using a swivel clasp. I got a vial (broke it at the top) and filled it with gems. To cover the break I glued a flower onto it. I also added curiosities onto the side. I attached it to the keychain using an eyepin and a few gems. I then added an arrow charm, and a head pin with various beads onto it.

Stitching wise (no picture sorry) I am about halfway through the french knots. There have been a few minor mistakes but on the whole it's going well, and it should be finished by the end of next week.

No review of the Beadhaul box yet as it's a little late this month. I'm hoping it comes next week!
Ems