Annabelle's Trousseau and Day 8

Hello friends

Lovely to see all the comments yesterday,

I'm delighted you are enjoying my many holiday pics!

Also it's not too late to leave a comment on Hump Day Giveaway,

a winner is picked next Tuesday evening to be announced on the Wednesday.

Something new...

Over on the website is a whole new collection available to pre-order.

Chantilly Paper Lace.

The detail is gorgeous in this collection with different layering frames.

Beautifully designed by Becca Feeken for Spellbinders.

The die set I'm featuring today is Annabelle's Trousseau.

I've allowed the die to do the work, cut in ivory and layered onto some

pretty flowered paper.  The embellishments are silk flowers that I purchased in

the States and a typed and die cut and sentiment.

Annabelle's Trousseau is available to pre-order on the website here.

The entire Chantilly Lace collection can be viewed here.

Worth mentioning: with pre-orders we are guided by the distributor when it 

comes to dates, sometimes they are prompt, sometimes they are not!

Elliott is always on the case chasing them up so please be rest assured 

if you place a pre-order we will get them to you as speedily as we can.

Thank you.

This was my one and only day of overcast cloudy weather in Iowa,

it turned out it was actually due to wildfire smoke from Canada and Montana! 

The weather did not stop us from shopping.

Two days before I flew out to the States I was asked to prepare design boards

and samples for Create and Craft, I had very little time!

Kim to the rescue - we went shopping for crafty items and I 

got ahead with projects - (I actually crafted in their car but more about that later).

We visited Scrapmania, a gem of a store, a real Aladdin's Cave.

They also stock Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

I'm modelling Keepsake Envelopes here because I espied that's my project on the front!

After a very productive shopping trip, (I really NEEDED those craft items)

we returned home.

Kim checking the mailbox - how American is that!

I should mention Kim's husband Brian at this point - I have a real soft spot for this lovely gent.

He also cooked these amazing smoked pork chops for dinner that evening.

Brian is indeed a lovely gent and he will appreciate me using the word 'lovely' because

I use it a lot!  We shared many moments of laughter with our accents and 

terminology.  

That evening Brian built a fire in the garden's firepit for us to have 'Smores'.

Something new for me but it involved food so I was game!

Kim and I - it only took about 4 attempts to get us and the fire in this selfie!

A perfect fire.

So 'Smores' - you melt marshmallows on the fire, place between Graham Crackers, 

and a chunk of chocolate.  It's MESSY!

I did not let go of my wine though...!

Another unforgettable experience from my wonderful trip.

Thank you again for sticking with me while I document my days away.

Take care friends - Friday Die Day tomorrow.