Monday, February 28, 2011

The ABC : F is for Flower




 Just a very short and sweet post today...

F is for flower... I know I didn't really go to town on this one...

Its a photo I took sometime ago and never did anything with... so it just felt right to use it today ...
 





Remember anyone can join in with ABC Monday .... just show a craft or a color or a photo that is the letter we are on for the week.

Have fun and enjoy the rest of your day.

♥  Rachel 

Thanks to Paint The Moon... the template that I use to show the ABC's is a download from Paint The Moon

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday Stroll : Including The Winners of Last Weeks Giveaway


Another week done ...and school vacation is here...

A week with Bip and Bop is always fun... can you hear me giggling ....
I'm wondering how much work I will get done this week....

I have been working on a couple of projects this week.... which will soon be revealed ... I'm excited

I love working on new things.... It keeps me interested in my work... I do tend to be bored quick... Dad use to call me a butterfly ....
Years later I admit he was right and is still right ... I am always jumping from one thing to another....

So Winners...
We have two ......

and before I announce them... I want to thank everyone who took part... I have never done a giver away before where so many people entered....

So the winners are

Jaclyn from Snap,Crackle,Pop

Jaclyn picked A Star is Born (Bronze) and Time as her winning pints in the locket

The second winner is Kristin from These Moments
Kristin picked The Lighthouse and Time
 
Congrats to both our winners... 
 
I will be contacting you both really soon to find out how you would like your lockets to arrive...


I hope you all have a wonderful week...and if your on school vacation like me ... Ill pray for you ....yes I'm giggling again

♥ Rachel

Friday, February 25, 2011

This week Im Grateful for : Children Growing Up



 You can spend all day with a child and not notice the changes....

I had not realized that Bop had grown up so much until we visited the eye doctor this week.

In the mist of her examination I giggled at something and her response to me was,

"Mommy this is important, stop messing about ... I have to get this correct so the doctor can get the correct lens for my glasses"

I guess that was me told.

She then went on to chose her glasses frames with the poise of a 12 year old. I did wonder where my 7 year old had gone.

In former years we have had temper tantrums .... total messing about..... and really bad behavior.

So this week I am So very very grateful for Bop growing up.

Her behavior was perfect and believe me when I say I have high standards where my children's behavior is concerned ...its high... I would not want me as a mother... I'm totally anal ...  and more so when we are out in public.

She did me proud and she was such a joy to be around.....

I am welcoming this change in her...... because its not been an easy 6 months with her..... as some of you will very well know .... her RADDY ways have about drove me crazy at times....


Are you grateful for anything this week
If so then link up with Maxabella ....... over at Maxabella Loves


And
 Mummy From the Heart's Reasons To Be Cheerful



Reasons to be Cheerful at Mummy From the Heart





Happy Weekend Everyone

♥ Rachel

Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Visitors

 Its been a wonderful day .......

I had a visitor ...he was very charming... he stayed for quiet a while ...just relaxing in the sunshine .....

He reminded me that spring was on its way ......

I offered him some food but he declined ...he sat and watched while I washed up at the kitchen sink ...

Then he said goodbye ...it was time to move on.


No sooner had he left than another came a knocking.... this one just a little noisier ...... but just as welcome as the last...... 


Its been a wonderful day


♥ Rachel

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

2 Photographers 1 Inspiration : Black & White


I am so glad that Melissa and Kristi and back after their little break, I have missed their weekly inspiration ....
So with out any more chatting from ...

The theme this week was Black and White ....

My favorite color combination of all time .. the color combo of my wedding .....


So my photography... well I'm not sure if I'm totally happy with it.... as some of you know I had a new camera last week... this is taking some getting use to ...but I'm not giving up..I'm just screaming a little.




I'm not sure what the flower is .... but My aim was to focus on the flower and I think I achieved what I set out to do ...I'm just not sure ..or am I being to picking?...Maybe

Want to see what everyone else did then hop on over to Life Through the lens


♥ Rachel

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

I Love To Pounce: Elephant's Trunk




Are you a wine drinker?.... I am ... I buy it by the box ... mainly because a bottle in this house doesn't last 5 minutes..... 

If your like most people and by a bottle of wine do you dress your bottle up for special occasions?
You don't.. well have you discovered The Elephant's Trunk Shop yet? No ....

Well today you are going to discover the place where wine bottles are dressed like models are dressed for fashion week in Paris.



Do you have a special occasion coming up...a wedding, a birthday party, or just dinner for two... well Elephants Trunk is the place to go, when making a statement and dressing it up......

Lauren of Elephants Trunk dresses wine bottles like Gucci dresses models .....




Lauren also has an awesome blog under the same name...which is worth a visit to.

And here is the best bit... Lauren is offering 20% off with the coupon code wine20

Can it get much better.....

So go pay Elephant's Trunk a visit ...and get dressing those wine bottles up .... 






♥ Rachel

Monday, February 21, 2011

The ABC :E is for Egg



 Or in this case Eggs.


When I began the ABC I planned a few out in advance, E was one of them.....

I knew I wanted to do Egg and I knew how I wanted it all to look ...the lighting and the over all feel ...and then I went a brought a new camera..

That changed everything ..

Because as you know when using something new it always takes that little bit longer to execute the plan .....

I nearly gave up at one point and went and picked up my old beloved camera.... but I didn't, instead I stuck it out and after some choice words and a few kiddie fits I got there.

I am now happy



This is a bit of a different look .... not the usual Tatter Beans look..... but I do like it ...makes me feel a bit warmer inside as it is snowing outside again.

And the Eggs remind me of soldiers standing to attention....
We came up with some random facts about Eggs as a family ...

I (Rachel) don't eat the white of the egg unless its scrambled
Bip (my son) doesnt eat the (in his words) yellow yucking bit unless its scrambled
Bop (my daughter) LOVESSSSS eggs
Hubby ..... why are we doing random facts about eggs?

So there you have it Random Facts about Eggs

And don't forget this weeks giveaway .... It ends Saturday 26th of February (midnight est time) and I will announce the winner on Sunday.

Remember anyone can join in with ABC Monday .... just show a craft or a color or a photo that is the letter we are on for the week.

Have fun and enjoy the rest of your day.

♥ RachelThanks to Paint The Moon... the template that I use to show the ABC's is a download from Paint The Moon

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sunday Stroll : Including A Little Give Away





Do you have weeks where everything goes just right, pretty much to plan and by the end of it you are doubly pleased with the week behind you.

That's the sort of week I have had... a good one ...an awesome one and a happy one.

My Face Book page hit 100 fans this week and as promised (the promise was a giveaway when I hit 100 fans) this post is all about just that my promise of a giveaway.

I would like clears throat to say a big thank you to a few of you who really pushed the fan base over the 100 mark.. your awesome and I do really appreciate your hard work...

So yes the giveaway well I thought I would make this a little different and not just offer you a print.

I am offering not one but two really cute (and forgive me if I describe this totally wrong) square locket cases in pewter ..... the unique thing about these is they hold two prints.


They are very tiny let me just say that much they measure under 1 inch and are really delicate to look at.
They could be worn as a necklace or added to your key ring holder ... added to a charm bracelet... the options are endless. You can even add your own photos when you get sick of mine.

So this is all you have to do ..... easy I promise.

First if you have not already go Like my facebook page (that was painless right?)
Then just nip over to my shop Tatterbeans Photography and tell me if you won what two prints would you want in your locket.
If you would like an extra point in the pickings you can twitter/facebook or share a blog post about this.... just be sure to leave an extra comment when doing this please.

And that's all there is to it ...Told you it was going to be easy.

If you win you will also get the option on how you receive this little gift... if you want it as a necklace I will make that up for you if you don't then its all good... but the choice will be yours if you win...and remember you can't win if your not in it right?

This will be open until Saturday 26th of February (midnight est time) and I will announce the winner on Sunday.

I really do hope you enter .....

I also won an award today ... which I will post about next week ...but I would just like to say a big thank you to Lelanie over at To Sew with Love.

Here is to a happy week ahead..... 


♥ Rachel

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Inspired Blue and White



 Its funny how you can look at something for so long that it almost becomes part of you

Now for sometime we have been looking at snow.. maybe for a bit to long ... it started to melt a few days ago and can you believe it looks really strange to see it going...
I mentioned the temperature had rose to 40-50..well when I looked outside the other morning the snow almost looks blue ...and for a moment I did wonder why..then It dawned on me it was because the sky so so blue...

So this week I'm inspired by Blue and White... and I picked a few items out of my Fresh Treasury.
The three items I picked where the main inspiration for the treasury .....



 All Three items belong to team mates.... and I can say I'm really proud to be in the same team as such talented people.

Are you inspired this week... and if so what is it that's inspiring you ?


♥ Rachel

*just a little side note..if I didn't get round to reading your Grateful post please forgive me... we lost power a few times last night and most of today... I will try to read them this week

Friday, February 18, 2011

This week Im Grateful for : Sunshine ....... and My New Toy

Tatter Beans Photography

 The sun has a way of bringing you to a happy place... when the sun shines everyone just seems so much happier they develop a spring in there step and smile more. Have you noticed this?

I noticed this yesterday and today... I noticed it in myself to... even with a runny nose ..I was still happier and more willing to get things done.

So this week I'm grateful for the sun and 40-50 degree weather, I'm grateful the snow is melting .... not so sure where all the water will go ..but I will leave that problem to mother nature

I am also grateful for my new toy...

now would be a good time to get your heads out the gutter...

Its a Camera

I took some very artist shots of it  ...to show you all ... 



There she is .... with two new lens... and a new camera bag...
(Bag not shown)

I guess I was spoiled today .... but I think I'm worth it .....

So are you feeling grateful this week... if so and I really hope you are... why not hop over to Maxabella's and join in the link up






Have a wonderful weekend my friends... 
I really hope the sun shines down on you and puts a spring in your step

♥ Rachel

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Walking Around Etsy

I think Etsy is an really good place to shop... mainly because you don't have to leave the house get in the car and travel miles to find what you want or need... ok so they don't sell grocery's but you can buy food here...  just not your everyday needs like milk, bread and sugar .....

But think of the gas you save by shopping online...and then when your item arrives you can almost guarantee it will be wrapped so well you wont want to open it until you have savored the delight of looking at it.

I think its good to shop locally .... and when I can I do...but I also think its a good to shop with fellow Etsy sellers...

This week I brought some paper supplies ... yes I could of got it from Staples but that meant cutting it to the size I wanted myself...yes I know height of laziness... can I justify this laziness.. yes I can I gave someone else my business ... not a huge store but a small seller trying to make a living...

StraightHome  is the place I shopped at and they where so helpful, and I would highly recommend them


 I think its the personal service you get that draws me to shop on Etsy...

I know its not face to face but to be honest sometimes... and I may just get slammed for this.... when I am dealing with a shop assistant...

I can just tell most are not enjoying what it is they are doing...its just a wage... it shows on their face..well I don't want to look at that when I'm trying to find what it is I'm looking for 

Three of my favorite Items at the moment .....


and 
I could do with both right now.... on my sofa ...and a good movie..and maybe some hot chocolate
 
 
Now that would all make me so much better
 
That's my walk about ..... for this Thursday 

Did you walk around Etsy today...well if you did why not link up with Sahara

♥ Rachel

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Fresh and Simple


I'm sitting here full of cold..sniffing like a child and talking like I have plugs up my nose...

But that's not stopped me feeling the first hints of spring.. its been in the 40's today and what a welcome that has been ...lots of snow melting...and we need to melt lots of snow believe me.

I know 40 doesn't sound that hot...but when its been below freezing its hot honestly...... I even turned down the heating this morning I was sweating ....

Today was our team challenge and I have to say I had a ball putting together my treasury for this week.

The theme Fresh and Simple...
 We have some awesome talent in our Team... the team is all made up of Artists who are yet to be discovered... hard to believe that most have under 20 sales... the talent just oozes



Not all in the Treasury are from the same team ..I try to include others from other teams I'm in... but at lest six shops are from the Undiscovered team...

I also played around with the flowers I brought this weekend.... Told the hubby they where from him... well they where it was his money .... Happy Valentines Day baby ...

Flowers make me feel the warmth of spring so today was a good day to take photos ...as the sun was streaming through my windows....





I cant wait for Spring to really get here.....


♥ Rachel

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I Love to Pounce.

 My Secret Face  

  Are you still feeling the romance of yesterday?

Well if not maybe my pounce will put you back in the mood...

Think Gone with the Winds, think Wuthering Heights, think the Brontë' sisters and all that rolled up into one shop gives you

My pounce this week was hard.. I gave myself far to many to chose from but I settled with My Secret Face because of all romance it stirred up in me
Product designer Inbal said this in the profile.... 
Each piece tells a story of a hidden character waiting for the moment of discovery... 
I have to say each piece blows me away .... its all so delicate and romantic.

I can see Scarlet O'Hara .... I can hear Heathcliff and Catherine... I can feel the Yorkshire Moors and its turbulent winds .....

I know what I'm doing this afternoon... going to go watch a Jane Eyre.


Go Pay My Secret Face a visit ..there is so many wonderful items in the shop... you may just find yourself there for a while


Remember anyone can join in...just link up below... and The pounce button can be found on the Buy page at Etsy

♥ Rachel

Monday, February 14, 2011

The ABC : D is for Dice



 Dictionaries are a very useful tool to have laying around, so I have come to find out

I used one yesterday ... well The Hubby did he read out all the words from the D is for page.

He read most of the silly D's if I'm honest but he did read one that he didn't think I would use ... and when I kept saying Dice to him .. he would say "how can Dice inspire you?"

Dice did inspire me ... it made me think of something manly ... and there is something really romantic about the word manly ... I'm not sure what it is but its there on the tip of my tongue.

 Or could it just be the romance of the day.... Maybe?

So here is D is for Dice



Thanks to Paint The Moon... the template that I use to show the ABC's is a download from Paint The Moon

And as always if you would like to link up there are no real rules ... all you need do is either show a craft,print or even a color that follows along with the letter we are on... and then leave a comment with the link to your ABC for us to come view.

I'm really looking forward to see what you guys came up with this week

Well I wish you all a Happy Valentines Day....

Much ♥ Rachel

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sunday Stroll : Including a little touch of Love



I'm strolling and strolling..but not feeling like I'm walking anywhere...  its been a funny old week... a pretty successful one... maybe I should be running ... that way I would get further and get there faster?

Do you have weeks like that?

You make plans and yeah that's just what they are plans... they never turn into anything other than plans .....

That's my week in a nut shell

I did get  kids Valentines day school stuff done ... all bagged up and ready to go... even made them little cards to give out ...


 This one is Kayla's totally a seven year old card...

I have to say ... I should be so productive by next years it will be a runaway .... I will have learn so much ... on what not to do and what is better to do... 

I'm guessing there is a trial period in every thing you do... getting it right and knocking out the big time don't do that again wrongs where every business is concerned ....

Brick and mortar business is sooooo different to online... I have so much to learn ...

♥ Rachel

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Inspired by Coloring Pages



I love to color, as crazy as it is I find it really relaxing and it is something I do with both my very artistic children, it also is very relaxing and keeps my itchy fingers moving when I know I need to slow down.

There is one artist who produces the most wonderful coloring pages ever.... both for children and adults alike
Her name is Valentina Ramos.

I don't remember where I first stumbled across Valentina, I think maybe I found her blog, but like I said I don't really remember.

Valentina, produces the most wonderful prints, she does animals and flowers and now is doing personalized prints with that special someones name add to her work.... but what inspires me about Valentina is her generous giving spirit.....and her coloring pages.... which are always free.

So if you are a big kid like me .... and love to color, Valentina is the lady to check out .....

Or just check her out anyway cause she just produced two free Valentines Day coloring cards.... which let me tell you went down a huge hit in this house.




Fancy checking out Valentina's shop .. I would if I was you


The above pages can all be found on Valentina's Face Book Page

♥ Rachel

Friday, February 11, 2011

This week Im Grateful for : You the Reader

(Its a Freebie)

 Its funny how people become part of your everyday life and you don't even know them.... never seen them face to face never heard there voice, but yet they are part of your everyday life.

So this week I am grateful for.

You the reader:

Yes that's you .. reading right now, I'm grateful to you because rambling on to yourself is just no fun. I'm grateful that you interact with me on a daily basics.

And if your over here for the first time wondering who is this person you just may know me from Select All + Delete, if you followed me over there I am grateful to you for that, If you added me to your blog roll I am very grateful for that.

I don't have the time at present to keep updating Select all + Delete, it has had to take a back seat for now which in someways is a bit sad.

There just comes a time in life where a girl has to establish what is important and TatterBeans is very important to me right now...and I'm really enjoying building something which has meaning to me personally ....

Not that SA+D didn't... but really and honestly, there is only so much I can write about my kids and RAD... which was the whole point to SA+D. I think I'm just warn out with the RAD issues and need to escape it.

If you where a follower over there... I warmly invite you to follow me here, I'm still the same goof I was over there, I'm still the same Rachel, just with a little bit more Artistic Flare thrown in to warm things up a bit.

You could say this is more me...

Its funny Maxabella as usual gave me the kick up the butt I needed to stop procrastinating and make this announcement.  

Thanks Maxabella I am Grateful that.

Its been hard to let things go  .... but its time for now... SA+D will come back, just not today or tomorrow.

The good news is I am still here.
Enjoying life to the full, and for that Im truly grateful.

This is a Grateful Post linked up to Maxabella Loves 

♥ Rachel


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Love Bling

Maxabella loves...

I am Blinging on Love today and linking up with a very good friend Maxabella.... The idea is to link up before valentines day ... with a picture of your Bling... Now this Bling can be anything your Man has brought you over the years... Wedding Ring, Engagement Ring or just some Bling he gave you cause he Luvvvs you.



My Bling .... well a there is in fact a story behind this bling... this is my wedding ring and engagement ring ... which was not picked in person together but over the Internet while we sat miles apart  ...... scrolling through thousands of sites.....

I am totally fussy when it comes to jewelry mainly cause I don't wear it ... so if Its something I have got to wear everyday its gonna have to be over the top perfect for me....

Don't get me wrong I have tons of jewelry ..I just don't wear it .....

It was hard work finding this .....

It is black titanium band with a black diamond... and very beat up ... we have a life time re-coating but we have never sent them in to be re-coated... we should I know..


So that's my BLING .... 
Now its your turn ... show us your bling

♥ Rachel


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Just a Little Shout Out




 Its really means something to me when I decide to do something throw it out there to my bloggy friends and they jump on board....
There are three blogs following along on The ABC project....

They are not big blogs but they are sure cute blogs and I thought you might enjoy them to..

Sahara's Memories 
hrushton art 
Whims and Fancies 

I love these guys for following along... it really does make it fun when people join in ... and there creations have been awesome to.... go pay them a visit ...give them some love ... 
I promise you wont regret it


♥ Rachel

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I Love to Pounce : Elepahants Dance


Pounce Day ...  and I'm just going to get right to it..... I pounced I founds.... I feel in love....  with

Elephant Dancing ..... A shop just full of curiosity... and Elephants ....

Elephants Dance also has drawings of Children, Rabbits, Dogs and Hearts.... 
What I like about this shop is that every print is a limited edition ... 100 of each
There are plenty to chose from and all are delightful ....


Here is a bit about the owner

I am an illustrator and designer. I work with both traditional and digital mediums and I love to use inks, markers and pastels as well as various graphic and illustration software.

My work was featured in:USA,Canada,
England, Russia, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Bulgaria

I would like to rejoice with them more children and adults aim World!
Let childhood never leaves us!



I love the last bit... Let childhood never leave us ... I say Amen to that ....


Remember anyone can join in...just link up below... and The pounce button can be found on the Buy page at Etsy
 
♥ Rachel


Monday, February 7, 2011

The ABC :C is for Coffee


 The ABC .....
Its like the ABC for Adults ... and honestly I am having so much fun doing this...

At some point I will produce cards out of the ABC photos.... just have to find the right paper ... paper is an issuse with me... Im not sure why ... I think it may be my anal ways ... yes I am totaly anal over some stuff and other stuff I dont give a dammm about... I guess its a good thing cause to be total anal over everything would make life unbearable for the Hubby and the kids....

But paper yes big hang ups over...

So C is for Coffee .......

This would have been so easy if I hadn't had so many ideas given to me last night when I sat down to do this.

I put it out there to the household... C is for?

Cookie.... Cake..... Cupid.... Crayons..... Cars...... Cats......Candles......Canary Yellow...(what) ..... Castles.....Clowns......Cups.....Clock........Catapult....(no way).....Crown......(you would say that).....Cow......(I am not going out to the fields at this time of night to take photography's of cows)..... OK well then we are out of ideas..... until the hubby said do you fancy a coffee Hun ......

Ye he clinched it....


C is for Coffee

Each week I forget to give credit to Paint The Moon... thanks to Paint The Moon the template that I use to show the ABC's is a download from Paint The Moon ... Totally helpful web site with some really cool stuff in it... worth a visit? .....Absolutely 

Did you do an ABC this week.... If so link up in comments... Ill be over shortly to check them out....

♥ Rachel