Polly Rises To ITICA Challenge...

Yesterday, over on my other blog 'Vinca'a-In-Tha-Kitchen', thanks to Hey Pesto's Yvonne Carty, I introduced the concept of Ireland's very first National Fish & Chips Day! Yes, you read that right, participating chip ships all over Ireland were selling their very finest fish and chips for half price in celebration of this new event in Ireland's history.

Anyway, as usual in the Pierce household, one thing lead to another with the end result being that I made a jokey bet with Sandie, from Paper Play Challenges that I would make a card to celebrate. What a laugh?! I mean, who in their right mind would be celebrating fish & chip day - for goodness sake...

Well, for one me! I took myself off to my local Italian chippers, Macari located in Tullamore's Market Square and treated myself to the best fish and chips since New Years Davy 2009. Just in case you're wondering why I made a point of emphasising the fact that Macari's is Italian, yesterdays feast was supported by ITICA (The Irish Traditional Italian Chipper Association).

For the sum of €3.75 I enjoyed freshly cut chips and fresh cod cooked in a lovely light and crispy batter which was piping hot and absolutely delicious. In fact the whole family enjoyed an Italian-Irish dinner of fish and chips last night, DG in Luigi's, Monasterevin and the rest of the brood in Macari's at different times throughout the evening. Apparently the promotion has paid off as both outlets were superbly busy...

Later on in the evening, inspired by my full stomach and having ingested so-called brain food, I set about my task. For a while I just sat there and wondered if I should call a halt to the proceedings, after all, it was only a joke. But as time wore on and my other two cards were finished, it slowly began to dawn on me that I've at least a couple of stamp sets with an overall fishy theme running through them.

Sadly I can't recall the name of the first set, although I think it could be a Glitter Girls set for men, the large fish is from one of Anita's See D's Sets and the smaller fish and the air bubbles are from PaperTrey Ink's 'Pond Life'. The image is coloured with Pro-Markers Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Colour Box Chalk Inks, using a sponge dauber to achieve the desired effect.

I wrote the sentiment: 'Celebrate National Fish & Chip Day!' in a black Sakura gel pen, as I didn't really expect to be able to find a suitable rubber stamp at such short notice! All the card and ribbon is from The Paper Mill Shop at Junction One, in Antrim.

All in all I enjoyed the challenge. It certainly was an unusual one and I only wish that I'd have realised what day it was just a little earlier, because as usual for a Wednesday night this challenge lead to burning of the midnight oil, yet again!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my exploits as much as I enjoyed pitting my wits against what can only be described as a bizarre challenge. Suffice to say that my friends and colleagues at this morning's BNI meeting were thought it hysterical when I held my card up as an example of how to put an image together using smaller stamps in a multi-stamp image!

Polly Pierce
Vinca Cards

Polly Plays Paper Challenges

Okay, so this week after a well earned rest from exercising my fingers I have managed to squeeze in a few minutes to enter another PaperPlay Challenge 09- Week 14. To be honest, I'd love to do this every week and I do have good intentions, it's just that life has this peculiar habit of getting in the way...

PaperPlay Challenges was set up by Sandie, who also runs the Midlands Craft Club (MCC for short). I prefer to use the full title, as some of my erstwhile friends would be happy to point out that the MCC is also short for Motor Cycle Club. This may have been more appropriate during my younger days, but sadly 'the beast' is resting up, in the same position it's been in for a little over fourteen or so years!

(for more info click on the pic)

Anyway, this week's challenge is set by Elisa ... "The challenge is complementary colours, that is, to use colours that are opposite to each other in the colour wheel , such as red/green, yellow/purple, orange/blue, etc. Elisa"

Purely by chance, or maybe not, I put together a special card for my good friend George. During the deluge drumming on the roof of my studio (aka garden shed) I consoled myself with pretty butterflies, flowers and ribbons for a special lady in his life - his Mam! It just so happens that when I looked up the colour wheel, which I really should consult more often, that the yellows and blues used on this card are on opposite sides, directly "opposite each other"

My PaperPlay Challenges 09 - Wk 14 Card

Hurray! At last, I remembered to scan the card in and it meets the criteria for another challenge. Isn't it a shame I forgot all about it last week when I might have won a prize for my efforts, still, the more the merrier, eh? Regardless, there are some lovely entries for this weeks challenge and hopefully mine will fit right in...

Maybe one of these days I'll be able to call on George for his excellent services as a business coach, let's face it folks, I need some help with my time management - don't I...? Either that or a lotto win, so that I can afford to employ a house-keeper and spend all my time crafting...

Polly Pierce

Polly's Arctic Bunny Suit

OOooh! There's so much to do and so little time to do it in. Last week in the run up to the half-term break I had visions of spending long hours in the house with the two boys finally rescuing it from the quagmire of accoutrement's built up over the years. Like all good magpie's we live in the middle of a pile of clutter which we simply cannot bear to part with; perhaps this is the reason for the various members of the crow family building their nests within spitting distance of the house...

What I wouldn't give for a visit from Aggie and Kim to de-clutter and deep clean all those hidden corner's for me! Meanwhile the fantasy continues in the form of a written contract binding my eldest dear son to my side for the whole of this week; in performing his various neglected chores - without protestation - our nest will soon be ready for decorating. Once this is done we'll be out of the CHAOS phase of our lives and he'll be able to invite his friends over. Hardy, ha, ha - LOL!

CHAOS is an acronym coined by Marla Cilley - otherwise known as Fly Lady. It represents that horror of horror that all teenager's are so prone to; which is the double standard of can't be bothered + won't be bothered but want my friends over too = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome!

The news so far is poor. BB has finally completed the extra-delightful task of providing his pet ferret with a clean and warm environment for the winter; lucky thing! He was also persuaded to bring in fuel for the in the stove; LB was coerced into taking the ashes out and the result was that the fire was lit hours later than intended - at nearly 7.30pm!

Meanwhile, Mum; the intrepid Scouter was lounging on the sofa in the sitting room complaining of stomach cramps and abdominal tenderness. The kids have diagnosed appendicitis; personally I think it probably has more to do with the copious amounts of draught Guinness consumed at Ms T's hen party & Mr T's stag party on Saturday night.

That wouldn't have presented too much of a problem; except for the fact that by 1pm Sunday; I was on my way to Charleville Estate for a winter camp with the Scouts! Yes folks, it was -2C on Sunday night and we'd no running water or toilet facilities; let alone central heating or electric blankets to keep us warm...

It was about 1am when eventually my tired body decided to call it a night. My feet were warmish; so I was alright for the night! Mr B; in the adjacent tent was much the same as myself - only he took his socks off! I replaced mine with wool, angora and Lycra thermals purchased in Lidl on Thursday. In fact my whole body was swathed in fluffy bunny; I was lovely and warm - that is until I started to fall asleep...

By 4am I could tell that Ms M was awake; the rubbing noises coming from her double layered sleeping bags were a dead give-away. That was my opportunity to rustle my way quietly into the huge over sized bin liner called a survival bag; while she tip-toed out into the cold, cold field in her bare feet.

Happily my rustling had relieved one bladder and brought warmth to another pair of feet in the next tent; yes I'd also woken Mr B! As the two of them rustled their way into their respective space blankets I snacked as quietly as possible on a chocolate digestive biscuit to quell my rumbling tummy. Soon I luxuriated in a rosy glowing sensation; then sleep finally took over...

Would I do it again? The answer has to be a definite "Yes!" The kids had a great time; and yes they too were cold; although they got to snuggle into one another like kittens in a basket! It was an experience and it was fun. We'll all be better prepared for the conditions next time; ie I've already put a new four seasons sleeping bag on my list for Christmas - my existing one is as old as the hills and needs to be retired!

Next time we'll all remember to bring the magic ingredients for our supper and an extra layer of clothing for warmth; but hey we survived this camp and we'll be recovered from it by the time the kids go back to school!

Like I said, so much to do and so little time to do it! One thing I have noticed though; is that I am much tidier at home in the immediate aftermath of a camp; so much so that I was able to work at the kitchen table yesterday afternoon. Things are looking up; and even though yesterday was definitely a day for pj's and sweats, I got so much more done - just because I'd tidied the kitchen upon my return from our Arctic exploration...

I somehow doubt that my fantasy of being able to redecorate the house at the end of the half-term break will be realised. The week is already half gone; the rest of it filled with social engagements galore including breakfast BNI meetings; overnight ghost hunting at Charleville Castle on Halloween followed by a 50th birthday party...

At least the kitchen is tidier and my 'Appendicitis' symptoms should by well on the way to recovery by then; just in time for the next round!Meanwhile; we continue to live in a state of organised CHAOS. I continue to build my empire from the kitchen table and fantasize about paying someone to come in and do the rest for me!

Anyway, that's a quick overview of the past week from your favourite card making Scouter! I've got to go and ring Martin and confirm my participation in Friday's adventure now; wish us luck...

Polly Pierce
Hand-Made Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationary

Polly BNI

Members of the Irish Business Women's Forum may be aware that I was recently invited to attend a meeting of the newly formed Offaly Chapter of Business Network International (more commonly known as BNI).

Of course being both curious and cynical I went along to the meeting. I'd done a little bit of research, ie Googled BNI; but still wasn't quite sure of what it was I was going along to! The early morning wake-up call was a bit of a shock to the system. Offaly members of the Chapter get up early every Thursday morning for a meeting which commences at 06.45am...

The mere fact that I woke up before the alarm had sounded at 06.10am bode well; and by the time the members of the chapter had started their meeting, I was washed, brushed and dressed. With eyes bright and an open mind I approached the meeting in much the same way I'd gone to the famous Bridal & Debs Exhibition the other week. I had little to loose, apart from a couple of hours sleep that is; and oh so much to gain.

For starters I met a girl I'd been friendly with as a young teenager in the village of Geashill. My fondest memories comprise of the two of us dancing to John Travolta and Olivia Newtronn-Bomb in a spare room above her aunts public house. Of course our energy flagged and we abandoned the black vinyl disc in search of rest and probably a coke or two! The following day the sunlight buckled the disc out of all recognition, resulting in a somewhat bumpier ride for our two hero's...

I know that my friend, with whom I'd lost contact many years ago; had pursued similar career interests to myself and took comfort from her enthusiasm and her firm handshake. There were one or two other faces which I recognized; all of which made it easier for me to integrate myself into the group comprised predominantly of men.

I even had the courage to stand up and introduce myself and my business to the meeting; for sixty seconds I took the floor while my business cards and artists trading cards circulated around the room. Phew! Sixty seconds can be a long time; but there's nothing like nursing to help you through it...

By the end of the meeting, which included a typically Irish Breakfast my only concern was the joining fees. Admittedly they are not cheap; in fact they are anything but! They do however accept Visa/Mastercard and the monthly fee can be taken by standing order...

Compared with the cost of regular advertising BNI is cheap. At a cost of €164.00 a week, I wouldn't get much change out of €2,000 per year, would I? The only problem is that it is difficult to quantify how much an investment of that type would return in terms of new business.

My investment with yourlocal.ie has proven to be an expensive mistake - after one month I haven't had a single click through as a result of advertising through them. Regarding my three month agreement; I was guaranteed business which has so far not been forthcoming, so I'm not going to worry about the other two months of the trial. There's no point in throwing good money after bad...

So; with regard to BNI, where do I stand? I'm sold on the principal; but I am very concerned about the cost involved. Also, the annual fee is non-returnable! Can I really expect a middle aged concrete pre-cast manufacturer to promote my handmade wedding stationary to his customer's? Well, maybe I can - afterall; he does run a golf club too!!!!

I do have the opportunity to visit one other meeting before committing myself. I wonder though, if I will be able to get up so early next Thursday? No doubt you'll find out later in the week; whether or not I did!!!

Polly Pierce
Vinca Hand Made Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationary