OO was this really me?

I have just found two pictures of me with a perm.. as was fashionable for both men and women at the time.. The first one is in the mid seventies when I was in my early twenties.. the second was on holiday in france in the eighties..

In the first I am at home making a wig.. oh dear the cigarette packet , drink and full ash tray.. is rather what a lot of people think of the theatrical profession.. This was taken during an all nighter as I had to finish the wig for the following day. And in case you are wondering .. I gave up smoking many years ago and very rarely drink alcohol these days... maybe the odd glass of wine .

The second one was during my new romantic look you can't see the plait at the back as I think it is over my right shoulder.. Slave to fashion that I was !!!!!!!

Enjoy and have a good laugh LOLO

Have a good day!!!!!

Peter Xx

Tapping the blues away.. My philosophy of life Part One

Well I see from the response that a lot of people enjoyed the Tapping experience.. It's a jolly good way of keeping fit, as is most dance.

Many years ago I attended the Victor Sylvester Dance Studios. It was in a large ballroom with sprung floor, above the then Gaumont Cinema in Wimbledon, South West London. I originally went to partner my girlfriend Mary but I was too tall for her and she partenered a much shorter boy and I ended up partnering my sister as we were of similar height, although she was four years my senior.

We went every saturday for what seemed like an eternity but in practice was probably just a few short years. Lynda ( my sister) and I tripped the light fantastic through Waltz, Tango, Jive and Cha Cha Cha.. stopping off at the Foxtrot and Quickstep along the way.

I think that fired my long term romance with dance and because of my theatrical background eventually my twenty one years with the Royal National Theatre.

I have, on numerous occassions been accused of being a bit of a Drama Queen, maybe I am, I have enjoyed the theatrical and over the top people I have met in my life.. The nightclub scene in London and in many of the world's capitals.

My life's tapestry has been rich indeed.. I have been extemely lucky to have had an occupation many could only dream of. Regrets? I could lie and say I haven't any, of course I have.. the missed opportunities, .. It came to an end all too soon, and I do miss it tremendously.. but I'm lucky, I lived my dream.

I now have a partner , and we have been together for 26 happy years, and have so many memories to cherish and a scrapbook I was given at my leaving party, of so many phases in my career.

The motto to this post, I guess, is never look back longingly, the past is past, appreciate what you have achieved and look to the future, you never know what waits around the corner. Always see the good and don't dwell on the bad, When one door closes another opens go through it and keep going, so many lives are wasted with regrets, and forever looking back. Cliches, maybe, but that does not stop them being true.

So, Tap your troubles away, smile and be happy.. It makes life so much more worth living...

Love ya..Peter XX

The Medieval Craft of Tassel Making

The Tassels I made at the recent Medieval Craft Day in Camelford celebrating 750 years of their Royal Charter .

I arrived early for the afternoon felt making session and was invited to join in the tassel making session as there were a few spare spaces.

I have to say once you get the hang they really are quite easy. Some of the processes are very similar to those used in wig making.

I was quite impressed with the results.

Some felt I made

These are the samples of felt I made at the same Medieval Craft day in Camelford .

The rear one was the first to be made just plain orange felt to learn the technique .


The front one depicts a landscape with sky, clouds, hills and a river running through fields.

I had a wonderful time making these and can't wait to give it a go when I have the materials.

I thought this technique might come in handy should I venture into millinery as felt is one of the materials which can be used.

Experimental Candles

These candles are experiments to see how photographs and dowloads work when printed onto tissue paper and used to decorate candles. The rear ones are of Mullion Cove and the front one is the flag of St Pirin's.. The latter Ric thinks looks a bit funerial I agree but those are the colours and when I tried more colour for the wording it looked odd.. Not sure where they will end up but the experiment worked anyhow..

My first Side Step and Trifold cards

I have just finished this card for Saraya's 3rd Birthday, later this month, I think it looks quite feminine and pretty.. The template design was adapted from a template sent to me by Edie from DC, for which I thank her. Images are freebies from Cuddly Buddly website. No 3 cut on my Impress and various peeloffs to embelish.

This card I made for Mason ( Saraya's brother) for his 1st birthday a few weeks ago. Again a template sent to me by a DCer. Images were sent by my friends on the DC forum and the wording done in WordArt using Jokerman font. The main image being pyramaged using 3D cardbuilder. A very striking and somewhat colourful card.. not my usual, but I think it works....

Promarkers and Trias from Caz (Foxcraft)

From next week our very own Caz ( DC Foxcraft ) will be selling Promarkers and Trias from her website along with her designer stamps Paddy and Poppy ( original concept and drawings by her father).. Cards and printed images of her stamps. Take a look the link is on my sidebar . LOL I did!!..Peter XX

What's in a name .....Peter

You Are Charming and Eloquent

You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people. Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Once an Knight always a Knight, and once a night is enough LOL

Verily I am truely honoured to be the first owner of this stamp by Caz (DC Foxcraft) I hope I have done it justice. See her stamps, prints and cards on http://www.foxcraft-cards.co.uk/

My Awards from Jennie

I have been given this award by Jennie for which I am greatful and shall be passing it on to my blogger friends... Peter XX

The Memoirs of a ......

I keep being asked why I don't write a book of my memories of life in the Theatre. Up to now I have only thought about it until someone said they would help me to set the wheel in motion, and possibly act as my PA. I'm still not sure if it would be feasable as to sell I would have to name and shame as it were which could cause endless legal complications although everything I would be writing would be true.. I have for many years said I would not reveal names, just anecdotes..

Do you think it's agood or bad idea?.. would you buy it? What should I call it?

I'm looking for realistic suggestions for a title bearing in mind the subject matter.. Any ideas.Maybe funny or serious what would you call it?

Because I have such a wicked sense of humour and am always playing the fool it was suggested it be called 'Memoirs of a Court Jester' but I'm not convinced....

The card I made for 'H' on her birthday yesterday..Happy Belated Birthday Hazel

My Ex-boss' 60th Birthday Card

This is the card I made for my former Boss at the National Theatre. I used an image of a 'Gibson Girl'from a hairdressing reference book and printed it in sepia a full description can be found in my Gallery on the Docrafts website.

http://www.docrafts.co.uk/community/gallery/item.aspx?item=3063709

Thank you for looking at my Blog....Peter XX

My first hat made entirely by hand

I went on my first two day Millinery Beginners Course last May , during which I completed my first hat in Sinamay, seen here modelled by my mother. The whole hat including the decoration, was completed entirely by hand.

It is my intention someday to become a milliner and start my own business making hand made bespoke hats for special occassions. ie Weddings and the such. I am also interested in making Fascinators as they seem to be very fashionable at the moment.

I am at the moment looking into going on another course to further my knowledge of hat making using other materials such as straw and felt as I feel this will appeal to a wider variety of customers.

The many faces of me

Just a few pics of me and my family ..The first is my leaving Party at the Royal National Theatre where I was Deputy Wig and Makeup Master for 21 years, Next is me in my early twenties with nephew Mark and niece Samantha, With my brother 20, sister 18 and me 14, Me with mum on holiday in the 60's and with dad ( who died nearly 3 years ago) on the same holiday, and then me with a new hairdo effectionaltely known as the sausage roll.. don't you just love mothers humour..LOL

A few pics from my DC gallery

Foiling Wands and Fusers

I have over a period of time been asked about the sentiments I have on my cards, as they have been foiled.

I have four ways of doing this which I shall try to explain

The first way is using foiling glue which you can buy in many craft shops. It comes in tubes and you use it as you would ordinary glue except that it goes on blue and dries white. when the glue has turned white you then place the foil over dull side down and gently rub with your finger . The glue adheres to the foil and when you remove the foil sheet the foil is left behind where the glue was.

The second way is by using a foil pen which uses batteries and has a tip which gets hot. When the tip is hot you place the foil again dull side down and write , doodle or whatever over the foil with the tip of the pen. The heat fuses the foil to the card/paper. This is useful for wording and freehand drawing.

The third way is with the foiling wand. It looks rather like a soldering iron and has a flat end which is covered in silicone. with this you also get a metal stand and a silicone sheet. Firstly you print your design on paper or card but this has to be done on either a mono laser printer or a photocopier, the reason being that they both use a powder for the print. When you have your design lay it on the silicone sheet, print side up, and lay the foil dull side down over the printed image. When the wand has reached the temperature it is very hot so you must be careful how you handle it. Slowly and with even pressure guide the wand over the printed design for a few minutes, this process cannot be hurried, when the indentation of the design shows through the foil replace the wand on the stand and gently remove the foil. The laser or photocopier powder will have melted and so fused the foil onto the card or paper. Let this cool and you have a nicely foiled image.

Number four is what I call the Big Boy. It's a professional fuser, and can take up to two A4 sheets in one passing. this is ideal for larger projects and for doing foiling in volume. The fuser resembles a laminator but gets much hotter and the rollers are covered in silicone to prevent the foil from sticking to them ( I have totally destroyed a laminator trying to simulate this .. it does not work, so please do NOT try this) it is also heat adjustable according to thickness of paper/card, and is produces specifically for this purpose.

The process is similar to that of the wand in as much as you need to print your design using a laser printer or photocopier. This time you cover your design with the foil again dull side down and stick the leading edge with low tack tape you then feed it through the fuser and peel the foil off as with all the others when it has cooled down.

Obviously this is only a quick guide to foiling. The glue being the cheapest alternative, the pen is around £20.00-£30.00.. The wand is £49.00 or there abouts and comes with foil and a stencil cutting attachment, silicone mat and metal stand. And then the Fuser can vary in price but is obviously the most expensive and probably only really viable if you are making cards etc as a business as it costs several hundred pounds.

The Link to Tonertex can be found under Craft shops I use.

The finished piece:

This is the Art Deco card I made for Mother's day this year.

The Image was taken from @ngie's photobucket and the background was cut using a CR template from UKS. Sentiment was done on Wordart and the mat embossed with swiss dots.

Peter Xx

Well what do you know I have music

No doubt you will hear my music when you visit my Blog. The first track is Amazing by George Michael, cos I find the whole aspect of me actually getting a blog and attaching music truely Amazing. I have decided to add a few of the cards which appear in my DC gallery just for decorative value more than anything.. So here goes..

I make no apologies for the music some of which is from my professional 'Dancing' years and I am a great fan of 80's disco music for that reason. Some are rare USA imports which a DJ friend got for me and are irreplaceable but i managed to find cover versions on Playlist, others are just memory jerkers.

I hope you enjoy listening and maybe it will conjeur up the magic of yesteryear.. Peter XXX