Crafting Review - Kraftiz, S.Derbys

Kraftiz is a pearl in an oystershell.  It is a place that you may come across by accident - a craft shop within the grounds of Rosliston Forestry Centre on the road between Rosliston village, near Swadlincote, South Derbyshire and Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.

                                                                        Rosliston Village
                              
                                                       Rosliston Forestry Centre

Kraftiz is a treasure trove of delight to anyone who loves cutting and pasting, painting, stamping, decoupage, die cutting, scrapbooking etc.

I and my 'crafty' friends have been going to Kraftiz for 3 years now, three or four times a year.  We sit around the table and Julie Plummer, the owner, makes us very welcome.  She supplies refreshments and bits of coloured card, various punches, glue and tapes, in addition to the packs of card kits we purchase.  On each visit we 'oooooh' and 'ahhhh' at the decorative papers, toppers and embellishments that tumble out of our packs and at the pre-made samples of cards that Julie, or an assistant, has made.

We natter the morning away, laughing like school girls over mistakes we make, teasing one another or about our forgetful memories like "where's my scissors" when they are under our noses (well we are all of a certain age you know).

Being at Kraftiz we are like Loose Women.  We forget our ailments and any other of life's difficulties and concentrate on our creativity; you can't give headspace to worries and anxieties when you are making beautiful cards.

Depending on how quick we are feeling we make between one to six cards each in the four or five hours we are there.  Here are some we made earlier.-



When we have a lunch break some of us pop to the Forestry Centre's café and purchase lovely homemade pasties or perhaps in summer sit outside on benches watching the children on climbing frames whilst we eat ice-cream.  It is a fab place for families with many attractions see www.roslistonforestrycentre.co.uk . It is a popular place for cyclists to take a break and dog walkers can exercise and refresh their pets too.

We return to browse the Kraftiz shop's extensive stock buying craft products for any projects we are working on at home, or for a gift for a friend or simply because we can't resist a packet of coloured buttons, a new length of ribbon or a stencil, die cut or tool to aid our crafting.

Whether you are new to crafting or an expert, Julie welcomes all visitors to Kraftiz with a smile, a listening ear and a helping hand.

As an individual I give Kraftiz a 5* review but as a group we would want to award Julie a GOLD MEDAL.  Do visit if ever you are within a 10 mile radius - why not make a day of it like we do?
Use this link to see a short video of our group's visit on Saturday 9th July 2016 - http://www.facebook.com/sueflint13/videos/10155031711862729/?l=7384875074560174148
Here's the Kraftiz website so you can contact www.kraftiz.co.uk or follow Kraftiz on Facebook.

Book Review - Sunshine over Wildflower Cottage

+Kim Nash recommended Milly Johnson's novels to me and when Milly's latest one appeared on Facebook or Twitter, its delightful cover drew me to it and I ordered it from Amazon in paperback.  I began to read it over and above the ones waiting to be read piled up on a bedside table.

As always, I am a slow reader.  I like to savour the story and get to know the characters.  I like to see how different people write and form the tales they are telling.

Milly uses delightful descriptions that flavour the mind and this book, in particular, gets to the sense of smell too - often lacking or hardly noticeable in other novels I read.

It was totally intriguing, gripping and cleverly plotted.  She painted a picture so vivid that I began to read quicker and quicker towards the end.  The story portrays the weakness and strength of women, the greed of wealth and the desperation of keeping something more precious than money and status.  There was a divine way of truth, love and friendship weaved throughout which read as though it were a true story.

If you like country life, rescue pets, nice smells and interesting relationships you will love this novel.  In each chapter there is love, tragedy, suspense, power struggles, friendships and even a spiritual element of the afterlife.

Well done Milly Johnson.  I give a 5* review on Amazon.  Ps.  I loved the mop bucket.