Tartanink's Thinks

New Business

tartanink — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:48:37 +0000

Okay – here we go with a new ‘embryonic’ business.

Check out my new site www.kaixe.co.uk for all your mini-cupcake and other mini bakes / children’s parties and corporate events needs.

Enormous and over sized cakes and bakes are out – the new thing is mini where you can chose more than one flavour and not feel bad about sampling more than one!!

Email me for prices and orders.

Triffid Roots

tartanink — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:27:33 +0000

Waiting for the Trolls to appear!!!!!

Don’t forget there are more samples of my work both on: www.tartaninks.co.uk AND www.tartanink.deviantart.com

Comments and questions can either be left on here, or at tartaninks@hotmail.co.uk

Spring Tulips

tartanink — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:15:31 +0000

These were some of the flowers given to my daughter on the birth of her second son on 6th March 2011.

NOTE – I have just completed putting a selection of photographs on my website www.tartaninks.co.uk

I’ve still to get PayPal on so they can be bought, but if you have a visit and feel like leaving a comment then please do so.

Thanks

Bee-fore Spring

tartanink — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:51:09 +0000

The first of my new postings of photographs

Spring is on its way ....

What Camera?

tartanink — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:02:04 +0000

At the moment I am a bit addicted to a website where I can display my photography. You can find me here: www.tartanink.deviantart.com and you’ll also find I’ve asked the same question there as I am here.
The thing is, it’s about time I got a new camera – I have to add, this won’t happen for a while due to £££ restrictions, but I’m laying the ground.

The problem is … what to get????
The camera I have is well over five years old now. It’s a Sony Cyber-shot with 7.2mp – the most mp I could get at the time without going into mega-money. But things have moved on and mobile phones even have more pixel capacity on their camera facilities now than this
Way back, when I had an ordinary SLR, I had a Canon, which I was happy with. But I also do wonder what a Nikon would be like – I’m swithering between the two to be honest and haven’t yet done near enough research into which I think I’d like. And to be honest, I’m a bit worried about understanding all the uber-technical stuff. On the DevArt site I have had lots of helpful information, but it’s always good to have more.
I am open to hear the pros and cons about not just Canon and Nikon but all of them to be honest. It’s a costly thing to get wrong. I did at one point hope that my old lenses would fit, but a reply and subsequent investigation has put paid to that I am afraid.
So there we have it. As I say, I’m sure there’s plenty of time to put them all on trial, so your comments will be welcomed and taken on board. I’m sure there are plenty who swear by one brand or the other but it’ll be interesting to weigh them all up.
Thanks

It’s Been So Long

tartanink — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:20:17 +0000

It’s been so long (as the title says) since I wrote on this blog that I feel I need to hang my head in shame. I probably need to revamp the idea of it, or the reason behind it, and look at what I want it to do. For now, I’m going to use it as a bit of a promotional tool.

I’ve been busy putting a website together for my husband, who is a decorator. There’s information on it as well as just the usual, what he does and contact details, so feel free to have a look. Also, we’re starting to sell products from the Dumfries and Galloway area as either one off pieces or at least products made in the region. We’re only in the embryonic stages of the retail side but if you have a look, please bookmark us if it looks interesting and come back because there will be more very soon.

www.scottishdecorator.co.uk

Does the Flag Counter Work?

tartanink — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:51:17 +0000

Just tried to add a flag counter, but don’t know how this works. It seems to have come up as a post to the site, but it would have been better in the sidebar with the widgets somewhere. I’m not very good at these ‘technical’ things. They look good on other people’s sites, but I suspect they know what they’re doing.

Have disregarded this blog in a long time. Should really get back on it and update stuff. In the meantime – if you have a flagcounter or any other interesting device and would like to share it (ie let me know how they work) I’d be happy to hear about it.

ps – just noticed after posting this that a US flag had been added - thanks American person for having a look. This could be an interesting feature now - but I still want it on the side grrrr

tartanink — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:44:42 +0000

Selling

tartanink — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:48:29 +0000

I’ve just added a link on here to Etsy, where I’ve started to list some things that have been handmade by me. There are two decoupaged canvasses and one other done on watercolour paper. The canvasses can be hung directly, but the one on the watercolour paper has been left so the buyer can chose their own frame.

More things will be added onto Etsy as I get the hang of it, so if you’re interested, ‘Fav’ it and come back.

http://www.tartanink.etsy.com

The Right Clothes

tartanink — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:51:45 +0000

Remember those competitions in girls’ magazines where you had to match the clothes to the event:

What would Cynthia wear to a Sunday picnic with her boyfriend? A family wedding? A day out with her best friend? A walk along the beach? Put them in the correct order – A, B, C, D

Well it seemed like I was that competition, except it wasn’t the winning entry.

Take my recent holiday in Cornwall. The first mistake I made was when it was decided we would to go to Trevaskis Farm. http://www.trevaskisfarm.co.uk/

I had heard mention of Pick Your Own (known to those in-the-know, as PYO) but it was somewhere in the back of my mind when we left the house. I thought we were just going to the Farm Shop for a look around; where we’d spend too much money on preserves and then go to the restaurant for coffee and/or lunch.

NOT go picking.

So, I left the house dressed for a day out, which included a Monsoon skirt and black suede boots.

It had been raining.

It didn’t take long to realise that we werein fact doing a PYO. Punnets were produced from the shop and we set off in the direction of the pigs and their piglets (photo here is from a day later in the week when we returned)

It was wet underfoot … very wet.

My boots, and therefore, my feet, were soaked.

At the end of the pigs all I could see was a muddy track. I headed to the poly tunnels to pick some raspberries. It wasn’t much better. It was muggy inside and the fruit didn’t seem that great. But that might just have been my mood. Picture proves this – (again, taken when we went back)

The whole day had taken a downturn, simply because I didn’t have the right clothes. I was Cynthia, dressed in the wrong get up.

A few days later, we went back and despite it having been dry and sunny, therefore drier underfoot, I decided on leggings, big socks and walking boots. I was ready this time, and enjoyed it much better. The clothes maketh the man (or woman). The only problem is – and no one tells you this – once you start picking, you get carried away. So, be ready to faint at the checkout.

The next issue was the beach. I was still Cynthia in the wrong clothes. And once again, I turned up in a good skirt.

I was taking pictures of family members surfing, so first, took off my sandals (Birkenstock lookie-likies) and paddled in at the edge. Then I got over ambitious and began to get a bit closer to the action - I wanted to get some descent pictures. Well, as we know, waves are unpredictable, and before I know it the skirt, despite being bunched up, is soaked. Yet again – not the right clothes.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that whether it’s climbing up sand dunes, walking over rocks or picking fruit and veg., it’s best to be casual and not dress up. It’s just as important as having the right footwear (or no footwear). I don’t even want to start on all the occasions when that particular problem’s been my downfall.

So, what would Cynthia wear on holiday? …

Answers on a postcard.