I’ve been hacked. If you happen to visit me this week things will look a bit messy as I rebuild and use the opportunity to have a small facelift. Regular posting will resume once I’ve fixed this mess!
Hacked!
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Hacked!
Things are a little messy on both my blogs at present. I was hacked and my anti virus went crazy whenever I visited my own sites. Boo!
I’m taking the opportunity to install new themes on both of the sites and perform a mini-makeover. Things could look messy for a few days yet!
The last week appears to have had a de-cluttering theme going; my first task was to relocate the big box (120cm x 80cm) that houses the Christmas tree into my craft room. Once I relocated it, it became apparent that there just wasn’t enough room for everything I have in here. A few painful days of sorting and throwing out were to follow. I sent 10 bags of various things ranging from leather jackets to stuffed toys down to the local charity bin and now I have room in here for all the things I want to keep. It’s still cluttered, but it’s much, much better.
Lesson leaned? Don’t accumulate things you don’t really love or need as they take on a life of their own and disguise themselves as sentimental items that zap the life force out of you.
The next task began on Tuesday morning when my computer acquired a virus. It took nearly two days to get rid of it and restore everything back to how it was.
Lesson learned? If your virus scan tells you it’s outdated and they no longer support it, upgrade to the new version or find something else right away. I was running the expired version for a couple of weeks and paid the price. In case you’re curious, I now have Eset’s NOD32 5.x. I’m liking it more than the previous version and it doesn’t drain my computer memory like other one’s I’ve trialed have.
The final task is the afore mentioned blog hijacking. The main lesson learned from this is that I don’t really know enough about web security to ensure that my site is hack proof. Installing a new wordpress theme that is regularly updated should help with this. I think?
Woe is me!
Not entirely.
I’ve spoken over the last few weeks of two little dreams of mine; selling kiddy things I”m working on and selling Christmas Kits. The former is coming along nicely and I’m confident I will have something on my little shop in time for the new year. The latter- not so.
Last night I turned to my husband and said ‘guess what happens in a month?’
He had no idea and I excitedly replied ‘the tree goes up!’. Then I panicked. How has December got so close? How will I fulfill my dream to sell Christmas kits? I have handmade presents to make for family to make, I’m participating in a Christmas swap, I’ve got a demanding 5 month old, I’m addicted to the internet!
Rather than let the stress get to me, I’ve come to the conclusion that this year I probably can’t. By the time I perfect the kits and get them out there it won’t leave much time for people to then use them to make their own decorations in time for Christmas (optimistic that I’ll sell some aren’t I?!)
What I can do is make some extra decorations and things when making ones for the family and myself and pop those in the store and see how they go. It’s a good opportunity to see how my designs actually turn out and to see if anyone actually wants them before I get carried away. Everyone starts somewhere and this year smaller is better! If I don’t sell any then I know not to focus on that next year.
And here’s something to ponder – why is it than whenever you think you’ve found something that ‘not everyone’ is doing after scouring Etsy and the like, the very thing you were thinking of appears on one of the ‘big, popular’ blogs or in a magazine! Fortunately the one I’ve just seen doesn’t look much like mine, but still!
A wrap up and a dragon fly
I neglected to wrap-up Blogtoberfest on the 31st. A cranky baby got the better of me and that was the end of that. I had said pretty much all I wanted to on Sunday’s post though. So there goes another October.
I had a mild panic about it being November already last night. It’s more relevant to crafting though so I’ll post about it there.
What is relevant here on Renvironement is this gorgeous dragon fly adorning my climbing rose. He was a very lucky dragon fly; I was snipping away deheading roses and spotted him just as I was about to snip him in half thinking he was a dead stem! I’d never have forgiven myself; such beautiful insects.
Blogtoberfest
It’s time to say goodbye to another year of Blogtoberfest.
Did I post everyday? No
Did I create my own personal best? Yes!
15 posts all up is definitely my best effort. Combine that with the posts on Renvironment and I’ve achieved more than 31.
A big thanks to tinnie girl for hosting!
I’m hastily typing this on my phone to get it posted before it becomes the first. I’ll pretty it up tomorrow!
Handmade Kris Kringle
I love a good handmade Christmas swap and I’ve just signed up to Jodie of the Haby Goddess’ red and white themed swap. Red and white Christmas decs? My favourite!
You can sign up too, but get in quick- it closes today.
Thanks Jodie!
{Blogtoberfest Day Thirty-one} Post 14 (uh-oh!)
I’m participating in Blogtoberfest. Click here for more information.
Universal Craft Blog Directory
Rie from Crafty Rie has created a linky on her blog to capture as many craft blogs as possible so you’ll never be short of new blogs to explore.
To visit the list and add your own link, click on the image below.
Thanks Rie!
{Blogtoberfest Day Thirty-one} Post 13 (uh-oh!)
I’m participating in Blogtoberfest. Click here for more information.
She fell behind…
I was quite pleased with my efforts for Blogtoberfest on this blog; I had kept up, and the content was relevant to my blog’s themes. Somehow despite having a whole week of posts planned, life got in the way and I fell behind. I feel a little disappointed, however I have managed to post many more posts than last year and when I combine this years’ total posts with those one The Red Wren, I have posted more than 31 which is a big achievement for me!
When things don’t go entirely as planned I like to use them as a learning experience. The biggest thing I learned from this years’ Blogtoberfest is that I need to plan what I’m going to post. I can’t just sit at the computer at 8pm and come up with a relevant post. I read on a blog recently that the author uses a calendar to plan out what they’re going to post each week. I think this is a great idea and I’m going to do something similar. I have folders on my computer called ‘to blog’ which is were all photos that will appear on the blog go once they are edited, but I need more than this – I need something hard copy to jot ideas down on as they come to me. Soooo… Blogtoberfest isn’t over and before tomorrow I’m going to design a printable blogging calendar.
Stay tuned!
ETA: I just stumbled on this great post by Indie Pretty Projects that lists some cute blogging calendars. I think I’ll try out one of these!
{Blogtoberfest Day Thirty} Post 21
I’m participating in Blogtoberfest. Click here for more information.
H-H-Housewarming!
We were invited to a ‘H’ themed housewarming which was on last night. I love making costumes and seized the opportunity to make costumes for all three of us.
Details;
Col aka Harry Potter on his way to play Quidditch. The robe is made from crushed velvet which has to be one of the worst fabrics on the world to sew. I used to make a lot of crushed velvet skirts back in my uni days; what was I thinking?
Me aka a Hogwart’s Student (Ginny, but I had to get around the H-theme somehow!) I’m in a crushed velvet robe, and a scarf made from sewing felt end on end. The hat was purchased.
Elijah aka Hedwig. His costume was the most satisfying. I used a romper and sewed layers of felt ‘feathers’ to it. The head piece is a bonnet with the face at front and more felt feathers on the back. If I were to make the costume again I’d rethink the yellow beak and go with grey as once we put the yellow pants on to keep him warmer he did look a bit like a chicken (I’d go with white pants too).
The badges are just images printed onto cardstock and glues to brooch backs. My hat and the wands were from Spotlight.
All in all I was very pleased with the result and the party itself was lots of fun.
{Blogtoberfest Day Thirty} Post 12 (uh-oh!)
I’m participating in Blogtoberfest. Click here for more information.
Rose
I’m a bit of a fan of iPhone camera apps. In fact next week I’m going to be sharing my favourites with you. For today though I’ll just leave you with a photo taken on Friday evening of a rose. Not the world’s best photo but I really like the contrast.
{Blogtoberfest Day Twenty- Two} Post 20
I’m participating in Blogtoberfest. Click here for more information.