WOYWW 794

I must point out that some of you did not get the picture correct about the Leigh Show last week.  It was not the fault of the organiser of the show - it was the management of the whole Arena.  This show happens three times a year at more or less the same time and each year is pre-booked for the full year.  Looks as if the Arena big wigs just got greedy and took more bookings from other organisations but the little craft fair got the brunt of it all as there was so many parking spaces taken with other events setting their stalls up.  Really naughty but I expect they got a roasting from the show's organiser.  I know him well.

Anyway, you came to see my desk.  Hae been busy but don't want to show you as yet what I have been doing.  Trying to follow a very fast demonstration on You Tube which has taken most of my stamping time up.  Here's my desk as it stands:

The book on the left is a Pig Pig one that I am using at the moment as my journal for Thursdays postings.  I covered the front, years ago, with die cut shapes and then went over the top with crumpled aluminium foil and darkened it in the creases with shoe polish.  Something I used to do with my Girl Guides years ago.  The clear boxes have my Lavinia stamps in and the A4 box has things I am currently working on inside.  The white top is a bottle of masking fluid and the orange tin is what I keep my butterflies in and the yellow one has my bees in it.  The other one has tiny numbers in.

We have had some lovely weather, up north even, and that has meant lots of lovely days out resulting in not a lot of stamping being done.  Sunday saw us in Heysham, a lovely little Lancashire village by the sea.  We walked along the promenade and this time took a different route back which took us past these delightful little horses 

There were 15 in total in the field

I never realised that there were links with Turner until I saw this display by the car park - he is best known for his landscapes and seascapes.

and here is the Rectors house where he used to stay

It really is a pretty village and there is evidence of a great community feel with lots of the houses boasting beautiful floral displays.  They won an award for Britain in Bloom last year (yet again as they have won several times in the past) and I am sure they will do well this year too.  I'll put some more photos up tomorrow.

See you over at Sarah's for the time being - now I must get on with some crafting - and get my journal post ready for tomorrow.

WOYWW 788

 It's Wednesday again, another wet day yesterday here in the north, but two glorious days before.  Why does it change so much and so quickly.  In fact yesterday it looked like the middle of winter, the trees in the garden were blowing like mad and it was absolutely pouring down - and we were off to a funeral in south Manchester.  What a journey!  But I won't bore you with that.  Instead I will show you some photos from Ruthin, well Lavinia to be exact.  What a fabulous shop it is.  Have I shown you before?  Hope not  - so for those who have never been.

The first photo is to show you the ceiling,  It hangs with all mystical foliage and things creating a magical atmosphere.  You can just see one of the demo's through the door

The second and third photos show you some of the wonderful home decor you can buy in that part of the shop.  Isn't it beautiful?

Well, I didn't buy anything from here, spent up in the craft side of the shop.  No, I did not buy the entire new collection - bought a fair bit of it but there were other things that I really wanted and had to buy.  Silly old me forgot to take a photo of my stash but I was so eager to put it al away and catalogue it that I just got stuck in.

As you can see on my desk I bought the bumble bees.  They are truly adorable.  They come as a mini colony or two on their own, "Bumble and Hum"!  I just had to start stamping some and cutting them out to put in a tin as I know I will be adding these to many things in the future.  Instead of a butterfly covering an error it will probably be a bee.

Sadly I have not finished all my books I promised you on WOYWW ages ago.  Four are completely finished but the final one (and my favourite) is taking a while to dry where I stamped on Designer Paper.  Surely next week I will have them done and on video.  So my desk, and my bees plus a couple of the new stamps

Have a Good Week!

WOYWW 753

 Another Wednesday and now we are into November and that means Christmas is on the horizon.  I hope most of you are a step nearer than I am.  Oh, I did do the Christmas cake last week and you saw I had made a start on my Christmas cards - done a few more since then but mostly in the same design.  Bought a few stocking fillers (chocolates) for my other half in the hope that he will have forgotten all about them by Christmas time as he was with me when I bought them.

We are away at the moment, home later today as I need to source a consultant.  Got a cutaneous horn on my right cheek and the nhs appointment has come through for the 3rd May next year - can't live like this until then so dipping into my savings.  Read the bios of the consultants at our local private hospital but still no idea which to choose.  Do I go off who looks the kindest?  The one who looks to be softest with me?  The one with most letters behind his name?  Help!!!!  I'll let you know how I go on.

So my desk this week has to be either the dining table or the coffee table.  Then there are some things on the dressing table in the bedroom and, of course ... I have filled one bed in the spare room with crafting goodies.  Here is the coffee table with my stash of what I seem to be using:

Left to right back row - stamps, dotty bag with pens in, tissues, glue, Stickles, waterpot, ink pad.  Next row cutter, towel on top (for wiping stamps) more stamps in boxes, pens, Inktense pencils, scrap paper on a foam mat.  In the fruit bowl I have balanced my stencil brush and my ink pad.

Nothing on the dining table as we will be eating shortly but on the mantle-piece are my cards to date.  The ones from last week have grown in number to eight

I must have done the owl ones earlier and I have lots of hats aif I want to do more.   But now am doing some longer ones similar to last weeks. The two on the right are just the images waiting to be finished and dressed before they go on to a card base.  I don't know what to do about the tree at the back?  Do I add colour to it or just leave it?  It does have coloured baubles on it.

Thursday we went to Sizergh to see the trees in their autumnal dresses and found we were too late for the Acers.  Most had dropped all of their leaves.  However it was a lovely day out as always.

Just look at all the different coloured leaves on that one tree.  Shame that red barrier was there and I cannot photoshop it out ) 'cos I don't know how to).

On Saturday I went to a workshop with my lovely friend from Ulverston.  We made a pretty and useful  birthday book but it isn't finished yet as I want to do a lot more to it but Christmas is encroaching on my time.  I hope to show it to you later.  Maybe after Christmas (lol) just in time for the new year to start off with a list of birthdays.

Will leave it there for this week.  Now to see what Ms Julia has been up to and see what the other members of the WOYWW Gang have been doing.

WOYWW 734

Back to a Wednesday with Ms Julia and the WOYWWers to look at desks.  Sorry but nothing good to see on my desk again.  But there is a little bit of something to see.  I have been spraying bits of card for a project I am going to do next month.

and my table

I am hoping to have some birthday cards for you to see next week.  Nothing on the above project as that won't happen until mid August.  I did go away for a few days last week and enjoyed sitting in the sunshine - and guess what - we went to a Kite Festival on Saturday.

Here are a few photos of the larger kites

I was sorely tempted to buy a kite but they were quite expensive and dh kept saying "when will you use it?" so I took it to mean "I won't be flying it with you" and so I never bought one.  That's it for this week, see you next week and hopefully (again I am saying that word) I will have something to show you that I have done craftwise.  I might even make a kite!

WOYWW 697

 We are creeping nearer and nearer to that 700th edition of WOYWW.  We may have shrunk a little in numbers but it is one of the best ways I know of making friends who really do care about one another.  Why don't you join us and show us your desk - no need to be embarrassed if it is a mess, the messier the better.

My little table today shows what I have been up to.  A workshop with Jo Rice and Lavinia stamps was enjoyed by me and others via the internet on Sunday.  I was not 100% happy with my finished product and so I am in the throes of doing another one.  It will be an MDF piece which will stand on a radiator shelf when completed.  At the moment it is in my new Black Journal (which I have had for years and not used - this is now my first page).

This is my desk

and my counter behind me

This last photo shows how I work when I am doing a workshop.  I have all the things I need (or think I need) set out on the counter behind me and a clear(ish) table to work on in front of me.  Here you can see the MDF board, bottom left, that the card is going to be stuck on when completed.  I just hope my next one is good enough to go on the board - I will show you another time.

It shows how much I enjoyed this workshop as I want to do it again but at my own pace.  Not that Jo went too fast or anything but I can spend more time practising the little things that I want, like getting the blending right.  I am fairly new to Lavinia type stamping and love to see what others can do and I want to do "everything" so with a teacher like Jo it is possible.  I just cannot get enough of the Lavinia workshops at the moment and I watch them on You Tube whenever possible.

We were at the caravan last week and it was a complete wash out.  Talk about rain - and one night the winds were a bit scary, especially as we are surrounded on two sides by woodland.  So I got my calendar finished that was a class at Vicky Stampers with Jo Rice - but more of that another week, there's 12 pages.  In the meantime here are a couple of photos from Sizergh Castle the time before when we were there - see it can be sunny.

\

WOYWW 696

 Gosh next month WOYWW'ers will reach 700 posts - well some will, I joined in the early days but not the first posting.  Last Saturday we met up, not all of us but some, and it was lovely to see one another after so long (Pandemic stopped us) but it seemed as if it was yesterday we had been with the sisters and Julia who did the organising.  It was a lovely day and we had a toast to past members, in particular to our Shaz who had touched everyone's lives in so many ways.  Must mention that we did miss Lunch Lady Jan who was busy in Edinburgh celebrating with her husband, Gordon, their Ruby Wedding Anniversary. 

I sat with Cindy who I was meeting in person for the first time, and I got on with my Wonky Book.  I had it cut out ready so just had to decorate it, and chose to do so with some of my Janet Klein figures.  The background was done simply with some of Abs' stencils and I still have to put some stamping on, despite having already stuck the figures on.  I decorated the cover when I got home as I had not done the cut outs previously - here it is and one of the pages:

Monday we went out for the day as we wanted to pick something up from the Lakeland Store and decided to go for a little walk along the edge of the lake.  We came across two tree stumps that people had been putting coins into and it led us to a lovely little 'beach' area.

We both agreed we would come back here in the summer and maybe bring a little picnic with us.  What's the betting there are lots of others with the same thoughts.  So glad we didn't leave it until yesterday as it was so wet and windy - the perfect day for staying in.  Showery again this morning.

As it is so wet and cool I think it is a perfect day to carry on with some crafting.  So I weill leave it there and get on, perhaps a bit of Lavinia and some fairies.

WOYWW 692

Don't know what your weather has been like but it has been a little mixed up north with some lovely warm sunny days followed by wet ones and then sunshine again.  It's a bit hit and miss at deciding what to wear so I am getting as much wear as I can from my summer wardrobe at the moment before it gets packed away again  There's a definite autumnal feel about the early mornings though.  Thankfully the leaves are not dropping around us but it won't be long now before they are.

My desk, again, is a packed up one and went from this

To this in no time at all when I wanted to serve dinner.

I've been playing with my Lavinia stamps.  Being new to them I need lot of playtime in order to get some kind of pictures like those who use them regularly can do.  I think it is going to take a while.  I did, however make this little Thinchie book with Jo  Rice recently.

The two images not stuck down are for the front and back.  The one on the left was using Brusho's and the one on the right was watercolouring.  Both were still drying out when I took the photo.

On Monday we had a little trip out.  Unfortunately my Rollator got damaged because someone who shall be nameless took it down some steps for me, came back to help me down (the handrail was very rickety) but did not put the brake on my Rollator.  Suddenly it started moving towards the edge of the prom and fell down about 8' onto a stony beach (stones not pebbles).  It still works but no longer will it fold down nicely to fit in the car.  When we got back he checked to see how much it would cost to replace - £497 - OUCH!  I think I will try to get it fixed.

Anyway, we visited the little church on the headland, so beautiful and with a lovely man looking after it and then walked back through the village to the car.  On the way back I saw these little pigs (they are sitting on the wall)

and this huge plaque in the heart of the village

This is a beachside cafe - unfortunately it was not open but Alice fans might like to see it exists

and one of the many carefully tended gardens by the roadside which had this birdbox and plaques

I now wish I had taken some photos of the beautiful cottage gardens.  As it was such a lovely day most of them had their doors open and to do so would have felt like I was intruding so I didn't but they were so picturesque I guess they are used to being photographed.  Maybe next time ... with a new Rollator (only kidding).

So has anyone any idea of where I was?  The large plaque is entitled "The Spirit of XXX" so someone might know.

Will leave it there for this week and I just hope I can link to Julia and WOYWW as the internet is not good where I am.  I have been having to comment on Art Journal Journey where I am guest host for the month each day and so I have been up at 6 in a morning in order to get a signal.  Maybe I will be lucky this morning and able to link in to you all.  Should I not get to visit you for a day or so don't worry, I will be there as I should be home shortly.

Toodle Pip!

For those who knew Jo (Pritchard) her youngest daughter Claire, has been in touch and we have renewed our friendship and I think we'll be keeping in touch in the future again.  Jo was cremated on Monday. RIP 

WOYWW 679

With the extended weekend for the Jubilee this week has gone like greased lightening and it's Woyww again.  Very little crafting has been done.  I spent towards the end of the week doing my worksheets ready for Saturday's class.  That was so boring and I still worry that I have put. in every single step along the way.  Ah well - all will be revealed on Saturday.

I did take my journal away with me this last weekend but I forgot the glue so couldn't stick my characters in.  I had taken some pages with me to practise my pencil colouring - I took the wrong pencils - I took Inktense (watercolours) instead of my Prismacolor.  So basically I did nothing much.  This was my desk last night when we got home and I just tipped everything out.

The journal is open at another page, because I had my colouring papers in at that page - they can be seen on the right underneath my general pencil case and my Inktense pencils.  The roll of paper is something I intended to cut up to make a kind of diary but never did.

We visited Sizergh again at the weekend as Chas wanted to see how the planting had progressed.  I preferred the early spring photos when the plants were not quite so prolific but it was still a worthwhile visit.  It really is well thought out and the planting changes every two years.  I especially loved the steps at the back of the house with all the lovely little daisies growing out of the various cracks in the stonework.

I can just imagine some bridal party standing on these steps.  Those flowers are so delicate and pretty (Erigeron karvinskianus or something like that).

These Lupins were gi-normous

and the Peonies, spectacular

Love how they plant flowers and the veggies together in the veggie garden

Look at this giant patch of yellow - full of bees

Last Friday saw us going to the street party (in a cul de sac).  We were collected by my friend's daughter and taken home by her husband to be.  There was lots of food in the afternoon - sandwiches, sausage rolls, pizza - a barbecue with different sausages and burgers on offer etc and the most delicious cupcakes, trifle and my fruit cake.  Later, early evening, we had jacket potatoes with my chilli, chicken curry and rice and a stew. 

Games were organised and Chas and my friend Jayne came in last in the three legged race but she and her other half were second in the 'mummifying' (wrapping in toilet roll).  The good news on the quiz was that we came in second on the Jubilee one and we won the general knowledge one.

In the early evening, when all the games were over, William, my friend's son, came out for the young ones dressed in his dinosaur costume.  It was hilarious.  One little girl went quite close to him and as soon as he moved her face was a picture and she turned tail and ran.  How I wish I had caught that on video.  It didn't happen once, it happened several times - until her twin sister showed her there was nothing to be frightened of and then she joined in with the others punching him and trying to catch his tail.

It was a really good day out thanks to Jayne and her family.

 

Sizergh - I fell in love with it

What a brilliant weekend I had.  We went to Sizergh Medieval Manor on Sunday.  What a lovely place to visit.  We didn't manage to do the house as my back was bad and I could not face the stairs but we watched a short film featuring Henry Hornyold-Strickland, 8th Count della Catena, which was very interesting and informative.  Well worth watching.

Afterwards we started looking at the gardens and I was surprised just how beautiful they are.  Quite impressive and, to my mind, one of the nicest gardens I have seen.  The Head Gardener is female, Susan Rowley, and what a fabulous job she has made of the planning of the gardens.  I could have spent all day just wandering about and looking at the names of all the plants in the various gardens.

We started off in the Stumpery - and I just loved it.  The planting was done around various stumps of trees and gave a lovely backcloth to the many plants and their foliage.  I thought this was going to be my favourite part of the gardens and had to have a photo of me besides one of the sections.

I just love how they have used these tree stumps and built the beds around them - I have a fascination with wooden pieces whether raw or finished in some way.

From there we went to the herbaceous border and on to the kitchen garden.  I could kick myself for not taking a photograph of the ingenious way they have built the fencing from cherry blossom.  It looks so pretty - maybe we will go again shortly!

Despite loving the Stumpery I fell in love with the Rock Garden.  I cannot describe it and can only say it is well worth a visit.  Despite the meandering pathways and little bridges I just had to wander around and soak up the beauty of this place.   I just loved this view and as I walked towards it a guy with a telephoto lens came towards me and said "Fantastic".  He too, just loved the view before us.

this is by the water in the rock garden

So striking from a distance

The Mirror Lake

Back of the Manor

They ask you not to roll (roly poly) down the banking (above) as it is home to solitary bees and other insects so they don't want you squashing them.

From there we went to look at this topiary and we were treated to a lovely song by a solitary bird sitting on top of one of the pyramids.

I had to shoot into the sun for fear of disturbing it

And then it was time to return to the gift shop where I bought a delightful bud vase before we wended our way home.  A lovely day out - we will definitely be back.