Art Journal Journey - Bethlehem

It's the last day of 2021 and also the last day of Valerie's theme at Art Journal Journey "When one door closes another one opens".  I have only managed to do my weekly Thursday Journal page linked to the theme apart from two in a small journal - one shown yesterday and this one today.

This one uses the image bought for me by my bff after she had seen a Christmas card I had received and fallen in love with from another friend in America.  I am thinking that this is an imaginary scene of Bethlehem.   Several houses have windows showing lights coming from them and there are some doors (coloured green) so I am hoping Valerie and the moderators at AJJ will accept this as another entry.

Again it is in my small 4" x 6" journal.  I first of all coloured the page in Broken China Distress Ink and then stamped the image on a piece of cardstock, coloured it in with my Zig pens and tore it down one side.  I wanted some bright gold paper and was convinced I had some somewhere but could not find it.  However I found some text where I had embossed the edges in gold.  I just used the edges tearing close to the text so that it did not show.  For the other side I used some paper that I had printed on my Gelli Plate long long ago and tore that also.

I tried various images, Tim Holtz Paper Dolls, Stars, Flowers etc but nothing seemed to work alongside the image in the bottom right hand corner so I decided to leave it until something caught my eye at another date.  I would like to find the word "Believe" in the same lovely text that my friend used on her card - that is probably what I am searching for in my mind.

So here I am, wishing you all a Happy, Peaceful and Healthy New Year and entering this into Art Journal Journey on the last day of the year.

Jeudi Journal - Scales

'Dick and Dom had had a really good Christmas.  Lots of parties, lots of food and so many chocolates brought back by Mr Claus from various parts of the world he had travelled to on his Christmas journey.  They particularly liked the Belgian and the Swiss chocolates but in truth they enjoyed them all.

The Soiree with Mrs Claus had been wonderful.  In her husband's absence she had dressed up in her best and gathered them all around the tree singing Christmas Songs and then she had gone into a big sack that Mr Claus had left as she handed out presents to all the elves thanking them for their hard work throughout the year.

You probably don't know but the elves are divided into little groups of five and each group is responsible for one of the reindeer.  So one member has to go and clean the stable out where their particular reindeer sleeps and then they hang a stocking up.  At the Soiree they are given a gift for a reindeer as well as their own, and each group gets a new animal every year.  Dick and Dom's group had been responsible for Dancer this past year so imagine their delight when they found they were to be responsible for Rudolph this coming year.  That was a real honour bestowed upon the group who had worked hardest over the year producing the most toys.

It was now past Christmas and the two little elves were off to sing Carols before they had to return to work.  Most of the elves had spent after Christmas in their own little homes and hadn't seen one another for a few days.

"I wonder if the others have put as much weight on as we two have?" queried Dick.

"Of course they will have", replied Dom, "You know what we Elf folk are like for all the lovely Christmas Fayre we get.   We work so hard we don't know when to stop eating in the holidays.  I think you have a tea belly - at least you look like that - a tummy like a giant teapot."

"Hey!" said Dick,  "Are you getting to me about my teasmaid.  Look at yourself in the mirror, and don't forget to set your scales back 10 lbs."

And with that the two elves set off laughing into the snowy night for yet another night enjoying themselves.  Afterall it would soon be New Year's Eve and then time to get back to work in the toyshop.'

I hope to see you over at Art Journal Journey ready for another year of delightful themes for us to portray in our journals.  Thanks Valerie for this one which has made me write stories about Dick and Dom (sorry Wendy, I know they have been long), wish I could have done more pages but Christmas got in the way a bit.

So all that is left to do is wish everyone a Happy, Peaceful and Hopefully Healthier Year Ahead. 

Art Journal Journey - A Door

Over at Art Journal Journey it is coming to the end of Valerie's theme of 'When One Door Closes Another One Opens" and today I am entering a page in my new (old really as I have had it a long time but never used it) Journal.  It is a small one, around 4" x 6", and each page is of hand made paper, or it looks like it is.  It is divided into five signatures, two slim ones back and front and three thick ones in the middle.  It has a leather cover and a neat little closure.  It also has a canvas bag that it sits in but I left the bag at home (I am at the caravan in The Lakes) and just brought the Journal away with me.

I also brought a couple of images with me to the caravan and this one was of a doorway, especially for Valerie's theme

This doorway (the stamp says it is a doorway) is an image from Aall & Create which I stamped with Acorn ink.  I then used my Zig Color Pens in shades of brown and greys to colour it with a tiny bit of blue to represent sky.  I had no idea what else to do for the background but found a piece of card with Citron Distress Ink on it and some leaves stamped and coloured in with Forest Green ink plus a bit of white pen.  This conveniently was the size of the page and so here we are - my latest entry for Valerie's theme at AJJ.

Hopefully my Dylusion page will post tomorrow and I will be posting another one in my tiny journal on New Year's Eve.  So see you over at AJJ soon.

WOYWW 656

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate it, and Father Christmas was very generous to you with his gifts.  Any crafting products?  I got one polymer stamp which was the only one on my list and I think someone probably thought I had enough craft stuff and they should not add to the clutter in my room.  I did have a storage thing on my list but didn't get it, wasn't sure if I had anywhere to put it should it arrive so maybe that was not a bad thing,

Well, Christmas is over and we are awaiting New Year to come in now although there is not that much to celebrate with this damned Covid/Omicron about.  I guess those of us who are 'free' from it should celebrate that fact and be glad we are ok.  

Now I have a different desk for you

I am working in a different journal.  This is one I have had years but never used it because it is small (about 4 x 6") and now that Art Journal Journey have changed their rules and accept small journals I am starting to use it occasionally.  It will be a very mixed bag, no particular theme or anything.  It's a shame you cannot see it as it is quite an attractive book, leather bound and it has a nifty closure on the front.  There are three images, the top one is the stamp I got amongst other gifts from my bff.  

As you can see I am working on the dining room table - in the caravan.  yes, we came away for a couple of days between Christmas and the New Year.  Even though the site is not closing we are draining down for the next couple of months just in case the weather changes.  We don't want to risk burst pipes or anything.  The pens live up here and are part of my craftroom (the spare room - and one of the beds - the mattress has never been used and is piled up on the other bed.). Here is my 'craft room':

I have lots of storage boxes and each is full of various crafting materials.  Those nappy boxes are from my cake icing days and the grey curver box was a freebie from my bff not long ago.

Well, it is a beautiful day so I am not spending time inside.  The painting of those bits can wait until tonight when it goes dark and then it's back home in time for new year coming in.  I would love to see what you all have to show us on WOYWW and I do hope you all had a Blessed Christmas.

This was the view from our door yesterday morning as I looked out and to my right (well lunchtime really, I slept until 10 in the morning (shock horror) - it is holidays).  It looked as if the trees were hanging in jewelled ornaments but you will have to expand the photo to get the effect.

It did look pretty special

Happy New Year to You All and God Bless

Jeudi Journal - Drink

May I first extend a welcome to Jawad who has become my latest follower.

Gosh another week has just flown by and it is almost Christmas for us all who celebrate.  So I am sharing my Journal page with you and entering the challenge again at Art Journal Journey where Valerie has chosen the theme "When one door closes another one opens". Had to have a bit of a Christmas theme to my Journal page today and so I bring you my Christmas Story:

"Dick and Dom, two of Santa's mischievous little helpers had just finished their shift in Santa's workshop and were standing in the open doorway having just waved him off.  It was nearing midnight on the eve of Christmas and Santa had just set off in his sleigh leaving the elves to tidy up, clean up and close up. There had been the usual Christmas party with dancing and lots of mince pies, chocolates and a glass of sherry for those who wished to partake, orange juice for the others.  Some had gone off to tidy up the stables where the reindeer were kept, some had gone to help Mrs Claus get ready for her husband's return next morning.  Poor Santa would be exhausted and ready for his bed after a good old breakfast of bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, mushrooms and fried bread and the reindeer would want their bedding to be nice and clean so they could just lie down and go to sleep dreaming of all the carrots they had eaten enjoying a good old rest after their miles of flying all over the world in one evening.

Dick and Dom were assigned to cleaning the workshop, because, we all know that work begins again on the second day of January for Santa and his elves and the workshop needs to be tidy again before any toy making can begin.  So the two of them had been busy scurrying around putting things back on the shelves, sweeping the floor and making sure all the decorations from the party were back in their rightful places.

"Phew," said Dick, the one in the spotted top with the black kipper tie, "Am I glad that is over for another year.  Each year we seem to have to make more and more toys and that means Christmas Eve is busier each time packing all the things in the sacks and making sure all the little girls and boys get what they want on their Christmas List.  Don't know about you, Dom, but I am feeling pretty pooped and ready for bed now."

Dom was wearing his striped top which he thought matched his socks and he was sporting a white kipper tie.  Sometimes the others got the two of them a bit muddled up as they were identical twin elves, and so the boys, even though they were full of mischief most of the time, wore different clothes so that other elves could tell who was who.  This did not always work though as sometimes they would pretend to be the other one and totally confuse the whole workshop.  They never did it on Christmas Eve though, that would cause chaos and upset the children if they got the wrong presents.

"Well", said Dom, "I am going to stay in bed until lunchtime and I am going to drink tea all day long until we go to Santa's in the evening for the sorry."

"Think you mean the Soiree, besides which you can't do that" said Dick, "You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning".

"Course I can" replied Dom, "I got a 'Teasmade' from Santa this year and that means I can drink tea from the minute my eyes open until I close them again.  That will be my favourite pastime on my days off from now on."

"That's ok" said Dick, "providing you waken before lunchtime."  And with that the two of them closed the door on Santa's workshop and made their way across the road to home."

Goodnight and a Merry Christmas to All from me - and Dick and Dom!

WOYWW 655

Well, this is our Christmas Posting so here I am Wishing You All a Very Happy Christmas.  I do hope that everyone stays free from this latest variant of the Covid virus which seems to be spreading at an alarming rate throughout the country and beyond.  No parties for us this year, just a nice little family gathering at ours.  Think New Year will be much the same too.  Keep it in the Family.

The shopping is done, the cake is iced, presents and cards are all sent out.  I've even had my tomorrow's Art Journal blog post ready for almost a week now and I've managed to fit a Christmas story into the quote used this week.   I had my MOT done yesterday (Chiropractor and Podiatrist) so my craft room is ready to be tidied up and next year's cards are ready to be started.  I kid you not!  My bff fell in love with one of the cards I got and when she found the stamp on the internet you had to order two - so guess who got the other one?  A lovely surprise and a lovely bff.  

Had to go to the garden centre for our eggs the other day and got tempted by this decoration.  We usually buy ONE for the tree each year but this year didn't bother until I saw this.  Went back to the garden centre yesterday and guess what - 50% off all decorations!  Typical!

And so today I am keeping this short and, well, short.  Here's my desk all ready for you my WOYWW friends:

Just a mess - not really touched since last week

Apart from a bit more stuff

MERRY  CHRISTMAS

Jeudi Journal - Yoga

It's nearly Christmas and all the decorations are up - I have gone a bit mad this year and put most of them out.  I am getting rid of some of them to the local charity shop (or preferably a refugee centre if I can find one locally).  I thought I would just see what I have and what I can give away.  You can see them on the previous post here.  We also have our two Christmas Stockings hanging on the cupboard in the bedroom but they are not filled as yet.  Got to get some bits to put in them (no chocolates as we have loads in our stash - might pinch some out of there and transfer to the stockings).  Are you ready for Christmas?

This week we have my idea of a bit of perspective drawing.  Never was that good at perspective when I had to teach it - good job I didn't have to do it with the higher levels at school.  I was the ceramicist in school so mainly concentrated on that and 3D art.  

Valerie has chosen 'When one door closes another one opens' as her theme over at Art Journal Journey so as I fudged it a bit last week I thought I had better do better this time and provide one door open and one closed.  So here we have two young women in the local sports hall.  No colour, just black and white for the background with the girls providing the colour.

"It is Nola's favourite means of exercise.  She absolutely loves her Yoga classes, not only do they help her keep fit but they also are a lovely way to feel relaxed.  Her friend Mandy has not yet been persuaded to join her, despite her having bought a leotard and yoga pants to wear when the girls first thought of joining a class.  Nola was looking trim as she made her way in the Sport and Recreation Centre to the Yoga Classroom when she saw Mandy in the corridor.

"What are you doing here", she asked her friend.  "Are you finally coming to Yoga with me or am I seeing things and it really isn't you?"

Mandy replied "None of my Yoga pants have ever been to Yoga" adding "and I don't think they will be going today or tomorrow or even next week.  It just isn't me."

Poor Nola just stood there looking quite perplexed, "Then what are you doing in this corridor?" she asked.

"I've enrolled for pottery" was the reply.  "Remember when we watched 'Ghost' again the other night, well, I have been wanting to do that for ages and that night just clinched it for me so I thought I might give it a go, especially as it is on the same night as your Yoga class.  That way we can come here together and maybe go for a coffee afterwards."

"Brilliant, see you tomorrow as usual" was Nolas reply and the two girls went their separate ways quite happily.

WOYWW 654

Another week gone by and another week closer to Christmas.  Also another week for WOYWW.  Why not join us.  Got a poorly hand, arthritis in the thumb area and all the crafting has finally put paid to it and it is 'proper poolie' in its little splint so not much typing this week.  Lots of photos though.

This is our tree, decorated by my other half  I just did the flowers.

The fireplace in the Lounge:

The crib which I love, it really shimmers

My Advent Calendar which I made with little figures collected in Dusseldorf at the Christmas Market one year and a Father Christmas at the side:

Father Christmas ditched his sleigh

Now finally my Desk with a broken Crib Scene which I am slowly repairing (the Repair Shop has nothing on me).  So far I have got the shepherd, the little lamb, repaired the lower palm tree but the upper one refuses to stick.  Tried Super Glue, Gorilla Glue, Gel Medium - it needs something that bonds instantly.  Just my last card on my desk with the Gel Medium setting overnight on it  It's another 'deliver only' because of the 'bits' on it.

One of my friends thought my fir cones were angelwings.  Do they honestly look like that or can you tell they are fir cones?

I have done a little bit of crafting.  My December ATC's for my bff - she chose "Butterflies" for this month.  She doesn't come on here so won't see them before they arrive.

Have a Good Week!

Jeudi Journal - Wi-Fi

 It's Thursday again and time for another visit to my Journal and to Art Journal Journey where the lovely Valerie has chosen a great theme for the month - "When one door closes, another one opens".  I love doors and am hoping to do some pages for this now that my Christmas cards have been made (just one to go) and my Christmas Cake is soaking in brandy.  Yes, only just got around to making it this week.

The quote for this week I had to work with is "Wi-fi went down for five minutes so I had to talk to my family - they seem nice."  It's taken from a book of rubber stamp sayings that I once picked up whilst at CHA in America.  I knew they would come in useful one day.  So how did I mix the two - the quote and AJJ - well today we are inside someone's house, we have gone through the open door to find the family gathered inside.

"Vix, real name Victoria (but don't ever call her that, she detests it) is a typical teenager who spends most of her time in her bedroom playing on her computer.  Mum, dad and big sister, Elizabeth, rarely see her except at meal times or if she wants something.   It is usually only then she pops along to see which of her parents is in the better mood so she can sweet talk them into letting her get something, usually another computer game.

The whole family joke about it, tell everyone there is only one daughter in the family because the other younger one is rarely ever seen.  Obviously this is said as a joke because they love both Vix and Elizabeth equally and both girls are very precious to them.  Ever since Vix came on the scene they have never given one girl any more than the other one; if they spend £200 on Elizabeth's birthday the same is spent on Vix when her birthday comes along.  It is a very happy family and both girls know it.

The other day Vix was talking to her friends, some of whom were having a little grumble about mum and dad or a sister they had.  This annoyed Vix who was very loyal to her family and so she decided to "shut them up, once and for all".  Casually into the conversation she threw in a one liner 

"Wi-fi went down for five minutes so I had to talk to my family - they seem nice" she said, with a straight face although she was gripping her jaws together to stop herself from smiling.

The girls all stopped their grumbling and looked at her, mouths slowly dropping open.  Never did they think that Vix, of all people, would not really know her family.  Vix began laughing and they realised she was not being serious but it did make them step back and think about their own families.  Maybe they won't grumble quite so much when Vix is about again."

WOYWW 653

Another Wednesday nearer to Christmas and only one card to make.  This week saw me at an online funeral for my cousin's husband, so sad - and his daughter, my lovely niece, did a super job of writing a poem about his life.  He really was a lovely guy and I will always remember the Bacon Muffins I used to have, that he made, on Christmas morning when I went to watch the little one open her presents all those years ago.

Then I went and made my Christmas cake.  A bit late for "feeding" so it's in a bath of brandy - to be truthful it has had loads of  it brushed on the top the base and the sides and it is now in parchment paper and clingfilm.  The tree is up, to be honest it went up last Wednesday and I have put more decorations out than usual this year and when Christmas is over a lot are going to the charity shop if they will have them.  Had a zoom on Saturday and friends were saying that lots of charity shops are not taking goods because of covid so we will have to wait and see.

As you can see my desk is clear of most things,  Just some boxes that have Christmas related stuff in and my Promarkers with my flesh ones on top far right.  So that's pretty boring isn't it!  Next week, when I can be sure all my Christmas Cards have been received I will show you some photographs of the cards I made this year.  

Well, that's the shortest post I've done on WOYWW I think.  Show us your desk and link in and I will come and visit you if I can.  Now to open my Advent Calendar doors for the past five days - ooer!

Jeudi Journal - Through the Keyhole

Well, it was only yesterday morning that I found out that Art Journal Journey had "When One Door Closes Another One Opens" as its new theme chosen by the lovely Valerie of Bastelmania (not only do I like her new theme but her blog header is gorgeous).  Love the theme as I love doors but one thing was that my quote for this week for my Dylusion Journal was "No my craft room isn't messy I just have everything on display".  Luckily I had not started thinking about it and so after a quick consultation, with myself, I came upon the idea of making a keyhole.

To begin with I didn't think things through and I just drew a rough keyhole shape and then put random strips of paper, card down to represent wooden slats in a door.  (sorry about the shadow of my hand taking the photo).

Once all was stuck down I trimmed the edges and then painted the whole page (except the keyhole)  brown.  Whilst I had my phone with me I took a photo of my craft room wall that has all my inks and if you look closely you can see some of my work at the top of the page and on top of my inks near the bottom.  That is Spencer, my little Teddy Bear, sitting in his deck chair alongside some of my small hand made books and above him a lovely felted rabbit my friend Cindee sent me from America that she had made.  The picture just below him is of my little dog, Oliver, sadly now passed, that I had made into a rubber stamp when I won a competition for the cutest pets.  The blank part of my wall on the right is bright pink, I have no idea why it turned out such a murky colour.  Anyway, a story?

"Wanda had a lovely big craft room that her father had set up for her.  It was made up of kitchen cupboards, all matching and just looked like a dream kitchen that someone might have in their home.  She loved it and spent every waking hour in it making various crafty things. She had a station for her die cutting, a place for her card making, and an area with a sink so she could do messy mixed media crafting and endless storage all behind closed doors.  It was always tidy but there was a plan of the room for her to remind her what was behind each door and she had planned it all out so carefully.  

She wasn't at all boastful about it and invited her friends to come and craft with her on the big tables set up in the centre of the room on many occasions.  In fact the girls had great fun playing there, taking their own products whenever they could but using Wanda's when they didn't have something of their own.  Wanda was a lovely girl and did not mind sharing her things with any of them, after all her father was quite wealthy and she had most things she could want.

Cara, on the other hand, didn't have even half as much as Wanda but she was thankful that her mother allowed her to have her big brother's bedroom when he left home for College.  True it still had his bed in and a chest of drawers but she had set up all manner of shelving made from anything she could get her hands on to use as storage for her things.

Cara had invited Wanda over to her house.  It was nearing Christmas and mother had made the most delicious mince pies you could ever wish to eat.  The smell of fresh baking permeated the room and made Cara feel so proud of her mum.  She was a bit worried however.  Knowing what a lovely room Wanda had she felt that her room, which she loved and thought was well set out, might look a little 'grotty' to her friend.

Cara stood inside her craft room, with the door closed and as she heard Wanda and her mother walking up the stairs she looked around nervously and said to herself "No, my craft room isn't messy.  I just have everything on display".  And with that she opened the door to see her friend standing there with a big smile on her face and realised when you have a true friend nothing else matters, just friendship.

I hope this is acceptable for Valerie's theme at AJJ so it is fingers crossed that my peep through the closed door works for her and the moderators.

WOYWW 652

Well, it's Tuesday evening (WOYWW tomorrow) and I think, only think, I have finished all my Christmas Cards.  Let's say I hope I have.  Except for "him indoors" that is.  Need to get the list out and start writing in the cards.  It is the start of Advent tomorrow and we should be thinking of getting the tree from the loft and putting it up - that will take at least a day.

So my desk today - the blue thing is my Pergamano stuff (parchment, tools etc) as I started a card for someone and haven't finished it - maybe next year.  Then a pile of stamps - again not finished the card so maybe next year, at the back a poinsettia stamp I have had years.  Got it out this time and it has gone all shiny, real red rubber - never had that happen to me before.  Won't stamp properly might show you later.  A stamp turned over because I have used it and you might get the card.  Some offcuts of card, a tissue (to wipe the acrylic block I keep finding ink on, what do I do wrong?) some glue (must order more I am almost out) water spritzers, Post It notes, pencil, Christmas card box with small Misti on top and more stamps that I am using for the verses/words.  Think that is it!

Should be tidy in a minute or two but not tonight, I have had enough!  Pretend Gluhwein and a Mince Pie, feet up and a bit of TV for me before an early night if the tree is going up tomorrow.

Well, it's back to mask wearing for most, not for me as I never stopped when in shops.  We might have known we would have another variant for Christmas.  The news is so sad at the moment, the poor people who have had their electricity etc off for days (especially the Care Homes, that was so sad seeing the carers doing their best to keep the old folks warm and fed from food they cooked in their own homes).  The migrants who are risking their lives to cross the Channel to this "land of milk and honey" and the ones who lost their lives the other day.  So sad.  

Here is my damaged stamp.  Can you see in the centre where it is kind of shiny - the rubber has changed to being smooth and on the paper in front of it you can see how it stamps now.  Such a shame as it was a much used and loved stamp.  Has this happened to anyone else out there?  Does anyone know why it happened - I always clean my stamps  when I have used them.

On a happier note I will share my first Christmas card received from America.  Now Cindee always makes beautiful cards, she spends ages deciding what she is doing and I save them all each year.  This year we have one that has a wheel at the back (beautiful finish to the back of the card too) which you turn and it reveals a different picture.

Closed

Open

even the envelope had something on it

Happy Advent!

Jeudi Journal - Cross

"It was a cold and windy morning when Beyonce took her little dog, Rufus, for a walk in the fields.  Beyonce had wrapped up with her big cape on and a scarf and hat along with her lovely big warm red boots.  Rufus was wearing his nice new knitted coat that aunty Jan had made for him and Beyonce was particularly thrilled with the way the two of them looked on such a cold windy day.

They had taken the usual route through the park and onto the meadowland that stretched out onto the hills around the little village where Beyonce lived with her mother and father.  It had been a bit of an uphill struggle for the two of them, Rufus only had little short legs and Beyonce was a bit unfit due mainly to the lack of exercise and the increase of chocolate in her diet of late.  The wind was blowing and leaves were whirling around and around making it even more difficult to walk uphill.

As they neared the top of the hill Beyonce realised that she was not quite as fit as she used to be and she began talking to Rufus about her friend Gemma who was a bit of a keep fit fanatic.  "If only I could be like Gemma" she said, standing still regaining her breath and hoping nobody was around to see her puffing and panting.  Gemma was her best friend, a friendly girl with a lovely slim figure and legs that people used to joke 'went up to her armpits'.  Even though the two of them spent a lot of time together when they were not working Gemma was the one who went to the gym three times a week.  Squats, Pull-ups, Jumps and Lunges were an everyday thing with her but Beyonce could not get interested in such strenuous exercise. 

As she said, with a smile on her face, to Rufus, "I'm really into crossfit.  I cross my fingers and hope I can fit in my jeans".  Rufus looked at her and wondered if "crossfit" was a new type of biscuit she was thinking of buying for him.  He remembered the Hot Cross Buns from ages ago, he wasn't supposed to eat them but Beyonce had let him have one or two bits from hers when mum wasn't looking.  She'd not given him any with butter on though.  And he loved butter.

They continued on with their walk and came across a hedgehog scurrying through the undergrowth and a little later they saw a red squirrel.  Beyonce was so annoyed that she did not have her camera with her, her father would never believe her that there were red squirrels on the hillside.

"Come on" she said to Rufus, race you to the bottom of the hill.  And with that they both set off at run for home ..... and a chocolate?"

Now to link to Art Journal Journey where Chris's topic is "All Kinds of Weather" - you have one week left to enter something of your own, go on, you know you want to.

Just returned from a trip to The Lakes and on Friday we went into Bowness on Windermere (my previous post refers to my reporting that a Canadian Goose was limping badly, I am worried now that they will have put him to sleep as he is a wild bird.  Trouble is there is Avian Flu up there and whilst he looked healthy enough they may decide it is the best course of action.  I hate to think I may have been his demise).  Anyway, here are a few photos:

It was late afternoon when I took these, hence the light

I loved these rosehips by the car

and look at this garden

I got Chas to stop the car so I could see the lake from this end (near Newby Bridge) and when I popped my head over the wall I saw this beautiful garden.  Imagine living there!   

Had to include this photo taken through the windscreen, the sky was lovely shades of blue and pink which inspired me to paint my journal page this week.

WOYWW 651

 Not a profitable week Christmas wise as we have been away again.  Profitable for the shops though as I took advantage and did a bit of Christmas shopping.  So not much eye candy for you to see - I am hoping other desks will display plenty.

On Friday we had the day in Bowness, and no trip to The Lakes would be complete without a mooch around  Booths and Lakeland.  We bought some gorgeous mini pork pies from Booths and ate them down by the lake later in the afternoon but the best buy was from Lakeland - I got a new mixer.  Nothing posh, (I have a big Kenwood) but I wanted a small one as mine burnt out a couple of years ago and I have missed having it for the little jobs.  This one comes with a whisk and dough hooks so I will probably use it even more.

We went down to the lake itself

We watched the birds being fed by people and I was upset to see one of the Canadian Geese had a very pronounced limp.  He looked as if he was heaving his whole body up to one side in order to to be able to walk.  It looked really hard work for him to keep up with the rest of them.  So I tried to ring the RSPCA but they were busy and in the end I contacted the Westmorland Wild Life People who could not go out to him because of Avian Flu.  They took details and passed my message on to the RSPCA who then contacted me.  What a palaver!  I had to tell them where the goose was (not easy when you don't know the area) but Chas found out it was Glebe Road so I told them it was by the entrance of the car park.  Not good enough.  Three emails later they established where I meant (?) and said they would send an Inspector out to investigate.  I hope they can help the poor goose and not put him to sleep or I will feel dreadful.  This is one instance where I do not want to know the outcome.

Saw this place and immediately thought of Julia and Jan - had to have a photo taken even though I hate photos of me.  Didn't go in as I had my rhubarb gin back at the ranch and preferred that in my own glass.  Here's to the gin girls!  (Dig the mask, only removed to stop me looking like a robber)

Guess I had better get my desk loaded up as that is what you came for.  Recently each week I have been doing my Thursday journal page late on a Wednesday night so this week I am being prepared.  What you cannot see is that the background is done and I am nearly there with the figures I am using - no last minute this week.

Tracy Evans stamps on the left (waiting to be used for my next Christmas Card), my journal turned over so you can only see old pages, scissors, ink pads and paper with the titles of the blog pages coming up written on it.  But I did get some new stamps through the letterbox this morning - Susan from Country View Crafts did her magic speedy delivery again.  Can recommend her for fast efficient service.

Three of Janet's stamps from Aall & Create - a bit late for Christmas now but I will be making a start for next year early January and these will give me such pleasure in colouring etc.  Now what will I do with them?

See you around at Julia's in a short while, WOYWW awaits us.

Jeudi Journal - Yarn?

 Well, when I saw what the quote was for the post today I almost curled up and cried.  How on earth was I supposed to do that?  A hasty call to Wendy, in the hope she was struggling too and we could change it lead to fits of laughter from the other end of the phone as she knew exactly what I was going to say.  What did she say?  "Well, you chose it!"  And so I did - I just wrote a list of sayings from a funny verse catalogue and thought they would be fine.  Second one in and I was struggling.

So several ideas later (I had been making Christmas cards most of the day so my brain was in a fog) such as two boys telling funny stories to one another, I ended up with "Cats".  Three cats in fact, who had met up on a late summer's day when the weather was just about to threaten with rain.  Well, two really as one was a little kitten.

"Tabitha and Molly were sisters, very much alike but with totally different lives.  Tabitha was married with a little girl kitten but her sister Molly was single and very carefree.  They would meet up each week for a chat, even during the school holidays when Tabitha had to take her little kitten along.  They were very careful as to what they talked about when kitten was around, (we all know what little ones are like, they listen in to adult conversations and then repeat them to all and sundry).  

Tabitha had been particularly busy that day getting some bits for the family outing her husband, Tomas, had planned.  He thought it about time they all went away somewhere nice for a day, he was sure the 'who-mans' would not panic too much if they all were out together a bit longer than usual.  They were, afterall, a nice family that they lived with.

Molly, on the other hand, was a bit of a joker and sometimes her behaviour and the things she came out with made poor Tabitha blush.  In fact only that day she had told Tabitha a bit of a tall story.  Kitten had listened intently and thought it rather strange, so much so that she had remembered what her aunt had said, word for word.

Suddenly they noticed that the sky was darkening and it looked as if rain was threatening, "so much for the picnic Tomas had planned for them" thought Tabitha as she said her goodbyes to her sister and made a hasty retreat for home, dragging poor kitten with her.

Just as they got to the door, they noticed Tomas was looking particularly pleased with himself and so they went inside but before he could tell them what he had planned for the change in the weather. young kitten blurted out "Did you hear about the cat that swallowed a ball of yarn?  She had mittens."  Poor Tabitha did not know where to look.  Tomas's face changed.  "You've been with that sister of yours again" he said.  "I've told you before she is not a good influence where young kitten is."  And so the planned picnic was cancelled, Dad's alternative plan was never revealed as he went off to the local dustbin to hang around with his mates instead, leaving Tabitha to reflect on what she was going to say to Molly next time she met up with her."

OK it is a silly story but I really could not think of anything better.  Should I link it to Art Journal Journey as usual or not?  I am sure they will allow me another bit of nonsense this week.  Why not join in with your interpretation of "All Kinds of Weather" as suggested by my friend Chris.

WOYWW 650

Another Wednesday, these days are on wheels, they are going so fast it's getting ridiculous!  There's just not enough time to do all that I want to do.  Christmas Card making got really slowed down - here's my desk at the moment:

My little Vagabond has been in use again, I only use it for small things as it has a small platform and I was trying out some Christmas dies to use on my three big cards.  They've taken ages to do and now I am not sure if they are worth all the effort ..... and the card (lots).  They will have to be hand delivered ones as they are quite thick and I don't want them damaging in the mail.  Those are the original plates (doubt I could get replacements now) and the white one has had some 'hammer' with cutting on it.  There are just the dies I have been using on the desk and the little black thing is a wallet that my ATC swap came in.

Here are the atc's the blue ones are the swaps from my friend Lorraine which I delivered along with her birthday card (I cannot find the photo of it but am sure I took one), and gifts and the coloured ones are mine - I suggested we do two sets so we have one to remind us what we sent ourselves.

I was a bit naughty and did 4 instead of 3

Her birthday card was Alice themed too as she loves Alice in Wonderland, as do I.  In fact I know she has bought me something "Alice" themed for Christmas.  I am so annoyed about the photo not being on my camera.  Wonder if she will take one for me in the morning (when it is her birthday).  Anyway, it was like these Christmas Cards:

The one on the right is still unfinished

As you can see I have made three but only two are decorated at the moment.  It is difficult finding what fits for the bottom centre for them to fold up.  I really had no idea how to decorate them at all then came across the idea of putting NOEL on four faces so I tried out various alphabets I have.  I then found the snowflake dies and the Merry Christmas.  I cut out quite a few different things but they just didn't fit.  The candles on the top one had to have various bits snipped off to make it fit but luckily the deer family just scrapes in, without a border.  I am still struggling for the third one.  It might end up with a stamped scene.  The black one is my favourite but it started life as a birthday card (intention was) with a Mardi Gras theme but then it didn't get finished in time so I abandoned it and sent a pretty cut out card I made a while ago.  I decided cream and gold was to be my colours for Christmas but now I like the black one.  Now who of my three recipients will get my favourite?

That's it folks, still not done any videos but I guess there is lots for you to see above so I will say cheerio for this week.  Off to see Miss Julia and what she is up to at the moment and then a trip around the group.

Jeudi Journal

"Have you ever been in love?  I mean really deeply in love?  So much in love that it hurts?  Well poor Bertie is going through the most awful pain of being in love at the moment.  You see he is in love with Susie down the road and she doesn't seem to know he exists.  She has the biggest and most adorable eyes anyone could have - in fact when he is in her company he just disappears into those dark deep pools (ie her eyes).  He's got it bad!

It was a wet kind of day when Bertie saw Susie down the street, her hair was wetter than usual which made her big eyes look even larger than normal, in fact it was raining bones that day.  Dog bones!  The kind dogs love to chew on -  there were one or two grey clouds hovering above.  He had put his best bowler hat on in case he saw her, he really wanted her to notice him.  His friend  and confidante, Billy Bulldog had told him "What you believe in becomes true.  Believe in something absurd" and so Bertie sat there and believed, with all of his heart that he was a big tall figure of a dog, dressed smartly like that big guy, Prince, who was so darned handsome all the lady dogs in the district fell in love with him and swooned as he walked past.

He squeezed and squeezed his eyes until they hurt saying over and over to himself that he believed he was big and strong and could walk on his two hind legs and stand tall.  Pretending that he was wearing a jacket slung nonchalantly over his shoulders, his waistcoat of the finest check and sporting the most wonderful bow tie he felt good and powerful.  

He opened his eyes and there was Susie, sat beside him.  Did she just glance over her shoulder at him?  Yes, it had worked, what you believe in really does come true sometimes, as how absurd it is.

From that moment on Bertie and Susie became firm friends and now Bertie is believing that one day they will walk up the doggy aisle together.  I hope he continues to believe it."

I think I might give that 'believing in something absurd' a try one of these days.  In the meantime I will leave you with lots of happy thoughts and dash over to Art Journal Journey to see what wonderful weather pictures there are - because that is what Chris has chosen for her theme this month - All Kinds of Weather.

WOYWW 649

Another week, another WOYWW and my "C" Card tally is now at 24 so I am quite pleased and I spent a day making a card for a very good friend which could have been made much quicker had I not kept looking at several You Tube videos for different ideas.

Last week I failed to tell you that I had a message from a double jabbed, boosted friend to say she had Covid.  Then, just shortly after, a phone call from another friend to say she, her husband and son had all been laid low for a week with covid.  She sounded dreadful with a wracking cough but that was not the worse of her symptoms.  She had hurt in all her bones, could not bare to touch her skin, had a headache, the cough, no smell or taste, and her chest felt as if she had been running a marathon.  It hurt so much.    She said she would not wish it on her worse enemy.

Now friend number one above, got it from her husband who caught it from work - apparently there have been a few at his work with it but the other friend and her family all went to a wedding on the Saturday as they started on the Tuesday.  No masks!  Makes one think how easy it is to get this dreaded disease and how bad it can be.  Jayne sounded terrible on the phone but from what she told me she had obviously been much worse.  Thankfully her son had had very little wrong so was able to help look after his parents plus she has a daughter who had it a while ago.  Her husband is in bed at the moment as he went a lot worse than he was a few days ago.

Then another friend on FB said she had had it and it was dreadful.  So it seems quite rife at the moment - PLEASE be careful.

Anyway, you came to see my desk so here it is:

My little Excalibur which I was using to cut out lots of circles.  But what for?  All will be revealed some time soon but not now, sorry.  You can see all the dies I was using and all the bits of masking tape on top of my machine which is my trusty little cutter that sits in my room, unlike the other machines I have who all sit on a trolley elsewhere.  I have too many!

Now I must get on with those Christmas Cards, they won't make themselves.

Toodle Pip - see you over at WOYWW.