Jeuidi Journal - Yesterday

Oh dear, this snarky comment is just so me.  Especially at the moment when I don't know what day it is half the time.  "I was going to do something today, but haven't finished doing nothing from yesterday" is just so me who has been lazing about doing nothing over the Christmas period.  I really need to take hold of myself and get moving.  Just like Elvira in my story.

"It was the day, after the day, after Christmas Day, confusing - ok then it was Wednesday - when Elvira woke up and wondered what day it really was.  She couldn't think because life had been so hectic leading up to Christmas with all the toys and things they had had to get ready in Santa's workshop.  You see, Christmas isn't just about Santa making toys for children, he has to think about what to distribute to the mums and dads, the aunties and uncles, the cousins and ... and ... and.  It goes on and on.  Yes, everyone has to have a Christmas present made.

Then there is the day itself.  Getting up after Santa's Party is hard enough but cooking for her little family has go be done and then there has to be 'play time' with the little elves and their new toys.  Thank goodness for the next day when Elvira could relax.  But now, so tired as she was, she could not remember what day it really was.  She knew there was something planned for today but what?

She sat up in bed and exclaimed to no-one "I was going to do something today, but haven't finished doing nothing from yesterday".  On hearing her dulcet tones her husband, Alvin, sleepily asked 

"Did you say something my dear?"

"No" replied Alvira, "you just go back to sleep dear." and with that Alvin simply turned over with a "Hmmph" and promptly went back to sleep.  Like all husbands do.

"Maybe if I get up and walk around the house I will remember what I need to do today" she said to herself.  "They do say if you walk back through the door you will remember what you forgot."  

And so Alvira got up, showered and feeling much better began walking around, even going outside in the cold air, hoping her 'forgettery' would stop working and she would remember what it was she had to do today.   The air was crisp, a few snowflakes were falling and as she looked back into the enchanted forest just beyond their house she wondered if her 'remembery' would be back before new year.

"Please Santa", she uttered, "please let me remember what I have to do today" and with that she shivered and hurried back into the warmth of her little home.  If all else fails she could always sit back and do nothing again, just like Alvin was doing."

I hope you all had a simply lovely Christmas, everyone was well enough to enjoy a bit of turkey and tinsel and now I wish you all a Happy New Year.  See you at Art Journal Journey next year with another nonsense story and journal page.

760 - That's WOYWW

 Well, the big day is over and done with for another year.  Decorations are up and twinkling trees (yes two) are there for all to see, the new chair is proving a big hit, face is healing after a bit of a panic Christmas Eve day and I've not been in my craft room despite my saying I was going to tidy it up.

So here it is in all. its glory, my counter with a shrine type thing I made years ago with Andy Skinner.  Decided that as the lights no longer worked (it had stars that lit up inside it) I would start afresh and spruce it up a bit.  Not done as yet!!  The base could do with a lick of paint on the inside but I need to think what colours I used to get the overall effect, and I don't like the "splodges" on the back.  So they need attention.

The book next to it was my gift from the Secret Santa at our craft club.  Awaiting a photo so I can put it on the group for people to see.  Couldn't have been better for me - a journal - but 70 pages to colour!!!  Wow!  That will keep me busy for a while - do I stick to a theme or just be random?

Next are some cards and some 'thank you' stamps.  I read on FB of an elderly couple who had been robbed of their savings of £11,000 by some builders who had also done things like ripped the kitchen out, the bathroom had gone and then they had gone.  Someone had set up a fund and people had rallied around offering to put things right so a plumber had put them a new bathroom in, someone had started on the kitchen etc.

This lady was asking for some stampings of the words "thank you" as she was making cards to give out to all those who had helped in some way.  So I have those to get on with - but only have two stamps but I am sure I am not the only one helping - and I have put in a few cards as well.

So that's it for now.  By the time we meet again it will be 2024 so I will take your leave now and wish you all a Happy New Year.  Hopefully see you in May (just read Julia's blog).

Jeudi Journal - EyeLiner?

Today the Tim Holtz Snarky is  "To be honest, I'm just winging it ... life, motherhood, my eye liner ... everything."  So coupled with a sky for Wendy's theme at Art Journal Journey we have this picture in my journal and another story. 

"It was just after Christmas and Alvin, number Three Elf at Santa's workshop, and his wife Elvira, were off to the party held at the Claus House every year.  The children were all tucked up in bed and being looked after by Elvira's mother.

Alvin was looking very smart in his new green and red jacket, worn with his red striped long shorts.  He looked across the room at his loving wife and remarked how nice she looked.  Elvira had been on the sun bed to get a slight tan as she hated being very pale and was wearing a red and green dress to match Alvin's outfit, both of them, of course, wearing the green and red hats that all of Santa's elves wore.

"You look very nice tonight" Alvin remarked, "I love the dress you are wearing, is it a new one?  There is something about you tonight that makes you look about 21 all over again, what is your secret, everyone will be asking at the party?"

"To be honest, I'm just winging it ... life, motherhood, my eye liner ... everything." she replied with a twinkle in her eye and a tiny smile on her lips.  Elvira liked to keep her husband on his toes and if the other lady elves found her attractive she was sure it was all in Alvin's mind.

"Oh my dear," said Alvin, "I think you are trying to wind me up, you know just how much I adore you."

And with that Alvin raced across the huge picture window and swept his wife up in his arms.

"Look darling, the northern lights, and it's snowing and those two deer are here again.  It must be a lucky omen so let's get off to the party and see what Santa and his wife have in store for us this year.  I'll just get your coat."

Well, by next week when we are all here again Christmas Day will have come and gone.  May you all have a wonderful Christmas as how you celebrate.  God Bless and Peace on Earth for All Men.

WOYWW 759

 Happy Christmas to Everyone

 and My Very Best Wishes for the New Year

My Christmas Card to YOU xx

Well, it will be the big day before we meet again so I thought I would send a card to all of you.  I've made such lovely friends since joining in with WOYWW and feel part of a big community of like-minded and loving friends.  Thank you for all the care and  friendship over the years.  You mean a lot to me and I look forward to our Wednesday meet ups.

My desk is empty so I thought I would show you one or two 'spots' around my craft room:

Starting at the top - three lovely girls made with Tracey Easson on a craft day, my Harry Potter Crate (housing washi tapes), a giant roll of DS foam tape (rarely used, forgotten about) and, finally, a pot made with Liz Welch.  Liz was a lovely, very talented, lady who is sadly no longer with us.  This was made on a weekend away with her and three other friends.

The suite is arriving today so I don't know where I will be, hiding in my craft room and logging on to WOYWW probably.  Monday I had the 'cutaneous horn' removed, well, it had almost fallen off so the planned procedure was replaced by something else.  I now have a swollen face on one side, a plaster over the wound protecting the soluble stitches (hospital closed two weeks so had to have dissolvable ones) and am feeling sorry for myself as it's been a bit painful.  But not to worry, its gone!  Fingers crossed for results.

Cake done, mince pies done, majority of shopping done, presents wrapped - job's a good 'un!

So that's a wrap for the moment, hopefully I will see you all again next week.

Hugs for Christmas xx

Jeudi Journal - Weird

Oh no, the quote from Sir Time's Snarky Comments this week is "I admit my weirdness is above the national average, but I'm comfortable with that".

Today we are in the farthest area of the North Pole where Santa lives 

WOYWW 758

 Today my thumb is really hurting and so typing is not a good thing to be doing.  Roll on Saturday and the injection which I hope will make it feel much better.  I am sure I am not the only one suffering with something like this, arthritis!  I was hoping to continue with some Christmas Cards but I think that is on the back burner until next year now.  I'm blaming the ones I've done for causing this thumb to hurt so much.

So I am reduced to tidying up, and even that has its problems - picking things up!  Gosh I am a whinger!  We have a new suite coming next week (20th) and the old one was due to be collected the day before, now they've rung and cannot do it until the day after.  Gonna be fun!!  One in and one out.  So the tree has had to be put on hold again for the unforeseeable future.  It will be Christmas Eve at this rate but it has spurred me on to doing a lot of decluttering.  So my desk is fairly empty.  There's just a notebook I once made at CHA, a card I must have made a long time ago when Steampunk was all the rage, and a photo of me which someone took at one of my classes and turned into a card.

Oh and remember me saying I could not crochet?  I can't, but I could once, a long time ago.  I made this table mat - it's pineapples and Solomons Knots - that's what I remember.  Aunty was brilliant at knitting and crochet, won lots of prizes for her work including a full length Arran coat she made me (and I still have it somewhere) but she could not teach me to crochet.  Mum, on the other hand was nowhere near as good but she was the one who taught me to do this mat.  Every bit was done by me in my 20's.

I've just taken it from the occasional table and it needs washing so I will be very careful with it.  Not a clue what I used but it is very fine and I am very chuffed.  Maybe I should relearn!

Well, that's it, all the thumb will take.  The op for the thing on my face is scheduled for Monday (ooer!) - just got an email to let me know yesterday.  Not much time to worry but it could be quite painful for a few days, still will try to get on here. (Still praying it will drop off before then).  See you all on WOYWW next week when we will be ready or not - well, I'll be looking forward to the new chair I am getting and worrying about the old settees going out before the new one arrives.  Toodle Pip!

Jeudi Journal - Salad Days?

The Tim Holtz Snarky we have to use this morning is "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a salad, asking for it to be a donut"  and we have to marry that with Wendy's choice of theme at Art Journal Journey which is 'Above us only sky'.  Not an easy paring but here goes:

"Sasha and Tania were two young models who were on an assignment in Cologne.  They were kept on a strict diet by the Agency Director but both girls realised it was for their own good.  However, it was Christmas time and, as we all know, Germany is known for its Christmas Markets, and Cologne is well known for having a few for visitors to visit and sample the delicious food that is on sale.  Nothing nicer than a Bratwurst and a glass of Glühwein on a cold winter's evening walking around a brightly lit street market to warm you.  Sadly, not for our girls ... or was it?

The two girls were great pals and they had managed to get out of the hotel in which they were staying and were off for a peek at one of the Christmas Markets.  Both girls were excited at the prospect as they set off.

"Mum and Dad used to come to Germany each Christmas time and they raved about the markets" said Sasha, the taller of the two.  

"Did they have lots of that mulled wine?" asked Tania.

"Oh yes, mum rehearsed how to ask for two "Glühweins mitt rum" said Sasha laughingly, "I don't think we had better have them though, what if we get tipsy."

"We can't really have anything" said Tania, "we cannot afford to put a millimetre on before the big opening tomorrow night.  Sometimes I get so fed up of it all.  The other night I stood in front of the table and said, in my head, 'I'm just a girl standing in front of a salad, asking for it to be a donut' but it never changed.  I was willing the tomatoes and cucumber to change to donuts."

"Oh you do make me smile" said Sasha, "Come on, let's go and see what they have, we can do without the food, afterall we can have a nice salad when we get back to the hotel.  I love cucumber!"

I already had a page painted blue so I decided that this could be a night sky for my journal page today.  With the addition of lots of metallic stars stuck on around the two Dylusion figures it was an easy page to do.

WOYWW 757

 December - and already six days into it!  Cards are in the post box, Christmas crackers, chocolates (too many), Stollen, Lebkuchen, Ghluewein, Prosecco, Special Mince Pies, Cake marzipanned ready, Christmas pudding all ready and waiting.  We still have to think about the meat!  What are you all having?  Countdown: I have to ice the cake, make mince pies nearer the time ... and shop.  Oh, and wrap presents when I have them all.

Next is the tree that wants putting up but we have a little shopping trip first today as I want a new chair, yes, left it to the last minute but motivation has been elsewhere (like making cards).  I saw the consultant Monday and I am booked in for the 15th January but if he can do it sooner he will.  Ooer!  But it might be at any hospital in the Manchester area.  So I am permanently attached to my cellphone.  

I did have to make some last minute cards as I was short in the end but this year I have not sent one commercial card.  No wonder I had to make an appointment today with the Musculoskeletal  Practitioner at the surgery for an injection in my thumb.  Sound like a walking disaster don't I?  Roll on a week on Saturday for the thumb.

Here are some of my Christmas cards

There was one other but it was white on white diecuts and they just did not show up so I have left it out.  It looked a bit iffy on the photo but it was really quite nice in real life.

Look forward to the desk hop later today, if I am late don't worry I will make it even if it is Thursday.  Can't let my WOYWW friends down can I?

Jeudi Journal - Mind (Hope you don't mind it's a day early)

Today we are on the last of the "Nature" pages for Jo's theme at Art Journal Journey as we are at the end of the month.  Where on earth did November go?  It doesn't seem two minutes since I was thinking of Bonfires, Fireworks and all the leaves in the garden that needed raking up and now the month has gone. 

Today the Snarky Comment is "Not only does my mind wander ... sometimes it walks off completely" and here we have Momma and Pop Cat out walking in the grounds of a well known house on an afternoon out.  It's a lovely sunny day and Tommy and Sheba, the two little ones, are having a lovely time with Momma Cat, who used to teach biology at school, telling them about all the different trees and plants as they wander about.

"Hold on to Sheba's tail please Tommy" Momma Cat said for the umpteenth time that afternoon.  "You know what she is like for wandering off, just like her father.  By the way, where is he?" she asked.  The trio looked around and there was Pop Cat walking yards behind them, head in the air, not a care in the world.

"Bert" she called, "Can you catch up and walk with us please."

Bert ambled over to where the three of them had stopped.  "Just admiring the birds" he said.  "I wondered where you three had got to."

"You're always the same" scolded Momma Cat, "we go out as a family and who is the one we lose?  Not Tommy, not Sheba but you!  You are a grown up and yet I have to keep tabs on you the whole time."

"Sorry my dear" said Bert with a shrug of his shoulders and a grin on his face.  "You know you love me though, warts and all.  It's my head!  Not only does my mind wander ... sometimes it walks off completely."

"Hmm," said Momma Cat, pretending to be a little angry, "I guess I knew when I married you, and now, two kittens later and you are just the same."

"Sorry love," Bert said, "come on and I'll, treat us all to a nice bowl of cream over there.  Race you to the entrance."

Previously painted page (acrylics) and Lavinia stamps for foliage.

Posting early because I am having problems with the internet and have had to go out of doors to do this.

WOYWW 756

 Well ... it's nearly December now - will be on Friday but I don't suppose you want reminding.  I just hope you all got your cards finished now and maybe even the shopping that doesn't have to be done too near the time.  Hope Cindy had a good show at her craft fair and that LLJ is having a whale of a time with the 'sisters'.

As for me, I feel as if I am ahead of myself for once.  Not done any shopping but hopefully that will be done this week and the menu planned.  As for crafting, well there is nothing at all to show you on my desk, it's not clean and tidy as in spick and span but it is tidy.

Sort of anyway, my table above just has the paper on it that I have had underneath my stamping and the dirty inky binky (as Jo calls hers) which is a bit of old towelling I clean inky messes with.  Below is my counter which just has my laptop on it, and other inky binky and my hill masks plus a little project I am hoping to do shortly - well finish off really.

Two weeks ago I showed you my Advent Calendar that I was making for my other half.  Well, it is finished and each little box opens and contains a little gift (nothing exciting, mainly chocolates and the odd bar of soap - the latter because I was desperate).  Here it is (I wonder how many recognise the paper)

Luckily I found a sheet with little squares on, the exact size needed and cut out 12 of those (ie the 12 Days of Christmas) so I only had to do another 12 pictures myself.  It wasn't easy finding stamps small enough to put on the squares 1.75" amongst my old stamps but I made it, just!  Am hoping to start another soon but for next year.

Well, that's all from me, over to Ms Julia, head desker in this quest.  See you later.

Jeudi Journal - Shy?

 "People think I'm shy, but I really just have no interest in talking to idiots" is the not so nice Snarky Comment from the Tim Holtz book this week.  So coupled with Jo's theme ofd "Nature" for Art Journal Journey we have the following page and story.

I began colouring the sky with Broken China Distress Oxide and one of those round applicators but the pain in my hand got so intense I just had to stop.  I really must get something done about this arthritic thumb of mine.  I then went over it with blue acrylic paint and some grey I mixed at the base of the page to represent the roadside.  Stamps are a mixture of Lavinia and Aalll & Create.

"Josie had decided to go into town to see the Christmas lights and the tree she had heard so much about.  It was just getting on the edge of darkness and the little birds were darting around the tree, I wonder if they were waiting for it to be lit up as well? 

Billy, a boy in her class who she knew had a crush on her was there too, and she uttered "Bother" under her breath.

"Did you call me your brother" piped up Billy.  His face grinning at her as he asked.

"No, I did not" said Josie, "I never spoke to you, I see enough of you each day in class at school"  and she turned her back on him.

"Did you come to see the lights on the tree, or are you doing some Christmas shopping" he asked.

"Err, I came to see the tree and, err, meet up with some friends" Josie replied, muttering up to heaven for forgiveness as that was a complete lie.

"Anybody I know?" asked Billy, persistence was his middle, name.

"Hmm .. no ... it's someone you don't know, he's not from school."  Was that a lie, or could it be called a fib which is not as bad as a lie, is it?  Oh, goodness, why did I say that, now I've got myself in a right pickle, she thought to herself.

"I'll wait with you if you want", said Billy, "If he doesn't come I know how shy you are and you won't want to be standing around town on your own will you?"

At that Josie started to feel a little het up.  She had already told a couple of lies and she really was not the type of girl who lied her way out of things.  How do I deal with this she asked herself.

"People think I'm shy, but I really just have no interest in talking to idiots." she blurted out.  "What on earth gives you the right to think I am shy?  You see me every day at school, am I shy then?  Am I? " By this time she was getting herself in a state, mainly because of the lies she knew she had told.  

"You know what?  You can stand here all night if you want, but me, I'm going." and with that Josie took off, lights or no lights there would be another night.  And hopefully, no Billy."

WOYWW 755

 Gosh these Wednesday's come around too quickly for my liking at the moment, but I must admit it is Tuesday evening and I am shattered. The only nice thing is I get to check out Julia's and WOYWW friends desks each Wednesday.  I just dare not show you mine today.  Do you really want to peek?  OK then, I warn you though, it is a bit of a mess and there is no evidence of any work having been done despite having made a birthday card for my little sister in Oz.  Can't show it to you yet as she does come on here now and again so I don't want to ruin the surprise.  Oh and the Advent Calendar thing is finished but it now needs filling.

Ready?

Main part of desk (counter top) and to the right of it (where it turns the corner) below

and my little table

dies that were in the box

In my wisdom I decided it was about time I sorted the final box of dies I had not taken to the club that I was raising money for Alzheimers with.  These are dies I was asked to dispose of and which I have been taking to our club where the members have kindly donated money for the charity in honour of my friend who is suffering with the dreadful disease.

The first photo shows that I found the box was full of polymer stamps.  I have been trying to sort them into some kind of category - words flowers, animals, alphabets, etc - you get the drift.  My counter is an L-shape and so it goes around the corner and the second photo is that bit of the counter.  The third is my little table that I work at.  That ended up with some dies on that were in the same box - loads of odd ones that probably started life in a set.

Tomorrow I will bag them all up but for now I have just closed the door.  Sadly my friend no longer knows me and visiting is heartbreaking with the various moods she goes through but I owe her so much.

We first met at cake icing and then later we were instrumental in setting up the Bury branch of the Cake Decorating Guild (forgotten the actual name now).  A few years later she introduced me to papercrafting - first Parchment Craft and then embossing from which my love of making things stems.  Our lives became entwined in many ways as our other halves got on so well together and shared a love of walking and her youngest son and I became good friends 'at the sink' whenever they had parties.

Sadly her husband passed some years ago but we still continued a close friendship.  Even when her mind had started to go her son and her sister warned me she would not know me but she shouted "66" (her pet name for me because of where I used to live) as soon as she heard my voice.  Not now I am afraid.  So up to now I have sent £100 to Alzheimers and hopefully soon I will be able to send more.

Right, bedtime, I need to sleep ready to face this lot tomorrow.  See you next week with my Christmas cards all done and ready to post.

Jeudi Journal - Sarcastic

 "I'm not great at advice.  May I interest you in a sarcastic comment?"  That is the quote we are using today, from Tim Holtz' |Snarky comment book.  So matching it with Jo's theme "Nature" at Art Journal Journey I have the following page in my journal and a story to accompany it.

"Coco was a cute little spotty dog belonging to Adele who was in love with Scot the Terrier from next door.  She loved to play with Scot whenever possible but he never seemed to notice her as a good looking young lady dog.  Her mistress, Adele, and his master, Billy, were the best of friends.  Had been since schooldays and so they spent a lot of time together which allowed the two dogs lots of time to play or just sit and watch tv with the humans.

"If only I was a human" said Coco to herself one day, I could write to an agony aunt in one of the magazines and see what advice they could offer.  She looked at herself in the mirror on the wardrobe door in Adele's bedroom, "hmm .. wonder if it's because one eye looks a bit bigger than the other one?" she muttered to herself, "or is it the colour?  No, can't be the latter, he loves green.  It was only the other day he said how nice my new boots looked and they are green.  Just wish he'd notice the colour of my eyes."

Just then Adele shouted "Coco, come on, we are off to the park."

Coco scampered down the stairs and waited patiently for her lead to be attached to her collar and off the two of them went.

Once in the park, Adele let her off the lead and Coco ran around, sniffing at the newly fallen leaves that lay like a carpet over the grass.  Oh she loved autumn when the leaves were on the ground and they rustled as she walked and ran through them.  It was fun trying to catch them as well when they fell from the trees.

Oops!  She skidded to a halt,  There in front of her sat Big Bruno, one of the largest and oldest dogs around.  

"Hi" he said, in his gruff voice, "what are you up to today little Coco?"  And the two of them sat and started to chat.  

It was then that Coco thought "agony aunt?  agony uncle?  What is the difference?  Maybe Bruno, with all his years experience could help her in her quest for love."  So she began chatting about Scot, the boy dog next door and her love for him.

"Oh dear" said Bruno, "I'm not great at advice.  May I interest you in a sarcastic comment?"

Coco was a little taken aback and she shuffled her feet in the leaves, "no, I just hoped you would be able to help but obviously you are not interested so I'll thank you and be on my way."

"Sorry" said Bruno, "My arthritis is bothering me a bit today so I'm afraid I am a bit grumpy.  Now what was it you wanted advice on young 'un.  Come and sit down and tell old Bruno again.  You want to know how to get the lad next door interested is that it?"

  

For this page I used Peeled Paint Oxide ink over the whole page and then I used some Lavinia stamps for the two trees (Tree of Courage and Tree of Hope) either side and scrunched paper up using red, yellow and orange ink to imitate autumn leaves on the trees and ground.  I finished off with a fir tree stamped in first and second generation to give the appearance of distance.

WOYWW 754

 Today has caught up with me whilst in a state of oblivion as to what day of the week it is.  Saturday was club day, Sunday we binge watched 'The Long Shadow' and then yesterday I flashed on with Christmas Cards and actually made some inners.

I would love to continue with what we began making at the club, it was a super day with Alexis as our tutor having worked so hard to make it easy for us to make an Advent Calendar Book.  I so would love to finish it but felt that my Christmas Cards had to come first so that I can get the ones for abroad in the post quickly, but need to make a birthday card for my little sister in Oz who has a birthday on the 2nd January.  She always gets the two cards together.  The Advent Book is going to be for my other half because he never gets one and this is made with lots of love just for him.  Here's a sneak peek at the start of it, you get the picture, more boxes needed:

Really you came here to see my desk so to comply with WOYWW and here it is, just a bit of a dumping ground at the moment

You probably see the above as fairly tidy, there is lots of room afterall - but that is because I am spreading all over the house.  My Christmas cards are now all piled up on the dresser in the hallway

Twenty Five Christmas cards all done and waiting for me to put the inserts in - if you look to the left you will see that I have even dressed the envelopes.  The inserts are on top of some of the cards waiting to be stuck in. 

I have sent one Christmas card off to a very dear friend (there was a reason for it to be so early) and I forgot to take a scan so I am hoping she will scan it for me at some time.  Anyway, in talking to her, via email, I decided that I will carry on making cards, as I am enjoying doing them, and any that I do not send I will let the Salvation Army or someone have them to distribute to old folks who live on their own.  I am appalled at the cost of posting cards and just feel that a lot of lonely people who live on their own probably look forward to seeing a card or two on their window sill and that is one way maybe I can bring joy to some of them.  

I would like to think that other card. makers can make one or two extras for some such worthy cause as that.  I know I will from now on.

Well, that is it, see you all next week and hopefully I will have done all my Christmas cards and maybe even be thinking about going shopping.  I have just not been in the mood as yet but need to be.  Anyone else like that?

Jeudi Journal - Been There

"Been there, done that.  Then been there several more times, because apparently I never learn" is the rather lengthy quote from Tim Holtz this week that we are using.  How many of you have said that time and time again?  As it is such a lengthy quote I think I will have to type it out and stick it on my page - visions of nothing but writing otherwise.  So where shall I begin with my story for linking to Art Journal Journey and the lovely Jo's challenge - Nature.?

"Paige wanted so much to be an actress, to be on the stage, on TV or in the films - anything!  It all started when she had a small part in the school play when she was ... a tree!  That was Junior School.  When she went to High School she could not wait to join the drama club.  In her five years at High School she was content to just simply join in and be part of anything as long as she was on the stage, but as she grew up and went to college, with drama as her main subject, she realised she wanted far more than that.  Auditions were taking place for "Annie" and so she decided to try for the main part.  What could she do that would make her stand out from the rest?  Especially that Jayne Johnson who everyone knew was Miss Davis's favourite pupil and who was certain to get the lead.

Paige went home that evening via the local pharmacy.  She had a little pocket money left over and now she had the perfect plan that would help her, along with her acting, to secure the role of Annie.  Mum wouldn't be home until later as she had to take Billy to his football match and dad was working late, it was the perfect night to hatch her plan.

So armed with her purchase she dashed in, looked around, the coast was clear and so she hurried upstairs to the bathroom and put her plan into action.

Imagine mum's surprise when when arrived home to find Paige lying down in the garden in an obvious state of upset.  Tears coursed down her face, she had a hat firmly planted on her hair and was obviously most distressed.

"What on earth is the matter?" asked mum as she stepped into the garden.  "And what have you done to your hair?"

"Oh mum, I wanted to audition for the part of Annie in two days time at college and so I thought if I dyed my hair red I would look like Annie to begin with and maybe, just maybe, the part would be mine.  I'm a good actress aren't I?  Gran is always saying I should be on the stage."

"Oh come here" said mum gently.  "There was no need for you to do that to your hair.  You are a brilliant little actress and you would be a great addition to any amateur production.  But dyeing your hair red!  Don't you think that's a step too far?"

"But I just felt I needed that little extra this time.  Something to clinch the deal.  Been there, done that.  Then been there several more times because apparently I never learn.  This was going to be it."

"Let's get you inside and I'll ring aunty Angela, she used to be a hairdresser and she will know exactly what we can do to get rid of this red hair.  I don't think Annie had hair that red do you?"  And with that, mum put her arm around her daughter's shoulders and steered her indoors.  Her sister would know exactly what to do to return Paige to her lovely fair haired natural beauty."

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.

Jeudi Journal - Coffee?

Today the quote is "Coffee has given me unrealistic expectations of productivity" and Art Journal Journey's theme is by the lovely Jo and is all about Nature so in order to marry the two together for my Jeudi Journal post I looked up where coffee comes from and found this interesting fact - I quote:

"The question of "where did coffee originate" is one of legends and folklore.  The most common story is that of the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau, where a goat herder named Kaldi first ate  berries from a peculiar looking tree.    The berries gave him a jittery, wide-awake feeling, that he had never experienced before.  From there, the power of coffee spread like wildfire.  Today coffee beans are one of the worlds most important agricultural commodities with millions of coffee plants cultivated in over seventy plus countries around the globe."

I had no idea that "coffee comes from a woody plant that can grow up to 10 metres tall, the beans developing inside a 'cherry' that grows from these plants and the coffee bean we know is actually a seed inside this cherry",  and so my page today is all about coffee which is at the centre of my story.

"Penny had always been a hard worker.  As what task she had to perform it was always done with 110%.  Take for example when she was at school, all her friends did their study as and when they wanted, they still had lots of time to go out and enjoy hanging about with one another and going dancing and to the cinema.  But not Penny.  Penny was not to be seen when study was needed in order to pass those vital exams.  She was only seen through her bedroom window studying hard, cramming as much as she could and coming away with lots of A's, some A*'s and a smattering of B's.  Her parents were so proud of her.

It came as no surprise to anyone when she was the one who secured an apprenticeship at the local Accountants, she flew through the interview with flying colours, and, of course, those amazing exam results.  She was a Trainee Accounting Technician at an early age and wanted to carry on with her studies to become an Assistant Accountant.

The thing was, Penny lived on coffee.  She rarely had a cup of coffee out of her hands.  It was coffee that had allowed her to stay up into the small hours of the night carrying on with her studying.  And so the day of her final examinations came ... and went ... and she didn't make the grade.  She failed her exams.

Penny was devastated and could see no reason at all why she had not passed as she had done in the early years.  And so she had to find someone to blame.  It wasn't her fault.  It must have been the coffee!  

"Coffee has given me unrealistic expectations of productivity" she said out loud to herself.  "I really believed if I could only stay awake in the wee small hours and study I would make it."  She took a long hard look at herself in the mirror.  There was only one thing she could do.  So armed with her shopping bag she set off for the local supermarket to buy herself several packets of tea.  "If coffee was my downfall I will try tea" she said to herself, and off she went to try a different drink and see if that worked any better at helping her and her expectations."

I really did find it difficult to marry the two challenges together and to begin with I did a little research on coffee and so I printed out some pictures of the bush that coffee comes from.  These were used to decorate my page to fit in with Jo's 'Nature' theme at AJJ.  Rather than cut the sprigs out I used them in a border down the side of the page like the tea cards we used to do in challenges when I first began stamping.  I hope Jo feels my page qualifies for her challenge ande I look forward to thinking about next week's page which I might find has an easier quote.

I have been meaning to show Valerie my latest t-shirt as I am sure she will love it but I kept forgetting all during October.  Now it fits in here perfectly with my page.  So just for Valerie I give you my winter t-shirt:

It really is pale blue, looks grey?

WOYWW 752

Hip Hip Hooray, I have started my Christmas cards.  Any more of you WOYWW'ers been Christmas card making?  Bet some of you have finished them not just started them.

Went down to Ruthin on Saturday to the Hallaganza at Lavinia and saw lots of lovely ideas and spent lots of lovely lolly.  Yes, had to buy those new stamps and this Christmas my cards will maybe have a fairy on them.  In fact on Monday I did three cards featuring the two fairies that have just come out.  I fell in love with them.  The fairies, not my cards.

To be honest I didn't need to go down to get inspired, the design team had been working hard and putting lots of their ideas on the net.  It was one of Tracey's videos that inspired me to use the fairies and so I stamped them up and added a bit of other stuff, a bit of colour, some holographic stuff and I had them done.  They are the ones that will go abroad.

So here is my craftroom counter in all its mess:

and my little table

Hopefully by next week I will have lots more Christmas cards done.  The one I really wanted to try I didn't realise I needed some small snowflakes to make it and I don't have any suitable in my stash.  Ah well, next year ...

In the meantime here is a catch up on some of my journal pages - I'll just show you the Lavinia inspired ones.  I don't know who inspired me with this lady (Zia) in her top hat but Jo was responsible for the inspiration behind the mousey clockwork one.

this one below is purely mine

This was intended for a challenge called 'animals gather' but I was too late (didn't read the rules) so I added some gears later and used it in my 'in gear' theme.

I've been Lavinia all the way recently as I did some 3" x 3" squares for a challenge Jo put up but I will show those to you next week in case I don't get any Christmas cards done for you to see.

In the meantime stay safe and well and hopefully we will meet up here again next Wednesday with all the other WOYWW gang.

End of the Month - Art Journal Journey

 Well, October is over and my planned post did not come to fruition.  I copied some "gear" quotes for you and they all came with a heavy white line across them.  Even when I deleted them one by one and retyped them myself I still had the heavy line.  So I give you the link instead: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/gears-quotes.

Talk about everything going wrong.   I decided to do a picture using pumpkins for Halloween but then I got carried away and so I ended up with my pumpkin houses but no gears.  So I decided the only thing to do was to attach some like falling leaves (substitute gears for leaves) for Pippin to be looking up at.

Here is my amended picture for my final contribution

May I thank all who entered a page in their journal for my theme at Art Journal Journey and a big thank you to Elizabeth for inviting me to be a guest host.  It has been a pleasure seeing what you all came up with and I thank you for it.  Tomorrow brings a new month and a new theme so it is exciting.  See you there!

Art Journal Journey -Two for One

Here we are, almost the end of October and time to bring my theme to an end at Art Journal Journey.  I still have three pages I previously made to show you so will show you two today and just one tomorrow.

These are not for my square journal but will still go in my Lavinia one if I decide to put them there as they are all Lavinia stamps I used.

The top one was simply a piece of cardstock on which I used Distress Inks in various greens and yellows and then the stencil, Lavinia, was used.  I often wonder when using this stencil have I got it upside down or the right way up?

It just had a selection of Lavinia cogs, wheels and words stamped on it and then some clocks, a compass and some more gears to give it prominence for my theme at AJJ.

The bottom one was where I had made a card and then stamped some images, again from Lavinia, on it but I had smudged the card.  So in order to save it from the bin and not add to the landfill problem I cut the two hearts out using a Spellbinders die.  I decorated a piece of cardstock with purple and pink DI's and stamped time words all over randomly.  This then had the two hearts cut from its face and I slotted the previous hearts behind it.

I hope this gives you another idea on what you might do if you too spoil a card with a silly smudge or something similar.