Wednesday 1 August 2018

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 478

Hello Everyone,

I almost missed that it's the first of a new month this morning. Almost! But then I was reminded that it's LLJ's birthday - Happy Birthday lovely lady!!! - and that brought WOYWW to mind too. Altogether a great day!

Here's what my desk looked like this morning.
It's changed a bit but only because, in order to get to the keyboard,  I've shifted the folder of stencils on the left - it's now on top of the RUB on the right. There's more plastic stencils in that brightly coloured pile - a real blast from the past. One of the requirement's of this week's MTS scrapbook challenge is that we use mixed media on our layouts so I'm thinking I might use one or other of them - after so many neglected years. The box I found the stencils in also contained several sets of decorative scissors -  bought in the days before there was any of the fabulous border punches I have today. I might give them a last hurrah before passing them on to my great-niece, Arihanna, who has decided that she wants to make cards just like Auntie - that's me, of course. :)

This challenge is working wonders for my scrapbook albums. Normally I struggle to complete a page in three days but this last week I hit my personal best with eight layouts. Clearly, all I need is a deadline to end my procraftinating. And it's making quite a dent on the pile of photos, both old and new.  There's four in this previous post and here's the last four of the week.

Wintertime
Here on the southwest coast of Scotland we get the most amazing skies, even in winter. These photos of our cherry trees show just how blue the sky can be.

Loved
These photos are from 1969 and that's me, the proud mother, showing off my firstborn - truly he was gorgeous! He will be fifty next year - really, I can hardly believe it myself!

Awesome
Unlike my scientist husband, I don't yearn to travel in space ... it's good old terra firma for me ... but I do think these photos of Scotland from space are fantastic and worth noting.

Daisyduck
My boy again. Here he is 9 months old and that is his much loved baby walker - a duck with a daisy in her hat - hence the name Daisyduck. He was so attached to her that I brought it all the way from Germany to Scotland on the plane, good old British Airways, for a visit of a couple of months at my mother's.

It's not been all scrapping though. I did manage to make this at the craft group on Thursday.
A handy zipped bag. We had a lovely time making these bags - it made a change from what we usually do at the group. For anyone who would like to have a go the instructions can be found on the Noodlehead blog - here's the link.

Finally, this week's books. I gave up on the Isla Dewar book at last and listened instead to these very much more enjoyable ones.


I was drawn to The Book Shop by Penelope Fitgerald after reading Hermione Lee's biography. And I'm so glad I was. It's set in the 1950s in a small Suffolk town where not much ever changes. The main character, Florence, opens a book shop against local, and powerful, opposition. The writing is full of humour and had me laughing out loud even when I was totally exasperated with the 'small town' attitudes portrayed.

I read Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L Sayers many decades ago and enjoyed it then but I didn't remember it as a funny book. This audio book had me chuckling away, sometimes for reasons not intended. It's a full cast dramatisation and, as it's set in the southwest corner of Scotland, many of the characters are Scots. It never fails to amuse me just how bad a job some actors make of the Scottish accent. Aside from that, I really enjoyed following along with Lord Peter Wimsey, as he gathered clues to identify the murderer of a local artist.

Another lengthy post today - it's a rare thing when it's not - I hope Julia will forgive me yet again.

Have a lovely day, what's left of it, and a wonderful week.

15 comments:

Sarah Brennan said...

Hi Elizabeth, my Great Niece is also the recipient of much of the stash that I have never used or don't any more. She is the proud owner of quite a few wooden stamps and last year a set of tiny alphabet punches made it her way. Love your layouts, especially the top one of the winter trees. Have a great week. Sarah #19

Hazel said...

Love the LOs, particularly the winter time one. Interesting desk. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a good day - Hazel, WOYWW #15 x

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Elizabeth, love all the layouts. During my tidy this week, I came across some really old stencils like that, AND a stock of those fancy edged scissors too! Not used them for so long, as I got a paper trimmer with interchangeable fancy blades. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #5 XxX

Annie said...

Lovely to see your scrapbooking. Such special memories and well worth your wonderful efforts. Love the little zipped bag too....clever you.
Hugs,
Annie x

Claire said...

Wow, you are always so productive - so inspiring :)
A very happy WOYWW to you!
Claire no.6

Helen said...

what fabulous layouts, go you at so many!! Helen #1

Heather M said...

Hi Elizabeth, well done on completing so many layouts. I hope I can end my procraftinating (what a fabulous word)! Time for me to knuckle down and get on with it! Have a lovely week Heather x #34

Lunch Lady Jan said...

So many great things on your slightly messy desk this week, lol! I adore your LOs especially the Winter one and you holding your son, so gorgeous! And that little zippy bag is gorgeous, I love the combo of the butterfly and spotty fabrics, very smart indeed.
Thanks for the birthday wishes and earlier visit to mine,
Hugs LLJ 8 xxx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Evening Elizabeth, your scrap book pages are fabulous it's amazing how a prompt or deadline can speed us along and get the job done. Lovely to know your niece gets those retired crafty items, I pass mine onto the local charity shop if there is nothing my Daughter wants to keep hold of.
Thanks for sharing WOYWW Tracey #3
P.S Great little zip bag, so useful x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Well done Elizabeth with all those LOs, they look great. You asked about any follow up after leaving the pebbles. We have a Facebook page where people can leave photos of the pieces they find but people don't always bother. There is only one left in the park now. Have a great woyww and a lovely crafty week, Angela x17x

Twiglet said...

Your album pages are really lovely - such memories there for you. Thanks for the link to the bag instructions - I've made lots but I just like the way this one is finished off. xx Jo

Sue said...

Hi Elizabeth, Fab LOs.

Loving the bag.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #14

Carmen said...

I think your album page record for this week is my album page in total ever :D I keep wanting to tr again, maybe I will soon. Love that you are encouraging your little niece with her craftiness.

Have a lovely week,
Carmen x #35

Frayed Round The Edges said...

You certainly pack a lot into your week! lovely pages, I haven't done scrapbook pages for years.All good intentions when I had one grandchild but I cant keep up with 4 now! Karen 26

Annie Claxton said...

Hi Elizabeth, I love your scrapbook pages, my fave would have to be Daisyduck :o) Must see if I can get that book on my Kindle, looks like my cup of tea! Have a great week. Annie C #12