What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 800/20

Happy Week 800 to you all! What a number! Who would have thought that, when Julia posted her first shot of her workdesk on The Stamping Ground way back on 3rd June 2009, desk sharing would become such an enduring pleasure for deskhoppers everywhere. Not Julia, I'm thinking. But endured it has and today, now that Julia has retired, it's ably hosted by Sarah, from her Craft Shed.

I started my blog in September 2010 and it was only a few weeks later I discovered WOYWW. I don't know where I got the temerity to join in the fun, but join in I did on Week 71, 12th October 2010. Of course it was Julia's warm and no frills approach to blogging, and crafting, that drew me in. Since then I've shared my desk 454 times, 455 when this one is counted in. 

One of the inevitable outcomes of the weekly deskhops were the WOYWW crops. I missed the first few, but when I eventually mentioned it to my husband, Alan, he was all for it. So off we went. From Scotland to Llandudno, Wales, in 2017 and Shrewsbury, England, in 2018. Here's a couple of pics from 2017.

Llandudno, hosted by Margaret, Glitter and Glue.

Annie, LLJ and Julia

Julia and myself.

The group photo 2017.

Shrewsbury, hosted by the two sisters, Annie, Wipso-A Stitch In Time, and Jo, Twiglet .

The birthday presentation to Julia.

The group photograph 2019.

Lovely times, lovely people, lovely memories.

Whether met virtually or in person, it's been a privilege to get to know so many fabulous and talented WOYWWers. 

Of course, it wouldn't be WOYWW if I didn't show a pic of my desk today. It's a different desk in a very different place in totally different circumstances but my intention is to continue deskhopping as often as possible. And hopefully WOYWW will continue under Sarah's watch for many more years to come.

And finally, it wouldn't be my WOYWW post without a photo of Silver.

Not so much a crafty cat, more a very naughty one. She did her best all morning to distract me from putting this post together. And now she's curled up on the sofa beside me, out for the count. Typical!

Best wishes to all my lovely WOYWW friends, old and new. Have a wonderful week. 

Take care everyone

Elizabeth 

Friday Smiles - It's the Little Things

 I've been intending to join in with Annie's meme, This Week's Smiles, on her blog, A Stitch in Time, for weeks now but somehow never quite got there until today. 

I'll try to keep it as brief as possible because it's been a week of appreciating the little things.

I'm finally, after two years of living without, able to set up my sewing machine. After the move I couldn't find the power lead so I finally phoned a sewing machine repair service based in Glasgow for help. Help they did! Even though they don't usually post spare parts out. So thanks to Sewing Machines Direct for service above and beyond expectation. 

To celebrate, I took a trip up to the black hole, aka the shed, where the packing boxes have lain unopened for just as long as the sewing machine has been untouched and found these. Fat quarters. Just the thing for rusty old me to practice on. 

More little things. The October issues of my two favourite magazines - The Simple Things & Happiful - have been delivered. They go so nicely with a cuppa! Happiful has a recipe for Blackberry Banana Bread which, as I have blackberries growing at the top of the garden, I had to try.

Not quite as illustrated but baking is another thing I'm out of practice in. I haven't mastered the new fan oven too. It's all trial and error.

My 'staff of tasters' reported it was delicious and I enjoyed this slice smothered in butter. It will look better next time.

Finally, it's my lovely son-in-law's 60th birthday today. Graeme's had a tough year having lost both his father-in-law and, just a few weeks ago, his own much loved father. Here's wishing him a a less traumatic and happier year to come. 

Hope you've had a lovely week, with much to smile about, and that next week is good too.

Take care Everyone
Elizabeth 

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 799/19

Hello Everyone,

Another Wednesday, another What's On Your Workdesk, and it's so nearly a real big one too. One week to go to No.800! Want to know more about this weekly show and tell for crafters worldwide? Check out this post over on Julia's Stamping Ground for an explanation of what it's all about. Joining in, just pop over to Sarah's Craft Shed where you can now link your desky post. It's all great fun.

Because I've been distracted by the chaos in my craftroom and unable to give myself permission to just sit down and scrapbook, it's clear I had to find some inspiration. 

Here is, I hope, the very project to get me going again. It's a jar of challenges, the idea for which is based on an old class of Shimelle's, The 20 Project.  

So far, so good. This is the result of the first challenge pulled out of the jar which was to complete a page for a gap in a near completed album. This one for my own personal album. The photo was taken at my 50th birthday party in 1997. Alan loved a party so he made all the arrangements. He wanted me to celebrate with all my siblings, my children, their children together with our mum. I'm so glad he did because it was the last time we were all able to get together at the same time. 

Materials are just the usual mix of goodies from my stash, some old, some new. I'm happy to report that some progress has been made in organising the craftroom. It's not perfect yet, but some improvement can be seen.

Yesterday was a beautiful day - one of the very few we've had this year. So when my grandson sent me a text to say it was so nice we could see the Isle of Arran clearly from the shore, I just had to pop down to check it out. Not only could Arran be seen but that wee dot in the far distance is the island of Ailsa Craig. 

And finally, of course, it has to be my wee furry friend:

She's sending her best meows to you all. 

Best wishes from me to you all too. Have a wonderful week.

Take care Everyone,
Elizabeth