WOYWW - Week 558

Hello Everyone,

Happy Wednesday - and it's snowing! It won't last and it isn't lying - well, not yet - but the soft white flakes fluttering down and melting on the craftroom window is lovely to watch. Which brings me back to why I'm here today. It's another What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! Don't know what WOYWW is? It's my excuse to bare all, so to speak, by posting a pic of my desk - usually a sad mess - and talking about what I've been up to since last Wednesday, if anything at all. Feel free to join in over at the Stamping Ground - Julia would be happy to see you. 

So what's on my desk is a pile of scraps. I've been sorting out my boxes of festive themed stuff before it's moved off the desk and put away again for a few months. When I've decided I've squeezed as many cards, so far the count is only two, from those scraps I'll toss what's left. We are, after all, well into the middle of February so time for Christmas to be gone ... well, at least for now. There's a cyber crop coming up at the end of the month and I need to be prepared. 

Thought you might like to see the cushion I was working on last week. It's finished! There's a bit of quilting on the backing fabric - not a lot but enough to add interest.  

Here I am stitching the binding with the help of my new little helpers. The book lights are a very thoughtful gift from my daughter - the perfect aid for her old mother whose eyesight isn't what it used to be. 

Now, the book bit. Not an audiobook this week, instead it's a cookery book. 

Rukmini Iyer's The Green Roasting Tin, is a beautifully illustrated book of dishes that look delicious, tempting and simple to make. I bought it for inspiration when we, actually he - I've always preferred vegetarian meals to anything with meat in it - decided to eat more veg based meals. This is a great book to be using regularly. The recipes are so easy to make - just throw everything in the roasting tin and pop it in the oven to bake. The result is a tasty hot dinner made with very little effort. I'd say this is a book that I'll be using a lot. 

And finally ...

That's it from me this week. I'm off now to see what Julia and our fellow deskers have been showing us today.

Take care everyone and have a great week ahead.

WOYWW - Week 553

Morning Everyone,

After a longer break than anticipated, this is the first reveal of my desk of 2020 for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday so Happy New Year to you all - may it be a happy, healthy and crafty one!

Predictably, I'm still scrapping December so there's the most recent batch of photographs and the contents of one of my homemade scrap kits taking centre stage. Making kits from old stash is the best way I've found yet to make some impact on my sizeable, but lovely, stash mountain. And can you see my fabulous new desk calendar - from Cindy, one of our crafty WOYWWers - love the cat! The rest of the stuff is just the usual mess. I try to keep it tidy but I'm as effective as Canute trying to push back the tide!

There's not been a lot of crafting going on here but I did finally finish this quilted Christmas tree cushion.

I did add some diamonte 'lights' - randomly on the ribbon trim - but it they don't show up on this photo. Here's a close up.

Still not too obvious but they look lovely in real life. Needless to say, it's now packed away - along with the trees and the decorations - until next December.

There's some new fabric on my sewing desk.

There was a sale and I couldn't resist these patterns - perfect for the little bookworms in the family and 4-year old Callum, who has a thing about globes and maps of the world - just like his daddy before him.

Now for the book bit. Not that I have a book this week but I thought I'd share my latest app, Libby.

After a trip to my local library, I'm now, through Libby able, to borrow audiobooks - free! All that's needed is a library card and password - it's so easy. It's also possible to borrow e-books through this app which can be sent to Kindle if preferred. I've now discovered a huge collection of books - both new and older ones - that I'm able to 'borrow' for a couple of weeks at a time. That's more than long enough for me to 'read' any book.

That's it from me this week. I'm off now to see what Julia and our fellow deskers have been showing us today.

Take care everyone and have a great week ahead.

WOYWW 539

Hello Everyone,

It's the first What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday of October and I'm running late. Nothing unusual in that, of course, but I have been busy in the garden - yes, the sun is shining and it isn't so very cold. We've been tidying up ready for the gales that have been forecast. Which means there's nothing much on my workdesk today so here's a shot of what's on the sewing table instead.

I've been working on this unfinished cushion cover. Progress is slow but it will be done before December.

The quilting class at the community centre has started again. This term I'm making a table runner.  This is the first block - an eight-pointed star. The fabrics are printed with fruit and vegetables - very appropriate.

And now the book bit.

Jane Gilley's 'The Woman Who Kept Everything' tackles, through the story of 79-year-old Gloria, the very important issues of  hoarding, senile squalor syndrome, and the financial abuse of older adults. Whilst living among piles of magazines, cardboard boxes and the many knickknacks that she treasures, Gloria is unaware of just how desperate her living conditions appear to others.  This changes when a smell of burning suddenly forces her to leave, not only her home, but all her much loved possessions too. Her bully of a son. Cleg, dumps her in a home, clears her house and puts it up for sale - this without her knowledge or permission. On discovering this Gloria decides to pack a suitcase and go on various adventures in Skegness, London and Eastbourne. It's difficult to believe that a hoarder can change her ways so easily and quickly, but that aside I found it an enjoyable and uplifting story.

That's it from me today. Be sure to pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground to visit so many more desks today.

I hope you are having a wonderful WOYWW and wish you a great week ahead.

Sewing - My First Quilt Completed

Hello Everyone

I hope you are enjoying this Saturday. We've had rain over night - nice for the garden but not so good for us - and it's been overcast all day so what better excuse to catch up with housework. Only kidding!

I'm so pleased to be able to share this with you all. It's been an unfinished project for a very long time. I bought the kit, My First Quilt, a few years ago because I thought I'd try quilt-making again but it was three decades since my last quilting project and I got the collywobbles. The kit got stashed away, not entirely forgotten but definitely neglected. Then the opportunity to attend quilting classes came up and I didn't hesitate. Two quilts, and various smaller projects, later and I felt able to finally finish this quilt. It's not perfect but I love the colours and the patterns, especially the border, and I'm pretty pleased with it.

Pleased enough to label it with my name and date. Not the date it was finished but almost. The label had to be attached with the binding and that then required a lot of hand-stitching to the back  of the quilt - that took me several more days!

I should say that the label was made on my sewing machine which has built-in alphabet stitches.

Now, I should get back to the current project. On a day like today stamping and colouring is the only thing to do.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 496

Hello Everyone,

Another Wednesday, another WOYWW.  I hope you are all well and enjoying yourself whatever you're doing. It's back to normal for me this week ... late! And sorry Julia, it's another long and photo-heavy post.

Here's my desk. Still, as last week, tidy - the new trolley is still working its magic - but it's looking a lot like Christmas. Yep! I've finally pulled out everything Christmas related. Not that I intend to document the festivities daily, I just know I couldn't keep it up every day, but I am hoping to make a few 12x12 layouts throughout December.

This tray is full of bits and bobs left over from Christmases past. I hope, probably a vain hope, to use up as many as possible ... still aiming for thriftiness. Under the tray is another full of patterned paper from previous years too.

Then there's this container, also full of supplies, some old and some, I have to admit, new. With the best will in the world, even I can't resist all the new goodies on sale! Together these containers are what I'll be working with for the rest of the month, and probably well into the new year too ... all those winter photos to scrap.

As I've mentioned before I've been working through my pile of UFOs and making progress too.

This is the most recent - a cushion made from a patchwork square, one of three made originally for the craft group quilt. This one was not needed after all so lay in my UFO box waiting for inspiration. With the addition of strips of the same fabric as used for the butterflies for edging, quilting and backing I now have a very pretty little cushion cover.

The book bit and this week I thought I'd show you something different from the audio books I've been listening too - I'm still bingeing on crime thrillers which are not to everyone's taste. (I'm saving the Christmas themed reads mentioned last week for nearer the big day.) Instead, I thought, as Christmas is approaching and you may want to treat someone - yourself perhaps - you might like to see a few of my favourite crafty books. Not only do these books have instructions for beautiful projects but they are also great reads.

Kelly McCants' 'At Home with Modern June' is a joy. It's full of fun projects, great retro ideas and inspirational illustrations. And, as is explained in the foreword, it was inspired by the necessary makeover the author's home needed after Hurricane Irene felled a great oak onto the back of her home! 

'Sewing Happiness' by Sanae Ishida. When the author was 'diagnosed with a chronic illness and lost her corporate job, she thought her life was over. But these challenges ended up being the best thing that ever happened to her because they forced her to take stock of her life and focus on the important things, and enabled her to rediscover sewing - her true passion'. So, another inspiring read and for anyone interested in sashiko this would be a good one to start with.

Tiff Fussell & Rachelle Blondel's Granny Chic is perfect for those of us who, like me, enjoy a little trip down memory lane. This book contains instructions for 20 projects, from handmade notebooks, lace lampshades to aprons made from tea towels, all intended to bring some granny chic to your life. Some of the projects are crocheted or knitted, so it's not all sewing.

As usual, if you haven't participated in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday before but fancy joining in the fun do pop over to the Stamping Ground where you can find all the information you need here. It's really too easy, post a photo of your desk, tidy or messy it doesn't matter, and add your link to all the others. It's fun, you'll see.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 493

Hello Everyone,

Well, it's a perfect day for WOYWW here - wet and miserable! I don't know about where you are but here in South Ayrshire the weather pattern seems to one of alternating between the perfect sunny but nippy autumnal days and the equally perfect crafting days - that's the ones where you dare not step outdoors without donning wellies and waterproofs! Much better then to spend those days creating a mess on the workdesk.

Although it's not so messy this week. Oh there's still the usual pile on the right. This one is all Christmas related - a box of scraps and a stack of paper pads. The pack of sticky-backed gems is still there after the latest card making session. Top left is my 'bullet journal'. It's coming on with an index, the month, to-dos and a of list of UFOs (unfinished projects) I'm working through. What it isn't is decorated and it's not overly ambitious either - I know myself too well for that. At the front is the Creative Palette I found tucked away out of sight, sad and forgotten - why? I recall enjoying playing creating with it once or twice. However, I've forgotten how to use is so I think a trip over to YouTube is called for. Not now. Not today. But soon.

Talking of UFOs. I'm on a mission to finish as many as I can before 2019. This is the Attic Windows  quilted cushion begun at the start of this year - before the EM became ill. There wasn't much to do to finish it so I got stuck in yesterday and got it done. The first item ticked of on that list.

And now for something a bit different in the book bit. Not an audio-book - though I'm still bingeing on thrillers - but a real book, a hardback in fact.

I spotted 'The Art of Coorie: How to Live Happy the Scottish Way', by Gabriella Bennett, during a visit to the garden centre at the weekend. The word 'coorie' took me back to my early childhood in a instant ... it's a word that conjures up feelings of warmth and comfort ... so for that reason alone, I had to have this book.

If you are, like me, a devotee of hygge - the Danish way of cosy living - you'll love this book. Forget the tartan and twee that is usually associated with Scotland, this is a beautiful written and illustrated book giving a fresh perspective on Scottish culture.





If you haven't participated in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday before but fancy joining in the fun do pop over to the Stamping Ground where you can find all the information you need here. It's really too easy, post a photo of your desk, tidy or messy it doesn't matter, and add your link to all the others. It's fun, you'll see.

In the meantime, have a very happy WOYWW and a great week ahead.

Friday Smiles

Hello Smilers

Joining in Annie's Friday Smiles ... a bit late but I've been out spending the children's inheritance at The Range today.

It's an extremely cold day - only 5C degrees - but I've had a quick wander round the garden and there's quite a lot to smile about despite the freezing temperatures.

The miniature daffs, Tete-a-Tete, are looking better this year than ever.

Newly planted up pots of Pixie Iris with snowdrops promising a bit more colour soon.

Primulas waiting to be potted up - the pastel shades are so pretty.

Rhubarb - also waiting to be planted out. I just have to decide where it's going 

... oh, and for the weather to get warmer!

Got to share this.

This quilt was made by the members of the Cake and Crafting Group I go to on a Thursday afternoon. Two of the squares were made by yours truly. It's going to be entered into a competition at the SECC Craft Show next month. Wish us luck.

Finally, no funnies this week but I thought you might enjoy this lovely smiley photo.

My grandson William with his son Callum on a visit to Loch Lomond. Smiles like that just melt this grandmother's heart.

Hope you've had much to smile about this week too and that you will have a wonderful weekend.

The Quilted Scrappy Box Bag

Hello Everyone,

Following on from yesterday's WOYWW post here's the finished scrappy bag.

After I recovered from zippergate I'd like to say it was a piece of cake but attaching the handle gave me a bad moment or two ... it's attached from the inside so I was working blind and had to make sure it wasn't twisted! Still, I got there in the end and I'm pleased with the result, warts and all.

Although the outer is made from a combination of black and white fabrics I've gone for a pop of colour for the lining. It's hidden but I know it's there ... it's the little things that make me happy!

I'm slowly getting back into the old routine after the holiday ... you'd think we'd been away for a month and not a week ... and hope to get down to making a June Rudolph Day card tomorrow.

That's it for this evening. Hope you're having a good one.

WOYWW 421

Hi Everyone,

I'm back from my sojourn in the Highlands and I can report that it was fabulous. We even had a few wonderfully hot and sunny days. Sadly, the weather has been dismal since we returned on Sunday - could be that we've had our summer. Sigh. Enough. On to why I'm here, that'll be What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Julia's, and why I'm so late, that'll be because I've been out most of the day at a patchwork/quilting class.

So not my usual desk today and please don't take a magnifying glass to those squares ... it will give the perfectionists among us a fit of the vapours. What you see are the side panels for a scrappy box bag. I'd love to show you the finished project but slow coach here didn't get it finished and, sadly, it's still a work in progress. Putting in the zip proved to be my Achilles Heel!!!

Here's a photo of some of the ladies beavering away.

We are in a former classroom in what is now Prestwick Community Centre but was at one time a Public School, built in 1882 to accommodate 350 pupils.

It's a lovely old building and it's also where the craft club I go to on Thursday afternoons is held.

I'll be back to share my make just as soon as it's done - hopefully, tomorrow.

In the meantime, I wish you all a very belated happy WOYWW and a great crafty week to come.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - WOYWW Week 408

Hello Everyone,

Ah, back again. Another week gone, another What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday come. I'll make this post brief, as is preferred by our Head Desker, Julia.

A little sewing project on the desk today. Easter chicks. I'm planning to make one to begin with and if that works out okay I'll make another three to give to my great-grandchildren. The pattern pieces have been traced on to wax paper ready for the cutting out. To the back, that's some left over wadding and cotton backing fabric from the quilt I'm also working on and the red folder is full of instructions for the said quilt. Here's an update photo of how it's looking before quilting.

All three layers being pinned together after ironing.

This is my least favourite part of quiltmaking - mainly because I haven't got a surface big enough to spread the whole quilt out on before pinning it together. Might be a good idea to stick to smaller quilting projects in future.

So, that's my desk today. It's all sewing and no papercrafting. Next week could be completely different - that's the joy of crafting.

I'm off now to snoop around other folk's desks.

Here's to a fabulous WOYWW and a great week ahead.