WOYWW Week 843 : A Quiet Week

Hello WOYWWers, Followers, Everyone,

On the desk this morning is the February introduction page for this year's album. As usual, I've chosen a few photos that serve as a reminder of just some of what happened that month.  Scattered about are some bits and bobs I might add to the pockets, There's a pack of photos waiting to be dated and filed away until I'm ready to make pages with them. The book that can be seen just off to the right is one I've just finished reading. More about it later.

I've been able to not just work in the garden now but spend time relaxing in the summerhouse. I use the spotty bag to transport the memoir I've been struggling to finish since January, notebooks I jot stuff in, pencils, one of my favourite mugs and the flask containing a latte until I'm ready to drink it. 

Silver takes up residence in the spotty bag whenever it's empty. She's not fussy. Anywhere will do, even when it's been left on the ironing board. Oh, and those towels - I spotted them in Asda and just could not resist that gorgeous peach colour!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney. I love a good mystery. A couple living a normal, happy, almost idyllic life in a house on a beach in a friendly little Scottish village, Fairlie, with their much loved seven year old son and a dog. Sounds perfect until one day the son, while playing on the beach, disappears! From there the story takes us through the aftermath with some unexpected twists and turns that I certainly didn't expect. What made it all the more interesting to me is that Fairlie is just up the coast from where I am now. The villages & towns, landscape and places mentioned are familiar to me. Even the village my daughter lives in gets a mention. Although the author now lives in New Zealand, he was born and grew up in Ayrshire so he knows the area well. If, like me, you enjoy a gripping good read then I'd recommend this book.

Finally, a few of the funnies I've collected this week.

To see more creative workdesks pop over to Sarah's blog, Sarah's Craft Shed. If you don't already do so, feel free to join in the fun and show us what's on your workdesk this Wednesday. You'll be made most welcome.

Have a great WOYWW day and a fabulous week everyone,

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

WOYWW - Week No.788/8

Hello Everyone,

It's been a while since I've been able to join in with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - hosted by Sarah on her blog, Sarah's Craft Shed. I won't go into the gory details, and risk boring you all. I'll just say I've been too ill to do much at all. Not least, scrapbooking. I think I've made about three pages since my last post, which was way back in May! 

That's why all that you see on my desk is the album I'm keeping for this year, with guidance from Shimelle's class, This Year's Story. Needless to say, I'm way behind! Not to worry. I'll catch up eventually. Anyone who follows me on Instagram or Facebook will have seen my recent progress but for those of you who haven't here's the latest pages made for the album.

This last page was made with really old stash and I even managed to add some inky stencilling to the background.

The stencil is from Scrap-A-Sketch's collection. I've been a bit naughty recently, spending more than I should on new stash. My way of trying to cheer myself up when I've not been up to anything more than wishing, dreaming and mentally planning future scrap projects. And when I've not been doing that, I've been doing this:

This book, The Consolation of Nature: Spring in the Time of Coronavirus written by three noted nature writers, has indeed been a consolation. And with a nice cuppa in this cute cup, a gift from my daughter, what could be better. Not much, that's for sure!

Before I go, I just want to thank everyone who has left me their kind comments and emails. They have been much appreciated even if I haven't been able to say so at the time. Indeed, one of the reasons I haven't shown up on WOYWW for the last goodness knows how many weeks is because it wasn't possible for me to visit you all and admire all the crafty stuff you've been up to. I changed supplier recently and found I was without broadband, WIFI and TV for longer than expected. Never again!

To end, late as I am to the party, I still intend to visit everyone who is participating in WOYWW today and leave a comment where possible. Experience has shown that's not always possible for reasons beyond my ken. Suffice to say, I plan to do my best. 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

Sunday Witterings

Thought I would post what I've been up to today. It's been such a lovely warm day, despite the wind which shows no signs of letting up just yet, I went out for a walk. That doesn't sound like something to shout about, but if I tell you that 've been almost completely housebound these last few months then I think you'll agree it's something to be very happy about.

It was just a walk around the block but that took me to the nature reserve at the top of the road I live in. I did have an ulterior motive for going that way. Foraging. Given that there's nothing blooming in my very sad garden, I was desperately seeking materials for tomorrow's In A Vase On Monday. I went armed with my trusty secateurs and a bag in which to carefully stash my foraged goodies. The results to be revealed tomorrow.

Home again, I settled down to a latte and the April edition of The Simple Things magazine. It's the perfect read for a Sunday afternoon. I'm halfway through Kate Humble's A Year of Living Simply. It's my aim now to live as simply as possible, However, I won't be jaunting off to America or the Netherlands as Kate has done for her book. All that travel can't be good for the planet!

So far it's been a good day. That doesn't sound so very earth shattering but after the last few months of coming to terms with life as it is now, and not how it was, it definitely is. I'll say no more. Instead I'll leave you with a photo of Silver who just has to get involved in scrapping with me. 

Take care everyone,

Elizabeth

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 665

Hello Everyone,

It's been a while. I didn't realise until today quite how long it's been since I joined in with Julia's WOYWW. My last post is dated 12th February - that's weeks ago! Alan has been poorly again and consequently needed a lot of TLC. He's been better for a few days so I'm hopeful he'll be fine for a while but we can never tell with long-Covid - finger's crossed.

Right, onto the desk. 

What's on it is an almost completed page. It wasn't until I viewed this photo that I realised I'd missed out the inners of some of the letters in the cut-file! 

They have been coloured with a watercolour pen - Spectrum Aqua 'Spice'. I'd almost forgotten I had this collection of pens, and they are lovely.

The kitten bit:

Introducing the Licky Mat. Silver loves eating her food from it. I'm told it makes food more interesting for her. 

The book bit:

And it's not an audiobook today but a real printed paper book - 'Little Stories of Your Life' by Laura Pashby. This is a delightful and beautifully illustrated book, in which readers are encouraged to look for the magical moments in our everyday life. 

Sorry, given what's happening in Ukraine, there are no funnies this week. Words fail me. My thoughts are with everyone caught up in this terrible war, in particular the children. 

Finally, we were saddened to hear Julia's sad news about her beloved Mama this week. Alan and I will be thinking of her and her family during this difficult time. 

Bye for now

Elizabeth

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 662

Hello Everyone,

And a happy WOYWW to Julia in the Stamping Ground and all fellow deskers everywhere. I hope you are well and finding plenty time to spend at your desks crafting. We're still enduring some wild weather here - wind, rain, more wind and yet more rain. We even had a flurry of snow on Sunday. I call it good scrapping weather. 

This is the state of my desk this morning after I'd abandoned it yesterday evening. As you can see, I'm working on yet another scrap layout so there's stuff everywhere. That rickety looking pile just visible on the left is needing sorted out - again! Though it does have to build to wobble height before I'll do anything about it. The page itself is surrounded by piles of ephemera that I've sorted roughly by size - large, medium, small. This helps with cluster building. Once the page is done, it will all be sorted by colour and returned to these plastic boxes.

There's two sets. I don't know what I'd do without them. Yes I do, I'd be working in an even bigger mess than I already do!

The kitten bit.

Silver joined me in the garden yesterday as I checked for snowdrops. She would be more than happy if I spent all day out there but it's bitterly cold even in the sunshine so fifteen minutes was more than enough for me. 

The book bit. 

The book I've been listening to this week is Elly Griffith's new book, The Locked Room. It's the latest in the series that has Dr Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and her lover, DCI Nelson, always referred to by his surname, as the main characters. Set in Norfolk during the first Covid lockdown it has everything - mysterious deaths, domestic abuse, missing students and more. I did enjoy listening even though it did bring back the horror of Covid in vivid detail. 

And that, coincidentally, brings us to what is happening now. Alan is not too well at the moment with another episode of fatigue and breathlessness. There's nothing for it but to rest, something he doesn't do well as he hates inactivity.  In the meantime, I'm head nurse, cook and bottle washer so I'll hope you'll understand that I may take even longer than usual visiting and commenting. 

The funnies bit

And finally,

Take care and keep safe. 

Bye for now,

Elizabeth

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 606

 Hello Everyone

This is my first What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday of the year so Happy New Year to WOYWWers everywhere.

I've been doing a bit of sorting out here so there's been precious little crafting going on - a  scrap page (posted here yesterday) and that's about it. Except, I have made a start on this little album which was purchased some time ago ... some time ago meaning years ago! It's much smaller than my usual 12"x 12" size - it's pages measure approximately 8"x 6". Found it during a sort out session and thought it was about time I did something with it so I'm aiming to use it as a kind of nature journal. If there is something that this last dreadful year has taught me it is the benefits and pleasure to be found in nature. Even if, as has been the norm lately, it is only the feeling of well being gained from a wee stroll round my garden on a good day. 

On a bad day it comes from a dip into the books on nature and wildlife I've gathered together since April last year. These two, both by Emma Mitchell, a naturalist who writes for a variety of magazines, including Mollie Makes, and has appeared on one of my favourite TV programmes,  BBC's Countryfile, are my most recent acquisitions.

Not that I'm forsaking the 12" x 12" format altogether. Not at all! I blew one of the gift cards received for Christmas on this almighty pack of plastic inserts so have given myself the nigh impossible goal of filling them all. Given that each one holds two scrap pages that's a whopping 200 layouts needing to be done. As I said, nigh impossible, but I'm going to give it a go.

So that's what's on my desk or, as in the case of the books, on the floor - Helen (Stamping by H) might be pleased to see me making use of the floor too - today. I'm off to grab a spot of lunch and spend an hour  or so catching up with what's on your desks too. 

I'm not ignoring the lockdown completely - how can I - suffice to say I hope you are all keeping well and staying safe. Oh, and keep crafting!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 587

 Hello Everyone,

Late again! No good excuse except that my workload has either increased due to Mr W's Covid induced incapacity, my preferred excuse, or I'm just slowing down - hard to admit, but true nonetheless. Whichever, I'm still late to Julia's weekly WOYWW party over at the Stamping Ground. 

And before I reveal what's on my desk, I need to apologise to everyone I didn't manage to visit and leave a comment with last week. I did try, honestly, but I just ran out of time. I'm trying. When he's being flippant Mr W would say I can be very trying indeed :)  Enough of my grovelling! Here's what's on my desk today. 

Still scrapbooking - it's what's keeping me sane at the moment. (I won't go on, but there's an increased incidence of the dreaded virus in our area which means we could be back in lockdown imminently.) And just for my own entertainment, I'm working my way through a pile of mini kits I put together a while ago - last year, I think. The papers in this one look perfect for the wedding photo of my lovely cousin, Rachel, and her hero, Chris. 

And many thanks to Jan, aka LLJ, who sent the lovely notecard you can see lying on the keyboard. She, like many of you, has been so kind while we've been poorly, regularly getting in touch and asking how we're doing and sending best wishes. Needless to say, it all helped immensely and I am so grateful for all the concern shown. It's the friendships made through this blog, and especially through Julia and her What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, that have meant, and continue to mean, so much to both of us. Our thanks go to you all. 

And now a sort of return to the book bit.

Note: not the usual audiobooks but real, have to pick them up and read, printed on paper books. When I was able to do not much more than just keep breathing these books kept my interest from day to day, and they continue to do so. It all started with the audiobook of 'Wonderland - A year of Britain's Wildlife Day by Day' by Brett Westwood & Stephen Moss. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the authors taking me through the year on audio. But it didn't take long for me to realise that really what I needed was the printed version so that I'd be able to check out each daily entry on the date itself. And the search for the book online led me to 'Every Day Nature' by Andy Beer, which is subtitled 'How noticing nature can quietly change your life'. For me, that has proved to be so true. This book has beautiful illustrations throughout. I now know so much more than I ever thought I would about our native wildlife - from the Emperor Dragonfly to Woody Nightshade, Montagu's Harrier to Wart-Biter Cricket!  And the two bird books? They're old faithfuls that have been around for years!

That's it from me this week. As ever, I'm looking forward to catching up with you all, over at The Stamping Ground, 

Take care and stay safe.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 528

Hello Everyone,

Wednesday again - amazing how it turns up earlier every week! - so, of course, I'm joining in with WOYWW over at Julia's Stamping Ground again. It's a weekly treat I really don't like to miss.

And, as usual, it's a bit of a mess. I joined Tilly Rose for her 'Secret Stitch-a-Long yesterday evening and everything is still where I left it at nine o'clock when I went of to watch the drama on television. That pile of fabric scraps, laces and ribbons are all vintage - all strokably pretty stuff. The sewing interrupted another project and that explains the stuff shoved to the back - stamps, embossing powder, etc. It's just as well I have a lovely big desk - it's probably the EM's best bargain find ever!

The lavender bag not quite finished. It's all sewn by hand, including the embroidered lavender flowers. The fabric is vintage Laura Ashley - from 1988. I'm thinking I'll add a few tiny pearls and maybe a bit of lace before I call it done.

Some new goodies that I need to find time to play with. It's a glue stamp pad, a star shaped stamp and some extra fine pink glitter. Seems the glue pad can be used with the stamp to add glitter, chalk, foil or embossing powder to a project - very versatile. I'll share the results when I get around to trying it out.

I did finally finish the layout that I was working on last Wednesday. The photo is of me and my late brother, Douglas, in full highland dress which he wore to every important occasion. With his unruly mop of curly hair and equally shaggy beard he was guaranteed to be a talking point and I got used to being asked who's the amazing highlander. I always enjoyed telling them that he was my brother. Can't think why that surprised so many - we were so alike!

And now the book bit. This week it's the complete Cormoran Strike crime series - you can tell I've been spending a lot of time in the garden.

All published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith but written by J K Rowling, she of Harry Potter fame, the series is about Cormoran Strike, private detective, and his able assistant, Robin. I have to admit to enjoying binging on the series - I love a good whodunnit with plenty of clues to work on. Strike, though gruff and a bit tetchy, is a likable character, as is his very competent assistant, Robin, and the two together make an effective crime solving team. The scrapes they get  into, both in their personal life and whilst sleuthing, kept me entertained right to the end of the fourth book. Only four novels in the series have so far been published but the author plans at least another ten. Three have been adapted as a television series for BBC One. I can't wait to read the fifth as soon as it's made available as an audiobook.


It's just started to rain here - that's nature having a laugh of me for spending two hours watering the whole garden yesterday - so looks like I'll have to stay in and check out what's on your workdesks. Isn't it kind of the the weather to be so obliging! :)

Have a great day and a fabulous week ahead.

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 491

Hello Everyone,

Happy last day of October - so sad to see the best month of Autumn gone. I hope you are enjoying the same weather we are here - typically autumnal, chilly, blue sky and a low sun - making it another perfect day for joining in over at Julia's What's On Your Desk - where there will be, as usual, a lot more interesting desks on view then this one of mine.

I found it difficult to get a good shot this morning despite that low sun, and it hasn't improved much even yet, but I hope you can still see the mess on my desk well enough. That teetering pile is of paper, stamps and some speciality glittery sticky-backed film which I've been cutting out for snowflakes. I'd forgotten I had it but after watching this Jennifer McGuires video - prompted by Shaz's seriously distracting WOYWW post last week that ended with me viewing several more of Jennifer's very instructional videos -  I remembered I had just the right supply for glittery snowflakes. I got the two cards at the back made - well almost two, the pink one needs a greeting attached. That's the snowflake dies I used in front, just waiting to be put back in their packaging. On the far left is a Lonely Planet note book and behind it a book on bullet journaling - more later.

Here's the completed card. The glittery sticky-backed film was attached to some thin cardstock to make it easier to die cut but it took several passes through my machine to cut it well enough, even after adding a couple of pieces of card as a shim. I also used wax paper in the die - that did make it easier to release the snowflake. These thin dies aren't always the easiest to cut with.

Now to the book bit. One I have read, the other I've listened to. Both are about Bullet Journaling, or BuJo as it seems to be known as in the crafting world.

First up is the book I read,  'How to Bullet Plan: A Practical Guide' by Rachel Wilkerson Miller.  I've always, from as far back as I can remember kept a diary and/or a journal and also more recently a planner and a 'to-do' list. Not to mention even more recently the various digital systems I've tried out - never successful because I prefer the act of putting pen to paper! The idea of single notebook in which to write it all down appeals. However, it all seems a bit complicated and I'm thinking that there must be an easier way. I'd like to say this book makes it so, Ms Miller writes in a very readable way, taking the reader through various processes to create a journal as simple or as elaborate as wished, but when finished reading I wasn't still sure it was for me.

Which is why I got this audio book.

 'The Bullet Journal Method' by Ryder Carroll. It seems that Mr Carroll is, in fact, the creator of bullet journaling. His personal story, and why he came to develop this organisational system, is interesting. Like me, he has tried everything to get organised - countless apps, systems, planners, you name it. Nothing really worked for him. Until, that is, he created  his own simple system that required only pen and paper, which, like me, he found much more to his liking. 'He shared his method with a few friends, and before long he had a worldwide viral movement. Hundreds of thousands of Bullet Journal fans now spread the word ...'. (Quote from Amazon.) A comprehensive PDF file comes with the audiobook - it's 62 pages long and I'm still reading my way through it.

I'm still trying to work out how to adapt the system to my needs. I'm retired and I'm no longer juggling the demands of family and work, so much of what both authors describe does not apply to me. My life seems so much simpler in comparison until I think about what I need to do and, indeed, what I want to do. I still have appointments, a wish list, a to-do list, and a diary to keep so I'm hoping I can devise something very uncomplicated - it has to be uncomplicated to make the effort worthwhile - by taking ideas from both these books.  I'll give it a try and I'll let you know how I get on.

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.