Wednesday 28 August 2019

WOYWW 534: Clarity Retreat and a Whiter Shed of Pale

Hello and welcome to another WOYWW link up with Queen Julia over at The Stamping Ground, where desks clean and messy can be found.  This time last week I was eagerly awaiting the first day of the Clarity retreat with Eva and this time next week I will be back at work, so I am feeling rather flat at the moment.
My desk this week shows the handmade cards that I received, mostly from the lovely ladies of Maria Moorhouse's monthly workshop in Shrewsbury (many of whom were at the retreat).  Top left you can see the folder I brought back with me from the Clarity retreat, full of instruction sheets and projects trying out different techniques.  Pride of place in the centre is the blue pottery dish, hand-made by Barbara Gray, which I was honoured to receive for my birthday.
This is what I got up to.  Maggie would be proud of me, I actually successfully used one of the Groovi lace grid plates.  It still needs finishing, but I was so impressed that I bought the Elizabeth plate so I could finish it off at home.  We practised so many techniques including stamping, brayering, stencilling, Groovi and Gelpress work.  Eva and I can't wait to go back next year.
Barbara kindly agreed to be the guest on the other side of the desk lol.
Meanwhile back at home my shed has begun its makeover.  As you can see from the shot taken this morning, the undercoating is underway.  I am hoping that it will be finished in the next couple of weeks lol.

Sorry that I didn't get round to visiting many of you last week.  I had to get more samples made after I got back from the retreat for posting yesterday and there may have been a drive down to Stansted to collect #2 son on Monday!  Happy WOYWW everyone.

26 comments:

Helen said...

I think I enjoy the school holidays as much as the kids/teachers do....the buses to work are so nice and quiet and plenty of choice of seats!!! it has gone so fast!
Love all the projects you got done at the retreat, what a fabulous way to spend a couple of days. Barb doesn't seem to look a day older than when I first met her!

good luck with the shed painting (whoever is doing it..)
Helen #1

Catriona said...

Wow-you were really busy at the retreat and beautiful designs to show. I’m looking forward to seeing the shed finished-you are so lucky to have a dedicated space that size.

Neet said...

Hope the rain we are having this morning is not with you or it will hold up the panting job. I look forward to seeing it done.
Lovely array of cards, my gosh, that was a busy weekend.
Hugs, Neet 2 xx
ps hope hubby has success with the surgeon but no invasive surgery

Aquarius said...

Loving the look of your shed - many happy hours to be spent in there I imagine. I envy everyone who was able to get to the Clarity retreat which must have been terrific.

Avril said...

A lovely reminder of our time in Maidstone. Enjoy your last week of freedom!

glitterandglue said...

Morning Sarah. The cards you have received are simply beautiful - so varied... and my word! HOW long was that retreat??? The items you made are just lovely - well done. And well done on having a go at pergamano! I adore doing it (usually the old fashioned way as I don't have the modern grids) - I just never seem to have enough time for it - or don't make the time...
Hope school goes well next week - my grandies are all back next week, too. The holidays don't seem long enough, do they?
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #3

Rita said...

Good Morning Sarah. What an interesting desk this morning. Love Barbara's work, I too have one of her cards that I will never part with. It certainly looks as if you had a really enjoyable time at Barbara's retreat. The selection of cards you made are quite spectacular and I bet you had fun creating them too. I still do Pergamano the old way, never tried the Groovi plates. Enjoy your week and carry on creating. Hugs Rita xxx

Glenda said...

It looks like you had a lovely time at the retreat! Such beautiful cards you created! I love your craft shed and can't wait to see inside!
Glenda #16

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Sara The sheds coming along nicely! What a fantastic selection of cards,and a lovely gift from Barbara. Fab batch of makes from the retreat, the Groovi one looks amazing. Have a lovely last weeks break, Shaz #5 X

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Happy belated Birthday Sarah, I was not around last week so unsure what day it fell on but what a lovely lot of cards you received, Thanks for sharing.
Love that handmade pot of Barbara's what a wonderful lady she is, so nice to see her as your guest this week. Looks like an amazingly creative time you had at the retreat.
Make the most of your few days left of the holidays it will soon be half term again. Sending WoywW hugs your way Tracey #15
P.S You know how jealous I am of your she shed!! :D

Lillianb said...

Happy WOYWDW

What a lovely lot of cards, and so knid of Barbara to sit at your desk,

Lilian B #12

Sue Jones said...

OOO Looks like you had so much fun. You win the prize for the most famous person at your desk this week and what a lovely Birthday gift:) I know how you feel about going back to work, the Summmer has gone too quickly!
Soojay 24

Lunch Lady Jan said...

You had a good time at the retreat! What a lovely selection of cards, I particularly like the trees and leaves outlines. The shed is looking good, roll on the next coat :-)
Hugs LLJ 6 xxx

Elizabeth said...

Hi Sarah, didn't you do well for cards - they are all so beautiful. And how honoured are you to receive that lovely hand-made bowl - is there no end to Barbara's talents! Sounds like you and Eva had a fab time at the workshop and it must have seemed strange but nice for Barbara to be a guest too. The shed makeover is coming along nicely - look forward to seeing the end result. Have a great week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #19

Belinda said...

Hello! I love, love, love seeing oodles of cards. The ones you received and made are gorgeous. I am gearing up for a card-making season and your post is great inspiration.
Your shed is on it's way. I had my home painted in July and it took a long time but love the results.
Enjoy your day!
Belinda #23

Caro said...

Gorgeous selection of cards you received and I love the projects that you have completed... a nice way to spend some of the holidays. Good luck with the going back to school prep. Have a lovely week. With love & God Bless, Caro x (#11)

Kathryn Frantz said...

You have had a full, exciting, creative summer! Will life settle down after classes start? What is your normal? Thank you for sharing all the pretties.

Stacy Sheldon said...

HI Sarah, It looks like it was a really productive retreat :) Love that your shed is still transforming too, its fun to see the progress. ~Stacy #26

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Pleased you enjoyed the retreat, great card collection and loving the look of the shed makeover. Have a great crafty week and a happy woyww, Angela x8x

StampinCarol said...

What a beautiful pile of cards and your little dish is lovely!
And love all the cards in your 2nd photo.
Sounds like you had a great time at the retreat!
Hope all the work to your shed gets done quickly and efficiently!
Have a great week!
Carol N #21

Marit said...

Those cards are amazing, both the ones you received as well as the ones you created, wowzah! Love the colors (the purple-ish ones!) Your shed is looking nice, good luck with the painting! Thanks for your visit to my blog the other day, happy - belated - woyww. Hug from Holland. Marit #14

Shoshi said...

It's clear you had a wonderful time at the retreat, Sarah. What a simply gorgeous collection of cards and projects made by yourself and others! Your shed is going to be so smart once it's finished. I love "I whiter shed of pale" lol! I used to love that song...

Thank you for visiting, and for your good wishes for my assessment next week. I can feel my stress mounting already so goodness knows what state I shall be in by next week... Stress is not good for my condition but of course they don't consider that, do they. The whole thing is awful.

So glad you like my little pads - they were such fun to do, and last night I tried them for the first time and they worked an absolute treat. I shall never go back to cotton wool pads again! Lily and Ruby send a happy meow back to Jess and think she is incredibly brave to be a travelling kitty. They are happy enough going in the car together and have been to 2 pet services at church as well as occasional vet visits, but I'm not sure how well they would adapt to going on holiday to another house! Ruby is still "off Mummy" but I hope she gets cuddle withdrawal symptoms soon!

Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #20

Julia Dunnit said...

Stanstead is not a convenient airport for us at all, I hope its better for you, although not exactly local!! What a good parent you are. So glad you enjoyed the Clarity retreat so much, how kind of all the ladies to make you such lovely birthday cards. The shed transformation looks a lot of work to me, as you’ll be back at school any minute, I’m guessing you’re not too heavily involved in the actual wielding of a paint brush? No doubt the school prep work will make you inspired to do loads of other stuff, but once you’re back in the routine it won;t feel so bad, huh!

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

The cards your working on with the silhouettes are delightful. The shed is looking great, and will be a crafter's haven. Thanks for visiting my blog and Happy belated WOYWW!

Christine said...

Thanks for your visit earlier.
I'm not looking forward to the schools going back either, it's parking outside the house, long queues of traffic twice a day........ We have complained to the school but it is just getting worse. Never understand why children can't walk to school like we used to. I suppose parents don't have the time nowadays, such a shame. After we moved house, it took my youngest and me 3/4 hour to walk to school but we discussed many things, had spelling bees and learnt our times tables!!!
Love all the craft work you have managed, such a gorgeous selection of cards! I can imagine you and Eva working away with the Groovi plates.
Happy belated (very!) WOYWW
Christine #17

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Well Sarah, your desk, is simply stunning and what an amazing array of cards, I love them, and a wee rush with Barbara prints on it made with her hands. I love her work and cannot imagine going to such a workshop. Wonderful for you, travel safely picking up son too.
Happy very belated WOYWW. Thanks for sharing, Shaz in Oz.x #4

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}