WOYWW 648: What a Crafty Week!

 Well I certainly made the most of my crafty time over the last week.  Welcome to my weekly desk share, linking up with WOYWW via Julia's Stamping Ground (well worth a visit).  Where to start...

Same old same old on my desk, but last Thursday I had a visit from Eva on the other side of the desk.

She was working on parchment pieces while I was mooching around.

On Friday I tried my hand at needle felting for the first time at a workshop taught by Tilly Tea Dance.

It was really great to meet her for the first time face to face and also catch up with Twiglet.  I learnt a great deal and may just be hooked lol.

These are just some of the gorgeous samples we had to inspire us as we worked.

Yesterday I drove up to Manchester to meet up with the JJAMMMA crowd for the first time in nearly two years.  I travelled light and only took some colouring with me.

Lou and Rizwana

Glynis and Gill

Jane giving Sylvia parching tips

I will catch you up with the latest drawings next week as this post is already so long - the last of the #inktober2021 drawings can be found HERE if you can't wait lol.

No meeting after school this evening but I may stay on and get a set of books marked before I come home - I like to get ahead of myself.  Stay safe and happy WOYWW.

WOYWW 538: Off Gallivanting

There has been and will be lots of gallivanting this week.  Yesterday I was up in Stockport at the monthly JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art) meet up and on Friday, Eva and I will be heading off 'oop North' for the Clarity Open Day at Leyburn, N. Yorkshire on Saturday.  I had to leave the meet up early, as it so happened that #1 son and his girlfriend were arriving back at Manchester airport yesterday afternoon and I was able to combine catching up with friends with the airport run.

My desk this week shows the new technique that I was shown by a first time meeter-upper, Tom, at the JJAMMMA get together.  It is done with a gel plate.  Dye based ink is spread over the plate with a brayer and then Brushos mixed with water are spattered on top.  A print is then taken.  It's a brilliant technique and you can never predict exactly what you will get.  This was my attempt and I will certainly be playing some more.  Thanks Tom!

As it was also our fortnightly get together, I grabbed a shot of the other side of the desk yesterday morning.  Eva was playing with her new Floral Alphabet stamps from Clarity.
So why am I sharing a view of my desk.  It is of course to join in over at The Stamping Ground with Julia and the rest of the WOYWW crew.  Please feel free to visit desks or even join in yourself. 
No progress on the shed this week.  It has simply been too wet to get anything done since #3 son got over the lurgy.  Maybe next week...

WOYWW 520: Happy 10th Anniversary

Happy 10th birthday to WOYWW.  How amazing that this weekly blog link up has been kept going for so long.  I wasn't there at the start (my blog has been going for less than four years), but I have been joining in regularly since I discovered this friendly bunch of deskers and their leader Julia.  Each week we link our desks over at The Stamping Ground and see what everyone else is up to.  There are plenty of people who don't link up but still like to visit, all are welcome.

As you can tell, my desk is thoroughly staged.  I am in the middle of getting samples ready for three upcoming Clarity shows, so obviously can't share what I am doing yet.  I also have not had time to make ATCs.  However, I thought I would like to give my PIF a chance to see all the tags that are available to be sent so that they can choose their favourite.  The rest (and more) will be coming with me to the 10th anniversary crop so all who attend will get a little something from me.
Yesterday was the monthly JJAMMMA meet up at Stockport.  Unfortunately Eva had a work emergency which required her attention and was unable to attend. 

Guesting on the other side of the desk, Chris was making ATCs, Lou had brought some beading with her and Jane (virtually unrecognisable without her trademark pink hair) was stamping and colouring.

Rizwana managed to make it for the first time this year which was great.  She was making a little wallet using patterned papers to decorate it.  I didn't get a photo of Kaz who was busy making cards, or Angie who joined us for the first time and was working in her journal.  I took a colouring book and pencils with me and think I'll do the same for the crop.  Happy WOYWW everyone,  I'll be round to see if there is cake on any desks after work lol.

WOYWW 515: Playing Away from Home JJAMMMA Meet Up

For once I am actually writing my WOYWW post on a Wednesday, the perks of the school holidays lol.  I even took a photo of my desk this morning as I unpacked from my gallivanting yesterday afternoon and the latest arrival in the post.

I admit to indulging a little in the recent Spring Sale over on Claritystamp.  I have even purchased my ticket for the open day in Leyburn which isn't until September,. I was determined not to miss out this year.
Yesterday I had the most fabulous afternoon, meeting up with fellow JJAMMMAs Jane Telford, Lou WIthers and Kaz at the monthly JJAMMMA get together in Stockport.  It is rather like a WOYWW crop minus the cake: far more laughter and chatting than crafting, but worth the journey for the company.  There weren't as many there as usual this month due to illness and prior commitments but a fun time was had by those who made it.  I actually travelled quite light for a change.

And I actually managed to get some work done too (Ecoline pens and a water brush on water colour card).

Kaz is shy, so I haven't taken her photo.  On the other side of the desk however Jane and Lou were quite happy to share.

Jane was working with her Gel Press Petites making card toppers and Lou was prepping for an up coming One Day Special on Hochanda.  Thanks for your company yesterday ladies (Kaz too).

I am enjoying the school holidays and have managed some shed time every day so far.
JJAMMMA = Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art.
WOYWW = What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? a weekly blog link up hosted by Julia over on The Stamping Ground for nearly 10 years now.  Please do pop over and visit! 

WOYWW 512: Fitting a Quart into a Pint Pot

I must admit to feeling very tired this week.  I have been burning the candle at both ends for the last week trying to fit everything in.   I can finally ease off a little as the inspection at school is over, my samples are all posted, data is nearly all entered (to be finished at school this afternoon) and instead I can look forward to a day crafting with Eva tomorrow.  Today is her birthday so I'd like to wish her many happy returns!

My desk today shows the background that I created in my leather bound journal while at the JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art) meet up last Thursday in Stockport.  I got some inks out while considering where to go next, but must admit that it doesn't look any different this morning.

The crocheted flower was a gift from my Great Niece at the family meal we went to over the weekend.  She is only 7 but has developed quite a passion for crocheting and using up all sorts of odds and ends of wool. 

#2 son, who flies back to his girlfriend on Saturday, took pity on me at the weekend and dragged me out of the house.  I thought we were just going for a short drive: nearly two hours later we arrived at this amazing waterfall in Wales (don't ask me where lol), where we enjoyed the view for 20 minutes before heading home again.  It was good to spend some time with him away from school work.
Please head over to Julia at The Stamping Ground to visit more desks.  I have just confirmed that I will be attending the 10th anniversary crop on 1st June and I would love to meet as many as possible face to face.

WOYWW 498: Will I Be Ready

With less than a week to go until Christmas I wonder if I will be ready in time.  I will keep this brief fellow deskers, as I know time is precious.

My side of the desk shows cards received from Shaz  (Silverwolf) and Doug and Christine (Bishopsmate) and Peter.  Thank you so much.  I am not posting any cards this year, instead I am donating the postage to charity.

The other side of the desk this week shows fellow JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art) members at the meet up yesterday. Jane (pictured above) brought cake!

Sooooo delicious!

Paul did make it eventually Neet.

And Lou was trying to look enigmatic lol.

Kaz and Chris made it as well, but I forgot to take the camera out before they left. 
And so, friends, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and will be round to visit after work tonight.  Please feel free to visit everyone or link up your own desk via The Stamping Ground, where Julia has kept WOYWW going for nearly 10 years!

WOYWW 487: On the Road Again

This will be short and sweet, just as Julia likes it.  I was on the road yesterday as it was the four weekly meet up at Hobbycraft in Stockport for JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art).  Eva wasn't with me as she had to sort out a course that she will be taking.  However she will be popping over for a crafty day tomorrow, so I will try and remember to take a photo for next week's desk share. Please visit The Stamping Ground for all things WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?).

For once I took some non-messy crafting with me (much to everyone's shock), as I wanted to prepare some pieces of parchment ready for the line art.  I had already cut some squares and rectangles out of A5 parchment at home, using the Claritystamp Picot edge dies.  I was busy using the accompanying Groovi plates to emboss a double border just inside the edges, ready to add some images within the pieces.

I also found time for my second ever #Inktober piece.  The prompt for day 2 is tranquil, so I tried out a line drawing of a swan.  I confess that I did sketch an under drawing first in pencil, which I later erased, as I am by no means confident in my drawing skills.

Guesting on the other side of the desk today were some regulars at the group: Jane was working in her journal, Lou was busy painting on fabric and Paul was just there for a chat.

Maria Moorhouse came to join in for the first time too, busy getting inky with stencils, a brayer and a Gelli plate.  We hope that she may be able to pop in again another time, work permitting.  Gill, Chris, Janet and Kaz were in attendance too (our largest ever get together) and at the rate we are growing we may need a bigger space next time.  It's great catching up with crafty friends.  I hope everyone going to Port Sunlight has fun; I won't be there this time, but I'm looking forward to next May already.  Have a great WOYWW and I'll be round to visit after work later.

WOYWW 483: New Term, New Days (for me)

Hello and welcome to the first WOYWW of the new school year, prepared the day before as I now work on Wednesdays.  I therefore won't be visiting any other desks until tomorrow; it will be all I can do to link up before work.  To find out more about What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, visit other desks or share your own, click HERE.  This time next week the crop will have taken place and I'll no doubt have plenty of photos to share!

I had some goodies arrive on Monday; they were waiting for me when I got in from work.  I took them with me to the four weekly JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art) meet up in Stockport to work with; they were designed by one of our members.  If you pop back tomorrow, I'll show you what I have done with them so far. 
No Eva on the other side of the desk as she was at an INSET day in school, so I have some guests instead.

Lou Withers was demonstrating some water colouring techniques to Chris, a new JJAMMMA meet up member.

Kaz was playing with some new pens creating an abstract picture.

On the way to the meet up, I called in at Middleport Pottery to see the Poppies Weeping Window on their last stop before going to their permanent home at the Imperial War Museum in London.  I couldn't let the chance go by to see them as they are so close by.

Sorry to be so photo heavy.  Happy WOYWW and see you at the crop if you're going.

WOYWW 479: Off Gallivanting

Time for the weekly sharing of the desk, hosted by Julia over on The Stamping Ground.  I was off gallivanting yesterday at the four weekly JJAMMMA meet up at Hobbycraft in Stockport and have a guest slot on the other side of the desk as Eva is off on her holidays.  I have also taken a shot of my desk this morning (with actual crafting on it)!

My desk as I found it this morning.  I am catching up on the July Mission Inspiration and you can also see the piece of Yupo paper that I was working on yesterday afternoon with some luscious new alcohol inks.

Yesterday afternoon at Hobbycraft, I was about to start adding some stamping over the Yupo in Archival inks.

Kaz, who was guesting on the other side of the desk, was working on some collage work.

My trolley has been breeding.  I bought myself an early birthday present which fits perfectly in the space.  Even less reason to move from my seat when crafting now.

and finally... This is an art journal page which I created in January when we were still hoping to avoid relegation.  Stoke City had an open training session at the stadium yesterday and I went along.  I feel the page has been improved with autographs of both goal scorers, the team captain and my favourite player who was making his home debut that day as well as a couple of interlopers who are new to the club lol.