WOYWW 662

February already- I'd better start on my "C" cards soon!  Busy few weeks for me, so please excuse my absence from joining in WOYWW.  After working my notice for 3 months, I finally left my old job at the end of January, and started my new role last week.  To say it is tiring is an understatement - but I'm confident once I have learned the ropes, it will be fine.  Now I have my craft room back just for crafting, and not as an office (although still shared with my grandchildren as their bedroom).  I've just been too tired to do much, apart from a little crocheting in the evening.  However desks shots are what we are after, so here are mine:

Side desk - all prepped ready for some crafting next weekend - unless there is an unexpected invasion of grandchildren!

Main desk - equally as tidy me thinks!   The blue bag is actually a sample tool bag that I was given from work - lots of useful pockets, and very spacious!  Perfect for a crop ...

Progress on the JanBlan.  Two colour sets completed, just starting on the third one which I think will be big enough, once I add a small border round.

I've also started crocheting a lace scarf - just because I loved the stitch when I saw it, and wondered if it was within my limited capabilities.  It's coming along nicely!  However it is stitched along the length, rather than the width, so it takes a while to complete a row.

I did attend my first ever WI meeting.  The guest was a fairly local man who had been a contestant on The Sewing Bee, but as I never watched it, I was clueless!  Everyone else had lots of oohs and ahhs at the outfits he had made, and brought with him.  Time for a quick coffee, a chat with a few ladies and then home!  I'm not sure what I expected - and I will try and attend again next week, but it might not be my cup of tea after all!  

Have a lovely week, and I will visit as many desks as possible when I get home - before I fall asleep.  Take care, Heather x

WOYWW 658

 I'd forgotten how quickly Wednesdays come round again!  I'm still working from home (until I change jobs), so at least I've time to do this at lunchtime.  What am I talking about - the best desk/blog hop ever - courtesy of Julia at The Stamping Ground

Last week the can of furniture polish caused some concern, so it has now been removed and replaced with "stuff".I apologise for any distress caused ...

My last order arrived with two more MDF items to decorate, and one last stamp that was reduced to a ridiculous price.  I've now cottoned on I need to stop buying and start decorating the mixed media projects - I think I have 6 to do now.

Edit: the website still has lots of bargains, but I can't be held responsible if you spend lots of money .... www.craftrange.com - I hope it's OK to include this!!

Just for Julia- my main desk is messy, and has my first of 4 scrapbook albums to get cracking on, and on top of it is our 2018 family calendar for me to cut the photos out - you can just about see the other 3 albums under the desk.  I went mad one day and bought lots of albums and refill page protectors!

And finally, progress on the Jan-Blan, has been hampered by an impingement/ shoulder injury (according to the physio I saw yesterday).  It is now taped up (my shoulder, not the Jan-Blan), and I have exercises to do before I return in 2 weeks.  I can manage 20 minutes of crochet and then need a break.  I do love the colours!

Have a lovely week, and I will visit as many desks as I can this evening, although comments may be short and sweet, depending how my shoulder is!  Hugs, Heather xx

WOYWW 657 - Happy New Year

Thank you for the warm welcome back last week.   I've cleared away the Christmas bits and pieces, but still not got much clear space on my desk, as I've had my order delivered with the mixed media sets I mentioned last week, apart from one, which should be here soon.  So .... here they are, neatly laid out whilst I decide which to attempt first, together with some other bits I ordered .... voilà 

And my main desk - smaller now it has been relocated to make way for the bunk beds

The furniture polish was actually used, I just forgot to put it away!  I am attempting to do some scrapbooking, as I have lots of albums with nothing in them - but inspiration for layouts is not my strong point!

It's a real shame the shop I ordered from  is closing down its physical shop, and will be online only, as I enjoy having a mooch round.  Still, I did get some mega bargains, as many items were 75% off!  And a few new things to try, such as embossing pens!

Crafting this past week was in the form of decorating cookies with my grandsons (they came to stay for the weekend), and a start on a new rainbow Jan-Blan.  We replaced the sofa bed with bunk beds a few months ago, and I only have one rainbow Jan-Blan ... and both boys wanted it on top of their quilts!  So a new one has been started.

If you want to join in with the desk hopping, head over to The Stamping Ground and join the fun!

Have a lovely week, Heather x

WOYWW 656 - The Wanderer Returns!

I hope you all had a peaceful and merry Christmas!  Hopefully I can still remember how to blog, and link, etc - since it has been a whole six months since I last posted!  I can't remember what was happening in my life back then, but a lot has happened since, brief synopsis below.  I hope everyone is keeping well, and I have missed catching up with everyone.  I have scooted round a few of my favourite desks over the months just to keep up a little.  I can't promise I can post every week, but life is not the same without the desk snooping, so I aim to head over to The Stamping Ground once a month at least, more if I can.

So ... highlights of my last six months - just so anyone who is interested is up to speed:

July - was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland.  That explains why I have been so tired and put so much weight on!  

August - went on our biennial family holiday.  This time to Anglesey.  We all want to move there!  The house was gorgeous, weather was great and spending a whole week together was perfect, after a year of hardly seeing each other.

September - took the plunge and signed up for clear aligners with my dentist.  A bit old I felt, but he assured me my crooked teeth would be straightened in a few months!

October - I spent the morning of my birthday being interviewed for a new role and doing a presentation, and 3 hours after I left the building, I was offered the job. Great birthday present - I start there in February.

November - Had my booster jab, and my flu jab, and doctor upped my Thyroxine tablets, as the dose wasn't high enough.  It will be reviewed again in January.

December - Santa Express was a hit, the children really missed it last year.  We had our Pizza & Prosecco Christmas eve party at my daughter's in Leeds, and Colin cooked Christmas Dinner for everyone.  

Desk time ....(at last I hear you say).  I have crafted yesterday, so took the photo.  Not my full desk, as there is mountains of junk on it from Christmas cards and wrapping presents.  It's what I was doing yesterday - an MDF ink storage rack.  I decorated it with Lavinia stamps.  I also ordered a few kits for mixed media projects (Neet, Angela and Zsuzsa will be so proud of me lol).  This should give me something to show on my next few posts - thinking ahead a bit, you see.

If you have read this far, you can breathe a sigh of relief- you have reached the end of my post!  Have a lovely week, and I will spend a leisurely day visiting desks - inbetween crafting and boring housework.  Have a safe and Happy New Year, take care, Heather xx

WOYWW 628

 Good morning all,

Still no desk to show, as I am midst decorating my craft room, but I didn't want to miss out on the fun of a desk hop!  If you fancy taking part head over to The Stamping Ground to take part.

Instead I bring you a pic of the bottom of our garden, where I have been keeping occupied instead of crafting.  Third time of having our patios laid, so I hope this time is the last time.  Just need to clean up layers of dust now, and try and resurrect an azalea that the builders inadvertently squashed!

I will visit as many desks as I can, time permitting ... but I have 2 very important cards to make.  A birthday card for my hubby, and a 10th anniversary card for my youngest daughter and her husband ... they met when she was 15 and still at school - young love!

Have a lovely week, Heather xx 

WOYWW 625

Good morning all

I'm looking forward to seeing lots of lovely ATCs and postcards on my desk visits, that have been swapped over the past week.  I've started packing up my crafty bits ready to decorate next week, so my desk is a tad bare.  Pride of place is an empty wooden box that I think looks very handy, but I've absolutely no idea what to put in it!  Suggestions on a postcard please!!  OK time to join The Stamping Ground and join in the fun!

The box was originally a container for Tassimo pods, but the amount of waste plastic meant we ditched the Tassimo machine.

In the bottom picture the box is set on my glass mat which is just over 12" square - so that gives you an idea of the size of the box.

It really is too nice to not use it for something!! 🤔

A short post from me this week, as nothing much has changed in the last 7 days!  I have my granddaughter sleeping over next Tuesday, so if she wants to craft, you might see an honorary WOYWWer in the desk pic! 

Have a lovely week, Heather xx

WOYWW 624

Happy 12th Anniversary to Julia and all the deskers!  I'm sorry not to be taking part in the ATC swap/celebrations - but main thing is, I am here!  Many, many congratulations to our head desker for keeping this blog alive and well for so many years, and to Jan for aiding and abetting when required.  Head on over to The Stamping Ground if you want to join  in the fun!

My side desk has Brushos left out after a play; 4 boxes of Tombow watercolour pens that I had to buy as a) they were on a 3 for 2 offer, plus I had 15% off voucher code and b) I have seen them on many of Shoshi's blog posts and liked the results.

My new Alice stamps - can't wait to play with them!  Plus some photo frames I saw in a charity shop window, and decided they would look good on the wall in my craft room to make it look 3D ... watch this space.

My main desk looks a little bare as I am in the office for a few days this week, as I have another new starter in my team.  Normally laptop, notebooks, calculator and a cup of coffee would be covering this desk.  

The view shows most of my crafty stuff that needs packing away, plus some shelves out of view, before I start decorating.  I do still need to work in the room or I could just go to the office whilst I decorate in the evenings.

Another finished blanket.  I'm going to make another in lemon - I really love the 1960s style patterns!  

I've yet to tackle a blanket with 2 colours (apart from my rainbow Jan Blan which was just rows in different colours), but I've a feeling it won't be long.  I'd like to do white with a pink or blue border.

Answer for Angela from last week - I use double knit for all my crocheting.  I vary the crochet hook to make it more 'delicate'.

I hope you all have a lovely week.  I'll be round to visit after work, but it might be a day or two, as I have a couple of work projects I am working on.  Take care, Heather xx