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

WOYWW 623

Good morning all,

The wanderer returns.  Well, not so much wanderer (as I haven't been anywhere), more wonderer, as in "I wonder when normality is going to return?"

The last couple of months seem to have raced through at 100mph - I'm more of a leisurely 30mph drive kind of girl.  A tiny bit of crafting has been done, and I have a lot of catching up to do on my junk journal (I did well for me keeping at it every day for over a month), or I may just skip to the present day.  I have done lots of gardening, with the assistance of Mr M.  We have a lovely berry patch now- just need the berries to grow!  We were also surprised one evening by a hedgehog strolling down the embankment- 48 hours later Mr M had built a hedgehog feeding station and installed a hedgehog cam- and we were pleased to discover Mr & Mrs Hedgehog going for dinner together and then having a smooch outside!  

I've also almost finished researching my family tree, no skeletons in the closet, but it was nice to do, and when we are free to travel, Mr M and I are going to some of the places my ancestors lived, to take some photos to add to the album I am creating.  Mainly Devon, Wales and Yorkshire.  

Enough waffle, we are here for WoYWW and to show off our desks!  Top of the desk is the wallpaper I have chosen for one wall in my craft room, we are going to get the paint this weekend, and then I will be packing up my crafty supplies whilst I decorate.  In the corner is the box from a crystal painting notebook (more on that below).  Bottom right and top left are an Alice in Wonderland foiled card kit, I'm still having a soft spot for Alice!  I've ordered 7 Alice stamps- so no excuse for not having inspiration for crafting!  Centre is a couple of pages for my journal.  

 

I did my first ever crystal painting - I bought it when my local craft shop reopened - mainly because it made me think of our dear Shaz - you can see why.

It's not finished yet - and part of the area is not sticky, so I'm going to have to be creative somehow when it comes to sticking those crystals on.  

I've not decided what I'm going to use the notebook for yet, but I do know it will be something connected to Shaz/crafting.

I have continued with my crochet - I have to say I have taken to this like a duck to water!  

Two of my nephew's and their wives are expecting babies in the next few months, so my baby blankets will be put to good use.  

My granddaughter has put in an "order" for a rainbow blanket for her baby doll.  The collage shows the different stitches/blankets I have made so far.  The top left is '1960s call the midwife' inspired, and the bottom right is another 1960s inspired- that's my current one.

I had my second vaccination yesterday, my arm is a little sore today, and I have a headache, but plenty of rest and paracetamol should do the trick apparently.  I hope everyone is keeping well, and I'll be visiting blogs after work.

Take care, and thanks for stopping by, Heather xx

WOYWW 613

I have come to the conclusion time goes faster the older you get, so I am officially going to change my age!  Wednesday again, so time to share our desks with our head desker Julia - pop over to The Stamping Ground if you want to join in with WOYWW

My desk this week still has not seen much crafting action, as I took full advantage of the nice weather at weekend, and spent most of the time in my garden, tidying, pruning, jet washing, and getting my veggie patch ready for planting.  I share seeds with my daughters, and it's my job to split the packets and distribute - hence the little packets on the front of the desk.  There is a yellow baby blanket (first one finished), a partially done mint baby blanket, a postcard with a piece of the Berlin Wall - that was in a box I have emptied out, half a blue roll, lettering practice book, and the pile of magazines centre back - they are reducing slowly!

I had my first Covid vaccination last week - thankfully no side effects!  I'm keeping fingers crossed that all goes well with vaccinating the country and we can return to some sort of normality.  No signs of going back to the office yet - which suits me fine, although I do need to get a new chair for my office/craft room as my current one is not at all comfy!  I have quite a few cards to make for males in the next few weeks, so I'll be scouring everyone's blogs and Pinterest for inspiration - as those are the ones I struggle with the most!   So ... I may actually have some proper crafting to share next week!  

Have a lovely week, take care Heather xx

WOYWW 611

 Good morning all,

Apologies for not visiting desks a couple of weeks ago - by early evening I felt rubbish and just went to bed, and did nothing but work and sleep for a few days.  I'm far too old to burn the candle at both ends now!

Having only been in this merry band of crafters for a few years, I didn't know Shaz as well as many of you did.  I had the pleasure of meeting her and Doug a few times at Crops and Port Sunny, and loved reading all her posts - for a newbie crafter her tips and reviews were brilliant!  She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.  RIP Shaz xx

Here is my main desk in all it's non-crafting glory.  Its still my workdesk, as there is no sign of us returning to the office yet.  Although my mojo has deserted me, (so I need a little bit of playing catch up with my journal), I did re-arrange my worktop to give me more space.  The Gemini at one end, and the Scan & Cut relocated next to my printer.  I also discovered I have way too much paper!  (Large tub in the rh corner is the overflow that does not fit in my Bisley drawers).

I did manage to make the pompoms and finish Emily's hat and scarf, so they were posted and she loved them.

If you'd like to join in with the biggest and best desk hop just click this link  >>> WoYWW  That's all from me.  Have a lovely week, Heather xx

WOYWW 609

 Good evening all, 

Apologies for my tardiness.  It has been one of those days, but I really want to keep up my good attendance this year at WOYWW .  I have no desk to show - as nothing has changed from the previous week, and that would be boring!  I have crafted, I have crocheted and I have researched my Family Tree.  Evidence of one of these activities below.  There are only 6 pages, as my page for today is blank, so will have to join next week's display!

A bit of an alien moment going on ....

Fairy door was fun to make

Goodbye and RIP Sir Tom.

That's all from me.  Hope you all have a lovely week, hugs Heather xx

WOYWW 608

I can't believe we are on the last WOYWW of the month - it doesn't seem 2 minutes since we were celebrating Christmas!  I didn't quite get round to tidying my desk - so much to do, so little time!  However we are here to bare all, and join in with desk sharing,  courtesy of Julia and The Stamping Ground.  So here it is ...

At the back of the desk, taking centre stage is the remaining magazines for me to go through and extract the pages I want.  I'll be glad when that job is finished.  To the left is an order just received from Hunkdory - so much for sticking to my crafty budget, and in the corner is my family tree, which I've been working on this week.  To the right is bits and pieces I have yet to put away that have either been used in my junk journal, or I think I will use in my journal.  Some of them are ideas I took out of the magazines of things I would like to try, which I'm going to use in a monthly H.A.G. challenge to myself, time permitting.   Centre stage front is my junk journal - I like to keep it open whilst I'm working.

A couple of pics of the last 7 days pages to show I'm still junk journalling - and more importantly still having fun with it!   I know they are cropped, so I've loaded individual pics here for anyone interested.

Not a great deal of crocheting this week.  I'm thinking of calling the Jan Blan complete, once I add a border, as it is starting to stretch.  The next one, I dont think I will do as wide.  I've finished Emily's hat, apart from the pompom - just awaiting a delivery (thanks Jan for the enabling)!!  I've just started on the scarf - I'm guessing the size on both scarf and hat, so fingers crossed!

Have a lovely week, Heather x

WOYWW 607

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date...  Wednesday must mean time for WOYWW.  If you are curiouser and curiouser just click on the link!

Can you tell I am having an Alice in Wonderland phase!  I have no idea why, maybe my granddaughter is influencing me.  I have no dies, no paper, no stamps - so I'm locking my debit card up either until the phase passes, or I replenish my crafty funds!  

Week 3 of my journal doodle book, and still going strong.  It's a fun, colourful, do what I want log.  Wherever the urge takes me, practicing blending, calligraphy, new stamps, anything goes!

Captain Crazy Socks is a character I used at the beginning of lockdown last year to send my grandchildren one sock each week, together with a milk chocolate coin, a washing line and pegs, and they had to match up the socks when they got a pair.  There was also a sock outline for them to draw the crazy sock.  Recently my 4 year old granddaughter has been asking her mummy "when is the postman going to deliver more socks and chocolates", so I'm bringing him back for a few months.  I actually put them in individual envelopes, box them up, and let their mothers pretend one has been delivered in the post each week.  They love receiving letters.

My crafty budget this month has been blown on the contents of the little box at the back of the desk.  All the Elements ink pads.  I saw a demo and they looked fun, and I obviously needed a few new Lavinia stamps ...  the Jan Blan is progressing well, another block of colours added, so 60% finished - no pic, as it is in my lounge.  I bought a pop up laundry bag to store my yarn, and some extra yarn that looked perfect for a hat for Emily.  I filled the pop up bag, oh my goodness I am a yarnaholic!  I watched two YouTube videos, found one I could follow,  and two hours later the hat was almost finished - I need to learn how to make a pom pom for the top next.  I'll do a scarf to match as well.  

That's all for me.  Stay safe and well and have a lovely week, Heather xx

WOYWW 606

Good morning all - Wednesday again, which means it's time to meander over to The Stamping Ground and have a good old fashioned snoop around lots of interesting desks.

I've managed to avoid tidying my desks thus far this year, which is most unlike me.  Instead I have been concentrating my efforts on keeping my journal entries completed each day.  I like the way it is going, although my good intentions of preparing backgrounds did not last beyond the 9th of January!  That does mean I can do whatever I want each day though, so I'm fine with it.  Below is my side desk, followed by the evidence that I have kept up to date with the journal.  The Janet Klein stamps I bought are in the middle waiting to be used.  This week's allocation of magazines to go through, extract, and recycle, and various things used in completing my journal entries.

My other progress is on the Jan Blan.  Almost another full set of colours completed, just the purple rows to do  Looking at it, I think there will possibly be 5 sets of colours repeated in total before it is the size I want it to be.  See last week's post if you want to know why it's called the Jan Blan! Lol.  It's too big for my desk now, so resides in the lounge (which is where I do most of my crocheting).  On the sofa is the bag one of my daughters bought me for Christmas, ever so handy.

A quiet week for me since last week.  My family calendars arrived, and have been posted to my girls.  Oh, and look at this .... my daughter gave me a lovely rose gold compact on her wedding day in October.  Doh, I never turned it over and saw what she had printed on the reverse.  I nearly broke down in tears, I was quite emotional!  How lovely.

This week's crafting for me is going to be Scan n Cut related, as there was a free set of tutorials on offer from Gentleman Crafter, so I enrolled on those!

 Have a lovely week, Heather xx 

WOYWW 605

Happy New Year to you all.  I would like to say that in honour of the New Year, I did a spring clean around my desk, but although I had every good intention of doing some cleaning, I waited patiently until the urge had passed, and settled down to some crafting!  

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a new journal I had bought - in case I ever felt like starting one.  Helen promptly dared me .... so below is a quick collage of the pages so far.  What I have worked out is, if I prepare 7 backgrounds, and stamp the dates on each page, I will do something each day.  It may not be much, but it won't be left blank!

Sunday's page refers to "The Jan Blan begins".  This indeed is going to be a blanket and a half!  Inspired by LLJ and started in the month of January (hence the name on both counts)... you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at LLJ's blog ... as I have set to on a giant rainbow blanket!  I am still on with the baby blankets, but I had lots of colourful yarn calling out to me!  It is perched on my side desk, so I can see it while I am working- the bright colours certainly cheer up my craft room.  Ignore the rest of the desk - such a mess, but I will tidy it soon, as I cannot stand the mess much longer!  The journal is in the middle of the desk, and there are some new sew in labels for my quilts/sewing projects (if I make anymore/anything else).

If you want to join in, and visit some far tidier desks than mine, just head on over to The Stamping Ground where our hostess with the mostess, Julia,  awaits you.

Have a lovely week, Heather xx