WOYWW 428 - stash haul and the Patchwork board game

Good morning and Happy WOYWW to you all.  WOYWW is 'What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday' and you can join in at Stamping Ground.

I staged these photos on Monday night, as we were off to our local agricultural show, Pembrokeshire County Show yesterday - and I knew that I would be exhausted this morning (and I was right - despite going to bed early I feel like a truck has run over me twice!).  We had a great time at the show, and plan to return tomorrow as well (we are Members, as it works out cheaper if you go for at least 2 days - and you get closer parking to the entrance and a very nice Members' restaurant/bar - so we can have a sit-down lunch and rest our weary limbs).

Stamps ordered from Create & Craft - with my £10 renewal of membership voucher and their various discounts, they almost had to pay me to have these!  My latest crafty bargains from TK Maxx - washi tape, napkins (it seems that they are 'thing' in crafting - will search Pinterest for instructions) and some modelling clay.

The washi tape set in closer detail - doesn't really show how glittery they are.

We enjoy playing board games in this household, and I always buy a couple of new ones every Christmas.  Yes, I know it is only August - but I started my festive shopping early, as usual - and could not resist buying this one as well.  Not had a chance to give it a go yet, but the reviews on Amazon are excellent.  I can imagine hubby's reaction, but he will enjoy it once he gets over the fact it is craft-themed!

I plan to visit as many blogs as possible this week, and also write some new blog posts (our visit to the Pembrokeshire County Show, ATC trading, starting a new embroidery project, Encaustic Art).

Ali x

WOYWW 427 - I was being creative outside today

It is 'only' 7.30 pm here, so still plenty of Wednesday left!  I went to a sketching workshop at a local National Trust property this afternoon, and left early to treat myself to lunch there - so no time to blog earlier and nothing crafty on my table anyway (except for a delivery from Create & Craft which I am itching to open, but leaving it until tomorrow when I should have time to play with the contents - will be blogging separately about that).

My photos show some of the wonderful surroundings at Colby Woodland Gardens - and also a page from the lovely sketch book we were given as part of the workshop (it has a kraft cover, so will be decorating of course!).  We met in the Bothy first (a lovely room in the old building which also includes the fabulous tea rooms where I had my lunch, and then bought an icecream afterwards) and did some exercises to get us going with the pencils/pens.  The tutor was an illustrator and print maker, and really great with us all (all beginners and 2 youngish children).

The page I am showing was where we had 2 minutes to start drawing an object of our choice (there were lots of flowers/leaves etc on the table), and when the alarm went off we moved on to the sketchbook of the person next to us, and so on until we were back at our own book.  This was a really fun exercise and lovely to have some sketching from each of us as a memory.  Mine was the favourite of the group - I think it could be a Christmas design!

I am tired now after driving there and back (50 minutes of country roads each way), and then getting my usual jobs with ponies/cats/dog etc done.  Tea is cooking, and I am grabbing a bit of time to sit down with my laptop in front of the athletics (have you been watching the World Championships?  It seems to be raining hard in London now - been warm/blue skies all day here).

Will hopefully get round to as many blogs as possible this week, and not as late as last week!  I am doing lots of challenges and trades through Facebook groups at the moment, and also started to learn Spanish 'again' (have attempted to do some daily on a couple of occasions, but always not given it the priority it needs).  When did I ever have time to work outside the home???

Ali x

ps  If you want to go and see some actual crafty workspaces each Wednesday and perhaps join in yourself, go to Julia's Stamping Ground.

WOYWW 426 - new sewing machine

I hope that at least some of my readers are enjoying some warm sunshine today.  It has been raining hard in Pembrokeshire - and also 'breezy' (as the weather girl said, ie blowing a gale!).

I am very happy to be in my craft room, listening to Stephen Fry reading the Sherlock Holmes stories (I got a free credit and one month's membership to Audible, and even the 70 hours+ of this was included).  It is wonderful to have his voice accompanying my crafting/decluttering/computer work.  All schools should play these and far more would be in love with literature.

The other new thing in my life is the little sewing machine I ordered from Hobbycraft last week (and which arrived within 2 days).  Only just got it out of the packaging this morning, and looking forward to having a play with it.  Not sure when exactly - life just seems to get more busy.  Priority in my craft room today is finishing a few more ATCs for the Alphabet challenge, as trading starts on 1st September, and getting some filing done before my trays collapse!

 Isn't it cute?!  Really light and easy to move around, but seems to have lots of features for its size - and all the reviews are excellent.  

(I will do a blog post about it once I have had a chance to try it out.)

If you would like to share what is on your craft table this morning, go to Julia's Stamping Ground to join in.

Ali x

WOYWW 425 - Pixie Powder, Butterflies and a Sketchbook

Good morning everyone.  It is raining and a Wednesday again.  Rain was needed here, so I won't moan too much - and at least I can get some crafting done without feeling I should be outside pulling up weeds!

I am going to share some photos of what is going on in my craft room this morning, and if you would like to join in, then go to Julia's Stamping Ground for the linky thing.

Firstly,  I actually went out and crafted in a group setting last week.  Not been able to get to a workshop for a while (they are normally expensive, on a day that I couldn't make or my health has got in the way).  There was a big birthday being celebrated at our local craft shop, and several workshops were hosted by the birthday boy to raise money for charity.  Despite him never doing anything like this before, he did brilliantly - and I really enjoyed it.

I was introduced to Cosmic Shimmer's Pixie Powders, which I had never heard of (seems they are the latest 'thing' in the craft world - but I had missed the programmes on the craft channel and do not read magazines now).  We used them in a simple but very effective way - mix a tiny bit with varying amounts of water and paint on to vellum (butterfly stamps had been used with black embossing powder and they were stunning).  Embossing onto black card created the backing of this wonderful project, vellum stuck on top, butterflies cut out and added, and voila!  I had time and some spare already-mixed up powder, so did two more butterflies, ready for another project some time when I get round to it.  They are really shiny and fab.

Of course I had to buy some - and the Metal 3D Paste (which was in their sale area at a bargain price).  If you are in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, then go and see Ben and his team.  They also sell online - SET Crafts.  (ETA - I have had lots of questions about the Pixie Powders.  I will blog again in more detail about how I am using them, but click here for a video.)

Here is my much-awaited Sketchbook Project book.  I am now thinking of ways to fill it - but I don't want to think too much, which I tend to do - so will be jumping in and at least getting some photos of the farm in there (especially the older buildings before they completely collapse!).

For those who are not aware of the Brooklyn Art Library (we must go on a visit there!) Sketchbook Project, it is basically the world's largest library of artists' books from every corner of the globe.  Order a book, fill it up, send it back (and you can have it digitised too).

I am going to have my breakfast now, sort out kitchen etc, feed dog/ponies/cats.  I went to the dentists yesterday for a big filling and couldn't eat much last night - so will make up for it today!  Then I can return to my cosy craft room (it is actually dark enough this morning to put lights on) and make 2 heart-themed ATCs for a trade I did last week.

Keep safe everyone.

Ali x

WOYWW 424 - Christmas In July

It is just about afternoon here and I am forcing myself to get this published, or the day will disappear.  I do wonder how time goes so fast.  I haven't managed to get a post typed for the past 2 weeks - due to other stuff in my life taking over, and probably not having anything to show on my craft table.

If you would like to join in with this global tour of crafty workspaces, get on over to Julia's Stamping Ground.

Today I am showing the space immediately in front of my pc, as I seem to be doing several things at once, which involve the computer, my phone, making notes, making phone calls and even doing some crafting.  I am starting on my first Christmas projects - some ATCs for a Christmas in July event in a Facebook ATC group, and also planning my very first Pocket Letter (need to do some more research into what they are exactly before I start) - just joined a Facebook group for those too.

I dusted down my Texture Boutique embossing machine (I always forget how much I love embossing), some toppers cut out ready, some ATC bases and a set of stamps from a magazine.  

I also show the floor behind my chair - my Christmas stash box needed sorting (which I do every year) and now I need to get some more bags to put the stuff in to, so it is easier to find stuff.  Buzz the Jack Russell is in his usual place - in the cat's bed.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying their summer (or winter).

Ali x

WOYWW 422 - Artist Trading Cards

I have to work quickly here.  Our internet service is getting worse by the day, and often disappears completely throughout the day.  Whilst we have no wifi (we can use our mobile, which is 4G and faster, which is ridiculous when we live in such a remote rural area, but I worry about using too much data), I do other stuff, like getting my hands messy with paint/modelling paste and creating 'random art' (in a modern style, but absolutely none of those 'intelligent' meanings or stories).

Wednesdays are the day when we link up with other crafters around the world.  Go to Julia's Stamping Ground for more details.  This week I am showing a desk that includes some crafting.  Since getting back into ATC trading (via some Facebook groups), it has encouraged me to create, which is all good.

(Now is the time when I rush downstairs because the live coverage of the Tour de France is about to start - very exciting with Cav/Sagan crash yesterday - I will continue on my laptop.)

Since taking this photo earlier this morning, the scene has changed (more stamping on the 'City' ATC, those strips of card stuck onto the larger pieces of paper in the middle, and another ATC and some tags have been worked on).

The rest hasn't moved - stencils on top of a precious photo that needs to be reframed, wooden stamp set (a bargain from TK Maxx) and other 'stuff'.

I look forward to taking a tour around other desks this week.

Ali x

WOYWW 420 - French Bulldogs, Dragonfly & More

I made it!  Our internet was not working from yesterday evening and it required a phone call from me to the company that provide our community wifi system (we cannot get 'normal' broadband due to our rural location) to get the engineers to 'look at it'.  It took them nearly 2 hours, but now we are connected again.

Happy WOYWW to all those that I do not manage to visit this week - and get on over to Julia's Stamping Ground for the linky thing.

I have spent the morning getting various little jobs done - old coffee machine cleaned and stored away (I would rather chuck it out, but hubby insists it might be needed one day!), nails varnished and grass cut.  Inbetween these bursts of activity, I mainly constantly checked the internet to see if it was working!  I had plenty of non-computer stuff to do, but this warmer weather has just meant that I have even less inclination to get on with useful stuff.

It has not been as hot as other areas of the UK in Pembrokeshire, but certainly warm enough for me to get some sunbathing done over the past few days.  Magazines have been read (cannot see the screen of my phone in the sunlight to read books via the Kindle app - for those who have an IPad, is that better in the sunshine?) and I have gained a few more freckles (I do not tan as easily as everyone else who seems to spend one day on the beach and go golden the next day).

I was up early this morning to let our aging Jack Russell, Buzz, out in the garden.  He seems to need a toilet trip a lot more often now (I know how he feels).  Therefore, I tackled some of the half-finished ATCs that have been sitting on my desk all week.

I used some of the really cute French Bulldog images that came with a craft magazine recently, plus various peel-offs/washi tape (remember when we all bought loads of peel-offs !!!).  I then added some acrylic paint in two of my favourite colours right now.

The remaining cards are either cut from some packaging or a scrap from a journal page - again with further embellies added.  No idea how to finish these ones off - but I am sure that inspiration will hit eventually.

There is a story to go with the tags in the top left - and I will do a blog post - but basically they were attached to cocktail glasses as a surprise gift from the restaurant owner that we went to on Friday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary (12th).  Such a sweet thing to do.  For anyone anywhere near Swansea or visiting, the restaurant is Mosaic and I would recommend that you all go (tapas of incredible quality).

The strip of card was used to 'mop up' the leftover acrylic paints from doing the ATCs - and I plan to cut it into narrow strips to make up some more ATCs.

The Costa Blanca book and map are there, as we are off to the area in October and I am already dreaming/planning.

Will get this published and then it is time for lunch.  I plan to go and investigate a local golf driving range (with cafe and 9 hole course too) this afternoon, so I have somewhere to practice in less pleasant weather.  I really need to practice - went up to Haverfordwest Golf Club on Monday evening and attempted 4 holes; was rubbish, but enjoyed myself (only lost one ball in the water).

Ali x