WOYWW 347 - Sorry It is Long Julia

Another week over and it is almost a new month.  Time goes by so quickly.

If you saw my last post you will have seen that I visited LA Chinatown on Saturday when I had the day off from my nursing duties and this coming Saturday I am hoping that I get another day off and go to Santa Monica Beach - I never feel I have been on holiday unless I see water (and I do not count the sort that comes out of a tap).

This is my desk today - well the kitchen top anyway as the table is mega full of stuff.

Close up of Jocies birthday card and the birthday card for her Poppa Russ who is celebrating his today.  The Julie Nutting doll reminds me of Jocie so much and Russ likes Baseball so they should both work.

Last Sunday was workshop day here in Sylmar and with being on my own it was quite hard to keep the ladies in check with four projects on the go at once plus one hidden away, which they found and began ahead of time.  One minute they were eating at the buffet and the next they were stamping!!!

Here are the cards they made which are one layer cards which Paul taught at Vicky Stampers a while ago.  These are favourites of mine as I love using Distress Inks and feel that people don't spend enough time to get a good finish when using them.

They were meant to do one but wanted to make all five - so they did!

The other thing was to decorate a bag to take their cards home in, plus any shopping they might do. Mary and her friend, Carole, had seen some bags which they rather liked at CHA and when Mary showed me the photograph I suggested we use the Julie Nutting Dolls.  'Brilliant' thought Mary, she loves cutting them out on her Scan and Cut whilst I began drawing some other things for cutting.

Here is the bag Mary decided they should make decorated with those Viva "Perlen Pens" (but they got a choice and could cheat using pearls and glue).

and here is another one but they did not get a choice to make this - just a ribbon bow.

and the other one I drew got translated into a Valentine Card

Imagine it smaller with red hearts on a white background and then on a red card ... there ... you got it!

My final card was to be this one with Brusho's forming the background.

I had hoped to demonstrate the Misti alongside the card making but somehow it never happened as I was kept busy showing the ladies how to use Distress Inks and Brusho's plus finding the stamps ... the various colours of Distress Inks (which were originally bagged up with the stencil etc) ..... serving food ... and so on - I was stressed!  And I was "nursey" for the day too remember - my patient needed looking after and purchases had to be made, totted up and monies/orders taken.

I was also going to show this tag to one particular person whom I know would have liked the ideas but sadly she had to cry off with a headache so in some ways that got me off the hook.  Hopefully I will see her before I leave America and show her how to do it using the new Prima Pastels.

Basically I used them just as Tim had used his new Distress Crayons, smudging them with my finger and then using a stencil over the top and a babywipe.  I loved the effect of the black at the bottom and the side which turned out like that because it was not blended first.  Does it not remind you of Dog-Tooth Check?  How many of you wore that when a teenager?

Well, Julia will have me for such a long post but as I am waiting for my Chinese Meal to be delivered 'and sipping a G&T at the same time' I am a bit non-plussed at the thoughts.  Sorry J!  As for you all, I hope you go to visit the stamping ground and see what she has been up to, no doubt there will be a funny story and lots of links to other desks.  

Have a great day!

Cor Blimey! I am posting mid Wednesdays

Well, it is early morning here and I am posting this from my bed. Lazy lady!

Yesterday we had a day off from our nursing duties and family members came in and did shifts in being with Mary whilst we went to Chinatown, courtesy of Maria who suggested it.  Thanks to Carrie and Russ for organising the sitters.

The day was supposed to be wet so we set off with umbrellas and waterproofs but I thought it was warm enough, coming from Britain you are tougher than the Californian girl we were with, namely ex-Scottish Maria, so I went coat-less most of the day.

View from the station along the line

We did our usual walk along the street until we came to the market. I wish I had taken some photographs in there as it is like a warren with all the aisles making twists and turns, so easy to get lost.  Then it was up to my favourite supermarket, a few gifts bought and on to this lovely little square.

Me with Chas at garden

We first discovered this lovely little plaza two years ago when we were there for the Chinese New Year but we didn't remember this little area.

same spot but with Maria and the other side of the water

Us with Bruce Lee

Looking back over Chinatown from the station - bye for another year.

I did take a lovely photo on my phone of red lanterns adorning the Plaza with a lovely building in the background.  It is fine on my cell phone but will not download for some reason.  Ah well!

Must get up and at 'em - stamping day and things to do once I have got my patient settled.  If only I could stay in bed - Yawn .....

WOYWW 346 Changed my Name to Florence and CHA Pics!

Well, I am working in the kitchen at my friend's house because there is no room down in the stamping area and as my friend is in bed I am doing my own thing.   I am playing with my new toy - well it is Mary's really but new for me to play with and I WANT ONE!

In the foreground, left, you can see the MISTI (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) and I will be dem'ing this at the Sincerely Shows for Oyster Stamps when I get back to the UK so I thought I would get some practice in and use Mary's whilst I am here.

We have a workshop day planned for the 30th, just before I leave so I have been prepping for that and this is what is on my workdesk today.  Those boxes at the back are full of samples and the bits and bobs ready for them to begin making their cards.

Now you did read correctly, my friend, Mary, is in bed.  We should have been living it up in a 2 bedroom villa at the Lawrence Welk resort in Escondido for the last two days, and now be on our way to The Hilton at Carlsbad ... but ... on Sunday Mary tripped in her 'retreat' and has broken her arm.  Until the swelling has gone down they cannot do anything but we are hoping and praying that she does not have to have surgery but that they do do something for the pain she is experiencing.

The family tried to encourage us to still go and said they would look in on Mary continuously but in all honesty, could you leave your friend and enjoy yourself knowing she was in pain?

So instead of treating you to lovely photographs of the ocean and those two beautiful places you will have to make do with a bit more of CHA.  I'll save the projects in the boxes until next week.

Love those figures from Art Impressions and they now have some tiny ones - ideal for A6 cards.  Do like these twister cards.

Not sure, think that this was on the Ideology stand

and the ones below

A lot of my friends think I am a Tim Holtz Groupie but to be honest I don't spend a lot of time watching him.  There are always crowds and this year I did not catch all he was saying so wandered off to see the wonderful Dyan!

So bright - so Dylusional

Love her new images and the pens

Another stand I always enjoy is the Penny Black one - they have some beautiful cards on display - love those poppies (my favourite flowers)

and want these blue birds

Can't leave without looking at Emma Lou and Richard - two lovely people and two lovely samples from Heartfelt Creations

To finsh off - Me with Dyan

Better leave it there or Julia will have my 'guts for garters' - sorry for such a long post - now off to the stamping ground to see what others have on offer (and have been up to).  If you are posting please please please put your number if you comment so I can visit you back easily without having to search for you.  Remember I am playing 'nursey' at the moment so am quite busy.

WOYWW 345

Well, it is over for another year for me.  CHA has been visited, perused and vetted by me and there are a few photos to share with you but no desk I am afraid.  Did make a card this evening (it is 9.30 pm here but time to post in the UK so no need to post Tuesday night and pretend it is Wednesday morning) but I have not taken a photo of it as yet.  Hopefully Julia will forgive me if I take you on a little stroll of CHA (which was smaller than ever this time).

Yarn Bombing - a big big display - fabulous!  Very cleverly done -

the end wall

OR - how about riding off in this

or wearing the outfit covered in crystals (ouch!)

you may have seen this till on Facebook (Swarovski (sp?)

here's its matching stapler

Sorry, cannot remember which stand had this dragon

Pebeo had this great big liquid picture

and Envirotex had these

two different products but similar results!

Below is Finnabair's clock I would have loved to have done this class.  Mary's friend, Carole, did it and her clock is gorgeous, but it was the day before we set off so out of reach for me I am afraid.

and here's a picture for her husband

Spellbinders had fantastic displays

Stacy's Romantic above

Becca Feakin's Wedding below

and to finish - my favourite - Stacy's Art Deco

That is it for tonight girls, just time to log off and try to link up to Julia on her blog and then have a rummage around before I fall asleep to see who else is blogging early doors in Britain.  Hopefully I will be back with more pictures as days go on but forgive me if I don't make it tomorrow - we are having a Mexican Feast tomorrow night and the week ahead is all planned with two parties and a trip out.  Talk about "feet" and "not touching" - it's all go here and I am loving it!

WOYWW 344

New Year - New Desk

I am actually working in the kitchen, but not my kitchen, my friend Mary's kitchen.  Yes, once again the time of year has come around for my annual visit to see my friend in America and here I am, not been here 24 hours yet and already trying something out.

Mary told me about these water soluble pastels that she had fallen in love with and when I saw her results I had to agree that they work so well, especially with the Rubbernecker Stamps.  I have had a little play and now want to compare them to the Caran D'Ache ones that I took with me.

In the meantime I want to experiment with them and see what I can do, what they can do - maybe see some being demonstrated at CHA at weekend - watch a You Tube video - but mainly have fun with them.  They certainly do seem creamy.

Well, will leave it there just as Miss Julia likes on a Wednesday.  Pop over to the stamping ground to see what she has to say and what others are doing.  Toodle pip!

WOYWW 343

For the better or worse?  That is the question.  See my post below (copied from our dear Shaz in Oz's blog) - I can only see it being of any use to them and not to us.  I have taken a photo of my friends as it stands on my page at present and I will be adding it to my side bar or something so that it is a reminder of what used to be.  Not sure if any have disappeared prior to this warning but will try to take photos of all the followers.

Still, there are worse things at sea as they say.  My heart goes out to all those people affected by the floods and I wish there was something I could do.  Just read that some of the homes in York have been looted whilst the folks were away.  What scum we have in society!

Nothing to show on my desk - it is exactly the same as last week so, as I did not show you the tree (read on someone's blog Julia wanted us to) am rectifying that today:

As I was so busy in the lead up (never again - churches) Chas decorated the tree so I suggested he only put the baubles and lights on - makes it easier to pull down as we are taking it down early this year.  

btw Jan/Annie/Jo I made those curtains when we first moved into this house.  The fabric is the same as the settee was made of and it took a lot of courage to cut up and match up - but I did it (after unrolling it and rolling it up again for about 6 months!)

This was the table just the four of us - we had crackers, fabric or knitted hats (the men had knitted ones because we ladies had ear rings in our bags) and gift bags which went down a storm with Andy's partner Sam.  Wish I had photographed the turkey, it looked really good, just a perfect colour (but I am sick of eating turkey now).

A nest of tables with nibbles on

and a trolley with sweeties. nuts etc

chocolates and biscuits underneath

In the goody bag there were moustaches amongst all the other things and so here we are all sporting them

Starting top left - Picasso, Chaplin, Hogan, Einstein.

Happy New Year to you all and may it be a good one for Julia and all WOYWW members past and present.

Thoughts and Prayers are with those who are suffering with the floods and those who are ill or nursing someone who is.