WOYWW 846

 Thank goodness it is a bit cooler around here and we are able to sleep better at night time than we could before.  Hope it is cooler where you are too.  

Forgot to show you the photo of DH blowing his candle out on his Victoria Sandwich cake which I had made for him last week.  Then we went out for a meal afterwards to a pub up the road which held special memories for me although the landlady had long been gone. Nevertheless the food was delicious and he had a lamb shank whilst I had their famous three cheese and onion pie.

I had to have a doggy bag and ate it up next day

Back to this week - I actually got two swaps done yesterday with one of the stamps I bought at the show in Leigh a week last Sunday.  It was my Andy Skinner stamp, "New Friends" featuring three of his bots sitting on a wall.  Here is my desk so you can see the stamp

Back left is my new folder, I had seen one used by a friend and just had to have it.  It is on top of my Inktense pencils and next to that are some painting brushes plus the red rubber stamp upside down, then my inkpad, baby wipes, glue, bits of paper.  Bottom left my new papers which I adore, the colourful one looks like peeled paint on wood, then the stamp index and my ruler.  Oh I missed out my pencil with a little man on top.

I don't think Ann will come on my blog so I will show you my two swaps.  The red one is for Val and the blue one for Ann (Everton supporter, sorry Helen).

Had an awful time lining the images up despite using Perfect Rulers - maybe the cards I bought are wonky?  Spent far too long messing about with them.

Well, that is far too long making cards now I must get on with my blog post for tomorrow.  Hopefully see you next week after I've been to Sarah's Craft Shed today.

Jeudi Journal - People

 "The older you get the more you realise why you can't stand people" is the Dyan quote for this week and

 "it is a boiling hot day again in the north of England where we find Lottie and her favourite oldish aunt, Esther. 

Both were inside escaping most of the heat the best way they could by having the curtains closed  and eating ice cream.  Esther had said they would be cooler if they didn't have the TV on as televisions caused a heat of their own and so the two of them decided to play scrabble for a while.  Even that did not help with the heat and so Lottie suggested that they go for a walk down by the beach.  Surely the temperature would not be as high as it was elsewhere with the gentle breeze off the ocean.

So the two of them set off for a gentle walk down by the water's edge but it soon became obvious that everyone else had the same thought and aunt Esther was not at all happy.  You see, despite wearing her straw hat, the sun had given her a headache and she did not want to disappoint Lottie by letting her know that she didn't really want to go out, lying down on the bed would have been her idea of heaven that day.

There were lots of young people playing music, little ones becoming fractious with the heat and crying because they could not have yet another ice cream, mums and dads getting all het up because of the little ones and it all became a bit too much for aunt Esther.

"|I think I am going to have to go home" she eventually said to Lottie, "You see, the older you get the more you realise why you cannot stand people."

"Oh auntie" said Lottie, "I had no idea you felt like that.  I always thought you enjoyed being part of a crowd."

"Yes, most days my dear, but not today.  I think the heat has got to me and I feel quite sickly and certainly not my usual self.  Do you mind if we go home?"

"Of course not" said Lottie, and the two of them turned around and started heading back to aunties house where she could rest on the bed.  "Would you like me to stay with you a while or should I leave you and go home?"

"Oh sweetie, this is not at all like me and I think I would like you to stay a while but only if you do not have something else to do.  Perhaps give your mum a ring and see if she will pick you up on her way home from work."

And so the day ended on a rather sad note with auntie not feeling well and Lottie having to stay and wait for her mum when she would have loved to join her friends down by the water."

As  you can see I have used my big journal for this one so I could use a figure that suggests an older person who is rather tall.  The young girl used to be my favourite of the heads from Dyan until I got the stamps I used last week.  To begin with I used Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide through a Dylusion stencil  here and there on the page with the border on the same stencil around the edges.  Figures are coloured using Promarkers simply because I find them easier to use on something like this than any other media.

So that is my journal page for Chris's challenge at Art Journal Journey which is Hot Summer (Days and Nights) hence the hot colour for the background.  Funnily enough although I chose Rusty Hinge which suggests a brownish colour it it a lovely shade for a hot day which seems to be 'the norm' for most of us as where we live at the moment.

WOYWW 845

 It's WOYWW day, another WOYWW day and another hot day.  Hope you are surviving in this heat.  To join in with WOYWW pop along to Sarah's Craft Shed and follow the links to other blogs.  So what have you been up to in the past week?

Apart from some more work on my journal challenge with my friend Ann I cannot say I have done much during the week, apart from a Never Ending Card for my Niece's son.  If you have ever done one you will know they can be difficult when it comes to putting pictures on, some end up as half pictures, some upside down, as you turn it.  So it took some doing with pictures from the internet as I didn't have enough suitable football pictures.  The photos show the different turns:

This last one shows how it stands up

The weekend saw us off to Leigh Show.  It was a glorious warm Sunday when we arrived at Leigh Sports Village and as my dh got out of the car his chin almost hit the ground.  He had left my rollator at home.  Now honesty, I cannot walk without it at the moment (got a bad case of oedema in my legs plus this ulcer on my ankle).  So he offered to go home to get the rollator but for the length of time I would be there it wasn't worth it, plus I could sit with the organisers and maybe be useful to them.  (They are good friends)

We had arranged to meet up with some friends once there and they walked in straight behind us.  Everyone agreed it was a shame i could not go around the show so Graham (the organiser) went to see if the Sports Centre had any wheelchairs.  No!  But our friend, John, ever the resourceful. took himself off to Morrisons across the road and asked if he could borrow one of theirs and they agreed. 

So I spent the morning being wheeled about:

From the left at the back we have (the Knight in Shining Armour) John, my dh and my friend Ann

Not to be outdone Graham, the show organiser, who was busy taking the photo, did a selfie for me which reminded me of one of the CHA trips we had done with them years ago when he did a selfie to make me laugh when I was watching Tim Holtz.  (incidentally Graham's last name is Holt and his son Tim [Tim Holt] was at the show on Sunday along with his wife Tracey).

I didn't buy much, what I wanted from Lavinia they had sold out of but I did buy some Honey Doo stamps and I found an Andy Skinner Bot stamp which  I love.  Wish I had bought more, I love Andy's work.  Show you some images next week.

All too soon it was lunch time and we had to dash off to a cheese and wine party we had had arranged for ages with some friends,  It was up at the edge of the Lakes which was ironic as our friends John and Ann had come down from there and we had to leave them for us to travel up.  Traffic was a nightmare on the motorway and so we arrived with ten minutes to spare for me to get changed into a dress and some bling.  We had a lovely time, sorry no photos and Monday was spent travelling back down to home.

Yesterday was District Nurse time for a Doppler test and to have my ankle re-dressed.  Don't think the nurse is happy about it.  

So here is my desk in full glory doing some more pages in my challenge book which I started before I went down to the clinic.

So that's it for this week, it's Jackson's birthday today so "Happy Birthday to you Jackson" and to the rest of you "have a lovely week and a fabulous weekend, especially if you are working."

Jeudi Journal - Crazy

The quote from Wendy is "You can exercise all you want.  You're never going to burn that crazy off" for this week and the new theme at Art Journal Journey which is set by the lovely Chris from Pearshaped Crafting - "Hot Summer (Days & Nights)".  Chris and I have known one another for quite some time although we haven't seen much of one another since we had lunch together a year or more ago after a visit to Lavinia in Ruthin.  We don't live too far away from one another and we share several mutual friends.

To begin my journal page I covered it with Distress Oxide Crackling Campfire.  I was hoping to use my new figures from Dyan at Art from the Heart but they are too wintry in what they wear so I had to revert to some of my old figures because of the "hot" theme.  Not to worry, the dresses will be useful later but I did manage to make use of the heads which I was pleased about.  I think they are so cute!  I am hoping Wendy will buy Dinky Dolls 3 (I bought DD 4) and then we can share images with one another increasing our library.

"Petra had called to see her friend Lottie who was lounging on the floor.

"What are you doing down there, you look chilled or whacked out, can't make my mind up which?" said Petra as she walked in the lounge having been told by Lottie's mum that she was in there 'doing her thing'.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe how much I ache," replied. Lottie, "I did an hour at the gym this morning and I haven't lost an inch.  I need to lose some weight by weekend so I will have to go each morning.  Sorry, won't be available for anything else this week."

"What on earth has got into you, there is nothing wrong with the way that you look."

"I've told her that over and over" came a voice from the kitchen, it was Lottie's mum who had already given her daughter a pep talk about too much exercise and diets etc.  "See if you can talk some sense into her will you love.  She might listen to you.  Want a cuppa?"

"Yes please Mrs Smith" called Petra.  "Can I be cheeky and ask if you have any of that lemon drizzle you made left over?"

"I have, and that's not cheeky, you know I've known you since you were in a pram.  Your mum and I used to go to the park with you two all the time.  You're like a second daughter to me.  There's apiece here in the kitchen for you, just come and get it."

"Thanks Mrs Smith" said Petra as she picked up her cake and cuppa.

"Hmph" came a sound from the floor.  "I sometimes think mum wishes you were me."

"That's nonsense' said Petra her hands on her hips by this time.  You know your mum, and your dad both worship you.  Mine wouldn't let me die my hair purple for starters.  Anyway, back to this exercising you are keen on.  Why suddenly do you want to lose more weight, you look great?"

"Well Robbie Nelson is going to be there this weekend and I am sure he likes me. a little.  If I could get a bit more off my waist I could get that dress in Pauldens' window, you know, the one with the big gold belt and the swishy skirt."

"Oh I knew there would be a boy somewhere in the picture.  You can exercise all you want.  You're never going to burn that crazy off.  Why can't you just enjoy your time with me and the girls, why does there always have to be a boy on the scene somewhere?  We've plenty of time for that, for goodness sake we are only just gone seventeen.  I'm going to finish my cake and be off, let me know later in the week what you are doing regarding Saturday's party."

And with that Petra took her cup and plate into the kitchen, said thanks to Mrs Smith and left via the back door."

WOYWW 844

Nothing special hals been happening this week but next week promises to be a bit brighter as it is Leigh Show on Sunday and we are meeting friends, Ann and John, who are coming down from Ulverston.  Guess what?  We are heading up to their neck of the woods afterwards, not quite as high as Ulverston but just below, as we are going to a cheese and wine party in the afternoon with some other friends.

I am also looking forwards to the show as it is run by Graham who I used to work for, well demonstrate for his wife's company at shows, and one of his sons will be there who I have known since he was a youngster - he is now dad to two young boys.  Two other friends Izzy and Pete will be there, they help with the shows and I've always had a soft spot for Izzy.

Then there is Jo.  Jo Rice will be dem'ing Lavinia stamps for Stampers Grove so it will be nice to see Jo as I haven't seen her in a while.  She will be with her friend Lisa who also helps out on thE is so is great at helping find a particular stamp you want.

Well, you came to see my desk so here it is

It looks staged but it isn't. I had my bits laid out trying to decide what went where in my challenge book I am doing with Ann, and what needed doing yet to make a pair up.  Not sure what you have seen in the past.

Last week my Acorn House, started with Jo, was on my desk and now it is layered up ready to go on a card.  My acorns are a bit more brown than Jo's were so next time I will remember and do them a bit more yellowy.  Here it is  with a brown mount on.  I really do like it and wish you could see the sparkle.

Now to visit Sarah and everyone else.

The ankle is pretty much the same.  Th surgery have been going all out to get me to take these really strong antibiotics as recommended by the microbiologist they consulted.  I was not happy, however talking to one of the partner doctors he said that although it was a risk there is nothing else will help with the recovery of the ankle and he recommended I take them.  So I have and fingers crossed seem to be ok except a bit of an upset tummy and a rash on my arms and mouth.  Just two left to take today and it's the end of the antibiotics and just left to the District Nurses who I see for treatment every four days.

Jeudi Journal - Invite

The quote from Wendy this week is "Thanks for the invite but I would rather sew my head to the carpet".  Sounds a bit painful to me.  Now to put the quote together with some botanicals for Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey.  It's the end of the month and AJJ will be having a new theme on Friday so, as I already had another page ready with some big florals on it I thought I had better get it used.  Thanks to Halle for a great theme, for once Wendy and I were able to fit our quotes into the theme easily.  Just wish I had been well enough to do more entries.

I had used the other side of the journal with this painting on it and coloured the figures min but to me they got lost a bit in the background so this time I left them black and white.  The story?

"It was the end of the day at Halle Academy and Roger was hanging around in the school garden hoping to see Monica who was in the class above him as he had such a great big crush on her and his friend, Johnny, was having a party on Friday night.  Just imagine if he could walk in with Monica.  All the other guys would be jealous because she was so beautiful.  It didn't matter to him that she was a year older, and a good bit taller, than he was, he had loved her forever.

Just then who should walk around the corner, and on her own, but Monica.  The birds all started singing and the butterflies flitting about (not really, just in his imagination).

"Hi Monica", he called

"Hi Roger" she answered, "what are you doing standing there?"

"Err, I was hoping to see you, I know you walk this way on your way home.  I wanted to ask you something important."

"OK" she said, shrugging her shoulders, she really wanted to be on her way, her brother would be in and he had a gorgeous friend that she had a bit of a crush on.  "What is it?"

"Erm, my friend is having a party on Friday, there will be lots of people from school there and I think there will be food and maybe the odd bottle of wine, I know I am going to take one if I can sneak one out.  I was wondering if you would like to go to the party with me."

Monica looked down on him, he was a good year younger than she was, and he didn't even come up to her shoulders.  No, she certainly did not want to be seen with a squirt like Roger.  The sun was beating down on them and she was in this rush to get home.  What should she say?  Let him down lightly or put him off forever?  Oh to heck with it she thought.  He needed putting down thinking he could have a date with her.  

"Thanks for the invite but I would rather sew my head to the carpet" she announced as she flounced off.

Poor Roger stood there, so disappointed.  Well, if that was the way that she felt he wouldn't be asking her to the Prom come the end of summer.  In fact he wouldn't be asking her to go anywhere with him in the future.  She was nothing but a jumped up snob."

WOYWW 843

 Yet another flying week, I swear days have wings on them these days, at this rate it will be 'C' time before I know it.  Perhaps it is not going as fast at Sarahs Craft Shed, maybe I should take a peek.

I never seem to have done as much as I expected to do.  This past week saw me trying to catch up on two online workshops I had signed up for but neither are fully finished.  One I didn't have a fairy facing left, that was large enough for the card, apart from one I had used previously.  Now if I had been making a card I would have been fine using her but as it was for my journal I already had one very similar on another page so it wouldn't do.  In the end I just made a card.  But I still have one to make.  Again I did not have the correct stuff but I am going to manage with what I have, long gone are my days of buying just because.

I've not had a good week, a lot on my mind regarding this ankle injury and visits to the District Nurse every four days with doctor trips in between has taken its toll on my week.  Enough about that.

Today I decided to do a quick card that my friend  Jo Rice had just put up on her You Tube and so I set to using one of the new stamps from Lavinia which I forgot to photograph for you all.  This is Acorn House and I just love it with the stones in front of the doorway.

At the moment it is just a topper and it needs mounting on a card so you might be seeing it again another week.

On my desk from left to right are my moon masks, some post it notes in the flowery pack, my stamps below with the acorn sets to the right and the green thing on the far right is my waste bin made by Jo Pritchard years ago, most of you will, remember Jo and her quilting/sewing etc.  She was a good friend and I have missed her cheerful disposition.  I never had 'down' days when Jo was around.  The blue thing is my pencil case full of Inktense pencils on top of some waste paper/card, then the acorn topper and finally over on the right my eraser, baby wipe, Wink of Stella and a piece of kitchen roll.

Not having unpacked my bag from when I was last at the caravan until this afternoon here is my counter top full of stuff.

I won't go through everything that is on here, it's pretty boring but the brown bag at the end is from Amazon, a bit of a surprise gift for my dh who has a birthday coming up.  He doesn't want/need anything but his Calvados is a bit down so he has asked for a bottle of that and I read that with grapefruit syrup it makes a lovely cocktail.  Now he isn't a cocktail type of man and doesn't like his Calvados messed about with but I am hoping that a bottle of grapefruit syrup might change his mind.  He's got one anyway!  Well I can have the odd cocktail with it can't I?  Or was it rhubarb?