WOYWW 193

Back Home!  So cold!

Hopefully a quick blog today, suffering with jet lag (ie up in wee small hours wide awake, asleep most of day yesterday - well, struggling to keep eyes open).

This was my work desk at weekend when I got home and unpacked:

No space to do any crafting in front of me

Ta Da ... This is my desk today.  Most of the things have been put away (or hidden from view) and all I have on  desk is the shoe that Carole did in a workshop and which she gave to me.  I plan to re-cover it, probably a saucy red, and then show it to you again. Nothing wrong with what Carole did but I am itching to get going on it myself.

To the right of the shoe are some charms bought in Rancho Cucamonga (don't you love that name?) and a couple of necklaces bought here on Sunday (PriMarni) - to pull to bits. Just wish I was not so old - I would love to go punk all of a sudden (usual with me, when it is out of fashion).

Must go as we have a "pickle" on our hands so I suggest you all go and visit Ms Julia at the stamping ground and see what others are up to. Thanks to those of you who have been visiting me whilst I have been away, much appreciated - and thanks to my new and old followers, will be on an even keel shortly.

WOYWW 192 - Still Away

Well, my workdesk today is recovering from the Stamp Party we had on Saturday but the good news is I have some cards to show you.

Here are some of the ladies making the cards

The scissor station

Carrie (you can see her leaning over) instructing a couple of the ladies in how to make a delightful scissor case.  This was the only fabric piece we did.

Andrea, Nancy, Stephanie and Debi doing the triple cards

Joanie, Carole and TC doing Valentine cards

Karen, TC, Mimi, Tania and Joan with Stencils & Glitter

and here are some of the cards

that I made

Phew!  Didn't mean to upload so many for you to look at, hope you got some inspiration from them. The lime one is on its side, sorry. The Valentine one is a step card which you can't tell from the scan.

Now off to see what others have been up to with WOYWW.  Sorry I did not get to visit you all who visited me last week, was a mega busy one here on holiday.  Will make up for it and visit you when I get back home on Friday.

Take care, especially those at home, in the UK, in that awful weather we are hearing about.

Nearly Home Time - Long Post

I have never known a month's visit go by quicker than this one.  It doesn't seem two minutes since we were being met at the Flyway by Mary and Maria and in a couple of days time we will be being dropped off there.  Not just 'bye' to our friends but also 'bye' to the sunshine and 'hello' to the cold weather in Britain (and no doubt more snow and lots of rain and little sunshine even in the summer).

Anyway, you didn't come on here to hear that - these are some of the highlights from our trip
I am surprised I did not show you photos from the 'Swap Meet' we went to on the first Sunday we were here.  Neal and Maria took us in Maria's car (I felt like we were Thelma and Louise when Maria drove) - here it is with Chas and myself in, on the drive.

then we met Bob

on his converted cool box!  No kidding - it was full of beer pumps.  A total conversation stopper and the horn when he honked it!!!

More practical ways of getting about were there to video, I loved the carts they used to pull the children in, no doubt later to load up with bargains.  Here's a small one, missed out on the bigger ones.

Later that week we went down to Encinitas for a few days with Mary.  It was glorious weather and we saw some fabulous places, all very different - including a couple of stamp stores.  My first ever Hobby Lobby!  They don't have many on the west coast but I guess they are starting to creep in

don't you love this decorated number plate

Honouring their young folks at Rancho Cucamonga

 where Hobby Lobby is

Time to move on `and visit Poway, they have a stamp store!   And this lovely house?

The stamp store is here

Fab workshops on display

Then on to Temecula

with its trolley bus

and lovely shops

Indian Shop

with left over Christmas Trees

and old jail

and look at this name

Sorry if this is photo overkill but ...
I loved Temecula

OK

Phew!  That was day one.  Look at this bush

Day Two and Breakfast at

The Potato Shack

outside

and my Breakfast Burrito

well, what was left of it!

A peek at Swami Beach

Spencer loved it

and on to Carlsbad and Oceanside

 Antiques

Best of all - Gigi's

A fabulous stamp store in Oceanside where I got a Dylusion Stamp Set.  What a lovely lady Gail was to talk to.  Here she is with her husband and that is Mary stood at the counter.  She has a really big shop fully of goodies.  If you are ever in the area ...

Goodnight - enjoy the sunset

Stamping Time

Hi, still all muddled up with this eight hour time difference.  It is morning here so I am right in thinking it is Sunday evening over the water (home to me), I think.

Yesterday was Stamping Day, I could not believe how many people came, it was crowded in the kitchen when I peeked around the corner.  Didn't have time to get my camera out until later so missed the crowds as they had spread all around the house.  Some in the two dining areas, some in the family room, some in the lounge and some in the kitchen as well as the stamp room area.

Food, Glorious Food!

Here's one of the cards I made

Actually made this one this morning but using one of the techniques. Will scan my other cards and upload them another day, in the meantime I hope you enjoyed seeing the people enjoying themselves and at least you got to see one card even if it was done this morning.

See you later!

Artful Times Challenge 22 - Gung Hay Fat Choy

Well the Chinese New Year falls this month and this time it is the Year of the Snake.  Sadly, by three days I miss out on the celebrations in Los Angeles as I am heading for home on the 7th.  Not to worry, Manchester does a fair job of celebrating with firecrackers and dancing dragons so no doubt I will make my way there.

I chose the theme for this Challenge as I love anything and everything to do with China.  As a child my father used to take me to the library to help him choose a travel book, but as where he said he wanted one depicting he always came home with one on China picked by me.  Then a few years ago I was fortunate enough to have a holiday there.  A ten day tour of mainland China and five days in Hong Kong.  It really was my holiday of a lifetime.

Ah well, happy memories, but what have I got for you today?

This is a card that Mary (my friend in America with whom I am still staying - yes I have been here three weeks and have one more to go) made at CHA with the Hero Arts team.  The grey parts are actually rice paper mounted on black rectangles.  Love that stamp she has used, hopefully it will appear shortly in the Hero Arts line.

I added a little Mizihuki (not sure on the spelling) knot that I made, it is very tiny.

Am now going to share another card which fits in with the theme that I have made using a Stamping Up set of Mary's.  Again a technique I have learned since arriving here.  Mary and her daughter, Carrie, have been making these cards and they are delightful.  Here is mine with an Asian theme.

So Gung Hay Fat Choy to you all (means Best Wishes and Congratulations.  Have a Prosperous and Good Year).  Hope you all join in with us with the Chinese celebrations in the meantime enjoy Chinatown in LA which I visited with Neal and Maria yesterday.

One of the stalls in the Chinese Market which is in the Plaza.

A herb shop on the main street in Chinatown.

Getting ready for weekend - lanterns, wall hangings and firecrackers.

In fairness I have to show the whole of this notice 

but the top part made me smile.