WOYWW 287

I just cannot believe how quickly the days are going at the moment.  I think my feet are stuck in treacle the whole time - well something is happening as I do not seem to get any closer to being ready for Christmas.

Went to the Christmas Market in Manchester on Friday with my friend Paul, it was lovely to see him as we haven't met up for a while.  Photos lower down in my blog.

Anyway, I am here to show you my desk, aren't I?  Yesterday I actually made four Christmas cards - I now have a grand total of six ready.  I am sure if I get going in earnest I will reach double figures before long.  You might just about be able to see the four on the right hand side and two on the left.

Now I am hoping to make some flowers and I have my EBosser out, I have cut some ordinary flowers out in the hope that I can have a stash for after Christmas.  

The cards on the right are using a stamp that my friend Lorraine chose out of my old stamp box and it just didn't get put away.  I really like what I did but I am waiting for the berries to dry as I used quite a bit of Stickles, in red, on them.

Well, that is it for today, I must get on so it's toodle pip from me and I hope you all go and visit Julia in her craft room and see who else has called in and bared their desks for you to see.  If Shaz in Oz calls in she should be able to see my new crafty baby, Monkey - and look who has come down from her usual perch to sit with him - it's Katie Koala.

If Eliza (Yoda's mum) doesn't get on here today she says "Hi, Julia, and everyone else" - she's been busy at work and driving her truck around to get presents and things for the needy.  Bless her, she is never still.

The Great (Caring) British Public (not)

Today I was on the Metro travelling from Manchester to Bury and witnessed what a caring public we have - NOT!  A lady boarded the tram with one of those walking machines that have a seat on allowing the user to sit whenever necessary.  There are designated places on the tram for disabled people to sit and to park their wheelchairs/walkers.  The tram was rather full and the space for a wheelchair user was taken up with a young woman and her pushchair. One could argue that the pram could not fit elsewhere as there is no room apart from there but no apology was given to the disabled lady and the two men who stood leaning, where she could have parked her trolley and sat, occupied themselves looking at their phones.  For 25 minutes?  Really? The lady had to stand all the way holding on to the overhead rail and her trolley whilst the tram lurched from side to side.  Should she have said something? Should I have said something?

The sign I have got in my photograph applies to the two seats underneath it - give up for disabled, elderly people - occupied by two elderly ladies who vacated the train halfway through the journey but the seat was immediately taken by two young women.  Perhaps the disabled lady was invisible to all except me!  Or does this just sum up what a selfish nation we have become? Merry Christmas, Goodwill to All Men!

Anyway, now I have got that off my chest I will show you some photographs of the lovely half day I had with my friend Paul in Manchester. Here he is just before we entered the ginnel (because I like the faces etc on the archway.

and here is a closeup of what caught my eye. Look at all the tools around the edge and inside were all manner of carvings. Must go back with my camera and take better shots some time.

The Christmas Markets were mega busy - that is the cathedral in the background

The singing tree (above) in St Ann's Square treated us to "Oh Tannenbaum" whilst the one on the corner in Albert Square was collecting donations for Macmillan Nurses.

and this one, in Spinningfields, is self explanatory

These chalets were also in Spinningfields and a welcome resting place with a hot drink (chocolate or Gluhwein?) especially if it turns to rain - or worse - before Christmas Eve.  This is also where the ice rink is and the helter skelter which Paul threatened to put me on.

On our way back to the tram we walked along Market Street and saw this real live man (he acknowledged some money being put into his box so he was real).  Now how do you think he managed to do this? People were feeling beneath him - there was nothing there.  I think I will leave you with this puzzle.

Linking this to Annie's Friday Smile as I had a lovely time seeing Paul, lots of laughter and smiles all round, even though I was a little cross on the tram home.

ps liked these two printed pieces of fabric in a shop window thought Annie might like them too.

WOYWW 286

Oh dear, I have not been a very good blogger.  Meant to put some cards up that I did last week - also meant to include some photos from the Knit and Stitch Show - instead - nothing!  So quickly, here's an easel card I made for a friend who needed a bit of cheering up

and one for a friend who had a birthday

I was trying out my Sunflower Die that day!

Here is my desk, believe it or not.  Won't be like that for much longer as my friend Lorraine is coming over - and we are going to craft.  Must fly, need to get a meal cooked, a girl's gotta eat hasn't she?

Before you go, pop along to see Julia here and see what others are offering this fair morning.  Oh, and if you are the Tracey who left me a comment on the 13th - sorry, I just cannot get into your blog - did try, honest!  Over two weeks.

Artful Times Challenge - A Triptych

For our challenge over on Artful Times this week we have chosen a Triptych.  (NO matter how many times I type that word I transpose the 'y' and the 'i') and I chose these stamps for my rendition.  Then I realised it was "cute" and we don't do cute on Artful Times so I had to start over.

These are a set of three stamps I was given by my friend Mary over in the USA.  They are wood mounted and she had them bequeathed her and let me have them because I liked them so much. I stamped the images and then spent ages enjoying colouring in.  You know how sometimes you just want to sit, listen to the radio and chill - well that is what I did, with Promarkers to hand.  I am no colourist but I did enjoy myself.

As that was 'cute' I set to and made this one for the blog

Cheating somewhat I just used a script stamp on the background but I did like these lady pictures that I had in my stash and they lent themselves to cameo shapes.  Below is the outside of the triptych with Spellbinders Parisian motifs on.

Then to hold it closed there is a lace garter

Wendy and I are off to Harrogate for a couple of days, leaving the men to sort themselves out, which means this post has to be scheduled as we won't be back in time.

Please think about entering our challenge, no prizes at the moment but you can get our Blinkie and have fun in sharing your Triptych if you are a winner.

A New Home Card

This is my card for my friends Wendy and Peter who have recently moved into their new home along with their menagerie of cats.  Wendy and Peter used to live in mid-Wales and they seemed to be the ones who attracted lots of ferrel cats.  Being animal lovers (and soft hearted but don't tell her I said that, Wendy would hate to be described that way I am sure) they have adopted several cats, or have the cats adopted them?

I was quite concerned when they moved a long way away and, rightly so in my opinion, took the cats with them.  Anyway, things have turned out for the best and the cats have settled into their new homes, none of them packing a spotted handkerchief on a stick and battling their way back to Wales. They know when they have it 'cushy' don't they.

Oh gosh, I digress so much - here is the card I made for Wendy and Peter, both keen gardeners and with a beautiful garden to potter about in:

It's an easel card and I have broken out the Promarkers for it plus made some flowers to go on for added interest.  Just hope they like it.

WOYWW 285

Phew!  Made it!  Another week has flown by but this time I have something to show for it.  I have at last finished and hung up my picture started weeks ago with Rae at a workshop - and guess what? All I did was add a couple of Sunflowers.

Without the guidance of Finnabair I cannot seem to get what I want.  I am not being vain in using a photo of me but as the only female in the household I had to do it - oh, and by the way, it is a 15 year old photo, not me now.

Made some cards too but until the recipients have them I cannot show them on here.  Wendy & Peter are coming up today and Wendy and I are going to the Stitch Show in Harrogate tomorrow so I might upload one later - perhaps for tomorrow - depends on time.

Anyhow you came on here to see my desk - in the aftermath of card making not so bad but in an hour or so it will be pristine ready in case Wendy and I want to do some crafting later in the week.

In the foreground are some word stamps and other wordy things (need putting in a drawer), my lovely Artisan, iPad, Box of Promarkers (been used quite a bit recently), my rubber mat for stamping on (love it), scrap papers and at the back my mug and card ready for more "C" card making.  Oh, and my tools for flower shaping and my water pot which collapses.  

The other week someone commented on my dirty heat gun - it was covered in alcohol inks at one time but they have worn off over the years with constant use - it is not dirty, just unloved by the look of it.  Now where did I put my alcohol inks?

Right, off you go to Julia's blog to seek out other deskers.  See you next week, or maybe tomorrow.

WOYWW 284

It's yet another Wednesday closer to Christmas Day and I am floundering.  So much so that my desk was just "walked away from" last night so it remains like this.  Simply because I did not have the heart to look any longer for what I wanted.  What did I want you ask?  Not sure!

Anyway, here it is

The five boxes on the left have nothing to do with Christmas, I just had to take them off the shelves to get to the Christmas stuff behind.  The striped box below does, however, contain some Christmas mounted stamps and the bubble box on top has stamped images and other things in it.

Just at the side of it but out of view is a large polythene bag crammed full of unmounted stamps:

There's another striped box more or less facing you, well on the chair below there is a silver Ikea tin - both of these are full of Christmas stamps.  Now do you wonder I walked away?  I don't know what I want and don't want, what I used last year and what I didn't.

Think I might go back to bed now rather than face that room.  And most of my cards have been made with diecuts ... but that is another story.  For more stories why not pop along here and see what Julia has in store for you ... and her merry band of crafters.