WOYWW 350

What is on my desk?  Good question.  Just one lonely card made for my friend Naomi's birthday.

I just have not got back into the mood for doing any crafting at all.  In fact I have to make another card PDQ but find sitting with my leg down makes it ache at the moment and it rather takes the mood off for creating.  I will get the other one done as it is already late and was for a special birthday, and a special young lady.  

And now below (because I made a pickle of the original post - thanks Annie for alerting me to it - here is a news cutting especially for Shaz (Silverwolf).

Whilst I was away in America I received a note to say that I had won Nikki's Pink collection.  Unsure where to send it she decided it would probably be best to send it to the UK and it was waiting for me on my arrival home.  Sorry I did not upload last week but here it is now:

Imagine the delight on my face when I opened this package and found all of this inside for me.  The little envelope on the left is full of all manner of dewdrops, beads etc.  A veritable Valentine Treat. Thank you so much Nikki.

Rightio, so now you have seen what is on my desk for this week, why not go to see what Julia has in store and follow some of the links for interest and ideas.

WOYWW 349

Phew!  What a week it has been.  Just one week ago I was up in the air on my way home after spending most of my holiday looking after my friend who had broken her arm.  It was upsetting leaving her like that but she was in the good and capable hands of friends and her youngest daughter.

Guess you came on here wanting to see my desk and my stash that I brought back from America. Right?

Well this WAS my desk so this is a bit of a cheat it is not much tidier now though (but could not resist showing you the stash) as things are left in piles as I have not been able to sort it all out due to an injury to my leg which now has to be dressed twice a week by the District Nurses - never thought I would end up with an ulcer!

Do you really want to wade through that lot?  Right, here goes ...

I went for books with a painting theme as I want to brush up on my skills in that area (not that I have any) but found that some were in dvd format.  Will see how I cope.  I like reference books to be paper!

Pastels (gift from Mary), some word dies and paints from a workshop at cha, embossing folders were purchased along with the Sizzix die but the little tub of stamps and gems came courtesy of Hero Arts.
.

Part of my big spend - Memento minis, two paper pads (did I really need them?), a Julie Nutting small doll, two stamps so I can use them to demonstrate the Misti, two Rubbernecker flowers and a set I just fell in love with.

Stencils I won from Set Apter, a Dina Wakely one I bought along with a Dyan Reaveley one with stamps a bit of Tando and some stamps from Seth and Andy Skinner.  Below is the huge pile of SUJ stamp sets Mary gave to me, she really did insist I took them so I hav

e now opened a database so i can keep track.

Now to turn you all green with envy.

Mary insisted she gave me a Cutterpillar Pro as a form of payment for my nursing skills.  I told her a little porky and said there were none in her shop.  Thinking I could get away without it, because I was looking after her out of friendship, not for reward, I was mistaken.  Despite a broken arm she went on the computer and ordered me one from her wholesaler.  It really is a fabulous cutter so now my others will be redundant as it is the only one anyone could want.  She now has two for sale.

and finally

This is my trolley (hostess one actually but it gets used mostly for dumping) with Pebeo sample, card made using Misti made with Lawn Fawn, chalkboard paper on a tray for notices, Andy Skinner book cover with eye on it (love this) Eileen Hull tag holder, paints from AS workshop and finally Seth Apter piece which you saw when I did it.  Also there is my cotton batting which Joani, a friend of Mary's, insisted I brought home with me to make some bowl holders (sent patterns home to various WOYWW members) and a baked potato bag.  And at long last that is it.

Hopefully I will get tidied up, do a mega sort out of my craft room and then get some crafting done. In the meantime I urge you all to visit Julia and see what others have to show you.  I can promise it will be a good old snoop you will get out of following the link.

WOYWW 348

Cannot show you my workdesk this morning as I am a few thousand feet up in the air, hopefully not too far from London.  Left LA at 4.30pm Tuesday and due to arrive 10.40 am Wednesday morning at Heathrow.

Thought I would show you some photos from my friend's house where I have been staying - look at these ribbons

and talk about dies

envy for the Accucut

Then there is the shop part

There's lots more I could show you but then that would only make you envious.  Let's say I had a good spend.

And guess what I found outside her house in one of the sparse bushes/trees which nobody else had noticed

This is a very tiny bird indeed, sitting on a very tiny nest which I assume she has made.  It is a humming bird.  So I have left instructions that I want someone to email me on what happens around here - if she is sitting on her nest as much as she has these past few days there must be some eggs inside.  I wait with bated breath.

Now please pop along to see Julia of the stamping-ground to see what she and others have been up to this past week.  You will enjoy what you see and read, promise.

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!