Journal - Dots

My choice - for this one I chose to do an unpainted background using Vintage Photo and Squeezed Marmalade.  Well, I had to have some Distress Inks in somewhere.  I was a little disappointed that the Vintage Photo did not show up more, it really was hard to get some colour on the page, despite reinking the pad.  Anyway, we kind of got there and I added some circles through a stencil designed by my friend Tracy Weinzapfel, which I love.  It is called "Bubbles" an easy to remember name if you have ever met Tracy.  For the stencil I introduced a third colour - Aged Mahogany.  A firm favourite of mine.  Luckily "Bubbles" has lots of "dots" as well.  A few more through an un-named stencil on two corners with Ground Espresso (so I cheated and used 4 colours!).

Then I got stuck!

Suddenly inspiration struck.  I have a friend called "Dot" and so I could have a character called "Dot" - now what to do with her and which one to use - it is not 'my' friend Dot so no look-alike needed.  In the end I put two figures on, the one on the right is Dot.  She is obviously taking her grey cat for a walk (telling you the colour as it looks white on here) but he certainly does not look pleased does he?

Wonder what Wendy has done???

WOYWW 451

Today you can see a different craft desk to the one you are used to.  Even different to the one you see all the time I am in America.  I am now in Arizona at the home of Ralph and Valetta - and Valetta has a gorgeous craftroom.  Both worked for Disney so I was in love with their new home (they moved from California to outside Phoenix) which has lots of memorabilia in it - but that is maybe for another post.

Here is Valetta's craftroom, right next to the guest bedroom where I was staying.  She so wanted me to do some crafting but it just never happened - but we did shop!

Look at the paint storage!

Ralph put this storage up for Valetta whilst we were at Creativation.  It is so nice for her to have it all to hand now.

Well, lots more to show you, stick around another day - I will show you some more Creativation pictures another day and some big wreath pictures from the most incredible ribbon shop near to Valetta's.

Pop along to see what Julia has in store for you today and then go and see what other crafters are up to.  Bet none have changed a desk for one in Phoenix this week.

WOYWW 451

A scheduled post and a post that is lacking a lot of information and photographs.  I will probably start uploading some photos in the next day or so - just too late back from my trip to Phoenix.

The friend I normally go with has had a terrible allergic reaction to an injection she had and so was unable to go with us.  Carole, however, can still go so as I now know her quite well (having done CHA with her for about 10 years) she is drove me to Phoenix - a seven hour drive and now we are on our way back.

In the meantime here is the photo of the desk I was working at - doing some work on my Dylusion Dyary.  I never seem to have time to play catch up with it so thought it a good idea to taker it to America with me.

It is in the "shop" type section of my friend's home and that is the reason for all the goods being on show.  Might just treat myself to some of those pens - I am a sucker for pens.

Hopefully have something exciting to show you next time but in the meantime pop along to Ms Julia and see what amusing tale she has for us all this week - oh, and don't forget to visit the desks of the others.

Day 2 at Creativation (still CHA to us oldies)

Sheesh!  I am tired.  Sleepy and achey with all the walking although we did sit down for Tracy's (Weinzapfel) session on Journalling.  Eyes a bit sore from staring at everything and won't mention the hips etc.

We got there just after nine this morning and left at 6 pm which is throwing out time.  We had had a 2 hour workshop at the end of the day so that was not walking about, restful.  Luckily Carole had the same workshop as me today so we were able to spend the time together.     

One of the first stands we went to was Deflecto and I was blown away.  They make stackable  storage boxes and I am in a draw to win one - fingers crossed for tomorrow at 3 pm ladies (and Paul).  Anyway, I digress - here is what blew me away.  Imagine this on one wall of your craftroom:

Each of the stacking boxes (you can see them with things in in the forefront of the photo) fits onto another one but you can remove the fifth one down, the ninth one etc without dismantling the tower.  Look at the pen storage - imagine that filled with your coloured pens,  Isn't it wonderful.  

I came out with a phrase just after I had said it was mind blowing and the guy we were talking to said he liked it and is going to use it so watch out for my name in their blurb.  Maybe!

We went along to see my lovely friend Emma Lou at Heartfelt Creations.  she is so tiny and pretty and one of the loveliest people you could wish to meet.  They have some of the most amazing cards on display and their stand is just beautiful.  I took a few photos but Carole was tired so we moved on to our class area.

top left one in close-up below (because I love it)

and a side view

Just a few of the many beautiful displays and cards from the Heartfelt Creations Design Team - and here she is, the lovely Emma Lou (I snapped her when she was busy)

I know I promised you some photos of the Ranger stuff but honestly I am too tired and am falling asleep despite it not being 9 pm yet.  Here is a sneak preview but more another day.

Want more?  Tune in tomorrow.  I will do my best to post but we are travelling back to Valetta and Ralph's so cannot promise, but will try, honestly.                                           

One or Two Photos from Creativation (formerly CHA)

Hi Ladies (and Gents)

Well, the second time I have scheduled a trip to Sedona in my short vacation to the USA it has been cancelled.  Something tells me I have not to go - hopefully only because of the time of year.  All was in order this time, up to yesterday, but this morning the news told us they have 4-6" of snow from an overnight session and roads are hazardous.  We even had a lovely Lexus to take us!

Just means I get to spend another day longer with my lovely friend, Mary.  In the meantime I will share a little of Creativation (formerly CHA) with you.

Friday night I did a class with Stephanie Barnard, Sizzix where we made eight (yes 8) cards!  Can't show them to you as I have no means of scanning and photos do not work - hotel room is pretty dark.

Saturday the show opened and I met, Tracy (Winzapfiel - not sure that is the right spelling) first of all as I walked in the door so that was lovely to see her smiling face and get my hugs.  I was waiting for the show to open and I saw Antonis so I got, not one but three kisses.  That was mega!  He is so handsome.  Next was Craig (CHA man from the UK), Lori (Bastoni), Buttons (Jenny Marple), Suzi Bent, Ben and Dyan Reavey and maybe more but I can't remember.  (Friday I saw Anne Redfern too).  This jet lag plays havoc with the memory.

Me with Antonis and below one of his pieces (love it)

see this bow below?

It is an optical illusion.  These bows are paper and are flat, perfectly flat yet they look as if they are real ribboned bows.  I had to go and touch to make sure.  This was in the new section - Brutus Monroe, a new exhibitor.

 This was a canvas I liked - maybe it was Ken Oliver's - after a while it all blurs into one - and the jet lag doesn't help.

Loved these papers by Alexandra Renke, a German company.  And they were so nice to talk to.  I liked the fact that there was still a lot of white and the designs were so muted.

She does stamps and dies too (I think I have that right)

I went and met Kelly (Kelly Creates - calligraphy) as my friend Lorraine is following her and watching all her You Tube stuff.  Lorraine will be green with envy!

Went to chat with Seth (Apter) on PaperArtsy stand and followed him to another where he was demonstrating his new powders.  Seth is such a lovely guy and he made a fab layout with a metal washer sunk into the page.

This stuff is fabulous - and it is from Coventry!!  It is like a plastic and the jewellery she had on show looked a bit like Friendly Plastic but it was very flexible so does not break.  Mega stuff.  More on that another time.

Of course I had to go and see Dyan and her new range close up.  Won't take you through the stuff as you have probably already seen it but here is a journal page

Got to go for breakfast now but will be back with more - and wait for it ... will upload the Designers Challenge for Ranger - brilliant stuff - love it especially this year.

Toodle pip for now! xx

Journal - Window

Wendy's choice this morning, grey and red.  "Window" for the topic.

Fortunately I had just used the Slate Grey on another journal page and so I was able to get this page primed at the same time as the last one.  Now I just had to sort out the red window.  Knowing what larks I had had trying to get Funky Fuchsia to 'pop' I began drawing my window lightly in pencil but as I progressed I thought twice about it and drew it instead on a piece of red cardstock.

I agonised over whether this was the right decision as I detest cutting out apertures and there were nine of them here (didn't say, it was a template I was using).  Should I revert to my original plan and do windows as in Playschool of old?  No, there will not be many people who remember that old TV programme.  And so I carried on and was quite pleased that I managed cutting without any major slip ups.

Next thing was to find some heads that would fit inside the windows.  I rather liked the one in the top left as you look at it with the hair all floating outside the window and so I gave her a pal with a huge hairstyle too - they both work in a hair salon you see.

I just simply called it "Inside the Red Window" but as you can see I had to split the word 'window' - I think it works quite well like that.  I left it there but later decided to have some 'chit chat' down the other side which looked a bit lost and so we get lots of short lines, beginnings of conversations etc.  After all that is what a group of women/girls would do isn't it!

This is the first of my "real" scheduled posts because I am not at my desk, in fact I am not at home.  Now you know the reason for the other two having been scheduled as well - I just had to do the posts in order (why?) in readiness for my short hope over the sea.

See you next week!

WOYWW 450

Well this is my desk as it is today - lovely and tidy, and a short post just as Julia like it.

On my desk today (tee hee) is my Thursday Journal which I do with my friend Wendy, suitably loaded for the next couple of weeks whilst I am away with my challenge pages, and a couple of Andy Skinner Stamps which a friend bought me for Christmas.  Sadly I already had them so am going to try to sell them on (she told me to do that).

Actually this is a scheduled post, days in advance, because I am not sure where I will be today.  Could be LA, could be Palm Desert or could be Phoenix.  Wherever it is I know I probably won't be able to post a desk picture so thought I would show you the real thing - my desk at home.  Hopefully another week I can do something a little better for you.  Also some pictures from Creativation which used to be known as CHA.

Apologies in advance in case I am late, very very late with my comments, but I promise I will get there to speak to you at some time.

In the meantime hop on over to Julia's for a few more interesting desks from other WOYWW'ers (plus Julia herself).