WOYWW

Only a few sleeps left till Christmas!

My desk is bare so here is the little snowman Ben and I made last week.

We scooped up just enough on a tray to bring indoors and make a mini snowman.

We only had a few minutes as the snow was falling fast and Max wanted to get back home before the roads were impassable - it's normally a 5 minute drive and it took nearly 2 hours as the roads through town were grid-locked!

As this is our last post before Christmas, I just want to say ...

A Merry Christmas to all our friends around the globe who read our WOYWW posts each week.

Thanks you for all the friendship, fun and crafty activity that you have shared over the years.

Have a lovely time, put your feet up and enjoy a bit of pampering - (well I can but hope!!)

Best wishes

Love Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all.

I seemed to have missed a couple of WOYWW weeks somewhere!

I was busy helping Maxine with craft fairs etc and time just flew by. I didn't even have time to visit a few desks - so apologies to all - I missed having a good snoop round!

I have had a little time for crafting since then and managed to finish a few more twiddle mitts.

I have about four that just needs trimming up and stitching together and then that will be it until after Christmas.

Yesterday I found time to make a few Christmas cards - nothing very original but I enjoyed dabbling with fabric and my sewing machine for an hour or two.

On Saturday I am going to help Annie with her craft fair so, let's hope lots of folk turn out for it - she has made some beautiful items  - check out her FB page if you want to know more...Sewing by Annie

That's it for this week.

I hope you are all well.
Looking forward to seeing what you are all up to.

Have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!

I can't believe I missed last weeks WOYWW.

I came to the computer to do my post only to realise it was Thursday!!!!

So this week I am determined not to miss it!

It has to be a quickie as I have loads of work to do.

I spent all day yesterday sewing a moses basket cover so now I have to catch up on everything else.

I will post the basket cover next week.

In the meantime here's this week's makes.

They all sold quickly at the Bog Centre where Maxine sells some of her pictures.

Hopefully it will have made a few pennies for their funds.

 Terry's chocolate orange Christmas puds - I made ten and popped the chocs inside too.

These are little lavender dollies - cute but a bit time consuming. (Pattern by Dollytime)


Well that's it for this week.
Thanks for calling by.

Hope you are well and keeping wrapped up warmly - it's been decidedly chilly down here for a few days.


xx Jo

WOYWW

My work table is empty but, for once, I have a little something crafty to share with you.
Ben wanted a little wolf outfit for Halloween so, Maxine arrived on Friday with a piece of grey fur fabric.
By Saturday it had been transformed into a little hood with wolfy wristlets and leg warmer paws.
It just goes to show what you can do with a bit of time and imagination! I have never made one before but it all fell into place so easily - sometimes I think I am channelling my dressmaker Grandma who could do all sorts of clever stuff.
Here is the boy wearing it.....

He loved it and, of course, Nanny had to go on a wolf hunt to find him in the garden so that he could jump out and scare me!

That's it for this week.
Today I am having a trip to Ikea to buy frames with Tilly Tea Dance!

Have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Just a few random items on Jo's spotty table today!

Sewing scissors, paper scissors, "other" scissors - why do we need so many?? I must have at least a dozen pairs throughout the house and each pair is used for differerent eventualities! Plus of course my handy little thread snuippers - there are lots of those around too.

The red thing in the middle is a knitting thimble which came from Caricrafts (I use them for all my urgent haberdashery needs, as they provide an excellent, fast service and are very reasonably priced too.)

Now, I have never used a knitting thimble but it appears to have little knobs that you can hook your yarn round when using various colours together - so it might be a useful little item - time will tell.

The little sheep brooches are Maxine's finished items waiting for me to package up ready for her Tilly Tea Dance Christmas fairs.

AND peeping in at the edge are Ben's "Thank You" card photos. He is growing up so quickly and is such a happy little chap.

So, that's my lot for WOYWW today.

I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine on this beautiful Autumn morning.

Thanks for calling by.

xx Jo

WOYWW

My desk is untouched but this little character wandered out into the garden to check out my greenery ready for Christmas! Ben loves her, so I think I might have to come up with another similar outfit for his ted too.

I have spent a bit of time in my sewing room tearing up strips for my locker hooked rug. It will be a labour of love I think. Quite time consuming but relaxing at the same time as it is so repetitive. I will reveal a little bit of it next week but don't get too excited!

Short and sweet this week. Thanks to all who call into my blog and leave lovely comments. I hope I can get back to you all but I still have problems with Google+ so may not be able to leave comments if you use this - but I always pop over and have a good snoop at your WOYWW post!

xxx Jo

WOYWW

A little visitor has taken a keen interest in the dumfing machine today! (Embellisher or needle felting machine)

I knitted him over the weekend for my sister in law as she is having a few problems with her arthritis. (She is making them to raise funds for Birmingham Children's hospital).

I knitted one for Ben last year - except that his always looked a bit long in the body. Now I know why!! I knitted the small size ted but gave him the large size body!! Oh wel, Ben loves him just the same.

It's a short post today - I am helping Maxine stock her shelves in Acton Scott Farm Museum, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and the Bog Visitor Centre. So we are off to the Shropshire hills!! 

Have a great week.

Thanks for calling by.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all!
Just a quick one today - Ben will be arriving in half an hour!

My wise owl door stop is modelling the litttle dressing up veil I made for a little friend yesterday. It's in the post already so I hope she likes it.

Below is my work table with a little plastic zippy purse amongst some of the packing materials I have been using to post Tilly Tea Dance pictures.

NOW - if anyone can think of a good use for my little zippy purse you are welcome to one. I got a job lot on line. I thought I might fill them with crafty items to make storage easier in my craft room. They are big enough to hold one 50g ball of yarn.

 Lastly - just a few more teddy outfits knitted for charity. It's amazing what a few oddments of wool can do!!

Have a great day all.

Special love to Shaz - get well soon.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Another week - another Wednesday!
Here we are, nearly at the end of September - where does that time go??
This week my workdesk has seen very little action.
Most of my time has been spent organising a little birthday "do" for Ben.

So these WOYWW show and tell photos are from the dining room.

Just a couple of photos of the cake I made for Ben's birthday. I don't think it would make Bake-off standards but he seemed very impressed.


 I think it was the working traffic lights that really sold it!






My only other project (well, apart from knitting teddy clothes of course) is one that I might already be regretting.......

I have fancied making a locker hooked rug for ages. I thought it might be a good way to use up some of my fabric stash oddments etc. I thought a little bath side rug would be simple, washable etc.

I am usually good at picking up something new and giving it a go but this seems far more tricky than the "You tube" videos that I watched!! I think maybe the canvas isn't very good quality as it doesn't seem to hold shape very well.

I am binding the edge first and then weaving across in stripes.

I WILL persevere! So, watch this space.

It's a misty moisty morning here today. Everywhere is looking very Autumnal, the leaves are turning and the last few swallows are heading south.

So, that's it for this week.
Thanks for calling by.
I hope all the WOYWW croppers have a fab time.
Give my love to all - Tilly Tea Dance has sent a little picture for the raffle from us both so I hope you make loads for your charity.

xxx Jo

WOYWW

Knitting for Teddies again!

A quick post as I have a busy day with Ben today.

Last week I posted some of my little knitties but didn't really explain what they were for.
My sister in law has knitted teddies for Birmingham Children's hospital and I volunteered to knit a few clothes for the teds.

Hence this week there is a neat little jumper with a scarf and pompoms and a pretty little pink outfit with matching cowl and knickers!
Also note - new reading glasses - they feel a bit weird but certainly helped with close work and needle threading.

Apologies for the blurry photos - I used my phone and I think I was too close.
Note to self - I need a new camera!

Below is the tiny one inch pompom maker - perfect for dollies/teds clothes and soooo quick!

So, that's it for this week.

I hope you are all well and managing to fit in a bit of crafting time - I will be round to check out your WOYWW later!

xx Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!
I hope Storm Aileen hasn't been too hard on you over night.
We are so lucky that we haven't had to suffer like all those poor folk in the Caribbean.
Our thoughts and good wishes go to them all.

Sitting on my work desk today is Ben's teddy that I made for him last year. He usually sports a pair of blue trousers and tan jumper but today he is modelling the dress and wrap that I have made for a charity project that my sister in law set up. She has been knitting for the Birmingham Children's hospital.
I think he looks very smart but he seemed quite relieved when I changed him back into his usual outfit!!

So WOYWWers - not much else going on here this week. I seem to have been out and about or busy with some wet felting in my kitchen. I might post a few pictures next time.

Thanks for all your lovely comments. My blood test was all fine, so that's it for another year.
My eye test proved that I do need a pair of reading glasses for my close needlework - I was struggling to thread a needle etc. I suppose I am lucky to have otherwise healthy eyes and have got to 65 before needing reading glasses!

Have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!

My work table hasn't seen much action this week so I thought I would show you the knitting I have been doing over the last week.

It's a little hoodie for my great nephew. I made him one about 2 years ago and he has always insisted it's his favourite jumper so I decided it was time I made him a bigger one. This time he requested giraffe buttons. I managed to find some so will show you the finished article next week.

I have to dash this morning as I have to go for my annual blood test. As diabetes is in my family, the GP decided I should have a regular check so hopefully all is well.
Then I have Ben for the day - he had his first half day at pre-school yesterday and loved it.

Have a great week and thanks for calling by.

x Jo 

Friday smile

Gardening horror!

Sitting at the computer

Movement caught my eye

Glancing down - I screamed

A blood curdling cry.

Slithering down my jumper

Surely no mistake

A six inch mini creature 

The image of a snake.

Jumping to my feet

The creature I had seen

Tumbled to my feet

The trimmed edge from a runner bean!!!

Panic over - heartbeat returned to normal.

Serves me right for not being more careful as I prepared beans for the freezer this morning.

I thought it might raise a smile on a Friday for Annie's Friday Smile.

Have a great weekend but keep a sharp look out for snakes!

x Jo

WOYWW

I know it's a bit late in the day but at least it is still Wednesday!!
So, here I am, sharing my work table with my WOYWW buddies around the globe. Enjoy a good snoop over all the bits and bobs scattered over my table!

In the foreground are two needle felted pictures that I have just framed for Tilly Tea Dance.
Check out Maxine's new website here.  https://www.tillyteadance.co.uk/
I love -  but then I would wouldn't I!! (Proud Mum)
She has been very busy creating beautiful little works of art for a shop in Muker in the Yorkshire Dales. I am sure her little sheepy pics will sell well up there too!

The rest of the bits and bobs are left overs from her crafty session this afternoon.
I will tidy up later, ready for another busy day on Friday.

I hope you are all well and enjoyed the beautiful weather over Bank Holiday weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!
Well after a few weeks absence, I am back posting a few pictures for my WOYWW buddies to enjoy.
We have had a couple of really busy weeks. Maxine had a crafters' demo table at Burwurton Show and then she spent last week preparing for her Summer exhibition at The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms.

So, I have been helping out by mounting pictures and of course.......

The best job in the world - looking after Ben. We have devised a few new games - Crab apple basket ball using the composter, wet giants (a game in wellies on a rainy day) and World Benthletics - races and field activities on Nanny's back lawn. He can run much faster than I can now!

As for my crafty activities - well my room is slowly being taken over by packaging and bubble wrap...





















I don't mind - it's so good to see her little business flourish and great to be able to help out.
In the evenings I am finishing off  about 40 Chocolate Orange Christmas puddings. Ha ha - sounds like I am eating them!! No, just knitting to stop me falling asleep after busy days.
My scar face is healing nicely but still feels tight and I know it sounds silly but it wears me out by the end of a day. I guess it's all the extra effort needed to move my facial muscles over tight skin - would help if I just kept quiet but that's not likely to happen!!

So, that's me for this week.
I hope you are all well and enjoying this changeable August weather. We have had some lovely sunny days - not too hot - just fresh and beautiful.

Have a great week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Quite a contrast to share with you today!
Christmas puddings and Tilly Tea Dance's new range!

I am knitting covers for Chocolate oranges for a local charity ready for their Christmas Fair - apparently they sold really well and made about £400 last year, so now's the time to start!!

Maxine spent a morning in The Dingle in the Shrewsbury park. The garden is all ready for Shrewsbury Flower Show next month so the flower beds look stunning - definitely inspirational.  I love the colours in these little needle felted and embroidered pictures. She needs lots of stock for a show next week and also her exhibition next month.  So lots of wet felting, needle felting and embroidery will be going on while I have fun with Ben. Yesterday we baked cheesy bread buns and cakes for his daddy's birthday.


That's it for this week.
I hope I can get round to visit a few WOYWW desks later.
Thank you to all who call in here - and for all the lovely comments.

xx Jo

WOYWW - on Thursday!!

Oh - I know I am a day late but my desk hasn't seen any activity from me recently and I just wanted to share the little cardi that I finished.

It's a pretty peachy colour and I love the little picot edging.

My workdesk has been covered with lovely pictures that Maxine has finished and left for me to mount.
She has been busy with workshops - here's a link to her Tilly Tea Dance facebook page if you want to see more.  Tilly Tea Dance   

So - very short and sweet this week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

Normal service will resume as soon as possible!
Good morning all. Technical services have been problematic here for the last few weeks and it just shows how reliant we have all become on our computers, cameras etc doesn't it.
Well, I think the computer is sorted now and I am using my camera phone for my pics at the moment.

This was snapped on my desk last week...

It's a christening card for my little God daughter. We had a lovely celebration - I just hope her Mum is good at photo-shopping the pics of old scar face here!

My work desk today is my kitchen unit top. I have Ben here and today we made cheese straws. He has eaten two already (Don't tell his Mum!).
He then spent the next ten minutes drawing in the flour on the work top - messy but fun, and a good way of encouraging him to draw without having to concentrate on holding a crayon. He drew tracks and diggers and then rubbed his floury has hands over them to make it snow!

Well as you see - no action on my real work desk but who cares - I am enjoying every minute.

Thanks for calling by - have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!

I hope you are enjoying all this wonderfully sunny weather.

It's certainly been hot here. Driving back from my hospital appointment on Monday, the temperature was 32C  around 2 pm! 

I have tried to keep my face out of the sun - it's not a pretty sight and I certainly don't want to suffer from sunburn too. My scars are healing well and the consultant was pleased with his handiwork so that's all good.

My desk hasn't seen much action but you know how it is....

My grandson enjoys a story - this week it was Suddenly by Colin McNaughton. So we had to pretend to be the wolf and Preston Pig. Hence the dash to the craft room for pink card, scissors and stapler!
Easy peasy for an ex-infants teacher Nanny. He loved the mask and spent much of the day acting out the story with nanny as the wolf!

The rest of the table carries the remnants of Maxine's crafty Tilly Tea Dance activity - she has been busy stocking shelves with her work at a "Buy from Shropshire" gallery in Shrewsbury.

I hope you are all well and having crafty fun around the globe.

I will be round for a snoop at your WOYWW desks later.

Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

Well folks - at last I have managed to take a snap of all the lovely ATCs that I have received so far.
I am going to fix them in this frame properly but just laid them on it for the snap. They are all so different and such little works of art - thank you all.

Top row - Lynnecrafts, Lisa M., Shazsilverwolf, Sandra de,
Second row - Donna, Annie, Julia, Elizabeth
Third row - Glitterandglue, LLJ, Cardarian
Fourth row - Neet, Neet, Anne, Angela.

Down the left hand side are a few of the cards that came along with them including, of course, the little poem penned by Annie too. We love sending and receiving these little ATCs from around the globe.

Today I must also say a big thank you for all your comments wishing me well last week. I had my stitches out yesterday. Today I look like I have done a round with Anthony Joshua - ha ha-  as if!! I am sure it will all settle soon but it does look a bit of a mess.

So, work on my desk has been limited to light duties - a little bit of framing for Tilly Tea Dance. Check out Maxine's Tilly Tea Dance shop here if you would like to see her lovely needle felted pictures, brooches and pendants.

Have a good week everyone.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning  to all our WOYWW buddies around the globe.
My workdesk is out of action this week - or is it just me who is out of action?!!
I had a little op on my face to remove a bcc and have been told to rest up this week.
All went well and, although the dressing makes me look like the Phantom of the opera ( slight exageration!), I am fine - just a bit bruised and battered. Annie suggested posting a photo but I will spare you that!

My lovely friends and family have visited and brought beautiful flowers so, I thought you would like to see them. My camera is still playing up and only wanted to focus on one photo.So, this is just one of the two lovely bunches.

In these troubled times, my little op is just a drop in the ocean - there will be so many folk with far, far more to cope with than me, and my thoughts and good wishes go out to them all.

I promised a snap of my lovely ATCs but as yet, I still have one or two more to photograph, so I will leave them till next time. BUT, can I just say a huge thank you to all who sent their beautiful little works of art to me. I love receiving them and treasure each one.

Have a good week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

Friday smile

I just had to post a picture of this beautiful clematis.

Annie bought it for my birthday last year. It is appropriately called Clematis "Josephine".

It only has one bloom at the moment, but it is about 20cm across!

Thanks for the smile Annie!

To see more Friday smiles join Annie at "A stitch in time"

Have a lovely weekend all.

x Jo

WOYWW

Thank you to all the lovely WOYWWers who have sent ATCs to me - some are still with Annie so I will put them all on next week's WOYWW post. It is so lovely to see what you have all done and each one is a little treasure. I made sunflowers and sea pinks for my ATCs - you can see them here. They were just little dumflings and I even made a couple more over the weekend so if you didn't get one and would really like one then leave a comment below.

It was so nice to have anniversary comments from so many of our WOYWW buddies - we only know each other because of our Wednesday snoop but we feel we know you well and love to see and hear what you get up to.

Today is another day of crafty fun with Maxine and Ben. We made a scarecrow over the weekend when he was here for a sleep over. He dashed out into the garden today and came running back saying "Nanny the scarecrow is moving!" Of course, it was just the breeze making it sway around but it certainly looked very real! Isn't life fun when you are two and three quarters.

Well that's it for today.
Have a great week and enjoy the lovely weather.

x Jo

WOYWW - 8th anniversary.

These are my little dumfling ATCs celebrating 8 years of WOYWW friendship.

My camera is still playing up - and I think it is something to do with auto-focus. The top picture looks much sharper than than the one below it.
But not to worry. My little ATCs are all packed up ready to go to the kind folks who said they would like one. Annie and I are posting ours together tomorrow.
So, all that's left to say is,  a big thank you for the fun and friendship we have all enjoyed over the last eight years and let's hope for many, many more! A special thanks to Julia and also Jan who have kept WOYWW going through a difficult time. We all appreciate everything you do to keep us together.

Love to all.

x Jo

WOYWW

Just a quick post for my WOYWW today. I took lots of photos this morning, only to find that, for some reason, they were all blurred and useless. Something is obviously wrong with my little camera.
Then, I went back and took this picture just now and it looks OK.
So I will make the most of it.
It is a little "In threes" cardi for my friend's little one.
I love knitting these as they are quick to do and don't take a lot of concentration!

I have managed to finish off 12 ATCs and will be posting them out with Annie's to all those who asked to swap - and one or two more who we know love to receive them.
If I need to make more then my old dumfing machine will need to see a bit of action!

Have a great week and thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning to all our WOYWW blog buddies.
This week has been another busy one.
I finished off the little shrug that I knitted for my special, little friend's christening.
She has a beautiful christening gown and just need something to keep her cosy, if it is a chilly day.

I love the lacy pattern and just added a few tiny sequins to add a little sparkle to match her dress.

I have also been trying to make a few little dumflings as ATCs for the WOYWW 8th anniversary swap.

Annie and I always make a few and ask that anyone who would like one leaves us a comment. We usually try and post them out together to save on stamps. So, if you think you would like to swap ATCs with me, just say so in a comment and I will do my best.

I have found it tricky to comment on one or two blogs, especially if you are Google plus. So I just want to say thank you for leaving lovely comments. I do pop over and read your post even if I can't leave a comment.

So, today I am having Ben whilst Maxine goes to a meeting and also will be seeing my christening baby to hand over the shrug and bunting. Another fun day!!

I hope you are all well and certainly enjoying the spell of lovely weather.

Have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all.
Here we are in May already and I have missed so many chances to share my work desk with my WOYWW buddies over the last few weeks.

So, today I have taken a quick snap of my table before it was tidied up ready for more Tilly Tea dance fun when Maxine comes along to work on her lovely felted artwork. (You can see a small  wet felted background piece in the bottom right hand corner.) She has made some amazing big pieces over the last few weeks and maybe will find time to share them with you eventually!

My crafting time is limited but I did manage to make a little soft play cube for my friend's little one, along with 109 flags of bunting to go up at her christening!

Now, I am trying to think of a little ATC design so that I can join in with the WOYWW birthday celebration swap.
Watch this space!!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the lovely, fresh, Spring weather.
Here are a couple of happy snaps for you.....

They were taken on our walk around the grounds of Attingham Park.

Have a great week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

Just a late in the day quickie!
It's been a busy few days with little time for crafting, but my dear sis and hubby really deserved a little dumfling for their coral wedding anniversary this week. It was just a hasty bit of dumfing and stitching but I quite liked the result.

Below are my fabrics all sorted for some bunting - perfect for a little girl's christening, I think.

So, now to nip round a few WOYWW desks and see what my crafty friends have benn up to this week.
Thanks for calling and leaving lovely comments.

xx Jo