WOYWW

 Well, that was Christmas - doesn't time fly!

I hope you all had a lovely time. We had a wonderful family lunch followed by a quiet few days.

Today we have our little house guest for a day or two. He drew a portrait of me last week and as he finished he said "I've missed out the bits that make you look old cos you think you're young don't you!"

I love him to bits.

I have been doing a few little jobs in the evenings.

Tillyteadance needed a few brooches finishing and packing.....

Then, I noticed an appeal for little hearts for the hospital. So I knitted a few pairs. They are called Friendship Hearts.. They are gifted to families whose loved ones are receiving end of life care.

They are presented in pairs so that one is kept by the patient and the other, identical one, goes to their family, along with a little poem.

These things mean a lot to some folk so, I am happy to use my stash to help out.

Well, that's it for this week except to wish you all the very best for 2023. Thanks for yet another year of friendship and crafty desk sharing. Long may it continue!

Best wishes

Jo x x 

WOYWW - Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas to all my friends worldwide who have popped in to see my desk this Christmas!

I am sharing a few of my old favourites that Ben decorated my tree with last week.

He loves to dip into my Christmas decoration box and we both enjoy picking out our old favourites to go on the tree.

Many of them are hand made (some pretty ancient too!)

We have a little framed cross stitch tree and a Christmas mouse

A little decorated pillow and a little heart - both made by my lovely friend in Yorkshire.

And a twinkly beady star above a beautiful Angel

And finally the little masked Gingerbread Man that Annie made during the lock down last year!

I hope you are all well and able to enjoy a wonderful Christmas time with friends and family.

Sending love and a big hug to you all!

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Another week another Wednesday and time for all our WOYWW friends to share their desks and crafty activity.

This week,apart from shopping, parcel wrapping and all the usual pre Christmas baking etc, I made a box of tiny knitties for Ben and his buddies!

I knitted 16 of these and popped a Lindor chocolate in each one. They will make nice little gifts and also help decorate our Christmas table 

I made Rudolfs, Robins, Santa's, Snowmen and Christmas trees....

I saw an idea on

Pinterest for a little silk painted card so, this is what Ben helped me to make...

I printed tiny copies to go on his little cards for his school friends. I think he was pleased with the result. He loves to draw but needs to be "encouraged" to try other media.😀

I hope you have managed to keep cosy over the last week. We have been lucky, although it's been very cold, we haven't had snow yet.

Enjoy your crafty activity and pre Christmas fun.

x x Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all.

Well, here we are in December, so I am busy with all kinds of crafty activity. I have just packed my latest Christmas twiddlers ready for the hospital. I hope they will bring a bit of cheer to the patients who need them. (No photo!)

This is my latest with all the bits and bobs ready for me to stitch on.

Last week I needed ribbon and was horrified by the tangle that greeted me in my ribbon box. So on rainy day, what better job than to sort through a rainbow of ribbons. This is what it looks like now...

And finally, this is one of the many wonderful trees at Attingham Park this year. 

They themed them all - so many I lost count. The theme was linked to trades used within the hall over the years. It really is worth booking in for a visit if you can. (Free to Nat. Trust members)

So that's it for this week. I must plod on with my cards. I think I will limit them to local recipients from now on as I very much doubt if the Royal Mail will deliver in time for Christmas this year. 

You lovely WOYWWers may just have to share the Christmas greeting that I post here in Christmas week. Let's hope the strikes get sorted for all soon.

Enjoy your crafting.

xxx Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all.

Today I am helping Tilly Tea Dance to set up her exhibition at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre.

I am just hoping that I have managed to get everything labelled and listed correctly.

She has a lot of lovely artwork, cards, coasters, bookmarks etc. Fingers crossed that the good folk in the area love it and want to buy it!

Here are a few of her pictures which are for sale...

Below are the latest cheery twiddlers.

Those giant buttons are perfect for the job - very tactile and bright so a good visual stimulus too.

I am hoping that I get a chance to link with Julia before I set off - if not I will try when I get home.

(I have actually managed to do it from my phone for the last 2 weeks and even leave Julia a comment which I hadn't been able to do for ages.)

Have a good week all.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all.

I hope you are managing to stay cosy in this cold wet weather. 

Here is a nice cheery photo for you button lovers out there...

Some of them are about 4 cms wide so really tactile and chunky.

They were a gift and are just perfect for adding to my twiddle mitts to brighten them up.

This week I have been mostly knitting in the few spare moments that I have had.

I am making another 4 ply pale pink ballet cardi. It is not my favourite job but is for a best friend's granddaughter so I don't mind. I am just stitching it up so will hopefully add a picture before I post this.

On Saturday I took Ben to special show by the author Jeff Kinney who writes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Ben loves them. We each got a signed copy of his latest book included in the price of the ticket! It was a fun event. Ben is keen to have a go at writing his own stories and selling them!

So that's it for this week.

I am now going to see if I can link up with Julia via my phone - I may be gone for some time 😀

xx Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all.

Just a quick post today. I have been filling my spare time with admin for Tilly Tea Dance this week, but I did manage an afternoon making a few Christmas cards.

I found an idea on Pinterest and dipped into my stash to make six cards. Slow but sure. . .

I spent a while trying to upload this pic on my phone but then gave in and came to the PC to do it.

It's a steep learning curve for a bear of little brain when it comes to all this techy stuff! 

So that's me for this week.

Today I will be mostly numbering and labelling artwork!

Have a great week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Well folks - back to square one!

As soon as I linked my phone to my Wifi I was denied access to Julia's blog again.

So do you think if I run down the street and try it from there, I might be able to link up!!

This week I have been mostly working for Tilly by sorting out all her stock for her exhibition at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms.

It is a slow process as each piece needs pricing and numbering and then, for the larger pieces, I have to dream up an appropriate name label. Winter Morning, Stretton Hills, Foxglove Hedgerow etc... 

She has some lovely pictures in her display so, hopefully they will sell well.

This is one of my favourites...

When I have finished them, I will take a photo and share it.

My evenings have been taken up with finishing off a few more twiddlers.

I just need to add a few more bits and bobs to some of them.

I thought I would make a few elvish faces for the Christmas ones.

Well. that's it for this week.

I hope you are all well and managing to keep cosy as the temperatures drop.

It's a nasty wet day here today so I am happy to spend it crafting.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Well folks, I have at last upgraded my phone and can now link up with Julia again. I really missed not being able to see what she has been up to!

So this week I am creating this post via my phone. Slow but sure.

This is one of my latest twiddlers. It's a Christmas theme so nice festive colours. I will add a few extra bits and bobs to twiddle later.

Now I will see if I can find Mr Linky and join the blog hop.

Have a good week.

Jo x x

WOYWW

 This week I have been very busy as I have had my little playmate here.

We enjoyed all sorts of fun activities, but I think my favourite was this one.....

I showed Ben the photos, that I shared with you last week, of the Arcimboldo sculptures. He was impressed.

So, we tore or cut out pages from old gardening magazines and spent a couple of happy hours making each other laugh with the faces we created....

Ben's creations......

My attempts.....

I'm thinking of opening a gallery!!!!

Tomorrow I am making a Halloween outfit for him. He wants to be a Demogorgon! 

Watch this space (I have no idea where to start but I am sure it will come to me eventually)

Thanks for dropping by to see what I get up to.

Have a great week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Well folks - no work on my work desk but a few fab photos to share.

Last week we spent a few days in Yorkshire.

The weather was lovely, so we had a day in York, a day at Harlow Carr Gardens (RHS) and a day walking The Strid at Bolton Abbey. We also squeezed in a train ride from Skipton to Carlisle over the Settle/Carlisle viaduct. The views were wonderful.

Here are a few photos of our trip.

The four seasons...

These were huge sculptures with a nod to the artist Arcimboldo.

Gorgeous Autumn colours.

AND a lovely steam special in the pouring rain at Carlisle.

I hope you are all well - thanks for commenting on my post last week.

I will pop round to visit your desks this week - providing Tilly doesn't have too much work for me to catch up on!

xx Jo

WOYWW

Just a quick post today as I have yet another busy week this week.

Last week after all the fun of the WOYWW Crop we went off to Monmouth for a few days.

We were lucky to have good weather and had a lovely time visiting local places of interest. We thought Monmouth and its surroundings were beautiful.

I know you all saw lovely photos of our day together at the Crop. Thanks for all the comments about the day. It really was good to get together with you all.

Here are the all the little items that you kindly shared with me.....

AND this is my prize that I won in the raffle....

Eva - Sarah's friend had donated them and I was thrilled to receive them. (As you know, I am not really a card maker, so they will come in very useful).

So, that's me for this week.

I probably won't be visiting your desks to comment but will pop to see what you have been up to if I get an opportunity.

Have a good week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 

Good morning all!

The weather has turned very autumnal, so I have taken up my knitting again.

This week I made a little poppy themed twiddle mitt. The little flowers are very random - free crochet. i.e. I just make them up as I go along!

I need to find a few more bits and bobs to stitch on as twiddlers.

Below is Max modelling the pure silk, tie dyed dress that I made for my final exam at college - wait for it... 50 years ago! It was only worn probably once and is in perfect condition and beautifully made - if I say so myself. (I was awarded a distinction for it). It fits Max beautifully although I'm not sure she has an occasion to wear it. She shared it on Insta and got rave reviews - lol. I always say fashion goes in cycles.

The centre panel is free machined and beaded. and the back is tied with a long sash with the same design down its length.

Well, that's me for this week. I hope everyone who is coming to the Crop on Saturday has let Julia know. We think we are all organised and really looking forward to seeing you all.

See you soon!

xx Jo

WOYWW

 

Well, that week flew by didn't it!

It was a fairly quiet, reflective week for me. I was saddened by the loss of Queen Elizabeth and truly amazed to see how many folk queued to pay their respects in one way or another.

I thought the funeral on Monday was such a credit to all involved. The music was especially lovely and so good to see the military bands at their best.

So, I had a little time for card making and made this "Yoshi" (Mario Game) card for Ben. It's one of his favourite characters so hopefully he will love it.

Then, on Sunday I spent the day riding on the Severn Valley Railway. It was a lovely day although I have suffered since as I think I got a speck of dust/soot in my eye, and it was a real nuisance for a day or two.

It was a Steam Gala Weekend so there were lots of lovely engines to enjoy.

It is only about 40 minutes from here, so we are lucky to go down there at least once a year.

I hope you are all well and that those that are coming to join us at the Crop on October 1st have let Julia know. I am ordering the food this week. We are looking forward to seeing you all!

See you soon.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all. 

I didn't manage to link up with Julia last week so, if you missed my post check out below.

This week I thought I would show you the card that I made for Jan and Gordon's 40th wedding anniversary...

It's a little fabric collage held in place with some free machining.

I hope they had a wonderful day and lots of celebrations. It's quite a milestone isn't it.

This week I have been stocking up Tilly's workshop packs and all the saleable packs that she has available. 

I put together lots of fibre packs with wool tops and yarns and fibres, which can be felted into the needle felted pictures that she creates with her workshop folk. I know she appreciates what I do, but I also thoroughly enjoy playing with the yarns and fibres to create little colour coordinated packs.

Well, that's it for this week. Hopefully Annie will link me today so that you can all see me!

xx Jo

WOYWW

 

Good morning all!

Just a quick post today as I am on admin duty for Tilly Tea Dance and have lots of little jobs to do.

I thought you might like to see the card that I made for my great nephew. Like Ben, he is in to Minecraft so, I thought he would like this little felt collage.

I have made another card but I will have to share that with you next week.

I had a little outing to watch the new version of West Side Story this week - open air screen at Attingham Park N.T. It was fun to sit outdoors enjoying a picnic and watching the swallows gathering above us as we waited for the film to begin. Luckily it was a dry evening and we all enjoyed the treat - although it was quite a long walk through the grounds carrying chairs and picnic baskets!

So, that's me for this week.

I hope, if you are coming to the crop on October 1st, you have told Julia so that Annie and I can organise tables/food etc. We are looking forward to it and it will be so good to see everyone again after so long.

Have a good week all.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 

This week I have spent a few hours sorting and tidying in my sewing room.

I found lots of little works of art that Maxine has made, as cards, for me over the last year or two.

I love her needle felted pictures but she also likes to make tiny hand stitched collages and that little pink/lilac one is really cute.

I haven't done much crafting myself this week as I have been in charge of Tilly's Etsy shop while she has been on her hols. So, much of my time has been spent packing and posting lovely little parcels of goodies!

The lovely weather has tempted me to sit in my garden reading in my free time.

I seem to get hooked and have read about a dozen books over the last few weeks.

I should have taken a photo but I have left them for Max when she gets back.

I have enjoyed a couple of Anne Cleeves and Elly Griffiths as well as Carol Kirkwood's first book. I noticed her latest is now out in hardback.

I hope you have enjoyed the sunshine. Let's hope it lasts a little bit longer.

Have a great week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all!

This week I have been mostly trying to sort out plumbing issues!!

 My washer sprang a leak and I am still waiting for the repair man to fix it. 

Then, yesterday my kitchen tap broke and a fountain squirts out every time I use it so we are sorting that little issue too. I'm just hoping things don't really come in threes!

Over the weekend I did manage to make a little card. I think I am out of practice but I enjoyed doing it.

Then, I had an email from a friend who I have supported in the past with items for their Autumn Craft Sale.

 So, I delved into my stash of knitted dollies etc and came up with a few goodies to parcel up for them. I might have time for a few more items when I get my head around it.

That's me for this week.

I seem to have missed out on a few WOYWW posts just lately.

I will try to do better this week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 

Good morning all - I am a bit late posting today.

I had two lovely days of activity with Ben so, I am not making excuses, I just had no time for computer play.

We sat in the shade on my patio on Monday with the water colours. This was Ben's plan...

"Nanny we can paint little pictures and then you can buy mine from me.

I will give you £1 if you paint four pictures for me."

"Then I will sell your pictures - probably for £1 each."

There is a business man there I think!

His rock pool picture was entirely his own work as we sat chatting in the garden - bliss.

Yesterday we had a day in Chester.

There was a magnificent Lego model of the Cathedral inside as we went to look at Pete Waterman's model railway in there. Ben bought a Lego brick to raise funds for the Cathedral and the ladies helped him put it in place and showed him where the Lego workmen were working on the tower where it would go.

He wasn't so impressed with the model railway. It was a long thin track with nowhere near as much detail as his Grandad's models. He is becoming quite the expert at seven!

So, a day of fun but with the walking and the heat - quite energy sapping.

Today I am recovering in the cool.

I hope you are managing to enjoy the sun when you can, but being sensible and keeping cool.

Have a good week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Just a quick post today.

I have been busy with Ben for the last two days and I am worn out. I really hope I get my "bounce" back soon. 

He came here last week with this furry friend that he had bought with his pocket money. It is called Huggy Wuggy. I think it's scary but it seems to appeal to this seven year old! He was hankering for a friend for Huggy so I said I would see what I could do.

Ben said if I could do it in a week I would get a treat - but if it took 2 weeks I wouldn't!! Cheeky monkey!

So, I raided Annie's fur fabric stash and came up with a friendlier version as a pal for Huggy....

Needless to say Ben was really pleased and had to take him home to show the family tonight

Apart from a few mending jobs and some admin for Maxine, I haven't really found much energy or time to craft.

Apologies and thank you to to all those kind folks who visited and left comments last week - I only managed to get round a few of you but will try a bit harder this week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 I'm back!

In case you were missing me... life just takes over sometimes doesn't it.

We had a wonderful week in Scotland and unfortunately I came home with Covid, testing positive on the day I got back. So - even though I didn't feel too poorly with it, it seems to have taken my "bounce" away! I have struggled to find the energy needed to do all that I love doing.

This week I am feeling a bit better but seem shattered by the end of the day - I hope it goes away sometime soon.

I have managed some picture mounting and brooch finishing off for Tilly Tea Dance.

I love doing these tasks for Max but must admit it took a lot longer than usual!

Her bestie asked if I would make bunting for her little girl's party table so I have enjoyed a bit of fabric craft this week - well it took me all morning really.

So that's about it.

I did manage to climb "Arthur's Seat" on our last day in Edinburgh. The views were amazing.

I hope you are all well and have enjoyed our wonderful (if a bit hot) summer weather.

xx Jo