WOYWW

 Good morning all.

I was absent last week as we had a few days in Yorkshire. We met up with old friends and then went over to Skipton.

The weather was a bit damp but we enjoyed a few trips out.

I thought I'd share a few of the things that amused/interested me whilst we were out and about.

Settle had a flower pot festival - who knew! 😃

Some of the shops had a window display. I loved this one....

The museum in "The Folly" in Settle was free to visit and I thought it was excellent. I loved all the "Mouse man" oak furniture.....

And how about this...

Can you work out what it is. ..

Annie read the label so of course she quickly sussed it.

Lastly, this photo was on a display of early photography which was fascinating 

Don't you just love all their proud little faces.

This week I will be mounting and framing pictures for Maxine's exhibition in the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre. So, my room will be full and I will be busy. All good fun!

Have a good week everyone.

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 Good morning all 

I have managed a few hours in my sewing room this week- yay!

Firstly, I made a background piece with an overlayer of sparkly net.

Then I created a little clematis collage 

I used machine embroidery to add detail on the collage.

Oh and I forgot to say....

I did it six times over and then made each piece into a little pocket that I slipped over a little notebook.

I think they will make a perfect little gift.

On Sunday, we visited one of our local National Trust properties - Powis Castle.....

It really is a great place to walk round on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The big lawn had lots of games for the children to enjoy. The views across the Welsh/Shropshire border were lovely.

So that's it for this week.

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 Good morning all.

I hope you are all well. We had a little break last week, spending a few days in Pickering.

Consequently, my desk is empty so I am sharing just a few photos of our trip 

We spent a day in Whitby - it was Folk week so we enjoyed watching the Morris dancers beside the Endeavour ship.

It was a gloomy day in Scarborough but we did go to Peashome Park to watch the manned model ships perform naval warfare 

On our return journey, we stopped in York so that we could see the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition in St Mary's church. We sat in deck chairs and watched a wonderfully calm and inspirational visual show projected onto the church walls all around us. Imagine floor to ceiling Van Gogh art. It really was lovely. Then we went into an extra room where these pictures were displayed.

Lastly we saw this Millennium collage worked by. a Pickering craft group. The detail was wonderful. 

I should have been looking at a model rail exhibition but, as you know, I am easily distracted. 🤣

It was a great week away and we all enjoyed our break and quality time together 

So that's me for this week 

I hope I can get busy in my craft room this week as I have a few projects to get going on.

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 

Good morning all.

Just a quick post today as I have all sorts of jobs to do this morning whilst it's cool enough to work 

I am still knitting hearts for the hospital. I love this yarn. It's a creamy shade with a glitter yarn twisted through it. It makes a simple little heart look quite special.

Below are some little notebooks.

I have a little project for next month which I will share with you when I have finished it 

I thought they would make a useful handbag notebook for shopping lists etc.

So that me for this week.

Have a great week all.

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 Good morning all.

Isn't this a lovely sight.  

A brand new box of beautiful oil pastels.

I gave my own, old box to Maxine so that Ben could use them for his artwork, as he loved using this medium. But I decided a budding talent really should have a lovely new set to work with. Don't they just look tempting- all fresh and new and ready to go.

Below is the little collage all ready for free machining. Neet asked how I made the little girl in the window on my bags.

I love a bit of free machining. It's like drawing with thread. I just stitch over the edge of the fabric and then do the fancy bits like the hair and the facial details.

I have a few more bags to do -I just need the time.

I have put 4 bags of workshop packs ready for Tilly. Two are sunflower packs, one lavender fields and one poppy set - so that's a total of 56 individual packs. So, as you can imagine, it doesn't leave much time for other crafty activity. I love doing it so it's not a problem. 😃

Well that's me for this week

Have a great week all 

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 

Good morning all.

Welcome to my wooly bags of felting yarns and fibres. This week, I have been busy making fibre packs for Tilly Tea Dance. Her workshop attendees like to stock up their felting fibres. So.....

I emptied out my cupboard so that I can put together pre felt, roving and yarns in colour packs.

The finished ones look like this...

Max doesn't have workshops in August so that gives us time for a staff meeting and time to take stock and organize.

I need to reorganize that cupboard too!

That's it for this week.

Have a good week everyone.

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 

Good morning all.

I had an hour or two in my craft room this week, using up a bit more of my fabric stash.

I decided to make a few small bags to go to charity using the Dollytime ideas. I've used lots of the Dollytime knitting patterns but other ideas include these little fabric collaged dollies.

I made a couple of bright cheery bags using this fun balloon patterned fabric.

I've loads of small pieces which I can patchwork together to make more. I think they sold well last time I made them so I will keep going and try and clear a bit more of my stash 

So that's me for this week.

I have jobs to do for Tilly Tea Dance to get ready for her exhibition in early September. It keeps me out of mischief.😃

Have a good week all 

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

This is why we crafters have such a huge stash of fabric! Don't ask me where it came from or how long I have had it. It has been waiting for a special purpose, not known until this week.

My friend's 14 year old granddaughter wanted to learn how to make clothes for herself. (They don't have sewing classes at her school). 

So I delved into my stash and found this 4 metre length of viscose fabric - nice and drapey. I washed it just in case it was likely to shrink 

We found a basic skirt pattern (in my stash, new, unused). She wanted a tiered skirt so, as long as the basic skirt fitted, we could easily add extra tiers .

On Friday she came round and, with a little tuition from me, she cut out the paper pattern and set to cutting out all the pieces she needed in fabric.

On one of the hottest days of the year, she worked hard, sewing it all together. The only bit I actually sewed was the elasticated waist and the overlocked seams.

She was delighted with the finished results and I'm sure she will be confident to make others now she has caught the sewing bug 

Don't you just love being able to pass on our skills.😃

It's been far too warm for me to do anything else.

Of course it's been the perfect excuse to watch the tennis and I've loved it.

Looking forward to the ladies footie now.

Have a great week 

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 

Good morning all 

I'm back from my little break in Llandudno. We had a lovely time with walking, train rides and laughter. It's so good to meet up with old school friends.

We walked in Bodnant Gardens.   

Then we walked along the pier in Llandudno and saw this on the prom. There are so many seagulls waiting for a chippy snack.🤣

On Thursday we had a train ride down the Conwy valley and I snapped this little steam engine in Blaenau Festiniog. We saw herons and egrets on the river bank.

I even snapped a salmon leaping the falls at Bettws y Coed. You might have to enlarge the picture and look closely near that timy fall of water. It is there, believe me.🦈

So that's my busy little week.

I am back to helping Tilly Tea Dance this week but hopefully I will have time to visit your desks 

Have a good week.

 x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

This week has flown by - yet again 

We are having a couple of days in Llandudno and paying a visit to Bodnant Gardens too, so I may not get round to visiting desks until later.

Here are my part done card toppers all ready to sew and embellish. I've used up all my background piece so now need to think of a new idea.

Below are just a few snaps from my front garden....lots of purple - lavender, hebe and my beautiful "Happy Birthday" clematis that little sis bought for me a few years ago. We thought it had died but this year it burst into bloom and twined its way through the Mahonia and up the fence .

Short and sweet for me today.

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 

Good morning all.

I'm a bit late posting today. Let's be honest ...I was out yesterday and completely forgot today was Wednesday 🤣 Where does the time go?

I thought I would show you my sunflower cards which I made using my background fabric that I created a few weeks ago. They are a bit random but I like them.

Below is an old school photo that my friend showed me this week ....

I'm on the top row, fourth from the left. Look at the hair! I'm guessing it's the mid sixties. Happy days! 

I hope you are all enjoying this lovely weather.

Keep cool and drink plenty of water ☀️☀️

x x Jo 🌈 

WOYWW

 

Good morning all.

I've been busy with my usual tasks for Tilly this week. The fluff above is for her "Inspiration packs". I just put together toning colours with some yarns and textural bits and bobs.

On Saturday we went to a Model rail exhibition at St Mary's church Shrewsbury.  I enjoyed the models but was a bit distracted by the church textiles and some ceramic plaques 

The banners were old style needlework but fascinating to look at close up .

The ceramic plaques were made by the local college students. I loved them and think they reflected the windows and architecture of the church brilliantly.

So that's me for this week.

Have a great week everyone.

x x Jo