Friday smile - favourite places

 

 Just a few snaps from the park in Shrewsbury.
It is the Dingle in the Quarry and owes a lot to Percy Thrower who was Head gardener there for years.

It has some lovely sculptures including this metalwork heron.

The memorial garden has a life like ironwork "War horse".

The shrubs and planting look good all year round.

I guess they will soon be getting it ready for the Shrewsbury Flower Show which has this wonderful setting in August.

Have a great weekend and enjoy a few more smiles over on Annie's Friday smile.

x Jo

WOYWW - so many lovely ATCs

Yes - just look at them all!
Each made with such care, expressing a little bit about each crafter who made them.
Some came with pretty envelopes, some with cards and tags and of course Annie's came with a clever little poem too. It summed up exactly what our WOYWW link ups mean to us. Clever Annie!

My photo collage doesn't do them justice but I really love receiving them and now need to make a little album to pop them into - I made a lovely white lace/embroidered crazy quilt covered book last year so I must think of something just as lovely for this year's ATCs.

Thank you to all our brilliant WOYWWer buddies who sent them. I hope you have all received one from me in return by now.

Below is the latest bit of crafty activity - hot off the work desk.
I am making a few Hungry Caterpillar items for Ben and this is my yo yo puff caterpillar.
We all love Eric Carle's book don't we.
Yo yo puffs are an easy way to create a caterpillar and a great way to use up plate-sized scraps from my stash.

Short and sweet this week - must show you my actual desk next week!
Have a great week.
x Jo

WOYWW - 6th anniversary!

 Good morning to all my WOYWW friends and other followers!
Well here we are on the WOYWW 6th anniversary.
To celebrate, I have made lots of little ATC sized dumflings which are all packed up with Annie's ATCs ready to pop in the post tomorrow. So, if you have already told me you would like to swap then you need watch for your postie! If you are my PIF then I will send you one too, once I know who you are.

Below is half of my work table with my first anniversary pin cushion made in honour of Julia Queen of our WOYWW fun. I can't believe we have been doing this for 6 years - it's been great to blog hop round so many fab crafty desks and meet up with fellow crafters. Thanks Julia, it was a brilliant idea and you have worked hard to keep us all together all these years.

You can see a few of my ATCs at the front and the little beady worm I bought for Ben
In the background are two lovely ATCs - one from Nikki and another I received as a welcome to my new house card. Thanks to both.
I hope I can get round and celebrate the day by visiting lots of desks.
Thanks to all of you for being there, for visiting my blog and leaving such happy friendly comments.

x Jo

Friday smile - My little dumflings.

A cheery little photo of my dumflings!

Or for the uninitiated... hand embroidered needle felted creations.

They are about 10cm x7cm and worked on recycled woollen blanket.

I just thought they might make you smile this morning.

Have a good Bank Holiday weekend.

Join Annie for more smiles and a giggle or two over on her "A stitch in time" blog.

x Jo

WOYWW - 311

Another week - another Wednesday!
Here is my worktable today...

 Not a very creative table this week.
I have made a pair of jeans for Ben using a pair of Maxine's stretch maternity jeans.

The little bag of fabric/buttons etc is all ready for me to make a couple of quiet cubes.
Ben loves the two that I have already made. He likes to throw them and loves it when Nanny rolls them back to him.

AND here is the view from my window - it's a wet day but the builders just carry on regardless!

Men, men and more men!

So, what have you been up to this week?
I know one or two have been busy with ATCs so, if you want to swap with me, leave a comment and I will see what I can do.
Next week is the WOYWW 6th anniversary so I shall put a * after my name and see who else joins in the swap!

Have a great week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo