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Wednesday 8 June 2011

WOYWW 105 - The PIFs!

There - we're now into year three and isn't it fabulous?

I had high hopes last week.  I promised myself I was going to make it round to ALL the desks.  *hangs head in shame*  I suppose I can't really beat myself up over only making it round to 60 though - the great demon known as Summahcold brought me down in a Herculean tackle on Friday night, wiping me out for two whole days.  So much so, in fact, that whilst Mr B pottered around in the garden Saturday afternoon wearing nowt but his shorts and a smile, I was spread out on a picnic rug dozing in the sun, dressed in combats and a thick fleece.... oh, the joy of being warm for five minutes....

Well, we're really here for another round of WOYWW, and have I got a picture laden post for you!  Firstly, if you're new to this, WOYWW is the brainchild of Madame Julia Dunnit, Desk Diva Extraordinaire.  To find out more, head HERE to have all revealed.  Quite literally in fact - last week Julia stripped her desk right back to a blank canvas.... LOL.

OK, first up, my desk this week is a bit dull. I had a tidy up! Yup!  So I've given you two shots - one to prove there's some daylight (taken at 8.55pm Tuesday night) and then....


....one taken with the light on because the quality of the picture is so much better!



Aside from the usual, on my desk you can see a fab Joan Elliott cross-stitch magbook which Mr B bought me for my birthday. Joan's designs are just gorgeous but I don't know when I'll get time to stitch them! I just like admiring her work...
 
...and as I promised a progress report on the hardanger this week, here it is.  Sadly it also fell victim to the fallout from Summahcold so I didn't get as far with it as I would have liked.


Lurking there at the back of my desk, on my WOYWW easel, is my WOYWW 104 PIF from Shaz in Oz.  I couldn't believe it when it arrived today - 5 days only!  Two of those were weekend days too!  Astounding.  I've known first class in the UK take longer....   And what did I get?  A beautiful stamped card and a stamped tag.  The tag is gorgeous - I think Shaz has coated her work with holographic EP and though you can't see it in the photo, the whole thing shimmers beautifully.  I love scenic stamping (remember a certain CJ, anyone? LOL) and this design is great!  All in my fave colours too!  The bit that says WOYWW is on the back.... this one is getting pride of place in my collection.  The card that came too is equally lovely - with a great poem inside it, penned by Shaz herself...



WTG Shaz!  Fantastic - I LURVE it!

Ok, so what of my own PIF sent to Kay?  Well I finally heard today that it's arrived safe and sound - I kind of knew it had got somewhere because I sent it by Recorded Delivery, but it's always nice to have proper confirmation that it's arrived, its ok, and the recipient liked it.  Poor Kay has had pooter problems - internet linked - and that's why I'd not heard sooner!

So, what did I do?  Well, Julia said do something with WOYWW on it somewhere, so I just thought, hey, I'll actually do WOYWW.....!
  

 I have to confess that occasionally I have these ideas that sound good in my head, and then about a third of the way through I wonder what on earth possessed me.  This was one such occasion - however, the finished result just makes me want to make more.

So, how did I do it?  We've all seen the slightly bland papier mache letters in places like Hobbycraft and The Range (and I daresay Michaels has them too) - well, I wanted to do something with those, but couldn't get hold of an interesting shaped letter.  Enter Aunty Google who led me Here where I found a tutorial on making one's own papier mache letters.  I might make my own tutorial up - which will include things like DON'T pick too ornate a font when your letters are only three inches high, DON'T use texture paste if you want to sand them perfectly smooth..... I could go on.  Anyway, I did it, I enjoyed it, and Kay likes 'em.  Nuff said!

Oh, Ok, a bit more info then!

I thought I do them so they reflect me, and past things I've done....  so the first W is done in the style of my Bad Peg (can't find the link for the mo, but it's on here somewhere!).  I would have put pins in the top, but wasn't sure they'd hold well.


The butterfly is very me - a personal story there for another time, but suffice to say that they are hugely important to me.  I also saw the stamped tissue technique in Craft Stamper a couple of weeks ago and thought this was a good time to try it!


I quite like distress techniques, but did this in a very very simple way.   Plus, blue is my fave colour and lifts the rest of the letters....



Somewhere on my blog there is also a post about a piece I did for an art raffle.  I made something wooden look like it was stone, and here the texture paste helped me!  I thought I do this one to be reminiscent of the art raffle piece -  I love this particular letter.....




Lastly, something just a teensy bit steampunk.  I love taking chipboard and using UTEE to make something very metallic looking.  Not too sure how the gold leaf crept in on the top right of the letter, but I'll go with it!  Yep, they're real watch parts.... I liked the date ring, thought it was appropriate for what WOYWW is about....


And there you have it!

Catch you on the hop!

28 comments:

jude said...

Wow i absolutely love what you did with the PIF.The paper machie letters are absolutely stunning !Love all the techniques youve used on them.will have to have alook thanks for the link ,as you well know the letters can turn out expensive especially when more than 4 letters.Would love to see tutorial too!Thanks for sharing
Have happy creative wednesday
hugs judex2

Helen said...

I love your WOYWW gift - and Shaz's to you - amazing - love the poem.

Sarpreet said...

absolutely gorgeous PIF, gorgeous workspace, love all the pens and the storage, and your day lamp, Thank you for sharing your workspace, Happy WOYWW 105, #22 (do check out my blog candy)

donnalouiserodgers said...

"I have to confess that occasionally I have these ideas that sound good in my head, and then about a third of the way through I wonder what on earth possessed me. This was one such occasion - however, the finished result just makes me want to make more."

me TOO

but not A1 sized ( you'll geddit when you visit

if we are piffering swapping do you want an a4 sized one that is a journal?

okienurse said...

Love both the gifts you sent and the gifts you received! Thanks for sharing. Vickie #50

Sarah said...

What a great PIF and your creation is just so fab - love it....great job I say! Be proud of that one.
Have a good WOYWW,
Sarah at 7

Di said...

Hi Morti. Quick comment from me as it's busy here. Firstly, I love the WOYWW you made - terrific. Secondly, you asked which co-ed boarding school I went to - it was Prince Rupert School in Wilhelmshaven. There were another two schools similar I think, Hamm and Plon (the O has an umlaut). I don't think either of those have the big reunions like we do but if your OH went to PRS do drop me an email - we have about 600+ members, with a four-monthly newsletter and big reunions every other year, with smaller local ones in between. We're still searching for ex-pupils. Di xx (di_wray@hotmail.com)

Sarn said...

WOW - what a beautiful gift.

Happy WOYWW.

Hugs, Sandra Take a peek at MY PIF here

HeARTworks said...

Wow! I'm so impressed with your paper mache letters! I'm also impressed with your intricate embroidery! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Wow! Love the letters! You did a great job on your PIF. :) Happy WOYWW!

famfa said...

Beautiful work. You should definitely do a tutorial. I need to try this craft.

jodpea said...

Those letters are wonderful, it might have seemed crazy half way through but the finished product is more than worth it! I wanted to ask you if your profile picture is actually your eye cos I saw a template for a webiste design yday and I thought ooh that looks like Morti's eye! Slightly random, I know but these are the things that pass thru one's mind!!

Sue said...

Hi hun
hope you are feeling better now? lovely creative desk, beautiful stitching, luv the WOYWW verse by Shaz, tis brill. Your pif is gorgeous fabulous idea,thanks for the mooch, happy WOYWW, sue,x

April said...

Oh My!!! Your PiF creation is just fantastic!!!! The gift you received is truly lovely too! great desk shots, looks nice and cosy with all your goodies around you whilst you work / play!! Thanks for sharing.

shazsilverwolf said...

Love your pif- fabulous. look forward to your tutorial on paper mache letters- I can see some great projects with those. Shaz #96

Sunshine Girl said...

Love both pifs! how lovely to have a poem - wish I had thought to do one! and I love your letters - I take it they are homemade then (havent got time to click on the link at the moment but I will be back to!). Have a great woyww. Sunshine Girl no. 31

Chelle said...

I love the letters..what a great idea. TFS98

Serendipity Stamping said...

Your PIF is fantastic and so much of yourself put into it. The receiver must be beside herself with joy. #100

Mrs A. said...

Oh my goodness me. Your paper mache initials are fab. Absolutely love them. Bet the lucky recipient loved them too. Hugs Mrs A. #101

The Crafty Elf said...

Hey ....I didn't want your post to end. So much fun and good stuff being sent and received. That poem, WOW! I love how you finished those letters....stunning. I hope you're feeling better, I too have fallen ill and the last 10 days have been less than stellar but I'm finally on the mend.

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi there Morti those letters for your pIf you made have just blown me away, so very amazing you are so clever and will wait for the tutorial... and love how you set up my pIf too really appreciate it.. and glad you love the poem - most of my cards have poems I write unless people ask fro blank cards, cant write one for them! I just adore your embroidery too and great desk to peek around happy WOYWW! and still no pIf over this way - not sure why it takes so long from UK and only five days TO UK!! love Shaz in Oz.x

JoZart Designs said...

Superb PiFs both given and received and interesting that you told us how and why you made your letters..... it has been amazing seeing all the gifts in this WWWFW... Wonderful World Wide Friendship Wave!!
JoZarty x

JoZart Designs said...

oooh! I lurve Garoou too
JoZarty x

MaudMartha said...

Wow I just am blown away by those letters they are amazing. I'll have to try something similar as I just love them. Teresa x

Tertia said...

WOW!!! Those letters are awesome! The card and tag are fabulous too, I can't believe it only took 5 days!
Happy WOYWW

Twiglet said...

Fab poem and oh such really gorgeous Pifs!

sandra de said...

Ohhh my goodness your letters are fabulous and you made them from scratch.... amazing. Looks like Shaz has sent you a lovely pif gifts. Your needlework is coming along a treat.

alexa said...

What a lot of riches in here! How imaginative to make your own letters :) and decorate them so prettily. And I love your cross-stitch. Hope it's coming along nicely now that the Summahcold is gone (hopefully?).

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