WOYWW 394.... oh, go ON then..... It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Everywhere you go...

Huzzah!  Christmas is officially here.

But first let me say - Happy Solstice/Yule to you all.  May the turning of the year bring you all you wish for the future...

 

So, back to business - it's Wednesday, which means it's WOYWW (the deets are here), and we're all getting together in the ether to show off the general mess and mayhem that is our creative spaces.  An honest look at life as a crafter, rather than just showcasing our beautiful work in glossy pics (thought we do that too!), we share the blood, sweat and tears that go into making them.

 

Although you'd be forgiven for thinking that I've used last week's photo!  Nothing has changed at the Morti Station.  The surroundings have moved about a bit and there's something that looks suspiciously like a bauble made of card to hang from the ceiling...  Pinterest....

 

I was at a crop last Saturday, in St Leonards (Dorset), with Craft Obsessions.  That's my friend Noreen on the left there.

 

 

I'm not sure why our Julia was surprised about me having Project Life on my desk a couple of weeks ago, as I've been doing scrapbooking for a while!  However, I used this opportunity to finish off one beading item that I've half shown before, and start another...

 

 

So here's the finished star tassel (Spellbound Beads kit) I shared the star of a couple of weeks ago - you can see from the pic above that it has little stars dangling from it - the pic below isn't quite so clear on that point!

 

 

And the other item I had just started above is shown finished below - a peyote stitch triquetra.  It is supposed to be one half of a pair of earrings for Lil Miss B (don't worry, she doesn't read my blog!) but they worked out to be so large, I don't think she'll ever wear them!  So instead I'm going to offer her a choice.  Earrings, or a pendant, or a brooch maybe.  Or perhaps even a decoration for her Christmas tree - her's is black with red decorations on, so it'll fit in perfectly. She loves triquetras and triskeles!

 

Following on from last week's giggle over baubles in hats, I shared on FB for Shazsilverwolf's benefit these photos of the actual "ornaments" in hats.... did I say we were nutters in this house...?

And lastly, here's another treat from Pinterest - I fell in love with these on that website, and just had to do my own.  I've not lit it, but I do like it!  It's a Liliput Lane house from my collection inside...

 

So cute!

Soooo - happy Christmas to you all.  I hope you all keep well and sane over the next week, and I'll see you back here for the Betwixtmas issue.  I might post on Xmas day, to save my own sanity, as we have all the Crumblies with us (David's parents, and my Mum!).

Happy Hopping!

WOYWW 393 - it's beginn...... I SAID NOT YET!!!

Happy WOYWW fest everyone!  Another Wednesday has rolled around and here we are,.  Yup.  Three weeks on the trot for me.  I'm trying really hard to make sure I do the things I enjoy doing, and this is one of them.  I didn't quite manage to get round everyone last week (in fact, I think I only managed about four of you!) but I'll try harder this week.  Panto gets in the way...

 

If you've not been here before and are wondering what on earth WOYWW is, I'll let the Amazing Mrs D explain it all to you here as she'll do a much better job of it than I.

 

I'm trying to avoid Christmas a little bit.  That's not to say I'm ignoring it, oh no.  I feel that self-righteous smugness that comes from being a tad organised and knowing that all bar three Christmas cards have been posted (and those others will be written and done tonight), and the resigned feeling of not having a brass cent in my bank account so what's not been bought yet won't be until Christmas Eve.  We have even scheduled in a present wrapping session for Sunday (while Lil Miss B is at work in the tea rooms), so that we're not up until 1am on Xmas Eve frantically trying to wrap gifts.  I want to enjoy this Christmas as much as possible... bearing in mind we have all the parents with us.  Whose bright idea was that??!!!

 

Anyway, I digress.

 

Onto the desk.

 

Not much has happened.  It's all been shuffled around a bit. 

 

 

I'm no further along with the noses.  I think that may be because I know I have to do some sanding, and it'll make a mess.

 

I did finish sanding and firing the silver charms though.  Well, two of them.  The other two I wasn't happy about before I started sanding, so they're in the rehydration pot to be reworked.

 

 

 

Here they are close up.....

 



 

I can see there's a few scratches on them so might need to go back to the polishing stage and rework a bit, but as the "love, Dad" one is for me, I'm not too worried!  Don't they look nice and shiny!?

 

So, there you have it.  I did want to take a pic this morning of the newly decorated ornaments in the lounge - seems they've gone out and bought themselves some Santa hats, but it was too dark to get a decent photo this morning!

 

Hope you have a lovely day/week and I'll see you in a comment box somewhere near you shortly!!!  

WOYWW 392 - it's beginning to.....shhhhh..... not yet.....

Greetings fellow deskers!  If you're not already a desker, what are you waiting for?  Join in, do!  The details are here, at the Wonderful Mrs Dunnit's blog....

Short and sweet from me this week.

The sparkly star decoration hasn't actually progressed any further - nor has the project life album for that matter.  Where did the last 7 days go, that's what I want to know!!!

Mind you, we did spend the weekend doing various other bits and pieces, including decorating a certain house ready for a certain holiday.... 

So here's the desk.  It's in its usual cluttered state....

It's in the middle of some silver charm manufacturing.  I'd like to say they were all orders, but they're not - it's display stock.  One of which is also a piece for myself - the heart.  I made one for my sister and gifted it to her.  It's our Dad's handwriting, from a letter he wrote to me.  He wrote quite a lot, telling me about the dolls houses he was making.  Towards the end of his life he was making a particular dolls house for me, which he only half finished, but that is another tale for another time!  The silver charm will simply say "love, Dad x".  I will show you the finished item when it's done.

The other pieces are a very simple rectangle with a footprint (miniaturised), a teddy bear with a tiny handprint taken from a child, and the four-petalled flower actually has a hoofprint on it.  They're samples to show prospective customers what I can make, and so they can feel them in their hands rather than look at a big picture.  Much nicer!

There's a few more noses on my desk as well.  I will need to finish them this week and frame them.  A couple are for display, a couple for a gift, and one to keep for ourselves!

Oh?  You want to see the tree.....?

Ok then!

See you in a comments box near you - happy hopping!

WOYWW 391 - the post crop post!

WELL!

How much fun was that?  I'm not going to bore you all silly with yet another post about crop.  The measly couple of photos I took pall into insignificance next to everyone else's, and none of mine were as interesting as all the others.... However, it was an amazing day, far too much cake was consumed and it was wonderful to catch up with old and new friends, and generally have a blast.  I got the tissue box finished!

So, lets move swiftly on to this week's desk, for the rounds of WOYWW (see Mrs D for details)...

This week I'm in two places.  The dining room table:

 

And the main crime scene upstairs:

 

 

A closer look at the table reveals Project Life cards - I'm doing the first year of my gorgeous Great-Nephew's life:

 

Hiding underneath that lot is some beading I'm doing for Christmas, that I started at crop:

And really bizarrely, on the main desk upstairs, I'm casting noses!  This belonged to a rather gorgeous black lab called Shadow.  It's a bit warped where the owners might have squished the mould a bit before it set, but each dog's nose print is unique, so it's still a special thing.... I just need to finish it and mount it for them.

 

So, move along, there's not that much that's interesting here!  See you in a comments box near you.  And I'm very sorry I didn't get around to commenting last week!  oopsy....

WOYWW 390

Oh my Sainted Aunt!

 

Where has today gone?

 

I was planning on joining the hop first thing this morning and here we are, 4pm!  Oops.  Busy day at work then...

So, without further ado, here's my desk for this week.

 

Yup.  That'll be a tidy(er) desk then!  I had a bit of a blitz on Sunday.  There's lots of plans afoot and things coming up and unfinished business to attend to and then we're off on a jaunt in business land and life will be moving swiftly on..... hehehehe

 

As the blog hop is actually about what's on your workdesk rather than what mess is your workdesk, here's what I'm currently working on.  I'm finally getting round to doing the second tissue box, and this is how it's coming on so far.  Stay tuned for a progress update!

 

 

Oh look, there's still a couple of houses lurking - I need to get those done too!

 

So, if you're scratching your head and wondering why I've shared these pics, go to the Stamping Ground blog and there the wonderful Mrs Dunnit will share all.

 

For some of you, I'll see you on Saturday at the big WOYWW crop - the rest, catch you in a comments box near you!  (especially those who commented last week and for whom I didn't even do the courtesy of publishing their comments till today, let alone visit.... oops.....)

WOYWW 389

Good afternoon all.... welcome to another edition of WOYWW, that is, What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  Hosted by the inimitable Mrs Dunnit, if you'd like to know more or join in this week (or any week, for that matter) then head over to her blog here.

I'm a tad late to the party this week, having completely missed last week! 

So, without further ado, my desk!

The Cosplay Salon envelope in the foreground is a wig for Lil Miss B when she does our panto in January.... Photos at a much later date!

It's a mess, but here's a closeup....

There's still a random house or two knocking around following the weekend's Christmas Fair - I hung onto a couple to decorate for us.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn't good which usually reduces foot fall (and did) but I managed to sell 5 of my little houses, and one large strawsilk vase.  It meant I covered the cost of the stall.

This is my stall.....

And a close up of how the houses went.  I've still got one of the white and pinecone ones left, which I believe Lil Miss B may have her eye on...

 

Anyway - no time to hang around, there's a few of you to be visiting! 

See you all in a comments box somewhere near you.... TTFN.

 

 

 

 

WOYWW 387

A quickie from me today!  For those of you not familiar with the worldwide (small scale!) phenomenon that is WOYWW, go here for the info....

My desk hasn’t changed much.  In fact it’s actually even more cluttered and the houses that were present last week are in fact still there.  Untouched.  I’ve had no time to work on them, but that will change this weekend.  It’s going to have to, as the Christmas Fair I’m going to sell them at is the following weekend.  Sigh....

 

The cards I made last week are showing up there as well.  Not quite finished, I’ve decided I need to add a greeting to the front, and one or two of the backs need a bit of work to cover up wet ink transfer – oops – but otherwise I’m very happy with them.

There’s about a dozen different ones but I won’t bore you with pictures of the whole lot!  I’ve managed to capture the glitter on one though, as they do twinkle beautifully.

So, that’s it from me – see you in a comments box near you!

WOYWW 386 - The Housing Crisis

Good morning fellow WOYWWers!  As I type this I’m firmly ensconced at my work desk – at work.  Boo hiss.... I’d much rather be at home crafting!

(and in case you’re new here, WOYWW is What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday, global phenomenon created by The Great JD who can be found here to explain it all – join in, do!)

I’d like to be home crafting because then I could do something about my housing crisis... heheheh.

 

Lots and lots of houses.  An avalanche of them in fact.  I’ve got a Christmas Fair coming up on the 12^th November, and thought I would make some Christmas decorations for it.  Fun!  there's also the contents of my crop bag as I had to empty out everything I didn't need so I could use it for other things......

such as hosting supplies for tonight’s crop in Ferndown, where I’m being rebellious and making Christmas Cards for the aforementioned fair.  Anything to earn a few pennies!

So how has your week been?  I look forward to hopping around and seeing what you’ve all been up to!

WOYWW 385 - mayhem....

Well, mayhem of a sort, I suppose.  I can't actually share my desk today, but I can share it from a couple of days ago, plus some finished things....

 

And why am I sharing - WOYWW of course!  Thanks to the lovely Julia as usual.  If you're not familiar with it, head over to the Stamping Ground and you'll find all you need to know about joining in!

So, onto my space....

 

Earlier this week my desk looked like this.  I've come to the conclusion that I need better storage.  And that I have a Die Habit.  I'm amazed I'm not in trouble, after Mr B took one look at it and agreed I needed help.  He was referring to the storage.... I think.....

 

 

After that mess came this.......

 

 

Swiftly followed by this!

 

 

 

I actually sold that card - it was a bona fide order, in so much as a work colleague said "I need an 18th birthday card".  Made using the Crafters Companion Die'sire oval accordion die and one of the overlays.  Sooo fiddly, I must buy Stick It! next time rather than try to glue the overlay on using PVA glue.... doh....

 

And a catch up on previously - the finished tissue box from a couple of weeks ago.  Some of you have seen it on FB already, sorry to bore you.  Hehehehe

 

 

 

I needed a dark purple card for the next box I'm making, but couldn't find it in town (Salisbury) anywhere.  It's arrived in this morning's post (thank you, ebay) so I should have  second box to show you next week. Yay!

 

So, I will see you all on the hop.  I'm a bit busy this week with trying to get my little business (Hare Moon Crafts) back up and running.  Meetings every other Wednesday with my web developer to sort the website out, plus we have a Christmas Craft Fair on the 12th November to prep for.  Sometimes I wonder why I do this.

 

TTFN - Happy Hopping!

WOYWW 383 – It’s beginning to look a lot like.....Easter?

Welcome once again to WOYWW – the desk hopping delight as developed by the delightful Miss Dunnit.  If you’ve not heard of this before and have magically landed here by accident, go HERE for all the details, and maybe even join in...

So what wonders are on my workdesk this week.  It’s not that different to previous weeks and we’re still in the throes of dealing with a whole load of UFOs – UnFinished Objects.  Should be UFPs really, Projects, but it’s not so funny.

 

For months I’ve had these eggs sat on my desk.  They came from Hobbycraft and were plain unglazed ceramic.  I meant to decorate them for Easter, and put them on my white tree on the dining table with the 100 other eggs I have, but I didn’t get around to it.  About a month ago I painted them with an iridescent ink (there’s a 4^th one, in turquoise, not shown), and then they sat there again while I decided what to do next.  Lightning struck a week ago, and I used Dovecraft 3D pearls to put dots and swirls etc on.  I think they look quite nice.  I’ll be changing the ribbon for something less “in-yer-face” and then they can be put in the box for next year.

 

It wasn’t all Easter. Oh no.  I did manage one Christmas decoration.  This had also been hanging around like a bad smell.  A plain brown papier mâché star.  Simply painted silver and then I had a gem-sneeze on it.  Well, a bit of bling on a tree is always lovely.  If I had used my noddle though, I’d have put silver leaf on it instead of using that horrible silver paint.  Funny how you think of these things after all is said and done.

 

I’m also working on a couple of plain brown papier mâché tissue boxes that have also been hanging around like a bad smell.  Much, much earlier this year I completed this one for Lil Miss B.  She’s a Harry Potter geek, and when we visited the studios last year, they wrapped our purchases in some tissue paper printed with the Hogwarts Express train ticket.  That made short work of sorting out her tissue box, she loves it and it’s on her HP shrine.  Excuse the dust...

 

The boxes I’m actually working on are one for the lounge, and one for our bedroom.  The bedroom one is currently getting coats of paint where it needs it.  I might add a layer of iridescent paint as well.  The one I’m properly working on is going to match the lounge, and I’ve taken inspiration from the Edgar Allan Poe cushions.  I’m just doing the base layers – I have a set of rubber stamps I’m going to use and will cut out the images and attach them to add a bit of interest.

 

Some of you might remember me doing something a bit similar a few years back, the blog post about it is HERE when I made something very similar for our dear LLJ.  Yes, WOYWW week 166!  Oh my word......!!!

So there you go.  Off you hop to the next desk!  See you soon...

And here we go....

It's panto time again!  Yay!  Crazy chick that I am, I agreed to Direct this year...

 

We're putting on Treasure Island at Verwood Pantomime Society, and the performances will be the last week of January.  The more astute (ok, read long serving readers) will recall that we've done Treasure Island before, 5 years ago, and I blogged about it here.  Crazy enough as it may seem, and I'm still scratching my head about it now, Mr B has landed the role of Long John Silver (quite funny considering he's only 5'7").

 

Lunch Lady Jan, impetuous fool that she is (love ya, hunny) has been suckered into agreed to come and watch this year with the Gorgeous Gordon.  So who else out of you lovely ladies will be tagging along?

 

Oh.  I forgot to mention.  Lil Miss B has secured herself a rather plum role too.  She's the Sea Spirit - the same role I played last time.

 

Not that I had a say in this, I hasten to add.  The auditions are done in front of a panel of 5 judges of which I am only one, and in both cases my beloveds were put into their role without a word of choice from me.  Oh no, I didn't get a say, really.  I'd rather Lil Miss B hadn't been in it at all (she originally wanted to do back stage) and Mr B would actually have been rather lovely as the dame this year.  But we do have to consider the blend of cast carefully, and I have to confess that my co-judges have probably got it just about right...

 

So....

 

Here we go again!

WOYWW 380 – the patched one

Another round of WOYWW hosted by Julia at The StampingGround – the chance to be really nosy at other people’s desks/stash/skill and a chance to catch up amongst old friends...

It’s another quiet week at Morti Towers, apart from the whirr of the sewing machine.  I’m still stuck behind a mechanical needle, soon to be replaced with a hand sewing session.  Nothing has changed on the main desk.  You can see here the plain black one (except it’s folded up) and the last one waiting to be made.  And a big pile of patches and fabric badges to stitch to them both. 

 

I’ve made three more cushions this week (two of which are proudly displayed here, and have been seen by many of you on FB) and I still have one to do. 

 

Seven of the patches in question are from Geocaching last year.  Or it might have been the year before that - I've lost track!  You had to complete six challenges to get certain "souvenirs", and by completing all six, you won the seventh - the "Achiever" award.  We discovered you could buy these patches and although I think you're meant to stitch them to your geocaching bag or jacket or whatever, we've opted to add them to cushions - we're likely to buy more in the future and on a cushion there won't be the faff of having to take them off when the bag breaks or the jacket wears out etc... I bought two sets - Lil Miss B has her own geocaching ID so she got her own set of souvenirs.

 

 

 

Once I’ve done that I’ve got an idea for the scraps left over from the printed fabric, and I need to make a makeup bag for someone who has been patiently waiting for it.... heheheh

I'm looking forward to getting back to card making and scrapbooking though, I will admit.  And some beading.  There's definitely beading on the horizon...

Hope to see you all on the hop!