tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-248881882024-03-13T02:50:01.027+00:00Mad RamblingsMortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.comBlogger402125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-69184111811760619972024-02-19T14:17:00.004+00:002024-02-19T14:17:59.703+00:00Hello, it's been a while<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> How are you all?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Now you've got over the shock, yep it's me. I'd love to say I'm back permanently but we'll have to see how that goes. I don't have the best track record, do I, for sticking around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Lately though, I've been pondering the old blog again and thinking that maybe it's time to resurrect it. Perhaps update it, refresh the edges a tad. Have the opportunity to come here whenever I like and do a few bits and pieces. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The old YouTube channel is going well these days - over 1k subs and growing nicely. However, the good old YT algorithm means that you kind of have to stick with one topic or it gets all confused and doesn't know who you are, what you're doing, or who is likely to watch. So this blog would be an opportunity for folks to come read at their own pace, for me to do my thang, share more of life and travels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And looking at where we've been versus how often I've dotted onto here, we have some serious catching up to do!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So stick around. I'll be back shortly...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn5GMujpZIv9HkBeDFYf5rlP7oNPZWg0r7NPWix4rUTwPFA5I5oTtY7_g60gd9zA4i8KFdsaL0WKUb9Cl2EXeWWQpoCFUXDPe94_os1yWPt-JhV_VDNw8gcCWgu2DJyANJPTwdez_Z_fcl-yAmmBe-YWi8tEPRcglzoCBgx_BQXJYdQyj3FQN/s720/Moi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn5GMujpZIv9HkBeDFYf5rlP7oNPZWg0r7NPWix4rUTwPFA5I5oTtY7_g60gd9zA4i8KFdsaL0WKUb9Cl2EXeWWQpoCFUXDPe94_os1yWPt-JhV_VDNw8gcCWgu2DJyANJPTwdez_Z_fcl-yAmmBe-YWi8tEPRcglzoCBgx_BQXJYdQyj3FQN/s320/Moi.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-21208687300133986972021-06-09T09:39:00.002+01:002021-06-09T09:39:30.186+01:00WOYWW 627 - Not so flamin' June - and G7<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hello, lovely deskers! Welcome back to another round of WOYWW... that weekly bloghop looking at the underbelly of creativeness, the mess and mayhem that is our desks... LOL.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I type this, the weather is typically British summer - drizzle but warm and distinctly muggy. Yuk. Despite this, we have a major influx of visitors to Cornwall (no surprise there) but this has been augmented and indeed frustrated by G7. I live about 7 miles from Carbis Bay and Tregenna Castle, and it's causing a lot of trouble. Road closures - including all the bridges and overpasses for the A30, the main road that runs down the spine of Cornwall - and full accommodation are making things difficult for locals and visitors alike, and we get daily flyovers of USAF Hercules etc. Don't get me started on the parking issues in Falmouth, where the media circus are hanging out.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regardless, I'm sat in my cosy little nook, keeping myself to myself, and busy plying my needle through fabric. They can keep their shenanigans!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The desk this week is suffering a bit from "pile it high" syndrome - I've not had the opportunity to sit and clear it up but my fingers are itching again to get on with it...</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_d91e_a61a_10cf_ce86" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Bi0S_H8BG9aa_HfLtQkVwCOn1sE3kQ8Wv5FSvKgNMHHn9uep8Dk30N7dPSRILnRx2pM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd also like to say a bit thank you to my swappees for the ATCs - what a lovely little collection! So thank you LLJ, Ali and Spyder for your lovely ATCs and postcards! I loved the little folder Spyder sent her ATCs in (and the little spider on one of them - too cute... :D).</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_7080_cf1d_4ae8_5c66" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n7eAUXS9izgWql2POL5roBxfo8VWXyV9zULXJ-pl_vfmbeRidW_QTW_SEuVr4x1dVxk" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stitching - Siren's Lament lies untouched, with good reason! Myth & Magic Stitch Wars, round 14, is well under way and there's just too much confetti in it for me to get a good stitch count in a hurry on.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, The Christmas Moose (why didn't they call it The Christmoose?) has had a significant amount of progress - you can even make out where the roofs will be on that side. Loving working on this!</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_d244_afeb_a320_5c7c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/C0zezTGRZVjxst1caRd5JUGhQdd1JAL0NCIQ7HeAtVSzhkBK5cCLjEKl4naP0ohCswQ" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Peppermint Purple's SAL is up to date as of last week and today's chart is now out, so I'll be working on that shortly.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_145_2600_4f57_e9db" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SI4q771IYwNItFv4d1umIfp62oepohu0mdOG-X4Cd8KUH70UsgjVFzdx8pyPfAvmuY4" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lastly, my Field of... er... Ducks is coming along nicely. There's good blocks of colour so yesterday evening I churned out over 320 stitches on it which was pretty awesome and very necessary - our clan had been "poisoned" by another clan and had to collectively stitch 1000 stitches as fast as possible to reduce the damage being caused over time.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_8dee_d0c_b868_2347" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mLMgZC2LUt0z0NyWzcCJcVVLpEhmSLKqhFSoFwehZwXpwO0cp5FafI0ZRSenxVqcqpc" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Note the strategically positioned needleminder!</i></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The "ducks" caused a bit of a hoot over on my YouTube channel last week, and I also coined another phrase, where SAL no longer stands for "Stitch-a-Long" but "Stitch-a-Later". Seems a couple of folks are going to adopt that now... heheheheh</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So that is that, this week. I found this "funny" on the web this week and had to share it - it takes a bit of thinking about but is v clever...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-adslTMPEJOc/YMB6WdeP_gI/AAAAAAAAG1g/YoWv8A4MUpUKcRuLz2Iliifgu5FobpnWACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="168" id="id_f101_cad8_d6e8_aadb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-adslTMPEJOc/YMB6WdeP_gI/AAAAAAAAG1g/YoWv8A4MUpUKcRuLz2Iliifgu5FobpnWACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="height: auto; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Hopping!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Morti</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">x</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-36597752809705677042021-06-02T16:57:00.005+01:002021-06-02T17:18:49.156+01:00WOYWW 626 - Flaming June<p> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">H</b>ello again, lovely deskers - welcome back to another round of WOYWW. Deets <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2021/06/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-626.html" target="_blank">here</a>.... I must confess, there's not a lot to show this week! And I'm much remiss in visiting desks, starting with the best of intentions but usually failing miserably. This weekend we spent two days tidying, clearing the decks as it were, and cleaning ready for a visit from a family member who we hadn't seen for almost two years, since she last came to our house shortly after we moved in.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore, not much to report!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's the desk....</span></p><p><img id="id_fcf4_5904_fd42_5127" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/b6u90riMlOzPE_wChpCovzrqVeWO3bZgPNEdiUhxEOW0hoABkZP-awfxXhd3ekSAV44" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And here's the only stitching I've done all week. One finished ATC:</span></p><p><img id="id_5a90_f9f8_57b8_c7ee" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3oLwfoL7eHiF-NK3UKtA-0NOJy745PDW2mwIZLACYxCbQWQ5Uq9Ig_tpcbl_mvI4P1o" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">and the updated Peppermint Purple SAL</span></p><p><img id="id_de8c_9f05_5779_25c3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6DmVubGSQAHS-WIdoh4I0Jo7knxCU2ArkKPQwr4rMOOI3YBcq3laJWg5Q9YcA-sYy4o" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, to make up for the lack, here's a lovely picture of the dogs on the beach on Monday just gone (t'was a public holiday here, for our overseas deskers), </span></p><p><img id="id_e9c4_2300_8d7b_4a0f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/AOzbSHWJyI7Z_8Dh-eTtwheeq8GgYK8caxZ06YcvCXaPI8ZVuizlr3nJsZmAr5ytbzQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">and the beach itself - Perranporth, here in Cornwall. </span></p><p><img id="id_edc2_8db_4c99_839a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X3__4CDaoIx8xdVd2Q-j5vhtIWKBHhzCBPx9ezwqoL1JtRe69hbhIam2Ff-p5YCVVfw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;">‘‘Twas a lovely day.... scorching hot with an offshore wind which meant lots of sunburned bodies - mine included just my legs/feet, and not too badly for me although I’ve got a heat rash on my arms which is a bit disconcerting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And here's a shot of our peony, finally in bloom. It's taken the last 7 years for us to nurture it to this point - Mr B had given up all hope but two days ago it popped open - ta dah! Last year we got a bud (first time ever) but it never opened and there was a weeny hole in it so I think a bug got in and had a feast.</span></p><p><img id="id_ee93_d24_aa97_a7da" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_MVUhcGf94wRD4am9sWiWLrP3B5AJ83CPVZGB6B5ojiOjwLeyWTDEAdhY47RjC6T_n8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Lastly, figured it was time for another funny....</span></p><p><img id="id_5b70_7477_3470_9be8" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/asO-tBS-82IlR0aiC4_efFu_tDrjPv83ExgL-sSCmPruv1ORdi2DmU3Svj-eZk2dmY0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Hopping, y'all!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-30339474271095067272021-05-26T09:54:00.007+01:002021-05-26T09:54:55.847+01:00WOYWW 625 - Another Year Older<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span></b>reetings and salutations my fellow deskers! So last week was the 12th Birthday for WOYWW, and today is my own birthday.... toot toot! Have to blow my own trumpet as I'm sat here today, preparing for a full day of work (I work Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday afternoons, but all day Wednesdays currently, how rude is that? LOL) and on my own bar the animal companions. No Mr B - he's currently stuck somewhere around London with a delivery - and Miss B is sleeping the day away in Exeter, having worked a late shift at the bar she's at. Her dissertation was submitted without a hitch (fingers crossed) and now it's the waiting game. At least she's back at work and has something to take her mind off it a bit!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyone not a regular here? WOYWW is a weekly desk hop in crafting land, hosted by the lovely Julia and all the deets on how to join in are <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2021/05/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-625.html" target="_blank">here</a>...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, onto the desk.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh my. Have I got a treat for you - not. The desk as you can see is relatively clear <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(who am I kidding???)</span>. The roses in the pot are still waiting for me to do something with them, and I have another 10 black silk roses downstairs that I'm at a loss for what to do with them. The urn you see on the desk is needing a coat of paint of some description, to tie them in, and the roses need shortening somewhat. However, it's a bit small so I'm thinking of treating myself to a nice vase from Weird and Wonderful Ceramics. Homewares for the darkly inclined. We bought some of their kitchenware, and were just about to complete the set when they discontinued the particular range I had my eye on. Sigh. I have a plan, though, being the consummate crafter, on how to get around that.... hehehehe</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_2ac1_c72c_467f_139f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Tkuh446cblEIVN1Emc_GxRQYEIFxj5BKq-0fst99QSSFZih0WftzlCTkX1OBLhiZ1ok" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm digressing. Back to the desk. I made 8 ATCs in the end, and they've all got homes to go to - I'm just waiting for one address (Ali!) and they should all be going out in the post today. I missed the post yesterday or they would have gone then (apart from Felicia's - I need to visit the post office for that one!). I'll share the ATCs I made (they're not particularly special I'm afraid) once they've all arrived at their destinations.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But.... wait....what's this? Gah. I seem to be spreading! It started out with a couple of frames and a bag of bits on the sofa and suddenly... yikes! I'd better get myself sorted out.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_6a23_d749_3eb6_3fd7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xQIrf7ZxICa3ZtWXe0BRqkp7Trqw1E2Ond529JICiX-JkU9BG5d4NiAi3j0jOmBHnjc" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my defence, the sofa is now bloomin' uncomfortable to sit on and is causing me to have considerable pain in my left hip, and a trapped nerve/sciatica on the right side <span style="font-size: x-small;">(a new sofa is on its way, don't worry)</span>. So as I've physically migrated seat wise, so has all my stitchy stuff and where I bought the trolley a couple of weeks ago, it seems I'm now overflowing it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stitching... it's only been a week so not much has been done. The only updates are to:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Siren's Lament</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_c0ac_d605_4987_5b96" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/suAczJ2P0E9PM9nc2DZuQM0kj0R3VLxJe1XihUbvL2NDgplBbhH7t8ZmuBfhsi71VJ4" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and the Peppermint Purple SAL - I added last week's box, and this week's has only just been released online, so that's yet to be done. But I am what I'd call "up to date".</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_3096_5f2e_83d7_681d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8i1oJDhu6fLE4DdpvttcpwKF4wU5N0m4Nz_Orhf01LTM4OrTFpSuf7ywtUVhtoiHrh0" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another new start though - and this has a short tale attached. I'm on a FB group - Cross Stitch Friends in the UK - and they usually have various swaps etc going on. This month they elected to do an ATC on the theme of stitching. What ho! says I - this could be interesting. So, in my all knowing wisdom I decided to do a fully stitched ATC. Then forgot about it until a couple of days ago - it needs to be posted on Friday. Cue plenty of "assertive stitching" </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">(a phrase I nicked from a fellow YouTuber, Georgie, rather than "panic stitching")</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> in order to get it done. I'm on track - just got a couple of little motifs to stitch, and then the back to do. And then to post it..... </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">I must be nuts.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_5032_4b30_9973_d26b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FErgohSPEJWyr8icp4D2Vc2iJ7E0hTBgC6fK0JJzzqIEChqKXeq7mwhjGzb5apF1dtg" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Julia commented last week on the fact that my starts seem to be located in different places all the time - the top left corner, the centre, the words - and how did I decide where to start. Welllll, she says, cracking her nuckles and setting to the keyboard, it's like this.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Often, patterns will give you an indication of where the centre point is on the chart, and tell you how big the finished piece will be. Generally, you add an extra 2-3 inches of fabric to allow for stretching and framing, and you then have a choice of where to start - either 2-3 inches in from the edge, or in the centre once you've located that point. When you're working on a piece that is not "full coverage" (like Christmas Moose, and the cactus in a pot I did a few months back) it makes sense to start from the middle and work outwards, as it saves an awful lot of counting to find where to start, and you're guaranteed to have placed the motif in the centre of the fabric (provided you got your fabric the right way up to start with!). Full coverage pieces like Siren's Lament are a different matter. You know exactly where the top corner is, and when you're working on something that big (35 A4 pages - 28 full and 7 partial!), finding the "middle" is nigh-on impossible. I start top left, but I know others start top right or bottom left or right. It all depends on preference, but the way I see it is that I'm right handed, and by working left to right, I don't fluff the work up by rubbing my hand on it. The text start (Field of "ducks" LOL) is actually a top left corner start, and although it's not a full coverage piece, the majority of the design as at the top and on the left, so I worked out the inches I needed for framing etc, and just stuck in.</span></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The box lurking on my desk contains some jewellery making stuff delivered yesterday, which I only opened this morning being forgetful, and therefore unsure if it was a birthday present! I am thinking of making some needleminders and project bag dangles - I stupidly forgot to take a picture of the footie one I did for David. Maybe in next week's blog!</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e11d_d3fd_d05d_e55d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/63SBusBmYv56rrdQovqVtl5MNy71VhEsmIYkQ7jkmDHSq3mbvkZ0yUURUNodySLlKSI" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Hopping, everyone!</span></p></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-86628401019564455862021-05-19T22:45:00.001+01:002021-05-19T22:45:13.269+01:00WOYWW 624 - Happy Birthday, WOYWW!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ll just nonchalantly slide in here at the end of the day, to say hello and Happy Birthday to all of us. I’ve been back and forth with my blog, so I’ve not posted for all of the years but I’m still here!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">It’s been a busy few weeks with family and life. Miss B got her extension and tomorrow is the big day... Other than that we’re all keeping well and... busy. But I said that already!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Thanks to family stuff I missed the last couple of Rudolph days but they’ll pick up again starting next week. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Here’s the desk....messy as ever. It will be cleared tomorrow, as I can’t miss out on the old ATC swap now can I?</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_4f06_abf_b676_384f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tCnYWLhNfPo4LuGH_pQbY8jHoOAn1Jepf8t8vEa5Rr2QYBHNWRA8KJG3R43Qu6yJGEM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">A quick update on the stitching </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">The Mill Hill kit I showed you the start of was FFO’d (fully finished off) this morning...</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_b5e2_10c_b965_7121" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RcIR-rOD5EFbv-GnVQClIhjOjVVTytUG3-9GuZSHBV8tM87odkiPSiW4D1ERop22bMQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Moose has been worked on but not by much!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_6343_151e_5172_53d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lo4JbeHWG5JBpT94LK8XK6CJwk73CwaZRby6bKFCttVmBbQKAD_gc4ptfi0TDCaENww" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">The Peppermint Purple is up to date, apart from today’s release. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_18c1_b9_5299_fa08" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/md4KL8k_xzQ_xjPnfRaGdNXY3FkWzuj8u7Phb7X3Jd3hdPIQ51fRQeDrclZMI5MR7us" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b63e_7cc4_8e9d_5686" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3PvDd_XkwKVcWbobyndFFSHVmC9xRFYigyMuKH6hRIAdpdqNo49dfQrX_N-TlASQRkY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">And Siren’s Lament has moved on a little, but not much either. Maybe a couple of thousand confetti stitches!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_1384_f2d1_f92b_1f67" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vMAjyOwylccjGuCdBQKWIIXGCEIADaIdh4HpACoMt1GZdxKGphdFpQV4hAyBm1UQGiU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">And lastly, we have a new start. This one is a bit cheeky, but if you fancy learning more, head over to my Flosstube and have a watch! You’ll find me at <a href="https://youtu.be/DPDar1-OCdg">https://youtu.be/DPDar1-OCdg</a></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_43bb_662c_6105_6eba" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yRTkAfinFFAVwMhfvkqnr5TINRRPFDvoI25FfZaO8fq5xn7D--6HIDUOSI05rHxK3nw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">That’s it - short and sweet. You’ll see me back here again in the near future, I can assure you!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Happy Hopping!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Morti x</font></div><div><br></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-50250565404734881812021-04-14T09:19:00.001+01:002021-04-14T09:19:20.133+01:00WOYWW 619 - the wanderer returns<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greetings and salutations, lovely deskers. Welcome back to another round of WOYWW, hosted by the lovely Julia over at Stamping Ground. For all the deets check <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, but do have a read below first!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been somewhat AWOL for the last four weeks. Sincere apologies. Life kind of got in the way, not least with the ailing health of my father in law which culminated in him passing away on Easter Sunday, the 4th of April. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bill had Alzheimer's, and was heading into the last stages of it. He'd got to the point where he - like small children are wont to do - would spit out any tablets he was supposed to be taking, or would hide them in his mouth and throw them away. This wasn't good for a man on heart medication, but became a much bigger issue when he needed antibiotics for a urinary infection. He ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics, and did rally, but then as is all too often the case developed pneumonia. As he had a DNR in place, he was allowed to slip away in peace with the nurses making him as comfortable as possible. His funeral is on the 21st April.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now, those of you who know my family (or indeed have seen on FB), will know that my in laws are up in Liverpool and we are down in Cornwall. So there has been a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, and there will be next week. Poor Miss B is at Uni in Exeter, too, and her dissertation is due in on the 28th April. I believe she's applied for an extension, as Granddad was a special man in her world. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RIP Bill</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_1487_f7ff_493a_f1da" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QEWiUb_73l0MmI37lTXyG43BESwsncd143dqZyTWI2ABxTvRDeATbb7KFwyv2lDjGY" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>We've also got a camping trip coming up, a social with fellow reenactors in preparation for the re-enactment year slowly gearing up. The dogs need breaking in to the whole concept of tents and campfires so this should be interesting! It'll be good to meet up with our Domus Lunaris family, and a few others we know. I'm sure I'll have some photos to share later!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway - you've not come here to see me witter on about family news. To the desk!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e613_999e_4cce_e61c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3DNh3crS7FOJ4RpvxpYv_qjSqeyTRddNaHalgCdIes56CSg_Fr4EosTTiSbB4UExANs" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh dear.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, not much has been done this month. There's been a bit of stitching but not overly much. Well, I say that...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my last blog post I mentioned that the March Mayhem didn't go according to plan? It failed miserably. I finally finished off the sassy spider...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_5661_c5c_9625_91da" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NGSwUERaHfDlEDFXIp6Vp7ZAlcKYflCM263mqJV9Qsy0awEg90RWSDK1PWh8dhxpotU" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">He now has a hanger. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And started the next Mill Hill Kit....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_4ab9_2436_4edf_ec30" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eiu1Aw23DVze82qFpNsomK8Uf-C4-KjqdRsm1tH1xnKJck7MdQuZLeKMdhOInyMwUP8" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And that was it. Can you tell what it is yet? LOL</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also finished the Hardanger! Suggestions on what to do with it, please... It's too small for a tray cloth, too big for a scissor keep. I could frame it but I rather suspect it's going to end up languishing in a box somewhere.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_bbb8_b7ef_8d4b_6866" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SCuZ9itZrzLypaHojY6a_2lLFmSX6mMvYQZFMru5AorwW1rLMe9W8PP13R_fJp-Zm4w" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Peppermint Purple SAL has moved on, but is still behind...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_faa_f87e_c2fa_9919" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jEDs_fWghqqIb8OZ6jBT7uUww8qFydf26WGuWuhdHzkuWDTNhzD_TFZn9vFCr9Q-Cq8" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Moose on the other hand has moved on a fair bit...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_9cc0_96da_64a_c785" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dTEzgCl-a3NgXvEBvTIczfMGfvAe5QTLvPnQhLeJlrOzyDCDGI_4LmbQnoa7-gwA2Po" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and Siren's Lament has had some notable work done on it!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_9841_35b8_cd7c_f7e4" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/sO8oQQtWDa64xHIpMCoJKrvd-_VTjQrCvAPJFB_vDhKoFhTmgdvgGDkdPBmx4KnPk8s" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The last round of Myth & Magic Stitch Wars really took it out of my team - it was stressful (but fun) and has left us debating continuing. It doesn't help that FB isn't geared up for that sort of thing and was very glitchy, so the organisers are now trying to move it off FB and onto other platforms but we're not sure it'll work. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Mr B's birthday on Friday, and I've made something for him but can't share it here for fear he'll see it. I mean, he rarely looks at my blog, but this would be the one time, ya know? I’ll share it next time!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I shall love you and leave you here.... Happy Hopping!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-20135293946785888962021-03-17T12:02:00.005+00:002021-03-17T13:10:25.611+00:00WOYWW 615 - caution warning, stitched spiders ahead!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Greetings, Desk Hoppers! Welcome to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! All the deets are <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">here</a>, provided by our Mistress of the Hop, Julia... Just a quickie from me this week, so I hope you'll excuse the brevity of language throughout.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm back. A brief absence, but an absence nonetheless. No real excuses, just time gets away from you. Plus the next bout of Stitch Wars is on, and time is a premium when you need to be a-stitching... LOL</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So what gives at Morti Mansions this week?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The desk is a mess. A proper mess. What you can see front and centre is a stack of cards we've received over the last 18-24 months, including New Home cards! they've been left to pile up on the Welsh dresser (hutch for our American friends) downstairs until I've had enough. At the very least they're up here to go through, decide if any require keeping (like from the olds) and which can be thrown. And if there's anything to be salvaged from them to make gift tags or components for other cards. Do like a good recycled card, me.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e11d_f391_9ba5_915d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Asy3LUZMRSzSrzrpfeyggSNGlAsfmJR70GCaZV1g1UNB0Fzjgheule8kzoecHKyub2o" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of which, I never posted the outcome of my last Rudolph day, so here you are...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_deae_90ae_a85b_695d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/4o-ixP-7QgjrCWOK-QS5ruOlwI2Ro1M7qoFrqfkv0tr3AF2aoFqAS0LjXyNPvodkIvY" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and a second one</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_30dc_827b_296c_ef5f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/J0n5uJQas5NQKMUYuEgVraTsra8MaMephfbsXGl1UHnncr2muKirOQuaoO6-KQ-CNNY" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Inspiration from Pinterest. The ornament stamps were by Stampin' Up!, and I used a Sakura Gelly Roll pen in white for the strings and doodle border. The tall card was made using paper and components from various magazine freebies. Again, inspo from Pinterest. The next Rudolph Day is next Thursday...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I made these on 25 Feb, the day after my last blog hop, and I had a stark reminder of just how long I've been a crafter. When I made the ornament card above, and heat embossed the ornaments in white, I managed to put my thumb through the lid of the EP pot. Now, you could say it's French quality that caused it, LOL, but I've had two other pots go that way, brittle with age. I've worked out, based on the fact that the pot is all in French, that I probably bought it back in 2004/5. The other two were bought for me by my mother when I was 15 and heat embossing had just become a "thing", back when it was de rigeur to use a toaster and judicious placement of fingers to avoid burning oneself.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_30a4_fa9f_628a_9e8d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oASid287_B-rnXPuz1nwKwrXIBIDUUvGDRvsThmAfLBNcsEN9xG9ze5w6vqrxMvGBYU" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stitching-wise, I've been stitchin' up a storm.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Siren's Lament has moved on considerably...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_deff_5c63_b509_6eaf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DRTiUtaI87rd5Hrx76KukRjJEiOubLkhYuPGONmlc9AyV-L7qR98i2IX_yU3q0mcCj8" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As has Mr Moose. He's looking adorable. Won't be long before I'm done with brown and can do some other colours!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_8545_a9d3_5900_71f0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NrMI_ltISpy5y3y5H4kSAqMbFJblJYMabiEqztbjTmk7NDN1YI2Mfwf-ucmSE5_ggAw" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've finally picked up the Peppermint Purple Stitch-A-Long, and am almost fully caught up with it. I say almost - a new square was released today and I've yet to stitch that, but as of last night I was up to date with all the released elements at that point.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_4e5c_3fb6_a808_efe1" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FQPd53r76IwBhXnNA8MLWFpy5jyLRNcLKolArKbTtXSsrm1FH12XFoEGEFDvMq_176k" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">March Mayhem has not quite gone to plan. I've managed three of my kits so far The big spider needs to be fully finished off yet, with snipping out around the legs and a hanger attached. A bit dismal, that we're halfway through the month and I've only managed three, but I tell myself it's three more than before and we still have two weeks left! The first one I did, the lovely blue background for web and spider, has about 1300 stitches in it which is quite a bit, I can tell you! The other two have about 700 and 500, for comparison. Considerably smaller.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_2fcd_864a_8f62_86e1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6SOc-JLuE3cHPYVlbBs9-NR5WAJnILJkAUso4iy2xJY2W-NMLfCJ7xuR3j8SJOZCA8o" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="text-align: justify;">What other news haveth I? Well, the re-enactment season is somewhat upskittled but provided everyone plays ball and campsites can reopen on April 12th, we have a re-enactment social weekend where we can camp and see our friends, and spend some time ensuring kit is ready for the rest of the season, such as it may be. Many events have been moved or cancelled - certainly those in April/May/June, but the July, August and September ones all seem to be going ahead at present.</p></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mr B has fixed the car - we needed a new fan for the heating and air con - t'was rather horrid driving along without it. The windows kept misting up which meant we had the windows open and in January, was not fun! The fan cost us a whole £330 new from Renault, but fitting was free as he did it himself. I'm not sure what labour is at Renault, but at the garage 300 yards up the road its £50 an hour, and the whole fit from removing the old to replacing the new took about 5 hours. Quite a saving...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_a255_f839_7b42_174e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ymYR9xG8qAKsfRIU-lEeH_3z4_NVol4CszXFT5Cs0BdUpDJ7pLdaogWHZUhXsQ1qdMM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;">The offending broken fan</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_4f74_b65_ad33_b845" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8BkMnKw68nv9nhufWz1w69GWIdmuEcwvcXnkHOzrCd75yjag2jTvO6jMuBPvPv8WyHE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, this is turning into a ramble, so I shall leave you with a lovely photo from a couple of weeks ago, sunset up on Carn Brea, </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_cdf1_4882_93ec_da62" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JOvNgn-ac0bdJuLtWpMsYQyn_4WclndhW5vOvlRsZ-hYC5RHTAaXsgeqV6tn2OjEMDA" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and a "and finally" in honour of our lovely Shaz.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_ab0f_25d6_6976_565a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Efmfi4MU7RTjsg5bcsKgzECGZ8gGA2EA23-SUi_BOWDGkFllzllrSeb_5ypOyWLQnkg" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-54730724938111510212021-02-24T09:52:00.004+00:002021-02-24T09:57:53.483+00:00WOYWW 612 - Rudolph Eve<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hello, deskers! Welcome back to WOYWW - that weekly roundup of all things deskish, hosted by the lovely Julia. Details can be found <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a> if you'd like to join in, or want to go on a bloghop round the desks.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This week is more of the same (stitching, not crying!) with a random card thrown in for good measure...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The desk itself has had a bit of a tidy up, but there's a load of stuff sat on it ready for tomorrow's Rudolph Day, when I shall make a couple of Christmas cards, and maybe work on one or two other things. I have Thursdays off at the moment (which will switch to Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri mornings off from next week. Flexi-furlough, don't you know.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_3d0f_a877_efc6_1fd3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RK_d2rvSBvmNZWIAFe3jxXUSmSIQSyWq2VMpemrRys6vKoxsZ0KcpT_w-GkwSLvUglE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the other desks had a bit of a tidy up too. It had been piled high with fabric and assorted oddments. Now it has been cleared, but there's still quite a bit on it. I've got a couple of projects on the go there, and also some stitchy stash waiting for me to film a flosstube where I can show off my recent haul. There won't be much more purchased going forwards though! Time to rein in the spending a little.... heheheh.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_1f1b_3855_d899_a774" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/e6o2RfUyx9LakgLdcedxriF2LWwqQa56kXO8CWe3Cyw2_pZgwbpqTxbcIMp2rarpNOM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So, updates:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Siren's Lament</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_17c7_5020_4fdd_45d1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Le7u7alA5Jrp-evgbNjPOr4cqEtWYMxHWSrvvU6gjbh4r_8HxjCZsjd40A7NXz-UB4A" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mr Christmas Moose</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_635b_d7d_5840_674a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/LqZZIynTfpz5yy4ANwmzn-yltzunFs30vEEBiQgJDFMAC5zatf2jExvqeZVteVaP6h0" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Peppermint Purple's 2021 stitchalong - not much done to it but YAY! Patterns!</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_67e3_37ca_a4c5_1ff" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LliPaEscOigQx1BF5XpLBgDhjyTBHASuUth6zE_6LIqkH81IId_lEBveIfyNaOI9eMU" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also found lurking and needing love is this hardanger piece I started goodness knows how many moons ago (the needle had rusted into the fabric), and is worked from a pattern from an old Jane Greenoff Cross Stitch magazine. I have no idea what issue number it is... I did try to find out when the magazine was last in print and know it was going until at least 2005, but couldn't find out any concrete information.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e8a3_5604_445d_85c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/oeUrFpyu6chND12QDe1FPrQTYrKAOo5AlaNOKt0DjGrKUdsFJcSRdD2AUVWKLgkOgmY" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Next month is March Mayhem - a group on FB of stitchers who broke away from May-nia which was another group of individuals doing a crazy challenge stitch wise. I think there may be a competition to see who can do the most new project starts, or how many WIPS you can be working on at any given time! My foray into this world of craziness is that I'm going to do "March Mill Hill Mayhem". Nicely alliterated, I thought. But basically, I'm going to try and do as many Mill Hill kits as I can in the next month. The idea being to do a bit of stash-busting and get them stitched and up on our craft tree this Christmas. And Halloween. We have a Halloween/Samhain tree too. I have 5 more Halloween Mill Hill kits to do. And about 16 Christmas ones. Best guess is that I might get a quarter of them done if I'm lucky but if I persevere, maybe half. Which will be ten more than I would have otherwise. Apologies for the glare on the top three. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_71ae_b71_fe31_202" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZFumk9baY0Dq6oka7jNvw85n4h-SoWtcVielCNpZ78OpYUzgxSGsNt3vovLSWeWz-1Y" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, back at the beginning of this post I mentioned a card, and I alluded to it last week when I said that I never thought I'd be kicking off my non-Christmas card making with this particular variety of card, but here it is. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_b1bc_3584_9dcf_bd56" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qv9yW4AEtBwLaNvfUmj9bd_Yr4j9mz3MzyawMV3qfn9pVER1MGir2aD2sLPsSwVm6nA" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Needless to say, it was sent to Doug. Forgive me if I don't tell you all I wrote in it, but the night before I wrote it, I was binge-watching Criminal Minds and they start and end the programme with quotes. One episode ended with:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>"Death ends a life, not a relationship", Mitch Alborn.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That quote has stuck with me, and I put it into the card along with our own sentiments. How very true. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And in recognition of the lovely Shaz, I'm going to add a finishing funny:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oV1Hqz2G7K8/YDYhwviMRaI/AAAAAAAAGyE/EM_y0ZNRqR4oS5BzU1NQ7wC6X73S_989ACLcBGAsYHQ/s569/Screenshot%2B2021-02-24%2B094945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="569" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oV1Hqz2G7K8/YDYhwviMRaI/AAAAAAAAGyE/EM_y0ZNRqR4oS5BzU1NQ7wC6X73S_989ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screenshot%2B2021-02-24%2B094945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perfectly describes this household currently...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy hopping!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-9257143898831317982021-02-17T09:07:00.000+00:002021-02-17T09:39:13.451+00:00WOYWW 611 - the one without Her<p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Good morning, lovely deskers.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I join in with <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">WOYWW </a>today, I write with blurred vision and tears rolling down my cheeks. I made the fatal mistake this morning of reading Julia's blog from Monday about Shaz, and it set me off again. Sorry Shaz, I know you're thinking "idiot woman, it's all good...", but your departure has unexpectedly blindsided me, as it has many others, I do believe - no matter how much many of us were prepared for this to eventually happen. The lovely Donna (Doone) and I were comforting one another at stupid o'clock this morning as we both happened to be online, on Facebook, at the same time and managed to set each other off. For newer WOYWWers who are not on FB, Donna used to take part in WOYWW before she moved to France a few years ago, and was part of the Crop Brigade up until that point, so knew Doug n'Shaz through Julia too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll get to my desk in a moment, but first I'll do as Julia asked and share my Shaz story. It's short, but no less poignant. You see, Mr B and me, we're Metallers. Rockers. A lil' bit goth and a whole lot pagan. And we craft. So you can imagine our delight walking into that first crop and meeting Shaz and Doug for the first time. Our tribe! Wonder of wonders! A like minded soul and an instant friendship. I have wondered if she felt the same... David and Doug got chatting as well, and although Doug is not known for picking up needle and thread or double sided tape and card, I hope he found some company and acceptance from our lot. Cos Doug n' Shaz were..... Doug n' Shaz. An entire unit. Shaz also struck me as being the perfect balance between Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg... generous to a fault but I wouldn't have wanted to get on the wrong side of her. Assuming she had one, I never saw it if she did. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, I will stop my maudlin and lachrymose meanderings, pull up my big girl pants and get on with the show.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome back to my desk. Apologies for not getting round folks last week but, ya know...I will however endeavour to respond to comments from last week in here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First up - the desk. A little bit of activity. There's actually a finished card on there but I hope you'll forgive me not showing it until after the recipient has had it. It's not the card I really wanted to kick off my non-Christmas card making with, if you follow...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_47c6_8975_808_2c80" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/CapwkDBAmwX2v-805VuV49CzNoJuIL6I4q-lzsmZUR3_xsC80FlOImQLPHt5fQg" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stitching - well...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Siren's Lament has a teensy bit of work done on it...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_bfb0_d125_7d5f_6582" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_y00oJiY6Nn-GJql0ve7XOC-nj-8z5w-23M8JR2wUlYxdUyx40LnsYav2ErTIf0" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The PPSAL has moved on a bit as well, but the reason it's not further along is that I had to unpick the entirety of the border that you saw last week (plus the extra I did after that photo). I'd forgotten to include the outer framing line before starting the border - and without that it affected the knotwork placement. As it's supposed to be a direct pair to the turquoise one, I had to address that...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_f6bf_b06e_33b3_b766" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/iAcuzAOq35hbATgtOg3hPi6l97aLdyQFMoDq1R22djTOyLHyYNR0Qrb8zK1nU-c" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regarding the problematic two shades of purple thread I had, Lisa-Jane pondered whether or not I could have blended the two colours. Unfortunately not - this is all stitched with one strand of thread, and although even the single strands of thread are ultimately two ply, I love my sanity more than I love saving money.... </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Especially for Felicia, who was disappointed last week not to see Mr Moose, I made sure I worked on him for you this week and here he is....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_bf10_2347_9338_ca6b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IpkwCGx5AG6An135u-VzPH2u-YucrnWjaSPCtL6UFGN9hyP1iY7EFBlHXsbxVzE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">He has eyes now!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eagle-eyed Spyder spotted a "horse and stable" in my desk photo last week. I think I may have shared photos a long time ago but they bear a second outing here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My father - who passed away in 2007 - was a toolmaker and mechanical engineer by trade, and a model engineer by hobby. I know for a fact that had he been alive when "book nooks" became a thing, he'd have been all over them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He made so many things, and one of those was this little diorama, which I nabbed a couple of years back when Mum moved house and we had to re-home the myriad of trains, buses, cars, dioramas, paint, figures - you name it (and now I know where I get it from). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, th</span><span style="font-family: arial;">e stable is not in fact a stable, but a farrier's cot/blacksmiths. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_f95b_b012_ce23_9d2d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/yD2nDqI2ibBkytPyDdg9on_r8i422SRbowGI9R8sjMKAIou5n-kUb6X7nsmam3w" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The lid lifts off, and inside is a whole other world. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="224" id="id_5be4_9cb7_76d8_8e04" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/DfO8ghCzBmT9ZpsmMB5kto2hUecahcLABuRY1ewMdYXKpxuAR7RwfoUNFdbOg9o=w299-h224" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" width="299" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From the other side:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_2dad_aa5f_e5f3_3896" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eun8yvw5r3VtQRpi0nN2zOLG2arkZyvPWRS6RrzLFfbx0Ow3b_BNl_ADeaycOSM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tools and all sorts!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_65d0_12c3_ef2_864e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4xHrwMRSgTtbHWLBPbCZIlWAzdbCPSsNZIKADfpTS80XBbfm1UWqmqOaLG369bg" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I love that there is a rusted out bucket just outside by the tap.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_f85e_5f31_aadf_ac9c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tk-fMsTNge8eSilU8QRj4paXRcjkZPzMsJ8YVt7rG1Z4FZBliLfrlSZ0wtddYdE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And the other side...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_7dac_972c_c26d_95ab" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qy34IhunvPEM_krg_5Vi8QojRr1XP-AuHUAJWZuN2z9oSFKdLWs9SgUl6t4-mac" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It needs a little TLC where the glue has dried out and failed, as do a couple of other items of his that I have, and this is why it’s tucked on the shelf above my desk. When I’ve made the repairs it’s going in my curio cabinet in the dining room. I shall try to repair them over the coming weeks and share them here. Dad's most notable achievement was the dolls house he made for my mother in 1997. I'll save that story for another day, but suffice to say here that she needed a whole room for it... I also have a pair of dolls houses - one of them was the last thing he worked on before he died and Mum had to finish it off. Again, I'll save those for another time.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, enough waffle/ramble - I shall love you and leave you, and salute to the fallen....</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-np2pDRMbUaQ/YCzcW1AxlFI/AAAAAAAAGxg/P9mlMypv1gMJW_a3CiyDfnh9qEg2X8auACLcBGAsYHQ/7313935-heavy-metal-rock-and-roll-devil-horns-hand-sign-with-a-black-leather-studded-bracelet-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1300" height="135" id="id_5610_78c6_38cc_6f44" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-np2pDRMbUaQ/YCzcW1AxlFI/AAAAAAAAGxg/P9mlMypv1gMJW_a3CiyDfnh9qEg2X8auACLcBGAsYHQ/w135-h135/7313935-heavy-metal-rock-and-roll-devil-horns-hand-sign-with-a-black-leather-studded-bracelet-.jpg" style="height: auto; width: 135px;" width="135" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Hopping!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-75982511412338830112021-02-10T08:58:00.001+00:002021-02-10T09:18:06.047+00:00WOYWW 610 - simply not feeling it...<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Today's blog is a tough one. It's hard to write of fun stuff, and all the achievements you've made that week when a friend is in hospital, effectively fighting for her life. But, Shaz is an indomitable spirit, and I'm sure if she were able to she'd give me one of her looks and tell me I'm being daft so....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! The usual weekly round of blog hops where we bare all to the world and show everyone what's going on with our desks. All the usual information is <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, over at Julia's place.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I actually moved stuff on mine. Well, just about. So here's a photo - I'll let you all play spot the difference! Hah!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_ff3d_d408_7238_7ef0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/H_WebvcXQRfr3SVLbhdsG8VIfICG-l45baj0mYschKrAHTVhtQXgE7U4qLY_Hcg" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As per usual, all the activity is on the stitching front. No Mr Moose this week, he got some R&R on the back of the sofa. However, we do have a finish in Dracula, who has been completed and fully finished off (FFO'd) with a bead hanger and felt on the back (not that you can see the felt).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_925e_5713_4589_95c7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wVxlUsoTmGMYniCXwC_C48SEFZhwCCBVZ8dCx4t8bBZBhkmUlSTZQ5O-SifUYUA" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Siren's Lament is progressing nicely. Slowly, but nicely. The section I'm working on at the moment is confetti hell, but we're getting through it. After this there'll be quite a bit of solid colour work, including plain black, so that'll be quick to do ( I hope!). 5,385 stitches done so far, 2.6% of the total.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_4_c805_e693_3abd" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mMXgdHSk87VBMdOVJcY6Ywz1s9YEPRYKMmUIMLEVrbivCIen9kaMAKovzpODwhs" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We also have a new start, LOL. I finally got the Peppermint Purple 2021 stitchalong (SAL) under way - yay! I'm about 6 weeks behind, but I'll catch up eventually! Figured that as I know what the border will be (as this piece is to match last year's), I'd get it started while I wait for the filler threads to turn up. Therein hangs a tale. I had a skein of 3837 (mid purple). I know I'll need two for this, so I ordered one. Turns up, totally different shade, although if I showed you a photo you wouldn't see it but one is definitely more blue purple than the other. I should have known better, veteran stitcher that I am, and order two at the time because the dye lots would be different. Doh. So I've now had to order two more skeins in the hope that they will both match each other, cos it'll be just my luck to order one, and it not match either of the two I already have! LOL. I'm sure I'll use what I already have, eventually.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e7e4_a35b_e989_b901" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ywNf1z7FCKrSaYoyk-e1RcDtCVpSKmQamXPEwHRDvAOg-Xkm_LfqU3lDjEVg61g" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And that's it for this week. Short and sweet. It snowed here yesterday, briefly, even settled for a time. But now all that's left is tiny pockets in corners. Hardly worth the effort, I say. And it's cold - bitterly cold. So I'm staying in (aren't we all) and keeping the heating on.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Hopping, folks.</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-10857915697678415672021-02-03T00:00:00.001+00:002021-02-03T00:00:12.016+00:00WOYWW 609 - February just slidin' in...<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy WOYWW day, fellow bloghoppers! All the usual deets are over <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/?m=1">here</a> at the fabulous Mrs Dunnit's blog, if you have no idea what I'm talking about. Not sure any random humans stop by any more, but heigh ho!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, the desk this week looks much the same as last week. I've not touched it at all. So much so, I’ll just insert last week’s photo! LOL</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_c697_1e8b_54ed_a141" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/m8jXQYw2S0igYQSiuPZOfUIXm8AoRmXqVcW19pO5r20ni18AF7QeO2EDwTk6eCs" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But, that's cos we're still on stitchy duty with Siren's Lament :</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_bbd0_b82f_e4c7_8481" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Wfdfb0IbjLtP-ThLHewXv3WglkmK6nkd2_0CQXELmfEkXTn4U4Dloge3NHGvbnQ" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And oh, woe was me on Monday night! It had all been going along swimmingly, and then.... this....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_32a0_3a3_4b2b_e78d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6qH3uDsYvXhsGd7VkC3OhJXU7o5EYiQWZU0saot7LHzpFBRsSNQ-soNkoNK2TF8" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two near identical symbols (asterisk and sun) which despite a good light and a pair of magnifying readers, I got muddled up with. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So I frogged some stitches - fortunately not many - and tried again, and made the same mistake but in a slightly different place and fewer stitches this time. Definitely said "fudge it" a few times - and decided I actually would and no-one would notice if three stitches were steel grey instead of grey-green.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After that I dusted off my tablet, and loaded the charts into Pattern Keeper - a mysterious but genius app that allows you to zoom in, and pan, and highlight and mark off and KEEPS COUNT FOR YOU. Oh happy day! Wonder of wonders... It's been sat on my tablet for a good year, and I've been a bit "pish! old school! not cross stitch if you don't mark off in pencil on a paper chart!" since getting it and hadn't tried it. Tonight I spent a few minutes marking off the 4,265 stitches (go me) already completed (didn't take as long as I feared it would), and tomorrow I'm ready to embark into 21st century stitching. What an idiot not to have done it sooner!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_1d32_688a_a8d4_dbcc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jka5bXcqLlTbk-BBDiZ13QvTR5Dif_gTkN4Ip6P_abfoKsmAd2WVwGpAFXyYwns" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas Moose is looking a little pathetic by comparison - but he has received some love this week:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_8efc_e55b_6214_822b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_QV4ojo9MK5ciQiDafcgpd2CbSJXa5p7EFUmeU34EU_WOz0LyMDCM7BIQp6RfEQ" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As has Dracula. Nearly done!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_a992_e26c_f815_a9e1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HFked1KR_VNk6plL4C9qKLALoe_1O6ZdTGYB-b5EIj85XC0_P7jMYqXknlcqXJM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm joining in with some other stitchers on March Mayhem, where we pick something a bit crazy to do during March. Some are only working on WIPS, some are playing WIPGO (like bingo, but with works in progress), others are starting a new project every day. Me, I'm going to work on my Mill Hill Kit Mountain - I have 16 small ornament kits and they keep multiplying, so I'm determined to bring that number down. More on that come March!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the meantime - keep well, keep smiling, do your very best to keep sane, and.....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy Hopping!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-46599655792883772032021-01-27T08:44:00.002+00:002021-01-27T09:16:11.290+00:00WOYWW 608 - and January comes to a close...<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Good morning my fellow lovely WOYWWers! Welcome back to the Mad Ramblings blog, and to another Wednesday's post. For all the details head over to The Stamping Ground </span><a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2021/01/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-606.html" style="background-color: white; color: #8766dd; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"> where our lovely Julia will have all the deets....</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">So! This week, progress on many fronts.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">If you remember from a couple of weeks back, I mentioned Rudolph Day. Well, that was two days ago and...ta-dah! Two Christmas cards.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e32e_bdde_fa46_30ec" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X-hlX1U6tWfOSvdKC5gKEEB9nCq00G7pJoLVQg4soe4BS7LiMy2Fw2l9-10rMNE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Second one is a more modern style...</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_ccfa_919_9822_e070" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ybn6V0WmVbrt7-zr2CtBlHsHJ2Bg9OLvEwzaefVugnTD-ettfhyfYJhC83mmJko" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Might not seem like much, but it's kind of a big deal here. Now to keep it going.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">So, the desk itself is showing signs of a creativity aftermath - or craftermath as I've seen it referred to elsewhere. LOL</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_313c_fda8_5009_fb82" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5sgx8f1wqkvk2KbgsbSe8-gx5IoWhNwcfR66pkWnsnRjV8qPPsGlohwVMbSJ5y4" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Stitching wise, we have a lot of progress. The spoon has gone home to the memorial maker. Finished off the rose, added a few twisty vines and some freehand embroidery to look like handwriting at the bottom.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_84df_11b3_c475_59bd" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rq6VgafySCchdqD2jgiq0y3nxMmwOwuy3xQDWGG4tOgV8n3mrItTKyQkOfFCq2U" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">(</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If you're really interested, I have a Flosstube <a href="https://youtu.be/E7J2_d2nONM">here</a> where you can watch me being an idiot on YouTube)</span><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Christmas Moose has moved on a little....</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_c782_79d3_729f_9de1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nTuJVX2p7HhJOIrG3yfLVzVqg73QtvLb-cKGB5cMnp24k5cLq2riQ_CTsG5hRCU" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">And we have started a Mill Hill charmed ornament, Dracula. Hehehehehe.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_6ef5_5fca_6068_d7d8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/c8gJ9MDYlSPu-L43MFAlFGZO_3wmle0xMS9VzEd4y1twqilSGTkUOPegX-t5RA8" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">The big movement is on the HAED (Heaven and Earth Designs) project, Siren's Lament.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_d281_40b6_895e_af18" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lZwW9bXVTqChsRmTw2p3Pr2rrZIHuRhBUH8rVkVgDrklOyuRkxzpy3CaC7fTBFc" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">I <i>really</i> disliked how untidy it looked, doing full cross stitches on such tiny fabric. So, I swapped out to doing just tent stitch (half crosses) and am much happier with the result. And as you can see, major progress. I should get it completed in double time as well!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">So the next couple of weeks will be about getting down to stitching and other creativity, see if I can't shift some of the lurking projects that are around.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Oh - and Morti Jr sent me a photo of her in her jumper, for me to share with you ladies...</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_c64e_d48_dd7_4a65" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2puZDAHBoDmmaqqu96lwpc4u_CCMM3gSpXch0TvjNHeyjOvm_01lnSsYDFsJLGM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Happy Hopping!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-11883447912773455952021-01-13T09:03:00.000+00:002021-01-13T09:10:07.806+00:00WOYWW 606 - another Wednesday<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good morning my fellow lovely WOYWWers! Welcome back to my blog and to another Wednesday's post. For all the details head over to The Stamping Ground <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2021/01/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-606.html" target="_blank">here</a> where our lovely Julia will tell all....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, first things first, a correction from last week. As per Julia's comment, the movie canvas was indeed made up of the average colour from each <i>scene, </i>not each movie. That was me being an idiot with a typo. I've corrected the post now but thanks for pointing it out, Julia - much appreciated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore, without further ado, the movie was....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Drumroll please.....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">BLADERUNNER</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There weren't many guesses but Caro suggested Star Wars which was probably closest!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, Mr Morti's favourite film is Bladerunner. I'm not sure if he's amused or irked by the fact that it's the film most likely to send me to sleep watching it. I've assured him that it's not because the film is boring, but Vangelis' music is so soothing... zzzzz</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A fairly quick post from me this week as there's not actually much to share, same as last week - a little bit of movement on the stitching front and nothing else.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The desk is not looking any different - the cards have been split front from back, and the back recycled. I've cut a couple of bits out, but am thinking about breaking out the die cutter and using proper shapes.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_8b6c_2bbe_4fba_501a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/dj1p1vyCmqKCvgeL0VAk36WHcJPi4MRisZqSu2jsL6e92biWPlO72fNJITwwsyE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The HAED has had a further 100 stitches added. I've worked out that if I managed 100 stitches every evening - and I mean EVERY evening - it will take me 5.5 years to complete. Oh dear. A 10-year project it is, then. :(</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_b404_c15_8aaf_fb1d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5ikMGbBVKTHUTjhhPZucMD586xPNFtEbPXxHmTyMak9y4_gxjfrGcLoJPQkf0rA" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The moose has also moved on with a further 200 stitches...</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_c4db_cc78_ed2a_fa56" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ir9I8zEwQaQOWkqY_n2SH2l4awtNw61lkU4ip-RSXsvpR2IFmVM87q2-eadszNk" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The numbers, by the way, are to do with Myth & Magic Stitch Wars, where we count our stitches and "buy" ingredients to make spells and attacks.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The most movement has been on the "wooden spoon". I've started stitching bullion knots in the centre to make a rose but I'm not happy with the placement of the first two leaves, so may have to change it.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_eaf5_ee66_61d1_ba65" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ebObZ6bxR6ou9g6dGv0mnYbw7D4Qh9egJkLn-0jLQyE8MPuXFSXd1wIX3hcbFFw" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">and that is that, for this week. Back to normality, such as it is!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Keep well and happy hopping!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-34636771961838548242021-01-06T08:31:00.005+00:002021-01-13T08:39:24.736+00:00WOYWW 605 - Twelfth Night<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good morning and welcome back to the blog, and another week of WOYWW. All the details can be found on the glamorous Ms Dunnit's blog <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2021/01/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-605.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Do go and check it out if you're new here, and join in if you can!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This week has been a quiet one. The decorations came down on Sunday, and whilst the house looks bare, we seem to have much more room again! LOL.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_6a6e_c032_1fb8_b22c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uQrbWCdPfiFafg2K7yIJ5iAXV0tQbJqkRvIVq0j4BVJeX-GRhAC-xhLVLcmkxRs" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;">For Christmas I bought Mr Morti a canvas from Frome - these are made using a piece of software that plays the film and takes the average colour from each movie (correction, scene), and puts a line of colour on a canvas to make a picture. Can you guess which film this is?</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_7ddc_bc74_66f_b5d3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/f_L2nIIIDysTNfo3xNwH9Hwbnz6-H-UaVo6nZpV7lCpzR-10cb4BpAHiB-hriJo" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;">In return, Mr Morti bought me an all singing, all dancing record player. He has some notion that he can connect it to our old cinema surround sound system, so has bought an amp and we'll see how that goes!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_343f_e7d4_cc61_4c1c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IgG4h4l5iT8SVpwhcNVk9CvZ5EfIXsdn8ZGa6x0K7snDatyjgapz2NpHJYaT4Eo" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The saga of our dodgy builders continues. We had discovered that our new guttering was leaking, and we needed to fix it ASAP so prevent a repeat of the problem in the bedroom, where years of water pouring down the wall had destroyed the plaster indoors. So, outside, he climbed up the ladder and took a look at the offending join. He discovered that not only had they cut the guttering an inch too short, the seal at that joint was missing. A quick trip to B&Q and £2 later, a new joining piece was purchased to enable the seal to be taken out and put into the section. The picture below also shows how wonky they put up the downspout!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_27ca_684a_90fc_4c00" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QDrHtduYz15QoO77DJ7dRgOefd-voWk3q3rHU4Vff-iwmbyH1VrPQZYVwTucN3c" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The desk has seen no action other than to have all the Christmas cards we received dumped on it. The bog standard printed ones will be turned into gift tags for next year, the handmade ones put into a box to be stroked at a later date, or used for inspiration, and the personal family ones kept. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_f626_95f4_f049_aa95" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/I2vBODoUSt68vX_1bmA9fuk35ZGG7CDQU2SfRpz53qUj56hMYOmqQStm4uzHOzM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I always keep the ones we've sent each other, out of sentimentality. Also, with my memorial jewellery making I am all too aware of one day it being the last card we receive from certain people, and having an example of their handwriting may come in useful. The necklaces I showcased on last week's blog are a case in point - the Nannie in question went from fit and relatively healthy on a Monday, to no longer with the family by the Friday of the same week, one of the earliest Coronavirus victims. Not only could the family not see her, nor visit, nor be with her when she passed, they were unable to obtain a fingerprint impression which meant I had to be sent her handwriting from greetings cards in order to make the pendants. Having known the lady since I was 11, it hit home rather hard, and I must confess to them being some of the emotionally hardest pieces I've had to make.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, onto lighter news.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 2020 SAL was finally finished! Here it is in all its glory...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e4ff_2d0d_364a_e6d4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pDMUX9FzuorwRguBfXab7R8nJAiyopooZ-Q3BHBdvDWAz1a6c15SdCKVHdo6pNE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The fabric for the 2021 SAL finally showed up yesterday, and it's rather stiff and unyielding so will need a wash and press before it goes on the frame.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_5dd8_86af_6553_e6cc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lcy9M_30M_PSPUT9NHxWWEX667qW4Jq3Tal1zZV13ARVe4Kg_mMOGFdFU3taPCM" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The moose hasn't moved on at all, but with good reason. I have at long last framed up the fabric for my giant Heaven & Earth Design (HAED from now on), Siren's Lament by Anne Stokes. This piece is being worked on 25 count (the number of holes per inch) evenweave fabric, and the grey gridwork on it identifies it as what is called "easy count". (Finger in picture for scale!) </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_9e83_44f2_3c8a_336b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Y5Qk1n8uMPsGvsKj2hbMzQLIDSwOKD6QT1pPVwhWCR0dTKxFgFHX3lLdwvesVgA" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>I'm working full crosses in two strands over one thread (we'd say 2 x 1) - so that will be 24 stitches per inch, or about 9 per cm. I have made a start on the stitching for it, and at the moment I'm not overly happy with the way it's coming out as the stitching is looking a little bumpy and uneven.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" id="id_4f1d_da07_1274_1cc5" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lxJCPf59MsHBFK5nWrBAy_cCI76y4l3w9tZICzt34ZMBn29c4nf83zZxBL9_nzI" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, I've taken some advice from my fellow Vampire clan members and they've said that I need to increase my tension and it will sort itself out. So, I'm sticking with it. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes me to do as this is two evening's work - although I hasten to add that I don't work on it for more than a couple of hours at a time, I'd go blind! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've also decided what I'm going to do with my Medicine Spoon Memorial piece, but I really need to get onto that!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_b1bd_5744_d1b5_e57e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yInXnrlOdvlMpHGaGKkN0M1ghHIWQAHhaHb8XnWgfLXNjKrstN64fwK6DneiBro" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That's it for the moment. I'm also trying to figure out my YouTube channel. We Geminis are mercurial butterflies who like to try all sorts of things, and have so many interests, and my channel kind of reflects that. It's (going to be) a mixture of home renovation, hobbies, travel and being a Goth, which I know isn't a recipe for success (you should really do a consistent single thing) but it's me all over....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of YouTube channels, if you fancy a bit of escapism I can really recommend watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/nikinpos" target="_blank">NickiPositano</a> - her vlogs are about life as an expat living in Positano and are actually really rather good. A gentle, simple life with amazing scenery and some fabulous characters. She's been vlogging for the last 10 years, but has really ramped up her vlogs and posting over the last year and is now looking incredibly professional. I can see big things in this lady's future - she'd make an excellent travel TV presenter.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So on with the hop! I'm terrible at getting round to everyone but I will endeavour to make more of an effort in the future.... so much to do, so little time.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy hopping!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-31679218268836059302020-12-30T11:25:00.008+00:002020-12-30T11:45:05.811+00:00WOYWW 604 - Betwixtmas again...<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good morning, Lovely WOYWWers! Welcome to the W</span><span style="font-family: arial;">ednesday blog hop, hosted by our equally lovely Julia. You can find all the deets and other desks <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2020/12/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-604.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Do join in if you haven't done so previously!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This week my desk is dull, much like the weather down here in Cornwall. Nothing to report as being "in action" on it so to speak.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_6bf3_6d29_f7d3_740" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/idhBpb5ILRXljCnodXnYBjR95orm7XKbcDEwo__YWaNiKek_TKTASVsiQGGajx0" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This year I will be re-instigating "Rudolph Day". I'm painfully aware that some folks didn't get a card from me at all (hangs head in shame) let alone a handmade one (hangs whole of body in shame) and this is partly due to the year we had and the state the office/craftroom has been in. Equally of importance is the complete lack of inspo and simply being out of practice! I did manage to make a whole four cards for my Vampires (my Myth & Magic Stitch Wars team mates) and I think most of them have arrived by now but as two were going to the States, and they are having terrible postal trouble out there, I've a feeling at least one is still in transit.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_38d8_e956_9794_af09" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5TFQ1Yr4Ixmu08iz8A0th9dyQreRgrVhydLlG_l3qmY3OnYx-kDk3CjGu-3potA" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I did two different designs...</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" id="id_9d5_46cf_278d_925e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gJmxCCHYK-xzMlRfDryRD76iGbWplXs0RRd-myB8Z_wwQvv7o2PL96Fc5ZYruHo" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sorry, I digress. Rudolph Day. What this basically means, for those that haven't heard of it before, is that on the 25th of each month in 2021 (December excluded) I will sit and make a handful of Christmas cards, ready for Xmas 2021. I know. Terribly organised of me! I do however feel that it's the <u>only</u> way to be organised enough as I can get far too easily sidetracked. My patronus is a Sloth, you know.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've even started a Christmas journal - not for diary keeping but to keep a record of to whom I've sent cards, who I've received from, what presents I bought for people. Oh, and what we ate. That way, next year I've got a record to look back on and to help ensure I don't double up on gifts. And that at the very least, everyone who sent us a card gets one back. Especially if they didn't get a card this year! oops. I know that's not necessarily the spirit of the whole thing - no-one expects a card in return for sending one, and I certainly don't, but that's just how I roll.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was going to say that I didn't receive a single item of craft related goodness this year, but I've just realised that is a lie. Kat, one of my Vampires, sent a skein of Caron Wildflowers thread as a little gift. It's rather poignant though - it came from her Grandmother's stash which Kat inherited, and she's said that she'll never use it all and thinks her Grandmother would approve of it being passed to another stitcher. I've decided I'm going to make some simple blackwork Christmas ornaments with it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_3bdb_ae30_713a_89aa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_8pZ2JildGnYkYVyzEsptx_K4rO_bgCBRu7hnHNxj5QV3X-IHv8BKRoHCL3Nk6g" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of blackwork - the 2020 sampler is almost done. I'm just finishing off the border which is now more than half complete, and then it can be washed and framed. Peppermint Purple are doing a companion SAL for 2021 and I ummed and ahhed over whether or not to do it but have been duly enabled by Mr Morti to join in. I'm just waiting for my fabric to arrive, and can then start it. I'm going with purple thread for 2021. There's a surprise.... hehehehe.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_fd33_8b7e_8b4f_e809" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/H_vG9cVrCNle6hcFbdsPNtEI81hvIV6XVXLCu1bGAsDR-naEiQqKDhrx90Jo1P4" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The Barn Owl was finally framed....</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_28c0_f6e9_256a_9c17" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Vdlpu1jyCLuCvkYhsUjd1EtE0dJbnchcjJxbpVOzs2S3tJWRawQYNTzJOmaUnpk" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">.... but I was unable to deliver as anticipated on the 20th December. Essex was one of the areas that was placed into Tier 4 on that day, and our Round Robin trip to Essex and other areas in the south east for drop offs and pickups had to be very much truncated to just Exeter and Bournemouth for dropping off presents. It did mean that we didn't have to leave until about 9:30am, instead for 5am, and we were home by 10pm rather than 2am! Rather civilised. However, we still need to do the run as aside from the Barn Owl, I completed the silver memorial jewellery and that also needs dropping off, and we have a large oak overmantle to collect and pickled onions to deliver. Santa ain't done yet...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The jewellery I made.....</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_e76e_7cb5_82c1_dc59" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/64as5qZ1bptiVnZK3t2l6ZqWVe66hkbZWNn9ZGTjpS7saKi1xHo0pIdTjAe7NAk" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: arial;">There were 5 in total - the other four said "Nannie", and each had the deceased's birthstone alongside the recipient's birthstone, as a Swarovski crystal.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" id="id_44ce_7713_a9a7_6a2c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TzPHoD5m2S4noJgTjWngCFUWWEhixYGW7Mv0seFqzFChRS2Crq4wSdLpItqPZ_Q" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Morti Jr also got an Arctic fox charm, handmade by yours truly...</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_8a8a_98a5_547c_fcab" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/uhWPwUPWrRdsVT_rmMcoV9aW2dcMMgdrpGSQZOToAXAjb20l4mKkAI4s9bsQ0Z0" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I did start another cross stitch in the run up to Christmas - A Christmas Moose, by Panna. Haven't got very far but I will continue working on him so he's framed and up next year. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_f9f2_6024_2d02_39e1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iy-8qaZUT0xrEG5rnBgFwZ7FF7Q1NZHMjcMpEZ9J9EzNoBog6MXCRXOMoZZNaUw" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />What it’ll look like when done...</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_4097_54ce_fe34_7e33" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uIb-Et2Z5MmrZRrh04nftFM77jMd7iI0WAgbDRcykY-oAWOcZ2uUE8ZROrXrzZk" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also finally finished Morti Jnr's jumper. It's taken me a good couple of years, but it's done. It's also waaaaay too big, but she has professed that she likes a big slouchy jumper. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_63d1_f656_f8c5_6b73" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/57kBUsn3ljA9u98ViUJN_ngc9HvL5gtOOYwaGpe-WBHsdVv9UgVG6WVeVMBOfmY" style="font-family: arial; height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think the wool I used was more stretchy than that in the original, and I've never much been one for a tension test. LOL. I have different wool to crochet one the same for me, but I think I'm going to wait awhile on that. Too many other projects on the go! However, I will be doing a tension square with that wool...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, that's that for now. I think this is plenty long enough without boring you on all the current plans for the next year. Watch this space for more crafting loveliness! Also, I wish you all a most excellent 2021, although the dreaded C***d isn't going away so please do all take care of yourselves...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy hopping!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-25303891337977995332020-12-02T09:14:00.005+00:002020-12-02T09:21:21.388+00:00WOYWW 600 - The Big Anniversary Edition<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></p></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Welcome back to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - the weekly blog hop hosted by our lovely Julia <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2020/12/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-600.html">here</a>.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"> Do go and have a look at the other busy desks and workstations being presented as part of the hop!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">And what a hop it is today! 600 editions. SIX HUNDRED. A quick review of my blogging history and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've only been present for 165 of those 600, scattered across time, with my first WOYWW post being made on 12 August 2010 - WOYWW #62! for those weeks I didn't join in, the WOYWW clan were never far from my thoughts though, I have to admit. Time between posts sometimes flew, and I never realised how much time had passed until I sat down to blog again.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">In that time I've remarried, and moved house 4 times too. Hopefully settled in my latest dwelling and looking forward to the next 600 WOYWWs (hehehehehe).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">So a huge congrats to the great Mrs D and her wonderful hop, which has inspired and encouraged me, and given me some friendships which will last a lifetime and cross countries and continents! Love you, lady.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">On with the hop...</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Today's desk is back to normal. A mess. Miss B has been staying for a few days as it's the only chance she'll have before Yule/the holidays to visit. Some much needed R&R for her and a chance to catch a beat before the Xmas rush at work. And get floof therapy. So 'stuff' from around the house has been deposited in what is deemed the only free space... huh.</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_cead_e223_7603_67c1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eQizy1SdYAByfNneON6eqhVfRwdyYSRLMw0fihDo-Hl_VVEUDnqFtcQwh1dUMf0" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" id="id_eda1_d04d_4fce_dbfd" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/I9AQ59MpLzCDqLRyM8w9aXRY_Ixd9GUlN_9zobGs4BxeAoY5l3uccjLdZBBwDGc" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">We also put the Christmas tree up, so that's another reason for my office/playroom becoming a dumping ground.</span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_44df_1cb7_731f_6fe" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5Bp_vBDj8Qawjxj1zfokjei-N2MDqr1-xgDKrq5KlgPVfSWaOwZtJ-sFcVS5ujI" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">The blackwork is nearly caught up - I'm only a couple of weeks behind (three as of this morning) and I'm about ready to start on the border as well. The Christmas Moose is also on the frame but not photographed.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_1f99_356_e6e_ec0d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WU2rUB4c1_-fUwYF-sjklZhAJYfyTO6A633XGQWxyt0uzVDOQTN5jo0EEHzKbSs" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On another frame is a spoon - this is from the Medicine Spoon Memorial - a planned art installation to memorialise the women persecuted and killed as part of the witch hunts. Do go and visit here for more info. I’m not yet decided on how I’m decorating my spoon but I’m sure it’ll involve needlework. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_d61b_2826_5dd7_ce6c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ccKo49pkC-kiIL3eeFsA4xI9DhpOIEOIvYU-uRsXAYXhWDdDxbcYexRv_aXgvmU" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">And that's it for the moment! Short but sweet. I'm working on some memorial jewellery for a friend - 5 pendants. Sadly my friend lost her mother very early on in the first wave of Coronavirus, like so many people, and she wants some handwriting jewellery for herself, her two daughters and her nieces. Must crack on with it and get them done before Christmas.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">I am determined to get round everybody today, and hopefully we'll see a few familiar faces pop up and join in from back in the day - a reunion of sorts. A virtual gathering is indeed planned - and when we can eventually meet up in person, t'will be a joyous occasion.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Happy WOYWW, Happy Hopping, and...</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">See you on the hop!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-86431551269481056112020-11-11T09:12:00.009+00:002020-11-11T09:23:26.093+00:00WOYWW 597 - Remembrance Day<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome back to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - the weekly blog hop hosted by our lovely Julia </span><a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2020/11/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-597.html" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Do go and have a look at the other busy desks and workstations being presented as part of the hop!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This week has been quiet on the crafting front, but busy on the tidying front.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mr B even got in on the act, working hard to clean up the shed after we discovered rats living in there. A moment's lack of judgment in placing a bag of unwanted dog food (it upsets the dogs' tummies too much) and the rats thought it was fiesta time.... oops. So now starts the hard slog to rid ourselves of the wee beasties. Not that we dislike rats, with Miss B having kept pet ones as a child, but the vermin variety as opposed to the domesticated variety are far more problematic and can cause some very nasty diseases. The trouble is, the in house rat catcher is not allowed out, with us living on a very busy main road. Sigh. Otherwise it would be problem solved. So down go the traps and bait and we wait.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_a00_9fde_121b_bfb0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/C3oijsXflCpUenEYShQYCS49clOaeDp0UvVZweNuYRWWkT6z8ZWxM9MGbms3rlE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Indoors, I dealt with the desk spaces that need a tidy up although looking around me now I can see a degree of slippage. Must remember to read books when I buy them, not six years later. And dispose of packaging! Tut!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_44e1_c343_a002_c0e7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SyGX64AlAAjP2ixL69AkMrQAfUIztXHUTAXq_AyFpWYRdzngeQSJPjTtsW4BW-w" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_45a8_7d47_f3d8_e17f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/l3juT0D6ANw92ddn1k0cJrK_9xCC6S_bDkS6rKN9GgxlWPN2E927bpxPDl9p14w" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On the desk are multiple projects awaiting completion. Including sourcing a new home for our pet rock, Iggy. His broke in transit and you can see his home in a bag on the desk.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_f592_71a5_8b4d_a634" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_tY2XVe8dxj_rmxBg4T81SFZvmW2ecT-naSt5jQYE4XHc7YMMDDxFHNn9mtP1A4" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_ae21_1d4f_aa98_7a25" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KTQD4l4Ek4NR6EzpyigOdhGrrzcWmEoFOJA3wg5dGYya8sD-zJaJsWsAqTGzwTw" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I stitched the edges of the two cross-stitches that are on the desk - they're just awaiting stretching and framing now. It's quite fiddly getting it right, to ensure that pictures are straight, especially when they have straight lines on, so I can't do more than one in a week or I end up thoroughly depressed and a bit slapdash by the time I get to the last one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The cactus has also progressed a little - back-stitching makes such a difference but it's quite tedious on this design as there's lots of jumping about for odd stitches. I don't mind it as a general rule but I did so much stitching the last couple of months, I'm enjoying taking a break. Back to it this week though, as those other projects won't get done otherwise!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_b534_df86_7ed6_30c3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/BwG10-_F8QmWzlncDKCQAHfYH8DLbTEdooauGWruyvOWndZFOwZXbY11P_tKywE" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Enjoy the hop - I hope to get round to as many of you as I can today...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Toodlepip!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-29455401263872025822020-11-04T08:04:00.000+00:002020-11-04T08:05:00.146+00:00WOYWW 596 - Calm Before The Storm<div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Hello again and welcome back to my desk for WOYWW - What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Hosted as ever by the lovely Julia. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Not much to see or report this week. The whole room is a bit of a mess - in the corner you can see my actual “office” area. I’m waiting for Miss B to move out properly, that is, finish Uni and decide if she’s staying in Exeter, or if she needs to come home for a bit first.</font><span style="font-family: Arial;"> The plan is to move the office into her bedroom, move the desks around a bit, and put a sofa bed in so that I can stitch upstairs, or we can have guests.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> This year has been really tough for Uni students, and the part of her Drama course she loves most (practicals) is on hold, thanks to Covid-19, which is making her feel very down. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">On the right you can see a sheet hanging up. This is my dreadful attempt to screen the Kallax unit when I have to do a Zoom call for work. Teams is good because I can change the background but because work won’t pay for a pro subscription to Zoom, I can’t change the background or blur it and it’s just too busy and interesting. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><font face="Arial"><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_aa67_f81_d2b8_6ddf" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/SWkAm9-DjULt17UMxYK0haH7weUs8qzI4GY_jgyOV7ao-ndvmxRBh74KNmkauyA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"></div></font><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br></font></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;">The other side of the room is just as bad, but improving. I’ve bought a tripod and ring light because the plan (er-herm) is to start doing Flosstube videos. I’ve also started working on a video showing the Barn Owl progress from start to finish. I’ll post a link when it’s uploaded. The poor Halloween wall hanging is still waiting for attention!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><font face="Arial"><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_ccc4_749b_e9c8_d76" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IzSf47TryGb88jzobPP_Rgy0i7Q_RDHbhtjrBYBXaSDiXpsPpBqZstEJXSlmdU4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’ve also had a trolley from IKEA waiting for me to decide what goes in it, and a moment of inspiration prompted me to make it my sewing trolley. When not in use the machine has sat on the floor, occasionally getting kicked. Oops... this means that the desk it’s usually sat on can be alternated for other purposes - scrapbooking, laptop work... now to clear the rest of the mess on it and put the theory to test. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_4b0a_af59_6fa9_fc79" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_iDEdJkmRSTkCu54VGTtpbiFYGKLKbdlsEv7qbm4nXsuhTdhvZXr8QS79oLUi38" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And lastly the cactus picture. A little bit of progress from last week - I’ve not worked on it since last Friday - but with lockdown starting tomorrow, the wedding it was intended for has been postponed and it won’t be finished now until the week before the new wedding date - once the bride and groom have picked it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The original chart called for satin stitch in the ring, but I didn’t like how it looked (messy!), so picked two of the colours they used and cross-stitched it instead. Much neater!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_f41f_b05e_8ec4_7c5a" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vbgQA4snvlvAUjSLcy2iXPHInSccHBlbGpvYKU3lNHWmuX0trgVTxEr7hT4RIkM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So that’s it for this week. Posting this has given me a push to pick the stitching back up and get it as finished as possible, before putting it away, and then to work on the next thing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Adios - catch you on the blog-hop!</div></font><br></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-4334112479916800272020-10-28T09:19:00.001+00:002020-10-28T09:27:21.084+00:00WOYWW 595 - the Spooktober edition<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eh-up!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Or should that be "BOO!"?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to another edition of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, the linky and loads of other desks can be found</span> <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2020/10/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-595.html" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">here</a>, <span style="font-family: arial;">courtesy of the rather lovely Mrs Dunnit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't have a very interesting reason for having skipped a few weeks. Seems I'm usually quite forgetful and then by the time I remember it's Thursday and it kind of negates the whole point. However, today I have managed to get here relatively on time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The desk itself looks little different. I'm gradually compiling components for a Halloween bell jar project. Might need to get a shift on with that, as Halloween itself is only a couple of days away!</span></p><p><img id="id_796d_ebe_6b28_2025" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mcQ1glEIUKA6cr_bF2nLI5PWa_Ph1loqwa6QXuTzGxxvo7r9s0wmSOM2Xrxx-Wk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The world at present mostly revolves around needlework - the joy of joining an online gaming....thing.... that vaguely resembles a book you used to roll dice to read. Adventure books. Except not much adventuring goes on - you join a clan, you all stitch, and create enough stitches to buy ingredients to build spells which you then throw at another clan until only one remains.... In it's most base form it sounds dull, but it certainly drives you to get big projects done and dusted! I'm not the fasted of stitchers, but have managed to complete a couple of projects, as you well know.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The barn owl is finally complete, washed and awaiting framing...</span></p><p><img id="id_16d7_f2da_c522_d281" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jWnmksqN22kwYuUX2CI-69PAxPyfyellYr11XuuC8k0QWFZr5sCM3Quc-_K3aWw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Peppermint Purple SAL is almost complete, we're in the final quarter of the year and although I'm a little behind (fnar fnar) by a couple of weeks, it won't take long to catch up!</span></p><p><img id="id_b59b_9c67_6c13_a9d8" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jjhsPaEkBPdZYegEtR4IKlahBQIQBUkFl9qPh-ZONazUGNCwaqN3za9lsFcJtEM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been working on another project which I won't say too much about as I'm not sure the recipient ever lands on my blog, if she even knows it exists but suffice to say I'm working on this baby and it's close to done. Just got to finish off the ring and add the back-stitch.</span></p><p><img id="id_b6df_8d3f_7ed7_c444" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NNQZLNb14CbGbUz-y3aOnDp_e0EQJrXVnPrmbrQ_S0_8gYGFIQgJ4_YHyXlDSsk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I also managed to make a couple more masks for me...</span></p><p><img id="id_3169_4946_4507_9c84" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WJ40TG0SsUuBjVHcsyzJN2JJh_iP8OgW5JKWvwjv5SyiAHf_4mMLf7t0k7uLDvY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_30ac_b058_45e1_7611" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tOEhDv8u7ODVt2cM8DhfiNXVMxWx6U-nbAZbPB_MIQJ3PCb8OHJYllIPXgkfN2w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Next up to be worked on is this Halloween Hanging - I bought it at the Harrogate Knit & Stitch show back in 2017, and it's been lurking in my pile of "I'll get round to it someday" projects. It’s a printed panel that you machine quilt and I’m looking forward to whipping it up. Somewhere I have all the bits for a Lily Bo quilt I promised. It will still get done and sent... </span></p><p><img id="id_14d8_f1f2_c038_ae6a" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nJsdL2iz-OC2cQXBp2fhpVCOtaKD-RJEXI9mZSieYN1ntHE_ojDl0rFlyOc-soc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once that's done, it'll be a few other stitching projects, as well as finishing off a half done jumper for Lil Miss B. Back and front are done, need to stitch/crochet them together, do the sleeves and neckline, and it'll be done. I have a couple of other knit/crochet projects to do after that one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh - the knee is a lot better, by the way. Going to have some doozy scars! It's Mr B's turn now though - he managed to badly scald his left foot on Saturday 17 October and has been off work since, but hopefully will be fit enough to return to work on Monday. Fingers crossed!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway - off to do some work now (bah, hiss, curses!), so happy hopping folks!</span></p>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-19997560494223048172020-09-17T07:52:00.001+01:002020-09-17T07:52:55.333+01:00WOYWW 589 - back again, a day late....<div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Well, hello!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">I bet you thought I’d done a full disappearing act again. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Somehow I’ve managed to make it on Thursday this week, instead of Wednesday! I had the full intention of posting yesterday, but somehow time got away from me. It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at Morti mansions. I’ve had visitors three weekends on the trot, and my mum bless her, 89 years old, stayed for the whole week. I will admit that she stayed at the Premier Inn over the road, because our house is a little challenging for an elderly lady who is not as mobile as she once was, especially with three animals hellbent on tripping her up! However, she spent the days with us and Mr B took her out a few days to keep her entertained. One of the days - Tuesday - we went to Trebah Gardens, near Falmouth. A beautiful historic garden being restored to its former glory. It’s set in a valley, or Chine, and has a beach at the bottom.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Unfortunately between her wheelchair, my husband, two dogs, and a hidden rock, I managed to have an argument with the gravel path and the path won! So for the last nine days I have been nursing a very poorly knee where I managed to take the skin off, in places full thickness. Needless to say, last week I didn’t feel much like posting to my blog.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_da5_dcb3_83a1_165" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fLQCzzySN8eMUU1kRud-PpU3l8lESx56RAVQylyOysLShk63IcvbVQ9OUUwR0gs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a26e_7eb2_34d7_142e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/c8J4IRb4JMaLeYDnFfxPgUVJkVLzbCdVEwCkmHZw8gpHcHZTQA7lINKeoG7mV7k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_160d_b34a_8cf2_49ad" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fzZB8qBIUIFLHpXDG1yfEotOttgW_FVjE6FGi4czy7F5aaGqc5ZZxDlWZpHBa5E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5b1f_10fc_a687_d006" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6tpuCx7f8D_3qvnBlgcH7XEi2IsGNm1n-SP8z9qBzGoewNNMwSkIfoJy2V1Xlzg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fcd1_3961_31e9_97dd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FDZ9U9kQua9KACqnIu-pRjaryrSLZzobTyzB42BOsikF1ziCinb20MfhZXSkVWk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">The photo of me and Mum together was taken at the beach and was after my accident, while hubby fetched ice creams and first-aid supplies. It was a lovely day, the whole week was lovely and we had good weather. It was good to see her - the last time we were together was just before Christmas. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">My sister and brother-in-law brought her down from Essex, and they also went on a tour around Cornwall during the week, to give themselves some respite from being mums personal assistance back home. We also visited Charlestown near Saint Austell which was lovely and a bit different.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_bcc0_e5b_c031_2b08" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bGm9j6yMtwEW8JpuWlkUPmbGUBlB5GcchOtPSUeeIkEkHrF3_bWf1LyMOxlq2fA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">You may recognise it from various TV programmes (Taboo, Dr Who, Poldark, Frontier) and films (Alice in Wonderland, Rebecca, Treasure Island). I’m sure there are more but can’t think of them! I heartily recommend a visit to the Shipwreck Museum. It was only £6 to get in but worth it for the myriad of treasures/salvage and history on display.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Unfortunately, Mum is not in the best of health, and wound up at the doctors on the Monday after getting home. They took her into hospital, for tests overnight, and found cardiac arrhythmia. She is being treated, and I have FaceTimed her in hospital with my sister assisting, and she’s looking a lot better than she was when she was with us. She should be home on Friday. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Onto other news! The whole point of this blog is in fact to join in with What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday, as hosted by the lovely Julia.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">The answer is not a lot! But you’ve come to expect that from me. The desk is piled high again, but the barn owl has moved on considerably and is very close to the finish.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_32dc_1c24_551a_c8ac" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/J76ScAQ6EqmeTlqq-6cJM35g6n2wnrI4Kx9U6hlhH2gFDRD7dbfqgt6zgDXgc8g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5a7c_e1f6_10b8_6391" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6e8S2z3pib_wYRDqvOwFlNL-sexVGfkJG6Bus4edyX6WObE7zvW8rXYkdZfPbrA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">So, next week, hopefully full service will resume and I may have something different to show you. Until then happy hopping!</font></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-5659051472221281072020-08-26T20:58:00.001+01:002020-08-26T20:58:51.082+01:00WOYWW 586 - missed a week!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Welcome again to WOYWW. Missed me? Just testing! Once again another hop through the blogs and crafting desks of the planet. Well a couple dozen at any rate. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I nearly missed this week too. The working weeks have been horrendous of late - very busy as you can imagine during the current pandemic and how it’s affecting businesses worldwide. It’s been a huge learning curve for those of us on the HR frontline, I can tell you! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So desk and creativity wise, what’s going on at Morti Mansions? A whole lot of the same nothing really!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The desk is tidy. Tidier. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_6939_ee89_1a2_e5f7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7-Ut_Ik7mh4Tpy8SIjnW68_Q_d5EGQCjWMk-kxxsembrYVxtQ8JgqLvE0X0VvlU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial;">The little Mill Hill kit I was working on is done...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_5c1e_6baa_99fb_7a7f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/g6ioSAPXcbCPKlOuYa4pXFHXpbOsUHL8Vwcdp0vanu4EITQx5xue5ZJ3Cfr5uWQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial;">I love Mill Hill ornament kits, they are quick little things to work on and true heirlooms to pass onto other family members. You can just catch a couple of others I’ve done this year, in the background. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The owl is progressing steadily...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_bb53_a33_e4f7_b6c1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gftqEX0VnZReSKGQS_rzOWflgMrG83WuV9jwa-uxxMgKiG2pY_3vAxzq4SxbJOc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial;">And that’s it for now! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We have three weekends of visitors coming up, so not much will get done in the house or garden for the next couple of weeks other than a whole l</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">otta cleaning. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Toodlepip!</span></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-76530659304380891662020-08-12T10:10:00.001+01:002020-08-12T14:46:56.580+01:00WOYWW 584 - there’s a fog blowing in<font face="Arial">Welcome to another edition of WOYWW! Hosted by the lovely Julia over at The Stamping Ground, if you’re a random visitor you can see more desks <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2020/08/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-584.html">here</a>. Can’t see much in Cornwall today - the whole North Coast is shrouded in very thick fog!</font><div><font face="Arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="Arial">After a week off, I do t really feel like I’ve had a holiday. It’s always that way when you have a stay-cation and spend your week on household stuff. We do have a couple of major developments, one of which is some new shelving in the craft-room-cum-office. </font></div><div><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_8b62_e145_fef3_ad24" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/teROvnr9gCxN3_RyPT2aZLr1mjowNjDkC1-BdcKf2gQdhkQbO1ir7-EUQq4ZT6E" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">They’ve made a huge difference - the room somehow seems bigger, but maybe that’s just because it’s tidier. Mostly....</font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_e6a6_a4d0_bcc3_6bc2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OWEYqkYKzqbiT0Ev-Hb3qUixPB45tckAsZXZkVydavWEOn4CTvsYk2HP8YAnU2A" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">Creativity-wise, I’ve now got three cross-stitch WIPs on the go!</font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">The barn owl...</font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_d609_ec14_65e1_54ea" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XvM5Hg2Z6Pgc4k996Up9OsNFiW2klfC6-eCCYbz0i3-5RoBIDk3q4_9VHQ11Vj8" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">The Peppermint Purple SAL</font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_41ce_9408_bc1a_9329" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/c711SMA92ei9TKlUK4o-mo0_3REPD8Ycvh2tXy2TW320Xi_jOxt_VHPv7l6pf_c" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">More boxes added and last week’s box done (new box chart released today). </font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">And I’ve started a Mill Hill beaded ornament kit...</font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><img alt="" id="id_6083_4fc8_40a1_e564" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_e8TQMecuVS0SV7Im8h11sT_-6gzyblwIC0g9nI5WQeYUyE_4umphNo3SJlofhk" style="height: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">Not much else doing at the moment but that’s plenty to be going on with. </font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">I do need to sort that desk out because I’ll have a load of memorial jewellery to start soon for one of my best friends who lost her mother early in the pandemic. I knew Marion myself, many a tuna and salad cream sandwich was I fed as a teen, and it is a sad loss. </font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">Right! Onwards and upwards - have a great day, all!</font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br /></font></span><br /></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-27627175101846444622020-08-05T12:05:00.001+01:002020-08-05T12:05:40.084+01:00WOYWW 583 - on Hollibobs!<div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Well, we were supposed to be away this week but thanks to a certain virus coupled with car troubles, we’ve ended up with a staycation. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">So this week’s WOYWW doesn’t come to you from anywhere exotic but is instead from dull, grey Cornwall. Not even any sunshine today - although two days ago it was glorious! Typical!</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Not a lot doing on the crafting front as Morti Mansions is getting a few little jobs dealt with, seeing as we’ve had to stay home. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">I give you exhibit A. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_1082_9f0b_14fa_788c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/h8ZGOsL_UlCyiIJCErwwJjqaVzuofNg17yZcJGTB89n7MbYp1trD9g-lp3LGtHk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial">Mr B is in the craftroom cum office, fitting a long awaited blind. You can see the two screens of my “office space”, sandwiched twist two craft desks. The next job in there is to move a socket to a more convenient position. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">On the frame this week is the owl, probably a fair bit of progress there since last time I shared a shot. It’s nice to be working on this and finally getting it done and dusted, if </font><span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m honest. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_859e_e640_436a_4e10" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/s75Bkc8p2WzGNhQffUlUBRQIPTjX8BsXBWhoMPWo4M67p1syz0OkVizS2qX9OqE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lastly, I’ll share a picture I took on Monday. Not craft related but sunset on a section of North Cornwall coastline, nearest to me. FB friends will have already seen this so my apologies for the repeat..</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_f39a_3ce7_3bc0_472a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AUD929i4K9viDxGjZKv0tTBPwmR8F1wNWRahNsLkY9IXwtZ-Rewqq-HdIpFYv1k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial;">I thought it was worth the share. The handsome chap on the right is Nubé, our Maremma/Italian Spinone cross. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy crafting one and all!</span></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-8764652516325965752020-07-29T22:03:00.000+01:002020-07-29T22:11:45.565+01:00WOYWW 582 - Late arrival<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Story of my life, really, late arrival.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">It wasn't always this way. I used to be on time for things. Then I became a mum and invariably time stretched and I was regularly late for things.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">Like today. Late.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">LOL</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">Anyway, I'm here now. Just about... Another round of WOYWW courtesy of the lovely Julia. If you're just here to browse, you can find more desks <a href="https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/">here</a></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">Not a lot to report this week.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">One of my high spots crafting wise was that I finally got to sit down and put together a jewellery kit. I bought it well before we moved 14 (erherm) months ago, and I fished it out of the box about three weeks ago. It's lurked on my desk since and I finally put it together yesterday. Not everyone's cup of tea, I'll grant you, but I like it. More to the point, I will need to safeguard it from robbery by Miss B as I'm sure once she's seen it, I'll have a fight on my hands. But most likely I'll make her one of her very own if she really likes it that much.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_28f9_c30f_e427_43d8" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jzmJjuDquyheeguibxwdrPRfObb4F6OA25buC6beLbm3h5I2ipDU09_yvaq0mW0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">I've also got up to date with my Peppermint Purple Blackwork Stitch-a-long (SAL) - A Year of Blackwork 2020. It has been fun and we're only just 7 months into it. I'm resisting the urge to sign up to anything else though, at the moment, as I definitely have SABLE.... Hehehehe</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img id="id_6d5f_4624_67ee_b9f0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LC8HNTv7KyFVET6sh8gdq-1g8ORtvuKyRqFBvyFe2FJ12Wwfvi0DAZix3Jdlcl8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="arial">Until next time!</font></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24888188.post-49393681538448066012020-07-22T11:47:00.001+01:002020-07-22T11:47:39.353+01:00WOYWW 581 - the multi-desk one<font face="Arial">Hello again!</font><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Bit of a difference today. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">I’m sat in my “office” which really means I’m sat in my craft room which has my “office” within it... Time for some desk sharing, although not the office part as it’s full of confidential stuff and nonsense. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">The paper crafting desk has got significantly worse but it’s in part due to Miss B having a birthday coming up and I’ve had to hide a couple of bits. As someone has commented previously, yes, naturally there’s a lot of purple... 🤣🤣🤣. I had a very dear friend - who sadly passed away this year - once tell me that if I wore any more purple I’d look like a Ribena Berry. Given that I was significantly slimmer back then, it stuck in my mind and I rarely if ever wear head-to-toe purple. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">RIP, my lovely Jayne. Thank you for saving me from Ribena-Berryness. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_daa_7c3d_f307_15f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/yu9RNPXoQjRHm0UY8Ud8q_z93C5iGPcYeWqjsfVaBwdWWGiW-9ytI5pYnlDm9U0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial"><br></font></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><font face="Arial">On the other side of me is my stitching desk - beautifully clear by comparison. On it are the parts for making some masks for Miss B, as she starts work back at the bar again from 1st Aug and could do with a couple more. I found a rather good pattern online that had multiple sizes, rather than a one size first not all kind of pattern. </font></span></div><br><img id="id_fb74_84e0_eea9_6bcf" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hCH17mzE4PQW4zIi9eEwloZQUfnaN3eioWORebT1poO3_XyNkowJD3q5p19VBAM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 399px; height: auto;"><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Moving round we have the old Ikea expedit, or Kallax as I think they now call them, and a myriad of boxes and pots and beads and.... everything. It houses beads and buttons, patterns and paper, dies for paper crafting and wool, needlework and jewellery kits, plus much much more. I’m gradually sorting and tidying it because things have kind of been wedged where there was a space as we endeavoured to empty boxes over the last year. Some still haven’t made it here from storage. </font></div><br><img id="id_8868_9788_3a46_f2c9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YrOYPIQauqDlZ9uDu0ggcpLcLl7RONBoGMvrnz8HP7kFTKI8pDbQ7SA9gp8ff6w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">Round to the right and past the door are the drawer units many of you have come to know and love. These also need a good sort through and tidy up, and several things on top shouldn’t really live there (like two pairs of bridesmaid shoes 🙄). Mr B keeps threatening to put more shelves up for me. I live in hope. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">There’s still a goodly pile of bits in front but considering that three weeks ago you couldn’t really get to the drawers without scaling a cardboard mountain, I’d like to think I’m doing fairly well. I must confess that one box is full of clothes for the charity shop, when it eventually reopens. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><img id="id_b2e9_a834_5004_e9ca" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fv7gN0TRcxusJP02s91lAxJUUtDfct9x-SQOcuXc5CVKGLTmupkhmFyRD9M80eg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial">And lastly, back full circle to above the desk and laden shelves. Again, these need a proper sorting and I mourn the fact that I’ve had to give up space one end for office type necessities. Grrr. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><img id="id_26e5_9fdd_6958_939b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PnM3tJfI-1hJJT1lRdDLHngX93IFZwjpmIjhByyNccGNBAxdJp-tKpYkAGQH02U" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Arial">I’ve just realised that my magnifying lamp is shaped a bit like K9’s head (from Dr Who, a millennia ago). LOL. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Till next time!!</font></div>Mortihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09440669891053820738noreply@blogger.com13