And here we go....

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

So....

 

Here we go again!

WOYWW 137 - Zzzzzzzzzz

We're back for another session of WOYWW and this week for me it's decidedly Zzzzz.  Well, that's what you'll all be doing after seeing this oh-so-dull photo of my desk. Nothing exciting to report this week, other than the making of one Thank You card as a sample for Mr B because he needs to make a fair few in a hurry. On Thursday.

It's also a bit Zzzzz because we're all tired after the weekend's three shows - we have a mid-run rehearsal tonight and then three more shows at the weekend coming.  Followed immediately by a post show party, and then we strike the set on the Sunday morning.  Huzzah!  I want my Sundays back.  I love panto, but Sunday rehearsals are a real bind.

That's my lot though - for more delightful desks, visit Dunnit the Desk Diva where you will find some interesting diversions for your day.... Mind you, last week I was tearing my hair out because about a dozen of your lovely blogs just froze on me, and I could only read, not comment.  I think it was an issue at work, so I'll try and do you folks first this week!

WOYWW 136 - Curtain Up!

Another week, another WOYWW....  head via the link to Dunnit Dimensions and let the desk -hopping commence!

For me, a short post this week as my desk hasn't changed an awful lot.  Apart from some new stash I bought on Saturday from Shopkeeper Gal before heading off to the crop.  Some nice bargains too - a fab stamp of Venice for starters, for just £1!  She's also started stocking Craft Stamper, which is an absolute bonus because otherwise I have to go all the way to Amesbury for it or buy it online - nowhere else locally sells it (and I'm too lazy to ask my corner shop to stock it). 

The crop was fun - I didn't actually do any cropping - instead I made a trident for the panto.  Here it is in it's finished state - on my real workdesk this week because I've been painting it in the kitchen where the light is better and there's space to lay it out.  Made from a broom handle, multiple layers of double walled corrugated cardboard, some specialist road tape (don't ask!), four Maya Road chipboard scrolls, and silver and copper paint.  

And here's a gratuitous shot of Mr B as Long John Silver at rehearsals on Sunday.  ROFL.  We did an entire day, and by the end of it, he was exhausted.  We all were.



Curtain up on Friday 13th!   Arrrrr!

WOYWW 135 - Panto season! or, the one where the desk goes vertical

Here we are again - WOYWW has hit us headlong into the New Year, so I hope it is a happy one for all of you!

It's that time of year again.... oh yes it is....oh no it isn't.... sigh.  I can't resist it...

Anyway, my desk this week has been mostly vertical, as I have been helping my good friend Nettie and her partner Rob paint the scenery for Treasure Island.  Nettie does the big stuff (scares the crap out me), Rob blocks in, and I've been making stuff look round, like I do.  I give you exhibit A:

exhibit B (we need baskets, they said) :

Bigger view of what's going on - I've just been adding depth and shadow and stuff, and not working on the big bits.  Sorry they're blurred - it's me iPhone you know!

But my desk hasn't only been vertical - Tuesday night it was definitely horizontal and I have just finished making two maps for the panto. Treasure maps of course. And here I say All Hail the Duke of Distress - for t'is his inks wot made it possible. All done using a black Sharpie, and the lovely inks Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge, Faded Denim, Peeled Paint, Festive Berries and Black Soot. Ta Dah! Makes life so much easier, and so much more realistic, than using a tea bag, dontcha think?

Oh, and if you're interested, the island is based on a slightly stretched Christmas Island.... LOL.  Had to be done, really!

Catch you on the hop...... Arrrrrrrrrrr......

WOYWW 127 - ARRRRRRRRRRRR...... again.

Wahey!  That was the week that was, that was!  And here we are again, with another round of WOYWW desk-hopping hosted by our beloved MC Mrs Dunnit.  For all the deets go here but don't forget to take a picnic and a compass because you might be a while once you start. 

As you can see, we still have a Charmed Stocking in progress on the desk.  I've discovered that needlework now needs to be done in small bursts because gripping a needle sets my carpal tunnel off.  That and pumpkin carving.  Doh.

On Saturday I attended another of the Big Crops and had a bit of an epic fail.  It didn't help that I didn't get there until 1pm (Lil Miss B had urgent need of a Guide uniform - £32 for t-shirt and hoodie, if you please!!) but the grand turnout on this occasion wasn't even quite a whole layout (compared to the four I did at the previous crop).  I fiddled, I tweaked, I cut, stamped and glued.... and then had to wait till I got home to add the flourish and the lettering.  Not being able to finish it, and the brewing headache I had, meant that I lost the mojo to do more.  I will have to look at that and rectify it this month. Mr B said it was down to the 3 p's - Piss Poor Preparation.  I just said "what preparation?"  To be fair, I hadn't even emptied my scraptotes from the last time, so hadn't really prepped properly.  I had prepped, it was just a month earlier.  LOL

So here is a close up of the finished LO for your delight and delectation.  Once again, Lil Miss B is a tad niggled that it's yet another photo of her (I quote "and why did you have to take a close-up??") but I think that secretly she's pleased.  I like how it turned out, no matter what she thinks!

If you've got this far, well done! 

Other major news in the B household is that we finally got the results of the auditions we took part in on the 30th October for Treasure Island.  Well, we actually got a phone call from the Director rather than just the email that everyone else got because he had a rather special request.  I've been asked if I think I can manage to take a small principal role AND be the society's Stage Manager for the show.  The role in question is the Spirit of the Sea, with appearances at the beginning and end of both acts.  I get to recite some rhyming couplets, not sure if there's a song involved (probably) and do the walk-down at the end, but as that's the role I was hoping for, I naturally said yes!  Being Stage Manager doesn't faze me - I've done Production Management in theatre since I was 14, so I've pretty much grown up with the backstage influence.  It's only since I've been with Mr B that I've had the confidence to step into the limelight again.

The others?  Lil Miss B has got a place in the chorus - kudos to her because 20 kids tried out for chorus and only 10 were chosen - and Mr B is......

wait for it......

Long John Silver!

So he gets to reprise a similar role to last year, just swapping a hook for a wooden leg.... ROFL.

The weird bit is that last year the Dame was played by a fella called Steve.  This year....the Dame is played by a fella called Steve.  Different Panto societies, different Steves - but how funny!

This is going to be fun!

And if you've read this far, well done to you!   Catch you on the blop!

WOYWW 126 - WHOOOOOO

Except it's not that scary, really.  Welcome to WOYWW, the global phenomenon started by our marvellous Mrs Dunnit.  The lady who has single-handedly brightened our "over-the-hump" day by giving us a glimpse into the chaos that our fellow crafters live in.  At least this way we don't feel alone, and we have our own little support group, eh?  Hehehehe.

Not that my space is chaos.  No siree.  I'm still basking in the glow of the "just moved in and got it tidy" feeling.  That, and a lack of time this week to do much other than lay out the remains of a Mill Hill Charmed Stocking that I'm trying to finish before Christmas this year (seeing as I started it before Christmas last year.  Whoops!) so it will make it onto the tree in time.  LOL.  We live in hope.  One bright note though is that I emailed Mill Hill when I discovered they'd not provided enough of one type of bead - and they duly supplied me with plenty along with a profuse apology.  Go Mill Hill!

There's also not a lot of point in doing anything else as we have another crop this weekend.  Yay!.

So, here's my desk....

Other highlights this week include being the prompt for a play our new AmDram/Panto society were doing, auditioning for the next panto (that was an experience and a half) and in amongst that attending a children's halloween party at Mr Hat's house as well as sending the brat Lil Miss B (she's not really a brat but I bet it made you smile) out trick-or-treating.  As you can see, she likes to stand out in a crowd.... I don't think I need to point out which one she is, eh?

Well, hopefully I'll get round a few more of you this week than last - this week we have no visitors, no rehearsals, no Halloween..... hang on, how many days did you say it was till Christmas...........................???????

Ride 'em, Cowboy!

Ok, that's a bit of a lame title, I know.  Especially as it has such a tenuous link to what we got up to on Saturday evening, but I thought I should post a little bit about what we did.

Verwood Panto Society hosted a fundraiser, and the Country band, Neon Moon, played for us for free.  We all bought tickets, and this meant that after the hall hire had been paid for, everything else went to the Society to help raise funds to pay for the new costume shed we just bought.  Neon Moon were ok - have to say that really cos the drummer is in the panto society! - but the music they played would only have been well known to fans of Country music.  It wasn't exactly a get-up-and-dance evening, except when Steve (the drummer) put his disco on when the band weren't playing.... Poor Lil Miss B was a bit bored most of the time.

Highlight of the evening?  The sunset on the way there.....



Not quite WOYWW 68

Greetings again fellow WOYWWers.  A great big huge huggy welcome also to Wipso and Sylvia-Anne who have joined the lumbering train that is the Mad Ramblings blog....

Wow, what an epic week (#67) for desks to view!  Unfortunately for me, life got in the way and I only got to about 60 desks.  I would take a picture for you this week (and may yet do so anyway!) but it would only be the same as last week's!!!

What we DO have on our desk this week though, *so I suppose that does in fact make the desk different* is a copy of the script for Peter Pan.  Yes indeedy.  Panto time is here again.  Verwood Panto Society are putting on a splendiferous production with no less than 6 - yes SIX - members of the cast flying, and it generally promises to be a good night out.

So I do hope that the great Desk Diva, Ms Jooooo-lia Dunnit will forgive me if I put in a blatant plug here for VPS and a picture of the lovely poster.  Not that I'm expecting to sell any tickets via my blog, but you never know!  Even if it's only one extra ticket, it's an extra ticket.  And Lord knows that this show is costing a lot to produce. 

Coming up this weekend is the Big Stamp and ScrapBooking Show, lovingly referred to henceforth as BSSBS, at Ally Pally.  Me and Mr B are off up to London on Friday night to stay with my Ma, then all three of us go to BSSBS on Saturday, and Sunday we go to visit my sister (who also happens to be doing Panto in Braintree, Essex, and in fact has written theirs as well as being the director!). 

Some of us on UK Stampers are arranging a meet up at The Artistic Stampers stand at midday, to head off for a girly lunch.

Me?  I'm contemplating doing my bit to plug WOYWW by wearing deely boppers with WOYWW strung between the "antennae".  So if you're there, and you do see someone who looks slightly lunatic, that's probably me......

WOYWW 67

First up = thanks to Needlewings, Spyder and Doone who like my oddballiness and have opted to follow me - welcome to the nuthouse!

As for WOYWW 66 - I only managed to get around to about 65 desks last week.  It seems everyone crawled out of the woodwork, but I'm going to blame it on back to school.

Um.

Yes.........

You might notice the absence of a photo today.  It's coming.  It'll happen tonight.  Mr B took my camera into school yesterday *because he's done this really cool frieze of Odin and Freya and I HAVE to see it!* and then promptly forgot to bring it home again.

Doh.

So, let's put my powers of description to the test.  On my desk is the usual, coupled with an empty wooden block for the beads which went in the post and completely surprised the recipient because she'd totally  forgotten I'd promised to make her some.  ROFL.  Then there's the CJ that should have gone in the post last night but which I haven't actually started.  oops  Where did the month go?  And lastly, there's a load of coursework and text/study books for my A level English Language.  Not sure how I'm going to fit that in, because Panto has started - we had the read-through last night and auditions are Friday.  T'was indeed a late night, as it's 75 minute journey from the rehearsal hall to home.  Ouch.


OK, so check back later for the photo.  I have a schoolteacher to go and chastise.....


*Tsk.  Forget me own head next.  I've popped back on because I promised Nikki C I would thank her properly for the fabby Stamp Addict button.   And I've also totally forgotted LOL to put that this whole WOYWW madness is down to the effervescent and somewhat racy lacey Ms Dunnit.  You go and see what she's up to.....

UPDATE - pictures can now be found - HERE

Scenery photos!

Well, as promised, here's a few pictures of the scenery I've been working on. The photos aren't brilliant, because the work has been done to look best on stage under stage lighting, and camera flash just burns out the dark bits and highlights the light bits, but you get the general idea! It's also pretty difficult to get pictures of the set while you're still painting it, with crew getting in the way (hence the step ladder!) and once people are on stage, especially if you're a cast member yourself. I might be able to get a few more done at some point in the next week, if not, I'll have to buy the professional pics!

Basically, the panto is Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, and what you see below are a couple of bits (the sunset cafe, and the arch) from the market place in Baghdad scene, and then the balustrade inside Ali's palace at the end.




This is what the balustrade looked like before I started on it....



and then when I'd finished....




and then on stage with the backcloth:



I have to confess that I had absolutely nothing to do with the backcloths - they were all hired from a professional scenery company in Newport, and they are absolutely fantastic!

More photos soon I hope!

Time flying.....

Well, it's all been busy busy busy here at Morti Mansions. We're in the final throes of Panto rehearsals (I'm in Ali Baba, in case I hadn't mentioned it before), and this weekend is being spent setting the theatre up ready for the final rehearsals this week (up till now we've rehearsed at a local hall) and finishing the scenery. I've discovered a new talent - I've never painted stage scenery before, but have found out that I have a knack for it. Well, at least I think everyone else thinks so - what else is one to think when the stage manager and the Director come up to you and ask your opinion and your assistance on a tricky item? I don't think I've done anything particularly clever or special, but they seem to! Can't quite figure that one out! Tomorrow I'll take my camera and get some photos, and you guys can let me know what you think....

Craft wise I've not reported much, so I ought to do so, shouldn't I?

I've had four CJs cross my desk over the last couple of months. One I have yet to do anything to, as technically it should only have arrived today. The first one was my own, the second belonged to Magickdiva (Fi) and the third to T Ann (Tracy). The last one which I've yet to do is Happy Daze's (and for the life of me I can't remember her name right now without going and checking... LOL). It's another UK Stampers CJ, and this time, rather than picking a colour AND a stamp, it's just one stamp. Although you can use others...

First up was my own , and I picked a rather ornate key... I'd go into more detail, but I did it back in November and I've slept since then. So you'll have to make do with pics...

First up, the front cover...


Then the first page...


and the rear of the first page...


Next up are my pages from Magickdiva's CJ. She chose a lovely Christmas tree where the shape of it is made up from Christmas greetings in several languages. Fi asked us to journal about our favourite Christmas memory; mine is tinged with some sadness, as it was the year our cat died on Christmas Eve, but in my memory is a great sense of light and brightness, as if it was somehow special that he passed away then. OK, so I was only 3, but I will never forget that particular Christmas Day.







I basically tore paper to use as a mask for hills, and french blue cats eye chalk ink, some holographic embossing powder, and some Stamp Tapestry stamps for the firs at the top of the page.

Lastly is T Ann's. Tracy is a novice stamper, so provided us with a stamp of some ornate gates, and asks us to do a technique, explaining the hows, whys and wherefores of what we've done, so she can use it as a record. I think it's also a really inspiring way of seeing what different things can be done with one stamp. I'd hate to be the last person in this CJ though, having to think of something that the previous 11 haven't!!!

I won't go into great detail as to what I've done - click on the picture of the writing and it's all written there for you!








Whew! Mammoth post that. I hope to get back here soon and blog some more. I've got numbers to make for the 40 thieves, plus invitations for the "party" in the panto, and on top of that, 110 Wedding invitations and 60 orders of service to do. Some are needed like, now, and the Wedding invites are needed ASAP (middle of Feb at the VERY latest! Ulp!) but the Orders of Service aren't required until May 22nd. At least I have a bit of time for those, eh?

TTFN!