WOYWW 140 - the one where I've actually done some work...

Welcome back to WOYWW, the weekly wonder that is hosted by the delightful Mrs D over at The Stamping Ground.  And fame has struck at last for she has been highlighted by Craft Stamper magazine.  Having seen a steady increase in numbers over the last couple of weeks, anyone care to place a bet on us hitting the 200 participant mark this week?  My little number grid only goes up to 180 - I'll have to make it bigger this week!

I managed to get round almost everyone who visited me.  Life got in the way a tad, I'm afraid.

So, my desk.

I've actually been working at it, and this is how it was left Tuesday night.  Regrettably, Mr B still hasn't managed to make his Thank You card so muggins yours truly here has elected to do them for him.  Except that I thought I'd ask my cutting machine to help out, but then overtaxed it by asking it to do something a little too intricate.  Back to square one as I go over the cutting lines to make them a bit deeper.  So much for just "popping" out the shape, eh?  Silly me.....

What else is on my desk - quite a bit of nothing in particular, but there, over to the left at the front you can see a bracelet belonging to Lil Miss B that she actually managed to break the T-bar of (need to contact the lady who made it to get that part replaced!) the clasp. 

At the back of my desk you can see my new copic storage, which was a complete bargain.  Free!  I spotted this cute X divided cube in a new catalogue given to me by our stationery rep at work, and as I happened to flick through the cataloge while in a meeting with him and his boss, I exclaimed in delight at seeing it - just what I've been looking for.  They laughed and asked a few probing questions - this morning, a free sample turns up at work for me.  How cool is that?  It's made by Deflecto, and it's called X divided Crystal Cube, if you're interested.  Cheapest I've seen online is about £3.60 each, + p&p, which means it doesn't break the bank, and I will definitely be acquiring a couple more.

Well, time to be hopping!  Catch you around - hope you all have a great week!

WOYWW 139....coff.....splutter....

Just a quickie for WOYWW from me this week.  There's no desk photo - there's no point.  My mojo went on a hike.  Or maybe it was just too cold-saturated to raise its weak and weary head to do anything creative.

In answer to a couple of recent questions:

No, I didn't get the part of Ma Larkin, but that of Edith Pilchester, the nervous 40-something who wears tweed and occasionally gets her tonsils tickled by Pop Larkin.

No, Mr B did not manage to get his thank you cards made.  They're still not sat next to the 'With Regret' card I haven't made.  It's been that bad this week....

But!  I did manage to finish the Hong Kong card and I figured I could at least share that with you....

I have to say, I love it, and it has drawn several WOWs of approval from the folks at work.  V. cool!

Lastly, I want to share with you what I consider a lucky escape.  At about 1am on Sunday morning, Mr B and I both woke up having been disturbed by a bang followed by two smaller thuds.  He sat bolt upright in bed, looked around a bit startled (at least, his movements suggested that - it was pitch black) and flopped back down into bed, soon to be snoring softly.  I laid awake for a minute or two, wondering what it was, figuring maybe the shade had popped off the wall light, and then having ascertained that the world wasn't coming to an end fell back to sleep.

Next morning I discovered this....

Seems that when I slid my watch onto the bedside table before turning the light out, I must have nudged the battery (which was on its side) against the nail clippers.  The resulting short circuit overheated the battery and BANG.  The two smaller thuds I worked out were after the battery shot across the cabinet, hit my watch which fell onto a book (thud) and then bounced off that onto the floor (second thud).

Someone must have been watching out for me - this all happened about a foot away from my face...... ulp.....

Catch you on the hop!

WOYWW 138 - all over bar the.....no....wait.....

Well, hello hello HELLO!

Welcome to another weekly round of WOYWW.  I'm still having trouble with posting comments as on some blogs I only seem to be able to comment at home, so it may take me a while to visit some of you!

If you haven't got a clue what I'm on about go HERE for all the deets, and the fabulous Mrs Dunnit will let you have a snoop about....

So, what goeth on in the world of Morti, eh?

Not much.  Too tired for much!  We've all been hit by a bout of post-panto sickness - namely colds and chest infections.  I think that might be down to a bit too much smoke from the pyros they used, but hey, what do I know?  LOL.  Nonetheless, we are bright spirited and happy.

On my desk this week we see the beginnings of a card for a colleague at work.  Having epically failed to find a large, plain Good Luck card which didn't say Leaving or Goodbye or Retirement or Exam, it befalls me to make one that says "Good Luck in Hong Kong".  See, the colleague isn't actually leaving the company, he's going to head up the Hong Kong office as they are sorely in need of someone over there who can make command decisions and take them to the next level.  Go, Dean!  And that's where I step in, as chief card maker.  Having won the card competition (by default as the only entry!) I get the poke in the ribs.  No worries.  Watch this space.  I see a golden chinese dragon coming up.

As for the next few weeks....well.....ever the suckers for punishment, PVADS held auditions the day after Panto finished, for the spring play "The Darling Buds of May".  Mr B desperately wanted to do it, auditioned, got THE main part.  Muggins here went along to support, knowing darned well it's the only way I'll get to see anything of him when he doesn't have his nose in a book.  And wound up landing a role too.  Deep joy.  So much for quiet Wednesday & Sunday evening.

But then you can't argue when your fella gets presented with THIS after the Panto at the party - for The Defining Performance.  Or rather, as they put it, they presented it to his leg, for having gone through hell for his art..... ROFL.....

In all seriousness though, it's a genuine award PVADS gives after each show they do, if they feel that something or someone has warranted it, and Mr B was one such individual who took the panto and the society to a whole new level with his performance as Long John Silver.  People were coming up to members and asking where he'd hidden his leg, and was he really one-legged etc....LOL.... Bless - I'm so proud of him.  And it wasn't without cost - two shows on the Saturdays and by half-way through the second he'd about had enough, his knee was in a lot of pain.  He soldiered through though, and seems to be ok now!

So, watch this space......... catch you all around! 

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 134 - or.... WWUYCT

Welcome to the Betwixtmas WOYWW - and on this occasion, I'm also calling it WWUYCT, or What Was Under Your Christmas Tree?

For newbies who don't have a clue what I'm on about, the deets can be found HERE at Dunnit Dimensions.

I had a bit of a fail this week.  I had every intention of visiting everyone who visited me on last week's WOYWW, and didn't.  I simply didn't get on the computer.  I also intended to post on Christmas day, but we went for a Xmas Geocache, and were out for 4 hours, finding 18 Geocaches on a six mile walk.  It was an epic success, and made our Xmas, I have to say. 

Yes we're sad, but how many of you managed to get an 11 year old to walk 6 miles on Christmas Day without complaining, and more to the point, having only opened TWO presents???  An equal success, because it wore out some of her bounce, made Christmas last all day, and then into the bargain, the originator of the Cache ring watched us do part of it from his home, and came out halfway through to ply us with Mince Pies!  Yay!  Can I just add that Lil Miss B is as "into" Geocaching as we are, so it was no hardship for her, she enjoyed it as much as we did. 

Well, onto the main point of my blathering.

My desk this week, as you can see, is clean and pretty tidy.  All ready for the next bout of creativity. 

My fingers are itching.  Amongst my lovely presents was a signed book from Spellbound Beads on beaded baubles, and a kit of the Emperor Bauble (this will be my third bauble from SB themselves).  Having not actually done the last one I bought (The Romanov), I feel I should complete it before starting the new one.  And I feel confident to start it because I actually finished the Charmed Stocking on Boxing Day, and it now hangs on our tree after its photo shoot (see below).

As for WWUYCT - here are the gratuitous present shots:

Yes, that's a lot of presents, mostly for Lil Miss B!

I had lots of lovely craft stuff in addition to the bits mentioned above - Distress Inks, TH's scissors, 12 x 12 papers, peeloffs in attractive borders, Shapeabilities fleur de lis accents..... I could go on....

 So, I hope you all got what you wanted for Christmas, coupled with good cheer, laughter, plenty of love, light and happiness, and generally a joyous time.

I'll leave you with one last chuckle though - on his wish list, Mr B had asked for a new memory stick, a 4GB "peg".  Lil Miss B gave him this - a fridge magnet to clip his notes to.....

Catch you on the hop!



WOYWW 133 - Merry Christmas to All!

So here it is.  The Christmas edition of WOYWW.  In honour of the occasion, here is a slightly blurred, but very sparkly looking photo of my Christmas tree.  I would have shown you a picture taken with flash, but that just ruined the festive look.  So you'll have to go with the mellow yellow version.  LOL.

So what is on my workdesk this Wednesday?  For those who are new to the phenomenon created by the ebullient Ms Budd, go to The Stamping Ground for all the deets and the funky roadmap that is the great and wonderful Mr Linky.  And I can honestly say, having sampled the delights last evening, that the sheet cake was truly yummy.  Thanks Julia!

My desk. Oh ROFL.  What do we have here?  Well, yes, this isn't Wednesday's photo, but Tuesday night's, and it appears I have another squatter.  This time Mr B is at it, making a pop out Christmas card for his parents, to deliver tomorrow. 

  

 

My desk this week has been a  lap tray in the lounge because that has been the most comfy place to work.  I've still not finished my charmed stocking but I have, er herm, managed to bead two other baubles for ladies who I am honoured to call my friends.  Said baubles have been safely delivered, but I didn't managed to finish them in time for a photo opportunity.  You'll just have to take my word for it that they sparkled elegantly, and hanging on the recipients' trees look like...er... baubles.  Fab!

Thank you all for your warm wishes regarding my op.  I've been poked, prodded, stitched and bruised, and am due to make my second attempt to return to work tomorrow (the first being a bit of a fail because I wasn't really well enough, naivety and optimism leading me to think I was...LOL).  The surgeon has found and dealt with one issue on my insides, we just have to wait three months to see if it's worked, and if not, try a different tack.  Joy joy.

Here's to wishing you all a very merry Christmas and see you at Betwixtmas if not before - I will endeavour to do a WUYCT (What's Under Your Christmas Tree) for Christmas Day!

See you on the hop!

WOYWW 132 - Success!

Welcome to WOYWW once more.  For all the deets on this desk-hopping extravanganza, go HERE.

So, just a quickie from me tonight - we have success!  I finally managed to get my star card completed, and here it is.  I apologise for the state of the photos, I've taken them in rather a hurry tonight after spending a couple of hours unsuccessfully trying to resolve an email issue.  Darned BT!

Yes, an awful lot of work went into those, and I won't know for a couple of days whether or not it's worth it, but it was fun!

I've just realised I didn't take a decent picture of the section of the card with the 5 pointed star pop out.  Oh well!

Not much else has happened here at Morti Mansions - unfortunately, Lil Miss B's Christmas trip to Granny in France has been cancelled at the eleventh hour because the Wicked Real-Mother failed to check the passport (we didn't have it, so didn't know) until last night and discovered it had expired.  Neither she nor we have the funds to replace it this close to Christmas, even if she managed to get an appointment to do so.  I wouldn't mind, but her other daughter's had expired earlier this year and it didn't occur to her to check it at the time.... I have to say that Lil Miss B has mixed feelings about the trip being cancelled - the silver lining is that she doesn't have to spend Christmas with Granny.  The sad part is that it's just re-inforced in her young mind what a waste of space her real mother is.  Such a shame.

Anyway, I digress...

Other than the card, my desk is pretty clear.  Lil Miss B had a marathon session on Monday night and made a fridge magnet for her Guide Leader for Christmas, but that's all the excitement my desk has seen this week.  If you can see my two new jesters lurking, I might offer a prize for the two best names you guys can come up with!

Catch you on the hop!

WOYWW 131 - Epic fail, comme normale...

Well, hello my WOYWWing friends.  If you don't WOYWW, why not?  All the deets are here.

Well, this week has been, as the title suggests, an epic fail.  Shoshi brilliantly managed to prod my memory that I do actually have a Silhouette SD but it hasn't actually helped.  The amount of detail involved in this particular cut means that it takes a lot of time to cut, and the blade on the machine doesn't always cut all the way through.  Which I think is the machine's way of telling me I need a new blade.  That and the fact that I haven't quite mastered converting a Jpeg to a GSD file for the machine.  Ho hum.  Before someone points out that I ought to do a double cut etc, I know all that, but it's struggling with the fine detail and doing double tracks etc.  I need a decent tute. I've spent far too much time on this already - but have invested more time than makes me want to back out of the comp!  ROFL.  Anyone mention the word masochist?

So here is my desk, with one partially cut out PCB design.  We're having a stay-at-home weekend this weekend, and I'm hoping to spend most of Saturday in the craft room.  Some hope... We managed to put the tree up, put lights on it, and a star at the top.  But Mr B didn't take too kindly to my suggestion that we leave it like that!  Oh well.

Don't look too closely at my desk - you might notice two tealight holders at the back that I was supposed to work some magic on.  Shhh - don't tell Tracy.....

I will try to get round as many as I can this week!  Hope you're all not too stressed out with Christmas!