WOYWW 596 - Calm Before The Storm

Hello again and welcome back to my desk for WOYWW - What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Hosted as ever by the lovely Julia. 

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. 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. 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. 

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. 

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!

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. 

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. 

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!

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. 

Adios - catch you on the blog-hop!

WOYWW 595 - the Spooktober edition

Eh-up!

Or should that be "BOO!"?

Welcome to another edition of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, the linky and loads of other desks can be found here, courtesy of the rather lovely Mrs Dunnit.

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.

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!

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.

The barn owl is finally complete, washed and awaiting framing...

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!

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.

I also managed to make a couple more masks for me...

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... 

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.

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!

Anyway - off to do some work now (bah, hiss, curses!), so happy hopping folks!

WOYWW 589 - back again, a day late....

Well, hello!

I bet you thought I’d done a full disappearing act again. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

So, next week, hopefully full service will resume and I may have something different to show you. Until then happy hopping!

WOYWW 586 - missed a week!

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. 

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!  

So desk and creativity wise, what’s going on at Morti Mansions?  A whole lot of the same nothing really!

The desk is tidy. Tidier. 

The little Mill Hill kit I was working on is done...

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. 

The owl is progressing steadily...

And that’s it for now!  

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 lotta cleaning. 

Toodlepip!

WOYWW 584 - there’s a fog blowing in

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 here. Can’t  see much in Cornwall today - the whole North Coast is shrouded in very thick fog!

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. 

They’ve made a huge difference - the room somehow seems bigger, but maybe that’s just because it’s tidier. Mostly....

Creativity-wise, I’ve now got three cross-stitch WIPs on the go!

The barn owl...

The Peppermint Purple SAL

More boxes added and last week’s box done (new box chart released today). 

And I’ve started a Mill Hill beaded ornament kit...

Not much else doing at the moment but that’s plenty to be going on with. 

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. 

Right! Onwards and upwards - have a great day, all!

WOYWW 583 - on Hollibobs!

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. 

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!

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. 

I give you exhibit A. 

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.  

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 I’m honest. 

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..

I thought it was worth the share. The handsome chap on the right is Nubé, our Maremma/Italian Spinone cross. 

Happy crafting one and all!

WOYWW 582 - Late arrival

Story of my life, really, late arrival.

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.

Like today.  Late.

LOL

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 here

Not a lot to report this week.

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.

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

Until next time!

WOYWW 581 - the multi-desk one

Hello again!

Bit of a difference today. 

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. 

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. 

RIP, my lovely Jayne. Thank you for saving me from Ribena-Berryness. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

I’ve just realised that my magnifying lamp is shaped a bit like K9’s head (from Dr Who, a millennia ago). LOL. 

Till next time!!

WOYWW 580 - on time today!

Greetings, lovelies!

Here we are at another WOYWW courtesy of the ever divine Julia. 

Thank you all for your comments last week. I have to say that my eyesight isn’t what it once was and stitching and beading nowadays requires the use of some rather glam reading glasses in a fetching shade of purple. Naturally. 

There’s a little bit of difference, I think, in the owl. Moving on slowly. Not helped by my fetching fur assistant getting in the way as usual. 

Other than that I thought it was time to share the official craft desk. There’s a lot on it - and yet nothing of importance, and certainly nothing current. I’ve got a couple of cards to make soon so I fully expect a bit of desktop shuffling to go on. I might even do something with some beads that are skulking the desk and most definitely turn the fabric there into some masks. 

On the car front, the old car was fixed on Monday and my back account is in quiet mourning. Just to clear something up though - she’s not Coming with us to Umbria next year. Once was enough for the poor dear. The car was ok, but oh my that was a long drive!  Next year we’re flying, and going to rent a car once we land. 

So that’s it for this week, plenty to be going on with!

Toodlepip!

WOYWW 579 - except it's Thursday

Oops - missed yesterday.  Intent was there, even took the photo, but then forgot to post!  Doh. Some habits are hard to get back into but it will be there.

Not much has happened this week.  I've progressed somewhat on the Barn Owl cross stitch, and the back for Miss Bs jumper has been finished.  I've now got to work out how to do the sleeves, and connect all the parts together, but I'm more than halfway through and the end is in sight.

Here’s a view from my stitching “desk”:

Home-wise, the car has caused us a major headache - it needs a new radiator and is currently sitting mournfully outside the mechanic's, waiting for the new rad to be delivered and fitted.  Poor old girl - she's done us proud over the last five years, including driving all the way to Umbria and back last year.  I suspect she's protesting now!

Unfortunately the not inconsiderable cost of replacing the radiator means that our plans to go away for a medieval social event next month have had to be cancelled but we will make good use of the time off getting the house a little more sorted, and prepping for a proper event at month-end, when we go to Herstmonceux Castle.

A new phone also became top priority over the weekend but it does mean that Miss B gets my hand-me-down once we've replaced the battery.

That's it, really, in terms of news for this week.  Until next time!