WOYWW - a change of scene

Hello - are you all well? Me I am having a change of scenery at the moment. The table of indeterminate purpose has been temporarily abandoned for the sofa of most determinate purpose - that is I am hand sewing. That's because I wanted to make my little fella something adventy - I was toying with wooden and altering and then Wispo (oops nearly wrote twilglet and then twilight there, that is what is entertaining me - sorry Carmen the vampire porn is hilarious but something about the first book and film I love and you can keep RP but the whole Edward look - hello!). So soory very easily diverted I saw the lovely hand stitched advent calender that Annie had and then at the NEC my mum offered to buy one for me to make for Timothy - well ladies (and gents) in this time of frugal spending who am I to refuse so I give you my started advent calender on the sofa of determinate purpose........

Now stretching back a week - the pies - very very easy - take one silicon muffin mould, push a layer of pastry into cover so you can see no colour anywhere (no resting pastry needed or rolling  :) add in your filling, seal on pastry lid using water (more pushing!)  Bake at 190 - 200degC for 20 to 25 min, let them cool for 2-3 min upend on to a baking tray (they pushed out really easy without greasing). Egg wash the tops and put back in the oven for another 20 min. Voila!  We figured cherry filling with heart moulds would be good the possibilities are endless - now go find those silicon muffin trays and bake!!

Motivation - at the moment I think the reason I can do so much (out of sight on the table are two finished secret santy presents (first one done - just one thing to buy and then a wrapping - aren't you  just proud of me!) , The start of another bag, A card for a competition. Is that I have lots of different things so if one thing is frustrating or boring I leave it for something else, sewing, painting, papercraft.  Another is that I have some nearer deadline stuff and other 25th of next month  and last and I think this one is a no brainer - I love making things for people, it gives me so much pleasure and all that I make has a person who will receive it so everything is personalised to them no as in named but something important so hopefully will be received with love and appreciation.  Right of to sew(and drool a little).

I will post about how I did the bag (it didn't even get a look in oh well!) soon in a separate post but will give you a heads up on the nearest woyww post.  Have a good week you hear.

WOYWW- still juggling

Hello - thank you for all your lovely supportive comments. I did think I was going to have to have serious words with one of you this week, been looking everywhere for my Versafine black ink pad and rickety fence punch, I knew I had them the other week and then poof gone......... thought one of you nosey lot had run off with them, turns out I had stuffed em in a bag and put them upstairs when I had finished the competition entries......... so in advance sorry!

So down to business my desk this week:

Lets see some secret santy stuff on the lower left, one project finished and a second started. Some alphabet cutters (for the bargain price of £3 from Sainsburys - planning to get the fimo back out soon for a last memory box as a wedding gift). A finished bag for my sister-in-law for Christmas and the starting of another one for one of my best friends. Moving over  an open note book with ideas in it and then plans and materials for a competition card for Quick Cards, thought it was about time I had another go, fortunately got until 15th November. Oh and a little slip of paper with the winning name from the draw for the Wizard of Oz nesting boxes - what do you mean you can't see it from there?..........

Ok here it is closer up then:

If you go to my profile you will find a link for my email address please let me know your address and I shall get it on the way - sorry I couldn't give all you lovely people who wanted them one.....

Right and last but not least I just had to show you these (they were on the table of indeterminate purpose just on Saturday not Wednesday........) I was so pleased with the way they turned out I had to share - little Halloween sausage, onion, potato and apple pies :D

Oh and on the flat front - third offer lucky - keep everything crossed, we are.............

WOYWW back to paper and card

Well another week and the stress levels are rising (the first offer on the flat is waiting for the new electoral register release at the beginning of December, the second offer is dilly dallying back and forth and likes it but can't rent it out to who they want so disappeared for a week then thought they would buy it with a friend to rent privately but now they are going to look at a flat for £20 000 more because then they don't have to do any work on it..............and so it goes on and on will someone just buy the stupid place so I can move on with my life properly please).  In answer to your lovely queries we don't live there any more when it becomes a matter of you and your families safety over money, family wins hands down so we have been renting for 9 months and the flat is empty. So there is no need for extreme tidyness - other than the pressure from my mother.......... But there is its position as a table of indeterminate purpose and to allow our family to eat together every night it must be cleared. So after dinner tonight it now looks like this (until dinner time tomorrow night).

It is mostly top secret santy stuff but I should be safe and your not seeing any more until after the C day so there. Yes I was playing around with stuff last week for the stamper of the year comp, not because I stand a chance in hell but mainly because I had an idea and wanted to try it out (and then had to do a card to) I don't even know when short listing happens by, because assuming it goes no-where I want to give the bag to the lady who makes the stamps. Any-ways it went like this:

This is the low quality photo and not sure that it does the colours justice but it really looked beautiful and sparkly (the bag that is), I'll post how I did it another time.  Oh and lastly if you are still with me I decided to give one of you lovely folk the chance of getting your mits on the Wizard of Oz nesting boxes.  Just let me know in the comments box if you want to be included and I'll randomly select a name and let you know next Wednesday.

Now off with you to other desks it is WOYWW after all.................

WOYWW An indeterminate table of most determinate purpose

Good morning everyone, Hello to all the lovely new people who are following! To anyone who hasn't come through the hallowed portals (sorry for any dodgy imagery if you are here at an early hour) of our hostess Julia Dunnit then press the WOYWW link on the right hand side to enter a whole new world of time disappearing in a cloud of friends, genius and well desks really.

Life here is feeling more optimistic.  My PIF gifts are all done and distributed, we have accepted a different offer on the flat and this time it is an investor wants to complete in 28 days (come on world give us a break on this one).  Last but not least the creative juices are still flowing strong so without further ado (sorry Doone) I give you my desk today: 

The bags are a work in progress, 3 to be precise and the one that is finished is hidden behind the mug of tea......... I have been a playing with my stamps this week thought I'd have a go at a last minute entry to Craft Stamper - more later,  The cakes in the background were a joint collaboration between myself and my 3 year old he did the egg cracking, egg mixing, flour adding and the icing decoration!

Oh and for those of you who were wondering about the black nesting boxes - some dodgy photo's.......... Still on their side............ I tried emailing Di but don't know if it got though? We're off to see the wizard.........

I went for a tornado with barn, fence and rainbow (you can see some of it in the photo.........

Happy autumn day all :)

WOYWW - the desk of indeterminate chaos

Good Morning,

Mojo still present and correct.  It is lovely having the 2 days in the week to myself and I have been motivates to carry on with my crafting after I put T to bed. So here is the indeterminate chaos as it stands:

Then there is the sewing projects from the last week.  You will either recognise the character on the bag or wonder what on earth I have made,  I cut the pieces out using felt then used embroidery thread to fix them to the calico - my sons response 'WOW mummy that is AMAZING'!!  The other is my first ever sewing project with a zip (and a pay it forward gift for a blogging friend, she hasn't been on here of late and I don't know if she has received it yet so I hope it doesn't break the surprise......).

Lastly before I leave you to head on over to Julia's via the WOYWW link on the right - going lots of desks and creativity to explore, I finished my houses nesting boxes, I was pleased to get hold of a couple of miniature dolls boots for the chimney :)

Sorry can't get them upright you'll need to twist a little.............

Right have a good week, I'm off to link up and see what you have all been up to since last Wednesday.

WOYWW - progress galore

Mojo present and accounted for.  Still no change on anything else from last week (but at least none of it's bad news either).  So here's my desk this week:

Blank white boxes covered and waiting the next layer - ideas drafted underneath, a second set of nesting boxes this time in black (and a pad full of graphic 45 wizard of oz paper lined up and ready). A sketch of the catbus from My Neighbour Totoro for a bag idea I have using felt.  And in the background (so below a close up) the 2 bags I made since last week - I'm pretty chuffed and the reversible one on the right I knocked up in 2 and a half hours - not bad I figured.

So in the spirit of keeping it brief have a good week and head on over to Julia's (follow the WOYWW link on the right) and wallow in desks galore, meet up for chats with friends old and new.

WOYWW - the indeterminate table and a whole load of blank canvasesesesessss

No news is good news that's it isn't it. We are still waiting for the surveyor to go into the flat on behalf of the person buying it (one week and waiting) other than that all is ok, oh yes and the perspective buyer doesn't want to hand over their solicitor details until they know that they have a mortgage........ so it's a waiting game.  That one is less hard than the other one my family and I are playing we are waiting at the moment as my 25 year old cousin is in hospital and under maximum sedation following a massive brain haemorraugh at the beginning of last week. No one knows yet if it will be ok, ok given time and extensive therapy or if it is already over.  That aside really can't complain I have a table of indeterminate purpose for you this week - see:

It is a canvas of blankness awaiting opportunity and time.  There are all the lovely fabrics I washed the other week - but look I now have the threads and some extra bobbins so I can start bag crafting.  Then there are a couple of my other Christmas projects - clear plastic baubles and a puzzle maker. Next to that there are some glass painting pens for another idea in my head. Then lastly are the 3 nesting boxes that I made the last couple of nights - based on an idea over on the graphic 45 website from a project that Laura Denison did.  They are blank canvases too waiting to be created on - was looking at my pile of Lavinia Stamps for inspiration (and to see which other ones I really really need  want!). Starting next Monday I have a run of 3 or 4 weeks where I won't be tutoring (due to late holidays) and Timothy is in nursery I am hoping to be a hive of activity for 2 days a week. 

So how are you anyway?  Want to see lots of exciting desks - hop on over to Julia's place (vis the WOYWW widget on the right and discover a desk or 2 or 150 that are waiting for  a good nose.  Now put the kettle on I am looking for distractions.........

WOYWW - Onwards and upwards

Thanks for all the lovely words and support for last week.  I'm on better form this week, mainly for being proactive rather than reactive.  Nothing exciting to report but no bad news either just keepin' everything crossed.  End of last week (literally Friday), I finally got my butt in gear and washed all the fabric that I have been hording: (it's pretty :)

At last I have a desk to show you (well actually it is back to the table of indeterminate purpose) - mainly because cutting fabric requires floor space and I needed somewhere to iron to.  

Resplendent with all my Argos value equipment (don't knock it, it's cheap and it works).  I have created my first piece of sewing in 20 years. It's got a couple of obvious mistakes, but it will do what it needs to and I learnt a lot.  I'm sure the recipient will forgive me the dodgy stitching and all that makes it unique.  By the time I get round to the last stitched bag as a Christmas gift I'm sure I'll be a pro.  Now to knock the paper-crafting into touch too.

For more desks of indeterminate purpose as well as most definitely dedicated for purpose desks press the WOYWW widget on the right and find friends, inspiration and just well good company dammit.

WOYWW - gosh someone got out the wrong side this morning

Hello everyone.

I am having a grumps day, do you get those? I'm sure it will all pass soon.(post holiday blues? we had a nice time in Scotland last week catching up with family) .    Timothy and I are home alone for a week and a half (with a days respite in the middle).  Motivation for everything has hit a low point. I really must get round to the washing up, and sorting the garden and up the stairs looks like a bomb has gone off.  Then that depressing moment where you have been doing everything right - your calories are under control, you've exercised and for no sensible reason you are heavier this morning than last night (oh I know there are lots of splendid explanations from water retention due to periods, muscle gain - don't weight yourself everyday - its Wii fits fault it says I should take the body test everyday - why I should listen to it when I ignore rational people I don't know.....) still it puts a gloom over everything.  There is a part of me that thinks if I just do some every day then there will be plenty of time to do the things I want to do - but then I forget I have a child who is being incredibly demanding at the moment - which is OK he is allowed to be he is only wee after all. But golly it is draining on energy.  Then the internet thing - does anyone else lose time (I mean masses of it - like hours in one go because you start looking for something - in this case material and then the next thing you know it is dinner time and you have done nada?

So crafting - I have a plan - bags, I got a book and the fabric is one the way I also want to have a go at clothes but figure bags are one up form cushion covers (my only previous sewing experience) and therefore a good interim stop.  Also will make excellent christmas gifts when they turn out all splendid (see optimism appearing already!).  I'm sure I could be getting on with papercrafting projects but every evening by the time I get the boy down I am ready to curl up myself.  Then there is the worrying - someone is interested in the flat and wants to go back and look again - but knowing our luck it will be one time to many the evil neighbour will appear and we will still have that bloody flat for ever and ever.

Right so creativity at the moment nil - there were days when I happily crafted away these are from last year for a competition entry that went no-where - I liked them though - Cosmo Cricket.

Ok no promises next week - but who knows the flat may be on its way to someone else, I may be lighter still and I might just have made my first bag...............

So press the WOYWW button and head on over to The Stamping Ground - most people are no where near as grumpy promise.......

WOYWW 116 - Gosh has it really been that long?

Well it has been far too long.  It is lovely having a dedicated crafting area except now I never seem to find the time to get up there with part-time tutoring twice a week and the little fella (who is now 3 and doesn't stop talking all day).  I disappeared under a mountain of exam marking for 3 months and then there was the gardening to get to grips with.  But there is a light on the horizon the little fella is going into nursery on a Monday - a precious Monday with no other commitments and my brain is a whirling with plans for presents for that time of year (you know some people have already mentioned and got it out there) so I anticipate having glimpses to show.  This year with having the 2 places (no luck selling the flat yet the evil neighbour has so far foiled any likely buyers) it is going to be a handmade Christmas - there I said it.  The other full time job at the moment is weight loss so armed with an app for my ipod (as I don't have £72 a week to try that Lighter Life thing) I am doing OK so far but it takes a lot of commitment and planning to get in the exercise - funniest thing watching the little fella using some bathroom scales to do stepping, running and hula hooping because the Wii board is too big mummy, I laughed until I cried.

So no desk this week - but I do have a couple of past creations to keep things ticking over until the new master pieces start appearing!

I think the first is obvious and was made using spellbinders, the second card I folded an A4 piece of card in half and stamped the poppies in the corner (Lavinia Stamps - love her stuff) then carefully cut round.  The poppies underneath were done by first loading the stamp with a clear ink for embossing, then the coloured inks, stamping and then sprinkling with embossing powder and heating this allowed me to put other poppies behind as the inks resist the embossed surface. A few strategically placed butterflies (you know where that bit of ink on your thumb transfers to the card -sigh) and a leaving card for a lovely friend was made.

Looking forward to having a nosey at what everyone has been up to so put the kettle on (but no cakes or biscuits for now - sighhhhh).