Rocking My World Friday

Hello 2012 - I even managed to write the correct year when signing something this week! So what has been making me smile this week?

At the beginning of the week there was New Year. I managed to stay up until 12:30 - first-time in a long time. Watching my parents and their oldest friends doing the penguin game on Wii Sports made me smile a lot!!! well you have to do something to pass the time.

I got a lie in on Monday morning. If my normal sleep patterns were in place I would be awake at 7............. At the moment Timothy is waking me up at 7:45 most days. Sometimes that makes me smile. If he has a favourite film or TV phrase. This week it has just been MUMMY in increasing pitch until I move......

I opened up one of my Christmas presents - I mean I had unwrapped it but it was in a box. It was a wilko cake stand. Finally found time on Monday and the sender had asked for a photo of it once it was together - now it hadn't occurred to me that there was anything out of the ordinary -doh, so image my delight when I unearthed this beauty:

The equations on the top our from the first paper my husband had published while doing his PhD. Seems a shame to cover it in cakes, Guess if we put any on we will just have to eat them as soon as possible ;)

Wednesday afternoon Timothy and I were visited by a good friend (and Timothy's supporting adult - or alternative to a Godparent for those of you with strong religious persuasions). I love nothing more than a good chat about people, life and how to make my world and others better :) of course these days I generally have to compete for time and attention :)

Thursday made me smile the best though. My first day in 3 weeks to myself and with time to craft. In the morning I met my mum and we visited a well known craft store for hobbies where I collected a journal so that in the afternoon I finally got my first postcard finished for Darcy's postcard challenge. I successfully got my head wrapped around the basic background for the storyline and the preface written so to speak.  While crafting I also managed to watch a DVD that came with one of my Christmas presents from a good friends of ours Sew Wild -  the book is about mixed media techniques, creating your own fabrics and papers, free sewing and combining the two to make projects :)

So all in all a good start to 2012.  Head on over to Virginia's and join in the recollection of the good that has happened in your week  - oooh and I nearly forgot - my book is making me smile I read about it on Book Chick City - called Blood Bound, another Christmas pressie (and even better there are 3 books waiting underneath it before I need to worry about what next :)

WOYWW - Hello 2012

I do hope everyone had a splendid Christmas. I actually managed to stay up this year and see in the New Year with my husband, parents and some long standing friends. Too much food has been consumed. Too much food is left over still, especially chocolate :) 

My desk has no crafting on it, I have just finished moving a bookcase downstairs so that I have somewhere to store my sewing and crafting things when not in use - still can't find my black Pitt pens sure they will turn up eventually - maybe I need to hunt for something else? What I do have to show you is most lovely and delightful.  The Fork in the centre is for you Donna - the promised battery spaghetti fork. The rest is what I found when I opened up my not so Secret Santa present from Donna :)

A special Donna journal, it is full of much loveliness. There are lots random pictures below if you want to see. Ideas, suggestions, bit of stash, new ways to do things and spaces for me to fill in. Utterly delightful. I feel so very lucky to have such inspiration in my life. 

There will be crafting and creating I have signed up to Darcy's 52 postcards challenge (click for more) and plans to sew at least a top, a pair of trousers, a bag and a cover for a chair.................. I also want to have a go at book binding. World lobster.........

So you can stay a little longer and drool over the contents of my journal (mine, mine, mine) or you can hop straight on over though the WOYWW link on the right and see how all the other desks are looking this first week in to 2012.

Rocking Your World Friday

Hello *wave* this is my first time joining in:

There is a logical reason for my being here but more about that in a little while.

So what has been good in my life this last week.

First there was Christmas Eve into Christmas Day it all went really well. Why should this rock my world well........The last few times my family have got together my friends it hasn't been pretty, accusations,  crying blah blah blah. There were threats made (by me) and it was just lovely., everyone was on the their best behaviour and a good time was had by all.

My husband  - he made my musical world.  A few years ago in one of those 3 months in your life when it all just goes wrong, I was just leaving Sheffield and my flat was burgled. They took many things including A - S of my very extensive (400 +) CD collection.  In that collection was The Bluetones albumn - 'Last Chance Saloon'. Now my copy had been a limited edition complete with cardboard saloon doors. A couple of years ago my mum tried to get me a copy with the result it was being reprinted and 2 years later still nada. This year my lovely husband got hold of the electronic copy and recorded onto CD so he could 'give' it to me for Christmas :)

My little toddler fella. This Christmas he asked for a battery turning electric spaghetti fork and was quite delighted when Santa delivered. This is the first year he has got the hang of Christmas  and presents so it has been very special :)

Which leads me neatly on to the reactions of the two people who I made secret santa gifts for . I always think it can be a tad risky making (and sometimes even buying things). I love making things and when the person who receives them is delighted it makes life just well splendid quite frankly! Which is why I am a here, as part of my secret Santa stalking was involved and I loved the idea of this post, so with all revealed and out in the open here I am!

Which jumps nicely into the beautiful journal I received as one of secret Santa's from Doone - I haven't blogged it yet, I am still finding my way around all its gorgeousness, but I will do soon.......

So thanks for having me. it has of course been an odd week with all the festivities and we had an open house party today so my crafting has been at zero or less but I have plans a foot oh yes big plans my friend. Have a good one and I'll 'see'  you next Friday.

WOYWW - mmm cake

Hello All! A rare this is what was on my workdesk (like 5 min ago) post. First there is the table of indeterminate purpose:

You may be somewhat unsurprised to hear my crafting mojo is taking a break. It did extraordinarily well I am sure you will agree. Monday I spent the whole day wrapping presents (how long does that take - jeees and didn't have half as many as usual with the budget deficit - oh and watching Harry Potter films......  If you luck carefully you may see some Fimo tortoises that my tutee and I made at the end of yesterdays lesson. Today my workdesk moved to the kitchen :)

Here is my little elf helping me make a cake this morning (it is currently in the oven and smells good :
). The jury is still out on his hair between looks like a girl and what lovely curls. Doesn't look like a girl to me and never has!  SO what does my little elf want from Santa, well it went from nothing to all of a sudden, a battery operated turning spaghetti fork. Well I've had a word in Santa's ear and it is looking very hopeful!

Merry Christmas one and all.  I am looking forward most this week to goose and snow topped spice cake. Oh yes and the big reveal from Carmen's secret Santa what a star for organising that she is :) Have a good one and lets see how many of us make it next Wednesday!

WOYWW - Last Few Bits and Bobs

It was a good week for parcels my friends. First there was the lovely bunting from Lunch Lady Jan won in the festive fabric frenzy :)  (I will display that for you next week. I am not allowed to put up anything but the tree until the end of this week as it was DH's birthday Monday and I try to keep a bit of separation for him).,  Then on Monday there was a double wammy  with my not so secret santy parcel - it's pretty and  you can gently shake it and it makes noise. I'll parade that after Christmas day :) Lastly there was the winning blog candy from Jude at Craft's International  - it is even more lovely in real life than in the picture.  I love memory box paper (why can't we get more of it and the 12 x 12 papers in the Uk?........). I haven't fully assimilated all of the gorgeousness I have been deserted by said DH so it is me and the 3 and a half year old.  He helped me wrap presents yesterday.........

So what is on my desk this week (WOYWW link on the right - gateway to Ms Dunnit's and desk paradise),  well you did ask to see the finished snowman............

There are some presents for my family in the background and the fabric is the start of a second present for my mum to be completed on Thursday. The snow man is sitting on top of the birthday cake (or what T hasn't eaten of it..........) and our lovely muji wooden Christmas tree resides to the right. Just a few simple kids gifts left to be constructed now. The Christmas cards are written and addressed I still have to do the letter but it looks like our happy flat ending is going to drag into 2012, sigh. I just keep holding off and hoping. Would be good to hear it for definite from someone, damn lawyers, vendors and estate agents.  This weekend we need to get the food gifts made and it is the  5th (get that oh yes) the 5th annual waffle brunch.  It is the last time before the 25th we hang out with our close friends. We get together for brunch starting with some cheese and onion waffles and follow up with some sweet waffles with increasingly bizarre and beautiful toppings :) do you have any traditions?

WOYWW a sign of the times

Oh yes you can tell it is December and everyone has gone arrggghhhhhh - the number of comments and visits fair plummets! I'd cry but I'm too busy you know what I mean?  So it is Wednesday and time to present our desks at the bequest of the very fine Ms Dunnit and for the joy of those with still an hour or 2 left to blog. On Sunday night mine looked like this:

Oh yes my friends fun was being had with gluey watery mixture and tissue paper - why? because my lovely MIL who asks rarely for anything was reminiscing about a snowman that came out every Christmas and held a surprise present for everyone and I am sure in her own way she was saying you know how you like making things - so there it is a work in progress (it is now all lovely and white but taking a back seat while higher priority things are happening. On Monday the sewing machine came out again and I had a good run finishing a bag and making a couple of gifts. Now it looks like this:

It's back to paper craft. I am feeling pretty good and on top of things, lets not factor in the Crimble cards that still need writing (still hopefull of being able to include really good news (have I mentioned before that I find Whitefriars a really incompetent company and if the flat is still in our possession during Christmas it will be because of them.....). Only a few more small things to go and at least a couple of weeks :) nearly 3 really......... Lets hope the little ones cold stays with him alone and dh birthday passes smoothly this weekend and I shall remain serene as the landslide towards mayhem develops.................

WOYWW - I blooming finished it at last

Hello lovely people it is nearly here oh yes the month of December. I have yet to see the town with its pretty lights and still need to organise my yearly trip to eat ham at the Birmingham Christmas market but anticipation is in the air my friends.

My desk this week looked liked this:

Complete and utter carnage and then of course I had to clear it for dinner - now all it has on it is some drinks and a laptop - why I hear you cry because my friends my task today was to finish the advent calender and it is done oh yes it is done and it has been presented to my dear son and greeted with much interest - we counted along the number of days and then yes there are presents at the end. Now it is hung and filled with chocolatey goodness so I present to you (sewers please don't look at the corners, otherwise rather a proud lady!)

The done could also apply to the finished making parts of all secret Santyness oh yes or the pile of Crimble cards you can see at the back all made and ready to be written in and padded out with the obligatory summary of the year (I am holding out ladies (and gent) for the hopeful news of the sale of our flat (enquires answered (hopefully well enough) paperwork returned, searches in, surely I can start to hope again now, surely it will all be over soon.  The only current blight on my cheery landscape - some bugger snaffled me credit card details - caught very early (John Lewis have a very effective monitoring technique) but now I am without a card for a week or so and I faithfully clear my card every month but I do spend it all so I am sitting very tight and hoping it arrives sooner rather than later (very glad we stocked up on food at the weekend.....). Can I just say though I love my new book binding glue where has this stuff been for the last 2 years of my life?

Right off you go desks to been seen, there is a WOYWW banner on the right click and enter a world of WOW (like you don't know about it all already ha!)

WOYWW - sssshhhhhhhhh

My desk for you all this lovely crispy morn. This was my facebook status yesterday
 '‎2hours cleaning and tidying, 4 hours tutoring, hour and a half making elves, santa, reindeer sleigh and snowy scene (with help of CBeebies magazine). Now for dinner. Another quiet day at the ranch. Watching Timothy fly a sleigh around shouting 'hee hoo' and 'another blooming Christmas'.............'  

It should go on to say ' eat dinner, try and persuade toddler (failed miserably - banned biscuits fed milk instead) to eat some dinner, hang up 2nd load of washing, wash-up, help put toddler to bed, craft for an hour and a half while watching Kate Crane DVD, go to bed, read book for 20 mins then fall fast alseep. Nothing to reveal on my desk this week- all secret santy at the moment (nudge nudge wink wink). The sleigh and accompaniments are visible in the background.......

Sorry I didn't get round to visiting everyone who came to me last week (I will do better this week), and helo to Shaz in Oz :). Durham was beautiful as always - not the visit we had hoped with the Lumiere festival on but we were all delighted by the snow globe in the market square (which is good because it really was all we got to see)

Next to it is the place we stayed in Durham - our favourite drinking place when we lived there (and I was fortunate enough to live on Hallgarth St for 2 of my 3 years. We also spent our wedding night there :) so lots of happy memories.  I will stick up a separate post about the image transfer (don't worry Crafty Elf I tend to post on Wednesdays and if I do a different thing I'll give you a heads up on a Wednesday!).

Right I think that is as brief as I can manage. have a good week and I'll see you all next week in December (ha ha ha - how many of you are panicking? - don't go and look at desks instead via Mrs Dunnit and the WOYWW link on the right (like you don't know how to get there already....)

WOYWW - Some of it is not even for Christmas

Only one thing for Christmas this week from me, still working on DS advent calender, all the stitching is in place and I am just quilting Santa - I am really pleased with the way it is looking.  The table of determinate purpose is getting more of a look in this week so I have something to display. At the end of last week I finished my card for the Quick Cards competition - 12 days of Christmas it is not as elaborate as my previous entries so not sure if it will get anywhere - but I scanned it in and plan to print off copies to send out as my cards this year:

Meanwhile on my desk today are these non Christmas treats:

On the right I signed up for a free course on Willowing with Guadalupe Brizuela Cabal learning how to draw and colour Mandalas. Very relaxing and an interesting experience, this was the result of the first lesson part 2 tomorrow . On the left is the start of my last memory box for a wedding this weekend in lovely Durham, I am intrigued to see what is going to happen I found an image transfer technique.  Basically coat a piece of cardstock with washable PVA glue in a thin layer and allow to dry.  Print picture on to cardstock (I had to flip my photo of Durham castle and cathedral in picture manager so it is the right way in the end). Apply a thin layer of mod podge to the area of wood that you want to apply the picture then press down while still wet and make sure picture is well adhered to the wood. Then wait overnight so here we are:

Tomorrow evening I will apply water to the cardstock and gradually rub away leaving hopefully the finished transferred image. If it works well then I shall do the same idea with the date - if not paint will be coming out!

Hope you are all having a good week and may you get round lots of desks and experience lots of goodness via Mrs Dunnit :)

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.