WOYWW - Pining for Crafting

Just a very quick post because, as you may imagine, with the loss of Rich's Step-Father, it has a busy & emotional time for us all.

We have been in North Wales a lot to support his Mum and trying to tackle the mountain of admin that seems to surround winding up someone's worldly affairs.




We headed home early on Sunday morning & amongst washing, gardening & cooking, I managed to snatch a couple of hours at my craft desk - being away so much I had been experiencing that edgy, pining feeling you get when you can't do anything creative because real life demands your attention !
Well that's how it gets to me anyway !

So I was determined to get this month's Alphabet ATC completed for Lynda & my monthly challenge - I adore Poppies so it was an obvious choice for "P" this month !

I had decoupaged a couple of House of Zandra images several week's ago but finally got them made up into cards at last !

And I had admired a sea inspired scene on Emma Williams blog a few weeks ago so decided to have a go at my own interpretation for the "Under The Sea" challenge in the Journal 52 project.

So all of this restored a bit of calm to my brain & was a welcome distraction !

Next week we have to face the funeral - so may not be here to join you !

Take care Ali xx

WOYWW - Sad Week

Hi, it has been a sad week as Rich's Step-Father passed away last Wednesday.
Although he had been ill, it was all very sudden in the final days & came as a shock to us all.
So we have been in North Wales much of last week to support his Mum & help with all the things that need to be done to these times.

So obviously crafting hasn't been high on the agenda & my desk is rather a messy heap of "stuff" - mainly freebies from magazines on the top  !

And a new Poppy die on the right there & the note book has a list of the Journal 52 topics.

I am way behind but not stressing about it - all in good time !
So what if it takes me into next year !



Last week, before all the sadness, we had had a box card session at Scrapclub - everyone had a go at making one in their own style or theme !
Some were Christmas & some for birthdays - here they are all in various stages of construction !

Here are a couple of happy signs I saw at the weekend - just the thing when I needed something to make me smile !

And this cute Owl appealed to me too - might have a go at making one at some stage !

And just as fascinating - we spotted several of these amazing jelly fish right by the beach as we went out for a breath of fresh air ...

Forgive me if I don't get to reciprocate many visits this week but we are heading back North later this week to help make the funeral arrangements etc. ...
Take care & catch up next week. Ali xx

WOYWW - Reunion - All Our Yesterdays !

Well, take 8 school girls and fast forward 30 odd years - mix in a lovely hostess, a gossipy late evening, celebratory bubbles and a great supper - and you have our "Hastings Girls" Reunion last weekend !

It was amazing to meet up again with the girls I had been close friends with at school - but some of whom I hadn't seen for over 20 years !
If we said "wow but you haven't changed a bit" once we said it a dozen times !
Do you know those missing persons programmes on telly where they show you a photo then fast forward it to show you what they would look like now - well it was sort of like that - we all had the faces from school 30 years ago - but with a few more creases & slightly more lived in !!
We had a lovely weekend catching up & putting the world to rights !

As I was over in England I decided to pop into the Art Stamps show at Newbury Race Course - such a fun venue - I even got to walk over the track where the horses run - it was amazing to imagine them all thundering towards me !

The Show was slightly less inspiring sadly - it was much smaller this year and far fewer stands - but obviously still succumbed to some new stash ! But I did have a bit of a list - so at least it was planned purchasing !
Some new Sweet Poppies stencils & the little Distress Inks cubes !

When I got home on Sunday the weather was lovely - ideal for Sun Printing !

I snipped a few plants & flowers from the garden to create a print - one of them I didn't get right as the water bowl I was setting the prints in was in the sun itself - so the white areas stayed a bit blue !

But I was quite pleased with the other 2 prints !

 

See you next week !
Ali x

WOYWW - Workdesk In The Sun At Wisley !

Well this weekend we were away having adventures with Lynda & her husband.
We were heading for the stunning gardens run by the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley in Surrey.
When I lived in West London Much Beloved & I used to go frequently but it is much more of a trek from here in West Wales nowadays !

So we had planned this trip way back last year - timed to see the amazing Long Borders in their Summer splendour ! But with storms forecast for Saturday we flipped the weekend over & had a lovely stop in Lechlade on Saturday. Complete with a trip to the Christmas Shop !

Then on to overnight in Guildford to be at Wisley early for a full day on Sunday - and happily Lynda & Robert agreed it was worth the trip & the early breakfast !

They had an Arts Fest running last weekend and we had the chance to create a Sun-print with Barbara Gunter Jones - this was great fun !

See her website here http://www.barbaragunterjones.co.uk/




So here we are crafting in the sunshine !

I had forgotten quite how lovely the gardens are - I know a lot of you love gardens too so here are some of the highlights to share with you !  

Here is some of the art we saw at the Arts Fest

And here is the Card in a Box I made for Lynda & couldn't show you last week until I had given it to her !!

Have a great week ! Ali xx