WOYWW 820

 Welcome back deskers, it's Wednesday again, can only mean one thing.  WOYWW time!  

I am getting so bad at remembering birthdays - it was my SIL's on Monday and my niece's the day before.. well Lynne (SIL) card went in the post on Monday ahem.  I don't have my niece's address so it was a FB message only...

having made the speediest card ever on Sunday...

the background is the new Paperartsy stencil (well had to play didn't I)

the main image is a Stampotique image and the greeting one of Dina's

I also had another play in the new ledger journal,

started but not yet finished..

there's a Dina-style "oops oh well" moment on the left hand page with the reverse bird...

I had used up some leftover gesso on the following page and forgot it wasn't dry when I was stamping the birds..

had to prize the pages apart but in doing so the ink from the birds wasn't dry either so left a mirror image on the left hand page...

Kew on Saturday was a solo visit as Kim skipped it with a heavy cold..

I visited the orchids again..

these are indoors (in the Temperate House) it's still a bit early for the outside ones to be blooming.

there were signs of Spring though, along Cherry Walk near the Temperate House, where the tulips that mass under the cherry trees are just starting to emerge through the grass... yay!! 

It's mad busy at work so it may be evening before I get round to see you - happy WOYWW!  

WOYWW 819

 Happy WOYWW deskers.  Wednesday again, already!  Head over to Sarah's for the link and other desks

I had a chance to play with the new ledger journal 

I have no idea how I have managed to get these photos side by side... I clicked something, not sure what!

I used the new Mattint colours on the journal page, then stamped some Dina images from old sets, on the page in different colour inks and used one of the Dina coaster stencils to create the sunburst effect.

Week 2 of the orchids saw rain (what a surprise!) at Kew... not so many photos this time 

the main display "horn of plenty" is fabulous

Julia left a comment last week that she doesn't really like orchids - some of them, neither do I, but the shapes and colours are gorgeous!  

i'll leave you there, happy desk hopping day, I'll be round soon!

WOYWW 818

 Happy WOYWW - desk sharing day...  

it's been a week of deliveries... new crafting goodies...

first up were some Paperartsy goodies, new stamps, a stencil and 3 more Mattint colours. 

I was restrained with this order, as I didn't get everything that was released!

I used some of the Seth Apter stamps in a journal...i was intending to do a light and dark version on the 2 pages but then stamped the darker pink on the light page.... oops oh well as Dina is fond of saying.

talking of Dina, hers was the next delivery - part of her new release (I was restrained with this order too, and didn't get everything!!)  

She's been teasing us in her supporter videos on facebook with the ledger journal for a while, and now here it is

its made of the same weight paper as in Dyan Reaveley's journals, nice and thick but cuttable.  

there are some blank pages too here and there, but the idea is, that the printed ledger pages remove the "fear of the blank page" syndrome some people have. 

Saturday at Kew saw the opening of this year's Orchid Display - and very beautiful it was too - head to the Kew post for lots of pics but here's one or two to tease you...  This year's featured country is Peru

the main display feature

loved the pelicans, there were several 

there will be more to come over the next 4 Saturdays - both Kim and I have booked a time slot for each of the Saturdays the festival is on.

thanks for looking, I'll be round to see what you've been up to soon. 

WOYWW 817

 Hi, deskers.  It's another non-productive week here, but I'm linking at Sarah's again for WOYWW.. hardly anything for me, again!

I have made a birthday card for a friend, using some of Alison Bomber's grasses stamps for Paperartsy, 

I didn't photograph the card in very good light, but the background is sprayed with bundled sage distress oxide spray, and stamped with the avocado and nocturne versafine clair inks. 

maybe next week there'll be more.....

Kew last Saturday was great - sunshine AND blue skies... which made a lovely change

inside the palm house, on the viewing platform...

there was action at the lake - some of it chasing after food

and some a bit more frisky!  

Next Saturday sees the start of the 2025 Orchid Festival, so watch out for lots and lots of orchids!!

Can't believe (even though we say this every month!) that it's the end of January already...

Happy WOYWW.  I hope you've all had a good week .

WOYWW 816

 Sarah has the latest link for this week's WOYWW once more - we'd love to see your crafty spaces and tales of tidying and sorting (MaryAnne!) 

Not a lot of either going on here....

I added some more layers to the journal page, with stamping and collage.  

I did also scribble a border round the page after I thought 

I'd finished as it didn't look finished!

Saturday's trip to Kew was back to being dull and grey (though luckily dry) 

so I photographed things (this is a teasel) from different angles

and was pleased to see some of my favourites back in flower.... the Temperate House used to label this Silver Daisy Bush and I loved it (still do) although that label now seems to be attached to something else...

however, it's a beauty!

I think we are in for a wet and windy visit to Kew this week (hoping that the forthcoming named storm doesn't strike too badly in the South of England and I can still go to Kew!   

Happy WOYWW and see you soon.  

WOYWW 815

 Another Wednesday, another WOYWW...  head to Sarah's for the link - come join in and share your desk.. 

I was prevaricating at the weekend with a journal page 

I love this stencil (one of Dina's) - a huge swirl.  

I didn't get as far as finishing it though.

I was prevaricating from researching and ordering a new washing machine so I am still without... 

being careful about wearing things that might need washing after!  

Several of you mentioned Euronics centres.

there isn't one near here any more - the current machine came from one before it closed down, but I wasn't happy with them - it was due to be delivered and fitted one new year's eve - they were running late and brought it in and upstairs to my kitchen, and left it..... luckily my brother was on hand to come to the rescue to plumb it in for  me!  

anyhow I shall get round to it this weekend (I can never summon up the energy for things like that after a long day at work) 

I did have a beautiful, if VERY cold trip to Kew on Saturday - it was very frosty, but the sun was out and in the end I didn't feel cold (but I did have lots of layers on!)

the sky was so blue, and everything was frozen..

it really was spectacular.  

thanks for looking - catch you soon.  

WOYWW 814

Well, here we are,  time for WOYWW again - I was about to wish you all happy new year then realised we'd done that already.... no matter, Sarah will have the linky details for you to join in.

I used the new stamps for my brother's birthday card. 

I did intend to spend some time at the weekend crafting, but after I got home from Kew on Saturday I realised I was getting a cold, then on Sunday my washing machine packed up and I had to rinse out the clothes by hand and try and get them dry...

(It's the heating element apparently when I googled the fault code,  but at least the door opened and I could get the washing out....)

I haven't researched or ordered a new machine yet, so that is a job for this weekend and then trying to persuade someone to deliver it and plumb it in bearing in mind I am in an upstairs maisonette... 

I do hope everyone is surviving the cold/wet spell and not affected badly by the snow/ice or floods.. 

Kew on Saturday was cold, but not unbearably so.

the pond was frozen

there were lots of frosty leaves

but the witch hazel provided some much needed colour

Thanks for looking and happy WOYWW . see you soon.