WOYWW 865 - the New Year Edition!

 Happy WOYWW to you all. I hope you managed to have a happy Christmas. Mine was very quiet. 

I had a couple of gifts to open on Christmas morning (didn't get to see my brother until Sunday) - some perfume from Monica and a notepaper block from my cousin

I had a large roast beef dinner...

then on Monday I had to make space for the man from Virgin to get behind the tv to replace the modem on the computer as they told me it was very outdated..  luckily he arrived early (9) and it was soon all back in place.  You should have seen the dust... oops.  I threw out some dried up ink pads I found whilst there too...

My amaryllis is growing well and about to flower

my fabric tree on the window sill.  

I met up with Kim at Kew on Saturday (27th)  for the regular Saturday trip... it was beautifully sunny again. 

the witch hazel is out in the winter garden so another bright spot of colour. 

there are signs of daffodils in shady spots already coming through too,  so Spring is coming!

I was watching You Tube in bed on Christmas Eve and saw a fabulous Stencil Girl stencil which I ordered from Stampers Grove - not expecting it to be despatched until New Year - but found it on the door mat when i got home from Richard's on Sunday (Royal Mail working overtime!)

so had a play in the ledger journal 

3 rows of different sized people - didn't use the smallest row

(there may have been one or 2 other things in the parcel... )

I am off again today to Kew for my bonus in between trip - we are back to work on Friday to ease us back in gently before next week fully back - so my visits to you will probably be later. (watch out for the Kew pics too later)

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and much good health and happiness for 2026... 

WOYWW 864 - the Christmas edition

 Welcome to those of you that have time on one of the busiest days of the year (if you're hosting Christmas or travelling to visit...)  it's WOYWW again with Sarah and the gang at The Craft Shed 

A couple of weeks ago Sarah suggested we share a card to the group here as not everyone sends cards in the post...so here is mine.  I have been lucky enough to receive quite a few cards and so to those of you who did send one, thank you!   Sending lots of love to Neet especially.  

as usual my designs this year were simple, and flat, and non glittered (not for any environmental reasons, I did intend to go back over them and add some, but my glitter glues were dried up and then I ran out of time... ) 

I haven't done any crafting this week - unless you count wrapping up the few gifts I give.  

it seems a bit out of focus, sorry!!  oh, no look, I did craft, I stamped the tags for the gifts!!  

Kew last Saturday was, once again, sunny!  2 in a row... made a lovely change 

the dogwoods in the winter garden were amazing 

there were loads of gulls, 

and they were very noisy!

I am writing this on Tuesday evening, not long after getting in from work - we're finished now until 2 January (Monica decided we wouldn't open tomorrow morning after all)  and it feels like Friday... there's no chance of me knowing what day it will be when I go back to work..!  

Wishing you all a very happy, peaceful, food and drink filled (if that's your bag)  Christmas with family, friends, or your own company as I am (hurrah, totally able to please myself!) and hoping that 2026 brings good health and fortune to all.  See you on the other side!

WOYWW 863

 Happy WOYWW  all.  Sarah is hosting  I can't quite believe it's so close to Christmas... my cards went in the post on Monday so will hopefully be winging their way to their destinations. 

 

I made a journal page in my Dina Wakley ledger journal 

using stamps by Tim Holtz that I forgot I had intended to use on Christmas cards until they were all made... 

next year, maybe! 

I took Monday off work and went to do my Christmas shopping,just one or two bits left to get.

I also need to buy food for Christmas dinner as I will be at home this year, rather than going to my brother's . I have started the list but will leave the buying till the weekend or early next week. 

I am working up to mid-day Christmas Eve and then we're off until 2 January so it will be a nice break - if we can get through the next week at work!  

Kew was glorious on Saturday (day after our office party and the sun shone like summer)

there was a mist rising off the ground as we entered, it was quite magical 

and the sun was bright on the dogwoods 

the alpine house behind the grass garden was especially stunning

thanks for dropping by, I'll be round when I can.

I edited this post as I thought it was this week we were posting a group card - so it will be here next week instead 

WOYWW 862

 Happy WOYWW all  - I had intended to have had the cards written and in the post but they're still sat next to me whilst I write this...a job for this weekend I think!

Anyhow; it's time for our weekly gathering at Sarah's to catch up with what we're all doing.  

my weekend crafting was another spread in the Dina Wakley watercolour journal - the base layer was distress oxide spray, spread with a big brush then added some stencilled grasses (Alison Bomber stencils)

then I started stamping some of Alison's umbells stamps but due to the texture of the watercolour paper they didn't work too well, so i added some stamped on tissue and stuck on. 

added some sentiments from Alison's stamps 

bosh, done!  

close up. 

You'll probably be surprised (Kim and I were!) to hear we had some sun at Kew last Saturday... made such a difference!

it was so good to see the dogwoods up close from the temporary crossing over the pond 

we also came across a muntjac deer new Queen Charlotte's cottage.  

thanks for popping by, I'll see you soon!  Happy WOYWW 

WOYWW 861

 Hello once again, tis Wednesday and time for WOYWW  You can find the link at Sarah's.  

I had a soggy day at Kew on Saturday - should have done what my Kew buddy Kim did and go Sunday when it was glorious!

but instead on Sunday I had a play with the journal page I started last week

Not sure yet if it's finished, I think it needs a bit more bottom right, but for now it's done 

I meant to tell you last week that the fabric Christmas tree I bought, is built on a metal frame, which has been covered with the fabric scraps. 

It's now in place on my window sill ready to celebrate Christmas, along with the amaryllis bulb which I've planted up and am waiting for it to grow.

So, Saturday, Kew, soggy - but at least not the heavy rain that was forecast, and we were lucky not to have flooding  like some

I did find some colour though

mostly in the form of dogwoods 

I was very jealous of Kim's photos she What's App'd with blue blue skies and lots of sun... ah well!!  

Thanks for looking, hope to see you soon at a desk near you.

WOYWW 860

 Morning peeps, it's time for WOYWW again already. Week 860 - what a huge number!

 Head to Sarah's for the link and see what everyone's been up to.

I had an idea for another Christmas card with one of the JoFY monsters.  

the base he's sitting in is from a Paperartsy HotPicks set and I just cut out the middle square

I probably should have tried to hang him so he's swinging! 

maybe I'll have another go 

and then I decided it was time to christen the new Dina watercolour journal 

splashed some of the Dina glosses on the page and then stencilled white paint over the top... at that point inspiration stopped (out of practice!)  I've stencilled some words ready for the page, but haven't decided on a focal image yet... 

come back next week and we'll see if it progresses. 

It's nice thick watercolour paper, it would take some liquid to get through that so hoping it will stand up to lots of mixed media play!

It was a wet trip to Kew last Saturday (and this week is looking similar) so it was a short blog!

i caught the heron in flight as it took off from just by us at the lake

and some gloriously bright colour from the callicarpa. 

Happy WOYWW - see you soon.

Next week amazingly is December - I mean, really??  

WOYWW 859

 Here we are again, Wednesday and time for WOYWW... 

Sarah has the link at Sarah's Craftshed  

I put a few more Christmas cards together,  not had another count up but think there may be just about enough now.

when we were at Kew on Saturday we took advantage of a members 20% discount week (double the normal 10%)  and did a (very little) Christmas shopping. .   but I also treated myself to a Christmas tree...

it's made of fabric scraps and I'd seen it a few weeks ago 

as you know, i don't have space for a proper sized tree and this will do nicely  on a window sill.  

I also bought myself a gorgeous Amaryllis bulb which I must plant up!  

we also discovered that you can walk across the bridge that's been built across the Palm House pond (it was even open to do so during the day)  and you get a great view of the lights on it close up 

we saw our colourful friend Goldie the Golden pheasant in the woodland too. 

it brightened up a very dull (but luckily dry) day.

That's  it for me this week, Happy WOYWW  and sending continued good recovery wishes to Neet. 

 

WOYWW 858

 Welcome back, it's Wednesday again - so time for WOYWW - head to Sarah's for the link. 

Thanks all for your wishes for my eye - the stye cleared up and all is fine now.

I can't quite remember why I did nothing much at the weekend for the Christmas card production - just 2 and some fussy cutting 

and some colouring of the JoFY monster... I have an idea how I am going to a couple of them on a card

I did remember to get a glue stick during the week, too.  

Today (well Tuesday) at work we were delighted to receive a thank you from a happy client whose mortgage we sorted - they sent 4, one of them for me

and yes, the empty hamper will be very useful too!

it's so  nice to be appreciated. 

Kew on Saturday was fabulous as ever, getting ready for this year's Christmas at Kew light trail so we got some sneak peaks - the pond at the Palm House was gorgeous bathed in sun (when it eventually arrived) 

the surface is covered in these lights - we think they're meant to look like waterlilies and in the sun who needs the dark and being lit up!  

it opens this Friday so no doubt on Saturday there will be more sneak peaks, even in daylight.

Thanks for looking, and see you at a desk near you soon .  I do hope Neet is recovering and there is news of her this week. 

WOYWW 857

 Happy November..(who stole the year?)  another week flew by and it's time for WOYWW again.  Anyone can join in - head to Sarah's for the link

I didn't get so many cards put together last weekend, I had to go speak to the pharmacist in Boots on Sunday as I had a sore eye - it's just a stye and is getting better now 

then whilst I was out I forgot to get a new Pritt Stick glue that had run out - the real reason not many card got put together.

I did these with wet glue just to get some more finished.

the weather at Kew on Saturday was fabulous, mild and sunny and just perfect. It made the colours pop!

we finally found some Fly Agaric mushrooms in amongst the grass near Queen Charlotte's Cottage - bucket list ticked

there were 3 or 4 altogether 

but the sun through the leaves was just magical.

Happy WOYWW to you all, and hoping Neet is doing better.  

WOYWW 856

I can't believe it is Wednesday again and time for WOYWW ... as always Sarah has the link to join in 

I bought more goodies... Alison Bomber had some new stamps and stencils out with Paperartsy.. I only got one of the stencils (such restraint!!!) 

I've not had a chance to play with the stamps yet 

although  I did stamp each set out 

Straight from the laminated sheet they come on - something Alison said in her FB launch that she does just to get an idea..

but then it was back to Christmas cards...

I got 2 paper cuts in making these from attempting to remove tightly packed card from storage boxes... blood was shed on one of the card blanks before I realised but luckily some judicious stencilling hid the damage!  

so there are another 13 made, and I found some small square envelopes to use for 3 others... I need about another 14 or 15 so well on the way. 

Kew on Saturday started chilly, but was sunny.. for a while

Loved the shadows of the vines 

sadly the blue sky didn't last all morning, but long enough for some great Yoshino Cherry backdrop

the heron has such a funny face!

thanks for looking, happy WOYWW  

WOYWW 855

 Hello again deskers,  time for another WOYWW with Sarah and the gang.. 

first off the new goodies... the new Dina journal - smaller size; (about 6 x 9 inch) with watercolour paper.  Not had time to play yet  some more collage tisssue - photographed the back of the pack this time so you might (if you enlarge it) be able to see all the designs!  

I spent a fair part of Sunday cutting down images and assembling Christmas  cards

22 in total!

it took almost as long to find the right colour card blanks for the images I'd prepped!  

before that of course, it was Kew on Saturday

there was no blue in the sky, but the trees were gorgeous..

and a gull kept a close eye on me on the bench by the lake!  

and we sat under red leaves for our refreshments!

I'll be round soon to see what you've been up to

Happy WOYWW