WOYWW 781 - the crop

 Hello, deskers.  Last weekend was the Crop in Stoke.  photo heavy post to follow...  We were all stunned last week to see that Julia is stopping co-ordinating  WOYWW but Sarah has stepped in to keep us running in order!  for now, here is the story of the crop (and the rest of mine and Cindy's time in Stoke - if you want to see our exploring of Stoke (and Trentham Gardens) head to my other blog - here    

I don't seem to have started taking photos very early..

 Eva, Pat (Sarah's SIL) and Cindy

Julia (sitting)  at the far end of the table is Angela (Felix the crafty cat)  Annie (Wipso) Caro and Mary Anne

I was playing with the Mattints

lunchtime - lots of cake was on the counter where Mary Anne is standing with Jo and Annie

far side under the window - Lynne's husband Brian, Sarah and Cindy, table on the right Julia and Caro

Sarah and Jo (Twiglet) behind the counter 

Annie getting ready to toast Julia 

Neet in her new stroller talking to Lynne and Brian

Jo making her speech of thanks to Julia

"unaccustomed as I am ...." 

then it was time to get crafting again!

Eva, Cindy and Pat

time for the customary group photo

cue Brian who was going to act as photographer

back row, Pat, Lynne, Caro, Sarah, Jo, Annie, Angela, Eva, me, Mary Anne,  front, Neet, Cindy, Julia 

trying not to let anyone escape before we'd all finished our shots

I had been working in a journal as well as the tissue painting with Mattints, and Sarah asked if I was going to get people to sign it again as I have a few times...

Julia,  mid signature, was the final desker to sign! 

if you have had a chance to see the "Stoke/Trentham Gardens " you will have seen that Cindy and I went back to Sarah's so got to see the Shed

and on Monday we decided not to go out and about but to stay and have a crafty play day... this is at the house we rented.

so 2 desks in one WOYWW... next week it will be back to the floor at home. 

oh hang on, I forgot one.

the atcs!  

for those of you not at the crop:

top row, mine, Angela, Cindy, Eva, and 

the print top right is from Pat,  gorgeous!  

middle row, Lynne, Annie, Julia, Neet (overlaid with Jo) Neet, and the tag is Sarah's

bottom row, Caro (plus badge) and 

Mary Anne, bottom row  right had done her usual stunningly intricate folded holder for her atc and badge! 

Thanks to everyone!  

I do have some left so am sending some out randomly!   Happy WOYWW  all.

WOYWW 779

 Just a week to go to the WOYWW anniversary - and not much longer to the crop when several of us will get together to  craft   chat     eat..   (delete as appropriate)  I can't wait!

I finished the atcs... but decided to keep them "secret" at least for this week.  

based on the expected numbers Sarah mentioned last week I have 1 for everyone going to the crop, plus keep one for me, and one for my PIF (assuming they're not going to the crop) and one for Morti who signed up for a swap..

so as not to just show you the backs of some atcs, here is a journal page I played about with at the weekend.

Had a lovely morning at Kew on Saturday, the first member's early opening Saturday (they actually start on 1 May but I was at work) 

the new Marc Quinn exhibition is FANTASTIC and I took loads and loads of photos - link to blog here    I didn't know until I heard a feature about him on Radio 4 last week, that he is the sculptor who created the Alison Lapper statue for the 4th plinth at Trafalgar square some years ago. 

and a couple of teasers. 

it's going to be 6 months of reflections and fun! 

I'll be round to visit you soon till then, happy WOYWW. 

WOYWW 696 - didn't we have a lovely time the day we went......

to Bangor.. no, no, Radbrook. (showing my age there with the song reference)     ok so I will start with an apology as this will be a very photo heavy post as I haven't had time since I got home to write a separate post for these photos.   Julia was kind enough to drive Cindy and I there (we got the train down to Andover where we set off on Friday afternoon. A long wet journey but we settled into a very nice Air BnB that Julia found

in the morning we headed to the hall to help Jo and Annie set up

the cake table...

crafting tables set up

can't forget the banner

once all was ready there was time for a cuppa and early cake before the deskers arrived.

Annie's hubby Doddy chatting to Julia 

Sarah (in the black) Angela (Felix the Crafty Cat) with her back to me, Dee (who drove Christine)  Angela and Eva (the other side of the desk)

Cindy and Neet

Caro, Annie and Julia

and a better one!

some opening announcements from Jo 

being carefully listened to!

then it was time to get on although still lots of milling and chatting!  

I did a journal page for everyone to sign again, this is the third time I've done it now (creature of habit)

and took it round the tables for people to write in

waiting for inspiration!  

even Annie and Jo had some time to craft

you can't mistake Christine with her pink hair

Eva - Sarah is trying to get her to start a blog.  

towards lunchtime, Jo's daughter Maxine (Tilly Tea Dance, needle felter extraordinaire) popped in , it was lovely to meet her

Pear Shaped Chris's turn to sign...

and when everyone had finished...

it's a lovely way to remember a great day.

time to get lunch laid out

before the gannets pounce! 

afterward sit was time for more chatting

then some group photos - with Jan and Gordon away celebrating their ruby wedding in Scotland, we got Chris's husband Tony to take some of all of us but I grabbed some too

there will be one somewhere with me in! 

a bit later I was astounded to see Julia doing some stitching,  she said it's the first time she's ever sat down and crafted at our crop!

so had to record it...

after we drank a toast to dear departed friends, but especially our lovely Shaz, it was time for more chatting.  we had a raffle too and raised some money for a great local charity 

to finish off the afternoon I managed another journal page!

phew, if you've made it this far, well done!  

Once again, thanks to Annie and Jo for organising, sorting the food,  to Julia for the driving, every desker newbies and regulars, for making the journey, for a great day!

Happy WOYWW  

just realised I haven't linked why we're here and where you can find us... head to Julia's for more stories of the crop 

edit

forgot to add the lovely atcs, tags and items other deskers had taken - I failed miserably

so thanks,one and all