WOYWW 13th Anniversary

Happy 13th Anniversary to all Deskers over at WOYWW - what an achievement, what a fabulous group to be part of and of course a huge thank you and gold star to Julia who makes this possible each week.

Everything has been ATC's here so there's nothing on my desk to show today -  so here's a card I made for the Hubs a few weeks ago!  I've been busy finishing my ATC's and with some help with the die cutting and some left handed stamping (elbow still playing up) I've managed to complete my bundle and they are ready to be sent to their new homes - cutting it a bit fine but I did it!

 

Typography Collage

I made this a couple of weeks ago, continuing my journey with Randel Plowman's Collage Workbook - I had to find a word or phrase and work it in to the collage, so I got out my old typewriter, found some old book scraps and set to work!

I then made some backgrounds for the ATC swap next week followed by some 'extreme gardening', tackling the brambles, ivy and next door's Leylandii that are trying to take over the garden.  The end result of all this hard work is tennis elbow! Not nearly as innocuous as it sounds!

Despite this I'm planning on taking part in the swap and will definitely make a few extra ATC's for anyone wanting to swap, especially now that I already have the backgrounds prepared!  

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW

Numbers Collages

 Two collages from the challenges in the Collage Workbook - both based around numbers.  The backgrounds are pages from an old Logarithms book I found during my clear out, and a technical plan the Hubs was throwing out from his days as an electronics engineer - I think he only parted with it because I said I could find a use for it - and then of course I had to!! 

Some mono prints are sitting on my desk at the moment - I'm gearing up to use some of them in collages but I'm not sure when or how  - as usual there's a lot going on in my head but not very much in practice!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Just adding a quick question - has anyone else had trouble setting up email notifications for comments on their blog - it's completely disappeared so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Deconstructed Collages

A couple of collages this week, still following the challenges in the Collage Workbook by Randel Plowman.  Well one collage actually.  The top one was started in December - I got stuck and left it. This week I decided to stencil the word Paris over it.  Instantly regretted it.  I made a pig's ear of the stencilling - a rookie error, the stencil wasn't taped down securely.  But also it was accidentally upside down (I really should have known better!).  So as the requirement was to deconstruct a collage and peel layers away I deconstructed it and re-made it using bits of the first one.   What a palaver for something I'm not overly keen on anyway - they say it's the journey don't they!

I know I keep banging on about my recent big clear out - last week was a Logarithms book I was thrilled to find and this week it's floppy disks - remember those!  We found a box of about 400 in the loft and went through them destroying any that had personal info on - it left me with a lovely little pile of springs and some odd metal pieces.  I don't really know why I'm keeping them at all, but they were irresistible to me!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Collages, Squares and Rectangles

 I've squeezed in a little bit of collage time this week, despite real life demanding a lot of my time, and I've been continuing with The Collage Workbook by Randel Plowman.  This first collage is using several images cut into squares and rectangles and rearranged.

And these next two collages are of a single image cut into squares and reassembled.  I have done two as I decided I was getting a bit 'black and white' and needed to branch into some colour!

Some more collaging on my desk this morning - this time it's about including numbers and what better use for an old Logarithms book that I found during our mammoth clear out recently.  I loathed them at school, and I'm so glad to have found a better use for them!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Stripes Collage and WOYWW

What a strange week it's been - the Hubster and I had our 4th jabs this week and he's absolutely fine, not a single symptom and yet I was laid out for nearly three days with nausea and flu like symptoms - very different from the last three jabs but I'm not complaining as I'm very aware I'd rather have those than the actual virus!  

While feeling rather weakened I've done a little dabbling in the studio and completed a very simple little collage from the Collage Workbook by Randel Plowman.  The objective was to make a collage using two images torn into strips - even I could manage that I thought - however it all started going askew, obviously the strips weren't completely parallel to each other but to be honest I'd expended so much energy on it by then that I just didn't care - normally I'd start again so you can judge how wiped out I felt!

Not quite a desk shot but one just to the side of my desk. Earlier in the week (pre-jabs) I tackled the ghastly mess that was my 12x12 papers - they are now sorted - some have gone to local ladies who craft, the rest are in colour groups, labelled and sitting in these wonderful Ikea magazine racks that have grown over the years from just 6 to a whole wall full!

 

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.  

Abstract Art and Birthdays

My youngest nephew turned 17 last week and I needed a card and gift envelope - hopefully a card that wasn't too 'hobby' orientated, I've done guitars, fishing, Dungeons and Dragons and so on, and I felt it was time for something more grown-up!  So after some thought I decided to have a go at some abstract painting - my nephew is very arty so I hoped he'd appreciate it!

The layout of the card came from one I saw on Pinterest quite a time ago - I made a note of it in my sketch book but didn't record who it was by, so I hope if anyone recognises it, please let me know and I can give credit where it's due.  

I added gold leaf as the final touch but I'm afraid it doesn't really show up as gold in the photo.

I had such an  enjoyable time making the paintings that I've had another go in a different colour way - I shall cut this up and make some cards.

 During the week I found a lovely mint green cutting board hidden behind some very old portfolios - I can't remember buying it and have no idea how long it's been there but it blends with my 'new' room perfectly (last weeks post shows my mini makeover!) and hopefully I won't warp this one with the heat gun like I did my old grey one!

I joining in the the desk hop over at Julia's this week - you can find us at WOYWW.

Studio Makeover!

  OK I know I've mentioned it a lot lately, but I've been having a clear out!  Not all of it went to charity as I've found some long-hidden treasures that I've used to give my studio a bit of a makeover!

I've replaced my old brush pots with the jade coloured jars that I have had stored away and forgotten about, and the pretty floral jug which was found in my late father-in-law's suitcase of memories!  I decided they looked quite good together and although a creature of habit, I'm enjoying the change of colour scheme!

I also came across a dinner plate and mug while doing my online supermarket shop and they match the 'new' pots very nicely - perfect for a pencil pot and a tray for 'mess'.   

I'm feeling quite smug that I remembered to clean my water pot to a passable standard before photographing it - it was mud coloured yesterday, inside and out!  

It has been a week of quite terrible news and I feel very blessed to be able to indulge in such trifles as these and to feel safe in my own home and surrounding area.  My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine and I hope and pray they will find peace soon.  

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.