Christmas and WOYWW

There's nothing like the pressure of Christmas to get some craft action going in my studio!  I have not done a great deal but I've made a few cards and I've now just completed the last batch of gift tags. 

I decided to dig out some old stash that I haven't used for years and came across the Tim Holtz Snowflake Rosettes die.  I've had a rather obsessive few days making these gift tags and although not all in snowflake colours they do look quite good against the plain red or plain gold wrapping paper I'm using.

 

I sent a batch of these white ones to my nephew who is decorating his own tree in his own place this year and has been on the look out for tree decoration donations from family, and I also made a handful to go on my dining room tree which is mainly white this year.

I made some others for specific people, hopefully tailored to their tastes - the black and gold one having a slightly Gothic feel, which was difficult to obtain without it looking Halloweenish - I think I've just got away with it but it's my third attempt!

I am joining in with Sarah over at WOYWW this week, and I wish every one a Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and creative 2026.

Mini Grid Collages

 I decided to try and kick start some creativity this week by creating a grid of 6 little collages.  I was recently inspired by Angela (@Felix the Crafty Cat) to make my own collage papers.    It's been fun and quite addictive - I'm already planning my next lot of collages! 

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

Collage - Black to White

 I'm continuing my collage journey and using prompts from Randel Plowman's The Collage Workbook.  

Challenge 3 is using shades of black to white.  I collected so many scraps I had more than enough to make two collages, although I think I prefer the top one.

I also made another white collage (you can see my previous white collage here).

I made it alongside last week's white collage but it really wasn't working for me. So before finally binning it I played around with it and added some buttons and somehow it seemed to work and bring it all together. 

And finally, I printed off some textures for a future collage and this is how my desk looked last night.  I grabbed a quick photo before tackling the roller and glass plate - the one job I don't like doing when I've been printing!

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

A Little Winter Garden in a Tin

I'm working my way through some half finished projects and came across this tin with a couple of half made cocoons in it.   I think the idea might have originally been for a midnight garden last summer, but I decided it was perfect to round off the winter and get another 'work in progress' finished!

The backdrop is a piece of old rust printed cloth that is lying on my desk waiting to be used in another project, but I thought they went quite well together!

  I hope you are all staying safe and well in these challenging times.  I have been amazed at the selfless acts of kindness from the folks in my community - it lifts the spirit and renews my faith in mankind when I see such a supportive group of people on our local self-isolation support group pages.  I hope you are all getting the support you need and are coping fairly well with this horrible situation.

Sending virtual hugs to you and linking up via Julia over at WOYWW.   

Winter Weaving

Whilst having a sort out in my studio I came across a piece of weaving I did last winter - the original idea was a frosty garden with hibernating seeds buried deep and starting to come alive.  It's been lying in the 'winter' box untouched, and although it's rather wonky because I used different thicknesses of yarns and ribbons in the weaving I felt it needed to be finished and filed away!   This week I've added pleated silk, bits of old lace, pearl beads and lots of embroidery as surface decoration.   

 I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW today.

Stay safe, and if anyone gets stir crazy or overwhelmed by the whole process of self isolation and social distancing please do contact me and I'd be very happy to 'chat'!

Winter Garden Collage and WOYWW

This little winter collage is sitting on my work table at the moment, and I've been wondering what else needs to be done to it - something does but I'm not sure what!  It was inspired by my garden which has little houses in it to help the wild life through the winter - a couple of hedgehog houses and several bee and insect houses.  I was keeping the nest image for a more Spring-like collage but decided to use it as we've had lots of birds gathering twigs and nesting materials for the last few weeks, and a couple of Magpies have been fussing around a large half built nest in our Hawthorn tree this week.

I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

Christmas Packages and WOYWW

Happy New Year!

Very little has been going on in my studio since before Christmas - how long ago that seems now - and so there is nothing on my desk at the moment, but I thought I'd share some Christmas packaging I made for family members, just to give me an excuse to take part!

An envelope for a restaurant voucher - front...

and back.

A small box for a cash gift - front...

and back.

A small pillow box for a piece of jewellery - front...

and back.

I am linking up with What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday this week and I've just realised I missed the WOYWW 500 anniversary - what an achievement and thank you to Julia and all the wonderful deskers who have kept it going and made it such a joy to participate in. 

Christmas Cards

I've churned out about three cards this week!  It's relaxing and I love it but I think I need to up my game if I'm going to be done by Christmas!
Here's a couple of them...

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

More Winter Houses

I have been enjoying working on these little houses so much!  

The plants were collected around late Autumn time and pressed for winter use.

 They looked too Spring-like, so I rollered them with gesso!  I added seeds, pearls and buttons, and the addition of glitter has helped to give them a frosty look.

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW to see what other people have on their desks this week!

More Winter Embroideries!

 I've been finishing off the last of my unfinished work from last winter - these two only needed beads adding and some hand embroidery.
I do love working on that soft, fluffy background - it's actually off cuts of thermal curtain lining that a friend donated to me - very appropriate for winter!

 

I'm linking up with Julia over at What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.

Winter Embroideries

Goodness, it hardly seems possible a whole year has passed by and I am now back to working on my winter garden embroideries!  
 These two have finally been finished off after being rudely interrupted by the arrival of Spring last year!

  

I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.