Well, that was fab..

Great weekend for me, am going to brag a little. Spent Saturday in the kitchen (my second favourite place) and despite burning 12 mini mince pies, everything else was delicious. Although, not as much as I'd hoped has gone into the freezer for the holidays. Ho Ho Hum.

See that little car boot crammed with stuff? It's the after-packing. Yesterday was 2 Scrap Ladies' Christmas Card Marathon. It's the only photo I have that represents anything of the day. And I took it about 10 minutes ago! (Note to self: Call yourself a scrapbooker!) I was absolutely desperate for a cup of tea when I got home, so I pretended that there was no unpacking to do. Naturally, first thing this morning my bleary eyes were delighted to see my oh so tidy workroom. And then my brain kicked in and reminded me that practically everything I use on a daily basis was still in the car. And it still is actually. Like turning on the computer, I've left it until other jobs have been done. Because once I settle into this room, I'm a real-life-gonner and there's still a deal to do about the house!

Oh and just so you know: they're still there...this photo also taken today. OK so I can't really prove that, but look at it this way..I've barely been in the workroom this weekend AND I have a handful of sweeties right in front of me..so today at least, I don't need 'em! So onwards and erm, forwards I think. A bunch of now painted wooden hearts needs my attention - yes Linda, Mr Dunnit cut 'em out for me. One day, when I'm really brave, I'll tell you the story about the machine he uses. It's kinda like a big ol' Cricut. It involves a swear word tho', and you know me, I wouldn't want to be offensive!

Reality Check:

Here's evidence of an abandoned project. Honestly, those pom-poms are little...about as big as a 10p piece. No wonder I lost it. Even before it turned into a 'look what I made at Playgroup' end result!
So I have a bunch of small pom-poms and a part used ball of yarn (technical term) going begging. Seriously, if you can use it, let me know. Save it from the box of discarded stuff that I can't bring myself to throw away, but will never use.
So in the interest of balance, here's a shot of something to replace the silly pom-pom idea, but very much a work in progress. And I can only show you the painted backs of these hearts because rather inevitably, the decoration for the front is still trapped in my mind's eye. Just pray that I can realise it satisfactorily. If you're in the Ornament swap for which these are destined, pray hard.

And finally (as they say in worthy radio articles and such), I'd like to leave you with a shot of my stamp shelves. They've appeared before, the mess of stuff on the bottom shelf is different though. The bottom shelf is actually the worktop height of my desk and so becomes a residual dumping ground and a sort of work-in-progress holder. My go-to place, for sure. So why am I showing this when it's not Wednesday, or frankly, even interesting? Look at the stack in the bottom right corner. Those blue things. Bars of chocolate. For use in a workshop which I thought was next week, but so help me, turns out to be scheduled for the week after. Hmm, now just how strong do you think I am? Check back, I'll keep a photo diary, it may improve my chances.
Have a lovely weekend, whatever you're doing!

Plus ca change, la meme ca change.....

Alter:



–verb (used with object)
1.
to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify: to alter a coat; to alter a will; to alter course.
2.
to castrate or spay.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to change; become different or modified.


So I'm wrong. You can use 'alter' to describe my little canvas, because I have made it different in style...as in the addition of paint, paper shapes and beads. But you have to admit, that's what my £1 canvas is for. So I'm not, in essence altering its intended purpose: to apply paint and stuff to it. Of course, turning it into a tent would alter it, fairly significantly. But even the definition above suggests some sort of radical change occurs on alteration. As in - alter course, alter a will......that which it was is now something else. In altering, you change the use or meaning. And let's face it, that's not what we do at all. We re-cover notebooks and jazz up the pages, but it's not altering..they are still notebooks. Only slightly less easy to use because you don't want to spoil it now! And that's what I mean when I bore you witless about the 'altering' thing. The addition of paint ink and paper doesn't necessarily alter something. We 'enhance' a lot. As far as I can tell, if it isn't super-glued out of reach, then one crafter or another will have tried to enhance its appearance. Whatever it is.
Now this opinion could easily be explained by lack of imagination when it comes to this sort of thing. It's not that I don't like what the 'alterers' do..my goodness, some of the stuff you see is breathtaking. Perhaps that's what makes me the pedant. I'm no good at it therefore no-one should be able to do it. I would try to alter my opinion, but I'm too old. The title of this post, badly translated: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Leave me to the enhancing then. I need the practice.

So, What's On Your Workdesk?

It's come around really fast - am to be found in normal panic mode but, my word, also in TIDY mode! Yes. When the going gets tough, I have to be organised and you can't be organised with six tonnes of stash spread across the table, worktop, floor and fold-up chair that I unfolded just to create another surface. It takes so long to find anything. I know, those of you that tidy as you go and put away religiously are, as I type pinning on the 'Told You So' medals. But it's not that I didn't already know that, nor that I don't yearn for that particular wholesome, some would say anal, characteristic. But it's just not my way. Anyway, today we have a reasonable order about the desk.

There of course is my wooden card holder, as usual, in improper use, but doing a sterling job. The gold holographic card is about to be used to mount some instructions on. You can see two others poking out of the 'envelopes' leaning against the back of the table. These are the supplies needed for the Marathon cards. Well the first three cards anyway. Way to go in terms of preparation then! You can see my stapler. Nothing remarkable about it at all. Except that lump of blue-tack has been on the top for over seven years. If I were vaguely superstitious, I would consider it a blob of luck or longevity. But I ain't and it isn't. It's a bit dusty if that means anything. Apart from the obvious non-dusting, lazy-cow type meaning, of course. Behind the sellotape dispenser is a small number of dollar bills. I forget how many and it's 3 feet from where I'm sitting at the moment, so I'm not going over there to count it. It represents the the Ornament exchange that I documented earlier this week. I of course, cannot send postal stamps to enable Megan, my host over there in the USA, to post forward my Ornaments, so am going to send her the notes as payment. Sounds like a plan huh. So did my ornament idea. Look out for plan B. Er, any day now!

There's chocolate on the desk too. And I won't be eating it. Very front right corner is a bar that I've made a new cover for - part of a workshop next week. NOT altered for goodness sake, just re-covered. Presumably even the mighty TH wouldn't alter chocolate; I think he'd slide down the ratings a bit quick if he did! There's a couple of Moleskine notebooks on the front edge too. They're awaiting transformation by stamps and stuff. Again, not altering, because they'll still be notebooks when I've done something to them. Getting the theme here? Gosh, I may start a campaign about the word 'alter'. As soon as I've altered my attitude and become uber organised that is.

Come on then, join in. Show us your work desk/top/carpet/surface...we're not bothered by what you work ON - we wanna see what you're doing and what you've got. Yep, we really are that nosey! Now, you can comment here and/or link to your blog, we'll all come round and have a rummage. It's only for fun, no need to tidy first and it's only for fun. So don't take it seriously, just join us for a bit of united fun. Grab the WOYWW button from the sidebar of this blog if you like. That's also a bit of silly fun. Apart from the skill that made the button of course - Steph and Annie were behind that, not me.

Mr Dunnit steps up....(again)

So further to the Ornament dilemma. I worked out why they don't look like the idea that I had in my head. Simple really. I don't like 'em. So, I'm going to (rather quickly) do something else. Naturally there's a story to this. I posted about my quandry on Friday afternoon. In domestic terms, this family was planning an evening apart. Miss D was off to the cinema with her flame haired chum to watch New Moon. Which meant that Mr Dunnit and I were going to have a date night. Which is quite an exciting, romantic sort of thing to do after all these years, innit? We don't plan a 'date night' I should tell you - I have acquired the phrase through my reading of the blogs of other people who have perfect husbands, children, houses, lives. It seems that 'date night' is the glue that binds and indeed deepens a lot of marriages. A lot of soul searching and real talking seems to occur on 'date night' so I was totally up for it. I planned that we'd go out - I'm afraid to tell you that I will do almost anything to avoid Children in Need on the telly. Spending a friday night sniveling and snotting on the sofa because I can't do more is really not a good thing for me. So I don't anymore, I can whip myself without help, thanks!
So Mr Dunnit came home from work, I threw a less than gourmet meal at Miss Dunnit (guilt, see, really she can get her own!) and off we went. To Currys. Yep, he has a yearning for a new tv and we have a need for some new white goods, so he thought it would be a good chance to do some late night shopping. Except.... he isn't the chap that walks into the store, sees the appliances and tv that we want, does a deal and leaves. Oh no. There's a lot of research to do first. And for me, a lifetime's yawning. I realise it's important, but I hate it and it's boring and hey - date night! For once though, this may have paid off - I was sulking around the store (I know this is hard to believe of me, but at least I'm big enough to admit it). I mean, apart from my spoilt date night anticipation, I was suffering terrible angst over my ornament failure. And then it hit me. My new and latest idea.
As a reward for being good in Currys, Mr Dunnit bought me supper and I gabbled about my new idea. It invovles him a bit see - I need some wooden shapes . Not only did he agree that my new idea is great and would be lovely and better and no trouble for him to help me out with - he said he'd make extra shapes because he felt sure that some of the family would love it too. Now maybe that's proper date night talk!
So here I am, all fired up with enthusiasm. Again! Watch this space, huh.
(It won't be this reindeer ornament, I just wanted you to see him.)

Me and my big mouth...

Honestly, it's been a lifelong problem, and no further proof is needed than this: yes it's meant to be an Christmas tree ornament. The original idea came from the Better Homes and Gardens American magazine website. Last year of course. I have a problem with the supply of round tuits, so things get delayed. I made (yes, me of the fat fingers and absolutely zero patience) more teeny pom-poms than I care to count. And I chose a yarn (technical term) that apparently knits up like a hairy fleece. Well let me tell you, if you make pom-poms out of such a hateful texture, it catches on every snag and imperfection on your nails and fingers and makes you swear copiously. I cannot imagine why the manufacturers would build that into a product, but there it is. Has that destroyed any chance I had of this blog being sponsored by a yarn (technical term) producer? Probably. To be completely frank, at this moment, I'd stick two fingers up..but they're covered in blue fluffy bits and look more ridiculous than rude. So after the pom-pom trials, I used the Cricut to cut out the snowflake shapes from this stunning aqua mirror card. Lovely huh. Mr Dunnit says its not a very realistic snowflake and shouldn't it be white? Bloody realists. No romance in their souls.

So then I string them together, (well, ribbon them) the snowflakes are in 3 descending-by-half-an-inch sizes, to make the 'lovely tree ornament'. Only it's not at all what I envisaged and I have no time and frankly no other idea for the materials. Because I have to make eleven. Because I have to get them in the post. To America. Because I agreed to be in an Ornament swap. For this year. Because I thought it would be fun. FUN! All I've done so far is worry and whinge! I dunno. Do you think they'll pass muster or should I try something else with my ahem..nearly £20 worth of gathered materials? Bear in mind that the pom-poms look like shots of white light because of the flash...the reality is slightly less gasp-inducing....the bigger picture is non-flash, against an unpainted door. A bit like turning the light on at the end of a party, huh! Should I have the thick skinned courage of my convictions and send these to my unknown american friends anyway? I could always put a made up name on it. What a quandry. Oh and if I'm still blogging next year and I mention a swap of this sort of importance, shoot me.

Visitors

I hope the weak sunlight bouncing off their little baggies won't make it too difficult for you to see my visitors. They came about five minutes after I had ordered them from Wipso. Teeny, hand felted hand stitched bears, each with their own poetic message. They are visitors though, for they are destined to live with others. There's a couple of Christmas Bears, the lilac craft bear, a Bon Voyage bear and a small comfort bear that will be delivered today. They fit perfectly well inside a card - and for me that underlines the gesture that the card has created.


Workshop day today; appropriately, we're doing Thank You cards; and here's one of them....rocket science it ain't, but I am still very drawn to text on a card. Indeed, I have a little voice in my head called Sandie who once - totally off the cuff - said that I was incapable of producing a card without text on the front. She was right, and every time I'm searching around for a finishing touch - and it turns out to be a text stamp, or die cut letters, I hear her, but don't stop! Can't help it. So these are the perfect card for me. Quick and easily repeateable if you are still lovely enough to write thank-yous after Christmas and Birthdays...and I've shoved it on quite a big card, so could easily double as a lovely post-Christmas letter, or use it as a biggie for the kids to share so that the torture of formal thanking doesn't go on forever. Because it often does! Do you still write the odd thank you? Or is it all about email and text now? I dunno, the number of cards I make, you'd think someone would tell me not to bother if it was really a waste of time, wouldn't they?
But the very best thing about this card - I made it out of my scrap box! No, not 'out of my scrap box' - because that would be altering it beyond comprehension, frankly, and even Tim Holtz couldn't do that! But you get it. And I'm terribly glad that someone does!