What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 689

Well, someone broke the weather! It rained, as if it was trying to be epic. But, the dust settled, the smell was lovely and while I was out and about not one person has complained about being too hot, so it’s all good! As you can see from the picture, I’m finding a use for my desk….

There’s so much going on that even I’ve forgotten which layer is for which ‘project’! I was making ladybird cards last week, and on top of that layer and at centre front is a sort of shiny ATC that is also a work in progress. It involved using an alphabet set which it turns out, I hadn’t used before and so you can see the little wooden pegs strewn about whilst I sat and stuck the rubbery letters onto the pegs. At first, I did think of only doing the letters I needed for this particular job, but really, that is a step too far, even for me! At the back of the desk is a bag of badge fixings and next to that my lovely box what Debbie made for me to store blank ATCs. Blooming lovely useful thing that. You get a good view of the tools used on the patio too, now finished but for ‘grouting’ which I have to say, is tedious and fiddly, just as it is in regular sized tiling. And of course, needs to be done in dry weather. So we’ll see how long that has to take now! 

I’m off to see a Grayson Perry exhibition at Salisbury Cathedral this morning, so please bear with on the visiting front. Please don’t use it as a reason not to join in though, I need to see you’re finding stuff to do!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 688

I’ve moved on from cherries. Now I’m playing with Ladybirds. Also new stash, the ladybird punch.

I confess that when it arrived, I’d forgotten why I ordered it. Yes it’s cute, but generally I don’t do much cute. However, it may well have been as part of an attempt to use up scrap. I like to think so. Although, like the cherries, my goodness, they don’t use up a lot per punching! It doesn’t matter, it’s all useful making. As you can see, I’m back in the kitchen, and the not tidying up of the desk top persists. I was in Costco on Sunday (the air con was rather nice) and the box of pastel felt tips fell into the huge trolley. Everything else I bought was on the list. Call it a pay off for doing a shopping run on a day when I think half of the population of Southampton had decided to go there too. Mind you, the longest and most persistent queues were for the petrol….20p PER LITRE cheaper than the high street. That’s quite significant isn’t it.  Anyway, I haven’t tried the felt tips, nor have I seen them before. But like a lot of things, once you’ve seen something, then you see them everywhere don’t you….I looked them in the eye in Tesco yesterday. I took it as a sign that I was meant to have them. Obv. 

The summer temperatures will probably mean I don’t sit at my desk for a couple of days now; I’ll probably be back to gentle stitching of the embroidery while I chase shade around mine or some one else’s garden. I know it’s hot and a lot of people can’t cope and it’s causing a lot of problems, but ah, I do love it. Just please take care of yourselves! Go on then, before you check out the ice tray in the freezer, link up so we can see how cool you are!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 687

I spent some time last week tidying including de-gritting the workroom. As I’ve mentioned, we’re now laying a new patio and my goodness, I did not account for quite how much grit and sand and general filth it would cause. The workroom has a door from house-to-garage and a door from house-to-garden and so we use it as the route for anything that needs to go from front to back because otherwise it has to come through the lounge and dining room! Anyway, I cleaned and tidied and moved the desk back into the workroom. 

I’m using new stash. Just playing positively at the mo, (which means that I’m making stuff so that I don’t feel I’m wasting valuable time…it’s a curse.)  I’ll make multiples of the designs I like and squirrel them away. I like to give a bunch of useful cards at Christmas to people who I seek regular services from during the year and as hostess gifts if we are invited…I don’t know if they are ever used, but it avoids awkwardness when it’s just a bunch of cards that can be used or passed on! 

Loved seeing everything last week, please carry on, or join us for the first time, or dip in and out as you wish! 

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 686

I don’t know about you, but oh boy, I’ve had a week. Last Wednesday my brave Mr Dunnit had surgery to replace the lens on each eye so that he no longer needs glasses. It’s worked, he’s pleased. For me, the big ‘but’ has been that he had to have a week off work. For 48 hours he wasn’t allowed to lift anything heavier than a mug of coffee, and needed to wear sunnies to protect his very dilated pupils. There wasn't any advice from the clinic however, about how to actually contain him. He was pacing about an hour after I got him home from the clinic in Southampton. Seriously. So the last week has actually about keeping Bart busy, but away from jobs. And let’s face it, jobs are what you do when you’re at home but on holiday, huh!

He helped his Mum empty the greenhouse ready to dismantle.

He did chopping and buttering when friends came for supper.

He pretended to enjoy a bit of farmers market type shopping.

And yesterday I let him loose on fixing some guttering because it’s not heavy lifting. And in turn, he erm, treated me to a sandwich and a coffee in the village on our way to the builders merchants. It’s been a week. I miss my desk. I didn’t realise how much I took for granted the fact that it’s there and that it keeps me occupied if I want it to! Gratitude overload today, for desks and benches..he’s going back to work with the clinic’s blessings, so you can guess what my plans include!

So, please, save me by inspiring me…I need some routine and some lovely crafty stuff to gaze upon!

What’s on your Workdesk? Wednesday 685

The record summer temperatures across Europe mean that the media has us in the grips of ‘hell on earth’ and that ‘ thousands will die’. I am hot, often sticky and sweaty and worrying about older friends, relies and poorly people. But I’m not hysterical. I’m not sure I have the energy for it all. I’m checking on them all, and in one case, we have done a very slow walk around a very air conditioned store to pass a pleasant hour!

I’m lucky, I have no trouble sleeping and like to sit about. It’s not a perfect recipe for everyone, I understand. It means that my activities have largely been in sort of holiday mode….

I don’t want to sit about being completely unproductive, so I spent a couple of happy hours in the shade adding some more stitches to the embroidery that usually only comes out when I’m on holiday. I have to say that half an hour prior to the mixing of the Pimms, Mr Dunnit had been hard at work around the corner, laying patio slabs. You can see that it’s not really finished, but it’s a flat surface in the shade…perfect for an impromptu desk! I’ve realised that this embroidery has still a long way to go…I don’t intend to up my game but it is going to take an awful lot more holidays to get it finished! 

I hope you’ve managed to stay safe and comfortable in whatever hemisphere…both are experiencing extremes of weather and it does cause me to think about you. Miss Dunnit and her Current Squeeze where home this weekend and each time we discussed a place that has clearly been affected by Global Warming, one or other of them would say “suppose you’ve got a Desker friend there, haven’t you?” They think they’re being funny and cheeky, but mostly, they’re right and I love that!

This is a scheduled post, got to be in Southampton before 9am today, I’ll catch you as soon as I can settle with some WiFi, my role in the day is mostly about waiting.  

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 684

Well, a week may be a long time in British politics, but it isn’t in the very everyday life of this very average woman. I’ve had a lovely week, but my goodness it’s flown by! Started last Thursday with a visit from my life pal Jan and her gorgeous G. We chatted and laughed and caught up over tea, supper, breakfast. We were so busy enjoying ourselves that we didn’t take any photos! I’ve been away for the weekend to celebrate family birthdays and the celebrations were enhanced by the absolutely gorgeous weather. And yesterday, I met up with a school friend; first time since before lockdown. So my word, you’ll expect me to be exhausted from chatting! Of course not! But as for desk time, hmmm. 

1I’ve had time to turn the stacks of birds into two cards. They are drying - I blobbed some glossy accents on the eyes. I think altogether these two cards have been the feature on my desk for three weeks. I’m so very sorry that it’s been like that. I will of course fail to do better, but will compensate by taking pictures of interesting things when I do them so that I can at least distract from an empty desk! I was rummaging for something in my workroom yesterday which involved moving a box of Christmas stamps and do you know, it sort of tweaked my inspiration chord a little. I wonder if I can make the most? Tune in next week to see. after all, what else would you do in the hottest weather that Britain has experienced in a generation?! Wherever you are, keep safe and hydrated, and show us your Workdesk, please!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 683

I was supposed to be making a sophisticated and lovely birthday card for a cherished aunt. It didn’t work out so I went back to paper piecing the stack of birds!

You can see the first ‘stack’ at top right, I was using scraps and think I over co-ordinated the colours and patterns, think they look a bit bland. Am preferring the newer, yet to be finished stack, using SU! Papers…I even have an idea to actually mount them and make a card! As for the birthday card - it’s a deadline event now, so will be spending some of today having another crack at that. Last week lots of you mentioned the old red book on my desk - not reading material, well, not for me anyway! It’s an old novel in foreign, so I use it to stamp on and generally rip up…I know a lot of you will swoon at the thought, but I think of it as rescued from a bonfire or landfill, so it’s ok for me. 

See that brown paper bag under the stack of purple birds? See how it looks unused and brand new? I bought a costume jewellery bracelet, wrapped around a piece of card in a sello bag. The whole package is about 10cm square, and I ‘had’ to have the bag because it acted as a sort of receipt. I turn down receipts quite often when asked these days, but have never had a bag insisted upon me before! I shall re-use, it’s actually very nice! 

Talking of insisting, please join in and show us your Workdesk, surface…..armchair…wherever and whatever you’re doing. It’s fun. And a welcome distraction.