What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 155

Here's a just turned into evening time shot...and there's progress afoot.I've been stencilling, inking, squirting, rubbing, stamping, colouring..my word, all that to make a handful of ATCs!  so you can see the detritus and just about the ATCs actually, but hey, can't move them now, picture's been taken!  That empty plastic bag used to contain the magazines that Mary Anne gave me..now they are in my aircraft carry- on, so they will be read!  The labels with the pink ribbons were attached to clothes that I was saving for my holiday.  They are also squashed into my carry-on.  We are making a very sudden journey to Turkey to help my blessed parents who are meant to be there on holiday; Papa finds himself in hospital with Pneumonia and Mama finds herself struggling, of course.  Hey, it's not all bad, he's being wonderfully treated,  and Mum, Mr D and I will enjoy some quality sunshine together! Did I mention how lucky I am to have a Mr D?  I know it.  
So next week is the anniversary of WOYWW.  The third for goodness sake.  I'm not sure where I'll be, but that won't matter, you don't need me to make the planned ATC swap work.  Instructions for the ATC swap can be found HERE.  I think this may be the point at which to say that I may not answer emails promptly, so ask questions amongst yourselves if there are any, huh?!! 

Can you help?

Does anybody have English speaking friends or family living in Antalya, Turkey who might be able to perform a good samaritan mission to visit one of the hospitals? Or, can anyone recommend a BandB or 'pension' in the city?  If you can (or do) I'd be grateful if you'd email me juliadunnit@me.com - thanks!

Gettin' a theme going...

So, the house was quiet, everything that could wait was waiting and I arrived at my desk for the first time this week.  And tidied a bit.  Filed my nails with the stray emery board.  Wrote a couple of notes.  Tested a couple of ink pads that have been in question and ruthlessly tossed them in the bin.  And realised that I was completely wasting my time.  Didn't want to do anything inky.  Possibly because there's other stuff waiting.  So I was very grown up and moved away from my desk, so as not to waste time.   Got out my sewing machine (second time in ten days) and used scraps of fabric and scraps of foam to make a suitcase for my iPad. 

I lost the will to live after I'd done the actual 'folio' - which is a big pocket with 1" foam in it, then a stitched 'spine' and then another pocket with foam.  Simple.  So instead of a proper closure, I just made a couple of belly bands.  

I'm not terribly precious about the iPad at home - it has a 'cover' that snaps on the back much like a phone because it makes it a bit thicker and therefore easier for my pudgies to hold it.  Generally it's on the deckchair on my desk or on the coffee table in front of my armchair. It could do with a 'sleeve' type cover really, but of course, I didn't factor that.... But as summer approaches (please, please let it turn up), so we will be going away, and anything that involves an airport, suitcases or a car journey will require some careful packing to protect the screen.  Mr Dunnit suggested I leave it behind. I tried to explain, really I did.  The fabric and foam were left over from another job that I've been attempting, and don't worry, I'll force that on you too at a moment when you think I've forgotten!
Have a great weekend.  

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 154

Susnhine in between big blobs of showers late on Tuesday afternoon.  And not a lot of progress as you can see.  I honestly haven't been at my desk for more than about 10 minutes in the last week.  The ipad is in position because as I type I'm listening to something.  In front of that there's a small pile of ATC blanks...yep, I'm officially getting my act together. The emery board suggests that I might at least have indulged in some personal grooming - not so.  I have no idea why or by whom it was flung on my desk.  Typical, though! So at the risk of boring your pants off, that's it really.  Here's a couple of links that may be of interest:
ATCs and the WOYWW Anniversary swap: an infopost to enlighten/frighten
A 'review' of the yellow tape gun that I now wouldn't be without: the tape gun thingy

Now it's your turn. Photo your workspace, show us what your creative juices are driving you to do this week.  Post on your blog, with WOYWW in the title.  Link here.  I thank you.  In fact, loads of us thank you!

Getting Our British On...

Here's another layout from last week's crop.  'Crop', by the way, is the name given to the meeting of crafters in a hall for the purpose of scrapbooking.  Or paper crafting.  Because scrapbooking often used to involve the 'cropping' of photos to fit page or to remove unseemly bits, so the crafters became croppers...and the meeting became a Crop.  I believe. Anyway, I decided to let the paper do the talking and not over do anything. I know!  I like this executive decision because it means the whole LO took about 10 minutes and for once, knowing when to stop wasn't in question.  

Here in the United Kingdom, we've really dumped the 'quiet reserve' and are going all out with our national pride. Well, the manufacturers and retailers are anyway. Never seen so many products carrying the Union flag.  I'm loving it!  We have Englebert Humperdinck doing Eurovision, a long weekend to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee and then the Olympics.   I think it's difficult to avoid two of the three (!).  I find a lot of cynicism about some of this when I'm out and about -  the Olympic Flame is passing through our village in July.  When I express excitement, others are quick to remind me that it will be in the back of a van for security and will involve a road closure and blah.  My response is the same each time.  So what? The event is being brought to us, make the most...it won't happen again, particularly if we all moan about it before it's even happened!   And if it's an opportunity to stand up, wave a flag and be counted a Brit, I'm in. I think, on the whole, I'm patriotic.  I think I'm realistic about it. I wouldn't dream of arguing over anyone's patriotism. But..probably could argue a storm about nationalism.   Mr Dunnit says it's all about recognising a scrapbook opportunity.  Can't argue with that. 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 153

Ooh look, a genuine night time shot, and a calm looking desk.  Two reasons for this...the gessoed comic annual pages you see are drying having had a jolly good squirting with cosmic shimmer mists, or equivalent products.  All of which are now in the kitchen awaiting patient hot water type squirter unblocking.  I hate that.  Every last bottle that I have (five) won't squirt.  Argh.  You can see one of 3 Scrap 365 mags that Mary Anne has shared with me...waiting to be read.  The free cover stamp from Craft Stamper is one of Jennie's at the Artistic Stamper...and is poised, ready to commit me to something.  I know not what.  The calm is because I haven't been at my desk all weekend.  Since the Crop, the head cold has got worse and I feel really bloody.  So am saving my energy for whining.  I'm so much better at that anyway! The good thing though, is that this sitting around feeling horrid means I'll probably actually make it to more desks than last week, so link up do, and save me from my blocked up whining self!
CLICK THIS for an infopost about the ATC swap planned for the third anniversary of WOYWW. Which is Week 156. I've scheduled this..will be up relatively early to see if it works!
Meanwhile....photo your work area..desk/floor/deck, show us what you're up to and where.  Post on to your blog, include WOYWW in the title and link here. Easy.  We'll visit.   It's fun.  

View from ....the WOYWW window

This is for Judy...a view from a window!!

It was a Crop weekend.  I spent a day of hilarity and food at Ludgershall Scout Hut with a bunch of my friends, basically.  Chuck in all the packing of craft stuff that my car can hold and the mix is pretty damn perfect.  I managed an admirable four whole finished and journalled LOs.  It probably would have been more, but a story arose and I have to share it with you.  Brace! Brace!  No really, it's important.  Not all of my friends read my blog, and certainly even if they do, they don't all take part in WOYWW.  I mean, they know me...do they wanna be sucked in any deeper? Anyway, four of the girls who come to crop are WOYWWers.  And just before we stopped for lunch on Saturday, Mary Anne presented me with a gift that they'd collaborated to make for me, to celebrate the WOYWW anniversary. (which is at the end of the month).  Diane (Morti to you), took photos...which is alarming really, because I was so utterly surprised and at a loss for words that I can't bear to think how awful they will be..it was not a 'shut your mouth and keep your eyes wide open' moment I can tell you...more a 'can't speak and might cry moment'.  

Here they are, dollies designed to be strung like bunting across my workroom...each one says something about the artist..I will elaborate, and do them real photographic justice I promise, when I've determined the display.  I'm still sort of taking them out of their envelope and just gawping at them...I KNOW how much time and effort and stress is involved in making something particular for someone in particular.  Ally was up half the night and Laura was awake at 5.30am to finish their contributions...I totally get it.  You can see why I am still a bit overwhelmed, huh.  Can you imagine how how much stressing I'll be doing over the 'thank you' cards! 
Anyway, with or without WOYWW, I wanna recommend you go to a Crop.  Take knitting.  Take scrapbook stuff...take whatever you're working on,  but go.  Make some new friends...you will not regret it.