WOYWW 285 A desk and two meetings!!

I had intended posting this before we went to the cinema today but then felt - well I'll say weird - because I feel fine again now but just couldn't face the cinema! My desk (and for those who don't know anything about WOYWW, details are here on Julia's Stamping Ground blog) has been tidied ready for action but unfortunately hasn't seen any today!

 The pile of 'stuff' sitting on top of my acrylic blocks may get sorted today in front of the TV!

If you saw my post the other day I gave a hint about meeting someone….and here we are at Farfield Mill near Sedburgh in Cumbria..

Hubby and I met up with Jo of Jozart and her hubby Dave on Monday and had a great day out! Jo and I were in our element (Jo had never been before)and the men sat on a comfy sofa and chatted. We had a lovely lunch and got back in time to see the sun set over the lake where Jo and Dave were staying just down the road from us.

It was also just as a group of starlings were heading their way to join the murmuration at Leighton Moss.

I had another meeting with someone too…

…lovely Ray Winstone was filming at the top of our road last night!
One of the crew saw me looking and asked if I'd like to meet him -err….YES PLEASE!!!! 

Film review from last week if you are interested … "Fury" with Brad Pitt - being in the week of Remembrance Day, was particularly hard hitting with some quite graphic war images, probably best waiting for the DVD or for it to be on a movie channel but definitely worth a watch!

So that's it for now, I don't know who I will get to visit today but  we are home with a decent(ish!) connection so I'll do my best tomorrow for sure!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

GD spot for Country View Challenges

I was honoured to win a top 3 and be asked to take up a guest design spot on Country View Challenges - it meant getting my head around the topic 'Bugs, Bees and Butterflies' while we were away in Austria. Time to think and plan on our train journeys! 

I decided on a reverse canvas piece using neutral colours

I started by adding a coat of Gesso followed by some texture paste through a stencil around the frame.

Added some paint(Paper Artsy Snowflake and Nougat Frescos), stencilling, ribbon, twine, lace and beads

 Then the butterfly element….

 Added stamped butterflies(Tim Holtz attic Treasures) on to layers of corrugated card, gauze and Hessian (burlap)

Some other bits and pieces and it was time to assemble.

The little spray in the corner contains some seed heads picked on a walk - gessoed quite heavily!

This is going to be for a certain little girl who likes butterflies!!

I hope you will take a look at the fabulous inspiration from the Country View Design team and be inspired to take part in the Bugs, Bees and butterflies challenge this month

Thanks for looking, I would love to read your comments if you have time to leave them, Chris

Vienna !

Okay, so I know I wasn't impressed at first but Sunday dawned and the sun was shining - time for an early start - a metro train to catch and palace to visit!

Schonbrun Palace - the most visited attraction in Austria we knew there would be queues - fortunately not for too long - they were very organised!                                                     The palace was beautiful and interesting! No photos inside!!

The gardens were amazing - and although we wanted to go somewhere in the afternoon we spent some time wandering around in the sunshine

I have never seen such a tame squirrel or birds, this squirrel kept going back to some children with nuts

We had a simple lunch and saw this advertised on a card on our table Kaiserschmarrn - couldn't resist - it was (apparently) Kaiser Franz Josef 1st's favourite dish

I could see why - delicious - loaded with sugar - we shared and hubby did his best to eat most of it!!

Then it was a metro ride back to the city centre.

We decided to walk to our next destination.

Past this..

Minecraft you could move yourself (I have grandchildren - I've seen their games - that's all I know! lol!)

Down the road to…

…beautiful Belvedere Palace

I wanted to see the Klimt exhibition- hubby wanted to wander outside.

What did I see? 'The Kiss' - couldn't get a photo, 

some lovely decor

some interesting faces

by Franz Xaver Messerschmidt who did these based on himself while receiving treatment for an illness - each face contorted in a different expression - fascinating!

I also took this view from a window

Hubby took some fab photos outside

Then it was a tram back into the centre again for another highlight!

The Sacha Hotel cafe!

Happy! Happy! Happy!
This is the one my Diabetic nurse said I shouldn't miss - bless her!!! She had been earlier this year and enjoyed the Sacha Torte!

From here we went for a walk, thought I'd better!!

Then it was time for something to eat and back to the hotel to pack!

I have no idea what blogger has done to the text at the top of this post - it looks fine while writing it!!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Dreaming…..

The theme at Dragons Dream this time is the 'letter U and quotation'.

My first thought was one of my favourite stamps so that was easily settled. Apart from loving Umbels I love the word!!

My quote is one I've used many times in my journals and one to remember when getting stressed!Just take a look outside the window! 

I am getting my entry in now as we are off to our caravan and meeting up with a friend - you'll have to wait to find out who!!!!

 Linking to Dragons Dream TIO 179 'Letter U and quotation'

Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW 284

Christmas is coming!!!!There's some evidence on my desk, which I'm showing you of course, courtesy of Julia at the Stamping Ground!

Trying to keep it simple - a lovely image from House of Zandra that I bought at a show (it's a stand I always have to buy from!!)
Just tried out these stamped onto a watercolored background.
I have already tried stamping and water colouring to make a couple - 

I'll add some more colour to the ones on my desk and make them up before I decide which to go with….

Off to see 'Fury' today with Brad Pitt so will be back later to visit!
We had a bonus last week, there was nothing on Wednesday we wanted to see but we had points on our Odeon card allowing us to see 'Turner' for free on Friday! What a brilliant film it was - it was over  2 hours long but the time just whizzed - a fascinating portrayal by Timothy Spall and a lovely trip into British art history.

If you want to see what happened with the Hougie board and lace it's here

Thanks for looking, Chris

GDT spot for Try it on Tuesday 'Handmade/Homemade' challenge

I was delighted to be offered the chance to be a guest designer at Try it on Tuesday - the theme is Handmade/Homemade - perfect for this time of year! Why not pop over to see what the TIOT design team have made to inspire you….here

So what did I make? 

    

You may have seen this on my desk last week….

 …..I had gathered some bits and pieces together.
My Hougie board was all ready for action.

8cm x 8cm for the box and a slightly larger top so that it would fit 
You will see the reason for the size shortly.
First I wanted to cover the sides with a pink/blue gold paper.

Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick and Weathered Wood Distress inks smooshed on a craft mat then powdered mica sprinkled very lightly with end of a sharpened coffee stirrer, spritzed and encouraged to run over the paper

I used a variety of text and patterned stamps too, using  Archival browns

The brayer helps to smooth out the paper

Then started to decorate the outside

Flowers were made using a five petalled flower punch, the centre had a petal removed and everything pinched together and ink from my brown distress tool rubbed over the tops.

Then the inside

My idea was to create a box that contains the sort of thing you can never lay your hands on in a hurry (if you're like me any way!)

In here from the top going clockwise, a tab with a fabric top that holds paper clips and safety pins, 1st and 2nd class stamp books, an emery board(can never find one of those!)and finally a mini sewing kit. On the base is a sticky note pad and mini pencil. I suppose it could be called a 'Minor emergencies box' or an 'It's in here' box, either way I hope it will make a nice present.

I have already started to make more of these, so would love to read your comments

Thanks for looking, Chris