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You are welcome to copy any of my designs, as long as you do not take credit for them yourself. I am very happy for you to sell them. If I have used anyone else's design, I always try to give credit where it is due. If I have missed anything, please let me know and I will put things right.


This is intended to be mainly about my crafting stories, as a personal record of what I do. However, I interpret crafting quite widely, not just paper crafting but other things too. I have a butterfly mind and like to change from one thing to another depending on what I feel like on a given day - knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, cards, baking and several others, including my favourite right now, parchment, both traditional skills and Groovi, very relaxing and calming to do.

I have decided to put some structure into my blog so that each day will have something of a theme.
Monday- for Mindfulness; Tuesday - Tidy Up Day; Wednesday - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday; Thursday - Technique and Tips; Friday - Finish Off Day; Saturday - Start Something New; Sunday - Anything Goes
These themes are not hard and fast and will be changed if I feel the need.

Wednesday 20 April 2011

WOYWW - 98

Not quite my work desk, but I had to show you these two trees.  They are just glorious in full blossom, and are even better than usual this year after the hard winter.  I am really looking forward to driving through the lanes around Evesham this weekend and seeing all the fruit trees in full bloom on the Blossom Trail.  If we don't have any more frosts, then we should have a great year for fruit.



Having finished my target of getting all the cards I need for May done before Easter, I am now allowing myself to play.  Hopefully, most of the things I am playing with will end up on cards later in the year.  As you may notice, most of the things on my desk are related to stamping and water colouring, with a bit of mica painting slipping in to add a bit of sparkle and fun.  I do have rather a lot of water colour boxes/tins.  I treated myself to a nice new one from Daler Rowney last year, but that is still pristine and unused.  At the moment, I am still using my old Reeves paintbox which I had as a child - probably counts as an antique now.  In some ways, I prefer the old one to the new stuff, the colours are stronger and easier to blend to get the right shade, even if some of them are now banned.  All the chrome colours are not allowed these days, but I survived using them as a child and I do not intend to eat them, so I shall carry on.  
A true water colourist (is that the right word) would probably have a fit at my technique, but who cares.  I am learning and enjoying it.  I shall never have a canvas hung in the National Gallery or anywhere else, but it is FUN!!!!  My brush is a Kuretake water brush, you know, the ones with water in the barrel, with a fairly fine tip.  I must have done a lot of blending years ago, looking at the state of my white, which is almost non-existent. 
I have done a lot of stamping of small images this week, just the right size to take in the caravan and play with, either inside or out in the awning on a lap tray.  I also want to tackle sketching again, to try to produce my own images.  Not sure whether to use the cheap ratty old water colour paper for the attempts or whether to risk the beautiful new stuff (which is double the price).  Any suggestions from all you lovely people out there.

Anyway, I am going to stop rattling on and leave to to visit Julia, our hostess with the mostest,  at
http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/  who has the links to hundreds (well, nearly) of other peoples' desks for you to look at, while I go and make my lunch - a big omelette with cheese, onions and chopped new potatoes - do you feel hungry yet?

I will try to get round to as many people as possible this week, and will definitely get back to anyone who is kind enough to visit me and leave a comment.  I treasure all you have to offer.  Good hunting, and Happy Easter.

PS Still problems with Blogger and photographs this week.  My lovely trees seem to be missing, although they were there when I started.

15 comments:

Karen said...

Maggie those trees look pretty, isn't it so lovely to see nature coming back to life after such a long winter?? A good friend of mine lives in Evesham too!
Have a lovely WOYWW,
Karen #41

Mystic Indigo said...

I have to laugh at your comments about not eating the paints..I am buying my first artists' set of colors and I am amused with all the warnings that some of the pigments carry...I promise not to eat the paint too!! Your trees look beautiful...

Helen said...

I love those trees, they are so beautiful. So glad you managed to load them.

Mrs A. said...

The trees are all exceptional this year. Went for a walk with hubby today round the country lanes and the bluebells are looking smashing too. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only hoarder. Your tin of paints has lasted you well!! Hugs Mrs A. #59

Sherry said...

How fantastic that you still have your childhood paint box. Good on you for continuing to use it - all the more exciting if some of the colours are now banned too!!

Those trees are beautiful, I saw your larger photo above.

Thanks for your kindly comments on my blog too xx

Carola Bartz said...

The cards on your table look beautiful. I am impressed that you're done with what you need to do for May already and that you have time to just play. I'm so jealous! Enjoy it! And those trees are gorgeous.

Hettie said...

I keep promising myself I will do the Blossom Trail some time. Maybe this year. Lovely work going on on your desk! Nowt wrong with using old stuff - if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Hettie said...

Haa Haa! Try Old Skodas!! Oh! and yes, two old Land Rovers!!

okienurse said...

Lots of beautiful cards and you have a couple days of play before starting more! Love the color box. Looks well used. I would go with the cheaper paper and if you don't like the effects move up to the more expensive cause it might be the cheaper stuff is keeping you from doing what you want to do. Don't just give up! Thanks for sharing. Vickie #28

Angie said...

Yes they are glorious trees ...my gs was fascinated the other day when he saw a pink tree lol.Glad you got your cards done ....enjoy having a play now

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Those trees look beautiful, thankyou for sharing them with us:)
Happy Easter to you too x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Love the pickie above of your trees Maggie they are truly glorious!! and prob. I would try some of both paper as you might find the old paper like your paintbox fits you like an old shoe.. comfy! great to see your creativity at work, thanks for popping over and thanks for sharing and Happy WOYWW! Shaz in oz.x

Spyder said...

Sometimes when you move things about when typing up your blog, the words themselves are 'joined' somehow to the picture nearest to them, so if you delete a certain word, it might delete the picture too! I did pop in earlier, but wasn't home, and wasn't 'set up' where we are dog sitting, but now I am, so I'm doing a bit of 'catch up!' The trees look lovely. I jhave the same problem as you when it comes to paper, to use or not to use!! Happy very late woyww
((Lyn))

Di said...

Hi Maggie - fabulour trees, thank you so much for sharing. And what a good girl to still have your watercolours from a little while ago. I bet they give good results despite the fact you can't eat them! Thanks for calling by earlier in the week - sorry I'm a bit late hopping round this week! Di x

Eileen said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your beautiful trees ... Your comments about your water colouring efforts did make me laugh! My stuff won't be hanging in a gallery either and I don't care too!! I am going to have a good muse around your blog now ..... just to see what else I have missed lately ... I will link to you with a 'shout out' tomorrow Maggie ....thanks for your kind comments and support, as always E xxx