Welcome to my blog

I hope you enjoy reading my posts, and please leave me a comment. I always enjoy reading them, and will try to visit you in return.

For security reasons for me and for you, I would appreciate it if you would leave your name on your comments.

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 27 March 2013

WOYWW 199 - Mixed bag today - trying to get ahead


I cannot believe it is Wednesday and WOYWW day yet again (actually, it is Tuesday afternoon, but this desk won't change till Wednesday afternoon, if then).  I have not caught up from last week.  Where has this year gone and it is still winter.  We have got to have a good summer to get over this lot.

Today's post is a little photo heavy, so apologies to those of you who are short of time - just skim quickly down to the bottom and then carry on with your journey round Blogland, courtesy of Julia at Stamping Ground.  For those of you with more time, You can see my keyboard in place.  I have been typing this post as well as making inserts for three family cards (I will post them on Thursday, all being well).  My ice cream box is getting fuller and messier and needs a good sort out - it is supposed to hold only those tools and pens that I use most days.  To the left is my box of Derwent Watercolour pencils, which have been heavily used just lately and needed again this week.  Almost burying them, is my new small Splodge Mat and one or two new Clarity stamps.  Fluffy Dog is there due to a quick visit by our young granddaughters yesterday.  They were due on Saturday, but, guess what, it snowed.  We did have fun yesterday to make up.

Here you can see my baby Splodgy, ready to go on holiday with us, if the weather ever improves.  There are also two new sets of stamps, retired sets from Chocolate Baroque (thanks for the temptation, Shaz (Silverwolf) - you knew I would not resist, didn't you.

I think the Scottie on the shelf is sulking because he did not come out to play yesterday with Fluffy Dog.  Still, he does have an important job, to look after my WOYWW badge.
I will finish today with a couple of shots from my window of the sky.  I reckon we are due for more white stuff tonight by the look of it.  I have given up listening to the weather forecasts, they change every couple of minutes.

It has been amusing watching the news lately.  Instead of complaining about people driving 4x4's, everyone has been grateful to all those who have used them to ferry nurses and their patients around.  Living at the top of a steep hill, I would not feel comfortable in the winter without our 4x4.  We also need it to tow our caravan, and I know that is a rude word to some people.  However, that caravan means we can go to some beautiful parts of the country and spend our cash in the local economy.  We always look for farm shops, local butchers etc, although we do try to take enough bread with us for the time we are away.

Since the horse meat scandal etc, we have been even more careful where we spend our money.  Even our bread flour is now sourced from the nearest flour mill, using heritage wheat.  Our meat comes from a very good, reputable local butcher and our veg from the nearest farm shop. The problem is that the supermarkets have put out of business all the local shops that we used to have, so to get good food we trust without patronising the supermarkets, we have to travel several miles.  To buy wool or material, we have to get in the car and travel several miles.  The shops that used to sell those things have vanished under the concrete of the supermarkets.  Buying craft stuff means getting in the car and driving several miles or buying online - at least one of our local craft shops has vanished due to KFC.  I think I had better get off my strop box and let you all go and visit more desks.  Sorry about going on a bit, but I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way.

Anyway, have a great week, and enjoy whatever you are doing.  Thank you Julia,for your conitinued hospitality each week.  We would really miss you. 

27 comments:

Sue McDonald said...

Maggie you've got me intrigued whats a !Sploger"

I'm hoping the white stuff stays away this weekend i want to go and visit my parents.

Happy WOYWW

Frankiesue #26

Words and Pictures said...

Such a busy, productive looking desk - and wonderful sky shots... we're under about 8 inches of snow here in CZ too, and no 4x4! I've missed a few, but happy to be back (and with my mother in tow this time!)... Happy WOYWW!
Alison x
#36

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hullo there Maggie, Shouting a loud hear, hear from Oz! I also agree, go to our grower markets when i can and there are two small independent supermarkets that stock local stuff that I prefer to go to..

And a craft shop?? found one about 15 mins away the other day very excited - rather limited in stock but very reasonably priced, as it really is a newsagent but she has expanded it very nicely..

I came a way with $28 less in my purse not budgeted for :D so skimped bit that week.. but who cares! Such yummy stuff, some was Docrafts.
Was out that way again and had o force myself not to call..
A great creative space today have a happy holiday do and hope weather is even a teeny weeny like ours!
Thanks so much for for sharing ~ happy WOYWW! Shaz in Oz.x #14

Lucy said...

Thankfully, we've completely missed all of the white stuff this time around. We just had 3 measley inches in Feb. Even that was enough to send us home from work early on one of those days! I hope it clears up for you soon and that you are able to get around a bit more easier soon. Have a great week and thanks for sharing! Lucy #37

MrsC.x said...

thanks for sharing i am also on a buying decent produce soap box and have been for two years i had two years of people having go that i shopped only at waitrose but then in the horse scandal it was the only store not to find any :)

happy woyww tfs Mrs.C xx #41

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Another person who uses ice cream boxes for all sorts! Yay, we are two of a kind!! You have gots lots going on there today, Maggie.
I agree with you about local shops, I have to say that we are very lucky here with a great farm shop in the village that sources most of its fresh stuff locally and there is a little fabric/yarn shop that is stuffed to the brim in the next village about 3 miles away. I do use the supermarkets but not often. And we love to holiday in this country too for similar reasons. All my boys wanted to do when they were small was climb rocks and dig holes in the sand!! You don't have to go abroad for that!
Hugs, LLJ 59 xx

Helen said...

Hope you get away soon - hasn't the winter gone on forever! Glad you have your 4x4, there is a time and place for them and you have the place, obviously!! Great photos, I have a similarly overfull box on show (scraps in my case) which needs attention (one day...!) Helen, 12

Heathers Inspiration said...

We love to source local produce too.
Just up the road walking distance is a small farm shop giving jobs to young adults with difficulties and we buy from them. We do use the supermarket too. But its lovely to know where things originate from.
Have a Happy Easter x
WOYWW heather #86

ria gall said...

I am really hoping that the white stuff just finishes now and leaves us all alone. I am meant to be travelling up to York tomorrow to stay with my sister, no problem with snow here but it has started again in York this morning.
thanks for all the lovely photos
Have a really great WOYWW day, and Happy Easter to you and yours
Ria #94

BJ said...

Hope you get your cards posted. The sun is shining here so I hope the last of Saturday's snow will disappear today! No more PLEASE. BJ#67

Winnie said...

Hi from NYC! We have been under cold and snow for so long that I am happy today to see sunshine and we are going to have 50 degree weather on Easter! Yippee! Enjoyed your post! Love your pups watching your room! I try to shop local when I can and in NYC it is easy for most things, but only one great stamp store and I go there when I can. Soon the weather will improve and I can stroll the farmers market in the Village, it is a favorite thing of mine to do! Happy Easter! Winnie#78

lisa said...

I hope you manage to get away for your break, Maggie. You look as though you are prepared for a crafty session if the weather is rubbish anyway. I know what you mean about local shops. What do they say "Use them or lose them".
Happy WOYWW
hugs Lisax #60

shazsilverwolf said...

Well said, Marg!Agree with you completely.Glad you got your stamps before they retired them( looking a little embarrassed here)- I got myself some new Lavinia stamps this week though.Speak soon, love Shaz

Caro said...

Lots going on on your desk today. We didn't have much choice about where we shopped this week...it had to be the local corner shop as we couldn't get the car out! We have had even more snow today...hey ho! Thanks for sharing. Happy WOYWW. Caro x #73

Anne said...

Hi Maggie we also got the white stuff, still around but can get out now. Woke up to more of it this morning. I am making an effort to buy more from 'local' shops especially local farm shop. Sadly the craft barn I used to go to at the local farm shop closes on Saturday. So sad spent many happy times there crafting. Anne x #84

Cestina said...

So much going on on your desk - great to see it all.

Thanks for visiting me :-)
A Happy Easter from a snowy Czech Republic
Cestina
#38

Julia Dunnit said...

Ooh Maggie, it's good that I didn't know about the Choc Baroques, I would have been very unable to resist...a bit like yourself then. I would blame that Shaz too, if I could get away with it! Hope the snow clears soon, it's really beginning to get us all down!

Belinda Basson said...

I am with you on the small places vanishing to make way for these big places and loosing our GOOD stuff. We are all going back to the small shops here, it is no longer a trend but a reality! Artisan bread and traditional butchers and home grown veggies.

Linda Simpson said...

Evening Maggie, thanks for sharing your desk. The photographs of the sky has been a bit like that here too today. I has snowed but not stuck thank goodness. I hope we get a decent summer this year.

Hugs
Linda xxx

Nan G said...

Great new stamps! Yes ominous looking skies there. Um, what's a splodge mat? Happy Easter and Happy WOYWW! Nan #115

Annie said...

Hi Maggie, I didn't know that was where my Knitting needles came from :-) I do have rather a lot don't I? :-)
Hugs,
A x #44

Debs Willis said...

Hi maggie, definitely looks like more snow! I can remember decorating at Easter in my bikini (was many moons ago when my wardrobe still included such risky items lol!!)

Happy woyww and Happy Easter

Debs #90

Anna Karlsson Widmark said...

What a busy and inspiring desk! And good for you for buying locally produced groceries! I'm sure you're doing a lot of good for the local economy, and inspiring the rest of us as well.
Happy belated WOYWW! /Zildara #107

Glenda said...

For it to be Springtime in East Tennessee, we have had very cold snowy weather. No accumulations but lots of blowing snow and just raw days! Love your space and enjoyed reading your blog this morning. Sorry to be so late in commenting!
Glenda #66

Elizabeth said...

Hi Maggie, a busy desk and some new Clarity stamps to work with too - how nice - it will be nice to see what they look like on a Maggie original :)

Weatherwise, we have sun today and the temperature is a few degrees above freezing - an improvement to be sure. This awful weather has made little difference to the birds and their nesting preparations. The starlings are back - I did miss them while they were gone - and yesterday I saw one sitting on top of the feeder proudly showing off a clump of moss hanging from his beak ... I wonder if his mate was as impressed as I was :)

I wish you a great Easter weekend. Elizabeth x #45

ANNETTE HUSBAND said...

G'day Maggie
I'm new to WOYWW and am slow at getting around to visit but I am enjoying looking in on others creative spaces like yours :o)Its hot and himid here in the nrth of Australia and I can only dream of snow!!What is a splodger?
hugs
Annette In Oz #132

Twiglet said...

It does us good to have a strop now and again!! Sorry no pattern for the little dollies. I got the idea from Flutterby Patch and just made it up as I went along from scraps. Can you make you a set if you want one. Email me twiglet517@hotmail.co.uk if you want more info. Happy Easter! x Jo