WOYWW 408

Short one this week so head desker Julia over at The Stamping Ground 
will love me forever.

Didn't expect to have all this on my workdesk I have to say.

Making  memorial cards for the funeral of my dearest, darling daddy who died very suddenly and unexpectedly last Thursday (23rd).

Need to keep busy as the post mortem is most likely taking place today - or maybe tomorrow - they don't tell you much.

But can't let myself think about all that stuff.

Barely able to function

so even keeping the cards simple it is a struggle

Want to do some heat embossing on them 

but can't remember what inkpad to use

crazy really

So, my daddy, oh my daddy, this workdesk Wednesday is for you

No comments are necessary as it is most unlikely I will be able to return your visit - can barely string two thoughts together

Powertex Tryptich

Funny how things happen

Contacted Wendy at Daisy's to see if she had a certain item I was desperately trying to get and she put me in touch with a "lovely lady in Cardiff" ... Joanne Roe who, as we were chatting, mentioned she was a Powertex demonstrator

I have been keen to attend a Powertex workshop for some time but had not really looked into it and said to bear me in mind as I would happily travel to Cardiff to attend one of hers

As it turns out she then put me in touch with the wonderful Annette Smyth who is almost on my doorstep!

So yesterday was the day for my first ever Powertex workshop

(I say "first ever" because there will be more for sure)

I was lucky enough to get a one-to-one session with Annette and spent a really lovely & relaxed few hours in her company as she VERY patiently introduced me to the product and then helped me produce my first piece

Wanted to do the tryptich since I first saw it

and, absolutely determined NOT to use my usual colour palette,

I asked her to remove all the browns & greens & blues from the table

but looking at sample pieces she showed me

I quickly and easily decided I wanted to use red and yellows

which, of course, mix and merge to make oranges and browns too

VERY different colours for me

but am certainly going to use them again

This is pretty much the first time EVER I have finished something and am pleased with it

I am always "so-so" about it

or hate it 

sometimes it grows on me sometimes it ends up in the Box of Failures

but not this time

this time I sat back and loved it

But fear not ... I have peaked and no-confidence Debbie is very much back in the building

Finnabair Road Trip - 25th/26th Feb

Well, as Finnabair couldn't get to the Midlands this year I just had to travel south to get to her!

No hardship, of course

Three nights in a gorgeous guest house

(which turned out to be absolutely perfect for us)

and meeting an FB friend for the first time and becoming instant friends on the spot
(thanks for your company and the laughter Debbie Hawke-Wareham)

then spending two full days doing four projects with Finnabair - the truly inspiring and just plain delightful Anna Dabrowska

First project Saturday morning was 

LAYERS OF DREAMS

Layers and layers of papers and lace, gauze and fabric with the odd metal accent 

Just wish I had not used pink

I do struggle with pink 

but was determined NOT to fall back on my over-used colours of browns, greens & blues

Second project on Saturday afternoon was

BEAUTY AND THE BEADS

have done this workshop twice before but always keen to learn more

wasn't overly happy with this one and the crooked piece of lace at the top is annoying me greatly

but (and here's progress folks! ...)

IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!!!!

and I can live with it

The friend I met for the first time gave me a bunch of old keys

so as a reminder of our wonderful weekend and the forging of a new friendship

I used one on this piece

(it is sticking out towards the lower left hand side)

Back to my favourite colours ... was never going to use pink on this one

Sunday morning saw me doing another workshop I have done before

BOOK OF RUST

but, being totally addicted to Finnabair's rust paste

I had no hesitation doing it again

All of Finn's projects have a back-story to them

this one is that you come across an old abandoned book in the loft or the cellar 

and it has been attacked by the damp and nibbled by bugs and looks very much the worse for wear

 Needless to say, that really appeals to me

being a bit weather-worn and battered myself

Final project on Sunday afternoon (and into the evening!) was

DAYDREAMER

We were supposed to take along a photograph

but we were not told this and being 133 miles from home there was little I could do to get one

but am really quite pleased

as it meant I got to use one of Finn herself

far happier having her beautiful face on my wall than my ugly mug

Asked for advice from her as to the composition - as it was very different to her sample and demo piece

I loved the new-to-me techniques of this one and will definitely use them on future projects

So, another fabulous four workshops, a super road-trip to Christchurch stopping off in Ludgershall on the way home for cuddles & coffee with my dear friend Julia

Just wish I could do it all over again ...

and again ...

and again!