WOYWW 600

 Huge CONGRATULATIONS to the superstar that is our much loved Julia on her 600th Workdesk Wednesday over at The Stamping Ground

In the colder months my workdesk is a ever expanding corner of the dining room table - not ideal but it works for me - especially this year when there have been no family meals

So this is my desk right now - utter chaos from yesterday when I had a meltdown over everything I still have to do ... just please forgive the mess

Making boxes for some little *s*n*o*w*flake wooden blocks that will be given as gifts

Decided I wanted a little string bow as decoration on them so out came the old boingy tool thingy - noisy but does the job

The magnifying illuminating lamp is there as I tackle some little cross stitch tree decorations that one of the nephews & his wife ask for each year - you can just see a round white paint palette on the left (behind the chair) which is full of seed beads ready for me to get back to once this current frenzy is over

First Christmas card arrived yesterday - on the far left

Think the rest is all pretty straightforward 

 
Happy 600th WOYWW & huge thanks to Julia for the ability to join I as, when & if we are able & for the friendships, love & support that you make possible

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER - Altered Book

Had been wanting to do another altered book for a while but was waiting for inspiration to strike

Strike it did but, despite having done two in-person classes with Finnabair and then a couple more books, this didn't turn out quite as hoped

But, having said that, I can live with it and have ended up quite pleased with it

As always, the photo's do not show it very well - it does actually look a little bit better in real life ... honest!

 I chose one of my favourite carols and am currently obsessed with these Quirky Houses so was happy to have an excuse to use them on another project

It is actually more blue than it appears here and the inside is very much more sparkly - the trees and the snowdrift realy do glisten

 Had the book stashed away in my cupboard for a couple of years now but absolutely could not believe my eyes when I saw the title ...

 

 

Just what are the chances of that?

Prior to March it would have had no significance at all 

I even put it back in the cupboard not feeling able to use it but told Anna (Finnabair) about it and we decided I should use it and obliterate it and hope it turns the tide in what we are all facing right now

Got to admit to enjoying obliterating that title!

PRODUCTS USED

FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black

Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel

Moon & Stars Mould

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax - Turquoise Satin / Green Brocade

Art Alchemy Brilliance Wax - Amethyst Magic

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Old Silver

Art Alchemy Metallique Paint - White Pearl 

Art Ingredients Mica Powder - Pale Silver / Green Opal Magic

Frozen Lake / Purple

Mechanicals - Wings

LINDY'S STAMPGANG STARBURST SPRAY

Frolic in the forest black / Voodoo Violet Blue

HOBBILICIOUS

Quirky Houses Clock Tower

TIM HOLTZ (IDEA-OLOGY)

Woodlands Tree Lot / Baroque Frames 

Festive Adornments TH93990

Floral Adornments TH93789

Midnight Magic

 Came across these little houses whilst browsing for something or other and loved the piece that had been done to show what could be done with them and it sparked the idea for this

The clouds around the moon are actually quite sparkly

but, as we all know, sparkles are hard to capture in a photo'

Quite enjoyed doing this one despite having blue fingers for days afterwards!

PRODUCTS USED

Gerstaecker 30cm (12") round canvas board

Gerstaecker 20cm (8") round canvas board

Hobbilicious Quirky Houses

Tm Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Stencil

THS131 (Stars)

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) :

Art Basics - Heavy Gesso Black / 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel

Art Alchemy - Metallique Wax : Mint Sparkle / Sweet Rose / Blue Lagoon

Art Alchemy Impasto Paint : Cobalt

Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint - Metallique Silver Spoon / White Pearl

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - Old Silver / White Gold

Art Ingredients - Art Sugar : White

Moons & Stars Mould

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray :

Afternoon Delight Denim / Frolic in the Forest Black / Prima Donna Purple

Various metal bits from Finnabair & Tim Holtz collections

WOYWW 589

 Yay!!!!  I'm here ...

... or am I?

Had SOooooo much trouble with this new blogger business and simply had to give up - if anyone is reading this then I guess I am here after all

Until yesterday when I really wanted to add some posts to my blog just for my own reference and continuity of what I get up to

Much hair pulling and uttering of really naughty swear words went on

lots of pleading with hubby whose reply each time was "all lost on me mate, I know nothing about blogging"

more pleading until he had no choice but to give in and suggest my browser (?) was too old to support the new blog thingy

he finally came from his side of the table to "take a look" & finally using his laptop I spotted a vaguely familiar format and actually managed to blog my rolling pin yesterday along with a couple of posts I had ready to publish but couldn't before now as I couldn't figure out how!

Quite why the powers in the know feel the need to change something that was working just fine for just about everyone is totally beyond me

but, right now, I must admit pretty much everything is totally beyond me

So, the point of all this drivel is to link up with Julia over at The Stamping Ground for the weekly hop around fellow crafty desks and to catch up on what we are all up to

I'm afraid I have not had time to join in for such a long time - firstly I try never to WOYWW unless I know I will have time to reciprocate any visits and secondly I worked hard to keep myself totally occupied during the first weeks & months of lockdown by doing a 15 week giveaway project

I planned on doing 12 giveaways to cover the originally suggested 12 weeks of lockdown but then figured it might go on a wee bit longer so went for 15 ... mostly for totally selfish reasons as I really became engrossed in the project and it most certainly kept me going 

Got a bit of criticism for it all of course - at the start I wondered if it might also be a distraction for others ... a sort of "goodness me, what is Debbie up to now" type of thing ... and to provide a little positivity during what were such unknown and scary times

but it backfired on me when it was suggested I had ulterior motives and was only after self-promotion ... I knew nothing was further from the truth and so tried to Move Past It and Carried on Regardless

Alas, my desk right now is somewhat bare ... inbetween projects and partly cleared away from doing my rolling pin earlier this week and partly set up for the next project ... the only dilemma being which one it will be!

Watch this space!

Apologies in advance if I do not manage to get to your desk this week .. shall try and hope it is not too different than with the old blogger 

although saying that there are a couple of deskers to whom I have found it impossible to reply as their blogs won't let me leave a comment

If I can work out how to get back to you then I certainly will

Rolling Pin - altered kitchen object

Finnabair recently did a live video where she altered a little coffee pot as inspiration for us to then alter a kitchen object of our own 

 Got to admit to not being a huge fan of altering objects just for the sake of it but was mostly inspired by Finn's colour scheme and an idea came to mind 

 In the early 1980's I used to make wedding cakes so a rolling pin was forever in my hands rolling out more marzipan & icing than I care to recall So a rolling pin was just begging to be altered! 

 I made many thousands of sugar-paste flowers - represented here by the metal flowers & piped out thousands of little individual lace pieces to then be attached one-by-one to the cakes & this is represented by the real lace on the rolling pin

 They are not too visible but there are two clock hands to make note of the very many hours each cake would take and there is a little white dove hovering amongst the flowers as I went under the name "White Dove Celebration Cakes" in those days - certainly no tatteredrocks in the building! 

 I knew I wanted to keep the rolling pin looking like wood but was very keen to use Finn's colour scheme as it is totaly different to anything I would normally do - and also using her liquid acrylic paints in a new (and VERY scary) way for me. I have only used them diluted in a water spray bottle before but Finn just squeezes some out and daubs and dabs with her paintbrush and magic appears before your very eyes. My magic was less successful but I was happy with the results The lace was dyed with tea and there is a list of products used at the end of this post

PRODUCTS USED : 

FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing) 

Art Basics Gesso - Clear / White Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel 

 Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint - Silver Spoon / White Pearl 

Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylic Paint - Burn Sienna / Carmine / Tiger Orange / Umber 

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax - White Gold Art Alchemy Matte Wax - Charcoal Black 

 Art Ingredients Micro Beads - Copper Art Extravagance Glitter Set - Luminous Mitform Castings & Finnabair metals 

Lots of random metal bits from my collection 

Wooden rolling pin 

Small wooden dove Oddments of lace, ribbons & wire 

Oh, & a teabag!

Meet Huxley the Hare

This is a Powertex workshop that I was booked on to attend in May with the simply lovely Annette Smythe but, of course, the virus put paid to all that!

But imagine my delight when I found out Annette had made the class available as an on-line course along with the option of also purchasing the kit 

So whilst I missed out on being in her wonderful studio and enjoying her company (and cake!) I did get to make my little hare ... he has had many names but I have finally decided on Huxley

I did struggle to get the shape of Huxley's head and it is far from resembling Annette's but I have come to quite like his quirkiness

Can't thank Annette enough for all her support as I messaged her in a panic

at least doing it on-line I had to persevere and not hand it over to her and ask her to do it for me !

At one point I did have his nose spot on but then at some stage I squished it and did not notice until it was too late to correct but, hey, who is perfect anyway and I can live with his little twitchy nose ... it's kinda cute!

This is the link that will take you to Annette's website and from her home page you will be able to find both the on-line course and the kit Annette Smythe

Finnabair Patreon Challenge - Night Dreams

A new challenge was set by Finnabair for her Patreons with the theme being Night Dreams and the requirements being to use mica powders in at least two ways.

Being a lover of mica powders anyway I wasn't worried about that part of the challenge (for once!) and I instantly knew what I wanted to make 

Sent a template off into the garage for himself to cut for me from "anything wooden ... nothing special ... don't  mind it a bit rough " (the moons, silly, nothing naughty!!!!)

Back they came and after a little tweaking were exactly what I wanted ... himself is very useful !!!

My idea was to portray that dreams can be both dark & moody & scary but also pleasant & light & happy too

Unfortunately, right now, my dreams (and I am sure those of many) are rather on the dark & scary side

I used the same colours on both as I knew they would look very different on the black and on the white but I kept the dark one mechanical and the light one flowery ... at least that is what I tried to do

I really enjoyed making this but have yet to decide if I will share it in the Finnabair group ... it was suggested to me that it has nothing to do with dreams but I figure it is my interpretation so am just a bit confused right now over what to do

Time will tell!

The quote kinda says it all really 

PRODUCTS USED:

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black / White

Art Basics - 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel

Art Ingredients Mica Powder :

Frozen Lake / Lilac Opal Magic / Purple / Teal / Deep Water 

Pale Silver / Gold Opal Magic

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax :

Brushed Iron / Old Silver / Electric Violet / Peacock

Blue Lagoon / Mint Sparkle

Art Ingredients Art Sugar - White

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Midnight Blue

Art Extravagance Glitter Set - Carribean

Finnabair Stars & Moon Mould

Resin (no idea what brand)

Tim Holtz Stencil - THS131

Wrap yourself in love & friendship

With the fifteen weeks of giveaways all done I really wanted 0ne final one to be a HUGE thank  you to all of those who "went through it together" with me

The whole project gave me structure and purpose amidst the utter fear and chaos of those early days of the virus - I most certainly would have been floundering and struggling without it to occupy myself and I really do wish I could have carried on for longer

I hoped one of my bobble blankets might be a suitable thank you but choice of yarn during a lockdown pandemic was hard!  Suddenly everywhere was out of stock and choice was very limited. This was the best I could find but it ended up being a favourite ... was not able to get my usual fifteen balls so it is one ball short but, hey, what's a few bobbles & a couple of inches between friends?!?!?!?

*** Winner was Bev Garfiled ***

Giveaway #15 - Time Flies

This one sees the end of the giveaways so to represent the time spent, lived & lost during this dreadful period in our lives  I though a clock might be appropriate

Loosely based on a design I stumbled across so not my own original idea

Rich reds, golds & coppers on a brown background with just a hint of sparkle

Several original watch parts - which have to be some of my most favourite items to use

PRODUCTS USED:

Gerstaecker 20cm (8") canvas board

Tim Holtz  (Stampers Anonymous) Stencil : Clockwork THS013

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 

Art Extravagance Texture Paste : White Crackle

Art Basics : Soft Gloss Gel / Clear Gesso / Heavy Body Gel

Art Alchemy Impasto Paint : Dark Chocolate

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax : 

Vintage Gold / White Gold / Aged Brass

Rich Copper

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Red Amber

Art Ingredients Micro Beads : Bronze / Gold

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray : 

Bayou Boogie Gold / Cowabunga Copper / Cajun Carnelian Red

Autumn Maple Crimson

***Winner was Cindy Ashplant***

Giveaway #14 - Debbie Does The Dragonfly Blues

Why the Dragonfly Blues?
Because this is another of those very rare species ...
first there was the Tatteredrocks Poppy
followed by the Tatteredrocks Butterfly
and now the Tatteredrocks Dragonfly

And yes, I totally realise my mistake ... hence it being a very rare species!
Dragonfly wings are, of course, transparent and shimmery
but, hey-ho, it is pretty nonetheless!

Another Powertex project this week ... a shimmering blue dragonfly with shades of green & lilac too & suitable for your garden

PRODUCTS USED :

Powertex Universal Medium - Ivory

Cheesecloth / gauze

Paper Decoration

Powertex Powercolor - Dark Blue

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) 

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :

Emerald Green / Royal Blue / Deep Waters

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint : Violet Green

***Winner was Sandra Mitchell***

Finnabair Patreon Ocean Mood Board

Recently became part of Finnabair's Patreon group

There are several levels at which you can join - just pick the one that appeals to you

It's quite wonderful giving you access (depending on the level you pick) to many live video demonstrations - loads of workshop based type ones as well as general questions & answers where we just hang out

Suits me very well indeed!

One particular demo has been how to interpret a mood board

Now I have always scrolled on right past any mood boards as they did not call out to me and I really had no idea what they were all about

As one of the higher level Patreons I was able to join in with the picking of the theme, colours & techniques for a mood board which was then opened up to all the Patreon levels

We picked Ocean, Purple & Turquoise and Texture as the theme

The choice to participate is entirely down to you, of course, and I really was not going to join in as everyone's work is so wonderful and those of you who know me will understand my reluctance

However, whilst on holiday in Scotland last year I was unable to watch one of Finn's live FB videos as we had no Wi-Fi

I messaged her to apologise and added, "but I am in paradise"

her immediate reply was, "Paradise doesn't need Wi-Fi"

How true!!!!!

I wrote down her words always intending to use them on a canvas or something

but the theme of this mood board and the fact we had collected shells from that very beach seemed to be a sign that now was the time to not only do my first ever mood board, but to join in the challenge too

I knew what I wanted to do ... variation on a large shell I have done before but I now wanted driftwood

Am as far from the ocean as you can get here in dear old England and lockdown means no day trips anyway so a quick call to nephew, Alfie, who had collected driftwood for his wedding a couple of years ago, with a plea to see if he had any left

He did!

But it was a close call as he had very nearly burnt it all only a few days previously

He sent me all he had - his wife socially distancing leaving it in our porch - & the one piece was exactly what I wanted ... it was as if I had nipped to the beach and found it myself

So a couple of days to put this together and I have my mood board piece done

Hate the purple but am happy with the rest

It looks lovely when the sunlight hits it and it sparkles

and it is a lovely reminder of shells collected from one of our favourite places and to keep stuff like the internet & Wi-Fi in perspective

PRODUCTS USED:

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics :

White Gesso 

Soft Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel 

Art Ingredients :

Art Stones / Mini Art Stones

Glass Glitter : Midnight Blue

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :

Crocus Fields / French Lavender / Stormy Ocean / White Pearl

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint :

Blue Violet

Art Extravagance :

Glitter Set - Carribean Seas

Deco Media Shimmer Mist - White

Lindy's Starburst Spray - Frozen Jack Frost

Giveaway #13 - Heartfelt

Thought I'd go back to basics with the offering for this week

just a simple little A5 canvas panel but with a ton of stuff used on it

Hopefully the sentiment says it all this week

PRODUCTS USED:

A5 Canvas Board

10cm (4") MDF Heart

Finnabair (Prima Marketing) -

Art Extravagance Texture Paste - White Crackle

Art Basics Heavy Gesso - Black

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel / Soft Gloss Gel

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax - Amethyst Magic

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax - Royal Robes

Art Ingredients Glass Glitter - Pitch Black / Violet

Art Ingredients Micro Beads - Berry

Art Ingredients Mica Flakes - Granite

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Spray - Gag Me With A Spoon Grey / Mountain Lavendar Gold

Sweet Poppy Acrylic Mist - Shimmering Silver

Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - Hickory Smoke / Black Soot

Tim Holtz Distress Resist Spray

Tim Holtz Stencil - THS032 (Flourish)

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Classics #7 SCF007

Stampendous Frantage - Chunky Clear Deep Impression Embossing Enamel

Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Pad - Silver

Versamark Pad

Scraps - Wire, cheesecloth or gauze

***Winner was Tracey Lowther***

Giveaway # 12 - Time is a Companion

And, indeed, time does pass

and, hopefully, this will all soon be over and we can return to normal

whatever the new normal will be

for I feel sure it will never quite be the same as before

This is very much a copy of a piece I did a few years ago and has been the only ever piece I was happy with

I had longed to do it again but have no need for two so was very pleased to reproduce it as a giveaway 

Another project done on an old piece of tongue & groove from the rummage box

I do so moan at hubby for keeping al these offcuts

but they do come in useful so ought to cut him some slack

Most of the metal embellishments are genuine old watch parts

There is the odd random cog thrown in and the flourishes are made using one of Finnabair's moulds and resin

PRODUCTS USED:

Wooden panel

Finnabair (Prima Marketing)

Art Basics Heavy Gesso : Black

Art Basics Modelling Paste

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Art Alchemy Metallique Acrylic Paint :

Golden Moss / Emerald Green / Dark Forest / Deep Waters / Royal Blue

Midnight Sky

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Wax : 

Green Brocade / Turquoise Satin / Blue Velvet

Art Alchemy Metallique Wax :

Vintage Gold / White Gold / Old Silver

Art Alchemy Antique Brilliance Wax : Mystic Turquoise

Flourish mould

Resin

Clarity Stamp : Clockwork Stencil

Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous) Stamp : TH006

Tim Holtz (Ranger) Distress Crackle Paint : Clear Rock Candy

Tim Holtz Archival Mini Ink Pad : Black Soot

***Winner was Julie Rose***

Giveaway #11 - Hanging Heart

Week number 11 already ... can you believe that?

It is most odd that, on one hand, time seems to have stood still

yet on the other it is simply flying by

There is a lot going on in my mind right now

just when I thought I had calmed down a little and was getting to grips with

all that is going on along comes a whole new wave of emotions

utter sadness for the now more than 41,000 people who have died

FORTY ONE THOUSAND 

just can't get my head around it

anger & rage at the utter idiots who think it ok to congregate with no 

thought to social distancing - isn't that a horrible, horrible phrase?!?

anger & rage that this is happening in the first place

despair that it will ever go away and I will get to hug and kiss my family

again ... all of us crammed around the dining table sitting kneee-to-knee and

elbow to elbow as we share roast dinners or pizza

& grief for all that is lost and for what now never will be

But I know it's not just me feeling like that

even the most strong people I know feel the same

So, for now, I shall continue with my little giveaway project

for it surely has helped me enormously

giving me something on which to focus & be motivated

& a routine to the week

Just a little hanging heart this week

PRODUCTS USED :

 12cm (4" polystyrene heart)

Metal butterfly

Scraps : Lace / Cheesecloth / Beads

Powertex Universal Medium - Black

Anna Marie - Crushed Ice Crystals

FINNABAIR (Prima Marketing) :

Art Basics : 3D Gloss Gel / Heavy Body Gel / Heavy Gesso - Black

Art Alchemy Metallique Paint :

Deep Waters / Emerald Green / Soft Satin / Crocus Fields

Art Alchemy Opal Magic Acrylic Paint :

Violet Green / Yellow Blue / Green Gold

Art Alchemy metallique Wax :

Aged Brass / Vintage Gold / Rich Copper / Electric Violet / Peacock

Old Denim 

Antique Brilliance Wax : Amethyst Magic

Opal Magic Wax : Blue Velvet

Art Ingredients Mica Powder : Purple / Copper

LINDY'S STAMP GANG SPRAYS :

Prima Donna Purple / Mountain Lavendar Gold

Milk Chocolate Brown / Bayou Boogie Copper / Cowabunga Copper

***Winner was Linda Lueck***