WOYWW582

Well I was missing in action from our weekly desk hop (WOYWW courtesy of Julia) last week because I was in Somerset visiting my Mum for the first time since February!  It was sooo special to see her but more of that later...

Here is my desk as it is today - laptop in evidence as it is a work day so all crafting is tucked away (mostly). You can see my tea, my sports camera and waterproof casing, and at the back of my desk my latest index cards.

Here they are - a complete mix this week using acrylic paints, paint pens, distress oxide sprays, stencils, stamps and collaging. All good fun for a variety.  Needless to say I am still behind on the challenge, but that doesn't really matter!

On our trip to Somerset, Mum very kindly paid for Alex and I to have a surfing lesson which was hilarious - Alex managed to stand up very successfully and pretty reliably by the end of the lesson as you can see here.  I, on the other hand, could reliably get to my knees, and often into a crouch safely enough, but standing was a different matter.  I managed it about three times for no more than a second before total wipeout!  I ached so much afterwards but it was such fun so worth every ache and pain.

This is my favourite photo from the weekend of us all having a picnic in the sand dunes after surfing.

I will finish with some photos of Mum's garden as it is looking stunning.

Loads and loads of Agapanthus because she grows and sells them!

That is all from me for now. I hope that you are all staying safe and well.

With love and God Bless,

Caro

xxx

WOYWW 580

Welcome to another edition of What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday courtesy of the lovely Julia!  I failed dismally to post last week as life was just too complicated and busy.  Anyway, I am back again this week - just!

This is my desk as it was last night - all very tidy as I have been sermon writing and working and everything was put away ready for work this morning.

I have failed to keep up with the index card challenge - only achieving these three in the past two weeks. Now that I have written, recorded and uploaded my sermon to YouTube (it can be found on the St Luke's church, Lodge Moor, Sheffield channel for those who are interested), I have more time to potentially catch up!

Not much else to report - I am still swimming most days after work, either at the plunge pool  (pictured here) where temperatures are around 13-14 oC or at the lake in the park (it was a reservoir in Victorian times) where the temperature is 17-18 oC. At the plunge pool you are swimming in a smaller space against a current whereas in the lake I swim around 800-1000m.  Different things for different moods and both very good for my mental health.

During lockdown Alex and I joined in with the Taskmaster challenges that were set by Alex Horne as 'Hometasking'.  If you are interested I have posted a link to our compilation video on YouTube.
That is all from me for now.
Have a good week and take care of yourselves,  Stay safe out there.
With love & God Bless,
Caro

WOYWW 578

Another week, another Wednesday and it is time to show you my desk again as part of the WOYWW phenomenon hosted by Julia.

Here is my desk in all its messy glory while messing around with the new acrylic inks... I still haven't a clue about what I am doing with them but I am having fun getting very messy!

These are the index cards that i made this week using them. What you can't really see is how glossy the bottom two are as I used the pouring medium with them.

That is literally all the crafting I have managed this week - I have been crazy busy juggling work and homeschooling, and church related activities.  

I have been taking time to look after my mental health and managed to swim every day this last week (apart from Monday which was chucking it down and blowing a gale!). This was taken in the old reservoir in a park in Sheffield yesterday evening.

My favourite place, though, is this plunge pool, which is popular with teenagers who love to jump in and I have been very lucky in managing to have it to myself a few times.

I love to swim against the current looking up at the light coming through the trees or to stand under the waterfall, and have had a few socially distanced swims with friends.   Alex meanwhile has been having much needed socially distanced fun with friends in the park.  Teenagers really do need social interaction with their peers for their mental health.  That's all from us.  Short and sweet as Julia likes it.  I do hope you are all keeping well.  Take care and stay safe,

With love and God Bless,

Caro

xxx

WOYWW 577

Happy Wednesday and Happy WOYWW!  Don't know what I am talking about?  Then visit Julia's blog where you can find all the details. I hope that you are all staying safe and well. I have enjoyed two socially distanced walks and a socially distanced swim this week which has been wonderful!

This is my desk as it was yesterday evening, where I was playing with some acrylic inks.  You can see the acrylic inks, craft mat, my large mug of tea, water jar, paintbrushes and index cards.  If you look to the right of the picture you will see my new washi tape storage (I copied Sarah's solution) which has cleared up some of the usual mess at the back and side of my desk.

Here are my index cards for this week (one short as I haven't yet done todays!). I have mostly been playing with collages this week using Tim Holtz ephemera, stamps and stickers but couldn't resist a water colour bird themed one inspired by Heather's beautiful birds.

I have also made a couple of cards this week - this one was for my Father-in-law

This one was for Tim for our 19th Wedding anniversary that we celebrated yesterday.

Talking about our anniversary these are my presents! Lots of lovely goodies to play with.

I have swum most days this past week, mainly in an old reservoir which is in a park in Sheffield. These beautiful wildflower flowerbeds are next to it.

It is beautifully clear and lovely (and warmer than the river!) and is doing me the world of good. Alex has joined me occasionally but is also meeting friends for socially distanced fun in the park. With the slight relax of rules, my Mum is now in a 'bubble' with my brother so had a wonderful time last weekend staying with him and his family, which did her the world of good.  I can't wait until we can go and see her, but 5 hours away means we will have to be able to stay so not possible yet.

I will leave you with this photo of Alex winning a challenge at Scouts on Monday - how many clothes pegs can you attach to your face - he had 29 on him!
Stay safe and well everyone,
With love and God Bless,
Caro
xxx

WOYWW 576

Where did this last week go?  I am sorry that I didnt manage to visit everyone last week, and that I am running very late today - life has just been manic.

Here is my desk from Tuesday evening as my entry to What's on your Workdesk Wednesday.  It is fairly tidy as I had finished work for the day and was about to head out for a walk (in the most mahoosive thunderstorm!). You can see a pendant I had just finished making, some silver wire, tweezers, scissors, superglue, and my trusty mug of tea.

This is the final pendant - it was made from some river glass that I found at the weekend - probably glass as old as 1890-1910. I need some nicer quality and slightly thicker silver wire to be more adventurous with these, but not a bad first attempt!

Here are my index cards for this week as part of the ICAD (index card a day) challenge - a completely random mix.

As ever Alex and I have been getting out and about for walks and swimming, so here is a photo of the beautiful poppy field I discovered at the weekend. This was taken in heavy mist and you can see all the water droplets.

And pictures of Alex (Yes he does need a hair cut!)

and I messing around in the water in one of our local parks - it was wonderful (so much warmer than the river!) and so therapeutic.

I hope that you are all staying well and I will try and visit tomorrow - I'm off out for a socially distanced walk tonight and can't wait!

With Love and God Bless,

Caro

xxx

WOYWW 575

Welcome to my blog and another What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday post - the nicest blog hop in the world hosted by the lovely Julia

Here is my desk in chaos of making index cards.  I am supposed to be joining in with the Index card a day challenge, but have a confession - some days I make loads and  some I don't make any but overall I should make the correct number! This is a day (Tuesday evening) when lots are being made  using finger painting with acrylics and gesso. You can see my trusty mug of tea and yes, I do run on tea!

Here are my index cards for the past week - a fun mixture of different techniques and styles which is the joy of the cards. It doesn't matter how good they are but they are just fun to play on.

I have also been getting my diary up to date

so here are some of the pages from it.

Not much else to report here, Alex and I have been on various walks, in the wind and rain,
enjoying some of our local countryside. 

Work is mad this week so I will keep it short and sweet today.  Please take care of yourselves
With love & God Bless
Caro
xx

WOYWW 574

Another week, another Wednesday and here I am joining in again with What's on your Workdesk Wednesday so...

here is my desk! It is relatively tidy as I am in the process of decorating an index card using distress oxides and inks, water colour crayons, ink sponges, my mug of tea (nearly finished), and some Tim Holtz sayings.

For the last two years I have joined in with the Index Card a Day challenge (known as ICAD) which runs from 1 June-31 July and I am trying to do the same again this year. The aim is to do a little bit of crafting every single day, no matter how quickly or simply, on an index card.  Here are the first three cards.

The other crafting of this week has been a birthday card for my nephew featuring a photo taken of him last summer.

I will leave you with a couple more photos of Alex and I messing and having fun in the river before the weather changes (Facebook friends will already have seen these)! 

I hope that you all have a blessed week,
With love & God Bless,
Caro
xxx