WOYWW #834 - Making ZEN

I'm knee deep in the freebie version of Making Zen again this week. It's mainly fabric/sewing based so playing havoc with the Carpal Tunnel but I'm persevering through the pain and numbness and trying not to prick or cut myself.

As you might notice I have had a rethink of my surface availability in the craftcorner. Wanting somewhere to have my sewing machine out this week I tried the little table I usually have next to my desk but it was a tad low and rather wobbly.

I now have a loft reclaimed pre-marriage table which fits around the fireplace a treat (legwise). I've had to swap out my chair for a smaller one but my room looks bigger for it. Anyway going to give the new set up a go over the week of Zen but will probably relish the ongoing extra surface area.

Here are my Zen projects so far. Monday I did 5 out of the 7 sessions available. 

The Jonah project came to a halt at day 6 so despite starting later than others I have now caught up with that. Here are my last 4 entries.

Awaiting the next stage of the series....

And my scripture writing and daily ponderings continue. Here's last week's finished and this current week as it started out. I used my new Indigo Blu stuff this week plus the other new stencils.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #833 - She Journals Jonah

Well not to disappoint I seem to have done loads this week AGAIN! 

Here's the desk as I was packing away from doing Day 2 of the Jonah Challenge which is free till 20th June 2025 but I won full access to it last month - whoop whoop.

It's an acrylic paint journal challenge. Acrylics are sure a challenge for me right now. I made a travelers notebook from various papers, and painted the cover.

Day 1 - We are called to go and preach the gospel - the thing Jonah tried to run away from!

Day 2 - We can't out run God, His purpose for us and certainly not His LOVE.

The other week after I mentioned looking for a script stencil, Angela of the Felix persuasion brought my attention to such a stencil included in the Indigo Blu Box Magazine. Thought it was a bit much to order online but God was shining on me as there was a copy in my local ASDA store - Whoop Whoop!

OK So it was £14.99 but also included dies stamps and papers. 

Had great fun playing with it already - even the stamps (don't faint!!). 

I even made a card out of the test pieces.

Lovely stencil and dies.

I did a bit of watercolour colouring in of the stamped images plus a page of previously hand drawn flowers and foliage.

They were then all ready to fussy cut during the WOYWW Virtual Crop - even with the Carpal Tunnel.

Lovely to see those ladies who could make the WOYWW Virtual crop. Kicking myself that I didn't take a screen shoot of the meet up. Hoping someone else did though.

Thanks to Jan for the dance song, "Play that Funky Music" duly added to my Spotify playlist favourites. 

There was also my weekly scripture writings.

Using up printables I've had for ages.

And last, which was really first last week was a journal page using the stencils I bought the other week.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #832 - 16th Anniversary

Oh my life can't believe I have been joining in this amazing, epic, momentous blog hop for over 13 years!  

Even managed to take a photo of my desk with something in progress on it, along with my anniversary ATC.

I used an already cut and embossed ATC card, probably been in my drawer pending this day for at least a decade! 

I followed my art journalling process by collaging some papers for texture and interest then added acrylic paint (totally obliterating the interest LOL!) 

I painted the tulips I'd learnt on the recent Faith Fest from Casey Turner and stenciled the birds. 

A few drops of coffee and all done...

Happy WOYWW 16th Anniversary Everyone.

Other things afoot, on my desk is the beginnings of a journal page with some collage pieces. 

To tell you the truth I saw a scrap of paper on the floor downstairs and couldn't resist picking it up and thinking isn't that interesting...

There's my daily scripture writing journal for this week adorned with lots of stenciling with my new stencils. (above)

Here's last week's all done.

I've skipped on with the scrapping and am currently on September 2024 - go me.

Here's June and the beginning of July.

The May bug for the 2nd year running, hubby cycling with a friend's son. My mate's Marriage Blessing and hubby's 68th birthday and mega geocaching circuit.

More geocaching mid-July and new Boots mid-August.

I have enormous trouble finding any footwear to fit as I have small but extra extra wide feet. These boots are 2 sizes bigger to help accommodate the width and are AMAZING.

Finally I did the bonus creative process for the upcoming Encounters in Colour 2025 freebie Faith Art Journaling Retreat. 

We made our own washi tape, top half on microporous tape the bottom on masking tape. Both cut in half longways.

I then did a page based on the hosts one, using the tape I'd made plus scraps of a mop up sheet.

The inaugural retreat last year was amazing so really looking forward to this year's. There's a weeks worth of a daily process video each from a different artist. You get 2 weeks access on the free pass and there is now an option to purchase this year (which includes last years too) for the year which is really reasonable. Either way, I couldn't recommend it more.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #831 - What's Normal?

Have to say these cooler days have been much better for me, anything over 20C and I seem to stop functioning despite the air-con going full blast. Got a new fan now for the nights too as well as the blackout blind for the days... Oh my word.....

So nearly back to normal for me and then Sunday it was Hubby down to A&E for another UTI, not sure if I am coming or going!

I finished off the forgiveness series. 

The Jonah painting series should be available soon, looking forward to that one. Might do watercolour in my Bible and acrylic in my Journal, we'll see.

Anyway back to last week and thanks to our Elizabeth I was made aware that last Saturday was Scrapbooking Day so I did a couple of pages for LAST MAY 2024. 

One when I finally got a flower on my pond Iris which I'd planted back in 2021.

And I finished off May on Monday whoop whoop!

You guessed it, more geocaching!

I loved the technique of making collage sheets in colours from the Faith Fest so I made a set.

I guess they are a bit like snippet sheets.

Nothing like a bit of inane sticking of an evening to relax...

Finally - I bought a "Silk Screen" Stencil by mistake on-line. Really wanted a plastic one for inks and can't get them to work through this one. Does anyone know how I could make use of it or if not does anyone want it?

I so wanted a script stencil so was really disappointed with my mistake. Anyone know of a good script stencil and where I might get one from?

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #830 - Exhausted!

Oh my, the Faith Fest was full on. Free access enabled you to view 4 process/devotional videos on each day for 24hrs. They weren't released till 2pm each day so this was a little awkward.

Then I had Ladies Weekend at church where we saw Philippa Hanna on the Friday evening and had a full day of Worship and activities on the Saturday. 

Anyway here's my desk, wide angle so you can see my new air-con. It was delivered on 17th but only now able to set it up - so glad I got it with this mini heatwave - phew - my sanctuary.

On the desk is my Sainsbury's purchase of LARGE sticky notes, who could resist???

Last week's daily scripture writing pages on PEACE in blue. 

The week rather ran away from me with Faith Fest but I managed to fill the page with a worship song. Loving Brandon Lake.

So to the Faith Fest Pages.

Day 1  

Casey Turner - Tulips - be a light in my home

Stacy Spangler - Shine

Kelly Pittman - Let Your Light Shine

Laura McCollough - Mount St Michael

Day 2 

Korin Sutherland (Casey's big sister) - Shine for Jesus

Rachel Hendrix - watercolour

Christy Beasley - Paper Houses

Tamara Gaal - Bee & Honeycomb - Shine

Day 3 

Leslie Ackman - Float - Cut and paste

Jenna Burne - Your Palette of Light - rainbow

Tina Chin - transforming pages.

Kim Pepper (our host) - Serve with your light

On Saturday at church I did these.

Really ought to have taken my mini painting tin!!!

But I managed with just the supplies there. I did the background on the right hand page using watercolours applied with tissue. Used it below too.

Here's Tuesday and Monday's pages for this week's Forgiveness mini devotional. I switched them round so the girls were facing eachother.

Remembered I had some tissue which doesn't tear when it gets wet that worked better and I have it to use on another project now too. Win-Win.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #829 - Faith Fest

Busy Crafty week instore for me with Faith Fest. Stuff laid out on bed, stool and desk all ready for the freebie sessions (Tues-Thurs 4 a day available for 24hrs from 2pm).

Just checking out my photos and it looks like I've had a busy week last week too! 

First up I made some long awaited cards from an old masterboard. 

Also some from a printed sheet of the houses I painted last week. 

Plus a couple of Easter Cards watercoloured on some watercolour paper I'd cut into egg shapes probably last year. 

Love using stuff up...All the diecuts on there were previously cut too.

I finished my Lent scripture writing on the names of Jesus.

We had Ancient of Days, (my favourite), Healer, Rose of Sharon, Deliverer, Name Above Every Name, and The Resurrection.

So enjoyed this scripture writing/doodling that I am going to continue it...

I'm going to focus on the word PEACE for this coming week.

I prepped my page with collage of bits and bobs , some acrylic painting and distress stencilling, on a blue (calm for me) theme.

Next up was finishing off the Lent bird series with Devotion in Action with

- stay in the house of the LORD Proverbs 27:8 and Psalm 104:12

- a place for you Psalm 84:1-4

I did my first scrapbook pages for May last year - yet more geocaching, 2nd visit to Godstone...

Then on Easter Sunday I followed an acrylic workshop. Thought it was a paint along thing but it wasn't as there was drying time required. I'm really not used to doing stuff over days so this was indeed a challenge for me. Anyway I had a go.

And finally, I filled my little travel tin with some watercolour paints, paper sheets and cut down a couple of my Ikea kids paint brushes to fit the tin. Jolly pleased with my effort, now just need to go out and paint something, that will be the real challenge.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #828 - Holy Week

Desk has my recent projects on it today.

I finished off the tag from last week, it's hanging from my shelf (top right in photo)

I'm working on the last week of Lent as it is now Holy Week. 

Here are last weeks pages for week 6.

The names for Jesus are:-

Sun of Righteousness, Dearly Loved Son,

Lamb of God, Tower of Safety, A Root and Mediator.

The Bible Watercolour is on the passage in Luke 12 "Do Not Worry"

The printable/process was for the American Blue Bird so I adapted to depict the UK Blue Tit.

I used the left over paints to do some quirky houses as it's been on my list of things to try for simply ages. 

Thanks Lindart for reminding me.

Earlier in the week I made a card for a friend as his Mum had been admitted into hospital suddenly and has since been transferred to a hospice as she has cancer which she had hidden from everyone.

Finally the bonus page for the Faith Fest which starts next week. It's a freebie 3 day event with 12 instructors all using the same scripture, should be interesting to see how they all differ. 

Plus a Cross which started out as something quite different but I just went with the flow.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

Post Script --- After my bird watercolour above I couldn't stop thinking of the reference to Ravens.... and as we had been given the Elijah reference in the OT, I thought I'd have a go...

1 Kings 17:2-4 NIVUK

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have instructed the ravens to supply you with food there.’

We should trust God's provision even if it comes from a surprising source. God's Miraculous Provision.