WOYWW #865 - Happy New Year

Actually remembered to take a photo of my desk(s) this week - horrah.

Certainly a better week with my hand recovery this week. Wound is healing over nicely but still quite sore and I get major random pains. Wrist and fingers still stiff and I get cramp if I try to move them too much. Planning to start the exercises tomorrow on 1st January.

I managed the last Bible watercolour on Christmas Eve in the afternoon.

I was given a metal bookmark with a cross on a chain attached which I love.

As the boys were watching a show on TV I wasn't interested in I did the next Artistic Advent page on Christmas Eve in the evening too.

If you zoom in to the bottom the word STABLE is visible and I didn't even know it was on the papers I used.

My most crafty and certainly extremely appropriate Christmas present was a Book Binding "Cradle".

It's made of bamboo and came with 2 awls - a step up from the home made cardboard one I have been using.

On Sunday I did the next Artistic Advent installment based on the Shepherd's visitation from the angels. 

I was rather challenged by the personal testimony part of this one and the technique of cutting away the face of a picture of myself, so I just did the process (although couldn't open my inks as my hand is still too weak after the surgery). 

I used an old Christmas card, doodled and flowers, I just wanted to add flowers - go figure!!

We made a tag at the same time too. It was supposedly to give someone for Christmas but I was a bit late for that.

I made my friend an anniversary card. Struggled a bit with sticking and aligning things (obviously don't need to be so precise with the journal pages!!).

Anyway it was a bit lobsided and I forgot to take a photo but as it happens she posted a photo for me. Had to laugh as she took a photo without the top right portion which would have explained the lopsidedness - LOL.

I used bits and bobs I already had about as not wishing to get the heavy Cuttlebug out just yet.

Happy WOYWW New Year to you all.

WOYWW #864 - Merry Christmas

Truth be told I have struggled a bit this week after having the dressing off my wound. 

There's been tears, pain, soreness, anxiety and it all felt like 10 steps backwards. 

But it's getting better slowly and I have managed a bit of crafting.

Watercolours are quite straightforward as I'm right handed.

3 more I AM statements:-

The resurrection and the LIFE (above)
the WAY the truth and the life (tree in the middle)
the true VINE (holly vine)

Multimedia is another ballgame entirely! 

The angel page took a couple of days and quite a few sessions to complete. 

And tears when things became all too much!

The map was much easier. 

I guess I am having a bit of crafty Christmas even  if no real tree nor usual decorations this year.

Wishing you all a 

Very Merry WOYWW Christmas everyone

WOYWW #863 - Dressing Off

I think my side desk sums up my life right now... the box of bandages which I put on top of the dressing the past fortnight. 

Enter the new box with Vaseline and Epaderm for massaging onto the scar 5 times daily for.....ages. Plus the weights and squishy & hard balls for exercises.

My texture book and blue sausage are downstairs. 

The latter definitely my friend, so comforting on the scar, easier to roll over scar than with a ball. There is some kitchen sponge (without the rough bit) inside. I made it 4 yrs ago for my right hand recovery on the hand therapist's suggestion.

I have done a couple of watercolours in my Bible.

Plus a couple of pages to finish off my mini journal

One used up the window cutouts from my Rahab page from last week for the cross and the sacrificial alter.

I hadn't realised the foreshadowing of Jesus carrying his wooden cross with Isaac carrying the sticks for the fire.

I did an Artistic Advent page of Mary seeing the angel proclaiming the conception of Jesus.

The other mini page was for my word of the year for 2026. I got a Hebrew word from a group link

The word is Tikvah which means Hope rooted in Trust.

I used up a strand from my blue sausage and some vellum from the angels wings above as they didn't like wet glue (used staples here).

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

EDIT Quite traumatic seeing, feeling and dealing with hand after dressing off, back to waking at 4am - Oh man!

WOYWW #862 - Recovering Slowly

A big thanks to all you visited and commented last week. Sorry I wasn't up to much typing so didn't get around to replying. 

It's been a bit of an up and down week since my operation. Some pain some tears some OK times too.

I stated my return to crafting with some fussy cutting whilst still in my bulky bandage. Fingers faintly tingly but I think that is the nerve mending now it has been released rather than the pins and needles and subsequent numbness I was having before.

Behind you'll notice the tin I got as a gift from my neighbour opposite. She popped round with her daughter, baby and play date girl too. They all had a good time looking at my art journals.

In the tin was some gorgeous citrus hand cream what a thoughtful gift after a hand op. The tin is perfect for my new (prize from zen) threads too.

Last Friday I managed a Bible watercolour, the first of an Advent series, glad it was simple.

I also used the fussy cut elements which were from the JOTW December challenge. I kept that simple.

I made a page in my mini album whilst I was at it.

If you were wondering what is on my desk it's a pink crocheted angel. I made lots 4 years ago after my right hand operation (2 months after!) 

This time only 6 days after! I made one for my neighbour's daughter on Sunday but forgot to take a photo so had to make another one before posting this - LOL.

Also on Sunday I did another simple watercolour and "started" my next Artistic Advent page.

Monday I finished my jigsaw. The bottom 2 corners were the hardest parts.

I finished my Artistic Advent page on Monday too. 

I've chosen my next jigsaw for when I get around to taking this one apart. I fear taking it apart will be more taxing.

Son had bought me some from the same series so I'll be revisiting this one. Love the colours.

The Artistic Advent pages are a lot more challenging with just 1 and a half hands. Can't put much pressure on my left hand and still can't get it wet so need to be super careful.

I depicts Rahab's house in the city wall of Jericho. And shows where she is in the lineage of Jesus.

I think that's me for typing for now - ouchy

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #861 - Post-Op

Yep, all done. 

Got the jigsaw out that my son got me 3 years ago but not up to much.

Did a few sessions from the Artistic Advent pre-op

Plus some pages in my mini journal.

Not up to writing much this week.

Been watching Absentia on Netflix mainly.

The novelty of doing things one handed and keeping the other hand elevated and dry for 2 weeks will wear off soon.

Received my prize from the Zen workshops which was a nice surprise.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #860 - It's A Wrap & A Date!

Yep finally put my sewing machine away and finished up with the Making Zen sessions I wanted to have a go at.

I made another fabric book from my son's old jeans along with a coaster from the hems. Add those to the pocket bag and not bad for a pair of old jeans with still some denim left over too....

Think I might wear the pocket bag after my op save carrying my phone in the house. We'll see.

I did a few more of the zen paper sessions and put them all on a page in my journal.

I used up left over bits and pieces in my mini journal (it's only 3"x 2")

Just realised I hadn't dated the pages so have sorted that now.

I fixed the tab on one of my walking boots which broke.

I started the Artistic Advent Course a week early as I now have a date for my surgery 

Monday 1st December 2025 1.30pm, 

and really couldn't be making a journal with one hand. 

I have gone private and opted for the cheaper out patient procedure rather than the theatre one. So just me and the surgeon! Eeeeekkkk!

The journal pages are 7" x 5" and the cover a little bigger. The cover session (above) was a bonus as well as the journal construction using 2 signatures sewn onto the cover.

Day 1 is on Genesis 3:15 of a verse which points to Jesus but right at the beginning of the Old Testament, that revelation itself blew my mind!

I loved doing the pregnant lady so replicated it in my actual Bible using just watercolours.

I also updated the 2 margin pictures I had done over 3 years ago. I have better technique and paints now and added my signature paint splatters as well.

Finally I had some paper napkin pieces left over from the journal page so added them onto the first page in my mini journal. 

Took a photo with my hand for scale and I guess the last times with my hand before surgery in a few days.

See you on the other side next week.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #859 - Guess What?

Yep - more stitching...

Working my way slowly through the Making Zen sessions. 

I stitched another bird and a mandala.

I extended the snippet roll and covered my tin.

Made a piece for the lid too.

Then I just HAD to make a rainbow snippet roll. 

I stitched on a photo and made a garland with bits and bobs too.

Today I made the blue scapular and circle piece.

Earlier in the week I made the mini journal with painted/inked fabric sewn into a book and made the first page too. Stamping on fabric is my new "thing".

Even earlier in the week the conservatory served as another "desk" as I sorted an old chair out for my son as the base fabric had "died" and it was "leaking" stuff! Fortunately had some spare "stuff" from my upholstery classes pre-son days and some fabric for the base so used that.

Health update I HAD a new date for my surgery in January but only found that out with the cancellation text they sent as we'd had no post for over 2 weeks! All this has really messed with my head so I have booked a private appointment with the same surgeon who did my right/other hand back in 2021. Might have an actual date  soon now.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.