WOYWW #853 - Trees

Still warm but signs of Autumn are upon us - beautiful coloured leaves and lots of fungi.

A little bit more productive this week despite having son home with all his goods and chattels (minus furniture) and the mountains of washing!

Some mushrooms on my desk.

All made from left over watercolour paints and on the back of pieces I didn't like! 

Waste not..

I need to do a few more before I can make a PDF sheet to share.

Hanging from my shelves is my latest Jonah page.

Behind my chair is my JOTW October challenge page using the prompts.

Wings, Pink, Movement, Soft and a Scripture.

I chose Psalm 17:8 Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

And to get the the Trees title. 

I have been studying Abraham and was taken by the references to trees, often used a landmarks and having spiritual significance too.

I used magazine pictures of trees in my journal and paint around them. 

Desperate to fit a tree in my actual Bible, I managed one in the centre fold as both edge margins were already taken.

Finally I have made a tag for my Harvest bag for this Sunday's service, which will be my last church service for a while as the operation is next week.

I used up bits and bobs I already had around/cut etc.

So yes a little more productive this week.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #852 - Zen Sign-Up

Probably more of the "Oh My!" from last week really.

Catching up with some paperwork on my desk as my Credit Card is changing banks this weekend and Electricity prices are changing today but my smart meter failed to send a reading so I got an estimated bill!

There's the paper envelope from this months RHS Magazine and my Abraham study - all pending.

I did manage the first page in my new journal but that is it. My minor cold set off my IBS last Thursday so eating and drinking anything has been difficult ever since.

I've signed up for the next ZEN workshops which are in the last week of October. I'll still be in the "don't get your hand wet" post-op fortnight then but will watch and take notes and hopefully do something some time afterwards.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #851 - Oh My!

Had son visiting again but full steam ahead for his move in October. 

He'll be coming home for a few weeks in-between rentals which will be nice too.

Now I have a head-cold so just pushed myself to do the last page in my current journal else not much else going on here except nose blowing.

Could this be my shortest post ever?

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #850 - One Month and Counting...

As is usually the way my surgery date came through and it is slap bang in the middle of the 3 day Bible Conference next month! 

Thursday 16th October 2025 to be exact. 

Oh well.

Not done much this week except finish off my Beatitudes study

Here's last week's and .....

this week's (done Monday!).

I've started a study on Abraham so wanted to free up my writing journal for that.

I had my son staying last weekend and again this coming weekend so probably not much time to craft again.

I did manage to fit in the September challenge page for JOTW - the one I didn't do last week.

I used my new handmade (fish) stamp with Ultramarine Ink (navy) on a piece of acetate (plastic), stapled to page and covered with collage fish, which have (circle) air bubbles.

Wondering if I'll get anything done this week as still have all the fussy cutting to do.... Been a bit knocked sideways with impending surgery and the knowledge that I will be out of action for weeks/months afterwards.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #849 - Blessed

No fainting but another desk "in action" this week. Doing some fussy cutting for the conference next month. Can't do much in one go due to hand going numb though - good job I have 5 weeks.

I repurposed an old blue file folder and put the Blessed Conference ticket on there. The session I am cutting is From Lynn Gobler on the JOTW face book group that I have been following since the last conference. Super printable.

I did her bonus page last week, there was a printable of the girl and I followed her process video on the group too, super cute.

I stuck her on the inside cover of my current journal which only has a few sides left. 

I bought a new journal which was cellophane sealed and was disappointed to find each page is perforated! Not amused! So am wet gluing paper strips down each one in case they decide to bend and/or tear.

Plus side is that it has a bigger spiral spine though, my last one is getting difficult to turn the pages in now.

So I have at last done the journal page I prepped a few weeks ago.... I was looking at the prompts for a September challenge and then did something completely different.

I'd seen a bee image I liked and have been doing the Bee Blessed study on the Beatitudes in my writing journal and now the conference on the same scripture too. My alpha stamp was just the right width for the words in one go.

For the record last week's scripture - Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

Oh and I managed to get a couple of wide fitting shoes/boots last week so I was WELL pleased. Had gone to Harrow last month only to find my local high street had a stockist! See previous post here for details and photos.

New Shoes.. and Boots...Whoop!

Oh my life - I have struggled with extra wide feet 🦶🦶 all my life and more so after pregnancy (all those years ago!) I couldn't possibly buy online unless I'd tried them on before so I have been quite stuck the past few years. ☹️ I also use orthotics which doesn't help.

Well anyway a while back I grabbed a handful of old magazines (Peoples Friend) from our local Scout stall and chanced upon an advert for wide fit shoes.

Their shop is located in Harrow, North London over an hour's drive away!

We finally went there last month and although I came back with a pair of comfy "school" shoes the whole experience of the travel and the shop itself was rather distressing... 😬👞👞😬

The shoe box has the maker's web address and with a little searching I found a local shop in Banstead (5 minutes away!!!) that stocked the same make!!!

A shout out to Robert Carder Shoes.

So I went along today and the lady there was really helpful and friendly and I came away with a pair of boots and the total possibility of getting shoes to fit my "duck" 🦆 feet 🦶🦶 in future. Whoop! Whoop!😁👢👢🙃

WOYWW #848 - Little Fishes

Just got back from the RHS Wisley Flower Show and bought a couple of things. 

A bag of wool to help shore up my leaking hanging baskets! I didn't do too well with the sphagnum moss lining.

And a couple of plant pot stems. Loved the boxes these came in and the leaflet inside plus an added extra of tissue as well. A crafters paradise.

One of my favourite photos of the show from the flower art marquee.

Not a huge amount of crafting this week as the sign-up for the BLESSED Bible Journaling Conference 2025 came up. 

So I have been busy preparing downloads and taking notes all for the Free Pass.

It's on from 15-17th October

I used the little fishes stamp I made last week for both of the bonus pages in the Jonah series.

I also used my new big alpha stamp.

I did a little Bible Watercolour as quite taken by a verse.

There are quite a few different translations but I find all the differences seem to enhance the verse in the end.

Psalm 56:8

You keep track (count/record) 

of all my sorrows (misery/tossings/wanderings)

You have collected (list/put) all my tears 

in your bottle (scroll/wineskin)

You have recorded each one in your book.

Another thing on my desk is my scripture writing journal. I've returned to the Beatitudes and would you believe the conference in on the Beatitudes too! Here's my week 7 layout.

And finally a few visitors last week asked about the paint colours I used on my journaling page, so here they are.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #847 - Jonah Bonuses

Here's a treat for you all, my desk in action! 

Just trying to make a fish stamp as per the next Jonah Bonus Lesson.

Truth be told it is nearly midnight Tuesday and only just remembered to do my post!

Here's a shot of the other side of my desk with the base collage for a journal page..

You can see my trusty air-con unit which has had yet another outing the past couple of days.

It's been a funny week, hot again, depressed, then back to my Bible watercolours, Journal and Jonah...

I did a couple of Bible Watercolours based on a talk we had in church a few weeks ago. 

Realised I didn't have anything in the book of Song of Songs, so now I have.

I did a journal page earlier in the week when I was feeling pretty low.

Used up some black and white florals/foliage I'd made previously.

So to Jonah... I did the cover page in my back inside cover and am going to work backwards..

The Jonah summary page next. watercolour on gesso. This was simple and fun to do.

Looks like I'll get my post done for midnight too. Horrah

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #846 - Normality Resumed

After 3+ days without my craftcorner, I've nearly got everything back. 

Still quite a bit in spare room from under my desk but trying to limit what I bring back.

I have journals on the top shelf now - can't reach it without standing on my desk anyways.

I did a couple of scrapbook pages before the corner was dismantled completely. I used some of my new papers. I added some white pen prompted by Helen last week.

Our Rhododendron flowers soon after the Wisteria, such a lovely view from the kitchen sink.

I only seem to get one iris flowering somewhere in the garden so always a nice surprise and purple too.

I got my paints out Monday as I hadn't done any journaling for quite a while. 

Used some stamps I'd found whilst I was sorting stuff. Took them off their wooden blocks and put cling backing on them - sticky business.

Still struggling with body temperature regulation despite it being a tad cooler. Left hand is shouting in it's numbness but right thumb has enjoyed the rest as I didn't go to badminton last week. I've stopped going to the NHS Physio as it isn't hands-on therapy just lists of exercises.

Finding the Summer dragging on somewhat and quite down as a result, but on a positive note hubby spotted a frog in our garden on Saturday. First ever and we've been here over 26years. I dug the little pond in 2021 so 4 years ago and no frogspawn yet but this sighting gives me hope for next year... We'll see.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #845 - Craftcorner Chaos!

Oh My - needed a sort and reprioritise of my stash. 

Then there was the wall issue where I had loads of condensation last winter. 

I'd half moved stuff back then, especially paper based items.

So now I have gradually moved most of my stash to the spare room (hands allowing).

Hubby is going to redo the wall paper and line with polystyrene later this week.

Gives me a chance to see what I need "on-hand" and what can be stored elsewhere, (if I can find suitable elsewhere's...)

Made a badminton birthday card last week for one of our social club's members. 

Truth be told the card has been sitting in my "box" for many years but the addition of the racket and shuttles and score/age spruced it up somewhat.

Got my deliveries at last. That ought to keep me going.

Had a little play with the alpha stamp and the doodles I saw on Mary Anne's desk last week.

The letters are a little bigger than my date stamp which is good.

I've had a bit of a scrapping time and got up to near the end of April now (remember I scrap chronologically).

Can't believe I was over a year behind recently. Whoop!

A couple of walks round the local fields remembering the solar eclipse a bit too late!

Our mega Magnolia tree. I used my "Magnolia" alphabet, it would have been rude not to.

Wanted to wait for my new papers for this one but
cracked on. I included the card too. It's of the Wild & Bloom flower box from my son on Mother's Day, a lovely surprise awaiting me for when I returned from church.

That brought us to April with lots of little things.

New PC/mobile speakers for me. A birds nest in the garage and the last time I did my hanging baskets. The amazing white hedge in our local fields and my son and his mates.

More geocaching and Easter.

I used a couple of double sided Basic Grey papers left over from my job lot buy, not my usual paper choice but OK.

Hubby's cycle ride along the River Thames tow path and Richmond park.

The "Cat who got the Cream" as I took delivery of my air-con unit and got it set up just in time for all these heatwaves we've been having in the SE.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

Hand Recap as I think I confused some last week. 

I had my Right Hand (dominant hand) Carpal Tunnel surgery (private with hubby's work insurance) back in 2021. Unfortunately it caused wrist issues and my grip hasn't been that strong since. Now my right thumb is really sore, think it must be arthritis.

I've been seeking medical intervention for my Left Hand Carpal Tunnel which came to the fore in Feb 2024. I wear a splint on it at night. I've had a couple of steroid injections, the first was amazing but the second didn't last long at all. I have now spoken to a surgeon and am on the NHS list for surgery for this one too. (Hubby since retired so no more insurance).

Hope that clears up matters relating to my hands. 

Bit nervous about having the left hand surgery with the state of my right hand though. Leaving the date and all my concerns in God's mighty hands.