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WOYWW 638 - Alcohol Inks

A very early Good Morning from a still dark Pembrokeshire.  After a few weeks of actually getting some decent sleep, I am back to waking early.  I blame both the cold/bug/Fibromyalgia flare that has been troubling me since last Thursday (giving me a high temperature, headaches, nausea at times) and also worrying about our last week of the house renovation.

I would love to say that I have been doing lots of crafting since my last WOYWW post (which is What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday and you can join in HERE).  However, that is not true.  I went to a craft workshop where we played with alcohol inks - and the results from that are still laid out on my crafty table.  The only other crafting (and that was only one session in front of the tv) has been some needle felting.  I am really looking forward to having the time and energy to sit down in my lovely craft room (by the way - the Ikea Kallax peg board doors have not been finished either!).

I missed WOYWW last week, as we had a day out to South Wales.  A track day for electric cars in the morning at the circuit near Cowbridge, and then onto Barry for grandson's 3rd birthday (where we walked to one of the nearby parks - so many lovely parks in Barry - for the kids to cycle around and go on the playground).

I haven't been to my usual Scrapbooking workshop on Fridays for a couple of weeks, and starting to do a cardmaking class on Tuesdays from September (plus the usual papercraft/mixed media classes at weekends, fortnightly), so might drop the Fridays from my calendar.  I need to remember that I am meant to be earning some money with my digital designing, so cannot be gallivanting off to craft workshops too often!

We did a few techniques with the alcohol inks - a ceramic tile and a little ceramic pot (shown in close up after I took the cling film off), plus some shaving foam stuff on mountboard.

We had another day out on Monday - had to take our Jaguar to the dealership in Swansea for its first MOT.  They needed the car all day, so we arranged to test drive the new Landrover Defender (which was very impressive and we would be buying one if they had an electric version already).  We went out to the Gower for a few hours - such a beautiful area, but too busy for us at this time of year.  We had some lunch down at Oxwich Bay and a walk in the dunes (where I totally failed to remember to take any photos!).  Here is the Defender (with reflection of the cottage we were parked next to - I spotted some Welsh ponies with a foal in a field, so stopped to take photos)

My stepdaughter and 2 grandchildren move into our rental house on Sunday and there is still lots to do in the house (the builders were delayed by a plumber not turning up when arranged).  Therefore, I am either at the house checking on progress/cleaning round/dropping off stuff that I have ordered like the blinds and curtains, or worrying about it !  Once it is all finished, by the end of September I hope, I will be taking a few days off.

I hope everyone is well and getting more craft time than me.

Ali x

A Fantastic Tool For Every Home - but especially if you live with Chronic Pain

One job that we all struggle with in the home is moving heavy furniture and other items.  Since my Fibromyalgia got worse (and now diagnosed with Osteoarthritis too), I tend to avoid the cleaning where I need to move furniture, ie in our bedroom.

However, it became urgent when Milky the Cat recently brought fleas into the house.  Check out my Instagram Stories to see what I am using for flea control.  I needed to move the heavy furniture in our bedroom to hoover behind and underneath, and this is by myself.  We also have a really deep carpet in there.  I did try to move our super king bed, but it didn't shift even a millimetre!  Therefore, I got the EZ Moves out of the cupboard, and then it was relatively easy to move the bed across the room.

I have done some separate Instagram Stories showing this, and promised a link to somewhere where you can buy it in the UK.  It was sold out in most places, but I have found it on Ebay.  It isn't expensive and I think all homes should have one.

I will be doing some more videos and blog posts about how I cope with housework/organising etc whilst living with Fibromyalgia and other chronic health conditions.

YouTube - my first video for a while

My first YouTube video for a long time - and I am showing all the stash that was piled up on my crafty table in my last blog post ....

and I nearly missed out the bag of goodies from the CraftWorks !

(Getting this video created and edited has been several hours over several days - and more than once I was very close to giving up entirely!  However, I am stubborn - and didn't want to lose all the video I filmed.  I had purchased a very good video editing software in the past, Filmora, but that was with an old email address, so now I need to try and access my account again.  Therefore, I tried a few different free video editors, but they either had very steep learning curves, or in the case of iMovies on my iPad, I did not have enough storage space left to upload it.  Eventually I found that there is a very good Video Editor on Windows 10, and that saved the day.  This video is 'rough and ready', and I will get more professional as time goes by, but at least you get to see my stash and my craft room.  Getting music to add to just the start and finish titles was a step too far today!  I will also be adding subtitles.)

The Makerss is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Needle Felting - click HERE.  

You can get your very own Edmund Elephant and also a Nativity Scene Advent Calendar Needle Felting Kit from Frankie and Sidney HERE.

Click on the links in the sidebar to go the The Works, Create & Craft and Craft Stash - for lots of crafty stash shopping!  These are all affiliate links, so I will get a few pennies when you shop via my links, which is much appreciated.

WOYWW 636 - A Lot To Show, but none of it is recent!

Good morning from a slightly drizzly Pembrokeshire.  Since coming back from our weekend in Oxfordshire/Warwickshire (EV Festival at the National Motor Museum on Saturday, followed by shopping in Leamington Spa - found the CraftWorks shop! - and visiting my mum in Banbury a couple of times), I have amazingly been sleeping for at least 8 hours per night.  Thought it was just from being tired from the travelling, but now I am thinking it is because we are keeping Milky the Cat out of the bedroom (she still has an occasional flea on her).  Usually she climbs around on me in the night and wakes me up constantly.  Perhaps my sleep issues were that simple?!  

The main reason for being here on this Wednesday (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday) is to share my crafty space.  If you would like to join in, click HERE.

Crafting - I have done nothing since last week.  The piles of new crafty stash have grown, with another delivery from Create & Craft (some scissors and photo corners, which I ordered a while ago).  I will do an unboxing video of it all either today or tomorrow, and then add a link on here.  Here are the piles - plus the bag of goodies from CraftWorks (they had a job vacancy for an Assistant Manager - I would love to work in there!), some of which is presents for grandchildren.  (The jigsaw is the one passed onto me via Cindy.)

These are the cards we made at my last craft workshop - lots of inky/embossing fun (the glorious dark blue is the new Distress Ink, Prize Ribbon).

I will be back to my scrapbooking class on Friday morning, and then another craft workshop on Sunday (with alcohol inks this time).

Finishing off the Ikea Kallax started yesterday evening - and I got half of one of the pegboard inserts done.  Only another 3 to go!

I am not going to promise anything for next week, but hoping that the end wall of my craft room will be finished, all the new stash played with and put away, and the jigsaw started.  However, life is very busy with the last rush to get the rental house renovation finished before the end of the month.  We have ordered the kitchen/worktop/flooring for delivery next week (thank you to Howdens for their exceptional service).  Carpets were measured up for yesterday and paid for, and most will be fitted in 2 weeks time (our fantastic local branch of Carpetright saved the day).  New front door ordered.  The builders and electricians have been there full-time and got a lot done.  Unfortunately, not all will be complete before my stepdaughter needs to move in (stair carpet not arriving until September, plus gas meter needs to be moved outside), but we are still really proud of our progress considering all the delays getting the keys.  If anyone in West Wales needs an incredible builder, then Mark Roberts is your man (he organised the renovation of the Farmhouse and also the Cottage at the farm).  We also have a lot going on with our farm business, so time in my craft room is mainly taken up with work on the computer.

Health update - I do have arthritis in my feet.  I have stretching and foot strengthening exercises to do every day, plus going back to have orthotics fitted soon.  I have to wear either trainers or walking boots (even in the house - I have some house trainers), or my walking sandals in really hot weather.  

One last thing - we are selling Mr T, our campervan.  Would really appreciate it if you could share my blog post on your social media.  We were told that campervans were selling really fast, but I think we have missed the main rush.  He is better equipped than most vans of his size, and will be fantastic for anyone who tours in the winter.  Here is the BLOG POST.

Keep Crafting!

Ali x

Click HERE to go to my Unboxing video.

Mr T - our fantastic camper van - is for sale *UPDATE - HE HAS GONE TO HIS NEW HOME*

SOLD - GONE TO A LOVELY NEW HOME CLOSE TO US, SO WE CAN VISIT!

We bought 'Mr T' when he was new - back in December 2014.  Ford Transit Custom LWB, High Top in a very stylish Midnight Grey.  In early 2015 Poppit Campers did a full conversion into a very high spec campervan.  Mr T should also be called the Tardis !!

Whether you are a cyclist or triathlete looking for a vehicle for training trips or events, a dog owner who goes to agility/obedience/dog shows, someone who loves to walk out in the countryside or tour in all weathers, then Mr T would be perfect for you.

Fully winterised - with hot water, heating, heated front seats, hob and grill for hot food.

Equally suitable for hot weather - with the ability to keep the interior temperature steady.  You get a better night's sleep, and any dogs onboard are also kept comfortable.

There is a solar panel on the roof, which is sufficient power on most days, but you can also plug into electric on a campsite.

There is a fridge with small freezer compartment and a sink.

The rear wetroom has a shower (which can be used outside as well), basin and toilet, plus large wardrobe area (which stays warm in the winter as the gas water heater is located there).  It is a great place to have a tub for all your wet/dirty clothes, towels etc.  There are double rear doors, so easy access without going through the main van area.  Pull out the shower and wash down your dogs!

Lots of other storage cupboards, including a large area above the cab.

There are 2 seats up front (both heated - and the passenger one swivels to face the rear), plus an additional folding/removable seat behind (with seatbelt).  There is a table that fits between the front passenger seat and the rear seat, which is a lovely place to sit and dine (with one of the sliding side doors open in good weather) - and an extension to the kitchen work area.

The unique bed goes up and down with an electric motor, and can be folded out to make a double bed, or it can be used as a bunkbed with the seating bench below. 

When the bed is raised up there is plenty of storage inside for bicycles etc, or for a separate travelling area for dogs.  

There is a factory-fitted towbar with stability control, and the van tows really well.

I am not an expert on the technical details, but I do know that it has the largest diesel engine available at that time.  The gearbox is manual.

Although long wheelbase and high top (you can stand up inside), the van still drives very much like a car.  Easy to park and maneouvre (and just about fits into a standard carparking space).

Air conditioning and satnav are two more of the factory-fitted options.

Exceptionally low mileage (less than 24,000).

Just returned from its latest service and ready to go.  The MOT is until the end of November, but we are happy to put a new one on for you.

Here is the link to our AutoTrader advert.  The price is £34,950, but we are open to sensible offers.

These are some of the photos that Poppit Campers took.

Get in touch at aliwade1971@gmail.com if you have any questions, want to see more photos or arrange to view.  We are in beautiful Pembrokeshire - so drive to the end of the M4 and keep going!

WOYWW 635 - So Much To Show Off

First of all, I admit I am typing this on Tuesday evening (whilst watching Tim Holtz on YouTube).  I have a medical appointment (to see if they can start to diagnose my foot pain) tomorrow morning at 9 am, and then I have errands to do, and our latest house renovation project to visit (kitchen design to work on).  It may well be late in the day before I get a chance to sit down, so thought it better to get it typed and scheduled.

Secondly, I am taking a break from social media.  I need more time to look after myself, the house, business stuff, family moving to the nearby town and, of course, crafting!  I am missing a lot of the Facebook groups I was active in, and my beloved Instagram - but I know I need to try to go 'cold turkey'!  Pinterest and YouTube are still in my life, plus blogs/some forums, so I am still around 'online'.  

I missed last week, as the weather forecast changed and our family, who were in Pembrokeshire for the week, asked if they could spend Wednesday with us, instead of Thursday.  I hadn't seen my 2 granddaughters for over 18 months, so of course we immediately changed our plans.  Here they are on one of our nearby beaches.

I have made a lot of progress with my craft room makeover, but it isn't finished.  Been busy with family, the house renovation and then we found fleas on Milky the Cat.  I have been hoovering every day, plus she has a spot-on flea treatment and twice daily combing.  There hasn't been any spare energy for my craft room!  The good news is that all my hard work means I haven't found any fleas on her today, and the house is very clean.

The bulk of the Ikea Kallax cubes are in place, and I put together the specialist MDF storage for the top row.  I will do a separate blog post detailing it all.  There is also another single row of 4 cubes on top of the right hand side now, and I have pegboard doors for those, so I can display photos etc.  Not sure if I will have it all done by next week, as we are away for a long weekend (trip to Oxfordshire to see my mum and also go to an EV, electric vehicle, event at the Motor Museum at Gaydon).  

I have also had various crafty deliveries recently, including needle felting and sewing goodies, the new Distress Ink colour, the latest Crafters Companion Year of Craft set, and more!  I promise to show it all off soon.

I have been to some craft workshops, and again will do a blog post showing what we made (using heat embossing, stencils ...).

I intend to get round as many blogs as possible on Wednesday, but who knows what the day will throw at me.

Ali x

WOYWW 633 - Doing As Little As Possible

Good morning from a hot and sunny Pembrokeshire.  Surprised that we are in a Heat Warning, as I am sure we get this weather at least once each summer.  It never used to bother me, especially living on the farm (was different when I was travelling in London regularly and would have to avoid the Tube in hot weather - going on buses was so much slower).  However, it must be Menopause, but I am definitely less happy in the really hot sunshine this year, unless there is a good cooling breeze.  Therefore, I am in 'Spanish Daily Routine' - avoiding being out in the sun until later in the day, getting the clothes I normally only wear in Spain out of storage, using Factor 50 sunscreen, wearing a hat and drinking even more water.  I am also doing as little as possible - so housework/gardening/cycling/even crafting can wait until the weekend when the weather breaks.  

I have a mini desktop aircon unit in my craft room (bought it 3 years ago, and obviously it only gets used for a short time each year, but still worth it - cost about £40 from Wilko), and sitting in front of that right now.  Feeling sorry for my hubby who is at a farmers' meeting today up in Carmarthenshire - will be hot as they tour around the fields - and also our vehicle valeter, who is currently doing a full valet on our campervan (which we are selling, as secondhand values are very high right now as there is a huge demand for campervans/caravans).  Hubby had been considering selling it anyway, as he doesn't need such a big van now (he mostly uses hotels when away at cycling events - and I cannot cope with camping anymore), so now is a good time to add to our budget for renovating the rental house.

My photos show the finished scrapbook layout that I started at one of my Friday classes, and finished as part of one of the challenges in the Virtual GoGoGetaway crop last weekend.  I also incorporated a technique I saw in the Christmas Cardmaking Summit last weekend too (only had time to watch a couple of classes, as was following the F1, but have the VIP ticket and have ongoing access to all of the videos.  Therefore, I will watch them in the coming months for more inspiration) - heat embossing on top of texture paste.

At my last Friday class I started on a new mini book - a Winter one!  I will be adding some photos I took of the farm when we last had a frosty morning.

You have seen the inside of the craft shop, this is the marina right outside.  It really is a lovely place.  From September we are having a mixed media class in the afternoon too, so I will be crafting all day on Fridays (and also a fortnightly papercraft class on Sundays at the craft shop in another local town - Haverfordwest).  

Nothing else has been done with my craft room organisation.  I have had the penultimate delivery from Ikea - another 1x4 cube unit with pegboard doors - but leaving that job for a cooler day (and when hubby can help me lift it up).  I have also had the specialist storage inserts for the cubes delivered - 12x12, A4, A5 and dies/stamps.  They are MDF and need putting together.  Also a job for a cooler day when I feel more energised.

Life isn't totally on hold.  We went out and chose the kitchen/flooring for the rental house, and meeting with our builder there later today to finalise the work.  He will be starting this week, and the deadline is by the end of August, so my stepdaughter/grandchildren can move in ready for the start of term.

Keep cool.

Ali x

WOYWW 632 - Getting There

Good morning from a misty Pembrokeshire (although forecast to be another warm and sunny day, with a heatwave at the weekend).

The title of this post is my answer to most crafty friends right now.  The reorganisation of my craft room has progressed a lot.  However, there is another delivery from Ikea due to arrive next Monday (the additional row of cubes to go across part of the wall, which have the inserts with pegboard doors, so I can display photos etc), and I also have a delivery of specialist MDF storage inserts coming for my papers/cardstock, inkpads, dies and stamps.  I just then need the big old wardrobes to be dismantled and removed from the room.  

I do have some bulky stuff that needs to be kept in this room that will not fit in the cubes, so have a wish list on Ikea with a few different cupboard options.  This will be chosen and ordered once everything else is sorted and I see exactly what my final storage needs are.

It is wonderful to have an expanse of floor in the room, and to have more room to move about.  I have a spare 6' folding table now, so that can be used when I need more table space or if crafty friends are visiting for a crafty session (if any of you are in Pembrokeshire at any time, just let me know).

Here are my photos.

The top cubes without any boxes are where the specialist papercraft inserts are going - and the rough contents are already piled in each.  The extra layer of four cubes will go on top to the right (before the ceiling starts sloping), and again some of the stuff that I hope will fit in them is sitting there patiently.  There will be space to the left and on top to slot in books/ATC folders, some slimline boxes etc.  

I want to fill the whole wall.  

View from the end of the room by the door.  I still have my 2 tables in place, but the crafty table is now up against the wall.  The old trolley is between them (very useful to put my handbag on top, plus guillotine, A3 paper etc on the bottom shelf).  I am planning to get the filing trays into the new cupboard, so that will give me more space to craft.  The whole room feels more light and airy, and easier to clean too.

Regarding photos of new stash and craft workshops, I haven't got round to photographing any of that.  Although I did take photos during the weekly scrapbooking/mixed media construction class that I go to on Friday mornings.  Here are a few.  (Barry the Cat lives on a boat in the marina and likes to visit as often as possible - he wears a harness and his owner attaches a lead when he is out by the water.  He literally has to be dragged out of the shop, as he gets treats and a lot of fuss/games from us crafters!)

I started a scrapbook page, and need to get it finished before Friday.

Barry playing with his 'mouse'.  He was throwing this around the shop.

Yes, the toilet for the shop is also a crafty storage place!

It is very dangerous to hold craft workshops in a craft shop.  The shopping temptation is huge - and she also had the remainder of the stash that was in the charity sale for our friend (I did have another rummage and bought a few more items!).  By the way - over £3000 raised and that is rising.

The shop is on the Marina in Milford Haven.  InHouse Crafts.  Say hello to Cheryl if you are in the area.  Her opening hours do vary, so check on Facebook or with me first.  The Marina is a fantastic place to visit.  Lovely cafes/bars and shopping.  Come on a Friday morning and join in with the class !

Apologies to Julia for the number of photos.  I could have posted a lot more!  I am taking part in 2 online events this week/weekend.  A summit for making 'Holiday Cards' (it is mostly hosted by Americans) and also the monthly virtual crop for GoGo Scrapbooking (in their Facebook group).  There is F1 and the Tour de France to watch, and the weather forecast is for wonderful weather.  I will be torn between sitting outside with my iPad and watching sport or craft videos in the sunshine, or being in my craft room.  I think I will be inside first thing in the morning when it is still cool.  

The link for the Cardmaking Summit is HERE.

If anyone would like to join in with the weekly hop around crafty workspaces that is WOYWW (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday), go HERE.

Ali x

WOYWW 631 - Still Living With Piles!

Happy Wednesday from a damp Pembrokeshire.  The fields and garden needed some rain, but it is chilly too - and me and Milky the Cat definitely want some warm sunshine (she is 14, had metal put in her hip after a road accident 11 years ago, and the cold/damp makes her sore like me).

Other lovely crafters will be sharing their crafty workspaces today.  (If you would like to join in, click HERE.)  I cannot do that, as my craft room is still in a state of transition (from old brown bedroom furniture to nice shiny new Ikea Kallax storage).  The 2 old wardrobes (were my hubby's as a child - he is 54) are still in the room, but they have moved to the other wall by the door (they are too heavy for 2 people to carry them downstairs, so they are waiting to be dismantled).

We started putting together the Kallax units yesterday afternoon.  The smaller one (2 x 4 cubes) is done - and looks great.  Hopefully hubby can help with the other one (4 x 4 cubes) later today.  However, he is off into town this morning for a hair cut, followed by helping with the continued clearing of the rental house (more wallpaper stripping and carpet removal), so I might have to wait another day (I am so impatient - I just want to start filling up the cubes!).

In other crafty news - I went to a craft workshop on Sunday afternoon.  We made 3 cards - none of which I have photos of.  I will write a separate blog post eventually.  There were also some boxes of stash for us to shop from (a local crafter was having a destash).  I rummaged through the boxes of treasure and found some stamps, Distress Ink pads, Distress Stickles and an embossing folder.  No photos of our crafting, but I couldn't resist the gorgeous colours on the shop shelves (yes, we do the workshops actually in the craft shop, which could be very dangerous, but I am strong!).  If you are ever in Haverfordwest, then go and see Ben at the shop in Bridge Street (or shop on their website - they often beat the TV prices - click HERE).

On Saturday I went to a Craft Sale (in aid of Macmillans).  Sadly, one of our local crafty ladies died recently and very kindly the contents of her craft room were donated to be sold.  A large hall at the British Legion had to be used, as there was so much stash.  She had every Tattered Lace magazine and all of the dies, plus most of the Hunkydory products, Kanban and a lot more.  A lot was unused.  I went looking for embosssing folders and inkpads, which I did get - but also some stamps, a couple of Tattered Lace magazines (because I loved the dies that came with them), embossed cardstock and some goodies from the £1 table.  It is a shame that we couldn't all have been there, as you would have loved it!  I forgot to take any photos to show how much stash was in the hall.  If anyone is in Pembrokeshire soon, there was still a lot left to sell and that is in the craft shop at Milford Haven Marina - InHouse Crafts.

I will take photos of my new stash and show them off next week.

I have been doing more housework than usual this week so far, and definitely needing a rest - so this morning I will be assembling the plastic boxes that will be in the Kallax cubes.  Done one (which took longer than it should have done) and I am sure the next 11 will be easier!  I also have 6 denim boxes arriving on Friday, which will go on the bottom row.

Progress photos on my Instagram - @aliwadedesigns

Ali x

WOYWW 630 - All Piled Up

Good morning from a very sunny Pembrokeshire.  Perhaps we will be able to go out without a coat today?  It is Wednesday again and the last day of the month (where did June go?!).  If you would like to join in with this tour around crafty workspaces, click HERE.

My craft room this week is looking very different.  I finally made the decision to order the Ikea Kallax storage that I had been considering for a while (a cube storage system) and my delivery date for most of it is this Friday.  Therefore, I have emptied all of the old 'brown' bedroom furniture that I had been using for over 11 years, and my crafty stash is now piled up in the corner of the room.  The 2 heavy wardrobes are waiting for hubby (and colleagues) to take outside (my stepdaughter is going to have them in the house in Haverfordwest when she moves there in August).

The Kallax will be going up against the end wall.  I have just ordered the ones that are the right height to fit across the room below where the sloping ceiling starts.   That is 24 cubes.  I have ordered 12 white boxes and 6 denim ones (going to get some 'proper' inserts for storing papers etc when my budget allows).  I will then measure again to see how to fill in the 'sloping' top part, and order more cubes for that.  Hopefully by next Wednesday, it will all basically be up and in use.  I am sure it will take some time to get it organised in the best way.

If you wondered where the guinea pigs are, they are now in a fancy new hutch out in a stable on the yard.  It is cooler for them on a hot day (my craft room can get stuffy if the door and windows are shut all day) and the hay/bedding etc is right next to them.  Much easier for me to clean them out and no more dust/hay in my craft room.  I am missing their constant company though.

I am having a busy week partly due to the big craft room clearout.  I went to the tip with a load yesterday and have an appointment to drop lots of bags off at the charity shop this afternoon.  Also sorting out the rental house.  Most of the wallpaper has been stripped.  The greenhouse was taken away (stepdaughter didn't want to use it, and a hazard with the 2 young children).  Our decorator decided that he wouldn't be able to do the work by our deadline, but hubby/colleagues are going to do the internal work and our builder is arranging for the external painting (which will save money - more budget to spend on the kitchen!).  We are going to the kitchen and flooring supplier this week hopefully to choose the styles/colours we want.  I have already chosen Metro tiles for the walls in the kitchen/bathroom/cloakroom etc.  I think they look great - and nice to keep it simple.  If anyone wants to see progress photos, I post regularly on my Instagram @homewithchronicpain.

For those who loved our Renault Twizy, it is now being using around the farm - and we take it for its MOT on Friday.  I have had a drive and been a passenger in the back - "such fun" !!

Ali x

ps  Forgot to add that I have been trialling the HelloFresh boxes for a while, and loving the tasty recipes.  I had some free boxes to give away, and have one left (plus have a code for £20 off).  If anyone wants to try it out, just email me (aliwadedesigns1971@gmail.com).

WOYWW 629 - 'I did a thing!' - Scrapbooking has started

Happy Wednesday to all the crafters around the world who share a photo(s) of their crafty workspaces.  Click HERE if you would like to join in.

My quote in the title is in reference to my new favourite tv programme - Clarkson's Farm (on Amazon Prime).  Very funny, emotional and even I am learning things about farming.  I spent a lot of my childhood living on a farm just down the road (outside Chipping Norton) and remember riding in the fields.  A beautiful area of Oxfordshire.

I didn't blog last week.  I can't remember exactly why not now (goes to look at Google Calendar).  Ah yes.  It was our 16th Wedding Anniversary and we had a generally busy day with all sorts of stuff, so I was prevented from sitting down to type a blog post.

Our trip to Wiltshire/Oxfordshire/meeting up with Mum was fabulous.  The weather was hot and sunny, we loved our day at Castle Combe race circuit, and the Sunday lunch/woodland walk with Mum was a success.

We have collected the keys to the house we have bought in Haverfordwest, and have had meetings so far with builder, electrician and decorator.  Wallpaper stripping starts tomorrow and we are hopefully meeting with our heating/plumbing guy to get boiler checked and some gas safety work done.  The deadline for getting it all done is by the 3rd week of August, so our grandchildren can start at the local school in September.    Lots of decisions to be made, but it is a lot smaller project than the farmhouse (which took 6 months), so I keep telling myself that we can survive!

My crafty table today shows one of the scrap layouts I did with the GoGoGetaway Crop last weekend (this is their Facebook Live event).  Yes, two photos from Castle Combe and they are already scrapped!  My haul of wood ATCs is piled up there, and just some of the Serif CraftArtist digikits I bought last week.  I had over 250 in all from one lady, and now I am installing them.  (I do have a few that are not my taste, so if anyone is interested in a list, just get in touch - aliwadedesigns1971@gmail.com).  There is also a photo of the crochet rainbow hanging in our porch, which was meant to be scrapped with the 4th and final challenge of that weekend, but I ran out of time.  I am going to get that done this week.

I have already paid my deposits for two of the actual GoGoGetaway hotel weekends next year.  They sell out really quickly (I missed the 2021 dates), so now I can just look forward to weekends in a nice hotel and doing lots of layouts with new friends.

I was meant to be going to a craft workshop this afternoon, but suffering after my 2nd Covid jab yesterday (very sore arm and some mild flu symptoms), so have postponed that to another day.  On Friday morning I am going to my first scrapbooking group meeting, so all go with my crafty calendar.

Hope everyone is well.

Ali x

ps  I have come back to add a thank you to both Diane and Susan for their lovely ATCs and postcards - all received safely and now displayed in my 'display area'.

WOYWW 627 - Dachshund Pyrography ATC

Good morning from a drizzly and grey Pembrokeshire.  This was forecast, so I am not surprised or annoyed that the sunshine has gone.  My health took a turn for the worse yesterday (no clear reason why, as is often the case) and I am resting in preparation for going away this weekend, so I am going to be doing as little as possible today.  Our 16th wedding anniversary is next week, so I looked around for somewhere to go.  Castle Combe Race Circuit has its Big Race Day on Saturday, so I booked tickets for that (both me and hubby love motorsport).  Managed to get a room in one of the posh country house hotels nearby for Friday night, and then we move onto a pub near Swindon for the Saturday night (and if I have any energy left, we will go to the Designer Outlets for some shopping - we went there 2 years ago and loved it).  Meeting my mum for lunch on Sunday and then home (not seen her since July last year).

I will admit my crafty table is currently clean and empty, so I am showing a photo from a couple of days ago when I was busy getting my first wood ATC finished.  I used my pyrography tool (and inspiration from Pinterest) to 'draw' the dachshunds, and then a Posca paint pen to add the colour.  Quite simple and very satisfying.  Ordered some more ATC wood blanks - plain and fancy - to do more projects this year.

A couple of photos to show the 2 new additions to our EV (electric vehicle) family.  My BMW i3, which is utterly fantastic - very comfortable to drive.  Now I am starting to go out on trips by myself again (weekly scrapbooking classes start again next week, and fortnightly papercraft classes), I needed a smaller car of my own.  Then hubby found a Renault Twizy for use on the farm (and for local errands - I will be stealing it to go to the farm shop up the road!) and collected it from Hertfordshire last week.  It is tiny and very cute (and, yes, there are no doors!).

The sunshine will be back for the weekend and next week we will have the keys for the investment property we are buying in the local town (only taken 6 months to complete the purchase!), so all is good in this corner of West Wales.

Ali x

WOYWW 626 - all sorts of crafty goings-on

Morning from a very wet Pembrokeshire (the promised rain is here, which is good for the garden and the farm, but not so good for hubby who is out collecting a car from Hertfordshire - a 5 hour drive each way).  I have loved this warm/sunny weather over the weekend, but sort-of glad that now I can get on with stuff in my craft room and around the house.

My first IRL papercraft workshop for over a year went really well.  We had our own areas to work in, well spaced out.  It is actually in the craft shop, so surrounded by temptation!  The workshops are held when the shop is closed, so noone wandering around looking over our shoulders as they used to.  I spent the whole of the workshop with the guinea pig stamp set catching my eye.  I had to buy it!!  You can also see on my crafty table two cards I cut out with my Silhouette Cameo, and also a couple of stencils (I used the plastic file divider-thingies, which is thin plastic but works ok).  

We made these 2 cards, which I am going to use on scrapbook/journal pages.

We have had lots of lovely trips out - for walks/meals/icecreams/meeting friends/cycling.  Yesterday we went to Barry to take stepdaughter/2 of our grandchildren for an afternoon out at the National Trust Dyffryn Gardens.  Beautiful place and the kids loved the space/plants/natural play area  (lots of picking up of leaves/pine cones etc).  Definitely recommend going there if you are in that area.

Time to go and sort out some laundry/get the hoover out.

Hope everyone is well and happy.

Ali x