WOYWW 620 - Paper almost too gorgeous to use

Morning from sunny Pembrokeshire.  We are having a long spell of dry weather, which is pleasing hubby as he is working on a field reseeding it for a different crop.  He is hoping for rain from Friday lunchtime, when he will have finished the field and then needs it to grow well.  

I had grand plans to get this blog post published earlier this morning, but then sat down to watch some tv and attempt to start a latch hook rug kit I bought last month.  I used to do a lot of latch hooking back in the 90s, but it must be my 'more mature' mind and I just couldn't figure out how to do the 'hooking'.  I have watched a couple of YouTube videos now, and will attempt again later.  I know it is simple, but I just couldn't coordinate my hands/hook/yarn.  Anyone else do latch hook?

My crafty work table on this fine Wednesday shows a paper pack I ordered from the tv craft channel which used to be called Hochanda a while ago.  It finally arrived yesterday and is as gorgeous as shown on the tv.  I am determined to get using it straightaway, well within a few days when I have finished some blogging/Etsy stuff/Pinterest etc.

You can also see my bullet journal and the various pens etc that I was using at the weekend to do this week's pages.  Cheap pens from Amazon and Arteza, which do a good job for the price.

I recovered from my first Covid vaccine within a couple of days.  Horrible at the time, but worth it.  Everything is starting to open up again in Wales.  I went to my friend's craft shop in Milford Haven last week (go and see Cheryl @ InHouse Crafts if you are ever over in Pembrokeshire - she has a treasure trove of a shop with a big variety of stash).  I have booked for my first craft workshop on 21st May - making mobiles/wall hangings from air dry clay.  Very exciting to be out and about again.  

We have decided to treat me to my own electric car.  We bought our Jaguar I Pace in August and it is fantastic (would never go back to petrol/diesel again).  However, it is a big car and I worry about parking in tight spots.  Used to have a Smart many years ago and always wanted another one.  They do an electric version now, and I plan to go and test drive in Swansea soon.  We have solar panels/battery storage, plus charger for the car, on one of the farmyard sheds closest to the house.  With some changes in routine with dishwasher/washing machine etc, we are mainly using free electricity from the sun now.  Most of our car journeys are from this free electricity too, so we are saving a huge amount of money each year.

Hope everyone is well.  I was very sad to hear about the passing of Victoria Thatcher last week from Covid.  She was an incredible digital designer, famous for her printable planner kits, and was always so lovely when ever I contacted her over the years.  RIP Victoria xx

If anyone would like to join in with WOYWW (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday) this week, click HERE.

Ali x

WOYWW 619 - Can you tell what it is yet?

Morning - from a sunny Pembrokeshire.  I was going to show you all sorts of things in my craft room, but I continue to be affected by the past week (more about that below) and just have no ‘get up and go’.  Instead I share a photo of my latest diamond painting project, which I started with enthusiasm last week and haven’t touched since!  It is a Disney Rapunzel design for my eldest granddaughter, who will have a new bedroom to decorate when our house purchase finally completes.

Really pretty colours - and I promise to get more done today!

After struggling with a flare of Fibromyalgia and Psoriasis symptoms last week, including a couple of days of severe dizziness (where I was struggling to move around the house), we then went out on Saturday for hubby to have his first COVID vaccine.  My appointment was for this Thursday, but I asked him to check whether they could fit me in too.  They did, and I was so impressed with the organisation and how lovely all the staff and volunteers are (been far too long being isolated on the farm).  My arm was painful almost immediately, but I had expected that (I have reacted negatively to the flu jab in the past).  However, within a few hours I was in a lot of pain all over, headache, flu symptoms and nausea.  This only got worse into Sunday, and I only started to improve on Monday morning.  Thankfully back to my normal yesterday, except no enthusiasm for anything and very poor concentration.  I have been taking it easy.  

I am in a COVID symptoms study, and they had asked me to do another test.  We posted that yesterday afternoon, and got a negative result early this morning,  Very impressed with the speed.  It shows how Fibromyalgia symptoms can be confused with so many different illnesses and conditions.

Therefore, my week has been a lot of watching tv, pottering about the house doing only the bare minimum and shopping online for various birthdays this month.

At least the sun is shining most days!  Hope everyone is well and happy.

Ali x 

Ps.  For anyone interested in learning more about the Colop EMark I featured in my blog post last week, there is a show starting on Create & Craft right now (9.45 am, Wednesday)

WOYWW 618 - Owl ATC & Colop E-Mark

It is still just about morning here, and I was determined to get a blog post typed today.  Was shocked to see how many weeks I have missed with this global hop around crafty workspaces (click HERE to join in).  I have been super-busy earning money with Matched Betting, and the Cheltenham Festival is named 'Cheltmas' in that community, so I joined in just to see how much money I could make over the 4 days.  I have decided not to continue with horseracing betting, so glad that I did try it out this year - and I made over £300 (my usual monthly target).  Flare ups of my chronic pain and preparing for the first family visit since Christmas 2019 last week also kept me away from blogging.

I have been crafting quite a bit, and deliveries of crafty stash have arrived (I treated myself as a reward for all the time I have spent with Matched Betting). 

You can see the latest delivery from Create & Craft (please remember to go through TopCashback to get the 5% cash) on my crafty table.  It is a Colop E-Mark, which does multi-colour stamping - on all sorts of materials.  I also bought a selection of the accessories including ribbon and labels.  I have been watching the tv shows for a few years and always wanted one of these latest models (I had one of the original ones many years ago, which you had to put cartridges in to get the designs.  This one links via wifi to an app and you can can do any words/images.)   Already made a birthday card for a friend - with personalised ribbon on it, plus toppers/insert.  There is a lot to learn to take advantage of everything it can do.  Anyone else got one?

I am also in the process of getting an owl ATC made for a trade.  I actually got my dies and Sizzix machine out for this.  It just needs sticking together and then I can get it in the post this afternoon.

All busy here - with solar panels being fitted to the roof of the shed that is closest to the house.  This is a garage now (new electric door fitted), with charger for our electric car - and it will also be a workshop for bikes etc.

I will get around blogs later and catch up with what everyone is doing.

Ali x

ps  I am doing a Tarot course this month and will need some 'guinea pigs' to practice on (haven't done any readings for a couple of years, so decided a refresher course would be useful).  If anyone would like a reading, email me at aliwade1971@gmail.com.