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