Wednesday 21 May 2014

WOYWW 259

For details of how to join in the fun of WOYWW and to expose all (on your work desk at least!) click on the WOYWW icon in my sidebar, which will take you to our hostess Julia’s blog, where she will explain all.

As usual, I seem to be between jobs again at this midweek stage, but at least my desk isn’t quite as bare as it was last week.

WOYWW 259

Centre stage is my recycled mini-album. The construction of the book itself is now complete, and I have started on the decoration of the pages. Unfortunately I cannot show you very much of this as it contains personal family information relating to the person for whom I am making it, but you can see how the borders are beginning to work. Each of the five signatures (made from recycled Christmas cards) is arranged so that the smallest pages are in the centre, and the largest on the outside. When the pages are opened as in the picture, the borders on the different pages build up in layers so that at the centre, there will appear to be quite a deep border, but it will be made up from smaller borders on the underlying pages. I have created two backgrounds for the first pages of the book (not visible) and this will continue as I proceed with work on subsequent pages. You can see two photos ready to be mounted.

The book is sitting on a new scratch paper made from materials going into the book – acrylic paints, inks, rubber stamp cleaning, etc. I decided to make some interesting swirls this time, from the brush cleaning. It’s already looking quite nice!

Just beyond the book is a small silver-coloured card. This is actually a failure – my first attempt at creating a background using the empty sachets from my colitis medication – you can read all about that project here – after an epic struggle I eventually managed to make a birthday card for my hubby (his birthday yesterday) from this most unresponsive material!

On the left, the purple box contains my drawing pens for Zentangle etc. I have found out that the Zig archival pens I have been using have a problem dealing with acrylics – if I try to draw or write on an acrylic background, the pens almost immediately stop working – it’s as if something in the paint seals the flow of ink. I have wasted a couple of pens doing this, which is a real pain, because it’s something I need to do. After searching for the problem online, I discovered that the Faber-Castell PITT artist pens do not have this problem, so I ordered some last week and so far they are brilliant – eventually I shall probably go over exclusively to these pens which will be useful across the whole range of my work.

Arranged around the rest of the desk are various acrylic paints and gel mediums, brushes and other equipment, and you can see (as always, because it’s so useful!) Lunch Lady Jan’s pretty little pincushion in the cream coloured mini-bath.

I thought you might be interested to see how my knitting is coming along. I am making very good progress with the first sleeve, and this is how it looks now.

05 Progress on First Sleeve

I am decreasing down the sleeve, following two graph patterns as I do so (one for the shape, one for the colour pattern, which I have to keep correct).

We are very busy at the moment in the run-up to my hubby’s retirement, with a lot of different farewell events to go to, and preparing for our holiday in June (the first for 4 years), so please forgive me if I don’t visit many desks this week! I have got a stack of boring paperwork to do before our appointment with the tax consultant immediately after our holiday, and am struggling to keep up with everything – today I haven’t done much but rest and sleep!!

Happy WOYWW everybody, and wishing you a creative and fulfilling week ahead.

11 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday plus 1 to N. Amazing to think his retirement is coming up so soon - it seemed an age away when you first moved. Hope you both enjoy all the farewell events. He's done amazing work xxx

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  2. Good morning. Can't believe it's Wednesday again already! Thanks for letting us in to peek at your creative space. Your book it looking good. I think your gradated pages are brilliant. I've made books with assorted size pages and though they can be fiddly to do they are so nice when done.

    Hope you have a good week too.
    Neil #40

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  3. I'm never pleased when the ink doesn't flow...such a waste...do let us know if you find a way to get them flowing again. Good tip about the FC pens. The knitted sleeve looks terrific.Good going. Be well Carole #52

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  4. Hi Shoshi, you mini book looks great and I love the idea of making it with recycled Christmas cards, I keeping meaning to do a similar thing to make a Christmas album, but somehow haven't got around to it so far! Your knitting looks gorgeous, love the mix of colours and patterns :o) Annie C #57

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  5. Love the journal Shoshi. You are obviously very busy this week. I love zentangling and have decided to really give it a go, yours are gorgeous.
    Have a great week and happy crafting, Angela x 41

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  6. Thanks for sharing your desk with us Shoshi. Now you have your new pens I hope we will see some more of your lovely zentangles. Remember you have all those tea bags to use up. Make sure you rest up before your holiday. I hope you have a lovely time.

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  7. Hi Shoshi! I love how your knitting is coming along. I can't wait to see it all done. Thanks for the tip about the pens. I too have ruined many black pens and I thought it was me being to eager to get doodling on damp paint that was the problem ;-) I have seen the larger pens using in Art Journalling and they look fab. I hope you are managing to catch up with yourself. You always amaze me trying to make art with so many unusual things! That medication packaging has to be the most unusual so far ;-) Have a fab week. Happy WOYWW to you from Helen 68

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  8. Happy Belated Birthday to your DH! You certainly get A for effort trying to make something from those sachets, Shoshi! Everything on your desk looks like a winner today! That book and your knitting are coming along great! Thanks for the tip on the PITT pens, too. Have a great week! Hugs, Darnell #29

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  9. Wow - what a lot going on in your world. The book is going to be wonderful - it sounds so intricate! Congrats on finding a solution to your pen problem, and the coming retirement. That jumper is amazing! Love, Chris # 17

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  10. Ah but you need to rest and sleep, so don't guilt about it. The knitting is amazing...it must be exhausting just following two graphs..ay ay ay! I LOVE the way you've put the signatures together, the borders idea is pigging genius!!

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  11. Ooh Shoshi those are such fabulous photos! I don't know why the bluebells have been so amazing this year everywhere. Glad to see you a re settling in well with your ArtHaven - lovely work :) xx

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