Bullet Journal

So, time to admit it (in case you don't know)...

"I am a list maker"!

Yep, there you have it.  Be they full blow project plans with workstreams and resource allocation right down to those on scraps of old envelopes!

Whilst on the 'interweb a couple of months ago I came across the "Bullet Journal". 

This is a new thing to me but immediately struck a chord so the past two months I have been trying different ones out.  

Both June and July had a monthly chart across two pages to act as an overview but I really like the double page spread of the week overview too.

I have a list of tasks for the week, some notes, my habits (walking 6k steps, meditating etc), daily appointments and a weekly goal.

I am going to keep the monthly overview and weekly journal for another month to see if there is anything I can add/remove to make it work for me, but at the moment I find it works really well and its all in one place (well apart from my filofax and online calendar and those scraps I jot things down on....)........well, give me time to change!

Happy crafting

Kyla

WOYWW

Welcome to hump day which can mean only one thing.....

"What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday"

 where across the globe we bare all (well, our desks at the very least)!

On my desk this week is my 365 challenge journal.  I know the next few weeks are going to be really busy so I am trying to get a headstart!

At least I have gotten colour down on the page and the blank squares date stamped so if I get no further then at least it's usable come 1st Aug (1st Aug-I mean really?  Where is this year going?  I SWEAR as I get older the year passes quicker)!

My "man Bites Dog" cards this week are '1st Lady Drops Mystery Intern'-oooh!

So, why not join us over on the Queen of Desks blog, the lovely Julia (link over on the right hand bar).

Happy crafting

Kyla

Pebble art

 Some of you may know I take part in the Art Abandonment project https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtAbandonment/

This involves leaving art in a public place for someone to find.  There doesn't have to be a reason it is just 'because'.

Since I was in Devon recently and there were loads of pebbles along the coast I decided to paint a few up to abandon.

 I painted this koi carp whilst I was having lunch and left it at the cafe.

This lizard I painted sat on the beach and I left it next to the walkway for someone to find.  

On each pieces (I often leave decorated tags or pebbles as they are small and light to carry) I leave contact details of the facebook group so people can register a find, should they wish.

In the past couple of years I have probably left over 50 projects in various countries and have NEVER heard anything back.  Now I haven't got a problem with that as I don't paint them to get feedback, I paint them to try and bring a moment of joy into a strangers day.

However, this week I heard from a lady who said her young daughter had found my lizard and she was delighted!  I was so pleased to hear that someone found it and liked it.  They only take a few minutes to make and I really enjoy the act of setting them free (and the bonus is it uses up some of my stash)!

If you like the idea why not pop along to see the Facebook group?

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

WOYWW

Sorry I have been absent for a while and tardy in my returns.  

Life has been hectic between really busy in the pay the bills job to a lovely holiday with my mum to Malta (where my grandparents and parents used to live), a sketching trip to London and then a week in Devon whilst we had a fabulous hot week in the UK! 

So no crafting but a lot of washing and ironing between ridiculously long shifts at work.

However, I did get some lovely mail: 

This fabulous WOYWW ATC was waiting for me when I got back home.  

It is from Kelly Henkins and she kindly included some lovely die cuts, none of which I have already so I look forward using them soon in a project.

So, no desk from me (again) but I wanted to at least take part this week.

Happy WOYWW

Kyla

 

Trinity Buoy Wharf Sketching

 One of my recent trips was to London to take part in "The Big Draw".  

Sketchers were met at Trinity Buoy Wharf and for about 4 hours we walked (I walked 9 miles in total that day, probably 5 of those were for the sketching) around some amazing sites with people who really knew the area and we stopped for about 10 mins at a time to sketch (I had never heard of it-but will be back as there was SO much to see).

 It was really fast paced and totally out of my comfort zone but I loved every minute of it as it forced me to just get something down on paper.

This lighthouse has amazing views inside

 (http://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/about)

 and also houses the Longplayer http://longplayer.org/about/

Which is a 1000 year long musical composition!!!

 I have never seen anything like some of the exhibits and sculptures here.

We also walked to the Emirates Cable car and caught this (90 meters up in the sky!) across the river to the millennium dome.

 There was SO much to see and do this is only a small part of it.

If you are in the London area I recommend a trip there.

Kyla

 

New stash

I haven't bought any stash for a few months (other than replacing glue etc) but I couldn't resist this-a bargain!

30 sharpies for £8-thats 26p per pen!  

Now my go to pen is Posca, BUT a sharpie is great for quick sketches and also for drawing on white canvas shoes (or daps as we call them in Bristol!) so this was a perfect opportunity to  expand the colours I currently have as they have some lovely shades in this pack.

I just need to think of a new project to start using them on-pinterest here I come!

Kyla

Contemporary Craft Fair

I recently went to the Contemporary Craft Fair at BoveyTracey in Devon http://www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk/ 

I have been attending for many years and the array of work is amazing.  Once again they had the pottery show down, a vintage cinema, willow weavers, stone masons etc

The level of work is amazing and we may have made one or two purchases (though not as much this year, last year we bought an original piece for the bedroom wall).

I prefer to buy direct from craftspeople and this is why I love events such as this.  

You get to talk to them direct and really appreciate the work that goes into each piece.

My mum and I bought a selection of handmade zipper bags. 

 A couple of screen printed ones on linen with waterproof linings (https://www.helenround.com) and three where a fabric was created from their original paintings (http://www.maggiemagoodesigns.com/).

My husband also bought me this from http://www.yvettebrownworld.co.uk/ How cute is it?  I cannot wait to wear it on my suit jacket at work, I think it has SO much character-she is stomping, a little like me at times!

Do you have any events you attend where you can buy direct from the maker?  I would love to know (especially if they are in the UK) as I am always on the lookout.

Happy crafting

kyla

Sketching in Tapas bars

 I have finally gotten round to getting some of the photos off my phone and realised I have not blogged the urban sketches I did whilst I was in Sitges, Spain.

Now I know this looks like a LOT of time was spent in Tapas bars, but....no I cannot lie-we did!  It was a great way to get out of the mid day sun.  Either inside in the cool or under an umbrella on the edge of the beach!  I could really get used to this life!  

To keep the weight down I only carried my sketchbook and pen with me and I usually add some colour when I am back at the ranch.

I am not too keen on sketching people but I find that in busy bars it is a bit easier as you are not noticed as much!

Kyla

WOYWW

I know, it's Wednesday and I have a clean desk!!!

The only thing on my desk this week is the supporter pack from Upfest.

upfest is the largest street art festival in Europe and happens in Bristol every year 
at the end of July.
Each year they run a crowd funding event to raise money to cover paint etc and depending on how much you donate they offer a small gift in return.

This was ours.  

A lovely blank sketchbook (nice thick smooth paper inside perfect for wet mediums) which was embossed with their logo and three posca pens (my favourite marker pen as it takes on most surfaces).

How is your workdesk this week?  Don't worry as mine will not stay this clean for long (it never does)!

Kyla

ATC Updates

Just a quick update to say "thanks" for the latest ATC's I received for the 8th anniversary of  "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday".

On the left is one from the lovely Donna http://donna-rodgers.squarespace.com/ who made it from some of the shaving foam printed card I sent her and a brilliant handmade card. 

On the right is a lovely one from Ali (http://exmoorali.blogspot.co.uk/) with a fantastic quote "The stars are out there. Just look up"

I also got this one from Margaret http://www.artycraftystuff.co.uk/blog.html and a card with a fabulous saying "Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person. Having neither to weigh thoughts nor measured words". 

Thanks ladies always nice to have happy post.

Kyla