WOYWW

Oh my the week passed quickly!

Last Monday we got back from Spain and it feels like I haven't stopped washing and ironing since then!! Luckily I was able to pop down to Devon for the weekend and nosied around Plymouth, Exmouth and Exeter so feels like a proper break (though I appear to have a terrible cold at the moment requiring two lots of bloods for the doctor to test-ah the joys of RA and no immune system)-anyway I blather on as the reason you are here is to witness my desk of mess!

On my desk this week is my June 365 Journal-I have actually finished just in time for the start of the month!  Go me!!! 

My "Man Bites Dog" cards are 'Romantic Movie Actor Runs off with Drugs'-oooh!

Also is an 8th Anniversary WOYWW ATC from the lovely Shaz (who I sent one over the weekend to as she was next on the list but she kindly sent me one).

I love the lavinia stamps she has used and a great background too (thanks Shaz).

I have about 6 ATC's going if you would like one please let me know your details and I will pop one in the post (until I run out).

Happy WOYWW

Kyla

Doodling a postcard

Just a quick update as I am slowly uploading my recent photos from my holiday.

I did several sketches whilst away (but not downloaded those photos yet so they will follow) but I also did some 'doodling' (well, when you are sat near the pool, with a beer what else can you do)?

This is the small postcard I doodled to leave with some wine at the apartment we stayed in just to say "thanks".  Not a great piece of art (especially when you realise the owner of the apartment is an artist!) but a pleasant few hours were spent mindfully doodling away.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Barcelona

 I was lucky enough last week to go on holiday with my extended family.  A a present for my hubby's 50th they organised a holiday in Spain.  

We stayed in Sitges (about 40 mins train ride from Barcelona) and I actually took over 200 photos-but don't worry I wont show them all!  This is just a small random selection.

We had a day in Barcelona and luckily my brother and sister in law are fluent in spanish (and can get by in catalan) which was a boon. Since it was just a day in the city we used the Ho-Ho (hop on, hop off) bus as this enabled us to see several of the sites in a short period of time.

We are quite a short family so sitting upstairs on the bus meant we could see over the crowds-a great way to see the city (and save my legs-one of the downsides of RA is I am often slow and tire easily).

We got off at Park Guell, an amazing park full of art and gorgeous plants and walks.  Whilst you have to pay to go into the monument park I knew from research that brilliant views of the paid area could be seen from a walking route that took you around the top of the park-amazing views all for free!

Everyway we turned there was more art, sculptures and architecture.

As we were staying in Sitges we explored the town, it is an ancient town filled with amazing buildings and stone carvings.  It also has a fabulous promenade and amazing beaches with clear blue water.

Sitges is the Gay capital of Spain (think Brighton) so there is a brilliant vibe and some great eating and drinking venues (we ate a lot of tapas and quite a lot of wine and beer!).

I am happy to admit I fell in love with both places and plan on returning several times as there was SO much to explore.

Kyla

WOYWW Anniversary

Welcome to my desk on the 8th anniversary of What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  

8 years-it is amazing and I bet when our leader and Queen of the desks, Julia, first started this she never expected it to become what it is.  Over the years we have met both virtually and in real life, we have swapped craft, stash, cards and ATC's.  We have shared highs and lows (I will never forget those of you at the crop 4 years ago only a few weeks after my dad's sudden death convincing me to come and held my hand and fed me cake!!).

The past week has been a rush, I have not been able to return visit many desks as I was lucky enough to be in Spain (Barcelona and Sitges) with my family so access was very limited (very few wifi spots).  An amazing place for art and architecture though so MANY photos were taken and even some sketching.

Anyway, to the reason you are here-my desk is back to being messy (you will be glad to see) as I am quickly making a masterboard for my ATC swap (hoping I will be able to make a few after work tonight).

I find masterboards are a great way to make several projects especially if you are short of time (which I am).

I have decided after the terrible attack in Manchester not to do my "Man Bites Dog" cards this week-my thoughts are with all those affected.

Kyla

A new mug for my cuppa

A few weeks ago fellow Coven member Julie celebrated her 50th Birthday by having a pottery painting party!  It was brilliant, there was snacks, chatting and copious amounts of bubbly!!!

So when I recently picked up the piece I painted I was pleasantly surprised that my dotty mug (I applied the glaze with poundshop nail art tools!!) was actually quite good!  The sparkling bubbles didn't seem to affect my ability to apply the glaze too much!

It was a great idea and we all have a unique piece to remember the day.

I would recommend it to anyone thinking about what to do-so much fun.

Happy crafting

Kyla

WOYWW

Welcome back to my desk and "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday"....my desk is still clean (seriously those that know me will worry-it is NOT natural) and I have made some progress on the canvass boards I was making last week and whilst they dry (and I await my mojo to return) I thought I would make a start on some tag backgrounds ready to abandon (and then I need to start on some ATCs).

My "Man Bites Dog" cards this week are 'Movie Heiress Strikes Judge'-well, I will be watching the news and reading the papers with interest this week!

Happy crafting

Kyla

sketching hands

Now, I am the first to admit I am not a natural sketcher.  I have never been taught and at school I was never encouraged, but I am bloody minded and was brought up by my parents to be a strong independent individual so I never let the fact that I cannot do something hold me back (after all my favourite saying is "every day's a school day" because I love to learn new things, actually it is my 2nd favourite saying-but that's another story).

So, I took myself off to my local library (I LOVE a library, a place where books are free and DVD's are SO cheap for the latest films, please use your library and don't allow the Government or Council cut their services even more!) and picked up a Jake Spicer drawing book.

I do love Jake Spicer's books as I find them SO easy to follow so I was super excited to find this in the library.

I am slowly working my way through and since I struggle with hands (as well as feet, heads, bodies, hair etc....!) I thought I would try a page of hands.  Not fun to do I admit but I did feel that I had a better understanding of how to approach drawing them should the desire arise!

Have you any drawing tips?  If so I would love to hear them.

Kyla

WOYWW

So on my desk this week (which still looks clean!) are some canvas boards I am making up with the idea to abandon them at some up and coming festivals.

I will keep the blog post short and sweet.  My "Man Bites Dog" cards are 'Wall Street Attacks Bizarre Czar'-to be honest I dread to think what this could mean!  Each day when I wake up and listen to the news my first thought is usually "what now?".....strange times indeed!

Happy crafting

Kyla

A little bit of what you love does you good

Following on from my previous post  about crafting being my mental saviour there are a few things I make sure I try to keep up to date with, and they only take a few moments.

As I explained previously I love to abandon art, quite often just a quick sketch on a tag, but the act of making art for me is important.

Another thing I do is I keep a tin where I write down a small snippet, maybe something we did or a joke I heard.  Not every day but most weeks there will be a couple of things.  Then at new years my husband and I sit down and relive all the lovely moments that happened over the past year  (I blogged about it here)

The other crafting thing I like to make time for is my 365 Journal, started by Kate Crane over on her blog, they are a group that do a small journal entry each day.  I have been doing this nearly every day for 4 years and it is fantastic to flick back through and remember things that I have forgotten, still dealing with, or made me smile.

Some small but simple things that bring me pleasure and cost very little.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Abandoned Art

So the pay the bills job has been somewhat hectic the past few months meaning that there has been very little time for me, friends or crafting.  

Crafting for me (since I discovered it when I was about 7 years old) allows me some 'down time' mentally and physically and is crucial to my well being (it is as important to me as exercise and meditation).  This has meant I have had to learn how to snatch little pleasures where I can and art abandonment fits this perfectly.

I recently spent 10 mins during a break making a quick sketch on a tag that I used to mop up some paint from a previous project then abandon it for someone else to find.

This watercolour and ink was a quick sketch of some tulips and I abandoned it at the park in Sidmouth, Devon opposite the Sir John Betjemen plaque.

I always leave the details of the Art Abandonment group of Facebook but have never heard from anyone who has found one of my pieces (which is fine as the point is to set them free and not expect a response) but I do hope that they bring a smile to someones face.

Happy crafting

Kyla