Wednesday 11 September 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. This week my desk is the kitchen! Yep, finally it's chutney making time.

My apple picker I made the other week didn't work, however, I stumbled across a chap in a tractor this week! Now, I often chat to strangers and he volunteered to use his tractor to reach the apples he spotted me eyeing up high in the tree!! Result! 
My outdoor tomatoes on the allotment I decided to pick a couple bags of them green. I doubt many will ripen now and there is blight on a couple plots down so I thought with all this rain to pick some whilst I can and kept in a paper bag at home they will slowly ripen too.
And these are the huge white courgettes on the plot!! This week I have picked 4 of these and 5 cucumbers too!! All my usual yellow and green courgettes failed this year but luckily this one plant flourished! 

I don't actually recall sowing it!! I am guessing they were seeds in one of magazines and unusual for me I don't appear to have made a note of bit, but it's producing and that means 'harvest chutney' making sessions are now filling my time!!

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla

Wednesday 4 September 2024

Woyww

 Morning all, time for what's on your workdesk Wednesday update. Only a quick post as a bit rushed at the moment (apologies as didnt make it round all the return desks last week). 


On my desk I am threading apache chillies!! I usually grow a couple of small bush chillies each year and dry them for use throughout the year. For the past few years we have been self sufficient in dried chillies, only buying any marked down larger ones for pickling. 

They will take a while to dry, bit I will hang them in my craft room for a couple of months before packing them for use. 

Forgot my man dog cards this week too!!

Hope you are all good and happy WOYWW 
Kyla


Wednesday 28 August 2024

Woyww

 Morning all, not tried a revised fruit picker (yet) as I had to do some quick repairs. My walking sandals, which, yes, I have had for probably about a decade, finally fell apart! I was walking and the soles flapped off!! 

Workdesk

So, in true crafting fashion out came my glues and various clamps and I set about repairing them. I know they will fall apart again, but, if i can get through the summer then they can be replaced, when, hopefully end of season sales start!! 


Also on my desk is the next pages of my 365 journal. Waiting for the spray paints to dry so I can cut up the daily squares and attach them. 

My 'my bites dog' cards this week are 'feds judge cruel movie mob boss'......ooh not sure where to go with that one!!!


So, what's on your workdesk Wednesday?

Kyla

Wednesday 21 August 2024

Woyww

 Morning all, apologies but didn't make all the return visits last week, time just disappeared! So, this is the apple picker I tried making last week



I attached it to the end of the stick and went out to give it a try. However, now I know why people screw them to the sticks as it dislodged in the tree and I was left there poking the tree until the plastic bottle fell back down! 

However, my desk last night was the kitchen as I picked loads of elderberry and made my next batch of elderberry vinegar, woke up this morning and there is a slight smell of vinegar around the house but it's so worth it as I LOVE this vinegar. It's like a victorian shrub, so can be added to drinks, salads or food (we use it in pasta, chilli, stews). 


Hope you are all having a great week and kook forward to visiting and getting inspired.

Kyla

Wednesday 14 August 2024

Woyww

 Hello fellow what's on your workdesk Wednesday peeps. I have a different sort of craft on my desk.....you may know I have an allotment, try to do dailywalks and since I was a kid I have foraged (or as a kid scrumping!!). So what's on my desk? 

Workdesk

Over the past couple of years I noticed the trees I often pick fruit from are higher, too high for me to reach so I thought I would have a go at making my own fruit picker from an old plastic bottle andy walking stick! Who knows? It may work and if not it didn't cost me a penny, just time! 


If you know any top foraging tips let me know!

Kyla

Wednesday 24 July 2024

Woyww

Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday I think I found a workaround to get my photos on my blog, fingers crossed. 

So, as is often the way this time of year my workdesk is actually my allotments! 

 


I have harvested some 2nd early potatoes, shallots, onions, broadbeans, lettuce and radish so far as well as berries.  Sadly my squash and courgettes and runner beans have mostly been eaten by slugs! 



However my nasturtiums have once again taken over!! I use the leaves and flowers in salads and pickle the green seed pods like capers, but once again there are far too many and are taking over! 


But either way, its still great to spend time there and harvest my own food.


Not crafting at a workdesk but it's what's taking my time at the moment! 

Kyla

Wednesday 17 July 2024

WOYWW

 Morning all, no idea but google won't allow me to add any photos! So you will have to guess that my desk is a mess!! On it was my paper scraps box and I was trying to put like with like into the small plastic folders. I say trying as I kept getting distracted!!


Thanks for all your comments about my strawberry vinegar the other week. I tend to use it for salads and in cooking when I need a sweet balsamic like vinegar, but it's also good in a chilli. I also drink it with soda water like a victorian shrub drink. Strawberry season is pretty much over on my plot for this year so glad I managed to make some.


I did have my Man Bites Dog cards and they said 'mob boss defends brave czar!'  If you follow me on IG then I will post the picture, sorry but no idea why it's not letting me on here!


Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday 

Kyla


Wednesday 3 July 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday and the fabulous mantle has been passed to the amazingly crafty Sarah.

So, what's on my workdesk? My journal again for the 365 challenge. This will be July's page as a few days behind. On my last update a few said they would like to see the cover....but it's just plain black so am guessing you'd rather not, lol. 

Workdesk

This is just the base layer spays and I will cut up the papers to create the small daily squares. 

My 'man bites dog' cards this week are 'lawyer weds cruel scam' .....ooh, I wonder who or what the scam was 😉

Not much else to show as this time of year the allotment takes most of my free time, no jam or chutney making yet but I am making this....


Strawberry vinegar.....I haven't had many off the allotment so had to add some #yellowsticker strawberries but chuffed with the first batch and another being made at the moment 

So, what's on your workdesk? 

Kyla


 

Wednesday 19 June 2024

Woyww

 Happy hump day and What's on your workdesk Wednesday. The mantle has been pass from Julia (who created this amazing community all those years ago) to Sarah, an amazing crafter and fantastic its continuing .


My desk this week doesnt have crafting on it. There is papers dumped, my 365 journal being updated and various bits and bobs!! 

My Man Bites Dog cards headline is 'tycoon falls for wanted suspect!'......probably best not to comment 😉


Also on my desk is this amazing ATC from Angela at felixthecraftycat thank you so much, it was lovely to get some nice post, the texture and layers on it are fabulous.

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla 

Wednesday 15 May 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. A glorious sunny weekend (well, for the most part) was a lovely change so lots of allotment time and also a Bristol Urban Sketchers session, not in the rain!!

This hopefully explains this weeks desk, my travel sketch kit at the back and i am cleaning/reusing plant markers. I find that acetone cleans most of the writing off so i can reuse them a few times. Also a random aloe leaf on the desk! I do have about 20 of these plants around the house so i often find the leaves around!! 


Also some sewing...ish! I have repatched these allotment jeans several times.....

But.....even i have to admit its probably time to get rid of them.....no matter how many times i patch them...at some point i have to consider how much i could be flashing my fellow plotters!! 
Oops! 

Needless to say, i am saving some of the fabric as its always useful for patches!!

Thought i would share my urban sketching from the weekend too. We were sketching in a sunny Clifton so there was lots to sketch. About 20 of us in total and a lovely few hrs spent with some so talenteds people.

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla

Wednesday 1 May 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday (well tuesday evening after work!). Had a hectic couple of weeks with work, allotment and a cheeky quick visit to london. Managed a quick mid week trip to kew (sadly couldn't do Saturday missed Helen)  and also on Friday finally got to the London Transport Museum Depot open day for their records and archives, brilliant to see all the old vehicles, mechanics and signage.



So, on my desk is my 365 journal inked up and i will then be cutting out the dailys squares and stamping dates etc. Wasnt ready for the start of the month, but not far off so am having that as a win! 


And i also made a card! This was for my uncle alan, as a kid i always remember him fishing and with motorbikes so thought this would be fitting. 

Hope you all have a fabulous week and do share your desks and crafting too

Kyla 


Wednesday 17 April 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. Well mine is a mess! I decided to clean my plant labels i collected from around the allotments. I have a lot of wooden labels but also some plastic ones which i reuse as many times as i can before they snap. So, i clean them with acetone (or fake nail remover as it appears to be called in our cheapo shops). Seems to work ok, not brilliant but good enough to be able to reuse.



Forgot to do my 'man bites dog' cards this week as was rushing as this was my desk late last night. At the back of my desk is a new roll of double sided tape, i was looking for a scotchtape advance refill but none of the shops seem to sell it now and oneline it was well over £8 a roll!!! We shall see how i get on with this, i do love my tape gun so a bit gutted that i cant get decent refills now.

Anyway, whats on your desk?

Kyla 

Wednesday 10 April 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. Been a bit busy with the pay the bills job (always the same mid march through april) so wasnt able to make all the blog returns last week, apologies. On my desk this week is random stuff, on the right is a folded piece of new fabric, no idea why i bought it as i have tons of fabric BUT (there is always a but when it comes to new stash!) I really liked the pattern and could instantly think of patterns that would fit the fabric! 

In the middle is a mistake buy! I bought slightly cheaper brown card blanks, big mistake as they are really thin, hence i am having to stick a background papers on to add some strength! Not a mistake i will make again  should have stuck with my usual brand. One the left is some multicoloured scrap card i made with various inks for my jounral page and thought i could use the left overs. Middle back is my new masking fluid bottle, not used it yet but the watercolour course i am trying to do uses it so now no excuse not to try restarting the course!

As to my Man Bites Dog cards this week, well i would rather not think about that as i am picturing a certain american, fake tanned wannabe president!!! 

Moving swiftly on.....my fire cider is ready (recipe i got off the riverford website) and i have now filtered it and have been using it most days, no where near as garlicky as it was a week ago so think i would make that again once this runs out (says it lasts 6 months in the fridge). 


Also just a quick photo of my latest pickings off the allotment. Still picking purple sprouting broccoli but now my forced rhubarb is ready and still picking various winter salads (no greenhouse just outside under a cloche).

So, what's on your workdesk?
Kyla

Wednesday 3 April 2024

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. I hope you all had a lovely Easter? I managed a trip to a vegan fair, a sculpture trail and the first open weekend of the year of our local museum. Then, between the hail and showers a quick weeding session on the allotment when panic sets in as i haven't sorted out my seeds yet....hence my desk this week!




Tons of seeds beimg sorted. I store them by type eg kale rather than by sowing date as some can be sown most of the year. I will sort through in the smaller box on top of the large plastic lid those seeds i intend to sow in the next 4 weeks! Wish me luck, lol

Kyla 



Wednesday 20 March 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. Just a quick update from me as still got a nasty cold but did manage a quick card make the other day. I forgot my man bites dog cards this week too, never mind. These are old toppers i came across when i was having my clear out last week so i am forcing myself to actually use them!

Workdesk



And this is a photo of something new for me. I decided to have a go at making fire cider. Never made it before but thought i would give it a go! Tumeric, ginger, garlic, chilli and various other ingredients. Will certainly be interesting. 

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. Now, this desk is actually from a couple days ago, i haven't done anything this week as i have a stinking cold so am just sat here sneezing, coughing and blowing my snotty nose! However, inspired by several fellow WOYWWers sorting their stash out I made a start on mine! 

Workdesk with crafting

I decided to tackle just one drawer as thats achievable for me. 



I managed to get a bag full of goodies, all sorted and labelled and took it up to our local food bank and community hub. They do a free lunch and craft session each week so were chuffed for some more stash.

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla


Wednesday 21 February 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. Well i have no crafting on my desk but last night i decided to clear out a couple of old books and some old inks and paints (i will be honest some of them were totally dried out!!) to make space for these beauties.


I have been doing Kolbie Blume's free online watercolour course and have been so impressed hubby bought me all three of her books for my birthday last week. To make sure i use them i was determined to keep them in my craft room as i would be more likely to notice them and have a go, hence the sorting out last night. 

I just need to put some time aside to finish the course and play.

So, what's on your workdesk? 

Kyla


Wednesday 14 February 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday and Valentines day too!  I actually did some crafting!!! Go me! 


Not difficult, just some backing paper and colouring some wooden flowers with my ink pads. But its still crafting so happy with that.

My Man Bites Dog cards this week are 'tourist tells on nurse again' mmm, moving on! 

So, what's on your workdesk this Wednesday?

Kyla 

Wednesday 31 January 2024

Woyww

 Morning and What's on your workdesk Wednesday? Well, on mine not much! Not had a chance to do any crafting. For the first time in several years i haven't made ANY Christmas cards (i usually try to make 20 in January to take the pressure off next Nov/Dec). I will try to make some in February before i pack away the christmas papers and stamps and cards i upcycle. 


At the  back is rhe Dr Who moulds i found when having a small clear out. In the past i made some clay and resin items like a tardis so need to have a think and make some more as they are really unusual. 


On the right of my desk is my small black sketch book, as i did manage to meet up with bristol urban sketchers at the weekend at the M Shed museum. Lovely group and there is some amazing artists in there. 

Forgot to do my 'man bites dog' cards and didnt make all my blog returns last week so apologies. Will try to make more time in February to actually do SOME crafting and also catch up on my painting course. 

So, what's on your workdesk, do share via the lovely Julia's blog.

Kyla 

Wednesday 24 January 2024

Woyww

Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. On my desk is my next Kolbie Blume watercolour class, sunset over water. Am a few behind (think there are 10 in the free class online) and missed one (as it used masking fluid and i dont have any) but really enjoyed the sunset.

Workdesk

My 'man bites dog' cards....'missing general, dead suspect'.....oooh! 

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla

Wednesday 17 January 2024

Woyww

Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. Running late so this is Wednesday evenings desk and my latest Emilys notebook watercolour session online. Tonight is tea cups and understanding eclipses!! Needless to say i struggled with this, but hey, i gave it a go so thats the main thing! 

Hope your all staying warm and safe

Kyla

Wednesday 10 January 2024

Woyww

 Happy What's on your workdesk Wednesday. On my desk this week (well last night) were my bullet journal and 365 journal being updated for January and copying across stuff like to do lists, birthday's and appointments. Bit boring. 


I haven't started my upcycling of the christmas cards YET (every year i try and have 20 made by the end of January to take the stress off December!) BUT i finally finished my Inktober!! 


These were the final 3 i hadn't got round to doing! No excuse, just didn't, but i have now, small wins are still wins! 

Also managed to do a few more of my watercolour course, am really loving doing these, but i need to schedule time around work so i can do them. 



I haven't tried doing landscape watercolours before and am really enjoying it

As to the 'man bites dog' cards this week....just odd!! 

So, what's on your workdesk?

Kyla

Wednesday 3 January 2024

Woyww

Happy new year! The first what's on your workdesk Wednesday of 2024.  On my desk is a painting! I have signed up for an online painting course, watercolour landscapes in the past week and this is my first one. 


Its a night sky looking through the trees. I must admit, I quite enjoyed it. The way she explained the techniques just seemed to make sense to me. There are 10 paintings we are talked through so it will be interesting to see how i get on. 

Forgot my 'man bites dog' cards this week, will dig them out ready for next week.

So, what's on your workdesk? 

Kyla