Bristol Urban Sketchers

Just a quick update, at the weekend the Bristol Urban sketchers had another virtual meet up (they had a couple of physical max 6 per group, socially distanced ones too but I havent been able to attend yet).

The virtual ones over the past 13 months or so have been brilliant, we chat on video, sketch, chat more then show and tell.  It has meant we have been able to visit some amazing places from singapore to wales!  This week it was Amsterdam, I havent been there for a few years so it was lovely exploring it on street view and having a good nose around!

 The fact that every building had 3 sets of windows in EVERY building, I am not going to lie started to do my head in after an hour but I stuck with it.  I havent painted reflections before so that was a new thing and something I am going to practise and look up some hints and tips on.

The skillset of the Bristol group is amazing and I learn so much from them and they are always polite and encouraging, which is lovely, fingers crossed I can do an actual meet up soon.

kyla

Bristol urban sketchers

 Just a quick update. In these strange times when travel is restricted and meeting up off the cards the amazing Bristol Urban Sketchers (who i have been a member of for a few years now) have done virtual meet ups and sketches. We all chat on video call whilst sketching an agreed location (got to love google street view its almost like you are walking around). 

This time it was Kathmandu!! 

The meet up is a couple hrs just as our regular meet ups were and although my sketches are very amateur (albeit better than when i joined a few years ago as you learn so much from the others) the talented group never let you feel disappointed and are so supportive (their sketches are amazing and such a mix of styles too, i love it)  

However my wee desk looks like a bombs hit it!!! Remember that when you pop back for wednesdays 600th WOYWW anniversary-there is sometimes arty stuff on my desk!!! 

Hope you are all having a fab weekend

Kyla 

Urban Sketchers Bristol

Hello peeps, I forgot to blog about our last Bristol Urban Sketchers meet up (we have the latest one this afternoo) .  Usually we meet in town and chat, sketch, regroup for some lunch and sometimes a cheeky pint too.  Well, under lockdown this of course has to change so we have gone virtual!

We sketched using google etc in Alhambra, Spain at the suggestion of one of our members.  Well, what a beautiful location, some amazing scenery, small backstreets and amazing buildings too.  It was also great being able to catch up with the others and sketch whilst chatting to others too.

Sadly my notebook is not great for watercolour as the paint sinks straight in so ideally I should just use pencil or pen and ink (as we know from an earlier post on here its not like I don't have a "few" blank notebooks in the stash!!) but I keep forgetting that I am sketching at home and don't have to use my travel kit and could actually pop upstairs and grab the pencils!!

I am looking forward to being able to sketch again outside and meeting up with the group, but in the mean time, this is a really good alternative and a great way to explore other places, albeit virtually

Happy sketching

kyla

WOYWW

Happy hump day!  Yep, today thanks to the Queen of desks the lovely Julia here for running (nearly 11 years now!) "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday" - several of us across the globe actually know it is Wednesday in these unusal days!!

On my desk this week is my 365 journal.  After all these years I am still doing these, just a quick one liner of something that happened that day, I can fit a couple years in one book and they are really interesting to look back across.

Behind the journal is the lovely card Julia send me in the post, it was fab to get it and some lovely words inside too, hence pride of place on my desk (until my work gets spread back all over!)

My "Man Bites Dog" cards this week are 'Mayor Blames Angry Wife'-ooh will watch the news!

So, do you dare to bare your desk?  Be it tidy, creative (aka messy), full of work or anything else?  Full details are on Julia's blog linked above, we are across the globe and a friendly bunch

Happy crafting

Kyla

WOYWW

Hello peeps and happy "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday"!

So, proof that I do NOT learn by my actions!  After the past couple weeks deciding to tidy the craft room I have now decided to clear out a cupboard I use in the spare room to hide stash!!!  So my desk today is the spare bed!!

If I EVER mutter I need a new notebook-NO I DO NOT!!!!

So, I know a few of these are for when I make Christmas presents as the past couple of years I have made fabric patchwork covers and given them as gifts BUT seriously I did NOT think I had amassed this many!!  The two UPFEST ones (top left) are a gift from the amazing street art festival in Bristol when you donate money to them, a couple others were gifts-the rest-no excuse!!

My name is Kyla and I am addicted to notebooks!!

Kyla

WOYWW

Hump day so that means sharing our desks via http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

On my desk this week is my November 365 challenge Journal.  I just finished it in time so I am starting to fill in the first few days before I forget what I did!!

My "Man Bites Dog" cards headline this week are 'Dead Movie Lover Tricks Feds' - well I suppose it is just after halloween after all!!!

Happy crafting

kyla

WOYWW

Hello peeps, things have gotta a bit behind (again!) but I have at least made a start on my October 365 Journal challenge page so it won't take long to finish off and then I can catch up with filling it in.

My "Man Bites Dog" cards are "Model Singer Snubs Prez".....no comment ;-)

So, what's on your workdesk this week?  

kyla

365 Challenge and Bullet Journal

If you saw my post on Wednesday you would have seen this page in its earlier stages.

I used the luggage label punch for the days and added some stamped images of apples - a crop I usually forage in September, which I cut out and coloured.

Now to try and remember what I did for the first week so I can catch up with the entries!

I had however already finished my bullet journal ready for 1st I just forgot to blog it!

Over the past few years I tried various versions including weekly but I have found that monthly with a To Do list, longer term list, next month at a glance and habit tracker are what work for me so I have stuck with this since June 2017.

Have you found a way organise time etc that works for you?  I am always up for learning new ideas so please share.

Kyla

WOYWW

Happy hump day and time for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  

Bit behind on stuff (again) so just finished my Aug 365 Journal challenge page for the month.  Just need to wait for the paint and glue to dry and I can quickly back fill the last week that I have missed.

My 'Man Bites Dog' cards this week are "Last Judge Shoots Tourist" not great considering the recent days events but the cards are always randomly drawn and my thoughts go out to all those who are affected, such tragic news.

Kyla

365 Journal Challenge

 Ooh get me, I have been at the craft desk again!

On my previous post I started my 365 Challenge page for March.  I decided to add some additional depth and colour to it, adding green, dark blue and red.  I spritzed water over and this enabled me to move the colour round the page, mix it up to darken and lift some off to lighten the effect.  I then sprinkled a bit more water flicker from my fingers to lift a few more areas of paint off the page and waited for it to dry.

Once it was dry I added my journal squares, stamped the date and then decorated the page

Nothing particularly detailed just some doodling with my posca pens (easily my favourite pen to doodle with as it can be applied to SO many different surfaces from shoes, glass to paper and more).  The main thing is I have finished the page so can quickly update the entries to date and I am all caught up with my monthly journals!

Happy crafting

Kyla

Bullet Journal

The past few months pay the bills job has been hectic.  I know that crafting is a great stress reliever for me and a good way to get grounded...BUT....I have not had time to think, let alone take care of myself, my rheumatoid arthritis or my mental health.  I know, this is the one time that I need to take time but hey ho....do as I say not do as I do (as my mum used to tell me when I was little!).

SO, in an attempt to try and rectify this I decided to take an hour in the craft room today, yes I am sorting out my diary for this month, BUT its sat in the room, listening to a podcast and doing something that is NOT work, thinking about work or housework!

After a couple years of trying various different templates for my Bullet Journal I find this is the one that works best so for the past year I have stuck with this design, simple but an easy way for me to capture appointments, To Do lists, healthy habit checklists etc.

Now I just need to ensure I get back in the habit of crafting and doing something just for me each week!

Kyla

Urban Sketchers Bristol meet up

 Last Saturday was the Urban Sketchers Bristol chapter meet up.

We met in the Bristol Museum and I decided to sit in the cafe and sketch using my new travel watercolour kit 

I also decided to try and sketch people, my first person (chap with the top knot on the left) was my first and my favorite, I am not very pleased with the others but am seeing this as something I can learn to develop as I try new techniques etc.

One thing we did find out during the meet up was that the museum does NOT allow you to use anything other than pencil!  Several staff approached some of the group about their watercolours (even though we were all using sealed water pens, the ones that hold a small amount of water in the cartridge and doesn't even flick out of the fiber end) asking them to stop using them.  

Sadly we cannot find this anywhere on their webiste and none of their staff could even point out where this was stated!  I totally understand the issue, but these sealed pens carry no risk of spillage whilst children run around with bottles of juice and they even sell water pistols in the museum shop! 

 Now we know we can ensure that we only bring pencils if we sketch there again, but it is a shame that this was not communicated to the public and I suggest a tad outdated considering most use  water pens.  It would be interesting to know other museums take on this or whether other groups have had any issues?

If you have please let me know?

Kyla

WOYWW

Welcome to the first "What's on Your Workdesk" of 2019.

On my desk is my 365 Challenge Journal for January, I just need to stamp a few snowflakes across the page and it is ready to go. I find it an ideal way to capture a snippet of each day

  I wondered how long I have been doing this so I looked back through my old journals and was amazed to find out I have been doing the 365 challenge since January 2012!  

I find it hard to believe I have been doing this for 7 years!!

There is another thing I have been doing each month for the past year or so and that is the Bullet Journal.  It took me about 6 months to decide on a format that suited me, I tried weekly, pictures and very detailed ones but found a double page spread for the month works best.  I have the daily appts/birthdays/meetings on the left and on the right I have a "To Do" list, "Longer Term" list (for things I doubt I can do this month but need doing eventually, my memory is not great so I find it best to at least capture it somewhere).  On the far rights (all the little boxes) is my "Habit Tracker" for weightwatchers, steps taken, alcohol free days, meditation, sleep and my RA.

Under this is the list for the following month so on this page it is "February Notes" so that I can capture more immediate actions too.

It took me a while to create something that works for me and its not pretty, but it really does work and I have used it to provide data for my rheumatology appointments.

Not on my desk but it does tie in with the theme.  For the past 3 years hubby and I have done a gratitude jar.  I cut up scrap papers and not every day, but fairly regularly we write on a piece of paper something we are grateful for that day.  It could be something funny we heard (joke, compliment or a funny overheard conversation), something nice that happened (a gig, exhibition etc) or just something like it was sunny and we sat in the garden.

It costs nothing and takes only a minute to fill in then on New Years Day hubby and I sit down and go through the tin reading out the lovely memories and setting us in the right mind for the start of the new year.

Each of these "diaries" take only a minute to capture each day, so for 3 minutes a day I get to have  a clear picture of key events, tasks, habits and planning and cost pennies.

Hopefully it is something I will continue doing for a few years to come.

Happy crafting for 2019

Kyla

Malta sketching

Another update on some of the crafting I did in Malta.

In Valletta there are some gardens called Upper Barrakka Gardens with a lift that takes you down to the harbour/waterfront.  The gardens are lovely, trees, flowers and a fountain.  Even better is a fantastic cafe, which is licensed so you can have a beer if you want (and cake!)

Whilst I was sat there I decided to do a small watercolour.

Only a really quick sketch and colour whilst I was sat having a coffee with my friend, Jon, who lives in Malta but a great way to help capture some memories.

Happy crafting

Kyla

WOYWW

Hump day already?  That can only mean one thing, "What's on your Workdesk Wednesday" when we all visit the Queen of Desks, the lovely Julia (link over on the right hand side) and bare all!  Well, desk wise that is.

On my desk this week is my next 365 Journal Challenge page trying to be ready for the start of July (July?  I cannot believe it!!).  I have spritzed the pages (the page on the right is an A4 piece of card that I will punch the small squares from to create a small journal entry for each day of the month).  Once my page is dry I will probably stamp some images or doodle over it to add some interest before adding the daily squares-hopefully before the start of the month.

My "Man Bites Dog" cards this month-'Nurse Dumps Intern Lover'-now I really did pull these randomly from the pack (as I do each week) but it's quite fitting since the NHS (a fantastic organisation that does an amazing job without sufficient funding) is 70 years old next week!

Happy crafting

Kyla

Bullet Journal

So as I showed in my last post I keep a 365 Journal (I have been doing it for years following Kate Cranes challenge), and in that I keep a small note of something that has happened that day.  However, last June I decided I needed something that showed me a month at a glance for home (I have a filofax for work) and after spending some time on pinterest (by some time of course I mean a few days!!) I came across the bullet journal.

I tried various different versions but after about 4 months I decided that this layout suited me perfectly.  One the left its a calendar to note key events, appointments etc.

On the right I have a To Do list, longer term list (things I need to remember at some point to do) and key points for the next month (sort of a "carry over" list).

I also have a habit tracker (top right).  This is a small box I shade in if I have completed one of my daily habits, weight watcher tracking, 6000 steps, if I have had alcohol, meditation, sleep, weather and any Rheumatoid Arthritis issues/flares.

I still have a ton of lists around the place but this is a useful "in one place" reminder.

Have you found something that works for you to remember?

Kyla

May 365 Journal

A few days off work (and lighter evenings) means that I got a bit of extra time to craft this week (hurrah) and I managed to finish my 365 Journal I started a couple of weeks ago.  

I added some gold mica sprayed and flicked across the page but it doesn't show up 

in the photo.  

I coloured the page with dylusion sprays and added stamped flowers which I coloured with watercolours.  I then added the details with posca pens (I love these as they are SO versatile as they can be used on paper, wood, glass, fabric etc).

All ready to start filling in.

Happy crafting

Kyla

WOYWW

On my desk this week is my almost finished 365 Journal page.

 I know I am ahead of time, go me!

It is laid out on my desk waiting for the glossy accents to dry before I think about adding some more images, embellishments of maybe some scribbles.

No "Man Bites Dog" cards this week as I forgot to get them out (I blame RA flares and brain fog-nothing to do with my age!!)

So, why not join us over at the lovely Julia's page (link over on the right) and show us your workdesk this Wednesday?

Happy crafting

kyla

365 Journal

Just a quick update as I managed to finish adding some mica and glitter to my 365 Journal page for November-it reminds me a little of fireworks so seemed appropriate.

The 365 Journal Challenge is over on the amazingly talented Kate Cranes blog (and Facebook group) and I have taken part for a few years now.  I think because it is only a minute a day it is achievable and probably the reason I have kept it up all these years (similar to WOYWW, it doesn't take too long and the benefits are so much more than just an update, it is timeout from the stress of daily life and a way to touch base with likeminded people and make friends too).

Happy crafting

kyla

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