WOYWW

 Hello peeps, if you saw my "desk" last week then you would have seen my bolt cutters!  

Caro asked to see my finished shelves under my decking and my journal-so here they are!

The very old metal frame was an old greenhouse staging from my childhood (so a good 40 odd years old). I cut the galvanised steel to fit so I can use it for storage.  As it sits under my decking/balcony it gets really wet (watering the plants etc above) the old fencing wood I used finally gave up the ghost so I am hoping the mesh will last until the fame finally rusts through.

My 365 Journal for July has been finished too, not particularly well decorated but just a few strawberries and paint flicks

Now my actual desk has an upcycled  stamp block.  A few years ago I unmounted all my stamps (and i have a LOT) and kept the wooden block because they are nice and thick and smooth and they seemed too good to let go.

So I decided to use one of the largest ones to make a sign for my allotment.

I stenciled Plot 12 and stamped a basil plant, garlic and bumble bee.  When they had dried I added colour with a mixture of sharpie pens, inktense pencils and posca pens.

I then need to apply a couple of coats of yacht varnish and drill it onto a post on the allotment.  So, what's on your workdesk today?

Kyla

ps - sorry just realised i forgot to include my "Man Bites Dog" cards this week-will try to remember for next week

Key Holder upcycling

 As Christmas is well and truly over I am safe to post one of my Christmas pressie makes.

My brother and sister-in-law said they would like a key holder so I thought I would try making one rather than buying one.  

Not something I have ever made before but I decided to have a go.

A few years ago I decided to take off my red rubber stamps from their wooded bases in an attempt to save space.  Now the wood was lovely and smooth so too good to throw away so I have had them all stashed away until I can think of something to do with them and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I sanded, gesso'd and stamped a hummingbird and the word "keys" which I embossed then coloured in with posca pens.

When it dried I added a few coats of varnish and bought some key hooks.

I was really pleased how it turned out, not too fiddly just a bit of time for the drying between the layers etc but quite effective and totally personal (sis-in-law loves hummingbirds).

Now I just have about another 40 odd blocks of wood to use up!  Any ideas?

Happy crafting

Kyla

Japanese woodblocks

I recently went to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM) in Exeter to see the "Hiroshige's Japan:Stations of the Tokaido Road" exhibition.  

No photography was allowed but I had my sketchbook with me and after some discussion they agreed I was allowed to make sketches!

The exhibitions consisted of a selection of 21 woodblock prints from the early 1800's on loan from the Ashmolean Museum. They were truly stunning and I was particularly taken with the way he recorded people and their movements.

This is an example of some of the work that was on display.  

If you are ever in the Exeter area I thoroughly recommend a trip to the RAAM.  

It is free to get in (some exhibitions have a charge, as this one did, but only £4) and there is such a wide variety of exhibitions to look at.  Also a great cafe and gardens and right in the centre of the city.

Happy crafting

Kyla