WOYWW 614

Hi hi!

It may only be a once a week thing but right now I consider it a win that I have stuck to something for several weeks. There is so much going on at Pretty Towers, even aside from the obvious current world issues, but I consider my weekly What’s on Your Workdesk snoop’ n’ chat part of a vital self care routine. You can link up with Julia, Queen of the Desks, over at The Stamping Ground.

Let’s start with the very messy desk, which is making my left eye twitch. Fit Bit charging, Traveller’s Notebook diary shouting “can you actually look at me, woman!”, and a postage bag at the back. I had returned some items to a well known shop because they were really poor quality, they had then returned one of them back to me. Apparently it wasn’t their garment so they were not going to refund it. Except that they already HAD, and it WAS theirs. However when I opened it fully, it turned out to be a cardigan from a different well known store that I had had for several years but had… erm… misplaced around the same time that I returned the other items… Ahem…

The pretty bits underneath and behind the lap top are the start of another article about scrapbooking. On the screen, precariously balanced on top of several pens and a pair of scissors, is the article I’ve just submitted, which was all about “off-the-page” projects. This is the one you’ve seen me working on for several weeks with the rolled flowers and other minor disasters etc.

The new glue gun is a bit dribbly but at least it takes the right sized sticks. The leaf die that I was missing is indeed in another bag at a friend’s house. We were on a weekend away this time last year and thought perhaps some things might have to close (ha!) so we took what we each might need ‘for a couple of months’ (hindsight, eh?!) from the tools that we all bring to our crops for everyone to use. Mystery solved. The replacement leaf dies were refunded – I tried everything – shims on the outside, inside, different thicknesses of paper etc. Sometimes you just need to know when to quit. So I cut some sprigs on my Silhouette instead. A couple of people noticed the lack of handle on my Cuttlebug – yes it has been MIA for years. It still works but you just need to be aware of the sudden spin once the die has cut… ask me how I know…

Last week’s Throwback Thursday was another Echo Park travel page, this time from the Devil’s Marbles in Australia. MUCH hotter than the bottom of the volcano from last week (which was inactive but not officially dormant).

And then there is this…

The lovely Twiglet Jo responded in double quick time with my plea for one of her amazing twiddle mitts for Miss B. It arrived at the end of her first day back at school, complete with a poem that made me cry, and she absolutely loves it. I told Jo that she likes wildlife and lo and behold, all these amazing creatures appeared, including the snow leopard which is Miss B’s favourite animal. It is the perfect thing for someone who struggles with change and focus, and just needs to take a moment and breathe. I’ve told her that if she can’t find her ‘grounding mitt’, she might like to look on my desk to see if I might have borrowed it…

Got something in my eye now… see you all soon for a cuppa x

26 Comments

  1. Helen Lindfield on 10 March 2021 at 7:13 am

    Morning – what a gorgeous twiddle mitt! Jo is a star for sure. Fab layout too. Happy crafting! Helen #3

  2. Neet Hickson on 10 March 2021 at 7:23 am

    Is that your bump on the wall? Well, obviously not THE bump but a cast of it?
    That is a love Twiddlemitt Jo made for you, she is awfully clever isn’t she. I love to see what she has done each week. It makes my week when I see some of her creations.
    Hugs, Neet 4 xx

  3. Susan Renshaw on 10 March 2021 at 7:42 am

    The story of the cardigan really made me giggle!
    Great bump project and LO!
    Stay safe and keep well.
    Happy WOYWW!!
    Susan #6

  4. Mary Anne on 10 March 2021 at 8:09 am

    I love your bump! How cool is that? And love the twiddle muff too – Well done Jo! I used to make them, and dementia dolls, at my Friday craft group but sadly kinda got out of the habit after a year of lockdown. I am currently knitting squares for a local charity project but plan to get back to twiddle muffs after that. This is the reminder not to let that plan fade.

    Have a great desk hop!
    Mary Anne (2)

  5. Julia on 10 March 2021 at 8:54 am

    That’s hilarious Mrs a pretty, sending them your old cardi! Am super impressed that they sent it back! Glad you gave up with the leaf dies, it’s a real life lesson isn’t it, knowing when to give it up. I once applied for a stamp DT and the stamps they sent me to work with as the ‘test’ were so awful that I couldn’t get a whole image out….used every trick I know, even stood on the acrylic block. Realised I was stressing for absolutely no reason except the good of someone else and gave it up. Wow that cast is amazing! Amazing. It looks wonderful. Who had the foresight to do that back in the day?
    Also a bit impressed at the Cuttlebug thing….I had to have emergency replacement handle made because I never managed to remember the ferocity if the spin back and he was very sick of the shouting!! Well done on this once a week-go-round. If it helps you, imagine how much good you’re being here is doing me; you’re amazing.

    • Lynn Holland on 10 March 2021 at 9:22 am

      Oh crikey I can’t stop laughing at the cardigan saga, that’s hilarious and I’m very impressed with your artful bump.
      I’m glad to have seen one of Jo’s twiddle mitts being demonstrated. They are so fantastic. I’m hoping she will make me one for a friend.
      Have a lovely week
      Lynn xx 17

  6. Susan Renshaw on 10 March 2021 at 9:00 am

    Lisa Jane…are you on Facebook? Search Tracy Scott’s creative cafe. Then look in guides.

  7. Jo Betts on 10 March 2021 at 9:08 am

    Just chuckling at your cardi event – brilliant that they returned it to you. Your bump cast is wonderful – happy days! Glad the mitt arrived safely to its new home and that Miss B approves. xx Jo

  8. Sandra on 10 March 2021 at 9:32 am

    The belly cast is amazing …. but the cardigan being returned to you is a hoot. Well done.
    Have a lovely week.
    Sandra de @20

  9. LLJ on 10 March 2021 at 9:36 am

    Oh that Jo is a treasure, isn’t she? The snow leopard is fab but it’s the high kicking Panda that made me smile!! As did the cast of your bump, what a great thing to do, celebrating the glorious ness of growing a new person. The tale about your handle-less machine made me laugh, I’ve done something similar trying to retrieve something while the sewing machine was still going…ask me how I know, lol!!
    And the card I story made me hoot, I’m so glad it’s not just me who does daft things like that…..
    Hugs LLJ 9 xxx

  10. Tracey on 10 March 2021 at 11:37 am

    I’m very envious of the travelling your Cardigan has done and it’s break for freedom hee hee, made me giggle. LOving your bump what a great wall display that makes and as for the twiddle mitt well, I can see why you would want to borrow (keep it safe) when not in action. Beautiful WoywW post. Take care Tracey #15 x

  11. Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith on 10 March 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Is that actually a cast of your pregnant belly? Never seen anything like it! I wouldn’t know where to hide it if we had visitors LOL – I would probably put one of those unwanted cardigans over it – just kidding! Lovely layout to compliment those amazing colours in your photo. The mitt is fantastic – Jo’s so good at making these little masterpieces! Have a lovely week! xx zsuzsa #24

  12. Annie on 10 March 2021 at 1:42 pm

    I really love the bump cast you’re working on and how lovely to see one of my big sisters works of art being put to good use.
    Hugs,
    Annie x #11

  13. Angela Radford on 10 March 2021 at 4:28 pm

    Loving the Twiddle mitten and I bet Miss B loves it too. I read your story about the cardigan to my hubby and he says it’s the fault of all that glue we use that we don’t know what we’re doing half the time! He thinks he’s funny Lol! Have a lovely creative woyww and a good week too. Angela x19x

  14. Sarah Brennan on 10 March 2021 at 4:59 pm

    How kind of Jo and what a fabulous twiddle mitt indeed Lisa-Jane. Love your floral body piece and glad you managed to get a refund for those leaf dies. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #4

  15. Carolyn Staton on 10 March 2021 at 5:08 pm

    The twiddle mitt is gorgeous – how kind of Jo. I so love the baby bump – so pretty and special. Happy WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#18)

  16. Dorlene Durham on 10 March 2021 at 5:35 pm

    Beautiful photos on your post today. I love the cast & what you did with it. So unique and so special. Wow!! Have a fabulous week. Dorlene #34

  17. Felicia on 10 March 2021 at 6:41 pm

    Lisa-Jane, that cast is unique and amazing all at the same time!!! I would have never thought to do something like that, but you have taken the idea and made it so special for yourself!! Love your layout, but after all your talking, I’m thinking Australia may be a bit too hot for me!! I thought Arizona was hot, and it is, but it sounds a little balmier in Australia! LOLOL The twiddle mitts from Jo are GORGE! She is such an amazing artist to me. But then it runs in her family, no? LOL A hug and a tissue for you, I can only imagine! Blessings, Felicia #31

  18. Stacy on 10 March 2021 at 6:46 pm

    hi Lisa Jane, oh my what a beautiful piece for her hands 🙂 I had to grin over the return, but that is very cool that they did return it to you 🙂 ~Stacy #33

  19. Shoshi on 10 March 2021 at 6:53 pm

    Sorry to hear about your shopping woes, Lisa Jane, but hilarious about the cardigan! I love the bump torso – how eccentric and unusual is that!!! and all covered with flowers! So imaginative and creative. Lovely twiddle mitt from Jo, too.

    Thank you for your visit and I’m glad you like the pattern I’ve chosen to join my squares. I just wish it showed up better with the black because it’s so decorative. It’s such a clever pattern, too, following the map and joining all the squares without a break. The person who designed that has got Brains!! I’m glad you liked the run down of my kitchen gadgets too. My new juicer is a triumph. It’s fascinating watching it work, too – it has its own kind of fascination. I am sure the SleepBand would be absolutely ideal for outdoor walking. It is very comfortable to wear. The headphones are quite flat and they are padded, too. If you wanted extra warmth you could always tie a scarf around, too. It would also be an advantage on windy days because it would keep your hair off your face! I am very pleased with it.

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi x #12

  20. Angela on 10 March 2021 at 8:43 pm

    What a gorgeous twiddle mitt from Jo, she is amazing isn’t she. That is embarrassing/funny about the returns! Happy WOYWW. By the way No one is saying anything about my painting. Do you think it reads as if I didn’t paint her? Angela #21

  21. Lynne on 11 March 2021 at 11:22 am

    Hi Lisa-Jane,
    I loved the way you wrote about your cardi mishap, it made me smile. It’s just the sort of thing I’d do.
    Your bump cast is stunning, worthy of a gallery!
    It’s clever to think of twiddle mitts for grounding children and Jo’s are stunning. Like LLJ, the high- kicking panda grabs me!
    Take care, stay safe
    Hugs
    Lynnecrafts 7

  22. BJ on 11 March 2021 at 4:02 pm

    Sorry, just stopped and stared lovingly at your floral belly. BEAUTIFUL, mine would have been huge thinking back! So funny about the cardi return but full points for the company to actually send it back to you. Super scrapbook page and the grounding mitt is super.
    Hubby is having a rather bad reaction to his jab, knocked him for six from about 5 hours after it and the following 24 hours. He’s been taking lots of pain meds but nothing stops him eating though – LOL. I’m still pondering it all as I can get nauseous even after a dental injection.
    Thanks for the visit BJ#16

  23. Angela on 12 March 2021 at 11:11 am

    Thank you for your return visit and comment. I clicked on your name to come back here and instead went to your old blog. I noticed you had written that you struggled with your weight and depression. Chocolate is my go to when I am feeling despondent. I lost nearly a stone last year, but have now put most of it back on. My husband does the cooking and the shopping and buys me Cadbury’s cream eggs – of course I am to blame for eating them! My medication stops my depression getting too bad, but constant pain I find spirals me down. Hoping you are well x Angela #21

  24. Lindart on 12 March 2021 at 3:18 pm

    What a lovely story of the Twiddlemit! I really had no idea before this photo how they were used, now I know! I saw someone making a cast like yours on You Tube and wondered what they were going to do with it, and you did something fab with yours! As far as the freezer goes, I have lists stuck to the top of my freezer with a pen nearby so I can mark things off as they come out. But I’m the only one taking things out of the freezer! It may help when there are several people, they don’t have to do much as the lists are right there. I divide them into groups of beef, chicken, pork etc, and freezer meals. Thanks for your visit, have a wonderful week, Lindart #35

  25. kyla on 12 March 2021 at 6:17 pm

    Brilliant twiddle mit and LOVE the cardi story, made me laugh out loud!!!
    Thanks for visiting my desk already
    kyla

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