WOYWW 347

AND ALL THE PAST
IS JUST A LESSON THAT WE'VE LEARNED,
I WON'T FORGET.
(c. Demi Lovato)

Thank you to the lovely WOYWWers who donated some money for the skydive dedicated to Janet Fairythoughts' memory. Anne, who is doing the jump with another longstanding friend and Janet's daughter, was incredibly thrilled by your generosity. In case you missed last week, here's the link again:


As long as we keep her name going, Janet won't be forgotten.....
And my desk is sort of related to this:
Using up more odds and ends of fabric to make another tote...that Union Jack fabric is no more. The end of ANOTHER era!
Putting the final topstitching around the top of the tote....

I'm offering this tote in return for a donation to the Justgiving link for Janet. If you fancy it, email me and I'll let you know the details. First come, first served, p+p free.  

I sent off my parcel of goodies to the Greyhound trust folk and they were pleased, saying that the matching hats/greyhound snoods were a good idea. So, I've been using some scrap yarn and making some more!
The variegated yarn is making knitting extremely enjoyable. That green/purple yarn is for me though, Julia gave it to me a while ago and I'm going to knit a shawl or something like that!

The gorgeous pencils I got for Christmas are staying out on the dining table and I'm just doing a bit of colouring when I feel like it. They shade so beautifully and while I'm nowhere near being a brilliant colourererer, it's good fun. Oooooooh, look at those lush shades :-)

So that's it, short, snappy, bright and breezy!  Hope you have a fab and very crafty week xx

36 comments:

Helen said...

I love your new tote, it's bright and beautiful - just like Janet. I donated last week. Your new pencils are just gorgeous - your colouring looks ok to me (I'm not a proficient colourerer either!) Helen #?

Bridget Larsen said...

Wish I lived close enough to get that tote, love the patchwork quilty look of it
Bridget #4

lisa said...

I'm having a drool over those gorgeous pencils, Jan. What a lovely pressie to receive. Colouring is very restful isn't it. I had one of those books from Santa too and love just doing a bit when I have the odd half hour. Enjoy!!
Hugs Lisax #17

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Am so with you on pencils Lunch Lady Jan, and half the pleasure of using them is admiring their colour coordinated beauty. Have several sets now so spoilt for choice and you remind me of a book given me at Christmas untouched. Might need to set up a colouring corner.
Happy WOYWW, a very beautiful bag you've made in memory of Janet for a kind contribution!
Shaz in Oz.x #15

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Unknown said...

Beautiful bag you've made. Love all the pretty colours you have in your pencil set - brilliant colouring. Linda #20

Lynn Holland said...

You have a lovely cheery page today and the bag is wonderful.
So nice that the first desk I visited today made me smile
Lynn //18 xx

Sue said...

Lovely bag. I know the things you make for the Greyhounds will be snapped up.

Drooling over those pencils.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #26

Annie said...

I love your latest bag Jan....well done you for the funds being raised in Janet's name. There is soooooo many fab bright colours on your post today. I esp love the rainbow ow pencils.
Have a great week.
Hugs,
Annie x # 11

Neet said...

There is nothing wrong with your colouring and I work on the principle that if I get pleasure from doing something then that is what I should do. ie it does not need an end product that is of use, it needs a journey that I enjoy.
Love your end product though - fab tote as only you can do them.
Hugs, Neet xx 2

Diana Taylor said...

I love the bag - and well done for using every scrap of your fabrics - I hate finishing anything off, especially if I really love it. I think I've missed a chapter somewhere, but are you making hats and scarves for real greyhound dogs? Your coloured pencils are soooo alluring, I'd get huge pleasure out of owning them without even doing the colouring!
Hope you have a great week,
Diana xx

Anonymous said...

This is a HUGE THANK YOU firstly to LLJ Jan for sharing my link to our Tandem SkyDive in memory of Janet's Fairythoughts. I am so touched that Jan has also now offered such a beautiful bag to one of you lucky WOYWWers. Secondly, I would like to send a virtual hug and THANK-YOU to ALL of those who so far have taken the time, trouble and expense to donate and for all of the lovely comments on LLJ's blog last week and this. Your lovely WOYWWW group, which Janet so much enjoyed being part of, are very generous and this is extremely motivating and inspirational for us doing the jump. Our group of three "jumpers" has recently become four and we hope to raise lots of money in Janet's memory - she is missed so much by so many of us. We are all paying for our jump ourselves so every penny we raise will be going to this wonderful charity who did so much for Janet and her family at such an awful time and Countess Mountbatten will continue to do the same to others who need it. This really does mean a lot - thank you. Anne xx

voodoo vixen said...

Such a pretty post with all those lovely bright colours... perfect for this rather cold and drab day we up here are having! LOL Love the bag, you are so kind going the extra mile to help with the fund raising and your boxes of colouring pencils are gorgeous, your colouring in looks pretty good from here! Happy Wednesday to you! Annette #31

sandra de said...

Gorgeous bag and beautiful colouring. I love everything you create your choice of colours and pattern selection is a work of art in itself.
sandra de @14

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh you are generous. I just love the sight of all those pencils, and you doing colouring. its considered a paper craft you know!

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

I like how you make use of every last scrap of fabric, Jan! Those pencils look delish! If they are the Faber Castells, I have the 24 pack of the watersolubles and the non-watersolubles too, but they're too good for me to use! It's nice to have them though, just for stroking and smelling. Happy colouring! zsuzsa #38

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Oh, those pencils looks so lovely all laid out there. My girl had a big set of Prismacolours for Christmas and I am just a tad envious! Not taking part in woyww today as I have nothing crafty on my kitchen table, but thought I'd drop in anyway.

J said...

Wow Jan that's quite a few pencils, love all the colours, that's my problem not enough shades of each colour.
Love all the materials again, always bright and beautiful
Jan no 39

Unknown said...

Oh your pencils look luscious!! And that beautiful tote was made with love and for love which makes it even more beautiful. I was so tempted to get one of those coloring books the other day, but instead I'm going to get a recipe scrapbooking thing I've got my eye on at Michaels. It's almost that time to start seeds for the garden too! I've been trying to grow some things on my sunporch, but they are going very slow. Hope you are having a good week! Hugs! Sandy Leigh #39

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan,I knew you'd remember Kenny Everett- he did used to make me laugh! Loved his highly irreverent humour. I think the bag is a great idea for the fund raiser, I did it last week, then Doug saw it on FB, when I said who it was for, before I could say I'd donated, so had he,lol. Which is great. I agree, as long as we talk about Jan, and mention her on here, she'll never be forgotten. Lots of love & hugs, Shaz xxxxx

CraftygasheadZo said...

Gorgeous bag and wonderful colouring. Glad you are enjoying it! Take care Zo xx 44

Kim said...

Your fabrics always brighten my day! Another gorgeous bag! And I love the coloring...I just bought a book, but I haven't started on it yet...and actually forgot about my pencils...hmmmmm.
Have a great week!
-K #51

Anonymous said...

Ah, more charity knitting....don't get me started on another one! Love the fabric combo, and such a lovely place to rest on for a bit. I am very out of practice for WOYWW :)


Happy WOYWW!
Mary Anne (41)

Sharon said...

What a wonderful tote bag! You do such nice work on those. All those coloured pencils! That looks like the set I got my daughter in the end.

Sharon K #49

Unknown said...

Another gorgeous tote! And I bet you'll find some great fabrics to replace all those used up. Your coloring is beautiful. Seems the adult coloring books are extremely popular now. I have yet to give in but I've been looking at them. Happy WOYWW!
Carol N #42

Debbie Rock said...

I love how your tote bags are all limited editions ... when the fabric is gone, it's gone! Forget Lulu Guiness ... I'd rather have a Jan Appleton any day! Ooooh all those pencils sent me into a meltdown ... don't do colouring! I'd have those pencils simply to display and stroke but never to use! Happy WOYWW'ing dear Jan. Love to you from Debbie #55 xXx

Anne said...

Hi there - what a beautiful bag Jan - you are so clever. The pencils are fabulous as well - such gorgeous array of colours. I have bought a colouring book as well - not done a lot yet though - I think I need to put some beautiful pencils on my birthday list :-) Anne x #32

Princess Judy Palmer said...

You have a very colorful post today! Love that latest tote. All that yarn! I love looking at bunches of yarn together like that. Makes me wish I was a yarn crafter of some sort (then I come to my senses and realize that I can't afford another hobby). All those pencils together are yummy looking! That's a very nice set of pencils. You must have been a good girl to get into Santa's good graces like that. PJ #57

Christine said...

Will tell Catt you're colouring, she says she'd like to give it a try!
You're bags are works of art .... how you mix and match the fabrics is amazing.
Have a good week
Bishopsmate #27

Patrink said...

Colouring is definitely taking off. I now have my pencil collection housed by the couch in the family room. I switch between my journals and colouring books. So relaxing.

Enjoy, Pat #61

Scrapthology said...

Love that tote, bag making is something I've always meant to have a go at and your blog really inspires me to try.

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

Beautiful tote. I love all the colorful pencils lined up in the box.

Barb said...

Your tote bag is gorgeous. Glad you're enjoying your colouring and I'm hardly surprised with all those pencils to choose from. Barb xx #54

Tilly Tea Dance said...

Your tote bags are always wonderful. Greyhound snoods also sound extremely creative. Happy crafting, Max #33 :-)

Annie Claxton said...

oooooooh I love colouring books, I find a spot of colouring in at the end of a hectic day is very soothing to the soul .... also I am ACTUALLY dribbling over your array of pencils :o) I love your latest tote too - my gorgeous Jan tote is one of my favourite things. Have a great week!! Annie C #36

Twiglet said...

This week's WOYWW has passed me by. I have been so busy helping Max launch her workshops etc and today making a family meal to celebrate a birthday - all good fun. So glad the fund raising went well. That bag will surely raise a few ponds - it's really lovely. x Jo

Unknown said...

Oh Jan...that fabric is delicious!! Good for you, getting all three--you deserve it. (I always tell myself that when I go to a craft or fabric store for one little thing and then I see the thing that's really going to make me happy) I can imagine tote bags, banners, and even a fabric Easter basket with that lovely stuff. I want a coloring book too! I bought an owl one for my daughter at Barnes & Noble, and I told her that it felt good that I could still buy my little daughter a coloring book. Tee hee! She loves those. I really need one for myself though. It is sooo cold and windy here today...it is the coldest day of the week. So now I must heat up breakfast and sip the rest of my coffee. Hugs to you soul sister. Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #44

WOYWW 769

 WE'LL MEET AGAIN.... I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while - please don't worry, all is ok! - think I just need a...