WOYWW 448

THE YEAR TURNS ANEW, 
ON THE SPINDLE OF YOUR LIFE.

I was genuinely sorry to miss posting in last week's WOYWW but I had the flu and wasn't well at all, The whole family had it over Christmas so it has been an enforced period of calm (apart from the coughing!)  Anyhow, it's the New Year's Edition this week and so I'd like to wish all the Deskers and any other readers the happiest and healthiest 2018 - may you have fun and adventures :-D

Believe it or not, I have done some crafting in the past couple of days, once I started to feel less grim.
I've added to the pile of beanies that are destined for my cousin's work with homeless people in Swansea, I've used my brand new Fiskars fabric scissors which were a prezzy (and awesome!!)  The Land Rover fabric is going to be a drawstring bag for my great-nephew Felix - I know, I don't look old enough to have a great-anything, do I? Lol!

Just thinking about the placement of a pocket - the same stripy fabric will be the lining of the bag as well.

I've had a little tidy of the shelves - wonder how long they'll stay that way?!

And had a first go at colouring with my Spectrum Noirs, another crafty prezzy! I've enjoyed using them a lot, such a difference from the normal felt tip pens I've had in the past. I always feel as if I'm wasting time when I sit down to colour, ridiculous really, but it's something I'm going to factor in more over the next year.

We bought some new bird feeders before Christmas, ones with cages so the jackdaws and magpies can't get at the middle. It's been a great success, we've enjoyed sitting in the kitchen watching the birds tuck in. I love all the little birds....
..but these long-tailed tits are adorable. Always in gangs, they chatter away as they attack the fat balls - so sweet!

And the robin is always around to hoover up the bits that fall to the ground! Honestly, it's better than watching tv :-)

Hope you've had a great festive season! May 2018 be a wonderful year xxxxxxx


34 comments:

Helen said...

I am glad you are feeling better, there have been a lot of people ill over Christmas. Happy New Year to you all. Love that land rover fabric, but the pics of the birds are amazing. Helen #?

craftyani said...

Sorry you have not felt good over Christmas. Wow that's some knitting to keep bare heads warm. I had some colouring books and crayons for Christmas also, but smaller pages so I can use them for cards. Love watching the birds that's one thing I miss here in Spain. Anickoana#7

Neet said...

Sorry to hear you have been rough all over Christmas, and the family too. So many people have had colds and things. Hope you are feeling much better each day.
I too have to use caged bird feeders but for squirrels!!! And we have a particularly cheeky one at the moment - remind me to tell you one day. Anyway, he sits on the bird table and polishes all the seed off - I must get some wire to make a cover for it - 1" holes should do the trick.
Love the beanies - they are gorgeous and so colourful. What a wonderful way to use up your wool. I did buy a circular needle, and grey wool - not mustard, they didn't have any - but not even made a start on it - maybe take it away with me??? It's a bit daunting as I haven't done any knitting in years.
Your storage is beautiful, it looks so good to have all those bursts of colour amongst the white of your room. You are so tidy too. I just have too much stuff in my room to be tidy, well I am tidy but not pretty tidy like you.
Oh heck - Happy New Year to you and your family - may it be a good one for you (IF you can improve on Burry Port 2017 which has seemed lots of fun - and hard work I know but worth it)
Lots of Love, Neet 2 xx

Neet said...

Think I got carried away with that comment above - oops sorry.
Hugs, Neet xx

Anonymous said...

Happy WOYWW. Glad to hear you are starting to feel better and back to crafting. We both had flu last year - were really ill for over 3 weeks, and hoping that we don't get it this year (saw on the news about a nasty flu strain hitting Wales). I have got some craft workshops this month and it is at those that I get exposed to all sorts of germs (we tend to be hermits otherwise!). Loving the beanies, Landrover fabric and the tidy shelves. Ali x #9

sandra de said...

Wishing you a wonderful 2018 full of bright fabric and thread. A big thank you for the Chrissy card as you can tell I didn't get around to making or sending cards 2017 it all got away from me. Hope you cold clears up and you can post pics of the birds all day long, they are brilliant. Have a lovely week.
sandra de @10

Annie said...

I really hope you’re all over the worse of your flu Jan. There’s so many nasty bugs around....our little Theo has had croup 😢. It’s good to see you’re up to a bit of sewing...that’s always a good sign. Here’s to lots of fun and friendship and the very best health for all in 2018.
Hugs,
Annie x #13

glitterandglue said...

Happy New Year Jan. Sorry to hear you have been unwell - hope you soon feel fully recovered. Although, I have to say, looking at the amount you have already achieved.... seems to me you have been really busy! My excuse for non-activity status is that I was away with the family for most of the time between Christmas and New Year... sounds good anyway!
Aren't long-tailed tits just glorious little birds? Great photos! Well done.
Take care dear girl. Love to that lovely man of yours.
God bless.
Margaret #1

Cardarian said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR JAN! Sorry to hear your Christmas was spent coughing away - well so was Alans! Touch wood I somehow avoided it! I see you have already started on your sewing! I did some over the holidays but didn't finish my project so I will have to carry on now! Love your photos of the birds - we have feeders too but we never get long tailed tits! We do get a robin, blue tits and mostly sparrows!
Love and hugs
Cardarian

Sue said...

Hi Jan, Happy New Year.

Glad you are getting over the bug and able to do some crafting.

Fab photos of the birds.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #18



shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, I remember we tried one of those feeders within a cage, and for some odd reason our birds really didn't seem to like it. Very odd. We occasionally get some Long Tailed Tits in the garden. Loving the colouring, really must get round to doing some of mine. Hope you are all feeling better now, it's rotten being ill at any time, but over Christmas makes it feel worse. Love and hugs to everyone, XXX

Sue Jones said...

Happy New Year!!
Sorry you have been ill over Christmas - this was the first time in years that I have been well- probably as I have been so anti social ha ha- I wonder how long it will last as the blighters are back at school tomorrow and will pass thier bugs onto to me then.
The photographs are gorgeous.
Love soojay 23

Elizabeth said...

Happy New Year, Jan! Sorry you've been poorly but glad you're much better and able to craft again. As a lady who has a lot of 'greats' in my life I can only agree - we don't look old enough! If you weren't recuperating I'd invite you to come along and sort out my shelves too ... it's now a pressing job that just has to be done. Love your bird photos.Long-tailed tits don't visit us, though many other tits do, but we do have a couple of robins - wish I could get close enough to take a photo as lovely as yours. Have a great week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #30

Crafting Queen said...

Sorry you were not well, feel better soon. Happy New Year. I love the photos of the birds, stunning!!! Anesha :)

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

The beanies are so lovely -I especially like the rainbow coloured one! I'm sure it will brighten up someone's day as well as being practical and warm. No, you certainly don't look old enough to have a great-anything LOL! There must be a mistake there and you skipped a generation! Regarding the colouring activity: you should never feel guilty about spending time on things you love! Rather, you should feel lucky that you are able to find joy in a simple activity like that! Think of it as meditation to keep body and soul together - so important in today's crazy world! So sorry to hear that your Christmas got ruined by a nasty bug, but good to know that you're on the mend! Hopefully, it will give you immunity for the rest of the winter! Thanks so much for your visit - I always look forward to your lovely comments :) xx zsuzsa #19 PS the birdie photos are lovely! They're pin sharp and I know how hard it is to take good photos of little birds!

StampinCarol said...

Glad you're feeling better. Colds and the flu have been going around here with many in church down. The beanies are fab and what a great cause! Love the land rover fabric! Bet your great nephew will love it! I have not gotten into coloring as I work on making rugs when watching TV at night. Will have to take a photo of one I finished last night. And how fun to watch the birds!! That to me is very relaxing! Have a great week! Thanks for stopping by!
Carol N #22

Anonymous said...

glad to hear you're feeling a bit better,, the flu is making its rounds, your beanies are beautiful and what a wonderful gift,,the homeless are sometimes only remembered at Christmas so its so nice to see someone think of them after Christmas,, your dragon piece is beautiful, my gosh the colors are so vibrant aren't they, that fabric is so cute!! I've not seen that before anywhere, Happy New Year! #32 Laurie,

Lindart said...

I have heard of so many people being caught by this bug this winter, hopefully it will not come back next year - I don't think I could do a repeat of this year! I'm sure you feel the same! The birds are very cute, I love watching them too (and so does Inky!). Not too many around recently with temps being -30C lately! Thank you for letting me know about the chocolate birthday cake law - makes so much sense! It's soooo good! Have a wonderful 2018! Lindart #28

Christine said...

So sorry to hear you've been poorly, I am a bit under the weather at the mo. I try not to be late to the party but wanted to avoid this one!!!
Those shelves look lovely, ready for the fun when your totally recovered.
Enjoy the rest of the week
Christine #29

Twiglet said...

Hope you are feeling much better Jan - and the rest of the family too. Your little tits are so cute - and now go and wipe up the coffee you have just sprayed all over the computer screen!!! They look like tiny parrots don't they. AND of course I love the robin - my favourite.

Heather M said...

Hi Jan. Sorry to hear you caught the dreaded flu! Hopefully you are over the worst of it. We have a few bird feeders in our garden, and the magpies do throw their weight about. However we do gets lots of tiny birds, and plenty of robins, as well as a resident squirrel and the occasional grouse and fox. My neighbour even took a photo of a deer on our lawn! If only they would stay still and pose while I get my camera ready. Have a wonderful New year, Heather #11

Anne said...

oh Jan so sorry to hear you've had the dreaded Flu. several members of family here had it as well. My poor grandson Sam, 10 was in bed most of Christmas Day. My D.I. L. also had it but soldiered on while we there. They all came to us on the Thursday and she was still very poorly :-( DH and I had a touch of something but only minor. My brother and wife very, very poorly. Love the photos. I cannot get back into doing anything much. Hope it changes soon! I wish you and your family a very happy and healthy 2018. Anne x 17

Stacy Sheldon said...

I have 9 feeders in my yard Jan, so I am totally grinning from ear to ear over the bird shots. oh, how cool I have never seen birds like any of those you have shared either. :) Happy New Years! glad to read you are feeling better too! ~Stacy #27

Bernice said...

What a brilliant photo of the robin! Glad you are feeling better - it's difficult bug to get rid of - I have a pre-assessment for surgery next week and have had to get an antibiotic to try to clear up the cough (after 4 weeks of hoping it would go away by itself!!) I love all the colourful beanies - they'll be greatly appreciated.
Bernice #35

Ellie said...

I love the birds too, so relaxing to watch. Very tidy and organised work space, wish I could say the same. Hahah! Glad to hear you are feeling a little better.
Ellie #24

Julia Dunnit said...

So glad you’ve emerged...but you need to take it a bit easier than normal for a few more days, get your stamina back. Blimey, it’s been a rough patch for you three. Love the colouring, love the thought of you doing it actually, only has to be 15 minutes or so here and there, it’s no more time wasting than cleaning!!

April said...

So sorry you had the flu. Glad you're feeling better. Love the bird pictures. Great job on the beanies.
April #19

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi dear Lunch Lady Jan, every belssing upon you and your dear ones in 2018... and I was MIA last week, too but not cos of flu, but visitors and is same next week. Summertime brings them. :-)
Well loving the beanies, what a great project... and I’ve a great nephew or three too! Love land rover fabric, and heard spectrum noir are great markers, great dragon!
I was given a colouring book two years ago, nothing coloured yet!!!! One day... like a lot of other things.
Thanks so much for your great desky share.
Happy WOYWW! Shaz in Oz.x #37

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Kim said...

Happy Belated WOYWW and I'm glad your feeling better. And while I always love your work..the Wow factor goes to that bird feeder!!! Brilliant idea! I have one you set to close at certain weights, but the jays and squirrels seem to have figured it out; and I think a bear came on our deck and grabbed the suit feeder, as it is no where to be found. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by. And yes, please keep reminding me to keep coloring those images! LOL!
-K #32

Claire Grantham said...

Happy New Year LLJ and apologies for the late visit, last day in the office was CHAOS yesterday. Thanks for swinging by my blog, gin is necessary when cropping! I love that Land Rover fabric. Sorry to hear you were all sick, my hubby and my Mum were both down with something gross over the Christmas period! I love to colour, it is the best therapy for when I am feeling frazzled, gentle colouring helps. Claire x #26

Cara said...

I'm sorry to hear that your festivities were curtailed by illness, but I hope you're feeling much better now. Very impressed with the tidying and it's good to see that you're enjoying crafting. Have fun with the colouring, it's been proven to be beneficial to mental health and so it's just the crafting equivalent of healthy eating. Honest. Well, sort of!

Darnell said...

What a treat your post was, Jan, especially the end with the sweet birdies! I'm with you and can sit and watch them for hours! Thank you for the photos! I am sorry to hear you were all under the covers for Christmas! I wish you the happiest of new years with your new pressies (great job coloring!) and your newly sorted space! Hugs, Darnell

Sarah Brennan said...

Happy New Year Jan; glad you're on the mend. I'm surprised you manage to do anything with those amazing birds outside your window. Brill job with the Spectrum Noir pens! Have a good week. Sarah #6

Kyla said...

so pleased you are on the mend and LOVE the long tail tits. We usually hear their chatter well before we spot them in the trees!!
LOVE the beanies, what a lovely idea and looking forward to seeing how the drawstring bag turns out. I have been trying to make one for my 2 yr old niece but I think I am as usual trying to over complicate it, so if you have any tips please feel free!!

Thanks for visiting my desk already
Kyla #4

WOYWW 769

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