WOYWW 587

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO ?

DO YOU LIKE THE THINGS THAT LIFE IS SHOWING YOU?


Linking up with the lovely girls around the world for WOYWW at Julia's place over at Stamping Ground for another round of desky shenanigans and sticky beaking!

One thing I've noticed about the past few months is that it's given us a chance to step back from the normal run of life and I for one have very much enjoyed that. Why feel guilty for sitting down to read a book for a couple of hours? I was very much a person who did too much - well, that's changed! I've decided to do just what I want to do and to rush around no longer. It's quite liberating!

Anyway, the desk:

After not making any for a while, I've had a couple of requests for masks, so have made a few of both styles. I am nearly out of elastic however!! I might have to have a bit of retail therapy (again!)

I say that, cos I had a return visit to Foxglove Fabrics in Carmarthen market, having used up quite a lot of what I bought previously.

I bought more of the three fabrics at the back and two new ones - Jane the stallholder gave me that lovely Bag for Life with a shiny rainbow on, it's already gone into my backpack for future use!

Two very different fabrics but I like them equally - no idea yet as to what they'll be used for, hopefully inspiration will strike.

My downstairs desk has been the kitchen table where I've enjoyed looking at the garden - it feels distinctly autumnal here over the past couple of days, the light has changed and it's fresher, I love it!

There's a lot of colour still, hydrangeas, roses, echinacea, kaffir lilies - I picked some of my roses and echinops for a little posy, the scent has been incredible. As you can see, I'm still doing some cross stitching (for Christmas projects) and boy, am I enjoying it! I've decided to change the colourway of the new one - it's just the perfect size to pick up and put down.

Even fraying the edges has been pleasing - quite meditative!

Hope you are all keeping safe and well - it was wonderful to see Elizabeth back on the desks last week after the awful few months she and her EM have had.

Have a good week and I'll see you before we know it!




28 comments:

Helen said...

Sometimes wish I could just sit and read a book, rather than work flat out all day! retirement is starting to look attractive! although having finished the entire Outlander series a few weeks back I can't get into anything else! Love the cross stitch designs - very pretty. Happy WOYWW Helen #?

glitterandglue said...

Morning Jan. You had fun at the fabric stall! That mauve fabric is quite vintage - 1970's look - isn't it? Golly, I remember making dresses in similar!!! Yes, these last months have brought us all back to walking pace - which is the pace we were designed for, isn't it? I'm loving the little cross stitch pictures - and it is SO encouraging o see I am not the only one who has multiple work areas!
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #3

Neet said...

Loe your cross stitch and it looks a mighty lot neater than mine LOL.
How lovely it must be to sit at that table and work, looking out onto the garden. Nice that you have had nice weather too - unlike the wet and windy north where I am. Still, it's been pleasant sitting in my chair plodding on with whatever. I have so many little characters cut out and coloured now that I must get around to making something with them before too long.
Lots of lovely fabric, new designs too, but the yacht and beach huts remains a favourite with me. Just perfect for things you sell by the water.
Hugs, Neet 5 xx

Sarah Brennan said...

Lovely new fabrics Jan, never wrong to enjoy some retail therapy lol. Those cross stitch pictures are great, perfect size for cards and easy to complete in one sitting if you need to.Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #6

Ali Wade Designs said...

Happy WOYWW. Gorgeous fabrics. Did you see the post on Facebook I tagged you on? A fabric shop in Carmarthen closing down due to retirement. The weather the past couple of days has been wonderful here - sunny and still. However, the rain has already arrived here. It is definitely colder. When I am not having a hot flush I am having to wear a jumper and my heat pads are in use again! Loving that cross stitch. Not enough to make me want to get my supplies out though!! I am also finding that I am wanting to relax more lately. I have to make lists and only do what is really needed, otherwise everything else can either wait or not get done at all. Ali x #4

Catriona said...

Your tiny cross stitching is lovely and like you, I am enjoying some time to myself to read and sew. Happy crafting.

Annie Claxton said...

Hi Jan, that's a very calm and happy-looking workdesk and I totally agree that there is a welcome feeling of change in the air. Know what you mean about the change of pace as well, learning to take time to enjoy just reading a book or whatever without feeling the need to rush about. It's been a double whammy for me, as I retired at the end of April - but the good kind of double whammy! Love both your new fabrics, especially the circles one and those Christmas cross stitch pieces look really beautiful. Have a fab WOYWWday :) Annie C #16

Susan Renshaw said...

Love the fabrics especially that boat/lifeboat one - and also the Bag For Life!!
Those cross stitch panels are lovely too!
Happy WOYWW, Stay Safe, Keep Well! Susan #13

lisa said...

You are so right about slowing down, Jan. I try but seem to be on the go all the time still. Lots happening at the moment but hopefully in a couple of months it might calm down a little. Freya will be back at Uni and I'm back to just 2 days at work so, fingers crossed, a bit more me time.
I wish I could get my hands on some pretty fabric. You are lucky to have a market stall.
Mask making is still on going all the time. I made 8 at the weekend and have run out of elastic too. Nothing doing locally so am waiting for an amazon delivery to finish them. I've used 30 metres so far!!!!
Love your cross stitching. Enjoy!!
Have a good week
Hugs Lisax #17

Lynnecrafts said...

Hi Jan, love your fabrics and cross stitching, though my first reaction was "Christmas, already?" ;)
I'm starting to learn that retired serenity, but I've a lot of clearing up to do as well, from when my Mum, Brian, and then I were poorly.
have a great week
love
Lynne ~20

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

I'm pretty good at not feeling guilty for not running around all the time LOL! I quite like to just hang around whenever I can and indulge myself in pleasurable activities - good on you Jan for giving yourself some breathing space! Love the new fabrics and your little Christmas trees are looking cute too. Enjoy yourself! xx zsuzsa #18

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, totally with you on the reading!Nothing I enjoy more than a good book.Love the fabrics, especially the circles one, thats really cool.What an awesome bag that is, gorgeous rainbow on there.How fab to be able to sit there and look out at the garden, going a bit autumnal up here too, can't believe I've only just got planters done!Very cool Christmas sewing on the go, not done any cross stitch for more years than I can remember.Stay safe, have a lovely week,Love & hugs to everyone, Shaz #14. XxXxXx

Annie said...

I'm late visiting today because I've had lots of customers all needing their sewing doing quickly so I had to get that done before I joined in the fun today.
I'm loving the new fabrics Jan and will look forward to seeing what you make with it all. I'm loving the cooler temps too cos it allows work without the fans blowing everything around.
Hugs,
Annie x #7

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

A fun post Jan, love the view of your patio. My nephew just finished redoing and leveling our 16x16 blocks but haven't spent much time out there with all the strange bugs !!! I love the cross stitching your are working on. I totally agree on the how good the slow down of our lives is. Contentment.
Stay Safe and tomatoes here are huge this year also. I make lots of juice !!!

Julia Dunnit said...

Cor, bet Shoshi is very pleased with you! The cross stitch looks lovely, I reckon its the counting, numbering and symmetry that you’re enjoying. Couldn’t agree more about taking the time, it’s absolutely the right thing to do. She said, contemplating a nap this avo!! Pleased with my garden too, still some lovely colour, although the sedum seems to have become a feeding station for the damn pigeons!

Kathryn Frantz said...

Hi, Jan.
Your post is so bright and beautiful! Thank you!

Nothing worth posting from me. No creativity. Still trying to find the leak and damage in the basement. A mess!
Makes me sad and wonder if it will ever be fixed. Books and boxes moved to any other empty spaces where they shouldn’t be. Hard to safely walk around here!

Stay safe and Happy Wednesday!
Kathryn
,

My name is Cindy said...

I'm afraid do feel guilty if I sit and watch rubbish tv but I never ever feel bad about sitting and reading a book! Go for it, I hate being too busy. Sometimes I think I don't go enough places or do enough things - but if I'm happy and content does it matter? (I never remember anything anyway so arguably it's a waste of time to be in constant search of variety!!) Love your fabrics, you have such a knack for picking pretty designs. I agree the light is changing and the air feels different - but I refuse to acknowledge Autumn till the 1st of October (or I am knee deep in leaves, whichever comes first!). My personal little quirk, anything to hang on to summer as long as possible. Loving the x stitch trees, wonder what you are making? And yes, I do sell xmas cards, though not as many as I would like. I send a lot out as well, all handmade and have done for years. I don't think I could stop now! Have a great Wednesday, stay well, stay safe, Cindy #15

Twiglet said...

Yep - I have been chilling with a good book recently. Max gave me a bagful and it would be rude not too!! Any excuse. Your little cross stitch pics are fab - I don't have patience for it but I love to see it. I have loads of elastic on a reel so I will pop some in a jiffy for you! xx Jo

Stacy Sheldon said...

Hi Jan, Ooh I love that you can step right out the door from your kitchen to the garden. the light looks really nice there for stitching. I laughed over using the machine for sewing on paper. ( I do not have a fancy one or the skills to use one for fabric haha) ~Stacy #27

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

I agree it has felt very Autumnal this week and I have to say I like it this way especially when the sun is out. It's a lovely time of the year (not a lover of too much heat). Love the new fabric and the Christmas trees are perfect. Wishing you a very happy and creative woyww, Angela x10x

Shoshi said...

Lovely new fabrics, Jan - looking forward to seeing what you do with them when inspiration strikes! As for your little cross stitch projects, they are so charming with the pretty borders and the frayed edges. They have such a nice crisp look. The little hearts on the trees are really cute. I haven't felt guilty at all throughout the lockdown. My life hasn't changed that much, apart from struggling to get Tesco delivery slots, but the main bonus has been having my hubby around so much. He is usually far too over-busy, rushing here there and everywhere and getting stressed out (despite my constantly telling him that he's supposed to be retired now lol!) - he has been so much more relaxed and we've had such nice companionable times, with lots of lovely meals in the garden under our pretty umbrella, and enjoying the flowers and the kitties. I can't say I've read many books because I haven't! I'm mostly on YouTube watching (or more often listening) to videos while I do other things, and wasting time on Pinterest lol!!

Thank you for your visit and your kind wishes about my ring. I can well understand how devastated you were with the loss of your diamond. People often say "It's only things," but things are so important when they mark special events or people, and they have so much history attached to them. I really value all my treasures, large and small - some have absolutely no intrinsic value at all but they speak volumes to me with their associations with those I have loved. As time goes on, they acquire more history and stories, like the layers of an onion skin, and it would break my heart to lose them. These things mark the passage of time and are signposts along life's journey, and are symbols of who we are. As for my lost ring, it's now been 5 days and no sign of it, so I think I'm going to have to resign myself to it being gone for good. I am so sad. It's funny about the mistakes in my latest tiny carpet - nobody seems to be able to spot them except me! Perhaps that's as it should be! I am going to redraw the design though, and get it right!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi x #12

Karen said...

Sounds like your enjoying your time and your view which is nice. Your little Christmas projects are adorable. ~ Enjoy

Crafting With Jack said...

Hi Jan, I agree with you, it is feeling more like Autumn, I had hoped for a few more summery days thought! Live the Christmas cross stitch, I was wondering what project they were for. Happy WOYWW and have a great week Angela #28

Sue said...

Hi Jan, Lovely fabrics.

I think a lot of people have reassessed their lives after the lockdown.

Your cross stitch is lovely.

Happy WOYWW
Sue

Eva said...

I say thank you for the little "Comming out" - that you felt the time of the past weeks as deceleration. I felt it too. But some friends can't understand me.
With elastics people can make money...:-). For me it was a difficult way to order it.
I love your cross stitches!! Next Christmas is comming....
Have a good week too!
Eva from Austria

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, you saying your taking it easier but judging from your post you've still been busy. The new fabrics are lovely - the pattern on the purple fabric is very reminiscent of the seventies. I'm sure you'll think of something perfect to make with it. Love the view from your kitchen table. It's turned autumnal up here too and I love autumn. Have a great week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #30

Dorlene Durham said...

You always have the prettiest fabric. I’m glad you’re back at it with the masks. I made a few but now realize we need so many more. Thanks for your earlier visit. Have a great weekend. Dorlene #26

Lindart said...

I love the Christmas ornament - so beautiful! It is getting cooler here as well, Fall is coming way too early. I'm hoping things warm up by the time the wedding day arrives! I love the new fabric, hard to choose between the 2 you showed, I also like them equally as well, I think! Thanks for your earlier visit, have a great week! Lindart #24

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