WOYWW 656

 HERE WE COME A WASSAILING

AMONGST THE LEAVES SO GREEN


Well, we've made it to the end of another tricky year and think we ought to congratulate ourselves on that feat! The support and friendship of the Deskers has been an important part of getting through the chaos - a heartfelt thank you from me for that.  I'm hoping that next year really will improve, here's to us, an amazing band of friends, let's keep each other going!

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy 2022

Not a huge amount of crafting has been going on to be honest, though I did finish and edge the pinky striped blanket:


It came out quite well - I'll put it in the JanCave wardrobe until I think what to do with it.

I got some fantastic and thoughtful prezzies including this beautiful calligraphy set and papers from G:


Inside was equally gorgeous!


Lots of different nibs and look at those little bottles of ink, I haven't had one of them since I HAD to write with a fountain pen back at school and thus always had Quink Ink in my satchel as well!


So I had a little practise, plenty of room for improvement, lol! But I'm digging that purple ink, gorgeous xx

I also had some prezzies that made me cry with laughter. Whilst harrumphing and grumbling at news that has irritated me over the past year, what my folks decided I needed was a pitchfork for when I start the revolution! I thought an extendable version would be better to fit in my rucksack for ease of transport. My son Owen and friend Kim obviously had the same idea:


Fantastic!! I'm blessed to have family and friends who get my off-the-wall sense of humour - I laughed so hard I nearly put my back out (almost like over Julia's crochet 'elephant' again)

It's making me happy all over again just publishing the photo!!

But the bestest present of all was having my boys home - I'm very aware that so many families have not had that - and honestly, I couldn't have been happier.


Happy New Year from the Appleton Mob - may 2022 be healthy, peaceful and filled with love and friendship. xxxxxxxx

25 comments:

Robyn said...

Happy new year to you! I'm excite to see what you will do with your new nibs and ink! enjoy the practice journey!Maybe I'llkeep my perennial NYR to do more sewing! love the stripy blanket. May the coming year bring you peace and grace!

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Happy Happy New Year, love your family photo. Wishing you much fun with the ink and practicing. I love Calligraphy, but I've no patience for practicing.
May you and yours enjoy the welcoming of 2022 and wishing you the very best.

Sarah Brennan said...

So glad you were able to have a proper family Christmas Jan. That calligraphy set looks lush - especially all those lovely inks. I hope never to be on the wrong end of those pitchforks lol. Hope 2022 is a better year all round for everyone. Stay safe and Happy WOYWW. Sarah #7

Mary Anne said...

Happy New Year! Such a lovely family photo. Great t see all the Jan Clan looking so full of smiles and happy. Love the pitchfork (I think I need one too) and the blankie - after years of being borderline goth my darling daughter has re-discovered a love of pink and florals so who knows if one of these could be in my future? Oh dear!

"A WOYWW day, a WOYWW day, and the last one of the year…" (with apologies to Fairport Convention)
Mary Anne (6)

Helen said...

Wishing the same to you all too - and I love your pitchforks (although I think forking is too good for them, something more brutal is called for I think!!) I love your stripey blanket it's just beautiful. Good luck with the calligraphy, I have a kit that was my dad's but haven't really attempted to learn it. Maybe next year. Happy New Year to you all. Helen #1

Julia Dunnit said...

That is hilarious Missus, I can just see you charging into Cardiff with the pitchfork…start with the small one so they think you’re just a random nutter…..then go big and catch ‘em all out! Lovely pic of you and the boys, that Owen’s height is long arm useful! So glad you had a lovely weekend of it, we did too. We even got a wet and foggy walk in on Christmas morning, stone the crows! Well, look at that beautiful calligraphy set; a great pressie, lovely on the eye and of course, you’re tenacious when you Anna do something and look to med very much as if you can already do it. Your choice of ink colour makes me smile, I love to think of you when I see a nice purple!

Heather M said...

Hi Jan, great family photo - and how lovely to have both your boys home for Christmas. My girls both have their own families now, so don't come 'home' but we did manage to all meet up for Santa Express, and then a get together for a Christmas Eve party. Lovely colours on your blanket - I need to start a new blanket. I laughed aloud at the pitchforks - what a sight that would be! Ah, purple is my favourite colour, so your calligraphy not only looks pretty good as it is, but it's the perfect colour too! Hope you have a wonderful New Year, take care, Heather xx #10

Catriona said...

Loving the calligraphy set and glad to see you have already had a wee try out! My family threatened to bet me a soap box as I keep ranting about everything these days! Happy 2022 to you and your lovely family.x

Lynnecrafts said...

That’s a lovely photo of you and the Boyz Jan. Happy new year to you all! I got a nice LH Lamy fountain pen and some Tomoe River notebooks ( lovely paper for ink) but I never found good calligraphy pens for lefties. Your purple ink looks great for protest letters. Take them seriously or I’ll be round with me pitchforks 🤣🤣. You’re dangerous without them!
Good that you’ve finished your blanket Very satisfying. Hope to catch up soon
Love Lynnecrafts 12 xx
Very satisfying

Neet said...

Wow, that is what I call a calligraphy set. I can well imagine your face as you opened the box and saw the contents. That will keep you going for a while. Much better than the old Quink Ink we used to have - yes, it was a staple in my era too. Did yours ever leak in your stachel?
The pens you asked about are 'Zig Clean Color Real Brush' and I have the 48 set. Not that thrilled with the colour choice as I struggled just now to get various shades of brown and then blue despite their being several pens in the colour range.
Oh dear I had some black and some white Arteza pens bought me for Christmas, thanks for telling me the nibs soon get squishy, I'll order some Posca as back up.
Love the photo of the Appleton Mob - peas in a pod!
Happy New Year to the Appletons and thanks Jan for all your support over the past year.
Hugs, Neet 8 xx

Ali Wade Designs said...

Happy WOYWW. Fabulous family photo. Loving the calligraphy set with gorgeous ink colours. I have done a bit of calligraphy in the past, but never continue with the practice. It is fun on the iPad too. I could do with the pitchfork here - prod people who disrespect or annoy me! Ali x #14

Anne said...

Hi Jan. My best present was having both lads and their families here. Had other fab pressies as well of course.
Love the calligraphy set - I loved using my fountain pen and treasured bottles of ink 🥰 I'm sad I know lol. Happy and healthy 2022 to you and your family. Anne x 18

Christine said...

While I just love the pitchfork, I adore the inks and pen set . . . . Well done G! I can foresee such wonderful times ahead.
What a great photo of you all, such handsome fellas and the bird's not too bad!! lol
I'm doing another test as my eldest has just gone positive! Won't make much change to my circumstances thank goodness.

Have a good New Year and I hope that you manage to stay healthy, although I think your walks along the beach boost your immunities!
Christine #19

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

So lovely, Jan! That family photo is priceless! The calligraphy set is gorgeous - whatever you set your mind on, you will excel at it, I'm sure! I just wish I had more patience for something like that! The pitch fork is hilarious - what are they insinuating LOL? Best wishes for 2022 - hope all your dreams come true! xx zsuzsa #21

Elizabeth said...

Hi Jan, your so right about our WOYWW friends helping us through the year. Even when I wasn't fit to participate I'd check in and read all the posts to cheer myself up. The pitchfork present is marvelous now when's the revolution! The family photo is priceless - you all look so happy, and healthy too. And let's hope that 2022 is just as happy and healthy for all of us. Best wishes to you all for a fabulous New Year. Hugs, Elizabeth x #16

Eva said...

Wish you and your family a very Happy New Year!! ♥ May all your humble dreams (and the bigger one too..:-) ) come true. Love the family photo! And I understand that you are a lucky one to have your sons at home.
Nice blanket, nice calligraphy set, nice pitchfork!! I'm impressed!
Happy New Year my Dear Friend!
Eva from Austria

craftyani said...

Happy New year to you and your family. Know what you mean about family togetherness now I have my daughter in Spain. This is the first time for 10 years we have been together for Christmas. Love your presents. Ani

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Jan, pleased you had a nice Christmas, loving the crochet and know you will have fun with the calligraphy set. Thank you for helping to keep me sane this year. Wishing you a lovely creative woyww and hopefully a better New Year for us all, Angela x9x

StampinCarol said...

I think your calligraphy is gorgeous!! I think the blue ink is my fave. The pitchforks are a hoot! Love the picture of your family!
Happy New Year!
Carol N #20

BJ said...

Oh the purple ink is amazing, I definitely would have chosen that one first too, super first go at the calligraphy, I dabbled when I was younger, love it.
The pitchfork is priceless what a super family fun time, yes we are blessed with our boys, hug them tight remember. Cool blanket too. Happy New Year BJ#17

Stacy Sheldon said...

haha what a fabulous photo Jan, it has me smiling to see you all together and I love that when you do go on to the revolution you have a pitch fork for both hands :) Happy New Years! ~Stacy #24

Susan Renshaw said...

What a super calligraphy set!
Love the pink stripy blanket.
Happy new year!
Susan #8

Twiglet said...

Oh Jan - that's a gorgeous photo of you all - what a great bunch and you were so lucky to get them together this year. Happy new Year to you all. Let's hope we meet up in 2022 - masked and tested if necessary!!! xxx Jo

Spyder said...

ohooo that purple ink is just beautiful! Love it. Keep on crafting. See you in 2022! Happy Late WOYWW ((Lyn))#25 Stay Safe!

Crafting With Jack said...

You reall are a lady of many talents, you calligraphy is beautiful. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year. Angela #15

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...