WOYWW 578

Today’s desk share is borderline creative at best I’m afraid. If you’d like to join in with a trip around some of the world’s craft desks, head over to Julia’s blog to find out more.

Stress sorting – that’s it. My Dad is in hospital and one of my best friend’s started chemo yesterday. I’ve had to come off the new meds because they caused my joints to seize up among other delightful side effects, and there is nothing else left I can try (that won’t cause the same or worse side effects). So, I’m cutting up all of my half used sticker sheets and sorting all my die cuts out and storing everything in colour order.

I finished about 7-8 UFO layouts, including a wall canvas from a retreat when Miss B was still breastfeeding. She starts secondary school in September… Then I hit a problem. I did a class with Shimelle a few years ago where we made our own kit of papers and chopped them up as she described without specific plans for specific layouts. Then we stuck the pieces down, THEN we chose photos. Then the plan was to embellish, except that’s where I got stuck. I didn’t have much paper left over and of course back then we didn’t have huge collections with matching die cuts and other cute embellishments. I do however have loads of older embellishments that don’t go with specific collections, or I bought / won / received them in a grab bag. So I started to sort them out into colours because that’s how I find it easiest to search for things (other than by collection, or for Christmas or Travel themed supplies). It’s a sort of mindfulness activity, but one that actually takes me forward so it’s a win win. I was also listening to Beth Kempton’s most recent book about coping during the crisis. When I bought the audio book I got a free place on her new writing class, which prompted a new project for Luigi.

You couldn’t even see this outbuilding before he started clearing that paths and the trees all around. The big gap to the right is where a 100 year old oak tree was before it fell 2 years ago (taking out several fruit trees), the stump and some of the trunk is still in situ just out of shot. He’s starting the painting today and it’s going to be a lovely writing and research area for me away from everyone else. The shed will still be full of wood etc but I will be able to pull my chair and table out of the door and still write outside even when it’s windy and cold because it’s a very sheltered area among the trees.

So that’s me. The creativity is hiding away but the preparations are there. Pop the kettle on dear deskers, I’m on my way.

25 Comments

  1. LLJ on 1 July 2020 at 9:17 am

    Oooh, it’s like a hidden hideaway, I’d love to be in there as well – good job for clearing and painting, how wonderful to have that in your garden! I’m so sorry to hear that you’re in the midst of having to support family and friends – your dad hasn’t got Covid has he? All you can do is be gentle on yourself as well, sorting the embellishments sounds a good way to relax. Sending you big old hugs….
    LLJ 6 xxxx

  2. Margaret Wright on 1 July 2020 at 9:33 am

    Morning Soojay. I was so sorry to hear how hard this time is for you – your dad in hospital and your friend going through chemo. I’m amazed you even blogged at all… I reckon the sort of crafting you are doing – all the sorting and cutting – is just right. 100 days ino lockdown and I think many of us are beginning to feel just a bit weary. A friend and I said yesterday that it felt like walking through treacle!!!
    Take care of yourself – hope you soon get out to that gorgeous corner in the garden. God bless.
    Margaret #4.

  3. Julia on 1 July 2020 at 9:40 am

    I agree, a damn good win win. Perfect job for when you need to be busy but need to amongst your lovely stuff too. Am sorry about the side effects on your joints, my gos, bad enough that we creak and crack these days anyway! You did well with the UFOs, thats a generous number to polish up, off and file! Ope our father and your friend are coping with hospital and what its doing to them. It’s much easier to be the patient sometimes isn’t it – control and less worry! Take care of yourself…that shed in a glade looks perfect to me.

  4. Sandra de on 1 July 2020 at 11:52 am

    Sorting into colour groups is probably a very clever way to organise all those embellishments. Well done for finishing your UFO …. unlike moi who just put it all away after the anniversary. Your writing cabin looks amazing and I am sure will add to inspiring you to write. Stay safe and hopefully some relief will come through crafting.
    Sandra de @10

  5. Neet Hickson on 1 July 2020 at 2:19 pm

    What an absolutely delightful place to go and sit and write or whatever takes you at the time. I can just imagine sitting somewhere like that and losing myself to the world. That is a hidden gem of a place for you.
    A perfect place for you to be at one with nature and to take away the worries that seem to be surrounding you like big black clouds at the moment. I do hope things take a turn for the better for everyone concerned and that includes you.
    Hugs, Neet 5 xx

  6. Jo Betts on 1 July 2020 at 2:53 pm

    Crafting of any sort seems to keep us sane when all around us is turmoil. I love that little shed amongst the trees. xx Jo #19

  7. Belinda on 1 July 2020 at 4:47 pm

    Hello friend from across the pond! I am sorry to hear you meds are giving you some trouble. I hope it all sorts itself out soon. And sorry to her about your dad and your friend. I am sure this is weighing heavy on you, but I am glad you have crafts and crafty friends in your life. I swear they are the life support we need to help us in life. Sorting your dies is brilliant. I recently bought a clear (I think it is a makeup storage) to sort mine and think it will help. I haven’t finished but I think I might cut some of mine down too. That hideway creative place is lovely and the foliage makes it a perfect writing nook. Enjoy.
    Keep moving forward my friend.
    hugs,
    Belinda #31

  8. sue jones on 1 July 2020 at 5:39 pm

    aww so sorry your dad is in hospital and your friend too :(. I hope you can find something to help with your pain . Keeping busy does help a bit – that little wooden house looks adorable , a lovely escape. Have a better week. Soojay #11

  9. Carol N on 1 July 2020 at 5:48 pm

    I hope your dad and friend gets better soon and that you do, too!
    Glad you can keep busy. And what a lovely hide-a-way that little cabin will be!
    Thanks for popping by!
    Carol N 329

  10. Helen Lindfield on 1 July 2020 at 6:23 pm

    I hope your Dad and your friend will be ok, what a worrying time for you. Love your hideaway! thanks for visiting – glad you like the sea holly, they are beautiful – very prickly, very like thistles! Helen #1

    • Heather Marshall on 1 July 2020 at 7:40 pm

      Hi Lisa-Jane, sorry to hear you are having a such time, with your own meds, and your dad and friend being in hospital. The shed/summerhouse looks the perfect place to get away from it all. I have a summerhouse at the bottom of my garden, that I recently painted inside to brighten it up. Just need a bit of fine weather to do the outside, and it will be perfect. I actually take great satisfaction in organising my crafty stuff, and spare die cuts, etc when I can’t craft/don’t have an inclination to craft. One of my favourite loves is colouring, so I now have very colourful covers on the binders that hold my stamps! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and all the useful info on scrapbooking. I had thought about A4 scrapbooks, but there is something I really like about 12 x 12. I have a couple in my ‘basket’ from Craftelier, just need to wait for payday again, as I went a bit crazy last month lol. Have a lovely week, and hope you manage to get some crafting done, hugs Heather xx #16

  11. Shoshi on 1 July 2020 at 9:49 pm

    I am so sorry to hear of all your worries at the moment, Lisa-Jane, with your dad in hospital for starters – I remember when my dad was in hospital and how hard it was, and we were so worried about him. Then your friend having chemo – I do wish her well – I shall never forget going through the same for 6 months and it was pretty grim. What a bummer about your own meds, too, to find that the only thing remaining for you to take has such awful side-effects. You are doing so well, settling down to do some gentle sorting and I am sure that is proving somewhat therapeutic. It all looks so lovely and organised. I love your little hut in the garden! It reminds me of our summer house. It will be a perfect retreat. The path to it, and the little bridge, make it look mysterious and charming and magical, tucked away among the trees! It’s lovely.

    Thank you for your visit – I’m glad you like my knitting and other stuff this week! My bladder is the reverse of an irritable one, with very little sensation (my chemo again). I am looking forward to my 2nd telephone appointment tomorrow – I sent her my bladder diary in advance so she would have a chance to look at it before we speak again. I’m finding it all very interesting and helpful. I had to smile at your remark about the tofu – my hubby went on and on today about how awful it was (he’s never actually eaten it!) – he saw some once in a health shop, floating around in a bucket of water and he said it looked like whale blubber and it put him off for life! I served up our first taste of my own tofu for supper tonight and didn’t tell him what it was – I’d marinated it in a lovely piquant mix and served it with some salad and wholemeal bread, and he really enjoyed it! I don’t think I’ve got it quite right yet as it seemed a bit grainy and crumbly, but it was light and fluffy and very tasty.

    Happy WOYWW and I hope you have a better week ahead,
    Shoshi x #7

  12. Tracey on 1 July 2020 at 11:38 pm

    I really like how you’ve been sorting those cut outs and clippings into different boxes, I wish I could do that with everything around me right now. Your little house at the bottom of the garden will be a fabulous spot to get away from it all, I hope it helps take your mind off those trying times right now. Best wishes for your Dad and friend, stay strong for them but remember to be kind to yourself. Creative wishes Tracey ‘8

  13. Susan Renshaw on 2 July 2020 at 1:49 am

    Sorry to hear your woes…my Dad too is in hospital. It is so sad that no-one can visit him although I wouldn’t be able too from so far away… Mum too is not well but at home – they have been fighting Covid but I am pleased to say Mum tested negative a couple of days ago and Dad no longer has any symptoms… Fortunately the rest of the family who have been in touch with them have all tested negative. It is all such a worry…

    I sort all my scraps into colour groups – makes it so much easier when I just want to diecut something or find an ATC background…

    Happy woyww…
    Susan #12

  14. Cardarian on 2 July 2020 at 11:55 am

    Sorting out things is my go to escapism . Do it by color, name, shape anything really! My stamps get sorted almost every week! I have put that sentiment in front of me on my desk so every morning it reminds me of the small things I have to be thankful for and are good! Sorry to hear of your health problems and the dearest of yours being in hospital! Stay positive! And well enjoy that lovely shed of yours – I think everybody would want to sit amoung the nature and listen to the birds!
    Love and hugs,
    Cardarian

  15. Ali on 2 July 2020 at 12:11 pm

    Happy Belated WOYWW and thank you for your earlier visit. I am so sorry to hear that you are selling your Newport cottage. One of my favourite towns/areas in Pembrokeshire. We often visit (well, used to visit!) to visit one of the many cafes, poke around in my favourite secondhand bookshop and then have a walk down by the sea. I hope you can still visit Pembrokeshire for breaks – I can help you to book accommodation. I am excited to start with Stampin’Up! Had the email to say my starter kit has been dispatched, so will soon be sharing projects. Ali x #18

  16. Cindy Ashplant on 2 July 2020 at 3:09 pm

    I think you are doing just the right thing. When there is a lot going on it’s often easier to focus on a some kind of non-creative activity just to give your head time to deal with ‘stuff’. If its something that’s actua;;y help you move forward in the future that’s a real win-win. Look after yourself. Stay Safe, stay well, Cindy #27

  17. BJ on 2 July 2020 at 4:19 pm

    Sorting in rainbow colour order, a lady after my own heart! Most things are colour ordered here, simply love the peace it brings to the soul. Love your new to be, get away spot, enchanting, Thanks for the visit BJ#23

  18. Dorlene on 2 July 2020 at 4:28 pm

    Organizing sure takes a long time but well worth it when you’re done. I love the writing shed. It already looks inviting. Take care. Dorlene #33

  19. Carolyn Staton on 2 July 2020 at 7:09 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time at present. I will include you, your Dad and your friend in my prayers. I do love the way you are sorting those bits and pieces out – it will make them so much easier to find and use in the future. Thanks for sharing. Happy belated WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#17)

  20. Sarah Brennan on 3 July 2020 at 6:41 am

    I do hope the sorting and listening to the book has helped you Lisa-Jane. Sorry you can’t find a medication that works for you without side effects. That writing shed looks like it will be a real retreat even if you have to share it with wood. Stay safe and Happy belated WOYWW. Sarah #2

  21. Marit on 3 July 2020 at 12:29 pm

    Cleaning, sorting, re-arranging… I do all those things too when I need distraction from ‘the daily problems’… hope it works for you! I’m a bit jealous of your shed, what a lovely place! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier this week, happy, belated woyww and hug-from-a-distance! Marit #26

  22. Ann on 3 July 2020 at 4:39 pm

    Someone else cutting and trimming like me, but I don’t have your problems, it must be hard. We have finished with lockdown here in Spain hopefully the holidaymakers don’t bring it into the areas that have remained free. Keep up the good work. God bless Ani

  23. Lindart on 3 July 2020 at 5:52 pm

    What a lovely quiet getaway! I can just see it painted, with a few chairs and a table, and flowers, such a great project! So sorry about your meds, it must be very frustrating, but sometimes doing mundane things can keep your mind from thinking about it too much. I love my audio books, I listen to them all the time! As far as the tea-bag art goes, I will probably mount some, make some into cards, and put some in my journals! So versatile! Thanks for your earlier visit, have a great week! Lindart #34

  24. Kyla on 5 July 2020 at 7:07 pm

    Sorry to hear about your dad, mate and your own meds too (I can sympathise with the joints issues with my RA), fair play for still blogging though and love the hidden away shed looks like a perfect place to have a bit of R n R

    kyla

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