trimmingthesails

Not a lot, and right now ... (WOYW Wednesday 30 June11)

... not visually exciting for those of you who've popped in or are exploring Julia's great desks around the world on What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Here there's just a clear space, splashed with sunlight. Which makes it hard to see the screen, so perhaps a closer peep will explain ...

Journalling about it has not eased it hugely, alas. I still feel full, despite also feeling we are doing our best. I have such a difficult relationship with stuff. :( Hoping yours is less fraught and you can breathe easy today ...

Printing your own fabric (WOYW Wednesday 22 June 11)

I was a little bit testy. There was an unspoken question hovering in the air. If it had materialised, it would have hung there accusingly: "You'd think you'd remember buying a large bottle of special liquid for printing onto fabric, wouldn't you? Even if it was several years ago?" Himself did not even have to say "Doh!". Sometimes it's less embarrassing to get in there first.

So I have no idea if it will make the ink permanent and the fabric washable. But I will by Friday. Now that it has stopped lurking at the back of the cupboard and had made it to my workdesk, it is going to have a chance to strutt its stuff. I''ll bring you the results. But in the meantime, here's how I printed my fabric from last week. Please do try this at home. Or at work, if their printers are better :).

• This is 100% cotton fabric, washed and dried first to remove any surface glazes. Cut a piece of it to slightly larger than the size you wish to print: mine was A4. You could make your sizes exact at this point, but I found it was easier to get neat edges by trimmimg later.  I used my X-cut guillotine because I still can't cut straight edges with scissors.
• Cut a piece of freezer paper, readily available from crafting stores and online, to the same size. Place the shiny side of it under your fabric and iron your fabric on top. This  makes the freezer paper temporarily stick to your fabric and stiffen it enough, but keep it flexible, to go through the printer.
• Trim again to the correct size, making sure the leading edge - the one which will feed into the printer first - is nicely adhered (iron again on top if necessary).
• Place your fabric sheet in your printer. I removed any other paper from beneath so it was the only item in the printer tray. With your document up on your computer screen containing your fabric pattern, instruct it to print. I choose best quality for mine.
• Watch it print, camera at the ready. Peel off the freezer paper, and you're done: time to find someone who will admire it too!

If you have any queries, do ermail me, and I'll do my best to help. Hoping you have a lot of fun with it! Right, off to decipher the small print on the Bubble Jet 2000 label ... See you Friday? And do pop over to Julia's glorious list at The Stamping Ground for more peeks at workdesks all around the world!

Fabric Fun! (WOYW Wednesday 15th June)

Himself was dubious. "I am sure this falls into the category of Please Do Not Try This At Home', he said, with a distinct undertone of there-will-be-tears-before-bedtime, and a dollop of don't-blame-me-when-this-goes-wrong.

"I've read about it," I said. "Lots of people do it", with rather more confidence than I was feeling and hoping I wasn't going to be challenged by 'the usual reply of "Name one". "It'll be fine. You can watch if you like", I added encouragingly.

"No thanks", he replied, heading for the door. "Watching fabric mangle the innards of a printer is not high on my list of favourite things to do".

But it was fine. Of course, it may not be washable but I'm sure I can use it for scrapping. Designing scrapbook papers was very enjoyable in the first instance, but who'd have guessed that printing your own fabric on an ordinary ink-jet printer would be so easy, or such fun? Here it is, on my desk ...

... and I'll take some photos for you on how to do it, in case you would like to try this at home!

And as promised on Monday, here are the zipped scrapbooking papers for those of you who would like them:

DownTheAllotment(Part1)
DownTheAllotment(Part2)

Some of you have emailed about the template I used in the layout on Monday this week - I hope to have that for you on Friday, with a few extras as well.

So please do hop over to the inspirational Julia of The Stamping Ground, to see what else is lurking on wonderful workdesks around the world! Oh, and Himself was warmly impressed. Eating hats is not quite on the menu, but a cup of tea and a handful of liquorice allsorts said it all. :)

Digi-dipping, Part 1 (and WOYWD)

Ready ...
Welcome! Bienvenu(e)! ¡Bienvenido/a! to today's desk, and some things to play with. Here's the former ...

Steady ...
And here's the latter: some things to play with, as promised ... 

Go!
And here's where you can download them ...

• Each page of the pdf has, on the left, a Quick Guide; and there is Additional Help and Tips on the right. Experienced users will probably need neither. If you have a little bit of experience, the Quick Guide may be enough. The only thing I am assuming is that you know how to open your copy of Photoshop/Elements, and can download/save/open the Template and two photos. If you're not sure how to do any of those, or get stuck at any point, please email me, and I will do my very best to help.
  (Edited at 11 a.m., as my PSE Elements arrived today!, to include a quick pdf. of Additional help for PSE users.).

           AlexaTemplate02HowTo.pdf
           PSEAdditionalHelp.pdf

• These layered Photoshop/Elements templates are 8.5 x11 in size. If you want to a purely digital 8.5x11, choose the first. If you want to print a hybrid version from it (post coming this Friday) and this is your usual paper size, then choose the one ending in HB (Hybrid). You'll see it has a white border around it to allow for the fact that most printers do not allow you to print edge to edge.

          AlexaTemplate02@8.5x11.psd
          AlexaTemplate02@8.5x11HB.psd

• This layered Photoshop/Elements template is A4 in size. If you want to do a hybrid version (post coming this Friday), this is the version you'll need. You will notice that it has a white border, so that you can print the text out on A4 card, and the photos onto A4 photopaper. It can then be trimmed and slipped into an 8.5x11 page protector, or mounted onto card/paper first.

           AlexaTemplate02@A4HB.psd           

My page ...

Thank-you for visiting! if you'd like to see a whole raft of wonderful desks across the world, then head over to the very creative Julia at The Stamping Ground. Hoping that there has been something of interest here for you, and wishing you all a happy Spring/Autumn day!

WOYW (13 April)

"She Art"? mused Himself. "An online class? Just when, exactly, my love, are you going to fit that in? Is there one for the male of the species too?" I wasn't going to be drawn and resolutely ploughed on chopping onions. (Not on my workdesk, you'll be pleased to note - though there are some interesting arty possibilities in onion rings.) I've not made huge progress with Christy's class but, in my defence, it only began yesterday. However, I've got as far as this: a bit of tearing and stamping for the beginning of a background and a whole heap of mod-podging. Goodness knows how it'll all turn out. If the worst comes to the worst, I've heard that a quick coat of gesso will sort it  ...

You'll also see a copy of the lovely Creative Time and Space. It is time, alas, for me to pass it on - and very many thanks to Cheri, whose generosity sent it on its original way. So if you'd like to be in the draw next Wednesday, please let me know in the comments below - I will happily post it anywhere in the world. Here's a glimpse of the contents:


My favourite parts? I really enjoyed the sections about time which (as you'll see from above) is A Bit Of An Issue in my life at present: about the artistic richness of keeping the creative brain gently nourished and actively ticking over all day long, about how our brain loves stories, working to our inner rhythms ... A great read and very nicely produced - a book where the pages are lovely to look at too. So do bid for it. :)

And if you'd like more desks, pop over to Julia at The Stamping Ground - there are some proper artists over there! Right, back to those onions - they should be nicely charred at the bottom of that pan by now ...

WOYW (30 March)

Bits and pieces, really, on my workdesk this Wednesday. And a change of desk (another story!). That's how, as things change and shift here, any creative life needs to happen: in bits and pieces.

• a page of two of browsing Creative Time and Space. I'm on the home straight now, and will be passing this lovely book on next Wednesday: so if you'd like to be in the draw, pop back!
• a quick play with some wooden rollers I grabbed in passing through HobbyCraft (yes, it is possible go through there quickly!), with white acrylic paint and a few swipes of Procion dye on top
• a home-made 'stamp' from tile-spacers, pressed onto double-sided carpet tape (boy, is that stuff sticky!) on top of a piece of core-board

And there you have it! There is lots of wonderfulness on desks across the world over at Julia's Stamping Ground. But take care - happy browsing will gooble up more than bits and pieces of your day!

WOYW (23 March): crop preparation

I'm going to a crop this weekend. Well, planning hoping to. There should, therefore, really be something on my desk for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. However, my digital one has a few tips - gleaned from personal experience - on preparing for a crop or craft day ...

Four or five days before the crop, print your photos just as your printer runs out of ink. This will make it more exciting because when you finally remember to order some more cartridges, you won’t be able to be sure they will arrive on time.

Two or three days before, gather your photos together - unless it looks as if you won't have any, in which case decide to do a layout with just journalling. Make a mental note to brainstorm ideas. Then don’t. Never mind, it’ll be fresher on the day.

With forty-eight hours to go, gather your supplies. Hunt through the stack of patterned papers awaiting colour-coding and grab a random handful. Search fruitlessly for that pretty, aged lined paper you were going to use as a journalling block. Hey-ho, white card always looks classy, right? Stick a post-it on the pile to remind yourself to get some. Forget completely until the night before, when you decide it’s too late to phone a friend. Opt for art-journalling on the day instead: you can always cut it up, use it on a layout and start a trend, no?

Optional: you’ll need a large portfolio case to carry the A3 art-paper in. Your son’s or daughter’s will be fine. Tip out their art stuff onto their floor (not having opened their bedroom curtains for weeks, they’ll never notice it’s there), and stuff in yours. Don’t forget the craft mat, paper trimmer or guillotine. Then try pushing in the Bind-It-All or the Sizzix. Just in case. It’ll bulge a bit, and the zip may not be too happy but hey, who needs zips? It’s now midnight, so abandon trying to do anything else and head for bed.

On the morning of the crop, wake up late. As you hastily dress, grab a basket or trolley and fling in anything crafty you can think of: paper, card, inks, gesso, acrylics, brushes, brayers, alphabets, stencils, corrugated board, string, rulers, pens, those oil pastels (still unopened) etc. Oh, and anything Tim Holtzy. Make sure it’s so full and heavy you can hardly carry it – it just needs to Look Seriously Arty. On your way past the kitchen grab the pan-scrubber (for interesting mark-making), the J-cloth (no baby-wipes) and a chocolate bar (no breakfast).

Arrive late. Make two trips to-and-from the car: it looks creatively promising. Collapse on a chair with a mug of tea, and catch up on all the news. Along with a bit of desultory magazine-page flipping to ‘gather inspiration’, and several trips round the room to admire and chat, this can comfortably be stretched to last all day. Packing up to go home will be a doddle, since you haven’t actually unpacked. Tumble back in the car, wave goodbye and reflect: OK, so you haven’t actually made anything, but you’ve had a lovely, lovely day. Resolve to get really organised – next time!

WOYW (23 February)

He wasn't supposed to be here. It should have been something woolly or chirpy gracing my desk. He doesn't even have a name. But he arrived today, and he has a story - or rather, he allowed someone to tell me a story I never knew.

My Mum spotted him. I could see she was weary and a little dejected. Although determined to do as much as she could, her hands were gripping her 'wheelie' frame tightly for support as we walked very slowly along the darkening street. Suddenly she said "Look!" And there he was, sitting on the floor of the charity shop near the brightly-lit window. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "Isn't he lovely! But he looks so forlorn ...". And without more ado, she manoeuvred herself and her frame inside, emerging gingerly five minutes later with his ears peeping out of a bag.

Once home, she lifted him out, and stroked him carefully, turning him over and over. "We can clean him up and give him to Will" (her new great grandchild), she said in a wistful tone. Turning to set him down, she added "I never had one, you know".
"A bear? I asked.
"Not a bear, or a doll, or anything like that",  came the reply. "Not ever. Out in a farm in the country ... It was wartime. Things were hard. Later, my younger sisters had a doll. But I never did." I looked at her small drooping shoulders, and heard the sadness. "Aunt Matty gave me a doll's teaset when I was ten - she must have seen, you know, how things were. But I never had anyone to make tea for with it ..."

"We don't have to give him away" I suggested gently. "You could just keep him."
"D'you think so?" She held him close as she peered at the stitching on his ears and tut-tutted. Her shoulders straightened; I knew there was going to be a request to fetch the sewing box any minute now. "Well, let's tidy him up and see. He can live here with me for a while. Can you put him on your desk beside your machine? I'll have a go tomorrow." She stroked him again slowly, her eyes bright with a smile.

I looked at them both, and smiled too. Perhaps he was supposed to be here after all ...

WOYW Wednesday? (16 February)

Well, there's a bit of stampin' and doodlin' and (gulp) a new journal. The latter was not even an intentional buy. The space-and-time worm-hole from the haberdashery department to the cash desk via the stationery section is one of life's great mysteries. It is an especially exciting purchase because I didn't realise, until I got it home and took the cellophane off, that it has a pocket on the inside front cover. Notebook lovers, squeal excitedly with me!

Are the doodling and the journal going to stay together? Hmmm, not sure as yet. The former was gloriously therapeutic to do in the company of two of my favourite creative people; there's something about a clutch of delicious colouring pencils or pens and a sheet of white paper, that makes my inner ten-year old perch on a chair, tuck one leg under, and enjoy happy chatter interlaced with companionable silence. I'll be chewing the end of my pencil next as I wonder what to write in the first page of this simple and lovely journal. Probably something like "I hope I don't mess up this page" - which was how most of my childhood journals began. And ended. Because I did. Wish me luck ...

WOYW Wednesday (26 Jan 11)

It's dark here, hence the shadowy photo. But not because it's night. Oh no. This is a foggy winter's morning in the northern hemisphere - welcome! And what's on my workdesk this Wednesday?

 Here's a brief guided tour ...

1. Transformer. Not, as I thought when I plugged it in cheerfully, the transformer for my laptop. Alas no. It turned out to be the transformer for my Craft Robo. The Craft Robo really didn't mind. The laptop, however, did. Note to self: keep window open to disperse burning smell and label all transformers and leads forthwith. It will keep you occupied and distract you from thinking about item number 3.
2. Print-out from Twitter all about retweeting. Way back last July, in a moment of rash derring-do, I signed up for Twitter, tweeted once and then promptly fell silent for six months. I didn't have a clue what to do. Now, thanks to Julie's splendid and just-started class, I am determined to at least find out. I amazed myself yesterday by clicking on the Find Out More button on Twitter - that's the sort of confidence Julie gives you :).
3. See that red writing sideways on? It says ominously "31 January is the online filing and payment deadline". I've covered it half up because just thinking about my tax return makes me a bit faint. Only another hundred hours left in which to procrastinate and feel poorly ...
4. Four, is Rab, a gift handmade my very talented and creative friend, Amanda, who has a special giveaway right now to celebrate her blog birthday. Rab appears on my desk from time to time to remind me that he was originally born into a home where the sewing machine was in constant creative use, and that it is time I got out mine because - much as he likes to perch on top of my pile of mending - he can't do it all on his own. I'm listening, my little leporine buddy. I'll get back to you right after item number 3. Sorry, Rab? Oh, right - he says to let you know he has a backstory, as my journalistically-inclined DD calls it.
5. John McWade's wonderful "How To Design Cool Stuff", pages 32 and 33 on Colour Palettes. I love this man. He's right here, and here, so you can get to love him too. Hasn't he got the nicest crinkly smile?
6. Well, the best I can say is that it's a layout and it's underway. A trial print. Teacher's verdict? Needs more work. And a bit of Colour Palette magic. I'll have it done by Friday, if you'd like to pop back then. And as soon as I've finished it, I'm really going to have no option but to attend to ... you've guessed it, item number 3.

And there you have it - but there's lots more WOYWs over at Julia's Stamping Ground. Enjoy! Now, just where did I put that big pile of receipts ...