It's here at last, our incredible 7th birthday, and I'm betting our beloved Julia had no idea what she was starting, all those years ago. Today, of course, we're linking up at the home of
LLJ, whilst Julia enjoys her pre surgery break.We're all thinking of you Julia, and sending loads of love and healing thoughts your way, and to Hubby too, a few of us knowing only too well how hard this is on the partners. And, should you have been living on a desert island for the last few years, and wonder what this is all about, it's the biggest, greatest blog hop of crafters from all over the world, sharing all sorts of wonderful crafts, and some of the messiest desks its ever been your misfortune to stumble over. So, a crafty peek at whats been on my desk for the last few days- yes, I did leave it that late!
A number of ATC's enveloped up ready to post, and a few leftovers. All the people I've already arranged a swap with are done, I have one set aside for my swap in the list, and I have 4 left, so if anyone else would like to swap, let me know in the comments.
So what else has been happening? Well, our garden finally has 6ft fencing the whole length- thats 150 foot of it! It's taken forever, a lot of the time we've been here, it's either been wire fencing for the first few years, then trellis fencing, and due to having the neighbour from hell, it's taken a while to get it done. I do have photos, I will do a post maybe next week sometime. Now we just have to re-do the decking- when you see the photo's you will realise the scale of the job. It is a long garden, and on quite a slope, which has meant a fair bit of terracing needed to be done.
Last Saturday I paid a short visit to what was formerly Pink Tulip Crafts, in Studley. The owners had had to give up, as it was becoming impossible for them to manage, but at the last minute a couple who run a business called Crafty Ideas stepped in and bought the store, so they had a grand opening/sale day. Judgement is being withheld at the moment, I shall go back in a few weeks and see how it is then, but I was very disappointed with the contents of the shop on Saturday. A couple of Lavinia Stamps, and a few heavily discounted Christmas Stamp sets were all I bought- and when looking online for images of the stamp sets for my catalogue, it seems they are a few years old and long discontinued! I've also noticed now, having looked at the stamps since I got home, they are clear stamps, but are quite yellowed, so were obviously stored badly. If I'd looked at them in the store, rather than just at the pictures on the package, I wouldn't have bought them, but I wouldn't have expected a craft shop to have stored them in sunlight, which is clearly what's been done. Anyway, thats all my news for today, and everyone has lots of visiting to do, so I'll see you later.
40 comments:
well done for being able to link up - I can't get my link to work! love the new stamps. Looking forward to the next 7 years....! Helen
Big backyard to fence in and I didn't think stamps that where yellow where that bad does it wreck the quality of stamping with them ? Most of my stamps are retired ones but I don't mind
Hopefully they get the store looking good soon and running smooth hugs Nikki 1 happy WOYWW #7
ahhhh am sending my atc to you Shaz, will be in tomorrow mail, tis too late here for today's .. which is just as well someone is leaving it till last minute again!!!! not made any extras either..
I did have your addy but not sure where, so if you could email it, that would be grand .. my email is embedded in my comments :D so just hit reply.
Wow that is indeed a big yard.. will look forward to the pickies, do love the stamps in spite of poor storage you will care for them well so am sure they will be good too..
Thanks so much for sharing.
Happy WOYWW 7! Shaz in Oz.x #8
{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}
That is a lot of fencing, cant wait to see what else is around the fencing lol
Bridget #11
Happy 7th dear Shaz!!!! Gosh, all that fencing ... I am only waiting on himself replacing two panels and he is dilly-dallying over them! I find stamp storage a huge problem and I must be more selective in those I buy ... I have loads I have never used and have no idea which I do have in the first place - love your idea of a "catalogue" but, oh the time it would take and all the cleaning of the stamps afterwards. Something to consider but, for now, the rummaging method will have to suffice. Although I did not make it to Crafty Ideas for their opening I do share your concerns - I used to visit their old shop frequently (prior to these owners taking over though) but their turnover of stock was very poor and everything became same-old-same-old and everything was becoming very dated so I stopped going. Really hope they can get their new place to Pink Tulip's standards! Already have you on my list for an ATC so will get it on its way to you! Much love dear friend. Debbie xXx
Hey, lovely gal, wishing you the happiest of WOYWW wishes. Just think, without it, we'd never have met and my life would have been the poorer, that's for sure :-). Your ATC's in the post :-)
Hugs, LLJ xxxxxx
PS, did you have problems linking up at all? I didn't but a couple of folk have emailed that they're still having issues. Bizarre, cos I didn't have problems linking Julia's name. Ah well, the world is still turning, I ain't gonna get stressed by it!
Hi Shaz - what a lovely post re WOYWW - I can never seem to find right words. That's a lot of fencing! We had neighbours from hell where we used to live! Moved in end as it was making me ill. That was 21 years ago - I still feel blessed at being where we are now but in back of my mind I worry that things might change. One of our neighbours are going to work in America for five years !! She is letting house but has said she wants to be very careful re who rents it as it's their home at end of day. Hope she picks right tenants.
What a shame re your purchases - I would be upset.
Happy 7th WOYWW Anniversary Anne x #25
I am determined to get round all the desks in celebration of the fun we have with all our mad WOYWW friends so here I am! Happy 7th WOYWW anniversary - here's to many more! Hope that craft shop improves! x Jo
Hi Shaz! That's a great anniversary header!
You are on my list for an ATC but I haven't got your snailmail address yet. Would you mind mailing it to me (message thingy top right on my blog page).
Looking forward to seeing all the work you have been doing in the garden. Now it's just waiting for the sunny weather...
Happy 7th anniversary,
Lisca
Lovely WOYWW 7 post. Wow what a lot of fencing! Happy WOYWW7! Max #36
Hi Shaz, happy woyww, your atc is in the post winging it to your terraced garden. Have a lovely week.
sandra de @37
Sounds like quite a big job with the fence in the garden. Love the Lavinia stamps. Maybe the shop will turn out all right - maybe it's just a matter of settling after the open/change. As you said, wait and see is the best approach.
Love the header
Sharon K #45
Liking those stamps Shaz! You are organised, I only just got done last night. Any ATCs left for swapping give me a shout. You sound like you've been really busy. We are going to replace our deck of 13 years with paving (sob sob) as we just don't have time (or inclination as we get older) to look after it and the neglect is starting to show (it's quite an adventure getting into the garden and not standing on the spongy bits). I shall miss going out in my bare feet though. I love love decks. Anyhoo, back to business - Happy Anniversary! Cindy #48xx
Love those stamps. Seeing everyone's makes me want to break my self imposed buying ban. May have to sneak some of those TH Crazy birds stamps in, but there's no one here other than me so it won't matter!! I'm grateful for WOYWW because I've got to meet wonderful friends like you and Doug and it's helped me feel less isolated. Hopefully will make the next meet up whenever it may be. Sending you both love and hugs. Very happy WOYWW 7! Take care Zo xx 41
Poor show about the stamps..but hopefully you'll get a few uses from tHem before they deteriorate too much. Happy WOYWW. Elaine no 33
It seems like it's been forever since I visited you. In fact, I would have been by sooner, but not long after I was finally able to link up, my electricity went out due to a hail and thunderstorm that knocked the power out.
Neighbors from hell? I've had a few of those, but thankfully not where I've lived since 1991. Too bad about those stamps. I'm not much of a stamp person, but even I know you don't expose them to sunlight. Maybe they will improve with time, or maybe you will have to write them off. Regardless, happy 7th Anniversary from # 5.
You're ahead of the game and so well organized Shaz! I wasn't sure what to put on the back of the cards - thanks for showing yours! Happy Anniversary! zsuzsa #44
I still have to get mine to the post! I do hope the neighbour from hell has moved on now! Sounds as though it will be great when it's finished! Now…the news about the Pink Tulip shop - this sounds really bad (having caught sight of Debbie's comment earlier too) I was so looking forward to going there again on our way down South later this year. I remember you told me about the change of owner but I think we all know the kind of shop it's looking as though it's going to be - shame!! Hugs, Chrisx 57
OOO i bet you are glad to get the fence done :) I DO love lavina stamps and those are great. Happy WOYWW. Soojay 53
Loving the new stamps. I have some that have yellowed but they still stamp okay. I plan to visit everyone today even if it takes till midnight! But you might know the one day when I planned to sit and do this people keep coming, post men x 3, friends x 2, workman x 1 and my hubby in and out, dogs decided they needed to go out more than usual but I will get there Lol! Have a great woyww 7th Anniversary, Angela x30
Happy 7th WOYWW Birthday! You certainly have a long fence. Bad neighbors, how sad people have to be troublesome. Our local stamp/scrapbook store is closing the end of the month which is so sad. I taught there for a few years. Unfortunately no buyers to take over. Hopefully your store will grow and prosper. Hope you have a great rest of the week!
Carol N #4
Happy Anniversary!! If it's not too late, I'd love to get one of your ATC's!!
One of our last (but as you mentioned, disappointing) stamp stores is also closing this month; leaves online and the big box stores. Weird how the industry seems to be growing, but while online shopping is fine, I like the touchy/feely of new products too. Good luck with your garden, and your neighbor; it takes too much energy to be a jerk and make life miserable for other people; yet it seems there are more hellish neighbors than not. (can't be me! I don't have neighbors! LOL!)
Have a great week!
-K #60
for a very long time after tossing my very first clear stamps I picked up at a scrap convention must have been 12-15 years ago now, I was obsessed with not buying clear and when I did cave I kept them in metal tins. (no light hit them) so, I really have my fingers crossed that putting them in the clear envelope things is going to work for long term because, I have multiplied my clear stamps a tenfold or more the last few years... at least they are out of the light in my room.
(the other thing to watch for in stores is the markers stored near a window...) (yep, if I could roll my eyes I would be doing that too) ~Stacy #59
I love the ATC stamp you have for the back of the cards - how very professional! I wasn't sure whether to put anything so guessed and hoped for the best! I do like your Lavinia stamps - the little toadstools are so sweet. I suppose on the bright side it's great to have snatched up some discontinued stamps - they are often so difficult to find!
Hope you have a great week and Happy WOYWW!
Diana #22
Hi Shaz and a veryvery happy WOYWW anniversay to you too.So organised I love your envelopes..cant wait to see whats inside! .I am probably to late for a swap but had to ask? I will be quicker off the mark next year.I hope you have a great bank holiday weekend ,hopefully good weather and enjoy your mammoth fence.sorry you had a bad shopping experience. Take care big hugs andrea #6
I suspect some companies stamps just yellow more so than others. I pulled an old set out of a drawer once and it was yellowed. No sun shining in my drawer for sure! But yes, how interesting about the store selling yellowed stamps. Hopefully they will work well. They look very nice! Great job on the ATCs all in their fancy little envelopes. Enjoy your day! PJ #63
Ooh
Thank you for swinging by my blog, me down here in the lowly 60's! Hehehehe
Yes I'd love to swap ATCs if you still have a spare? I love collecting them especially from friends...
Love and hugs and brightest blessings to you and Doug
Morti
Hi Shaz, well done managing to take part in the ATC swap. I'm afraid I really couldn't rise to the occasion this year (yet again) - I'm only just managing to get back in the studio again after a long break and so many things are clamouring for my attention tht I couln't face such a big commitment. May is a busy month for me anyway with my hubby's birthday and our anniversary, and then my birthday, not to mention the County Show! I've been sooo busy and had a couple of really bad days this past week so I'm trying not to overdo things! You are so kind, including me and sending an ATC - I look forward to receiving it!
Sorry your stash haul from the shop was so disappointing. I've never heard of clear stamps yellowing before. I hope they work OK.
Thanks for your anniversary wishes. We had such a lovely day and we always enjoy Yum Sing - a great evening out with a delicious meal! We ate the doggy bag this evening lol! Hoping for a good appointment with the oncologist on 2nd. I've got to find the letter to take with me to the GP's surgery for my bloods on Friday... I wonder where I put it!!
I hope you are getting on OK health wise. It all takes time, doesn't it.
Happy WOYWW and hugs to you both,
Shoshi x
Nice size fence around your garden. Good luck with it!
Happy anniversary!!
Have a great day.
Diane - WOYWW #2
Hi Shaz, You are going to enjoy playing with your new stash.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Happy 7th Anniversary WOWW
Sue #24
Shame about those stamps and the craft shop. Hope the stamps still work OK though. Thanks for visiting me and Happy WOYWW 7th anniversary BJ#20
Whoa! That's a lot of fencing! We used to live in a house that had about that much fencing. Luckily it was already there (and they were the neighbours from hell too ... well one of them was, the one who started stalking me!! Thankfully, we moved about 25 years ago.)
I've got a few very, very old polymer stamps, when I think they were first made and the quality was just not there. One of them is actually crumbling apart which is a shame because I liked it a lot and have not seen anything like it since. But, the newer ones are so much better and even though they may yellow, I think they will probably stamp ok. (Unless they were really in too much direct sunlight for too long.)
Happy woyww, 7th anniversary!!
PS. I will probably be making a few more ATCs if you have any spare ones to swap :) Just a thought :)
A belated Happy 7th Anniversary to you Shaz. Thanks for visiting. Wednesday just got away from me. Love those drippy toadstools. Very poor that a craft seller would expose stamps to sunlight. It's the golden rule of storage. Have a lovely weekend in your newly fenced garden xx
Fiona #26
Hi Shaz!
I will send you an ATC ASAP! Sorry I am so late coming back to you but my garden was badly neglected due to my crafting and kitting out my new craft room so I did a few days of gardening and now I am back on track and can play again! HAPPY 7th WOYWW Anniversary! So glad I met you and I hope to see you some time soon again at the crops!
Lots of hugs,
CARDARIAN
P.S. I think I have your address but I will email you if I don't!
We just got a fence up around our garden plots a week or so ago. We paid someone to come in to do it. When I saw them with their post hole digger and all the work still even with the big machine, I was like we would have never gotten it done. ha. Glad yours is finished. I will get your atc posted tomorrow. Happy belated WOYWW Anniversary! Hope you have a great and crafty week. LisaDV #44
Hi Shaz, I'm sorry I haven’t managed to comment earlier, once again life got in the way! However, I have promised myself to get round all the desks this week to celebrate our 7 years of WOYWW friendship - so here I am. I like Lavinia stamps, old or new, but I can well imagine your disappointment to find these looking the worse for wear. Maybe the new owners are just trying to get rid of old stock before filling the shop with new. Thanks for your earlier comment - I'd love to swap ATCs with you too so will drop you an email shortly. Have a great weekend, Elizabeth x #66
PS: You're so right to send hugs to Mr Dunnit ... it's hard for him too.
Thanks for your visit earlier, sad news about Pink Tulip but, as you say, we will wait and see.
I would love to swap so will email you.
Take care
Christine
aka Bishopsmate #32
Hi Shaz sorry for the late I'm still playing catch-up! Happy WOYWW anniversary and I hope you're having a fabulous bank holiday weekend :D Annie C #27
Glad to hear that you finally have your fence sorted. Having had a boundary dispute that dragged on for years you have my sympathy. Enjoy playing with your new stamps! Cara x
Morning, Shaz. That decking looks as though it will outlast the house this time. Love all your ATCs. I did not get round to joining in this time. By the way,I think you will find things at Crafty Ideas will grow and develop rapidly. Those stamps came from stock they had inherited when they took over their first shop in February and the yellowing will not interfere with the stamping results. The shop has already had deliveries of new stock, and they are taking orders from us for things we need from Sweet Poppy, for example. Good luck finishing that decking. xxx Maggie
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