A warm welcome to all my visitors,

Thank you for taking the time to come and look at my blog, I really do appreciate it. I would love you to leave me a comment, even if it’s just to say Hi. It means I can come visit you!

All my designs are original, so copyrighted to me. If I have been inspired by someone elses work, I have named them in the post, and where able, I have provided a link.

Please feel free to use my designs for inspiration, I just ask you to credit me, and provide a link back to my blog.

Thanks, Shaz XX

Wednesday 4 July 2018

WOYWW #474

Hi folks, isn't this weather incredible? I mean, us Brits haven't seen this much sun for more years than I care to remember. Not doing a lot for mojo though- makes you feel very can't be asked.
Leave your link over at Julias place, The Stamping Ground, and we'll be round for a visit. 
 However, I did finally get all my ATC's corralled into pockets in a 3 ring binder.
And I have one more year than I thought, I've been swapping them since Birthday number 4.

 A quick pic of one page from each year.


Year 5




6th Birthday

7th.



Came across lots of names that I haven't seen on the list for a long time too.



our 8th Birthday swap

















And finally this years swap. So next year we hit double figures!



This page in particular brings back memories of a lovely WOYWWer, who is sadly no longer with us. The card in the centre right is from Janet Fairythoughts, back on the 4th birthday celebration. That was the first WOYWW crop we went to as well.

So not only are these gorgeous artworks to celebrate our blog hops anniversaries, they give us permanent reminders and memories too.







Found this set of Alpha stamps on my travels on Monday. A place called Flying Tiger, and cost £3.





I found a box of die cut Poinsettia flowers I hadn't put together, so I got those done, and added seed beads to the centres.
Easy to just grab now for Christmas cards.












While I was doing the last bunch of Christmas cards, I found some really tiny- maybe about a centimetre across- Poinsettia flowers that some one must have sent me in Happy mail. They were with some really small Deer.
  One was this size, one a tiny bit bigger. If anyone knows what die set/ punch was used for them, I'd love to know.

 So that's all the crafting that's happened.










Doug spent Sunday in the garden building some trellis. A few weeks ago, we decided we wanted a couple of fan trellis for the fence. Went to B&Q, and had a look. HOW MUCH!
 He realised he could buy a couple of packs of wood- which ended up making 2 trellis, and leaving enough for half of a third, for less than the cost of a single fan trellis.


So, he was building some more, but bigger, for a Passion Flower we have planted. Yes, I know they get enormous, but we have 150 foot of fence down that side of the garden, so I think we're good.





These are the result, and for the same cost as one single panel, but this way he could build them to fit the fence better.




And the Passion Flower is clearly happy with it, as today it opened it's first flower.



 This yellow plant is a herb, Rue, which does amazingly well every year, despite getting cut down almost to the ground every winter.
These are all in the small front garden.



 A Lavender bush also doing well. I was a bit worried it wouldn't do so well this year, as normally I cut it back in Sept/Oct, but couldn't risk any gardening that time last year, so it didn't get done till Spring.


Troughs full of Violas, Pansies,Lobelia and Petunias.















 A big round planter with Violas, Lobelia, a Fuchsia and a Pelargonium.


This Pale Pink Cabbage Rose is a climber, and on the kitchen wall. It's called Spirit of Freedom. The flowers are huge, and really densely packed with petals.


And a window box & hanging basket, also on the kitchen wall.

A gift from Julia on the window sill! It normally lives on the patio table, but that's down at the moment, while Doug was building, and also so he can pressure wash the decking to paint it.




37 comments:

Helen said...

fabulous atcs going back through the years.. I still use a painted mug from Janet that I keep brushes and pens in...
your garden is looking great, well done Doug!! I love the passion flower. Helen #?

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'll be back, but thought you might want to pop over to Sarah;'s Craft Shed and link her.

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

What a smashing ATC folder, lot's of happy smiles just flicking through all those little pieces of art and memories although sometimes sad.
Love those cards, isn't it great when we find those little extras that work a treat on our handmades.
Your garden is BLOOMING!!!
Happy WOYWW474 Tracey #5

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm back. What wonderful ATCs. I need to go back through mine, too. I also miss Janet. She was such a caring and wonderful friend, even though there as a big pond separating us.

Lovely trellis and a beautiful bunch of flowers, including the cabbage roses. I never can get lavender to grow. I've killed five different varieties. None seem to like my weather. Happy WOYWW from #1.

Mrs.D said...

Morning Shaz, what a lovely way to keep all those ATCs, such a lot of lovely memories, and an amazing amount of art and design and skill and love gone into them.
Your garden looks great, I miss having flowers in the garden, maybe when we have finished emptying boxes.... but they will never be as beautiful as yours.
Chris #8

Lillianb said...

What a lovey way to keep your ATC and so many memories Love the colourful garden and the trellis is super.

Have a great WOYWDW

Lilian B # 9

Ellie said...

Oh my goodness!that is a lot of atcs. Your garden is beautiful, some many gorgeous coloured flowers! Have a wonderful week!
Ellie #14

Julia Dunnit said...

A lovely ATC library Shaz, well done for organising...I’m yet to do that...surprise! Your garden is looking spectacular, wow, all the blooms and colour, love it love it! Was ata friends on Sunday and her two year old passi9n flower is absolutely dripping with buds,never seen anything like it in terms of number. She has hers on a long trellis too, so am guessing that Dougs work will be a major success. It’s a lot of trellis for the money. You kinda feel a bit like they might be ROBBERS when you have those experiences, huh.

Annie said...

Love all the ATCs. I love looking through the ones I’ve got here....happy memories of special friendships. Your garden is looking gorgeous but I’m sure,like ours, it’s needing a lot of watering in this heat.
Hugs,
Annie x #13

My name is Cindy said...

I like to go back through the years with those ATCs as well, certainly does bring back memories! The garden is looking great, and Doug did a wonderful job with that trellis. You have a long garden like me - ours is about 130' and quite big enough these days! Haven't done much in the way of tubs this year, was a bit late starting and then we had builders in and now it's too hot!! Quite glad I didn't get round to the planters I had planned as the watering would be a terrible chore. Not complaining though!! Happy WOYWW Cindy #19

Christine said...

Beautiful flowers! and that trellis work! marvellous. The Passion Flower will love it! Next year or the year after there will be no trellis work to be seen and the flowers! Ooooh! Can you tell I love these plants?
Smashing to see part of your collection, happy days.
Have a good crafty week
Christine #20

Unknown said...

Well done for getting all your ATCs organised, it must have taken ages. Karen #23

Hazel said...

What beautiful pictures of your garden. Like you, I'm so enjoying the lovely summer we're having ... long may it last. What a fabulous collection of ATCs and so neatly stored. Love the Christmas card. Thanks for sharing - Hazel WOYWW #15 x

Diana Taylor said...

I've really enjoyed the journey through your garden - it's looking fabulous and I have fallen in love with that beautiful pink rose, I love cabbage roses but I don't have much luck with them. The trellis is looking fab and will look even more spectacular when it's covered in the Passion Flower.
I love the storage idea for the ATC's, they look great all laid out together.
Hope you have a great week,
Diana xx #24

Marit said...

I love seeing all the ATC's and I'm even more excited about your garden/flowers... wowzah, you must have 'green fingers', it all blooms and you combined the flowers and colors so well! You are a lucky woman to have a handy husband as well (mine is a wizzard when it comes to computers but don't give him a hammer...!) Happy woyww and a big hug from Holland! Marit #22

glitterandglue said...

Morning Shaz. All those wonderful ATCs - such memories. Brilliant! I've just looked at mine - and I have some going back to the 5th anniversary - I don't think I have any from the 4th. I do, however, have a really weeny poinsettia die. It's part of the Sue Willson Poinsettia die set. The smallest one is around 1cm, but only has three petals - you have to cut it twice to make the whole flower that size. Any help?
Your garden looks stunning - fancy doing mine? making mine look so lovely...??? Well done that man! Great work making your own frame.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #4

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

It's always good to have a handy man around! Love your passion flower - must get me one of those! Your ATC storage looks wonderful! I've also noticed that some people who used to be regulars have just disappeared. I disappeared once, but I came back! I hope they will come back too! Perhaps we should give them a little nudge! Happy #474! zsuzsa #26

J said...

Shaz you have a lovely garden, all those beautiful flowers too, I miss that here as they take just too much water in summer and die when we are away.
Can't believe how many ATC's you have and how neat you have them stored, I've only ever made one and I found it such a challenge to make something so small.
Happy WOYWW
Jan S no 29

Stacy Sheldon said...

HI Shaz, oh that is so nice to have a handy hubs :) (mine whacked the honeysuckle back and did a trellis for it last weekend) that amount of space you have for yours to grow and bloom along is super. love all the a garden shots. oh, I did not know you are supposed to trim lavender. ( that is a new thing for me I have had some for two years now) and some got spread out and mushroom shaped which is kinda cool and some is still small. I just planted it because, I like the smell.sight and I know its a "feed the bees" plant. which seems like a small thing since there are so many other things we need pollinated here. ~Stacy #36

Elizabeth said...

Lovely to see all those ATCs, Shaz. So many fabulous creations. I often think of names that haven't been seen on the list for a long time too - those who have dropped out as well as Janet. Those little alpha stamps are really useful - I have a similar set that paid for itself in no time at all. Beautiful poinsettias and a lovely card - hope you find the name of the die because it is a nice size. Those trellis are super and the Passion Flower is gorgeous. It's lovely to have so much fence to cover! And the rose! Spirit of Freedom is a wonderful name for such a beautiful rose. The heat doesn't do much for me either - if it's not done by 11am then it isn't going to get done until evening at the moment. Have a great week. Elizabeth x #32

Sharon Madson said...

Lovely way to store your ATCs and great way to display them, too. I enjoyed looking at them as well as your great flowers. Can't wait till you show us your new trellises all full! I love those cabbage roses! Happy WOYWW! #36

Caro said...

So lovely seeing all those ATCs... wonderful memories. The new trellis looks great and the flowers are so pretty. Thanks for sharing. Caro x (#38)

StampinCarol said...

Lots of beautiful ATCs!! I remember when I started with WOYWW there would be over 100 links! Fun Poinsettia flowers, bet you already have a project in mind! Beautiful Christmas card, I really need to get started on mine but probably later this month. Love all your gardening! Great trellis! Hope you have a wonderful week and get some cooler temps. We're very hot here, too, waiting for rain.
Carol N #33

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Great collection of ATCs, I recognised a few of them! Your garden is looking lovely. We no longer have a lawn as such just a very dry crispy carpet but it is nice to have such lovely weather. Thanks for the visit to mine and happy woyww, Angela x10x

Sarah Brennan said...

Hi Shaz, thanks for linking me in. Hope those beautiful flowers aren'the wilting in this heat. What a fabulous collection of ATCs through the years. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #?

Lindart said...

Fantastic job with the ATCs! I've never really participated, this year I sent out one. What would be nice, if possible, is a list of all our addys in one place!

I love the poinsettias - what die did you use? Your garden is gorgeous!!!! Great job with the trellis, AND you have it form fitting - great bargain! I love the passion flower - so pretty! You have so much more sun that we do - I have to work a lot with shade plants. You containers are glorious, mine are starting to look sad - not sure what to do - cut them back? Anyway, glad you are enjoying the weather, have a great week! Lindart #41

Anne said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anne said...

A wonderful.collection of ATC's evoking many memories. Loving all your garden photos. Beautiful blooms! The Passion Flower evoked memories for me. Mum and Dad had one in their garden when they lived a few doors away from me. Now Mum so far away and Dad no longer with us. Have a great week. Anne x #11

Heather M said...

Hi Shaz, nice collection ATCs and well done on getting them organised. I love all the flowers in your garden. Ours is still work in progress. Might get a Passion flower for it! One day I'll post some pics! Thanks for stopping by earlier. I have about 36 promarkers so probably need to get a few more then I can start blending! Have a lovely week Heather x #9

Shoshi said...

What a fabulous post, Shaz - I've just shown my hubby the pics of your gorgeous garden - he has also made some home-made trellises from scrap wood. B&Q and other places charge the earth for something that is relatively simple to make. Doug's efforts are simply brilliant - we love the way he's followed the line of the fence. It's all going to look gorgeous covered with plants. I'd love to see a picture of the whole overview of your garden. With all the flowers you've got, it's bound to be stunning. Well done!

Your album of ATCs is marvellous. What a good idea to group each year together. I'm not so organised but have some of those clear ATC pages (I mostly use them in my Zentangle album) and have some ATCs stored in them. Your poinsettias are lovely too. I've made quite a few of those in the past - very easy, and so effective. I like the idea of seed beads for the centres - must remember that. I always seem to end up using Stickles for my flower centres.

A great post all round.

Thanks for your comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed your visit this week. The kitties keep us entertained! I don't think I'll bother to replace the stones in that necklace, but use it in other projects. Making earrings is a good idea from broken up incomplete necklaces - an idea to bear in mind.

Happy WOYWW and have a great week you two!
Shoshi xx #28

Cheetarah said...

Wonderful to see all the ATC's you've collected over the years! They are definitely great memory keepers too! Your garden looks so lush! Glad you've been enjoying the weather! No desk shot for me this week, catching up on everyone just to say hi as the whole week just rushed by in an eye blink!! Thanks for stopping by last week xo Cheetarah

Anonymous said...

Happy Belated WOYWW and thank you for your earlier visit. How wonderful to see those past years of ATCs. I am not sure when I first started taking part in the annual swap. Will have a look tomorrow. Ali x #27

Dorlene Durham said...

I love how you put all the ATCs in one binder. It looks so good. Great photos of your garden. I can’t seem to get anything to grown over here. LOL. I love those poinsettias too. Perfect to just grab one when you need it! Happy WOYWW. Dorlene #40

Neet said...

Flying Tiger - great shop! I first saw one in Amersfoort in April and then later in Amsterdam - took Chas the other week and he loved it, had quite a haul when he came out.
Love your atc's - I know what you mean about memories - lots of people I don't hear of these days and some sad memories (thinking Eliza as I know which are hers of mine).
Love your Christmas card and the garden pictures are amazing - well done Doug on the fencing - superb - lucky you having such a hand husband.
Have a good week - the wind has changed direction here and the smell of smoke is terrible - not good for my breathing.
Hugs & Thanks for visiting me Neet 6 xx

Kelly said...

Love your flowers, Shaz! Good thing Doug is handy. What stores charge for things just makes me shake my head sometimes. Sadly, my garden isn't doing as well in this heat. probably help if I watered more but I don't even want to be outside LOL Quite a collection of ATCs from past swaps. I see you're missing a couple from me from past years. I'll look and see which ones I did that I didn't share and pop them in the mail. Creative Blessings! Kelly #29

Aimeslee Winans said...

Doug continues to do excellent woodwork. Those flowers {faint!} Nice artwork, too! xoxo

Twiglet said...

Oh such a lovely uplifting post - all those flowers AND your fab ATC booklets - brilliant way to keep them. xx Jo

An End of an era

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I write this with a broken heart, that only time can heal My beautiful, wonderful wifelet Shaz (Silverwolf) passed away peacefully in the ea...