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 6 May 2020

WOYWW #570- Just a little Enabling Edition.

Well, despite us all being in lockdown, the weeks still seem to be flying past. Time to pop your link over at Julias place, The Stamping Ground, and bare your desk to the world! MIA last week, only because my shoulder has been giving me a lot of trouble over the last few weeks, and I've found that alternately resting it, and occasionally having it in a sling is gradually helping to improve it. So, no crafting as yet, although I do have cards for The Christmas Card Club due this weekend, so I'll have to get my ass in gear. One little bit of enabling- just a set of dotted Oval dies from Crealies. I do have a couple of sets, but they don't go up very large, and these ones are from the XXL range.
The box on the image gives you the sizes- the smallest is 2.5x6.5, the largest 12.5 x 16.5.( equates to about 1½ x2½, and 5 x 6½ inches). I struggled a little when I was cutting out those Gorjuss Girls a few weeks ago, I had to draw around the outside of my largest oval and hand cut it for a matt. By the way, have you ever noticed just how much ovals vary? There are long and narrow ones, and shorter, wider ones, so you can't ever mix and match between sets.


Actually, I got carried away with the enabling, and haven't put the desk pic in yet! And this week you get a twofer- my desk, showing zero stuff happening, and Hubbys desk, as he's working from home. Since he was made redundant last year, he's been retraining in IT, so having done a number of courses, he feels he'd really like to get into the tutoring/training side of IT, so he's currently volunteering as a tutor with the place he did his training, as to get a qualification, a number of tutoring hours have to be completed.
 All mine contains is the pile still waiting for inserts, and a reflection of the sunlight! Thats actually the one thing I don't like about the glass mat, it's way too reflective for my liking.



Hubbys desk- two screens,a laptop, a microphone & camera, and an assortment of other 'stuff'.




Which brings us to ......And Finally..............

Hope everyone is keeping safe, and anyone who's been ill is well on the way to recovery.😍


30 comments:

Helen said...

Don't think I've ever noticed your desk so tidy.. Doug's looks a little less so but I am glad he is keeping occupied! Hope the shoulder feels better soon and yu can enjoy the fruits of your enabling! Take care, stay safe. Helen #?

Sarah Brennan said...

I had to look twice but then laughed out loud at the and finally Shaz. Hope the shoulder lets you get your Christmas projects finished on time. Hope Doug is enjoying his tutoring and that something comes of it long term. Stay safe and Happy WOYWW. Sarah #5

glitterandglue said...

Morning Shaz. The answer is, YES, I had indeed noticed - ovals aren't easy things! You definitely can't mix the sets - which can be very frustrating at times - but there we go... Doug's desk looks most industrious - I do trust he gets on well with the tutoring practice, so he can indeed qualify. That would be a real boost for him! Had to laugh at the and finally - like Sarah, I needed to look twice!
Take care of yourselves. Take care of your shoulder. Stay safe. God bless.
Margaret #3

Ali Wade Designs said...

Happy WOYWW. Your final image made me chuckle. Hubby admitted yesterday that he needs his glasses for almost everything now. It will be a while until he can go back to the opticians for a check up. Hope your pain is easing with some rest. I have to pace myself carefully and change activities regularly through the day, or the stiffness gets really painful. My pc table in my craft room looks similarly full - with a screen, 2 keyboards, iPad, drawing tablet, mobile phone etc etc. I am always answering questions about how to use tech, so started off with a video for YouTube a couple of weeks ago. Need to find the time to do some more - about using Canva for scrapbooking etc. Stay safe. Ali x #13

Shoshi said...

I didn’t know your hubby had been made redundant, Shaz - what a bummer, but I’m glad he’s retraining, and I hope that once all this craziness is over, he will find satisfying work. I expect you are like me and enjoying having him home with you all the time. I agree about ovals all being different! That’s a nice big set. I agree about the glass mat being reflective - it an be a problem and I don’t see any way round it. I hope your shoulder gets better soon. I know how disabling it is having a bad shoulder - makes you realise just how much we use our arms! The funny is hilarious! Reminds me of the “Should’ve gone to Specsavers” one about the cat at the vet’s that wasn’t breathing!!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi x #7

Julia Dunnit said...

Doug will be a perfect traine won’t he...quietly spoken and endlessly patient. I hope they all arrive to his training sessions with a level of knowledge so that he isn’t constantly having to deal with numpties like me. His desk looks damn scarey to me, although I note with some relief that there is a notebook, even if it isn’t exactly in number one spot. It’s like an oasis amid the tech!! Your desk never looked so shiny...I don’t have the tonic glass mat but I see your point. Mine is a lot duller, but I reckon that’s misuse and age! Sorry about your shoulder, it sounds horrible, .but at least you’ve worked out how to treat it, the last thing you want is to be permanently one handed. Sling on, I say. I know there’s lots of tales of lockdown going soft at the edges, and I know you are very sensible about these things, but let the bossy me TELL you that I want you to keep on shielding thyself please. For my own good. Xxx
Oh, and PS I omitted to say about the UFOs for week 572....you don’t need to do more than one (!), and don’t forget to take before and after photos to show us!

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Haa haa that and finally is so funny Shaz, i'm feeling a bit of a pumpkin bum myself at the moment.. Doug's got a great set up there, looks very similar to my Hubby & Son's with an added mixing desk & keyboard, looks like a disco at night when the lights are off. Best of luck to Doug, sounds a good thing.
Your so right about the ovals but those nesting dies are an important piece of kit, I rarely use mine but if I didn't have them I know i'd need them.
Take good care of yourself & rest that shoulder, slings are good things for helping take the strain (((Hugs))) Tracey #6 xx

Lunch Lady Jan said...

The And Finally made me hoot! I'm sorry to hear about your shoulder Shaz, you sound like you're doing the right thing. It was interesting to see your desks, I couldn't work with a glass mat, like chopping boards, the sound they make when being used sets my teeth on edge....shivers. Doug will be such an awesome trainer, huge knowledge and a great way of dealing with people.
Hugs LLJ 12 xxx

My name is Cindy said...

I do enjoy your 'And finally's, they always make me smile. Isn't it weird how so many of us are sayng the time is flying - I haven't anyone say they are bored yet. I know I still feel as busy as ever. I know what you mean about ovals - I have 4 sets from spellbinders straight and scalloped and I thought I would use them so much but not really. They never match the curves of anything else I have or don't go big enough. I should really use my scan and cut more as that is infinitely flexible but hasn't seen daylight for months. Good for Doug getting on with his volunteering, do send my love. Stay well, stay safe, Happy WOYWW Cindy #18

sandra de said...

Ohhhh love the funny at the end of your post. With DH and I in the garden so much this past week it looks far too familiar. I never thought about how many ovals until I started to look at the set and then had to sit down it was a bit overwhelming. Hopefully you can use them all.... far too many choices for me. All the best to your DH for retraining and doing his hours the set up looks incredibly professional. Stay safe and keep creating.
Sandra de @9

lisa said...

I'm glad you are both keeping well, Shaz. Your desk is certainly tidy, some crafting on that glass mat and you won't notice the shine.
It sounds like Doug is being very productive. I hope the training side of things goes well for him. I'm sure there will be a lot of people changing their jobs as we come out of this situation.
Have a good week and take care
Hugs Lisax #24

Sue Jones said...

Hubby's desk looks very impressive!! wow . ha ha I loved your "finally" brilliant :) Take care xxSoojay#22

Heather M said...

Hi Shaz, I got some arch dies in a mixed bargain box from Hunkdory the other week, and I think the largest one will be big enough for the Gorjuss girls. I think I have one set of oval dies, but they are quite small, so I hadn't really noticed/thought about them working together until you mentioned it. Do you and Doug share your craft room? Doug's desk looks like Mr M's! Fortunately, Mr M has his own room - he has too many gadgets, bits and pieces, and 'stuff'! Good luck to Doug with the retraining - I was an IT tutor about 30 years ago, long before fancy programmes, and taught basic City & Guilds IT to unemployed adults. I really enjoyed it at the time, but IT has advanced incredibly since those days. I love the funny at the end - that would be Mr M if he didn't have his glasses on! Hope your shoulder doesn't stop you crafting too much. Have a lovely week and stay safe and well, hugs Heather xx #20

Lindart said...

Hi Shaz! So sorry to hear about your shoulder, what a bummer. I can see why you are having a problem with the glass mat! Luckily I don't get enough sun for that to happen in my craft room. Hubby looks super busy, good for him for getting on with life! I think some are giving up, but hopefully we won't be in this predicament for too long. My hubby just quit his job (that he hated) because he was going to have surgery, which was cancelled. Now he has nothing to do but watch TV and go on FB, and play computer games. He has no hobbies, and at the moment, no interest in anything. I am a little worried about him, he's still very young! I love your cartoon, but how nice it would be for someone to bring me a cup of tea while gardening! Isn't it sad that that's what I got out of that cartoon...oh well, I hope your shoulder feels better soon, sorry I missed you last week, stay safe, hugs, Lindart #28

Christine said...

Sorry to hear about your shoulder, hope you are using the sunshine to sit in and heal.
I always imagined that Doug's desk always looked like that!! Go, Doug, Go. Qualifications are always useful.
Christine #29

StampinCarol said...

Your tidy desk is saying.... come play! Hope your shoulder feels better soon.
Great set of dies! So many in the package!
Your hubby's desk is very loaded! So much techy stuff! Wow!
Hope you're staying healthy! Thanks for popping by!
Carol N #26

Caro said...

So sorry to hear about your shoulder. I loved the and finally - made me laugh so much! Happy WOYWW! Stay safe and take care, with love and God Bless, Caro xxx (#17)

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Shaz, fully agree with you re. the ovals which can be both good and bad but I've also noticed this with rectangle dies too. Sometimes they are long and narrow and sometimes shorter and fatter, sounds a bit like people really! Love the funny too. Take care and have a happy woyww, Angela x21x

Cardarian said...

Hi Shaz!
Love to read your blog, although no crafting going on (hope you recover soon!)it was very enjoyable to read. Just yesterday I pulled out 3 different oval dies and non of them were compatable how annoying is that?!? The reflectivness (if that is a word) bothers me about the TH glass mat too. He, he loved that joke!
I am back now and will be around next week again! Have a lovely week!
Lots of hugs
CARDARIAN

Crafting With Jack said...

Hi Shaz, sorry to hear about your shoulder, hope you are feeling better soon. Your “and finally”made me smile. Take care Angela #30

Stacy Sheldon said...

HI Shaz, yep I have entirely too many oval sets because of that very reason. Ooh hopefully the IT tutoring will be just what he is hoping for. and ha, yep I chuckled over the joke. ~Stacy #27

Neet said...

Good to know Doug has found something he is interested in to retrain as, I wish him every success. Looks like a great set up he has there. Will he be available for consultations when I have a problem?
I so know what you mean about the ovals - I got various sets when I worked with Spellbinders and it was so annoying to find they varied as they do.
I have been having a lot of problems with my shoulder and not sue what the best thing is to do, continue using it or rest it. I know after typing for a bit it starts to hurt a lot. ah well, just another joint hurting on this old body of mine.
Stay safe and well both of you
Hugs, Neet 4 xx

Shoshi said...

Thanks for visiting, Shaz, and glad you like the final batch of Florabundas. They were fun to do. I shall finish matting and layering the rest and making up cards, but I need to do something else now, I think! Ruby did look sweet all wrapped up in that blanket, didn't she! She didn't mind being carried around in it!

Shoshi x #7

Lillianb said...

Thank you for your visit to my blog, I have some dies like those and they are very useful. you are so right about the glass mats very dazzling when the sun is out, your desk it tidy and hope your shoulder gets better so you can craft again, Love your funny

Take care stay safe and well,

Lilian B # 15

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Oh your cartoon made me smile !! Clean desk...it won't last long. And I hope your shoulder is better. I had that last week also, lifted 19 totes up and down and labeled contents etc cleaned tops and covered them in a storage area. Was looking for something I never found ! It was the day later, 3 Advil, Ice, Heat, over and over from back of neck to shoulder edge. Just can't do much with that arm for lifting etc. TAKE care and Stay Safe. Thanks for the visit

Kathryn Frantz said...

Hi, Shaz! Sorry I'm late!
Yes, I have noticed the differences in oval dies, and definitely in the stitched layering dies! Doesn't matter if they are oval, square, rectangular! The stitching can be left on your inside piece or on the outside piece! Very important to know, but I didn't realize this at first! Lots of frustration and many dies later....

Happy Thursday! Hope you are back up ready for creating!

Stay well!

BJ said...

What's up with your shoulder? I've been struggling with mine since last July and the past few weeks it has got worse so I've managed to get a specialist appointment for August! I have calcification of tendons btw, restricted movement and severe pain if I move it out of the OK planes!

Oh your and finally made me chuckle. Hugs
Thanks for the visit and sorry I'm so late replying BJ#2

craftyani said...

Sorry for the late visit don't know where the days go to. Thanks for your visit. Having read about Doug retraining I understand about the message! Lovely neat and tidy desk yours not Dougs. The different ovals is so you buy more to fit the stacks. Love the funny. Ani #11

Marit said...

Sorry for my (very) late visit Shaz, time seems to speed even in lockdown (and I got all occupied with some music challenge ;) I hope your shoulder isn't bothering you much so you can get back to creating. The cartoon made me smile and decide to NOT buy me orange trousers! Have a nice week, love from Holland. Marit #25

scrappymo! said...

Your joke is so funny! That will be Al and I soon as we are officially one year past qualifying for the Seniors discount!

Your desk sets up look good but I know what you mean about the sunlight glancing off the TH mat. I had to move mine to my second desk which the window light does not reach!

IT is a great thing for your husband to retrain for. My daughter was in IT for many years. She was headhunted three times and moved on to bigger jobs each time. The pay is good and he will find work quite easily...at least over here he would.

An End of an era

An end of an era

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