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Wednesday 2 November 2016

WOYWW 387

Good morning lovely peoples, I hope I will be here this Wednesday to join in with What's on Your worktop Wednesday, hosted by the wonderful Lady Julia. 
And if you think that is a strange statement, over the past couple of months I have tried at least 4 times to be with you, started draft posts and not been able to carry the exercise through, because life has been too busy. Life has been busy because we have sold our house, and are at the end of a chain which seems in danger of imploding on itself. They say moving house is the most stressful thing after marriage and having a baby, and they are not wrong. In mid September we started on a major downsizing exercise, as we don't wish to pay to store stuff we will instantly ditch when we finally find a new house. Then first one legal problem, then another with deeds and boundaries and mortgages, and suddenly everything was on hold.

 So all the craft stuff I had sorted into three piles, storage at Margaret's, paid storage and take with us, suddenly got mined for stuff to make Christmas cards and eventually my worktop became like this!
Actually that was a week ago, by yesterday morning it was much worse, but I didn't take a picture before it got too much even for me.

















 So while OH was out Monday afternoon and I cleared it up to this, picture taken Tuesday morning, but as we are going out in an hour and will not be back to it before tomorrow, will be just the same  on Wednesday.










So on the cutting mat you can see some of the stamps I have been using to make Christmas cards, then beyond that are the cards I have been sorting into sizes, for inserts and envelopes. the largish pile beyond that is the papers and embellishments I have piled up, and then there is the storage folder for dies, and some lamps.




And artfully! arranged for you to see are some of the cards I have been making; bit of stamping, bit of die cutting, some recycling of last year's card and  some nearly mass produced with a picture off the internet.At some point I have to put inserts into them and find envelopes, and then the difficult task of writing them and telling people that we have no new or old address anymore.

So we still have no idea when we are moving, and for those who are interested, our plan was to spend a couple of summer months on our boat looking for the right house with a mooring, in the place where God wants us. However our plan did not include spending the worst of the winter on the boat, we will have to wait and see because we can do nothing more.

Thanks for reading and I love comments and will endeavor to get back to any lovely person who does comment.
Bless you all
Chris

21 comments:

Helen said...

hope your move sorts itself soon. working in the mortgage industry I know what a pain it can be.... love the desk, both the before and after editions! great cards. Helen #2

Anne said...

Hello Chris. Great cards. I'm sure that all will work out in the end - God's Will as they say. Hope so anyway. Anne x #20

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Oh it can be such a stressful time...though we have had the opposite experience, truth be told. From the time our buyers walked through the door in late June to completion took less than 8 weeks, no kidding. It happened so quickly, we're in rented at the moment. Having failed to find somewhere in Wiltshire, we're off to Wales, to our old home town, where we found a house that needs a bit of tlc but has definite possibility. Fingers crossed that your move sorts itself out.
Hugs, LLJ 9 xxx

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Chris, I can imagine how stressful this is being for you. As you say though, the right house will come to you, at the right time. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #22 xx

sandra de said...

Beautiful collection of cards.
sandra de @26

LisaDV said...

Moving is way more stressful than marriage or babies. Good luck on your move. Your cards are absolutely fabulous. Have a Wonderful Wednesday and terrific week. LisaDV #37

Lindart said...

It must be hard living in limbo as you are, not knowing where you are going, but I'm sure the right place will show itself at just the right time! Your Christmas cards look lovely, and your space so organized! Even messy it looked as if there was some sort of of reasoning involved! Good luck with your search and your move! Thanks for sharing, Lindart #41

Sharon said...

Lovely cards.

Hope you get the moving done soon. Sounds so frustrating. It is a good time to sort through stuff though. We need to have a major purge. I think after you've been in a house a while you just get comfortable with your stuff and don't sort through it.

Happy WOYWW
Sharon K #38

Neet said...

Well done on the house sale - now I wonder where you will live in the meantime? Good to have a friend like Margaret where you can store some of your craft things, I know just how good friends you two are that I am sure she will be able to use some of your stuff whilst it is in her home.
Mind you your desk area looks rather busy and I just wonder how you will cope with a tiny space to work.
Have a wonderful week, keep crafting those lovely cards and things.
Hugs, Neet 5 xx

Nikki said...

It's tough to move and figure out what you would like to keep and downsize we moved 4 years ago and where in limbo for a year it was great to finally unpack again and have all our stuff where we would like it. May you get it all sorted out and lovely bunch of Christmas cards already to go
hugs Nikki 3

Nikki said...

I also use Adobe Photoshop to label up my pictures :)

Elizabeth said...

Such a stressful time for you. I hope all suddenly comes good and you can get on with the search for a new home very soon. It never fails to surprise me at how quickly a messy workdesk can be returned to organised calm. I'm sure making those fabulous cards has helped you deal with the stress even if it did mean undoing your packing. Hope you have a great week. Elizabeth x #35

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Love the cards and what a transformation on your desk. Well done! Happy woyww, Angela x 19

Dorlene Durham said...

Great desk and great cards. I love how everyone is focused on the holidays! LOL. Dorlene #46

Unknown said...

Hello Chris. Oh my it has been stressful for you and I am hoping you find your dream home soon. I wanted to say your cards are simply beautiful. Hope your week is full of great wonders and thanks for visiting me earlier. Hugs~Anne L#1

lilian said...

Chris

I really hope you find another house where you will be happy, Great cards. You sure made a good job of the desk,

Sorry for the late visit,

Lilian B#16

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi again Chris, I have found the pockets on E-Bay, here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Avery-Elle-Rubber-Stamp-and-Die-Storage-Pockets-25-kg-Clear-/182145207945. They do seem to be out of stock on Amazon, and everywhere else that should have them too. Hopefully they are all just waiting for stock from the USA! Hugs, Shaz xx

Anonymous said...

Happy Belated WOYWW. You really worked hard to tidy up. Lots of lovely Xmas cards. Still no sign of any being created in my craft room - I think this year I will be buying charity cards. I am just addicted to my mixed media and other art, and don't want to be making cards at all. I cannot imagine the stress of not having your next move sorted. I hope that it gets rectified soon. Ali x #11

Lynne Mizera said...

Oh how I know your stress! The hubby and I sold almost Everything and moved across the Rocky Mountains into our new "forever" home just this past January... (7 trips across the mountains in six weeks in Winter to get it all here!) It truly is a roller coaster ride as you pull up roots and then re-establish yourself again, but I have found that just like a re-potted house plant, fter the initial stress of the actual move, You THRIVE! Good luck and I am sending prayers and positive energy in your direction... Happy Belated WOYWW from Lynne in Canada - #47

dmgarafalo said...

look at all that great counter space - I am so envious, see the beautiful cards created with the wonderful space & light! Happy belated WOYWW donna #49

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Mm Chris the verse in Isaiah comes to mind, For your thoughts are not My thoughts, bir your ways My ways as heaven is higher than the earth so are My thoughts higher than your thoughts and My ways higher than your ways" truly our great God has the perfect plan fur you dear friend, "'for He will perfect that which concerneth you"...
I love your cards, brilliant Christ centred cards, sending hugs and prayers your way dear friend.
Running bit late here....
Thanks for popping over and for sharing,
Shaz in Oz.x
PS another Chinese die arrived today a large snowflake and it was posted on 24/10, so only took two weeks, rather than four, it was from a different seller so going to look out more of her things, can send you a link if you like.

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}