Wednesday 17 July 2019

WOYWW #528: A scrap collage and general catching up

Has it really been 5 weeks since I last posted? I seem to have taken an unscheduled sabbatical doing other things. I was going to post last week, but ran out of time. The good news is, I have all my photos prepped now, so it shouldn't take long to finally put this post together. I'll probably end up oversharing, so apologies in advance.

Let's start with the all-important desk photo for WOYWW. I have a before and after shot - I realised I had no choice but tidy up - the mess was getting overwhelming. The good thing about tidying is that you unearth all sorts of hidden treasures, i.e. scraps.


I ended up using some of those scraps in my new project. This was the biggest piece that went on the background. It's an inky piece of tea stained paper - I probably used it to mop up some leftover ink. Isn't it just beautiful? Better than anything I could have created on purpose.


And here's the final project incorporating the inky sheet of paper and countless other scraps uncovered  from my messy desk: gelli prints, diecuts, tickets, book paper, embossed paper, tissue paper and I think there's a tea bag in there somewhere as well. 






There have been some outdoor activities going on too - which was part of the reason I couldn't get busy in my craft room. We built a new shed, much bigger than the one we did last year. We decided to paint it this nice seagrass colour. It was a big job but it's now finished, thank goodness!




Gardening news: we have this beautiful shrub in full bloom in front of the house. I have no idea what it is as the previous owners planted it. Any ideas?



My avocado is doing really well too. It's about waist high now. I can just about move it around - I don't know what I will do with it next year when it gets even bigger. It wouldn't survive outside in the winter, so I'll have to keep it in the house. Last September it was only this size!



Oreo's doing well too. He's enjoying spending lots of time outdoors, sometimes staying out most of the day. Here's a photo of him I took a couple of weeks ago. After taking the photo I realised that the project I did for Marit's Quirky Dutch Summer was on my bookshelf, so I had to blur it out until it's unveiled on 29th July on Marit's blog! 


I look forward to catching up with everyone. It's good to be back! xx

26 comments:

  1. Great to see you Zsuzsa, you have been busy! my word that shed is HUGE, it looks fab in its new coat. I love the inky background you managed to create, more, I love that you’ve used it so effectively, it looks marvellous.

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  2. The shrub is a type of Hydrangea, I think....possibly a lace cap. But I'm not sure about that. Fab new shed, it's a very good colour for you!!
    Hugs LLJ 5 xx

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    1. It is! Thanks Jan, I've found it here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/lacecap-hydrangea-care.htm

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  3. yes it's a lace cap hydrangea. LOVE the shed colour and that inky paper is just beautiful and the finished project looks amazing. Thanks for the visit.
    Helen #6

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    1. Of course you would know, Helen, with all your visits to Kew Gardens!

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  4. I cannot believe that it's so long since you were last here, where does the time go! Fantastic shed! I agree it is a lace cap, the other type of Hydrangea is a mop head. They like plenty of water but you may have guessed that by the name. Wishing you a lovely creative week, a happy woyww and hugs for Oreo, Angela x13x

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  5. Hi Zsuzsa, I love that you used the inky paper for your project. Fab.

    Fab shed. Plenty of room in that.

    That plant is lovely. I wonder how old your Avocado will be before it gives you fruit.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    Happy WOYWW
    Sue #9

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    1. I'm not holding my breath on it ever bringing fruit but if it could grow into a little tree, that would be nice. I just have to focus on keeping it alive!

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  6. Ooh yes that inky paper is gorgeous, both before you collaged it and after - what a lovely project - the flowers look so good in the same colour as the inky background. Yes, that is definitely a beautiful hydrangea but if you want to turn it blue then you can make the soil more acidic by watering in acidic plant food especially for hydrangeas (I have a thing about blue flowers which is why I know that!). That shed is enormous - it looks big enough to live in, and I love the colour too, but I bet it was hard work painting it all!
    Have a great week,
    Diana x #18

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    1. We spray painted it and then went over it with a brush to patch it up - it wasn't too bad, actually! Good to know about the blue flowers - might try that!

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  7. Missed you - glad you have been having colourful fun ♥ Gorgeous lace-cap hydrangea and divine colour for your shed. Lovely to see a desk cleared and then messed up again ;-)

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    1. It was the other way around with the desk, but it won't be long before I mess it up again! Nice to be back!

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  8. Wow. This is photo heavy, but I love it! The journal page is great. Have a great week. Dorlene #29

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  9. Hi Zsuzsa, I have been missing your posts all those weeks, but I am glad to read that everything is fine. Your new creation with inky paper is fabulous! (I could not find the tea bag...) Well done. Your avocado tree is even higher as mine, which my husband put (again) in a new pot last week!

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    1. It's on the bottom left - a round tea bag - you can just about see the edge of it! ;)

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  10. Good to see you again Zsuzsa (and Oreo of course). Great job on the shed, if you fancy more practice lol... Love the project, the scrap paper was indeed perfect for it and the colours are fab. Happy WOYWW (only one more get up for your son). Sarah #2

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  11. Hi Zsuzsa, love that piece from 'scraps'! Does look amazing. Fabulous shed too, Doug would love one that big! Love the Hydrangea, they are so pretty. They can be pruned if they get too big, but do some research, as if you prune too much, you get no flowers the following year! Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #16 X

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  12. The shed is gorgeous and the plant is a lace capped hydrangea - one of my favourite bushes. When someone wanted to build on the land at the side of our house it was on the condition that he did not touch the lace capped hydrangea (because I refused to let it go and it was debatable as to who owned that particular strip of land).
    Your piece of tea stained paper was beautiful and what a wonderful page it made with all the other additions. You certainly nail this type of thing, mixed media is you but then anything you turn your hand to turns out beautiful.
    Love the photo of Oreo, he looks positively regal. Not long to wait for the Marit reveal - congrats!
    Hugs, Neet 1 xx
    ps No worries about standing up, sometimes it is better to do that, just not stand for a while. Please do not give it another thought. xx

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  13. That inky paper is gorgeous and I love the way you have used it - the final project is stunning. So beautiful. Have a great week. With love & God Bless, Caro x (#14)

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  14. Hi Zsuzsa, welcome back. I've missed a few weeks on and off. Real life has a habit of going at rollercoaster pace sometimes! Love what you have done with your inky waste paper. Beautiful shrub. Have a lovely week, Heather xx #11

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  15. Hi Zsuzsa and welcome back! I've missed you. I've been pretty busy lately myself and have missed one or two. A lovely post as always - I started a reply earlier today but had to abandon it because I was called away and it disappeared! Anyway, I just love, love, love that gorgeous inky bit, and how beautifully you have used it! It's just fabulous. As for your aircraft hanger of a garden shed, I don't think I dare show my hubby that - he would be so jealous! I love the colour you've chosen for it. Oreo looks happy being master of all he surveys from a great height! I am not surprised he enjoys being out all day - just like our two. They were out all morning today and then decided to come in at lunch time, and then five minutes later Lily was demanding (very loudly) to be let out again!!

    I am sorry to hear you are also getting headaches. Are they migraines, and have you a history of them? I had severe migraine in my 20s & 30s and grew out of them, but they returned with the menopause. This is quite common. I had forgotten about imigran - I don't think I ever took it in the past but the name is familiar, so maybe one of my friends took it. I've just looked it up again and unfortunately I would not be able to take it because one of the contraindications is coronary vasospasm which I occasionally suffer from - the first, and worst attack was back in 2014 and it put me in hospital for several days. Hopefully the GP will approve the pharmacist's recommendation of co-codamol at least for starters. Headaches can be so debilitating, can't they.

    So glad you like my watercolour efforts! I agree with you that the kitties would probably like the birds best! They are growing on me and are fast becoming a joint favourite... I must do some more, and I might try some cats too. I was watching CeeCee again on Youtube today and got a bit depressed by how stinking good she is at it and how much more I've got to learn!!

    Happy belated WOYWW and welcome back to the gang!
    Shoshi xx #7

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  16. It's good to visit your blog again! I need to save some of my cleaning towels, as the way you incorporated yours into your art piece is fabulous. I don't know what kind of shrub that is, but it's gorgeous. Oreo has gotten so big, since last time I visited. Happy belated WOYWW!

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  17. Hi ya Zsuzsa so sorry i'm late getting over here, life is pretty manic atm and by the sounds of it you understand that time just seems to evaporate before us. So nice to see you back. I did smile about that found mop up cloth, I too look at mine and see fabulous art upon them, much better than any planned piece. I've had to stop looking now as i'd never throw anything out. Love that page, great colours but I have to say I have shed envy.. just look at the size of it, it's bigger than my actual garden. What do you plan doing with it? I'd have to keep it all to myself as a she shed!!
    Happy belated WoywW & wishing you a super duper weekend Hugs Tracey xx
    P.S & Hugs to Oreo of course :))

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    1. I'm afraid it's very much a he-shed LOL - and only used as storage to get things out of the garage, but I like the idea of a she-shed!

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  18. I see others giving the name of the plant already so you know now, I do LOVE its color, as well as the color of your shed and that inky piece of paper... wowzah! Those are indeed better than when you try to make something like that on purpose! And how clever of you to notice your Quirky project on the shelf... it will be revealed in it's full glory by the end of the month... can't wait! Thanks for your visit earlier, I am again a bit late with my visit this week but hey, at least it IS still in this week ;) Hope you have a lovely weekend, hug from Holland. Marit #20

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