A Postcard A Day - Friday 29 April 2016 - Friday Smiles

Good Morning Friday! Good Morning Smiley friends!

The week has really flown by. The weather has improved immensely and the temperatures are now in the 20s (Celcius). I love it. 

My postcard for today comes from Russia

It is a painting by Anna Silvonchik and is called "Stork's Gift", oil on canvas 2012. Svetlana sent it to me quite recently. There are some lovely stamps on it too:

How has your week been? Mine has been fine. (I will be linking up with Virginia for Rocking Your World Friday). I finished the lace project I was doing (the bell) and you can see that on my previous blog (Wednesday). All I have to do now is starch it.

My DH has finished the bathroom, and is doing the lights on the terrace. Saturday he will start on my craft room downstairs. I had been using this craft room on concrete floor and with bare bricks. Even the shelving was made out of bare bricks. Now it's going to be done properly. So of course I have had to take everything out! All my craft stuff is now in the old kitchen in boxes on improvised shelving (again). My desk is there too so at least i can do something. I'm looking forward to it being finished. That has to be in the middle of June as we are expecting guests then.

My magazine from Holland (that I subscribe to) Flow has arrived today and I spent quite a lot of time relaxing and reading it. 

Isn't it colourful? It has a little booklet inside to practice drawing letters. And I loved reading about Frida Kahlo. 

Today I have been hanging curtains. Half the window is done. I have not taken a photo because the room is still in a mess. Next week.

That sums me up....

But I keep smiling. I've reached my target weight: 60kg! Hurray! No more diet, and I can drink wine again!

I'm also linking up with Annie at A Stitch In Time for Friday Smiles. I don't really have any funnies today. But I did see this posted by one of you (can't remember who it was) which is very appropriate for me at the moment. I have been potting my geraniums and my chilli pepper seedlings are reading to be potted too.

Monday we plan to go away for a few days in our campervan. We'd like to go to Portugal and stock up on wine (vinho verde is a type of white wine I like and it is not readily available here, so it's an excuse to go to Portugal and buy it there).

That's it from me. Sorry it was a bit hurried and rambling but I want to get those flipping curtains done today.

Have a good week all of you,

Keep smiling,

Lisca

WOYWW 360 Lace making and new stash

Hello fellow Deskers! Good morning! How are you all? Busy making ATCs?

I have not got a craft desk at the moment as my husband is starting to plaster my craft room and build the shelving that he had temporarily erected out of bricks. Now all my stuff has to come out. What a job! 

But i do have something to show you:

The lace I have been making is finished. The photo is not very good (apologies) and had it been better you would have seen the gold thread that I have worked into it too. Now it is finished I can see I have missed a few twists, but hey, who's going to tell when it is hanging in the tree....

The other thing I am very 'chuffed' about is my new stash. I get my craft supplies from a Spanish website called Mi Tienda de Arte (my art shop) and this week I splurged out on a few things:

They had the scrapbook albums on special offer, and while I was at it, I also ordered a few things from my wish list. Everything arrived the next day plus the customary complimentary lolly!

I finally got my brayer! There are some Micron pens for my zentangling and doodling (still haven't been able to source white pens...). And I treated myself to a small scorer. 

And... (drum roll)...

I bought a journal. I've now got paint and a journal, so no more excuse for not getting messy.

This week I will finish my ATCs which I can't really show you as I'd like to participate in the swap (for the first time). Julia has officially announced the swap and published the rules.


I'm going to link up with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia's Stamping Ground. So if you were wondering what this is all about... Julia explains all about this blog hop on her blog. So hop on along and have a look.

Happy WOYWW and have a great week,

Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 26 April 2016 - T for Tuesday

Good morning friends! Here is a nice greeting for you:

How are you all? It's Tuesday again and I hope you will link with Elizabeth and Bluebeard (like I do) for T for Tuesday. You can post anything as long as it has something drink related in it.

The above picture would qualify I think. But I always have a postcard to share. How about a cookie to go with the above coffee?

These are star-shaped cookies and they come from Germany. The quote reads: "The stars of our happiness lie within ourselves" - Heinrich Heine (German 19th century poet). Needless to say this card was sent to me from Germany.

Or perhaps you would prefer some fruit?

This vintage image was sent to me from Hongkong. Interestingly ginger, olives and almonds are also among the fruit as they were classed as dessert as well apparently.

I know Elizabeth does a lot of upcycling and recycling. I do too and I have a photo of the recycling bins. They are quite large and I didn't know where to put them in my new kitchen/living room. We found a place for them under the floor:

We dug out this space so we can actually stand in it and it is now a useful storage area. After the photo was taken my DH has put a coat rack on the right hand side as you come in. The top bin has all the aluminium (cans and tins) with milk and juice cartons and any plastic bottles. The middle one is for paper and cardboard. The bottom one is for glass bottles and jars. When they are full we take them to the local collection point in our town. We bought these bins at Ikea last year and we find them invaluable.

One last thing:

I was at the Chinese bazaar on Friday and I saw this 6 litre kettle. What a beauty! I often make tea for hords of people and a large kettle was on my wish list (but I never found one until now). It's funny to see myself in the shiny kettle, and it also shows our living quarters in birds eye view. The little vent in the lid gives in fact warning that the kettle is boiling. I am used to kettles that whistle but this noise is like a fog horn! It made me jump the first time i heard it!

That's it from me this Tuesday. I hope you all have a fab Tuesday and a very good week.

Blessings,
Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Friday 22 April 2016 - Friday Smiles

Good morning lovely friends,

Thanks for dropping by and reading my post. I hope you can smile with me. I have lots to smile about. 

This was where I was yesterday:

I was at the hospital for my six monthly check-up at the oncologist. He gave me a clean bill of health! I am smiling from ear to ear! Phew! It's been five years now since I had an operation to remove a malignant lump from my breast and consequent chemo therapy and radio therapy. But I'm fine now! I thank God.

Here is a funny (about breasts):

Now for my usual postcard:

This is a card I sent this week. It went to Russia to a girl who loves dogs. That will bring a smile to her face.


I have been doing some lacemaking again. I had started a star (in readyness for Christmas!) but I got stuck, so I have now unpicked it and have started a bell (also for Christmas. I am hoping to hang this one in the tree):

I've got as far as the surrounding ribbon. Now for the fill in bit. Tomorrow is another day.

My DH is finishing the bathroom. It's a large wet room and I have already had my first shower in it. He is now doing the sink. I had a white marble surround made with a hole in it just the right size for this colourful sink, which I fancied:

That is it from me. I am linking with Annie at A Stitch in Time to share smiles. And later on also with Virginia at Rocking your World Friday.

Blessings,
Lisca

WOYWW 359 I've been a busy girl

Hello lovely deskhopper friends,

I've been a busy girl! My desk is a mess, a crafty mess. 

I'm making ATCs. I've been saying that I would like to have a go at ATCs since the New Year. Now I am making some. I am using teabags and doodles and the purple you see is a cut up basmati rice canvas bag. 

Earlier this week I have been making greeting cards with decoupage. The back grounds and the decoupage images came from a kit, but then I added my own bling and ribbons and  brads etc. I think they turned out rather well.  Here are a few. (All without sentiments as I like to do that at the last moment):

I have yet to add the twine on the 'baking' card.

like I have done on the 'suitcase' card.

That's it from me. I'm linking up with Julia's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday where we all show our (messy or not) desk.

Have a great week,
Happy WOYWW,
Lisca

A Postcard a Day - Tuesday 19 April 2016 T for cakes and books and snails having tea

Hello lovely friends, Happy Tuesday to you!

I have some nice postcards for you today. I received so many this week, that I don't know which ones to show you. Here is one:

It came to me from Germany. I put in my profile what sort of cards I like and the theme 'books' is amongst them. Anything to do with books as I am a bookworm. This painting is by Frank Dicey and is called "The Novel, A Lady in a Garden Reading a Book". (1880)
The second one is this:

Again, this comes from Germany and again the theme is books. The text reads:'If you have a garden and a library, then you have everything you need.' I totally agree. There were some garden inspired stamps too:

I have been busy these days uploading all my postcards (1200 odd) onto Flickr. With our slow internet connection it took almost a minute per card but over a whole week I have now done it. Here is the link.
I'm now in the process of putting them (the card images) into appropriate folders. Little by little.

I'm linking up today as usual on a Tuesday with Elizabeth at Altered Booklover. She holds T for Tuesday where we all share something drink related. So here comes postcard number three. It is one that I am sending to Germany. (it's all German today, isn't it):

It's called "He just invited her for tea...." oil on canvas, bu Anna Silivonchik. I love it. I buy my cards online from Russia and they have some really talented artists.

Every Sunday I make a cake of some sort to share at our local church house group:

The base is cake and the top layers are made with greek yoghurt and whipped cream (and gelatine leaves). The coloured layer has instant coffee added to it. So come join us for a herbal tea and a piece of mocca yoghurt cake. Oh, coffee is your drink? Well that can be arranged....

Now I'm off to the hospital for a mammogram, ultrasound and x-ray. All in different departments so I have to queue up three times. This means I'll probably be hanging around all morning. Then my DH is taking me out to lunch so I will be late in commenting today. Will you wait up for me?

I wish everyone a great Tuesday, and I hope to see you all next week,
Blessings,
Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Friday 15 April 2016 - A Giggle a Day Keeps the Blues Away

Good Morning lovely friends,

You are visiting my page! Thank you, it means a lot to me.

Today is Friday (as if you didn't know) and today we think of all the smiles we have had this week.

My big smiles have come from the building work. We have nearly finished building a flat at the top of our house. We moved in after Easter. This is the view from the living room/kitchen:

Last weekend the railings were erected on the terrace. You can see them in the above photo. Next thing will be a sun shade. In the summer it is too hot to sit outside without shade. So next month my DH will erect a frame and put some 'green stuff' over it to keep the sun at bay.

On the right hand side I had a 'bar' made on top of the railing so we can put our drink there or even a plate when BBQ-ing.

There is a ventilation shaft that goes through all four floors of the building and ends here on the roof. We have bought a little 'house' to make it look a bit nicer as it is right next to the terrace:

The bit of building you are looking at here is the garage and the terrace by the garage. That is partly covered. 

Now for my card. This one arrived this week from Switzerland:

It was sent to me by René. It's an image from a time when flying was expensive and for many people just a dream.
The stamp is quite nice too:

75 Years Swiss Merchant Fleet. (I didn't know Switzerland had a merchant fleet, being a land-locked country).

Now let's see if I can find something funny for you to chuckle about:

I got this photo from my friend Anne. She goes to Glastonbury every year. She found this sign in a cafe on the High Street. (and has given me permission to show it you). 

How's my diet going? Not very well. I'm stuck on 61 kg, have been for two weeks. But hey, my flip flops stil fit!

I'm linking up with Annie at Friday Smiles. Do join us if you can and tell us what made you smile.
Later today I will also link up (if I don't forget... apparently I forgot last week) with Virginia  at Rocking Your World Friday.

Have a fab Friday all of you and don't for get to smile!
Lisca

WOYWW 358 - ongoing decoupage and a postcard from Andalucia

Hello lovely people,
You're here on my page again! That's great! Thank you so much for visiting. I really appreciate it.

Today I'm linking up with Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Julia at Stamping Ground organises that. Do have a look and join in if you can.

In my previous posts I have been telling you that I have been fussy cutting. I found some decoupage sheets at the back of my craft supplies and remembered how I enjoyed the cutting. I found it quite relaxing. I took the sheets with me on our Easter holiday and now I have been making cards with the decoupage I have cut.

Here is my desk with a card in the making:

The blue is handmade paper and I want to tear it. I was debating whether to wet it a bit so it tears better...

Here are a few that are practically finished. The square card with the roses will get some bling, the lilies are condolences cards so no bling for those. What am I going to put on the 'male' card with the race car? Most embellishments are too feminine...

I'm off to the gym now and then I will enloy looking at your desks and leaving some comments. But before I leave you I will show you my customary postcard:

It is a not-so-spectacular postcard of La Calahorra, a village a little south of where we live in Andalucia. It has only 800 inhabitants but is famous for its castle on the hill (16th century). The final scenes from David Bowie's film Stardust (1974) were filmed there. Here is a link to some really nice photos on Wikipedia.


That's it from me today. Gotta go, I'm late. These photos took ages to upload! (Don't know why).

Happy WOYWW all of you,
Blessings,
Lisca

A Postcard a Day - Tuesday 12 April 2016 - T for Alhambra and more

Hello lovely friends,

Thank you for visiting me again. Today I'm linking up with Elizabeth at Altered Booklover for T for Tuesday, where we all post something together with a drink related item or subject. My drink related things will come up further down this page.

First my postcard. It is one that I have sent recently:

It is an image of the Alhambra, the beautiful palace of the last Sultan of Granada (13th century). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is stunningly beautiful. We live about an hour's drive from Granada city, which is of course the capital of our province and we have to go to Granada for administrative reasons sometimes but that is no hardship. It is a lovely city. Not too big. The old center is all walkable.

Lets not forget the drink related item. Here is a funny about making tea:

If you have been following my blog, you will know that we are building a newbuild next to the old cavehouse. The top flat is nearly finished and we have moved in just over a week ago. I have showed you the kitchen already but as my DH is now going to decorate the office/craftroom, my computer needed to come into the living area and I needed a desk. We phoned the carpenter and he came and made me a lovely little desk at the end of the kitchen, all in the same wood. I love it:

I'm pleased a punch as they say. 

I'm also near the teapot (under the tea cozy) and the cups. Ahah! Here is the drink related bit! 

Our cups are proper 'buckets'. I like my mugs big. The clock that you can see hanging up is a real find. It is a clock, yes, but it is also an electronic scales! So handy. In Europe recipes use weight (grams and kilos) not cups. So to bake a cake I need scales. In stead of rattling around in a drawer, my scales are now hanging within reach. So handy! I love it!

I'll leave you with an image and quote that I really liked:

 Have a wonderful Tuesday and a great week,
Blessings,
Lisca

A Postcard A Dat - Friday 8 April 2016 - Friday Smiles

Good Morning! It's Friday again!
For those nine to five people: It's nearly weekend!
I'm retired, and I like Fridays because I get to smile even more joining Friday Smiles at A Stitch In Time.

My card this morning arrived earlier this week from China. It had been raining and the postman throws the mail over the gate onto the patio, so it was a bit wet.... I dried it and pressed it and here it is for you to see:

It is a painting by Vincent van Gogh called Wheat Field with a Reaper (1889). When I looked closely I saw that the reaper was a bunny and that the scene only vaguely looked like the original! That made me smile.
The stamps are beautiful:

I had lots to smile about this week. Since the soggy reaping rabbit, DH has put our new postbox up by our front door! The red one! (I have shown this already)

Also this week my desk has been built. The carpenter came Monday to put it in.

I am super happy! This is where i am sitting at this very moment. You can see the socket hanging from the wall. The desk came exactly onto the socket, so DH ripped it out and will put a new socket (or two)  on the wall.

It's spring and many people have started spring cleaning:

This made me smile because I've been known to do that!

And the next photo is not a funny really but I wanted to share it with you nonetheless:

I do try to shop locally and I know many of you do too.

That is it from me today. 
Wishing you a lovely week with many smiles!
Blessings,
Lisca