Photography and chocolate assignment

We're off.

To the city of stunning Medieval architecture, cherry beer and chocolate, otherwise known as Ghent.

We're leaving at silly o'clock and by lunchtime on Friday should be sitting not far from the comfy terrace where this picture was taken.  I'm charging up the camera ready to take lots of pics of the stunning architecture.  I've even been to Craftster and found the addresses of the local craft shops, just in case Belgian stash is different from British stash.  Despite all that, I can hardly call this a business trip...

To those of you I have not managed to visit on this week's WOYWW (see previous post for the link), my apologies, and I hope to catch up next week.

WOYWW: at the speed of a sprinting snail

So the papier mache desk tidies are not exactly proceeding apace.  Could this be the slowest ever project shown at What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?

Not only is the painting taking an unprecedented number of coats, but it looks as though it has been done by my lovely 4 year old godson.  Ah well, onwards and upwards.

Looking a little better is the Paris box file, which is not far off being complete.  I used a spotty background paper (recycled wrapping paper), some pages out of a French dictionary, a couple of old Paris images from Karen the Graphics Fairy, some printed paper, and spotty ribbon.  Plus some slightly sepia coloured Promarker.  Left to do: consider adding a couple more pieces of text, sealing, sew an Eiffel Tower charm to the ribbon, and she's done.

For more workspace goodness, pop over to Julia's.  I did manage to get round to every workspace last week, and a fascinating tour it was.

Getting down to business

Much as I love my big ideas diary full of things to make and do, sometimes the former accountant in me needs to emerge.  And today has been one of those days.  I was feeling a bit out of control as I needed to sort out my end of month money, do my books and generally get on with business things for the new business.  So today I have:

• checked bank balances and moved money around as needed
• done September's accounts and balanced them, which makes me feel a teeny bit smug
• sorted out all my receipts
• fully costed out my new piece of kit (those three big boxes from Artisan), so I know what to charge for its output.  More on this when I am back from holiday and have done my first piece of work.
• Moved a little bit closer to just maybe selling my first piece of furniture.  Photos have been sent to the potential buyers.
• Done some research online to make better use of my camera.  I have big plans for photographic backgrounds while we are away, and I am still using only a percentage of the features of my camera.

I have also had more fun:

• catching up on back issues of Craft Stamper magazine that I picked up at the Artisan show
• practicing my calligraphy, which I am hoping to use on some projects.  My old diary is now full of quotes, poetry and lots of themes for projects.
• visiting more workspaces at Stamping Ground.  I am getting more hopeful that I will have visited all of the WOYWW (What's On Your Workspace Wednesday) participants from last week before Wednesday rolls round again.  Phew!

Hope you've had a peaceful and productive Monday.