Back to WOYWW at last

I finally have a few minutes free to join back in with the WOYWW fun, woohoo!  For those of you who don't know about this internet craze... where have you been?! Hop on over to Julia's blog and check it out, it's fun, it's free and it's addictive!
So, my free time is fairly limited (I am meant to be working right now!) so I snapped a quick pic of my desk with my phone this morning as I was on my way out the door.  The quality is not good, which is probably for the best, and those of you of a nervous disposition may want to look away now.  Here it is.....

 

...eeeeeek!!  In my defense, I have barely had enough time to do any crafting let alone tidy up after myself.  Mind you, it is a mess, isn't it, even for me?  I have managed to do a bit to my display box thingy.  I've been playing with that Clearly For Art type stuff that you can stamp and colour then heat and mould.  I've nearly finished it, I just think it needs something else on the outside there, but not sure what just yet.

Off now to actually do some work before my boss notices I'm not actually typing up a design spec right now :o  Catch you all later.. Happy Wednesday x

WOYWW 13th October

It's Wednesday, which means it's time to hop on over to Julia's Blog, link in and join the fun.
I have to apologise, last Wednesday a work colleague was taken ill and I had to accompany him to the hospital and wait for his wife to show up and take over, so I didn't get around many desks, and those I did I was very late commenting on.

Anyway, since last Wednesday I have continued to work on my display box and here is the progress so far. I carried on spraying shimmer mists and blending on inks until I was happy with the result, then I started on the backgrounds for the niches.  Most of the smaller 2" squares have papers from the Vintage Shabby paper stack, some stamped and others left nekkid.  The larger niches I just inked and stamped plain white cardstock.  I've been adding bits and pieces from my ephemera stash gradually.  The blue taxi is stolen from one of DDs board games.  I was after a silver car from a monopoly set but they didn't have one :(  So I purloined a blue plastic taxi and spruced it up a bit with blue Inca Gold.  The rock with the frog on it in the top left niche is something the kids brought me when they went on a school trip to the Natural History Museum years ago.  The little figures in the bottom left niche were my gran's.  I think they are lead!   The Paper Artsy button badge was given to me at by l!n Brown at Ally Pally.  The rest is just general stuff I had in my stash that I have either purchased or found over time.
I still have a few bits to add and a couple of things to finish off, then it will be time to concentrate on the outside.  It might be finished next Wednesday for a final show and tell :)
Happy Wednesday everyone, looking forward to visiting your desks!

WOYWW 6th October

Hello all you WOYWWers - and for those who aren't or who don't know what it is check out Julia's Blog and link yourself in.  It's fun to nose around everyone's workspace and get inspired.

Anywhoo, what is on my workdesk...... lots of stuff!  I'm working on this display box thingy that has sat nekkid and neglected for well over a year - probably nearer two!!  I've given it a coat of gesso (sorry Doone, I had to do it!) and now I'm layering up some grungy inkyness (which is why all the distress inks are scattered around).  The flash has bleached a lot of it out, but there is some colour going on there.  Various shades of grunge (scattered straw, antique linen, brushed corduroy, weathered wood) and a few shimmer mists and various mini-mister concoctions of mica, ink and water.  I'm just spraying, dabbing, wiping and splodging different things and building up the layers so it looks suitably old and grungy and lovely.  Once I feel it's ready I'll start putting some backgrounds in the different niches and some bits of ephemera and various stuff.  There's a pile of stuff I've earmarked for this project just to the right of the desk. 
Oh, you can see I've been playing with my Tim Holtz tattered leaves as well :)
Happy Wednesday everyone.

WOYWW - Flotsam and Jetsam

If you want to know why I am showing my very messy desk, hop on over to our fearless leader Julia's blog to join the WOYWW club.
So, here is the debris left from my crafting.  The strange lady with the giant flower on her head was going to go on my wall hanging thingy from the last post, but I decided against her in the end, so back to the "interesting images and other stuff" box... when I get around to tidying away that is.  Not sure why I have 3 pairs of scissors out, nor what I was planning on doing with the string.  Anway, there's all sorts of stuff laying about, chipboard letters, packets of beads, unmounted rubber stamps waiting to be mounted (yuck! hate that job), paints, glues, tissue tape, a paper stump, a file... it's a bit like the generation game, lol.  There's also a reel of invisible thread at the back there - though you may not be able to see that (ha-ha!).
Happy Wednesday everybody

It's Wednesday

so it's time for WOYWW.  For the uninitiated, get over to Julia's Blog and join in the weekly blog hop around the craft desks of the universe!

I managed to miss last Wednesday... I think the whole week went missing somewhere!  Anyway, here is my very messy desk this week

Lots of assorted bits and bobs, and a page I am working on from my postage stamp "tag" book.  I only have one more to do after this.. woohoo!

Nothing else to report here.  Long and horrible week at work (and we're only at the half way post!), my herniated disk is giving me hell, but on the bright side I am looking forward to the Craft Barn Extravaganza on the weekend :)

Hope all you WOYWWers are well.  Happy Wednesday everyone.

WOYWW again

I'm a bit late!! I had planned to be bright and early with my post showing a productive desk with lots of work in progress as I'm on leave this week.  Alas, it was not to be:(
Yesterday I went with my DDs to The Stables in Chalk Farm (fab market with a crafty section, an antiquey section, a clothes section and all sorts of fabulous stuff).  You can see some of my haul on my desk here, some Banksy images and some interesting postcards.  Browsing the jewellery stalls I spotted a bracelet very similar to one I have so, when I got home I dumped my stuff on my workdesk (along with some cheap bogoff babywipes I picked up on my travels), and started looking for my bracelet.  Can I find it? Can I heck!! I spent yesterday night and most of this morning searching to no avail.  I know it was in a black gift pouch, but where that gift pouch has gone I do not know!.
So, here I am posting mid afternoon with nothing to show except chaos on my desk (and the finished tomato tin from last week), and no sign of the bracelet.  If anyone has any clues as to where it might be, please let me know!
Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday.  Anyone who hasn't heard of the WOYWW weekly event, visit Julia's blog and join in!

WOYWW 63

As you can see, we're a bit "busy" this week, lol.  Lots of chaos! On my lovely WOYWW easel is a card wot I made earlier.  Don't usually make cards, but over the weekend I had a bit of a play with an art journal page that wouldn't go right, so I gessoed over the whole thing, threw the journal to one side and made the card instead.  It's not anyone's birthday or anything, I just felt like making something quick.  The rest of my workspace is cluttered with the makings of an altered bean tin (it's a tomato tin again, actually).  I've inked and stamped on some grungepaper and stamped on some tissue paper and I'm going for a blue and browny colour theme.... other than that I'm just going with the flow so who knows where it will lead!
This WOYWW thing is hu-uge!  I haven't managed to get around to everyone's desk for ages, there are just so many of us these days.  To join in the fun, hop on over to Julia's blog and start snooping around all the fabulous workspaces.
Happy Wednesday everyone.

WOYWW 62 - Return of the Mack

She's ba-ack!  Here is Mackenzie prowling my desk again.  She decided that this is now her territory (when she isn't sleeping on my bed) and I have to keep evicting her!

OK, I admit not much has happened with the journal page from last week, so Mack is about the most exciting thing going on on my workdesk this Wednesday!

Not much else to add this week folks, except to say, if you haven't yet joined in with the Wednesday desk sharing ritual, hop on over to Julia's blog and jump right in.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

WOYWW

I remembered this week :)  doesn't it look all lovely and organised(ish)?  I've turned the desk around and cleared loads of stuff and organised it all .  A background for an art journal page drying and a circle journal just arrived for me to work on, plus a few bits and pieces of chipboard and other stuff sitting around (including my lovely woyww easel!), but mainly tidy.

Zoom out for a look at my altered bits and bobs on the wall behind:

Do you notice a colour theme here (apart from the blue bird house?)  I think I need to experiment more with colour!!  I have to admit the framed picture at the bottom isn't mine... Charles Rennie Mackintosh did it!

Notice my new hangy rail thingies?  Scarey isn't it?  Fear not good WOYWWers, just pan to the right.............

....and here is all the "stuff" piled in boxes just as messy as ever! LOL

Any people passing by wondering why I am showing off my workspace, it's Wednesday so it's time to show us what's on your workdesk!  Hop on over to the lovely Julia's blog to join in the fun.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

WOYWW.... nuffink!

*cue tumbleweeds*
Told you I was reorganising.... I think it's gone a bit too far!!
Here then, is my nekkid desk.  It's an old gateleg table I got from a junk shop ages ago when the kids were little and I needed a dinner table that I could fold away when not in use.  Then I inherited my gran's regency french polished jobby, so this old wreck was relegated to my bedroom as my workdesk.
I'm having some deep thoughts about Ikea and Expedits but then... think of all the stash I could buy with that money... decisions, decisions.
Anyway, I am off this afternoon to the oncologist for my 6 monthly prodding and poking to make sure the cancer is still cured!  Hopefully next week I will have a neat and organised desk to show off (or the same old mess in a different configuration, lol)
For anyone passing through and wondering what this is all about, hop on over to  Julia's blog to join in and show us all what is on your workdesk this Wednesday.
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Edited to add: Thanks for all the good wishes.  All clear again at the hospital, back again in another 6 months.

WOYWW flyby post

Phew, was late home last night then overslept this morning, so just snapped a quick pic on my mobile phone and have now uploaded it at work and am making a quick post just before 9am so I'm not officially meant to be working yet!

Not the greatest pic in the world I'm afraid.  Usual "pushed back" mess.. a glimpse of my wonderful easel from the lovely Julia Dunnit who co-ordinates the WOYWW weekly event holding some offcuts of background loveliness made at the Artsy Craftsy weekend which I will find a use for on another project.  The corrugated cardboard has had a quick Titan Buff acrylic glaze (using the golden acrylic glaze you can see mixed in with some Titan Buff paint) then been sprayed with some cosmic shimmer mist and been inked around the edges with brown chalk inks and then some Wild Honey DI through a stencil which didn't come out how I expected but I like the effect all the same (which cannot really be seen in this crappy pic).  Anyway, these are intended as backgrounds for a project I am planning (I say "planning", it's more just making it up as I go along really, but I have a vague idea where I am going, so in my world that is hard core planning).
Anyways, I am now officially meant to be working, so I had best do some :(
Have a great Wednesday everyone, and I will visit later x

WOYWW

What's on my workdesk this Wednesday?  A mess!!  It's too hot to do much of anything, so I've just been fiddling around with a bit of this and a bit of that.  The little box thing once contained tiny embellishments (christmas light charms I think).  I only bought them so I could alter the box, LOL.  Anyway, I've given it a coat of gesso then a coat of Traditional Tan (yes, I caught the bug from Hels ).  Now it's sitting there waiting for me to decide my next move, but my mojo has melted in the heat :( 
Yes, you do see a roll of toilet paper on my desk.  I ran out of kitchen roll, ok!
Try not to look too hard at the mess under the desk.  It's mainly bits of half used 12 x 12 in a wierd sort of magazine rack that doesn't hold stuff upright (I got it cheap, I wonder why?!!)  There is an empty pringles tube under there waiting for a flash of inspiration to strike.  There must be something wonderful to be made with these things, I just can't think what right now.

Speaking of waiting for inspiration, here is a close up of the spoons.  I'm waiting for Jennie to alter hers so I can copy her brilliant idea :)
Right, I am writing this post on Tuesday night and scheduling it to appear on Wednesday morning.  I'm off to a meeting in Somerset bright and early and I won't be back until the evening.  Hopefully some kind soul will link me in (pretty please) over at our fearless leader's blog.  For those of you who haven't joined in the fun and madness of WOYWW yet, check out the amazing Mrs Dunnit's Blog to see what we are all on about.

Happy Wednesday WOYWWers x

WOYWW and......

...it's my birthday!
*51 today! 51 today! I've got the key to the care home door, never been 51 before!*
So here on my desk is... Stash, glorious Stash!  My DD's got me a selection of stash from my wishlist (t!m's Artful Flight stamps and the tattered florals, 3 stampotique stamps, morphic bugs) plus they got me this gorgeous bird cage!  Isn't it fab?!! The possibilities are endless!  (sorry, I seem to have a bad case of excessive exclamations this morning... it's my age lol).  They also got me the fabulous Josephine Wall art book which has really lush piccies of loads of her artwork in it.  If you haven't seen her stuff, take a look around her website here
Anyway, an apology is due from me as I didn't make it around many desks last week.  Really sorry to everyone I missed, but work was really rough last week and I just couldn't find the time or the energy to blog hop.  Promise I will try harder this week!
Anyone who wants to join in the WOYWW fun, hop over to our fearless leader, Julia's, blog and follow the links to all the interesting, messy, tidy, arty, amazing desks and workspaces.
Happy Wednesday everyone.

WOYWW

For a change (and because I didn't have time to take a photo at home this week) I have decided to show you my work workdesk this Wednesday.  As you can see, I am up to my eyes in a spreadsheet (mainly because an idiot was left in charge of a database and chaos has ensued!).  This is my view of the world for the majority of my working day (which is too long!).  Yes, I have a cup of tea, and the little bottle at the bottom left of my monitor is not, in fact, Elemis shampoo.  It is some handwash which I take with me when I am on site because some of the antibacterial handwashes aggravate my excema (or however you spell it)

This is the view into the rest of the office (most of the healthy looking plants are artificial, the dead looking ones are the real ones!).

This is the view other people have of my desk when they come to bother me!! 

Here is a close-up of the monkey guard who sits on my printer and prevents other people from using all my ink!

For those of you who think I am completely mad - you are absolutely right.  However, if you are thinking I am mad because you don't know about WOYWW, then hop on over to Julia's Blog and find out all about it.  Maybe join in the fun too, the more the merrier!.

I will try to visit some desks now, but I really should be untangling this stupid database, so I will probably have to visit most of you later this evening.  Happy Wednesday!

WOYWW is one year old!

Congratulations to Julia for starting this and working so hard to keep it going.  It's become a phenomenon a very big thing!  For those who haven't heard about the mega huge WOYWW movement, hop over to this post on Julia's blog where it is all explained.  So, on with the motley... here is my anniversary piece (on my very messy desk)

Ta-da! I have finally altered my bean tin (actually a tomato tin).  Regular WOYWWers may recall seeing the poor nekkid tin holding some of my pens, pencils and assorted things that would fit in it, sitting on my desk awaiting adornment.  Well, I thought it would be a fitting anniversary tribute to finally decorate the poor neglected thing.  Of course, this meant my desk got even messier as I had to empty it out, and then I was working until late last night to finish it so stuff is strewn all over the desk (whaddya mean "what's different"?!)

I covered it in grungepaper that I had inked with Wild Honey and Peeled Paint DI then stamped with Paper Artsy Hot Pick stamps (purchased at the Artsy Crafts event... I lurve those stamps) in archival Olive, Coffee and jet black inks to give some depth.  I added a few extra little birds from Crafty Individuals.  I then made some holes with the BIA and laced it on with some hairy, dangly thread stuff I had laying around. (oh, I painted the tin with a Willow paint dabber first).

And here is the money shot.  The famous acronym stamped across the top.
My pens and stuff can now sit proudly in their new, suitably adorned tin.
OK, I'm on leave this week so I can hopefully visit more desks this week.  Looking forward to seeing everyone on this special date!

WOYWW

... or maybe what's not on my workdesk, because there isn't much!  The badge is one we were all given at the Artsy Crafts weekend all made up for us when we arrived :)

To make up for the complete lack of activity on my actual workdesk, I will show you another area with a sad lack of industry... my cross stitch corner. Each of the plastic boxes contains a cross stitch project. There are a few smaller ones piled up on the top left, and the lap tray on the top right has a long neglected bead weaving project on it.  The big bag looking thing on the top left is a pillow case with a few actual completed projects in it.... waiting to be framed!  My excuse for not doing any cross stitch for such a long time is that my magnifying lamp broke and my eyes are no longer up to working on 32 count linen unaided.  (I know, that's pretty lame).  I really should get back to work on some of these poor neglected things.  I have some beautiful pieces on the go such as Carousel  by Teresa Wentzler, Celestial Dragon by the same artist, Storyteller (TW again), Queen of Peace by Nora Corbett...... I really need to finish some of them!  Help!
Anyway,  happy Wednesday WOYWW, hope to visit you all soon.

WOYWW

Yes, it's Wednesday already, which can only mean one thing......  only 3 more sleeps to Artsy Crafts!!  Of course, it's also WOYWW day.  This week I thought I would show you a couple of different angles of my little corner of the universe:

I normally take shots from where I usually sit to craft I realised, so I went to the other side of the desk this week.  It's all very cluttered, mainly because if I hide things away I forget I've got them and either don't use them or buy another one! lol.

Here you can see some of the stuff on my desk a bit more clearly.  I'm working on a CJ at the moment.  I've also had a bit of a move around on the desk so things are bit tidier than usual (only a bit mind you!).

And this is just a sideways view so you can see all the clutter climbing up the walls!

Hope everyone has a great day, and don't forget to join in with the fun here on our fearless leader's blog.

WOYWW

My desk seems to have disappeared! This basket usually lives on the floor next to my desk and stuff gets put in to it. You know the kind of thing - new stash, interesting buttons and bits of lace from old clothes, tickets that look pretty or that I want to scrap some day - that kind of stuff.  The idea being, it goes in there as a sort of inbox and then gets sorted out and put away. Only the basket is full to overflowing and no sorting out or putting away has been happening. So, I have dumped it (and the overflow) on top of my desk so I will have to sort it out before I can do any crafting.  That's the theory anyway.  It's been there since Monday evening with no change so far.  My excuse is I've been working late... hopefully there will be improvement before next week, otherwise you all have permission to whip me with wet noodles!!
On a different subject.... only 10 more sleeps! No, I'm not Linda Elbourne and I'm not going to Ranger U.  I am going to the next Artsy Crafts weekend though (and Linda will be there) - woohoo!
BTW for those who asked last week, my two daughters both have the first initial J, so the Js were one each for them.

A very late WOYWW

So late it's almost a WOYWThursday!!  T'internet is finally reconnected at work, but not until about 5.30pm so I couldn't post from work.  Had to wait until I got home, did all kinds of stuff and now, finally, I have had a chance to take a quick pic and here it is:

Not much of the desk on show I'm afraid.  You can just see the edge of my paint mixing wotsit on the left with a selection of chipboard bird shapes in it.  I intended to use them for something, but I can't remember what now.  The little black thing at the top was from a tube of some kind of glue, and I have found it very useful for unblocking my glossy accents from time to time.  The letters are MDF ones that I got from somewhere ages ago and never got around to doing anything with.  I finally decided to alter them this week and have been doing bits and pieces to them.  First I gave them a coat of Traditional Tan paint each, then another one for luck.  The pink then has some K & Co Madeleine paper stuck to the top then I swiped some tattered rose DI around the edge.  The other one I stamped a Wendy Vecchi stamp with coffee Archival Ink then swiped the edge with brushed corduroy DI.  Both of them were then coated with the very last of my transparent Croco and left to dry.  This evening when I got in from work I smooshed some walnut stain DI into the cracks then wiped the excess off with a baby wipe.  I've then spritzed some mallow pink and antique copper cosmic shimmer mist onto the pink one and some rich gold and antique copper onto the other one.  Not sure what I am going to do with them next.... maybe I'm finished... what do you guys think?
Ok, off now to see what's on everyone else's desks this Wednesday (maybe it will be Thursday by the time I've finished looking!).

WOYWW

Here we are again, Wednesday already!?!!  I'm back at work :( so it's sneaking on to post again and I will catch up with everyone when I get home tonight.  ok, here we are:

What a mess! Lots of new cosmic shimmer mists from Ally Pally, a half complete matchbox thingy for the Alter it Monthly  challenge, some gilding flakes I got out and haven't put away again, lots of other things I got out and haven't put away again.... you get the idea!

Ah well, it was tidy once upon a time, lol