What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 858

Here you are Neet, nothing's changed whilst you're busy getting better....

I'm going to hazard a guess that there won't be any shock at the sight of this particular desk, I'm counting on the idea that you'd be disappointed if it was in any other state. It's remarkable really, considering I haven't actually used the desk for anything vaguely crafty. Until last weekend. I went to a friend's SU! Card making marathon on Saturday and made some lovely Christmas cards. I had sort of decided not to make any this year as they need doing soon and my heart just hasn't been in it. So I found myself remembering what I used to say to people that came to my workshops and marathons....removing yourself from the house and crafting in company can very often be just what you need. Luxury.

Join us over at Sarah's for a look at more interesting desks than this!

www.sarahscraftshed.co.uk

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 856

Well that was a week!

My Workdesk is unchanged in terms of any sort of action except the dumping kind...but silver lining - I've dumped actual Christmas presents on it! They aren't hand made or anything but of course they are a secret at least until they're wrapped. And that will happen soon because that's my one solid plan this year - I am not going to spend a whole day or however many evenings it takes to wrap all the presents. I'm wrapping as I go (excluding the fancy bows etc), and then they can be stored in a box in the room of shame, just as they would be normally only more ready than not. I'm determined!

So, for a photo...

This is what I'm calling the desk. It's just the kitchen worktop but shows the crochet off. Originally I had the idea to make some placemats with this gorgeous teal cotton. A rectangle of blue in moss stitch with a silvery subtle decorative edge. Sounds nice, but it's not going well. And this is about the fifth attempt. The cotton is so fine and satin smooth that the foundation chain looks horribly scrappy. If I can't get one to look right, a set of six may will be beyond me. Any tips?

I have sad news to impart. We were joined at some point in the WOYWW story by Tertia. A South African mother, teacher and crafter. She didn't join in much after she retired but we stayed in touch by Facebook, as I'm sure a few of us have. I was really saddened to see that her family posted details of a commemorative service for her probably only a handful of days after I'd seen one of her regular posts. Hr posts were always loving, usually involving pride in her family or celebrating the success of a former pupil.  Absolutely no doubt that the world is a poorer placed without Tertia and isn't it true that condolences just don't seem enough.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 855

Hello lovely Neet, if you're reading this, know that we're all thinking of you and sending you the feel better vibes!

This was last night, proper night too, dark outside...it was actually only about 7, because I took it while I waited for our supper veggies to boil! I had started to unpack from the crop retreat at some point - that box contains papers that are matched to photos already. The stuff on top is coincidental because it's been there two weeks and any surface is a catch-all, huh! The actual working area has scrap paper and is relatively clear because during quite a long FaceTime call with my sister at the weekend, I made a handful of very simple cards. The box of gems is not put away flotsam from that. The coins came out of my pocket yesterday, setting up my screen for a chat with our Jan, my tunic pocket was clanking and annoying me as I moved. I was crocheting while Jan and I chatted about everything, what a tonic an hour in her company is to me. So that crochet project is finished and I'm moving onto making a Christmas present, I just like to have something to do in front of the TV so that me and Mr Dunnit are at least in the same room in the evening. I will tell you all about the new crochet next time...there's already a story. Ouf.

Join us in the best show and tell, leave a link at Sarah's and we'll swing by! 

Sarah: https://www.sarahscraftshed.co.uk/2025/10/woyww-85575-sample-making.html

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 853

 This is the jammy edition. Again I'm here to say thank you, we had a cream tea delivered from this fabulous community. We enjoyed it very, very much.

The big tub of cream was in a silver bubbly envelope with a little freezer block in the bag. So efficient. Doesn't it all look inviting! I unpacked it and put the cream in the fridge as we decided we'd have a proper lovely tea in the autumn sunshine the next day. Well, because of the circs, I woke in the middle of the night to find myself alone in bed. I staggered downstairs to find Mr Dunnit making a cup of tea, so I joined him. And then, like naughty children, we scoffed a cream tea at 230am. And we did it again the next day because the scones were HUGE and we really did struggle to finish one each, laden as they were...I mean, the jam would hardly spread!

Another lift to our morale, at just the right time, even if it was a ridiculous time, thank you so much. We had the go ahead to start clearing the site and have spent days scavenging in the soot and ash to remove what is now scrap metal. Oddly, I think it's cathartic for him, but I've stopped, it's really not any therapy for me! I've had a weekend of therapy with The Coven, some scrapbooking and chat about anything except what we're going to do (not entirely sure, yet) and lots of cutting and sticking. Best therapy, as we all know! I actually made a good handful of layouts, surprised myself...perhaps the reduced time I had concentrated my mind! So instead of the actual desk, please enjoy some of my output, because by next Wednesday, my desk will be littered, cluttered and messy, as normal!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 852

If you're on Facebook,   You might have seen my post about the fire that destroyed our workshop, paint shop and timber store. Our business. For two or three days, it was devastating and we did not know which way was up, let alone forward. Some sleep and the need to face insurance and utitlty companies and daily life have brought us back to reality. The arrival of your support in the shape of this beautiful autumnal bouquet is so appreciated. We are both buoyed and enabled by knowing that so many people wish us well in the next part of our lives and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for it.

Plans are afoot now. Mr Dunnit doesn't want to completely retire, so we instantly have a way forward. We still have each other and we have our home which really means that we have everything still.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 850

 850..that's a lot isn't it! Nice big roundy number. Still grateful to Sarah for carrying us on.

We've been away on holiday and so my desk is not looking any different after I last did the show and tell. So, have a view of Sardinia..

It was an 'activities' holiday. There was a lot to do and Mr Dunnit totally made the most. I (we] did some kayaking, and I took a couple of swimming lessons...to improve my breathing in front crawl and racing breast stroke, and we did some walking. The tennis, 730am fun run, windsurfing and such were done by himself. Apart from the fun run, I went along and sat courtside or beach side to support....just as he did when I was in the pool trying to breathe without ingesting litres of water! It was a fun and as Jan put it, a 'wet' holiday.

There were two evenings that we moved off resort to try some local food. We were encouraged to try Paolo's, a pizza house run by Paola and his wife, now in their 70s, who only serve pizza and local beer, wine and Fanta. So, we set off, a mile or so of a stroll, some uphill and all rather charming. Old buildings, lovely faded stucco, very narrow roads and no paths. Caused Mr Dunnit some stress that did, specially when you could see a car on the horizon, apparently heading straight for us. Meanwhile though, it was hot and humid and...it started to thunder. And then the rain came, big heavy drops that we were reasonably pleased about, refreshing and just a shower. Not so. Within a minute we were soaked through with absolutely nowhere to shelter and nothing in the way of a coat of course; it was so hot we hadn't even thought about bringing an extra layer for later when the sun went down. (One of Sardinia's things that, the temperature difference between day and night is often no more than five degrees). I was as you can see, in a pink linen dress that very quickly became see through (blue bra) but hey -  my knickers were skin colour so nobody knew what style they were at least!

The patrons, when we finally made it to their house, didn't blink. The old man asked if we had a reservation and led us into an empty room. Then he fetched a plastic table and chairs from outside and indicated we should sit. So we did, and gently steamed in what had clearly been their front room at one point. 

There were 40 odd pizza choices on the handwritten menu and the two that we had were just lovely. It didn't rain again and when we left, the front garden was full of pizza enjoying patrons, enjoying less humid air under the fairy lights and magnificent trailing jasmine. We squelched back to a hot shower and a large medicinal gin, because you don't want to catch a cold whilst you're on holiday, huh!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 848

I don't know if this will work. If you're reading it, it has worked so three cheers for me. And boo to all the hoops I've had to jump through, not least to just understand the prompts that kept popping up to apparently help me. 

Now where was I? Oh yeah, I had a bit of a purge on wood mounted stamps. So I decided to do the same with the clear stamps. As you can see, I emptied them drawer by drawer onto my desk. I cleaned and sorted into 'keep' and 'sell' piles boxes and again, spent a long time listing them on Vinted for about a quid each. Not a lot, but I've got rid of the majority without throwing them into landfill, and those that are left are now loosely categorised and only take up 3 drawers! The Christmas collection is last but not least but it will be a good ten days before I've got time to do that lot! 

I've also also done some scrapbooking which I don't often do at home - a couple of Mr Dunnit's baby pictures that came to us after his Mum died last summer. I haven't done much to them except to make sure they're on acid free etc...they really aren't mine to over mess with. He likes the results and that they'll be a bit better preserved, so that's a win!

They are so of their time aren't they. 

And this is the chubbiest his face has ever been! 

I know I'm not exactly a regular Desker these days, but I know that I won't be around next week already....something to do with a water sports holiday....so help me, I would appreciate your thoughts....those thoughts that don't have us in a kayak with Mr Dunnit at the front, high out of the water because of his lumpy wife behind him! I fear....!! Check everyone else's desks out over at Sarah's, much more inspiring I can tell you.