WOYWW 883 The One About Neet

Neet, of Hickydorums blogspot died last week. Her cherished husband Chas let us know and has posted on her blog about her quiet and restful passing. She hadn’t been well for some months and spent Christmas in hospital, full of praise for the staff who looked after and who she instantly befriended.

That was Neet to a tee: befriending. And warm. And oh so craft talented. And rather enabling. Indeed her own blog bio suggests that she hopes to be an enabler…..

I guess you would call me a crafter. Mainly paprcrafting but I enjoy Friendly Plastic, Shrink Plastic, Melt Art, Clay and Jewellery making. I teach various workshops and demonstrate at shows (now totally independent - whoo hoo) and I get most of my pleasure from passing on to others what I have learnt myself be it from the internet, other workshops I attend or simply messing about myself. I like to think I am an "enabler" and so help people to become more confident in themselves and enjoy what they are doing. If they are making something like a book, canvas or a piece of art I encourage them to produce something which is different from that of the person next to them, or mine - ie with their own personal slant.

Of course, Neet enabled in a way that was entirely giving, helping others to acquire skill and improve their crafting confidence. How typical of her. I learned from her, and she enabled me in the other sense too, tuning me into Janet Klein’s designs and happily giving me ideas and suggestions. If I’d been another foot taller, I’d have asked her for wardrobe advice too, man was she a cool dresser and so casual about her look. 

Neet joined WOYWW in 2011 and until late last year, she contributed almost without pause. Always positive and so very humble about her teaching and demonstrating;’I guess you would call me a crafter’…. she really had a reputation, and I’m sure that her local group, Victoria Crafters will miss her just as much as her online community of friends will. 

I searched for Neet’s blog rather than typing in the url, and look what came up - even the AI Dolly knows her - 

Based on the search results, Hickydorums (often referenced as hickeydorums) is a blog and creative persona associated with Neet, an active participant in the online art journaling community.

I don’t know where Alvin and Alvira came from, but a Neet gave them life and giggles and I’ll miss their stories on her blog, I’ll miss her incredible modesty with all of her creations, and I’ll miss my giggling at her idea of an untidy Workdesk. I cherish our friendship online and the memories of meeting up at WOYWW crops. I miss reading that she drove into the nearby Barrow to post her blog because there is no internet at the holiday caravan. Dedicated. Another word that describes her. 

My heart goes out to Chas at the loss of his life’s love, and I hope that he finds some small comfort in the memories of the many friends that his lovely wife was surrounded by. 

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 882

 So convinced that today was only Tuesday that I’m writing this at 2pm! I had a day off on Monday and it’s totally thrown me. A lovely weekend spent at crop means that I’ve done a lot and now am in the messy part of clearing up…..

There’s the pile of LOs that I made at the weekend. It was a weekend of tough decisions….sit outside in the beautiful garden and enjoy the sun, or actually do something indoors…..ended up doing a lot of both really, especially by scrapping well past bedtime to make up for afternoon time in the sun! The magazines there have had a belly band fitted to jazz them up a little as they’re to go as a gift with a card -one of the trainers at my gym is having a knee replacement as we speak and I know that she’ll be bored rigid for the few hours she has to spend off her feet every day!

Meanwhile, here’s a quick pic to prove that there actually is a pile of layouts to show for my weekend

I need to go through them and see if they need any tweaking before I put them in their album. Given that I thought I was a day in hand, that may have to wait until the weekend. Hope you’re all experiencing some version of the glorious sunshine (today’s the same but the wind is brutally cold again) and enjoying the Spring that’s sprung!

Sarah’s  is the place to find links to superior crafting and desk pictures, go see! 

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 881

 I’m going away for a Crop weekend on Friday lunchtime. What you see here is my untidy desk covered in the ‘suitcase’ of little boxes which comprises my embellishments and ah, ephemera. 

I was checking for a particular thing to add to the LO you can see in the lid. Because you see, gentle Desker, in order to pack for a weekend of cropping, I first have to unpack and put away from the day’s cropping three weeks ago. Oh dear. You can see remnant tubes of white paint from last week, and a new set of embroidery skeins that I found rather cheaply at a charity table top sale. Colours are a bit erm, non-traditional, but they’ll largely be used on felt so I don’t doubt they’ll do. 

Meanwhile, B-J asked to see the LOs…I don’t blame her either, I talk about doing stuff and then don’t prove it. also it will make your teeth itch B-J, the dates are not chronological like your pages!

Please join in over at Sarah’s, and as I recently heard on an Instagram reel….have a good day on purpose!

What’s on Your Workdesk? Wednesday 880

 Big up to Sarah for keeping us going to this lovely bubbly round number!

I have a small amount of action going on - I thought I should tidy and ended up painting! 

I acquired a tray full of out-of-date Pringles from a shopkeeper friend and having rinsed and wiped  the tubs, decided they’d be good for a decoupage stunt at WI. Then I realised that the vibrant red of the pots would take a more covering than a gal can contemplate, so I’ve set about undercoating them in white. The first layer was poster paint and barely made a difference. I rummaged furiously and found all sorts of odd tubes of white acrylic paint, so they’re all now well on their way to being opaquely white. Then they can sit quietly in a box with a couple of packs of natty napkins and some glue spreaders (‘found’ over many trips to a Costa) . They are a back up plan, so we have something to do if a speaker has to make a last minute cancellation. Hasn’t happened yet, so I might even get time to make a sample and test run the theory!

Join us over at Sarah’s for creativity overflow, it’s free it’s harmless, it can be enabling and it’s always inspiring. Have a lovely day!
 

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 879

Well last week I wrote a post and forgot to publish it. This week I’ll schedule it and try hard not to forget to link it. Seriously, I wish I could find someone to blame…..!

Oh gosh, I found myself needing a sympathy card. It caused me, out of some weird respect, to tidy up and make it in a decent environment. No bad thing, but definitely not how I usually make a card ‘au last minute’, as y’all know! Still, having excavated the desk it may see a bit of action at last…I’ve got some scrapbook layouts that need to be titled and have the odd embellishment added before putting them in the album, so I think that’ll be next. Hope you all enjoyed some down time over the Easter weekend, the weather has been 48 hours of sunshine which I must say has done my inner sun seeker a whole amount of good!

Catch up with us all at Sarah’s to enjoy more desks and chatter. What’s not to like?!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 877

I have nothing of interest on my work desk…it’s the same old. Since the card making session for WI, I haven’t done anything at all at my desk; but I haven’t been totally ignoring my er, inner crafter.

This is the coffee table in our lounge area. I fell for the colour of this yarn and needed a reason to own it. My SiL has a ‘feature wall’ in her dining room which is this colour with a silver pattern on it, so I’m making a sort of table runner. Not the full length but bigger than a centrepiece type thing. Turns out the yarn is so thin that I’m using it in double thread mode on 1.5mm hook, it has no substance worked as a single thread, it’s just a silky cotton. Also, I’ve chosen a colour that my old eyes really need daylight for - an hour in the daylight produces twice the number of pieces than an hour by light of lamps and tv! 

Join us all why don’t you, show and tell of your desk space, whatever it is you do…we are fascinated by it all. Links to visit and join in at Sarah’s , see you there!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 873

 

I’ve been doing a hurried, panic induced re-think of my contribution to the WI craft evening next week. 

Last night I ‘trialled’ my plan on a couple of willing non card making members during our inaugural Craft evening. Sent me back to my desk really quick! I need to remember that using double sided tape and foam pads aren’t the norm for a lot of people, peeling them before sticking one side down is only obvious if you know. I need to remember that heat embossing is thrilling, needs explaining better than I did - I couldn’t convince them to stop heating once the powder turned shiny, they both thought it was then wet and needed to be heat dried. So long since I showed anybody that I’ve lost the patter! Also the water colour effect I’d used for the image took them an age to do, I think they were classically scared to overdo it or go outside the lines, something that won’t lend itself to 18 people having a go over two hours with other activities to try! Yikes. So I’ve been back to the drawing board and I THINK it’ll work better now. The panic is because I’m away on Friday for a scrapbooking weekend with The Coven and the diary between getting home and the WI evening is well, unforgiving!                                   

Hope you have a super week, join us over at Sarah’s for a look see and/or a join in!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 871

 Trumpet blares and bunting waving to welcome Neet home, am so glad to hear of it, no place like it for gentle recovering. 

I took this last night, and it is still like this, frozen in situ until at least tomorrow. I don’t know why, but Wednesdays have become really busy days recently! Girlfriend type birthday cards in the making s you can see. Just love these shoes, a new to me stamp (wood mounted - bliss!). Of course the reason I sat down to make a girlfriend type card is now in a sealed envelope, unphotographed because I forgot. Anyway, answer me this……which way up should the shoes go? I actually woke up thinking about that this morning! The rest of the desk is covered in Easter stuff because I’m still working on some kits for WI next month. Got a willing victim coming to try them out next week so I do need to actually do them! I hope you’ve had a good week, and get a chance to join us over at Sarah’s for this week’s rummaging! 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 870

This the whoa! edition...I nearly forgot, which is horrible...as is the current desk state, but at least I've been doing something. 

I finally got sick of tripping over the trolley of stuff that I took to Crop over a week ago. That's all tidied into proper places and the trolley neatly folded into its cubby in the garage. The LOs however, are on my desk as you can see... one needed re-gluing (already!) and the other two don't need but I think could do with a title; so now I'm thinking on.

There's a bunch of (unused!) Hero Arts rubber stamps on an Easter theme that I bought from Vinted, and a few plastic bags that give away a little splurge on Temu: mostly dies, but there is the inevitable "what did I order this for" purchase too. In this case, a roll of Easter themed Washi tape. It's not too onerous but I suspect it will take me the rest of my life to actually use up!

The insurance company has written off our perfectly repairable car, so we are out today to do test drives on a couple of replacements, it's tedious and because we were no where near the mind set of replacing a car, its a real chore that neither of us are enjoying. All that just to say that I may be even slower than normal to visit! Meanwhile though, check out the others' desks - you could even join us, a fresh desk is a delight! Sarah's is the place to find a list of inks and stories.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 869

Now don’t be in awe, but it’s OK to be surprised. I’ve spent half an hour in my room every day this week ( I know it’s only Wednesday but in half an hour I can get some stuff done!) . I’ve made an ATC for a monthly swap with a pen pal - evidenced by the little packet of plastic sleeves at left, a couple of thank you cards - evidenced by the two ink pads still on the desk, and here I am working on something vaguely Easter-ish. It would seem that I need to take a photo of the desk each time I think I’ve tidied up so as to see what I’ve missed! The Easter style work is for a WI craft session at the March meeting.  The other ladies who are tasked with making something for the meeting keep saying ‘there’s plenty of time’, but not for me, I need my contribution, tried, tested and kitted or I’ll procrastinate it to the point of panic and it’ll be a rubbish contribution! So that’s me for now, pop over to the link lady Sarah and join us why don’t you. More interesting desks than mine await!  Sarah’s

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 868

 My Workdesk is a neglected mess which is not unusual I know, but it will be put right presently, I have a pressing need to make a birthday card for tomorrow. Deadlines, so inspiring.

My sister and her granddaughter had a hand printing session at the weekend and I was allowed to keep the not so good ones…but I had done the same with Piper (age 4) a couple of weeks previously and we’d used 12x12 paper so I could use it as a scrapbook page base. Sometimes, just sometimes, I’m on it! 

I bought a new Raskog trolley when in IKEA last week.

There it is patiently waiting to have all the stuff from the old one transferred. I haven’t done it for several reasons, the most apposite being that I should take the time to purge all the scraps etc that live in the top layer. Despite having them on hand, there’s a few colours and patterns that I constantly overlook so it’s time to let them go. I haven’t bought it on a whim, the existing trolley has collapsed wheels and despite the middle shelf being empty, it won’t stay in position, the nuts have failed and despite several mendings, now the struts need to be drilled to take bigger bolts but they’re too narrow. Argh. 

And then there’s this that has kept me away from anything but admin - honestly I’ve spent two whole days in phone calls and form filling for a ‘no fault’ accident, 

and today it’s a week since it happened and I still don’t have the ‘courtesy car supplied in 24 hours’. There’s a feeling of being had over the whole repair thing too; I think I’ll blog separately about it, see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Meanwhile, go look at other, interesting and active desks, much more fun than reading my whining (sorry). Join us over at Sarah’s for a bunch of interesting links.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 867

I had a day out on Monday with my lovely Miss Dunnit. It wasn’t deeply glam, we went to IKEA in Southampton to sort out her Christmas present. It was lovely to be with her though. The point of telling you though is to help you understand why I can’t get my head into today being Wednesday! I seem to be living on unreal days! Feels like Tuesday here!

I do however, have a real time, real mess and real stuff photo of my desk. The invitations were finished on Sunday and I thought I might take part in a challenge set by my friend Jolande who is a Stampin’ Up gal. Once a week, make a card using old SU! Products. I can do that, and would certainly benefit from a collection of cards to use. 

So there’s the makings of a couple of cards, I don’t know how old the stamp set it, but it was second hand to me, and is wood mounted, so that probably ages it in SU terms! You can also just see some wax seals on the scrap paper, I’m practising the pouring and amounts of wax. I’m going to have to find a pot to keep them in, the  bad ones can be melted down again, but if it comes out well, it’s worth keeping for erm, something. That Kathy On The Hill has really set me off on something!

Huge but gentle hugs to our Neet, we all think of you often - and some of us talk about you! Xxx

Join us for a show and tell of your desk…very easy, no commitment, membership or cost, just add your link over at Sarah’s

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 866

My new year edition, late to the party as is usual for the past year! Wishing you all the best for 2026, May it be everything it needs to be for you, and if I can help in any way to make that happen, let me know!

My desk..hmm. Underused except for some admin and month end paperwork (which is a joke as since the fire we haven’t actually been trading, but lots of purchases for the rebuild to log and still a VAT bill to wrestle. Bonkers really! 

There is evidence of a Christmas present, some wax seals. Kathy On The Hill sent me a bunch of stuff for seal making and I have had a brief go, it’s a bit addictive actually, I can see the paraphernalia popping up in desk shots quite a lot this year. Inevitably I now have to buy wax and *cough* one or two more seals…the one I’ve used here although it’s not clear, is a balloon dog!  So cute. The notebook on the right has my Great Niece's ‘writing’ on it. She’s at the stage of needing a new page (of my business payments notebook in this case) for every mark she makes. I’d forgotten all these little things. And that if I sit at my desk, both of the little ones have to drag a dining chair in, get situated and then fiddle with all that is dangerous on my desk and completely ignore anything that might be safe/clean/allowed. It’s been a re-learning! 

That’s me, now I have to get on with some general housework that has largely been hidden or ignored by Christmas decor….check out more creative desks over at our Sarah’s - join in, it’s free, fun and apart from certain photos, tidy! 

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 864

 

Happy Christmas! 

I made this card weeks ago at a workshop, and it struck me when I was trying to write a few cards that this was the one I wanted for my blog. The sentiment is spot on, you lovely Deskers have been a great source of comfort and joy to me (us, really) all year,  and particularly since the year turned a sharp corner and went wrong. Thank you. I hope that through the thick and thin that we all experience,  some of my posts or comments have been in some small way a help or a laugh when needed. 

So, how about a little context then….

It’s not too untidy, but will continue in its role of catch-all-dumping-station for another couple of days, no doubt! The wooden plate and tray and big fruit bowl are waiting to be put away, I have Christmassy versions of them and so they take up each others room in cupboards etc, so that works out. The grey things on the right are zippered storage bags. I bought two, from Temu. Naturally I can’t remember what brilliant idea I had for them now. I need a whole day at my desk just to get in the zone again, it might help!

Neet if you’re visiting, know that we think of you all the time, wish we could be visiting you!

However your Christmas holiday passes, please spend it knowing that you have friends. Less sentimental posts, cards and desks can be found over at Sarah’s, as usual. 

What's on your Workdesk? Wednesday 863

 These posts are starting to feel like Workdesk avoidance posts...here's where I spent a solid couple of hours yesterday...

Making a wrapping mess in the dining room. Ive got half jobs done all over the house and I'm a one-job-at-a-time person really, so I really need to do some finishing, or I'm going to go quite mad! Yesterday I finished the tree, or as much as is going to be done, anyway. We put it up on Saturday and my baby great nieces helped to decorate it...so i finished it by spreading the decorations around...at one point all the snowflakes were hung on one branch, all the 'grey' ( it caused a discussion..grey? or silver?) baubles were squashed onto another single branch and inevitably, there was about four foot of naked tree! I cant find the star that goes on top either, no doubt it will show up. I was too afraid to look under the china cabinet, it will cause another job to be written on the list because I can guarantee there will be dust, and at this point, it's easier not to see it!

I hope your plans and preps for the Christmas holiday are going well and that you're enjoying some glittery anticipation, make yourself a hot chocolate and browse the deskers preparations...some of them are so well prepared that they have moved into non-christmas crafting for next year! I kid you not. Join us over at Sarah's.

What's on your Workdesk? Wednesday 862

I've moved into the kitchen, not because i need more room or because the desk is in such a state that i cant use it (surprising but true), but because Mr Dunnit ws home early needing a bit of company and i have a deadline to meet with painting this money box! 

 Apart from the windows I'm making it look like a watermelon, hence the dodgy dark green lines. Net to add some pips on the pinky red and then come up with a pithy and easy to paint word for the surf board. It's a Christmas present and needs to back at the pottery shop by Friday to have it fired and back to me in good time. Ive always felt these sort of projects are better done at the pottery shop, but their genius 'to go' kit means that I can chatter to Mr Dunnit and paint. A welcome distraction from the angst of not being a good painter if nothing else!

Join in with us over at Sarah's wont you? Its fun and it doesn't need wrapping, icing or cooking!!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 860

Hello Deskers, hope you're squaring up to the idea of next week being a December, we seem to have rather fallen through November with nothing to hold onto!  I've actually had a tidy up on the desk front, so have a flat surface from which to show you the cards I made at a friend's SU! Christmas card making marathon. It was a lot of fun.

I've also iced the mini Christmas cakes - no marzipan as they're for a stall at a school that is a nut free zone. I know I could make a marzipan alternative but for time reasons, I've gone straight to icing. I love marzipan but rarely use it on our Christmas cake because Mr Dunnit thinks it makes it too rich. He's right, but slightly mad.

The Christmas Fair that the cakes are actually destined for isn't till the 5th December but I'm going to be away from home next week so have to finalise loads of stuff before this weekend. There's nowt like a deadline! I'm going to West Yorkshire, Keighley,  to visit my Aunt - it will be fun and probably really help to get me feeling festive! Anyone about?

Neet, I hope you're joining us in spirit from your hospital bed...so looking forward to hearing that you and the ticker are working together! Love to you, and remember, if you show anyone the photo of me in the crochet hat, I will put you on the naughty list. IN CAPITALS.

Join us all over at Sarah's for a look at desks and more. Why not, it's fun and free..the risk of friendship is real and slightly unavoidable.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 859

 Sending love to Neet, think of you often and hope you're being a patient patient! I really have nothing but a multi coloured mess to show, no crafting at this desk....

I did have a long phone call that I thought meant that I could at least tidy up and clear the deck but that didn't work..I had to hold the phone to my one working ear rather than have it on speaker so that was a bust! The other thing about it all is that really I don't have the motivation, sadly. I'm doing some crochet in the evening in front of the tv, and I've baked a bunch of mini Christmas cakes for WI sales and gifts and I've done a lot of winter preparation gardening too, I just don't seem to get to the cutting and sticking so much for now. It's not wrong or bad but is pretty boring for you folk! 

We link at Sarah's to share pics of our crafting weeks and desk tops, join us there for some fun and some real inspiration.

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.