What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 376

Not much sign of come back crafting really. There's a bit of interest though - a bunch of beautifully stamped and cut out flowers came from Sally and therefore get to sit on the ipad stand to remind me that they are almost made cards! There's still a couple of stones - one red, totally blank apart from the red, another purple. The purple one is drying after a coat of varnish, the other side is more interesting! There's an (empty) packet of sweeties - chocolate mini eggs. Gotta be one of my favourites. Cadbury have produced them out of season and called them 'Wini Eggs' because they have a competition to win a trip to Rio for the Para Olympics. I haven't won. In front of that packet is a box of confetti - we went to a lovely wedding over the weekend. It's very unusual to be allowed to throw confetti these days, so we really chucked a lot about....and then I scrabbled around on the steps of the venue to collect some to put in the album. Like you do. The card expressing pride is for my nephew. He's a soldier now, and his Passing Out Parade is on Friday. Another occasion for a frock and some well shined shoes! Show and tell will ya, I've bored you with mine, you owe it to me!

I'm officially my Mother....

For as long as I've been able to understand speech, people have told me how like my Mother I look. My adult response has always been 'thank you' and if there's time, an explanation that I'm actually more like my younger sister than my sainted Mama.  And that's all true. It's also totally true that all those clichés and sayings about being like your Mother apply to me.
We could (and I stress "could" share shoes. There is a point in my memory when we did....early 1980's, we had the Marks and Spencer pointy toe high heel sling backs in every colour between us. I wore the white ones on my wedding day. Mistake that, with a hooped skirt on your wedding dress...the bloody hoop got trapped between my foot and the shoe on every step....argh. I digress.

I learned from Mama that if you see a potential gift for someone, buy it, if you can afford it. Save it for the occasion. If you can't afford it, write it down in a proper not-to-be-lost notebook rather than think you'll remember it. This has really been helpful. Mostly, I am therefore reasonably prepared. With ideas, if not actual presents for birthday and Christmas times.

Which is why, earlier this month, my desk was a wrapping station for Christmas gifts. Just as my Mother would have done, I used my niece's UK holiday as an opportunity to get my USA family's presents sent, carriage free, so to speak. I wonder if they open them all early, or if they're kept? I wonder if they think I'm amazing because I'm so organised. Or a bit of a nerd, or silly. No, as it's an inherited skill, they'd never be so rude. Would they?

What's that saying... 'fool me once' ....

Way back in 2011, I had cause to write to Santa after Christmas, to ask him to help Mr Dunnit better interpret my clues as to the presents I would like. Well, I don't like to judge, so I'm going to say that Santa didn't get my letter.

This year, chez Dunnit, we have been plotting and planning more  building works. It's serious stuff, and we've worked hard in terms of budget and material choices and plans. My surgery has inevitably delayed the upheaval, but things are on the turn. Delivery of materials for this project have become quite frequent.

It was my Birthday last month. When he asked if there was anything in particular I would like, I was happy to say there was not. Not even a surprise. I have no wants or needs. 

A couple of hours after this conversation and with a sheaf of paperwork on his lap, he asked me if I'd like some precious metal for my birthday. Now, remember the reason for my letter to Santa. I said it would be nice, but absolutely unnecessary. 'Of course it's necessary', he said 'and it would make me happy - we could think of it as a joint present'. How sweet.

the length of the garage and oh, there's the mower again.

Be not surprised though gentle reader, when I tell you that the steel lintel - stage one in the building process - has been delivered. In his defence, it is a precious metal - it will hold up the side of my lovely home at some point. Joint present? I guess it is. I wasn't fooled, but thought you might recognise this thought process! 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 375

Well, taken yesterday mid afternoon, my desk is one of beauty. Seriously. It's bathed in sunlight. It's not piled high. It's not filthy. There's a pile of new stamps.

Yep. And there's evidence of actual work having taken place. The calculator is a left over from the quarter-end VAT that I've just done for work. Yawn. The drink is a caffeine free Diet Coke. I have had the pleasure of my gorgeous American nieces staying with me, so I bought stuff like Diet Coke, bagels, you know, things they would like. Seems that now they're both in their twenties they're over cans of fizz. So I'm doing what mothers often do. Finishing up. All 12 cans! Then there's the big red stone. It's in the process of being painted, obviously, hence the painty water at right. It'll become another doorstop, outdoor ornament, you know, a 'thing' . Don't know when though, because there's new stamps to play with and suddenly, I feel quite inspired! New stuff and the agreement with Shopkeeper Gal to try the odd workshop again. Nothing like it to get me going!
Share will you, let me see what your up to while I procrastinate. Leave you link here and as usual, please don't take this as an opportunity to promote product or advertise. Oh, and put the kettle on will ya - that Diet coke is out of fizz!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 374

*passes the smelling salts*....apologies if you're feeling faint at the sight of this tidied slightly more organised and actually productive desk. I think I'm finally getting a grip gentle reader, and forcing the cogs to turn will, I hope, get the ideas and inclination flowing!
I think the picture is self explanatory, and considering our gloomy weather, the light in here looked pretty good at six o,clock last evening!
Come on then, show and tell y'all.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 373

Well now, last week's explanation of the door to the garage being behind and opposite my desk was a classic case of too much description wasn't it!  I don't have panoramic photography skills (even if I have the technology), so here is a shot of one wall of my workroom. You can see the 'office section' (computer and printer!) and my die cutting section on the worktop. At right, you can see my desk. It's on wheels you know, so that we can easily access the barn door against which it resides. At left but out of sight, therefore on the opposite wall and behind my desk, is the door to the garage! - that rounded worktop in front of the computer only extends about another 10" out of shot, see.

I'm so glad we've cleared that up. Nothing else has been cleared up yet, but I've finished clearing and organising my wardrobe now, so this room is next. (I've only been at home for 8 weeks, whaddya expect!)
We had a lovely  the best afternoon and evening with Darnell in Salisbury last Wednesday; I know that Darnell has already blogged about it, and I know Jan will be showing a couple of pics too, so I wont repeat - but my word, if you like a chat, we really should meet! Meanwhile, divulge your summer artworks will ya - lets see those desks in the best light of the year!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 372

Well, WOYWW is back in it's original location having spent a lot of weeks being looked after by my friend and conspirator, Jan. Please hum a three cheers song for her today, it's been a monumnetal thing to take on, amongst all the other stuff she does for me.
To erm, celebrate the return of at least one blog post a week to this address, I thought it would be a good idea to show you what happens when you have no desire to craft. When your mojo goes on holiday and 'can't be bothered' moves in.  This is a drawing of the line. I'm so sick of the state of this room that I'm going in and I'm going to be brutal. I am.

The first thing to go will be the lawn mower! My desk is in front of a barn door that we use to access our back garden; yesterdays exertions to tame the grass resulted in the mower where it is en route to the garage for storage, the door for which is on the wall opposite and behind my dek. I must have been distracted.......
All the mess and detritus that is over exposed by bright sunshine will still be there this afternoon - I'll get to it, but first, I'm off to Salisbury with Jan to meet up with Darnell - excited!
Show and tell about your workspaces will you - inspiration and tidy methods are going to be trending!
One last thing - sorry to go on - we rather fancy a WOYWW Crop. October 8th. New location, details a bit later? Whaddya think?