Wednesday 12 November 2014

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 284

At the risk of repeating myself, you can find out more about WOYWW and how you may join us, without obligation or commitment by perusing the pages that are linked at the top of this blog.  
For a change, I thought I'd prove that like the tide, my desk does actually see some ebb and flow.
Now admittedly, this is over the space of three days...on Sunday, I really had had enough. I had book work to do and really didn't want to use the dining table.  That's in the conservatory and it was cold.  So, instead of taking half a minute to light the woodburner in the conservatory and get it warm and ambient, I spent nearly 45 minutes manically tidying. Yeah well, it made sense at the time!


It was horrible.  Layers that needed excavating, stamps - some pulled out becuase I had an idea for them, others waiting to be put away.  Half completed cards discarded because they were horrid.  You name it.  It got so bad that putting the ATG runner back on the perspex drawers meant pushing back the (open) pot of chewing gum and that went all over the floor. Ack.

So then it looked OK huh!  It was excavated and stamps and ink pads were properly put away, but only for the time it took to use the space to spread out the paperwork for the ledgers.  And then it was back to messville.....here it is this morning, I was fiddling about a bit last night, but got tired and just erm, walked away.  
The apparently white village scene on the dark red card is in fact silver glitter card that sits up like bright white when the camera flashes.  Nice die though.  The tickets and souvenirs from our Alhambra visit are still on the iPad stand (iPad still in it's charging position at this time of day) and you can see that I'm trying to come up with something that involves a Poinsettia.  Easy for some.  I don't much like them so only have one stamp, so it's not as easy I'd like it to be!  And just for the record - that syringe has silicone glue in it...probably solid enough to be pulled out in a lump, but I did plan to use it at some stage, clearly!
So share with us will a, what you're doing at your workspace today.  It's got to be more interesting that flash tidying!  Put WOYWW in your post title and link here.  We'll swing by as time allows.

68 comments:

Jackie said...

Julia you made me laugh with your ebb and flow desk I have done the same this week, with my desk!
Jackie 5

RosA said...

Congratulations on all that tidiness! At the moment, that's just as inspirational as any creativity and I need to take a leaf out of your book :)
BTW, fabulous Spain pics the other day!
RosA # 1

Helen said...

Wooo, you're early today! Still didn't get to no 1 though! Love all 3 versions of your desk, though the tidy one scares me (I think I just need clutter around me, lol!) The village scene is cute, I may need to investigate that die. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

Oh I do love that die! And the ebb and flow of your desk. I don't ave the discipline, but it would be soooo interesting to see a WOYWW week with a wek of desk shots, dontcha think?

Have a good one
MA

Interesting to note on the WV thing...on the iPad you have to notice when it tries to auto correct spelling or it will take even longer to comment... :)

Robyn said...

Nothing like a good tidy to help you make a really good mess again!
I love poinsettia !
Robyn 6

Chrysalis said...

So glad your desk gets in a tizzy, too! I don't feel quite so bad, being in such good company. Hope you have a happy and productive WOYWW. Hugs, Chris # 7

Kyla said...

Woah! Please do not let this become an epidemic....clean desks bring me out in a sweat and I start to feel the need to join in!! :-)
Kyla #9

Krisha said...

For a moment I thought I was at the wrong desk.....LOL

I love to start with a clean desk then just walk away once it is back to normal. It just makes sense to me.

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi Julia, sending you a hug, well done and I bet you felt good for a bit, no matter for how little time...it's very interesting what you find in the piles - I have half started cards etc too and are always hoping they'll end up finished...the pile is growing. If your third pic is the latest does that mean that book work is done?? Cheers and have a lovely week RobynO#11

Unknown said...

Well done you for all the tidying up. Alas "tidy" only usually lasts a couple of hours with us does'nt it unless we go on holiday and leave the country! This weekend I face the daunting task of moving my craft room lock stock and barrel to the larger bedroom where it used to be when we moved here first. Wish me luck!
Hugs Lynda B 10

Claire Grantham said...

Ha ha Julia, love it. So clean, so tidy, then straight back to normal. I am going to 'attempt' to clean my desk this weekend. Cx #18

Neet said...

Nice to see the 'tidy' desk for a change - running and ducking.
The little diecut scene looks ever so pretty as what colour it is but I am upset that you do not like poinsettias. Why Miss Julia do you not like that lovely Christmas flower - pray tell.
Hugs, Neet 22

Lynne Mizera said...

So THAT is what a clean space looks like!? Grin... I have discovered that I need to clean up after each major project... so I went and got a timer - you know the kind that goes tic, tic, tic, the entire time and then BRRRIIING really loud when time is up - and I set it for 15 minutes and clean like MAD FOOL while it's ticking and once it BRRRRINGs I'm done! I find it really helps to have that deadline... grin

Annie said...

A real 'now you see it now you don't ' sort of show and tell from you this week :-) It's good to watch the changes. Have a great week.
Hugs,
Annie x

Debs Willis said...

Like the time lapse photography lol :-) made me smile, quite a challenge thus time if day!
Hugs
Debs 27

Sunshine Girl said...

Your desk leaving skills are so like mine I like to play and walk away to return to the chaos another day too. I find a good tidy up is good for the soul occasionally though and sometimes it even gets my creative juices flowing! Shame it doesn't happen more often in my opinion! Have a great week. Sunshine Girl 27

voodoo vixen said...

I love the ebb and flow shots... maybe we should all do that one week... but I do like to have a good tidy between major projects so mine does this all the time. Love the card with the white scene... wish I had your talent for cards... am thinking that perhaps I will just buy some nice charity ones and not sweat the issue this year!!

Tracey said...

Loved reading all about your desk. I cant get into the swing of leaving mine messy at the moment but it wont be long before that changes. Tracey x

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Messy.....messier......messiest.
You didn't realise your desk was an example of English grammar, did you? :-)
I like that white/silvery village die very much....simple yet good design always wins for me.
Hugs, LLJ 32 xxs

lisa said...

Sometimes a good tidy is just what's needed but I'm glad you went back to messy creative again. Love that village die and I gave up with the syringe, spent more time digging the solid lump out than sticking anything so just use it straight from the tube now.
Hugs Lisax #34

Debbie Rock said...

Hey I saw an empty desk there for a second! My tidy moments last for about as long ... love the feeling of everything put away where it should be and actually getting to see the surface beneath messville but it never lasts long - which is good, I guess, as we are crafters after all! Glad to be back in WOYWW land this week ... must do better and make it each week now! Love to you Julia x

Anne said...

Yep been there and done that TWICE since last week! It's now as bad as ever and needs sorting again before I can carry on as I now can't find anything! Happy woyww Anne x @ 37

Carol Rigby said...

I think it is almost impossible for us 'creative types' to have a tidy desk but we have to keep trying now and again or there would be nowhere to work.

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Julia, like you I work on a limited desk space and have to tidy it in order to start again but I think this can be a good thing or I might not clear the stuff and just move to the next space Lol! Your desk certainly looks busy and I love that village scene, it's one of those dies I come back to again and again.
Have a great week and happy crafting, Angela 39

Shoshi said...

Love the ebb and flow, Julia, but the tidy desk was too disturbing for me - I've never seen what the surface of your desk looks like before and it was somehow indecent lol!! The next picture made me feel much more at home! I love the poinsettia on the book page - it looks fabulous, and such a gorgeous rich colour, and your glitter die is beautiful too.

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi 41

okienurse said...

OMG! We must be related! I spent all day Saturday excavating my desks and floor so I could find a particular stamp set I wanted to make cards with...never did find it. It looked good till I got in there today and it is back to being listed as a disaster! Have a great week. Vickie/Okienurse #43

Carmen said...

A wood burner sounds sooo nice! Loving your three desk images though :P Did make me chuckle!

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

I have to tidy my desk at least once a week when I can't bear it anymore. By tidy I mean stacking things up into piles and shoving it somewhere never to be seen again. It's nice how your desk overlooks the garden!

Laura said...

Photos to be labelled; proper desk, weird table thing, proper desk :)
The silver die cut looks lovely - clean and simple and up my street x
Laura
47

Glenda said...

I have to admit I'm trying to clear away a space big enough to at least have a clear spot to work. Of late, I've become quite messy and I'm not sure why. Love your desk, you did a great job of putting away...and yes doesn't it get right back the way it was too quickly!
Glenda #48

Jan said...

Thanks for sharing Julia xx Jan

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a good example you've set here Mrs D! I did have a slight tidy up last week but nothing like on this scale!! Then I lost my favourite little scissors (ok, yes I have favourites!!) think they may have ben tidied with something else - will I ever find them again…..?
Hugs, Chrisx 50

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

It sounds like the story of my desk - LOL! This is especially true lately with the graduate level courses I'm taking. Blessings!

Diana Taylor said...

Ooh, I love your tidy desk - so much easier to work and start projects when it's like that I find! Love the white/silver village die - very eye catching on the burgundy background.
Have a great week,
Diana #44

Angie said...

Haha! It's like proof that there is wood under them there hills of papers, inks, stamps and creative fun! It's funny isn't it that you'd rather spend time putting away than simply starting the fire!
Angie

Heather{Our Life In a Click} said...

I clean mine up from time to time and then it gets messy all over again! That's a sign of creativity I guess!! Yours looks great!

Karon said...

First time taking part - can't wait to have a nosy around later. Thank you for the linky.

itsamistry said...

Mine gets cleaned once in a while but try as I might it always ends up with stuff on it. Oh well guess that's creativity for you. Having an empty desk makes me feel like I've lost something.

Christine said...

Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone - I know sooner take a photo, Blog it and .... the desk changes!! Mind you, mine changes style and location most days as well!!
Have a good week.
Bishopsmate #58

Marit said...

Oh Julia, what a coincidense (and I know all about cleaning now...!) - I too posted a 'before and after' photo... and although my desk is still clean now, it won't look like that for long. I hope not - I can do with some paint after all the water and soap, ha! Hope your day is nice and bright dear! Hug from Holland, Marit #62

Unknown said...

Oh I love that little village scene! I am very inspired by the before and after too--maybe there's hope for me! We'll see. Hugs. Sandy Leigh

trisha too said...

What a transformation! It has to happen once in awhile, even here, in messy desk land.

:)

trisha too said...

(Oh wait, I meant MY land is messy desk land, not you, Julia!)

Monica said...

I suffer from the walk aways when tidying. My problem besides things not put away is bits that "might be need" and so I start another box. Currently overcome by other boxes.
Monica 55

Lindart said...

Finally back to WOYWW after a long break - very glad to be back! Glad to see your nice clean desk (mine too!) if even for just a short time (mine too). #63 Lindart

Twiglet said...

Ha! I have seen enough syringes to last a life time this week!! Feeling better without the old gall bladder tho! x Jo

Stacy Sheldon said...

I love the way the poinsettia looks on the text page... hope to see how that one finishes up :) ~Stacy

April said...

Thus is the desk in the life of a crafter. I just skip the middle step recently - it never seems to be straightened! LOL Love the flower on the printed page.
April

Cazzy said...

Hi Julia,

That all makes perfect sense to me! My desk needs excavating too!

I love that die, it looks so effective on it's own in those colours too.

Happy WOYWW.

Carol #69

KraftyKaren said...

Sadly our desks never stay clear for very long so glad that you managed to capture the moment. I was chuckling at your syringe - I use pinflair gel in a syringe and I do sometimes wonder if non-crafty friends think I am some kind of junkie when they see photos of my table with the syring laying there!!

Have a good week
KraftyKaren #72

Lisca said...

It's nice to have had your desk tidy even if it was only for a short while.
I enjoyed reading about your Granada experience (in the other blog).
Thank you for letting me look over your shoulder,
Have a good week,
Lisca#36

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I enjoyed seeing the desk tide, the ebb and flow, the this and that. My desk does that all week long too. It just usually happens to be clean Wednesday morning which gives the false illusion that I've got it together (ha!).

Whimcees said...

Hello!

You have been a busy woman! Sometimes it is too hard to keep up and to walk away is the only thing to do! Wishing you a happy week!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Sue said...

I love looking at your desk.

The glimpse of your lovely garden promises beautiful weather with windows open whilst happily crafting.

Happy WOYWW. Sue

Kim said...

Yeah, I probably would have done the same, but then I just can't seem to light a good fire. But how can you not like Poinsettia's?? I love the stamp you have...could lend you a few if you were closer! Have a great week; I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Sharon Madson said...

I am here! :) Your desk was not as messy as mine is! I am at the point that I have to neaten up before I do anything! I know what you mean about things changing colors when you photo! What is with that anyway? Happy WOYWW, Julia.

Neesie said...

Ebb and flo... I like that ;D
And is that daylight I see outside your window. Oh how lucky you are!
Poinsettia's are Christmas for me and I love it when it's time to bring one home.
Happy WOYWW Julia and all the gang. Have fun
Neesie #79

Annie Claxton said...

hehe love you tidal workdesk :o) Totally understand the walking away thing as I have just doen exactly the same - but I love the look of your poinsettia with the distress inks on the book paper, looks really cool. Happy WOYWWednesday! Annie C #82

505whimsygirl said...

You are very early today! I had to keep going back and checking to make sure this is the right week!

I'm writing my post now but need to attach photos.

Happy WOYWW
Hugs,
Kay

sandysewin said...

I think all of us must have the same thing happen with our desks. I don't consider the mess a problem, unless it stays the same for too long. :-)

Happy Woyww,

Sandy #40

Mrs.D said...

Evening Julia, sorry didn't comment earlier. Pleased to see you can do 'sterile' too, and then deterioration into chaos very quickly. Like the idea of excavating layers, I do that, but maybe not ofter enough.
Chris #8

misteejay said...

My desk is currently very tidy as I cleared everything off to set up my new printer last weekend. As yet, I haven't done any crafting at my desk since so it is still unusually tidy.
Toni xx

Elizabeth said...

Hi Julia, I've only just realised that I didn't leave you a comment earlier ... my brain has gone to fizz today! Anyway, it seems really strange to see your desk naked ... so glad you remedied that toot sweet :) Have a great week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #70

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I had to laugh at the syringe. Leave it to you to let us know in advance what it's for.

Was wondering what is in the red tin with the clasp. You know me, a snoop to the end.

Sorry I'm still not playing. I just can't get my poop in the scoop, and if I don't have time to leave comments to those who visit, then I don't think I should play.

Anonymous said...

I had to come back to comment again. I think Weds. is a deadly day for Blogger :) Yesterday, when I began commenting, I would see the number verification sometimes, for a millisecond, then the word verification would pop up. It took me 3 or 4 tries for the couple of comments I was able to make then I got busy and couldn't quite face coming back to the struggle. This morning I geared myself up for a day of commenting and every blog I have been to so far had had only number verification, which I can SAIL thru. Interestingly, some appear to have NO verification, seem to have posted the comment, but as the view is of the bottom of the page (and for my sideways monitor that means everything BELOW the comment box) until I scrolled UP I didn't know the comment hadn't posted cause the verification was above my view. DOH! YOUR blog, which had word verification yesterday, has number verification today. I am guessing Blogger is testing stuff on a Weds then changing it back on a Thursday in time for the weekend. :) So if anyone else is struggling with word verification, hold off on WOYWW for a day and see if it helps.

Off to finish my commenting now...

:)

MA

Anonymous said...

HA. I spoke too soon. All of a sudden all number verification (including here) replaced with word. {sigh} Just when I thought I cracked it....

MA

Anonymous said...

Testing a theory :)

Anonymous said...

You must be sick of me but I have it sussed and wanted to share :) If you are a non-blogger blogger OR if you are not logged in to Google in some way, you get number verification on all blogs no matter what the blogger has it set as. For the first 5 blogs you comment on it stays number. After that, you get number verification but no matter what you type in, right or wrong, you get a message telling you that you've done it wrong and word verification replaces it. The next day (and it may be longer or on some time zone that isn't GMT) number verification comes back and you can do 5 more blogs before it goes back to Word.

:)
Number only verification has returned so I'm jumping on it!

Happy (late again) WOYWW!
Mary Anne (2)