Wednesday 21 July 2010

WOYWW 59





If you like noseying at my desk on a Wednesday, it's Julia's great idea so pop on over to  Stamping Ground to see lots more brave souls who dare!!

This is my work desk by the window but I cannot sit at it because, with all the drawers, there is no knee hole space. I tend to use this area for jobs that I stand up to do. At the moment I am working on the display box on the left and altering it. I have already started to paste on dictionary pages which I have stamped over. I was a bit miffed because, after I had started, I noticed that Tim Holtz is also doing some of these wonderfully well, and has spoiled my thunder, but then again his efforts are far superior to mine and let's face it... I might get ideas from his too. Thanks Tim!!
I primed the box with gesso and now I am gluing on my dictionary pages. The box lid, on the right, is full of ephemera, collected and found items, which  I want to include in those slots.
This is the full span of my window area, (which my friend Jayne revamped for me,) with storage boxes up to the rafters and lots of guff on the window sill. I might one day use that spinning top with my grandees but there is even a darning mushroom... when did I last DARN, I ask? When did anyone darn?
In the middle there, lurking by my fave, best friend, my ATG gun, is a "shoe stretcher" and a "shoe last". I'm pointing these out for Lovely Liverpool Lou as she loved my flat iron, last week, which also hangs around from my dark and sheltered deprived past. My dear Pop used to mend my shoes on that shoe last and now I use it for beating and texturising silver on when I am making jewellery.
This below is my main drawer full of UMs in A5 plastic zip pockets. I used to buy the white pockets at Paperchase at £1 a time but now get the coloured ones from Tesco at 5 for £1.(At the moment on offer at 3 packs for £2) Not quite so wonderful but I like the price so much better!
Thanks for snooping on my WOYWW mess!


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34 comments:

  1. Liverpool Lou (Anne)21 July 2010 at 02:06

    Hi Jo, love the 'trays' you're covering :-) Fancy Tim pinching your idea hehehe I'm with you on the wallets from Tesco, we like to save our money for better things. Ooh more nostalgia - my dad had his own last (his dad was a cobbler) but as he died when I was 4 I've no idea what became of it. I think many people mended their own shoes in the 'olden days' ROFL
    Anne xx

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  2. Dotpat21 July 2010 at 03:01

    Your mess Jo is immaculate to mine, Sue came and tidied it up for me, then I put stuff back on as have nowhere else to put it. So waste of time

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  3. Cath Wilson21 July 2010 at 03:27

    Wow, Jo! What happened!!! I haven't seen this part of your craft room - looks great. But it's VERY tidy - looks great and so does your project.

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  4. mckinkle21 July 2010 at 04:18

    Hello Jo, firstly many congrats on your wedding anniversary yesterday, what a super achievement! Gorgeous bouquet also! Hope you had a lovely meal!

    Lovely to see your desk, the stories behind the pieces are really special and I so enjoy them!

    Keryn x

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  5. Andrea - Wales, UK21 July 2010 at 04:29

    Oooo can't wait to see your finished display box!

    xx

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  6. Anonymous21 July 2010 at 04:45

    Thanks for the snoop Jo! Lots of interesting things to see! x

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  7. Jan Hennings21 July 2010 at 04:47

    wow!!! Wish I were that organized!! Love the bright yellow cabinet, too :)

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  8. Unknown21 July 2010 at 07:29

    That box is going to be delicious Jo ... please hurry up and finish it so I can look and admire :0)

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  9. Darcy Marshall21 July 2010 at 08:03

    great space, your display box will be lovely when finished. I have 2 printers trays that need doing..have had them years...so many projects, so little time lol

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  10. Jingle21 July 2010 at 08:21

    Oh, that box looks wonderful! I can't wait to see what you do with it!

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  11. Bleubeard and Elizabeth21 July 2010 at 08:34

    I think you are nicely organized. That box you are working on looks like it is going to be super for all those pieces you want to put in it. Please share the finished project, too. Love the shoe lasts. Thanks for sharing the personal side of it, too. Happy WOYWW.

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  12. Sue21 July 2010 at 08:42

    Hi Jo
    great piccies of your workspace, cant wait to see the finished box, have a great day, luv the zip bags, sue,x

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  13. lisa21 July 2010 at 08:43

    It seems TH pinched your idea, not the other way round, Jo!!! Can't wait to see these finished.
    You have so many interesting bits and pieces in your craft space and they all hold wonderful memories. Most people just discard these things but we should keep them. I've never seen a shoe last!!
    Hugs Lisax

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  14. Unknown21 July 2010 at 09:12

    lOve what you are doing with the display box, ad that Tim Holtz there is nothing left that he has not already altered, but i am sure yours will be stunning

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  15. Kathy21 July 2010 at 09:13

    I really like the look of your display box and will look forward to seeing how it progresses

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  16. Bluefairy4U21 July 2010 at 09:46

    Thank you for popping by and say Hi, really appreciate it as its my first time. I will definately get something done for next week. lol Jo.x

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  17. Cath21 July 2010 at 09:50

    Thanks for the nose, cant wait to see the finished result.

    Cathx

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  18. Mandy21 July 2010 at 10:27

    ah our tim is always on the ball, aint he!

    cant wait to see yours finished, thanks for the great snoop this week, brill photos, hugs m xx

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  19. Heather21 July 2010 at 11:41

    Hi Jo, thanks for your visit and advice on how to remove my 'blob' of glossy accents. I think heat will do it but the temperature needs to drop before I get my heat gun out, by which time it will be a feature and well and truly distressed with inks. Love your workspace, so full of wonderful things, mine's just full of crafting clutter, clutter being the operative work. Look forward to seeing the box when it's finished.
    hugs Heather xx

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  20. Julia Dunnit21 July 2010 at 13:44

    ooh now that is a good way to deal with teh UMs...thinking on..after all, I have you to thank or blame for the ATG gun...so far so good!! LOVE what you're doing with the box and the dictionary pages...and I bet TH was just waiting for you to start so he could verify that it was a great idea!

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  21. Spyder21 July 2010 at 14:51

    Another ATG gun, are they breeding!! Lovely desk, hope to see the finished box.Have a good woyww
    (Lyn)

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  22. minnie_mac21 July 2010 at 16:10

    Smiled to read about the shoe stretcher, last and flat iron as I have these lying around the house too, along with a griddle that used to hang over the fire and an old iron kettle.

    Marilyn

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  23. Sid21 July 2010 at 23:14

    This work area looks industrius and well used !!

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  24. donnalouiserodgers22 July 2010 at 03:12

    jo just because he is published and you are not just means he makes more money out of it than you do - he;s a business man as well as an Artist...and whilst I have been known to sit and bow my head at the alter ( ha) of timothy slows down ( Holts holtz gedditt?) I'd rather give you some dosh and watch how you do things (please) if you take visitors that is...

    Dx

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  25. Annie22 July 2010 at 03:23

    Sorry I'm late calling in this week. I'm having a really manic week and even had to pop to see my elderly neighbour in hospital last night [only a 62mile round trip :-)].
    Really love the sectioned shelf unit you are painting. I have ? similar that I bought from Ikea.
    A x

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  26. Angie22 July 2010 at 07:29

    OMG ...a shoe last ...that took me back as we had one when I was a child ...Mum used to put my shoes on it so that she could bang in the metal bits on the places I wore out first ... like the heels and later when she put on those terrible rubber soles whose glue melted on a hot day causing the soles to slip off the shoes to one side ...thanks for the trip down memory lane. Congrats on your 44th xx

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  27. Sunshine Girl22 July 2010 at 07:33

    Looks like a lovely pile of stamps you have there! good luck with the box - I might go and do that on my house box which has been primed for oh so long but is still sitting there waiting for inspiration to strike me!

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  28. Unknown22 July 2010 at 11:13

    tim may have his on show but i know this as been in the makeing for sometime now since i got the wooden box for you some months ago i know it will look great maybe tim was earwigging lol when you told me.
    love your stamping storage idea and your desk is very tidy for you he he he xxxx

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  29. Linby22 July 2010 at 13:08

    What a great space - love that you are using your Father's shoe last. The altered item with the pages looks like it will be fab - don't forget to show us when it is done.
    Linbyx

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  30. Siobhan Brignull23 July 2010 at 11:23

    you that TH can be like that always stealing peoples thunder, in his book there are loads of ideas that I had thought of but not got around to yet, LOL, dont we all just love him

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  31. Chrissie24 July 2010 at 00:16

    My granny had a darning mushroom, I think my mum did too. I can even remember using it what's more! These days I think that they're just lovely pieces of treen to grace a window cill or shelf or whatever. Thanks for the snoop!
    Chrissie

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  32. Tracey26 July 2010 at 04:45

    Am still doing the rounds, better late than never lol. Fab work space, can't wait to see your finished piece and love your velvet one too.
    x

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  33. Maz26 July 2010 at 08:21

    Looking forward to seeing the finished piece. Lovely organised desk - lots to look at! x

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  34. HeARTworks26 July 2010 at 17:15

    I don't think your desk qualifies as a mess at all! Anyway, I love using dictionary pages too! We had a huge dictionary that got wet in a flood and I was secretly overjoyed! Now I use it for all sorts of things! Yipeee!

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I appreciate your comments!