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This is intended to be mainly about my crafting stories, as a personal record of what I do. However, I interpret crafting quite widely, not just paper crafting but other things too. I have a butterfly mind and like to change from one thing to another depending on what I feel like on a given day - knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, cards, baking and several others, including my favourite right now, parchment, both traditional skills and Groovi, very relaxing and calming to do.

I have decided to put some structure into my blog so that each day will have something of a theme.
Monday- for Mindfulness; Tuesday - Tidy Up Day; Wednesday - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday; Thursday - Technique and Tips; Friday - Finish Off Day; Saturday - Start Something New; Sunday - Anything Goes
These themes are not hard and fast and will be changed if I feel the need.

Wednesday 23 January 2013

WOYWW -190


Good morning to all of you out there in snowy or sunny blogland, depending on where you live.  Anyone who is wondering why I should be shaming myself by showing you these awful mess, then where have you been for the last couple of years .  You have been missing a real crafting treat.  WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday) is a weekly meeting hosted by the very hospitable Julia over at Stamping Ground.   If you go over there you will find the links to nearly 200 other desks around the world, some messy like mine, others (a few) pristine and tidy, and lots in between.  Personally, I like the less tidy desks to wander round, more to see and study.

My room is still a total wreck, with work going on in the middle of it.  Even the printer is covered, which creates a major problem if I need to change an ink cartridge.  On the shelves (made by my very clever husband) above the printer you can see a number of cardboard boxes,  full of gorgeous Clarity Stamps, mainly labelled to say what is in each box.  I need to follow Shaz Silverwolf's example and catalogue them to avoid the possibility of buying ones I already have.  Behind the printer are most of my ink pads, not a huge selection but enough to work with.  Some of the ones I bought right at the beginning of my card making will be donated to someone else to make use of.




As you can see, my floor is also a wreck this week, and even sports the camera tripod so I can train the camera on one place to try for some good shots.  I actually put the camcorder on it yesterday for half an hour to see what came in, and was amazed at what I missed.
This is one of the photos I got yesterday of a siskin, a really pretty little bird.  There are quite a range of species coming in during this very cold spell, but it is worrying to think of the birds that no longer come.  No sparrows, no dunnocks, no sign of the wren, no thrushes - all birds that used to be very common all year round.  It will be interesting to see the results of the RSPB Big Garden Watch this next weekend to find out if it is the same all round the country. 

If you have got all this way through my post, I apologise for it being so long this week.  I shall probably get my fingers smacked by Julia, who does ask that we are brief.  Come and join us, leave a comment as you go, and link up pictures of your desk, and have fun. 

35 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Hi Maggie, I fear you are going to be disappointed with my reasonable tidy desk this week - will try to remember your predilection for messy desks in future :))

Impressive collection of Clarity stamps - I see you like the poppies stamps :)

Love the shot of the siskin - haven't seen one in my garden. In fact, there haven't been any thrush this year, or dunnocks but we do get a few sparrows occasionally. And the starlings haven't been around either - I wonder where they have all gone.

Have a great WOYWW. Elizabeth x (too early for a number)

Claire said...

your workspace is just busily creative - that's for horizontal surfaces are for - putting stuff on when you're busy!!
gorgeous photos of your lil visitors :)
happy WOYWW and have a great week :)
no. 5

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Lovely busy desk today in the midst of all that work! Clever hubby you've got, those shelves are fab! And cataloging thevstampsvwill take awhile but if it stops duplication, then it's a worthwhile task! Keep warm :)
LLJ 37 xx

okienurse said...

Busy looking workspace this week! I need to pick up and put away around here but just don't have the inclination today! Have a great week. Thanks for sharing. Vickie #35

Helen said...

Lovely photos - that siskin looks happy to have found your bird feeder! Hope you get your space sorted soon, I have a printer I need to fix too!Helen 9

Debbie Rock said...

LOVE the birdy photo's Maggie ... such gorgeous little birds and I don't think I have ever seen one! I love your workspace/desk/room ... does so make me feel the urge to get on with February's cards but I MUST cross-stitch today.
oh and, sorry, but it is *S*N*OW*I*N*G here as I write ... not that fine gritty stuff that has been falling but huge gorgeous fat flakes!
Love Debbie #69 xXx

Di said...

Hi Maggie! Firstly, yes indeed - the stamp I used is a Clarity one - called 'Spruce scape'. I only have a few so have some really serious envy issues here over all yours. So funny, you must have been watching the same C & C programme as me when that 'reflection' was stamped :))

Shouldn't be laughing but had to grin at the pile dumped on your floor - my quest today is to clear a 'floor pile' - most of which am sure will be destined for the bin or elsewhere. I haven't dug round the pile for a year which must say something surely?

I love your bird photos, and now realise your lovely header was taken in your garden. I'll be doing Bird Watch as usual - we have blackbirds, a resident robin, little wren who we hear but rarely see, lots of very chirpy sparrows - then bluetits, collared doves, greedy wood pigeons (one has a limp) - and the very occasional chaffinch. Maybe your sparrows are down here having a little sabbatical?

Happy WOYWW!

Hugs, Di xx

sandra de said...

What a sweet little bird and lovely to think it can still get some treats in all that snow.
Sandra @67

Annie said...

Think all those little birds must have come to me Maggie....I have thrushes [includ Mistle thrush], wrens, sparrows [too many to count] and several little dunnocks too....plus robins, tits of every sort, doves, black birds etc etc etc...even a pheasant!!!! I have feeders at front and back of the house, several more down the length of the garden and even have a little bird hide at the bottom of our garden though....yes I do rather spoil my birds :-)
Sorry but I don't have a recipe for the bread....I cheated and used a packet mix but they were really yummy.
Hugs,
A x #47

Spyder said...

Morning! Not too messy! My bit you couldn't see is far worse!!
Birds, yes, I got really excited when I saw a simple Thrush over the weekend on the bird table, not seen many here for quite a few years, there was one singing its head off but with no reply and then last year there were two! We do have house sparrows, wrens, robins, black birds, very tame, they even nest in our garage and will take food from your hand... grab and dash style. Pigeons are always around, magpies, not so many, but people are selling off their big back gardens and more houses are claiming the land. Not seen so many Jays, tend, to stay near the woods, haven't seen a nuthatch or a kingfisher since I was a child! Happy WOYWW! ((Lyn)) was #83

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

HI Maggie thanks for popping over brief pop in tonight and love your bird bath and well done on your desk tidy up! happy WOYWW! Shaz in Oz.x

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Marg, back to the great minds thing again- I was having the conversation about birds we don't see, or see in smaller numbers these days, with my Mum on Sunday.Pretty much we named the same birds, although I can say we have had a wren nesting inside a wooden wind chime with a tiny birdhouse on top of it for the last couple of years. I'd also add less wagtails, bullfinches and starlings too.Tidy hasn't lasted long here either, by the way, :) Love Shaz xx

Jaki Morris said...

Lovely tidy desk! But.....!!! Love a mess

As for birds, don't fret. I live in worthing and we have your thrushes. And Fieldfares, Chiff Chaffs, robins tits aplenty, blackbirds, sparrows, wrens, chaffinches and many many more. Of course we have the ugly ones too, crows, starlings, seagulls and magpies but they don't count!

Take care
Jakix #90

Julia Dunnit said...

Look at that, those boxes on your shelves..for a minute I thought we were in someone's stock room..all those stamps, yummy!

MrsC.x said...

we're hoping to do the bird watch too at the weekend you've got a great shot.

hopefully you can get everything finished

Happy WOYWW Mrs.C #45
craftylittlemoos.blogspot.com

ria gall said...

I can see that this is work in progress and I can see you have a plan, it will all be worth it in the end. Any chance of borrowing your husband!
Ria #92

Alison Scott said...

Wonderful desk. Love the birdie photograph. Dont worry about the sparrows! I think they are at mine. My bird feeders are theirs. They queue up for food. Them and the resident robins and blue tits.
Alison
#100

Linda Simpson said...

Afternoon Maggie, it is nice to see someone's desk as messy as mine when I am in the crafting zone. Loving the photograph of the cute little bird he sure is a bright little thing.

Enjoy the rest of your day.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Jackie said...

All thoses boxes of stamps.... How super is that yours is a craft room I would enjoy!!
Love the bird photo such a pretty little bird... Nice photo
Jackie 16

Deb said...

looking very busy there Maggie, glad you can still work through it! I am in the middle of a major overhaul of my craft room, hoping to clear my large table off to make something and I will continue to sorting and organizing tonight when I lose the light!
lovely shot of the bird!
Debxx

Hettie said...

Hi Maggie. Nice to see your room is looking somewhat like mine though I haven't shared it this week!
Love that photo you have. Been home today (unexpected) and have had fun watching the birds. Jays, Robins, Tits of various sorts and Woodpeckers. Love your Siskin. Haven't seen one for ages.
Keep warm
xx

Caro said...

What an amazing collection of stamps...I would love to have a rummage through them all. That little bird is stunning, a gorgeous photo. Have a great week. Thanks for sharing. Caro #59

lisa said...

All those Clarity stamps, Maggie. You must almost have as many as Barbara!!
It's lovely to see the birds in the cold weather isn't it. We saw the Robin yesterday, a very rare visitor.
Keep warm & Happy WOYWW
Hugs Lisax #60

Anonymous said...

Yo are right about messy desks being more interesting but I can't work on one, if my desk is messy so is my mind! We have a couple of bird feeders and two fat blocks, plus the heated bird bath so their water doesn't freeze. We've also go a very savvy hawk too that does the round of the bird feeders and uses them as his own personal hunting ground. I suppose at the end of the day he has to eat too, but I feel bad encouraging the birds to my garden and then having a predator flying around.

Hugs
Brenda

voodoo vixen said...

Good grief, how many stamps do you have? LOL Love the photo of the little siskin, I don't have much variety visit my garden but then I don't feed them anymore because it drives the cats insane. Annette #18

JoZart Designs said...

Aaahh! but think how lovely it will all be when it's sorted!
I love to see the birds and it is amazing to see the strangers coming in each day during this weather. I have had fieldfares and even had a whole flock of seagulls land. We are only 5 miles from the sea so we do get odd ones now and then but they never ever land... then the whole flock! It's costing me a fortune even though I make up some of my own food for them.
jo x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Good Luck with the work! Love all your stamp storage!
That's a great picture of the Siskin - we had hoped to be at the caravan for the Birdwatch - lots more up there - including a woodpecker that comes for the nuts! We will do our bit here but mainly blackbirds, pigeons, wagtails and longtailed tits - a strange mix!! Chris86

Nelle said...

The second i saw the brayer on your desk, i thought Clarity...Then i saw the boxes..How many boxes?????
I have unmounted mine, just to save space.
Nice work area..
Regards,
Nelle xx #89

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Marg- using up cards is exactly what I'm doing. I had a mad turn once, and folded up a load of cards, which I have since never used!Love, Shaz

trisha too said...

Well you almost make me want to go tidy my space . . . we feed the birds all year 'round, but we don't have these pretty little fellows!

Happy WOYWW!
:)trisha #164 this week
and a little late!

Anne said...

hi Maggie from a snowy West Mids with more said to be here tomorrow. Love your header. What a lot of stamps. I'm still trying to decide how best to store mine - I think I need to reduce some of them but find that hard to contemplate doing. I enjoy looking at 'busy' desks/work areas/floors etc :-) Sorry I'm late. Anne x #145

Jenny Marples said...

Hi Maggie. Don't worry, when you are in the middle of things it is normal to look like a whirlwind has passed through!! Very organised with the Clarity stamps though I see. Thanks for dropping by, hugs Jenny x

Ali said...

Doing a belated skip around the WOYWW posts!

Lots to see in your room - but if it's any reassurance, it's not anywhere near as untidy as mine! :lol:

I've also had to start catalogueing stamps recently... I've made a spreadsheet of my Sweet Pea stamps as I'd found I'd accidentally bought a couple of duplicates recently. :)

Ali #77

Lori said...

So much fun stuff!! Love it!! The birdie too.

Very late this week. Sorry.
Lori #129

MaryH said...

Hi again, just followed down your blog from the current WOYWW, and find this one...much more like my own space. Loved all the boxes and things piled atop things. Made me feel right at home. Lovely little birdie pecking at the snow too. We enjoy watching cardinals, haven't seen very many bluebirds this season, but lots of different finch species. We usually don't know what the visitors are, and by the time we hunt up in 'the book', they have flown, so we're never sure if we have the right bird! Still much fun. TFS all your craftiness.