WOYWW

Life is passing by at a speed of knots, a roller coaster ride with moments that leap out and bite you, including the sad loss of a friend Sunday. I have not felt in the gardening, blogging or crafting mood for a while now and the weather hasn't helped. However, this is the photo of my desk last night. To be honest it is exactly how I left it on Monday as I was out on a meal with colleagues last night and a very yummy one it was too.

So, what is on my desk .... The colour does not show true because the sun was shining behind the orange curtains, but you will spy a theme of red. I have one set of inchies for next month's red swap and the second set are drying at the back on a box. My inchie acrylic album is open at the purple month as I was seeking inspiration and this little book rarely lets me down! Ahhh, and you may also spot my latest toy ..... a little red nintendo DS Lite *blush* .... purely for the training of this old brain, of course..... !

WOYWW

Arrrgh - Real Life, Work and a Snotty Nose gets in the way of this blogging business.

So, prodded and poked into submission by a fellow Dolly I am posting not my whole desk (trust me, you don't want to see the rest of it right this minute) I am taking a close up of the FABULOUS Fabric ATCs from a recent swap that I have sorted ready to put away in my prized collection.

This was my first ever Fabric ATC swap and it caused me real grief, although I was pleased and relieved by my final output (see earlier WOYWW for the work-in-progress) and nothing could have prepared me for the fabulous ones I received in return - WOOT!

I am still suffering from Performance Pressure from this, but def up for another when I feel able to commit.

WOYWW

Good gravy, this week has flown by. Off work last week, extra day off work and back Tuesday. Yes, yes, I know it is What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and it is now Thursday, but I blame the heat. And work. Which, of course, had I not had a week and a day off, I wouldn't have as much. It's a vicious circle!

Anyhoo, here was my workdesk last night, photographed just before I staggered slowly into bed. And it is exactly the same now. I had to work late tonight, you know, to catch up from the week and a day off work, and was actually "thrown" out of the building by the tannoy message that it was closing with me shouting I couldn't possibly leave yet, I still had work to do ..... Sad. So Sad.

So what is on my desk? Well the bright pink, brighter pink and assorted colours of felt are my first attempt at fabric ATCs for a UKS swap. I have been faffing about with these for weeks and the deadline for posting is rapidly approaching and I hate being late for anything, especially involving other people. I finally came up with the idea of the flowers, bought yet more colours of felt (none of which I have used) and finally begged Wednesday crafting friend to poke me into the right direction. She is brilliant, during my faffing with something and glue and being completely undecisive (because I ran out of decisions at work) - slapping her hand over mine and just sticking it down. It is always in the right place and I can never work out why I faffed for so long in the first place.

You may also see a slimline card with a row of stamped and coloured flowers in flower pots. Not one of my best efforts and about to be consigned to the bin. It was intended to be a get well soon card for my cousin who unfortunately works in one of the school that has been closed because of swine flu and she is one of the unlucky staff that caught it from a pupil. Actually cousin is quite poorly and I wanted to cheer her up with a hand made card. Unfortunately it had the opposite affect on me, let alone sending it to her, so I through it across the desk and started faffing with the ATCs.

I blame the heat. Just throw me on the floor and hose me down - I'll be fine.

Ma Bete Noire

My Bete Noire is Paperwork. Home paperwork. I hate it with a fiery vengeance. I mean, after all I am a civil Servant - I do paperwork every day of my working life - I should be used to it by now.

But no and there lies the rub - at work I am PAID to do paperwork, at home I am not AND it impinges on time for my creative side. When wading through paperwork I'm not having fun. I am not enjoying myself. And certainly not being paid to do it, so no incentive there either.

So, to those of you that know me, I often refer to Mount Paperwork. Here is the evidence. You will note two frames as well - these are obviously not paperwork, but some photo manipulation and re-sizing work I said I would do for some friends. You see, I would enjoy doing that rather than the paperwork, but not going to do it until I have done some paperwork - the whole pleasure/pain syndrome.

They may have to wait some time .........

WOYWW - Debut!

WOYWW - What's on Your Work desk Wednesday - debut! My Teamies and those that know me will be impressed that I refrained from tidying it up before I took the photo - but I managed it! So, what is on my work desk?

Mainly my sewing machine - the first time it has been out since DD stopped dancing just before she went to uni and no more costumes to make. The reason it was dusted off was to alter her BF sister's prom dress. A beautiful creation from China with 3 layers of material, the top being chiffon, a sequined and beaded bodice, and a train. Easy peasy lemon squesy - NOT! Of course it took a lot longer than I anticipated, but well worth it - she looked beautiful. Plus I enjoyed the girls' company whilst sewing, trying on, sewing, trying on, layer at a time, train and strap removal. Hence the blue box which has all my sewing threads in, the multi coloured binder - my overflow ATC (ACC!) collection and the inchies on the shelf - I was just adding the fab orange ones from the last swap - and other things that they went through, making all the right oooohs and aaaaahs at the art work. Then the Circle Journals, mini books, scrapbooks, yada, yada, keeping them entertained whilst the sewing machine was doing what it does best. Talking of company, you may spot Boo - DD Furbie lurking in the corner - he occasionally wakes up and then goes back to sleep snoring, normally making me jump because I forget he's there. The circular Nestibility thingy is a coloured image I was experimenting with for a thank you card. Pretty random stuff really, all of which I am about to clear so that I can tackle Mount Paperwork before making curtains, cushions and runner .... but both of those are other stories. As is The Bean.......

WOYWW

What's on your Work desk Wednesday, or WOYWW to those of us in the know, a brilliant idea by a fellow Dolly Diva teamie of mine, Mrs Dunnit, from over on UKS - and hence the new avatar link to it on the right. Despite having managed to acquire the link and work out how to show it on my blog, I am ashamed to admit that I haven't managed to join in yet - for 2 weeks.

This week I blaming work sending me away for 2 days and me only arriving home Wednesday night and my desk was clear because I hadn't done any crafting for a week, so I couldn't join in. Again. But, watch this space for next week. Well, not THIS space exactly, my work space. Not at WORK, you understand, but at home. My Home Work Space. I hope. I have the WOYWW and I'm not afraid to use it. Puggled, maybe, but definitely not afraid.

Anyhoo, it's Jules' fault - she mentioned banana muffins and I couldn't get the visual out of my mind, or the virtual taste. HOME MADE banana muffins, I hesitate to add. And THEN the mention of strawberries, my favourite, let alone what else was on her desk!!!!!!

Next week it is then.......

Oh, and I am not even going to mention the G word. I have a very bad case of Bean Envy. Green Bean Envy, to be precise.

Hoops - an Olympic Sport for the Workplace

I have a love/hate relationship with my job and tonight I don't have the strength for either. I learned a long time ago to dance on a shifting carpet so that no-one could pull the rug from under me. And then I took on my latest role. On 1st April. April Fools Day. I should have spotted the Omen. But, ever the optimist, me.

If Jumping Through Hoops was an Olympic Sport, I would now qualify for a Gold Medal. With danger money.

I have spent 2 weeks discovering how to do something new. With dire consequences, if anything goes wrong, and, hence, The Hoops. I have spoken to, researched and consulted with the Workpace and his Dog to reach the end game today. I have also learned that, if all else fails, go with The Dog.

So, there I was, with The Dog, jumping happily through hoops late this afternoon and smiling with a Satisfied-With-A-Job-Well-Done smirk - and someone lit the hoops mid-leap. Then drowned the work of the last 2 weeks in an attempt to put the fire out. I wasn't at all sure where the resultant smoke and steam was coming from, until a colleague pointed out it was from me. Out of my ears and very probably not the only orifaces. But the only ones I'm admitting to. I have now pointed one VIP to the opposing VIP and said I would simply do whatever the Winner decides and settle for position of Third Place.

Mutter Chunter. Learning Curve? More like a bl**dy Harrier Jump Jet leap. Mutter Chunter.