Wednesday, January 19, 2011

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday ???

Howdy WOYWW Partners,
Once again, the powers that be have fast-forwarded my weekend and here we are again. I was planning to get a bit more blogging done on some other days - but Wednesday got over the line first...Despite still being a wee bit short in the mojo department, still being at the bus-stop to inspiration and having to get a load of housework done, I did eventually find the energy and time to get down to some fiddiliy-diddily. Well, the state of affairs last night...
I started by having a bit of a sort out but soon realised it was going to be a week's work.
Quite shocked, amazed and also intimidated by how much stuff, stash and supplies I have accumulated... As many folk wait with baited breath, a few meds and their Visa Card for the arrival of CHA and another tidal wave of trends and goodies, I ask myself how much of all of our stuff have we really used, discovered and challenged ourselves with? Probably not that much if we're honest, so before diving in to get yet another 25 sets of ink-pads, dies, sprays, stamps, paints and whatever, I want to take a serious rain-check. I think it would be really empowering, artistically-challenging, and exciting to see if I can be the main source of renewal, inspiration, growth and innovation - not my shopping list! Okay - rant over. It just seems that retail peer pressure in every field of the world (not just crafting) is pretty heavy.
So back to the nicer side of life...
Finished off my cards for the exhibition. Made quite an eclectic range - just took the things that came to hand and let them evolve. Here is a card using alcohol inks to make an ATC as a starting point...not my normal colour choice but I like it.


Enjoyed doing this one - just playing and working with layers, textures and stamping...and also liking the dotty card-stock. I think it is Bazzill.
Thought I would add a Mother's day theme into the collection. Must be in quite a romantic, nostalgic mood this week.
But you can never go wrong with blue and brown or lace and ribbon flowers! Also made a load of others but that's enough cards for a while methinks...


Just starting on something new which I will blog about another time. In any case it is about polka dots!

Thank you for all the visits, encouragements and comments last week - I was very glad to be back.
Just need to get to bed before 2am now! Yep! Back to the nocturnal world of blogging and crafting indeed.

Have a great week wherever you find yourself!

Love Sarah.

34 comments:

HarmonySweetpea said...

Lovely cards. And there are so many exciting items on your desk. I will be posting up my own workdesk this afternoon after work... but so relieved its Wednesday. Half way through the working week. Thanks for the view into your creative space :-)

oneoff said...

It's a difficult balance with craft stash isn't it? Having enough to be inspired by what you find around you, yet not buying new stuff simply because it's a short cut to inspiration. Thought-provoking posting, Sarah...

Loving the layers and the textures on those cards.

Bernie x

Sarpreet said...

Gorgeous card, wow! lots of distress inks, i only have two! Great busy desk, Happy WOYWW 85, thank you for sharing.

jude said...

Love your cards and all the textures .The green dotty card is bazzil and i love it!fab to work with.Adore the first yellowyorange with butterfly on gorgeous.As for craft stuff ummm where do we start i have come to the conclusion that im not buying any magnolia stamps for a while i love em and was tempted but when i saw latest release they just seem to be doing the same tildas either moving present or adding baloon or too.So upto now i have started means to go on maybe who knows.But ii's true not until you start to tidy rearrange do you really see how much stuff you actually have and do you use ???
Fab fab tidy up and enjkoy your wednesday
hugs judex5

Neet said...

Some seriously gorgeous work here Sarah. I wish my mojo would return and allow me to do work of this calibre. Thanks so much for sharing. #27

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

Mm, I so agree with you on the stash and how much have we put to use so often we are all enthusiastic is buy and then it just sits gets sorted then sits some more, I have sorted my stuff recently and horrified at how much bug stuff I have, eek! how did that happen?
thanks for sharing,
Shaz in Oz.x

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

oh I just so agree with your comment on stash, but sadly I run a shop too.. so needs must!!
love your cards!!
Sarah Engels-Greer

Hope and Chances said...

Oh yes the stash situation.. :-) Really lovely cards. Have a good week.

Helen said...

Great work going on here, and your desk looks busy and loved!!

Marjo said...

Hi Sarah,

Fabulous cards and I love polka dots! Wonderful creative workdesk.

I am with you, I have enough stash for 10 crafters! I have a bind it all that I bought last year that I still haven't used...ugg Sometimes sales are the worst time to buy. I no longer am a buy-a-holic...only because I have run out of space...lol

Thanks for the peek and sharing. Have a wonderful WOYWW.

Hugs, Marjo #10

Wiccababe said...

stunning cards there.
I agree, am going on a stash buying ban, with a view to using up some of my own personal paper mountain
Debbi #39

Sue said...

Hi ya
wow very busy creative desk, gorgeous cards, think wew all get too much stuff n most of it hardly sees daylight! lol, but we NEED it!have great day, happy WOYWW, sue,x (26)

sandra de said...

They are truly beautiful cards. We are all so guilty of having so much and waiting to buy the new stuff. At least we are among friends.
Sandra xox #66

Chrissie said...

Lovely things.. as ever!
CHrissie #75

Glenda said...

Thanks so much for sharing your work space! Lots of goodies and I can almost see you making wonderful pieces!

Theresa Plas said...

Oh hon...you definitely need more workspace for those fabulous creations!

Pam said...

The cards/color combos are striking! I read your rant...all the way through *LOL* and yep, we do like our "stuff"! I made a physical move lately and had to streamline back to basics and it was cathartic. I think I have to move again heehee.
xoxo #8

Julia Dunnit said...

It would seem that working in non-normal colours and a little rant suits you Sarah. COuldn't agree more though, so let's not call it a rant - I've done enough of that this week!!

Kaz Hall said...

Hello sarah,
First of all thank you so much for the beautiful atc cards you left at sues shop for me.....so sorry i missed you!
They are so gorgeous, I will display them for all to see....thank you xx

I love your cards too you are so talented!! Where is your exihbition?? would love to come along and see it? I so know what you mean about stash....I buy it sometimes for the sake of buying, need to cut u my credit card!!
Well best go thanks so much again and look forward to seeing what your next creation is xx
kazxx

Elizabeth said...

Hi Sarah, lovely cards and you desk looks so inviting. I've got to agree with you about the amount of stash we accumulate just because we have to have it (and I don't have a credit card!!!) I'm trying very hard to use a good bit up before buying any more :) Thanks for sharing. Regards, Elizabeth #78

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Want all those lovely ink pads. Need them! Seriously though, the sentiment on the butterfly card is really beautiful - a real treasure. I agree we really should take time in our busy shopping schedule to play more with what we already have, watch the demos of new stuff, and then try to work out how we could create something just as good if not better, just using things we already have. I am off now to try just that (when I have unpacked my latest stamps from Clarity).

Angie said...

What a busy desk ....and just a tiny space left to work in ...thats how I end up when I actually get round to being creative. I think your pieces are vintage magic and just might inspire a LO

Tertia said...

Love your desk! So much to see there. Love the colours of the one you are working on and would love to see the finished project. I went on a stash diet last year and haven't even made a serious dent, so I agree - way too much stuff to even think of buyin anything new.
Tertia 110

katemade designs said...

very thought provoking indeed. I have found that if I have too much my creativity starts to shut down from overload. I read tons of blogs and see the new stuff coming and I have to take a step back and see if I can replicate the look with what I have or horrors try to find my own style without buying new. Thanks for giving me something pretty to look at and something deep to think about.

Barbara Mason said...

My dear -you just need some shelves to put all the new hot sellers on after CHA!!! Seriously, I know what you mean about accumulating all these art supplies - my personal addiction -guess it could be worse...and I do try to upcycle when I can....Love your cards especially the 1st one....

Anonymous said...

I just love it when you get all fiddily-diddily on us! beautiful cards, and yes, even as a relatively recent crafter I have more things than I can shake a stick at. I also have a 50% coupon for the craft store and i now fell mega guilty about wanting to use it!!

Hugs
Brenda 100

Unknown said...

I know what you mean about buying a another set of inks and stains and so on, some of my inks dont even have the wrappers of yet

Love the cards, the blue one is lush

Thanks for the peep

Hugs
Judie xx

BrossArtAddiction said...

Wow stunning cards! And I do admit that I haven't played with everything I have. Hubs told me that I'm not aloud to buy anything else until he sees that at least all the stamps I do have, have been at least inked once. Which that will never happen...lol. Thank goodness for online shopping..wink...wink! ;D~

Thanks for the peek!

♥Tracey♥...ƸӜƷ

okienurse said...

Lots of fun things to play with at your house! Love all crafty things. Beautiful cards

Lynne said...

Your cards are fabulous. Great work space lots of interesting stuff lurking around.

Spyder said...

I was here, but I forgot to say, your cards are fabulous!!
Happy Woyww
(Lyn)57

Nicky said...

lots going happening on your desk - love the cards - I have a solution for too much stash if there is something I wont to buy normally I have to look around to see what I can sell first to be able to buy the new bits lols ~ Nicky 24

Alisonw30 said...

Know what you mean about the pressure to buy more and more stuff. I haven't bought any new craft stuff for a month or so now and am rather enjoying just using up what I have! Planning not to buy anything until the twice yearly craft show I go to in March, we will see how it goes!

Alison x

SusanLotus said...

Very beautiful cards!