Wednesday 4 May 2011

WOYWW - Week 100

Morning All,


Well, here we are in the first week of May already - how time flies when you're enjoying yourself. I trust you are all well and getting back to normality after the extended Easter/Royal Wedding/Bank Holiday break! And for those of you who are not so well my wish for you is that this week sees an improvement.

We took advantage of the great weather and took a few trips out, picnicked a lot, let the housework go and generally had fun. Which is why there is not much going on at the desk this morning. There's an ATC in the making, a couple of completed ones in their new home - the wee purple box which once contained a bottle of perfume - and the box of miniature postcards.

The Kraft box to the left and just out of sight contains my Clarity stamps. Because these are already mounted they are difficult to store on a shelf so I was forever moving them about trying to find a home for them.This old box had been stored on top of a bookcase, forgotten and unloved, for eons. In it was writing paper! My, how times have changed - I can't remember the last time I used writing paper, can you? I wonder how many of you still write letters by hand? I believe it is a dying art and perhaps to be deplored. When I was younger, and because I lived abroad for much of the time, I used to write screeds to family and friends. And my late mother particularly loved receiving my letters too. Today, my preference is to type any missive I have to write on the PC or use a notecard to write a brief note. DH happily laid claim to the writing paper - he still writes letters to friends and family never having mastered the joys of email, etc. - and so the box is now dusted off and serving its new purpose.

The book, Scrapbooking Your Family History by Maureen Taylor,  I've had for some time but was prompted to look at it again recently when planning the layout of my mother's photograph - the post is here. I have another book with the same title but written by Laura Best - this one is slightly different in its approach so I think it's worth having them both. And, the truth is, I just love books, especially books on scrapbooking : )

For anyone who has just stumbled over this blog post and has no earthly idea what I'm prattling on about, what WOYWW is about, then please, with no further ado, hop over to the lovely Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, where you will find a plethora of links to a lot more crafty desks - go on, treat yourself - it's the best snoopathon ever!

Right, I'm off to have a much needed cup of tea but I'll be back later to see what my fellow WOYWWers are up to. Apologies once again to those of you I didn't manage to get to - I do my best every week but never quite manage to visit everyone, much as I would love to. So for those of you I didn't visit I hope you had a good week and hope to see you this week.

Happy crafting to you all.


31 comments:

Sarpreet said...

great book, beautiful workspace,Thank you for sharing your workspace, Happy WOYWW 100, Wow! Has it really been 100 weeks! (#3)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Picnics already this year? It's barely warm enough in my part of the world. Sounds like fun, especially when you had a bank holiday. Can't believe it's been 100 weeks. But I'm loving it and your desk, too. Happy WOYWW from # 6 this week.

Carrie said...

Writing letters was always a bugbear with me when I was younger.....living overseas we were expected to write regular letters to both grandmothers and I used to do anything to get out of it..... Very naughty of me! I am also guilty of dashing quick notes off on the computer rather than writing them by hand. You have got me thinking though.... I have always fancied learning calligraphy so I might investigate that as a project in the near future. I really love reading your blog Elizabeth.... It always makes me smile.
Hugs
Carrie

jude said...

Nice tidy desk this week!So glad you made the most of this glorious weather.we have been so lucky in Norfolk to have had this sunshine for nearly 4 weeks.Which brings me to not good for my garden!Just hope fingers crossed this is not our summer come early!
Happy woyww100
hugs judex 28

Helen said...

Great space - I used to love writing letters but like so many, rarely do now.... I agree, bring back the letter!

Ciara said...

Your desk is looking lovely and bright today and all ready for a good crafty session!

Happy 100th WOYWW Elizabeth & here's to the next 100 :-)

rach said...

I can't remember the last time I wrote a letter, must be years! Did make the kids write postcards to their school friends on holiday last year, does that count? Have a great holiday in Barmouth.

Sarah said...

Totally agree with you about letters - that's why I so love crafting - we need to be able to still touch things. Yes I couldn't live without my blog but it is the tangible creations that make it all worth while. Maybe you have an idea for a challenge there...
Thanks for sharing your space,

Sarah at 4

Jan Hennings said...

Scrapbooking your family history looks like a great book! Thanks for the snoop :)

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi there Elizabeth..loving what you are did on that layout of your mother in 1946, it looks great, and happy 100th WOYWW indeed! Shaz in oz.x

Julia Dunnit said...

I have some of those 'cigarette' cards from Crafthouse Press - must say I've found them very useful for ATCs and such. I love to receive a letter, but am like you, tend to type or use a card more often than not.

Sunshine Girl said...

Very tidy workspace there! I have some writing paper I keep just in case I write someone a letter but I tend now to send someone a tag and write a note on the back of that instead - how times have changed indeed! Have a great day - Sunshine Girl No. 32

shazsilverwolf said...

Great desk, I too love a good book! Shaz #112

kelly said...

another very tidy desk, what is going on? I feel like I should go and tidy.......maybe......after a little more crafting!
kelly xx

Neet said...

You know Elizabeth I had never thought of it that way before. Maybe the odd word processed letter I send is received a little sadly because it is not handwritten. Yet again, judging by some handwriting I see I think I would prefer it to be WP'd. Certainly food for thought there.
Glad you enjoyed the two BH's which made for a nice long break (or short weeks) for those who work.
Your purple box reminds me of one I have but I made mine - think it is called a Sho Sho box - not sure would have to look it up. Anyway, love your hens.
Hugs and thanks for the visit Neet x

Elaine Harding said...

Great layout for those vintage memories - that looks like a meaty volume on your desk! Happy reading - can't wait to see future creations inspired by that tome! TFS Elaine#19

Hettie said...

A very tidy desk there. Must be years since I last wrote a letter - might just write one to my friends in Scotland. Been thinking about the a bit lately as I was at their home for Charles and Diana's wedding. Seems like yesterday!

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

What a tidy desk, and nice to see an old box having a new life. Thank you for your visit and your lovely message earlier. You are right, I cannot wait for my new stamps to arrive so I can play.

Sid said...

Super stuff and thanks for sharing !!

Carola Bartz said...

Elizabeth, I went over and looked at your mom's photograph that you scrapbooked, and I think you did such a great job on that. It looks beautiful!
BTW, my favorite words in this post were "let the housework go" - yep, that's my mantra!

HeARTworks said...

Hi Elizabeth,I used to write a lot of letters and I would put carbon paper underneath to make a copy so I know what I wrote about already. I used to write to relatives, classmates, penpals overseas. I loved to write and receive letters! Well, now I still write my aunts who don't have computers. But everybody else gets email! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Angie said...

That Book sounds very interesting ...might have to look out for it. Sometimes I want to do a LO but there is a void in my creative head ...maybe it would kick start it.

Di said...

Hi Elizabeth! I'm a bit late this week - finishing off that sweet pea card! I do write letters when people don't have email but do think it's a dying art. My Mum wrote to me every single day for four and a half years whilst I was away at school - isn't hindsight wonderful though. If only I'd kept them all, they were an account of daily life back in the 60's. And I bagged a white tile from some we had leftover after recent work! Great tip, thanks! Hugs, Di x

The Crafty Elf said...

That's a nice clean desk. Looks like a fantastic book, not seen that one before. It still is great to receive a hand written letter a little more personal. Thanks for visiting!

Sparkly Engineer said...

Writing papers! I love them. I love writing which is what lead to my card making.

JoZart Designs said...

I am pleased to say that I do still write the odd letter but I do miss all the pen friends I used to have all over the World, many now email. I always loved good stationery and all the trappings, bottles of ink, blotting paper etc. I do, however, still use a fountain pen!
Lovely interesting post and great desk too.
JoZarty x

akilli melek said...

I'm a bit late getting round WOYWW this week. I started off well but got way-laid.
I love books, any books but i especially like scrapbooking books, lol.
the only person i wrote to was granny, but she is losing her sight now so we dont write any more. I did find it quite therapeutic because i used a PC at work, but now i email most things.

Morti said...

Great desk this week Elizabeth... thanks for stopping by!

okienurse said...

I think you are right that writing letters is perhaps a lost art. It is so much easier to sit down and email a short message or text or whatever. Also keeps me from having to make a call or whatever. I love old boxes. I love dressing them up! Sorry I am late getting around this week but I haven't felt well! Thanks for sharing. Vickie #36

Unknown said...

Neat desk and tidy space. I like the sound of the book about scrapping your family. I have all the photos etc, album pages and the rest. Might look for the book online now.
Thanks for sharing
Carol

Nicky said...

Great desk nice and tidy that book looks interesteing sorry I am so late the time seems to have flown by again this week