WOYWW 315--The Craft Desk Grand Tour

This is my Wednesday linkup to What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday hosted by the creatively talented Mrs. Julia Dunnit. Snap a pic of your workspace and join in!

Here's something different for today--the grand tour of my big ole crafty desk. For about a year I was working on a table in the middle of my craft space. There was no room! The desk here had a shelf so that I could stand and work on my computer--due to back problems--and also stand and sew. It also got piled up. A few weeks ago I changed everything. Got way more organized, cleaned out, and streamlined. Now I have a  better sewing nook, and I've moved back into this desk, put the leaves down on the other table and use it as a cutting station with my mats, Big Shot, and little embossing purse. So now that I have every corner of this desk cleaned out and rearranged, hop on the shuttle and enjoy the tour!

First stop: the big picture--a rare picture. I paid four dollars for this desk in a silent auction in 1999, I'm pretty sure it's from the 1960's with its heavy wood and pullouts on each side. We painted it a few times, and the top is actually a door. The mailbox shelves are salvaged and painted that crackle green. I plan to repaint them white though. This is a late Tuesday afternoon photo--I was embroidering my shorts, working in my planner, and binge watching Real Housewives of New York!

Now we're approaching the tippy top of the shelves, and there is a big basket of cotton yarn to the right--and some storage on the other side. Shuttle over next to my desk and it is a nice tall bureau with a roll-down top  that organizes my embroidery supplies, favorite craft books, beads and jewelry-making, fabric scraps I use a lot, and envelopes and card bases I've made. I also keep my pink Instax camera and film there in a dedicated little drawer.

We're traveling to the far left corner where I keep the things I reach for often in two organizers, and a cigar box with a little wicker tray on top. Hanging on a hook there is a little watercolor journal I made from a tissue box.

I will pull this organizer out to show you--I just got it at Hobby Lobby. It was 9.99 and I had a 40% off coupon, so pretty good for something that keeps my desk much cleaner. It's exactly what I needed for the pens I use a lot, my little Martha Stewart scoreboard, paper cutter, scissors, little stickers and post-its, and most importantly and finally a special place to perch my crop-a-dile. It fits perfectly. I keep a plastic organizer of grommets in the cigar box.

Now we'll tour the far right corner--it used to  be a stacked up mess. I banished the mess. My prisma colored pencils and a couple of pair of scissors I use a lot are in a small, wide crystal vase for easy access, and I have some silk flowers. When I moved back to this desk, I wanted to pretty it up a little, because when I have a big crafting mess...it's not that pretty. And I need a little pretty to make me happy--silk flowers are a great solution for a craft space. Later in the summer I hope to have some fresh flowers here from the cutting garden, and it's also a place holder for those occasional lovely bouquets from my hubby. Right behind the vase of flowers, I've found a new permanent place to perch my ATG gun. It's kind of hidden, but very accessible. Perfect for me.

I hope you enjoyed the tour today and as we depart I had to show you one more thing I brought out. I love this little date stamp from Smash. You can choose from several little sayings to stamp with the date! They still have them at Michaels. I keep it right at the front of my desk drawer.

The drawer is pretty organized too--but this was before I found a new place for the crop-a-dile and pens--so now I have a few other things in there to make life easier. In fact...I'll never let things in my main desk drawer be piled up and loose again! Sorry for the long tour today--I very rarely do that. But I was just a little too proud of myself for all the cleaning out and organizing I've done. My advice is that when the organizing bug hits you, go with it! You'll be so happy with the results.
Happy Wednesday lovely!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Organize