WOYWW 347--Lazy Crafter Days

I recently framed a couple of Chanel printouts for desktop inspiration.

Happy Wednesday lovely!
Visit the What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday party right here.
Courtesy of Miss Julia--and really, it's more than a courtesy. She never misses a Wednesday to let us share our crafty spaces.

Anyhoo...
I've continued in my January lazy crafter mode. Only stopping the lazy train to Downton now and then to organize my desktop folders, some drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, and of course cross-stitching on the 2015 cross-stitch house from the El DMC blog. I've almost got room #1 done. But at this rate, I don't think I'm going to finish it in time to enter at the fair this summer. *sigh* We'll see.

 Got the cutest file folders from the Target dollar spot for the desktop folders I reach for quite a bit.

Three faves: washi tape, post-it tape, and cute masking tape.

I had to share this--post-it tape! It's the pink, on the right there. I love this stuff.

And there's my faithful Stitchydori on the pullout--I can't do a day without dori. Inside is my weekly planner, list book of every list I possibly need at all times, business book, dashboard and folders, traveling supply of washi and stickers, and my food/exercise journal. Yesterday I posted about making another Midori for a gift if you'd like to scroll down and check it out.

Now, about Downton Abbey. (possible last season episode spoiler coming up here) I think I'm a few episodes into the last season, and I'm already worried about Robert clutching his side after every fancy dinner--please don't tell me this is a foreshadowing!! But just for the record, it is noted that something is up here. Oh, and I LOVED the visit from Gwen, and how Barrow tried to call her out, and it didn't really work in his favor. Oh Barrow...will you ever learn. And from one stitcher to another--can I just say I adored that embroidered coat Mrs. Hughes wore for the wedding day. I am actually trying to figure out how to embroider my own coat! First stop, a long vintage beige spring coat I have is promptly going into my embroidery machine! Although I think I'll have to temporarily remove the lining to get this task done properly. I do plan to share the adventure though.

Have a happy week of crafting, stitching, stamping, scrapping, or just being lazy in January.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

Making a Midori - Handmade Gifts are the Best

I have a very sweet sweet older sister, and wanted to make her a Midori for a gift from my handmade heart to hers as she lives clear across the country from me. To make it special, and one of a kind, this Dolldori--the Stitchydori's I make with matryoshka doll fabric--start with felt cut to the extra-wide Midori size. I add a pocket and an applique to the inside front cover, and some hand embroidery with pearl cotton #5 floss to the back cover.

I use a heat bond to iron the felt to the fabric, and then I stitch a decorative seam all around the edge. I do not "finish" the edge though, because it doesn't really fray that much...and I know because I've been using my Stitchydori's for months...and what little fray there is adds to the character. After that is all stitched, I add the grommet hardware, elastics and charms for the front and the spine. For my Dolldori's, a matryoshka ceramic bead goes on the front.

 For Kathleen's one-of-a-kind dori, I added a Disney princess charm to the back!

I also made her booklets, including a 2016 planner. I used the scrapbook paper pad from MAMBI for the covers. The booklets I make for myself are decorated with stamps, stickers and washi to within an inch of their life! 
      Take a peek at how I decorated my Midori booklets

But when creating booklets for someone else, or for sale, I leave room for the dori owner to do their own decorating. I did add just a little to my sister's as it was a gift.

I'm working on replenishing my sale supply of Stitchydori's! They are so much fun to make and to have. I can't do a day without my dori.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

WOYWW 346--I'm Crafty, Even When I'm Not Doing Anything!

Happy What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday! I thought I would have accomplished a lot more craftiness this month! But all I seem to do at the craft table is sip coffee, watch Netflix shows or YouTube desk tours, reorganize stuff, and cross-stitch. Maybe after I'm more reorganized I'll actually get into making mode! So here's the desk. Quite clean. Quite boring.

 We've had some crazy icy weather here in the Ozarks with more to come tonight! I think that's why, this time of year, I just want to sit around and stitch! So there's my fat Midori I made...my planner is in there and my favorite thing, my list book where I keep every kind of list you can think of! I actually refer to it a lot. Drinking coffee, getting ready to make oatmeal, and get myself to the office!

Over on the side is my little leather bible with the bee on the front--it's falling apart a little bit. But you know the saying, if your bible is falling apart, then you're probably not! And there's the adorable dollhouse I've started stitching. It has 12 rooms. It's the first big cross-stitch I've done in years! That is masking tape on the edge of the aida cloth to keep it from raveling.

Had to show you my new Koi watercolors in the pocket field sketch box. They are all pristine and unused, but hopefully not for long! Now I must make my way around a few other desks as missed last week. Have a happy Wednesday.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

 

WOYWW 344 - Happy 2016!

Happy What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday lovelies! I took a holiday from posting my desk, but I'm ready for a fresh new year.

Here we are, right in the middle of my main crafty desk haven. I love it here, and I think everything around me shows it. It's quite clean at the moment, because I've had some extra days to be here, organize, clean, and go through things. Yay me. I've got my favorite homemade junk journal out. I did a page featuring a cross-stitched heart and my sewing stamps. This art journal/junk journal is made up of the prettiest blank pages from three old date books that I just loved, and didn't want to discard. I just took a couple of rings, punched holes, stitched on some of the pages, added some embellishments, buttons, beads, and put it all together so that now I can add and journal even more. Lately I've been adding inspiring bible verses.
Also to the right is a little vintage ice cream goblet with mini gel pens from the Target dollar spot. I love them! You can go back to my post yesterday all about that little haul.
And here are the links to how I made my junk journal:
Homemade Junk Journal Part I
Homemade Junk Journal Part II

But in case you think my desk is too clean and I'm not doing anything fabulous and crafty--I'll swing over to the left. Here I have the old vintage, um, kind of, podium table? I often write, stamp and color on it, because it is slanted down which makes it very comfortable. Here you can see though, I've been doodling in my Midori planner, and starting the big huge dollhouse cross-stitch that was posted a room at a time last year on El Blog De DMC. And by the way--she's starting a new house this year. So excited, even though I'm just now starting the 2015 house. So fun.

What's up on your desk? I can't wait to see. I've missed everyone.

♥Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch

Target Dollar Spot - Shop Like a Planner Girl - Valentine Haul

Those fun stickers and gel pens in the Target Dollar Spot may appear to be for kids for heart day fun--but don't be fooled. They are so much fun to use in your planner and art journal too no matter what your age...so why not! I let myself spend ten bucks, and made a little haul. Everything was a dollar.

I managed to pick up some cute paper straws, a list pad with hearts (my favorite kind), a bag of owl erasers (a must-have), and check out those robot stickers with googly eyes! They are going in my planner, and I might make some cute cards with them too. I couldn't resist a couple of packs of these adorable mini gel pens, and I found an old ice cream goblet to display them in. Each one is a different bright color--there's even a white one--and the color flows great considering I got four for a dollar.

I like things that look cute on my desk!

I stocked up on stickers including this Valentine pad of stickers--such a great bargain for so many stickers and perfect my planner! They make me happy. I could use them on little Valentine cards or notes too.

They have some very pretty file folders in a pack of four for a dollar--which will make your organizing even better to look at!

And I was needing a little mouse pad on my craft desk, and this one is also a list pad. Happy heart day to me!

♥Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch♥