Wednesday, May 20, 2020

What's On Your Workdesk this monumental Wednesday (aka: WOYWW 572)


My dear friend (and host of WOYWW) Julia at Stamping Ground pointed out that sending ATCs (obviously the post offices are more burdened in Europe and Australia than in the states) for the 11th anniversary of WOYWW wasn't going to happen.  Neither was their annual crop.  Instead, we are to drag out a UFO, or unfinished object or project, and complete it for WOYWW 572.  We had to commit, too.  Not realizing I would be sick as a dog for weeks on end before the event, I knew I had to commit, since I had written on Julia's blog I would participate.  And Julia has a memory like an elephant or a hyperthymesiac (a person who visually remembers everything).

I started this project nearly two years ago.  I was making a "plaque" for my friend Scott's mother.  He picked out the frame and I had the background already finished, except it was too large.  However, Scott didn't like the background colors, so the project sat for, well EVER.

Then it was time to finish it.  Boy, did I bite off almost more than I could chew given my inability to stay upright for any length of time.  Instead of a lot of step out photos, I decided to not worry about showing how I created the background that was two pieces of cardboard (NOT corrugated) glued together, then cut (and recut and recut) to size.  And this post was already longer than Julia likes and I haven't even started. Next, I added the background. 

Here's the completed front.  It goes in Scott's mother's basement bath.  I actually started this before Scott's father died, so I hope this has meaning.

It's obvious I cleaned and oiled the frame. 

The crown, which is felt, came from Michael's, a big box craft store found in the states and Canada.

The letters were cut from different leather samples I had.

It's hard to see the "Handmade by" on the back because I foolishly used dye ink rather than Staz-on over the paper I colored using a Krylon copper leafing pen.  I smudged my name in PhotoShop, because Bleubeard didn't help with this project.

I'm sure most of you actually came to see the rocking horse and these two were lovingly gifted me by the wonderful and thoughtful Shaz Silverwolf.  After recently looking at the cost of dies, something I've not done in the past, even these minis are expensive, so I am I quite grateful to Shaz for these.

I also received another rocking horse, but it's been on my desk so long, I forget where I got it.

However, this is how my desk normally looks (sans the frame hangers).

Thanks to Julia for keeping this blog hop going every week for 11 years.  You are the best.   Thanks to everyone else for joining me this week as I try to get back into visiting Julia each week.  If coming from Julia's please leave your number, so I can easily find you.

47 thoughtful remarks:

Helen said...

Good to see you again, here - it's been a while..Hope you are now fully recovered. Happy WOYWW Helen #? no number yet

Valerie-Jael said...

The framed piece looks good, well done on getting it finished. Enjoy your new dies. Have a great day, get better soon, Valerie

Iris Flavia said...

Throne Room, oh, I love that!!!
Ours has the throne and a tiny sink, that´s it, oh, how your piece of art would fit!!!
Add that to my surname, bingo!

Bleubeard sure thought, "hm, not my throne, so what" ;-)
Or maybe, " want that, too!"

Wow, your desk is big!
To new craft work - and health!!!

Neet said...

Lovely to see you here for the anniversary celebration.
Great ufo - congratulations on getting it finished.
Hugs, Neet 5 xx

glitterandglue said...

Good morning. Good to see you here for the 11th anniversary. Well done on finally finishing the project. It's a great feeling isn't it when something which has been hanging around for so long actually gets done - mine had been waiting around for over 20 years!
Take care. Stay safe. God bless.
Margaret #3

craftyani said...

Well done on your challenge love it 'The Throne Room'. Thank you for your friendship and here's to another 11 years. ANi#1

BJ said...

Saw your name and flew to your page, long time no see! How's it going other than being ill for so long, hugs sweetie. Loving your plaque, great to get as project done and dusted at last BJ#13

Mrs.D said...

Morning Elizabeth, well done for finished that sign, which is absolutely gorgeous. Now take yourself back to bed and treat yourself gently, and get well soon!
Bless you for sharing
Chris #8

Annie said...

Hi Elizabeth. I'm pleased to hear you're feeling better. I love your finished UFO so well done you.
Thanks for your love and friendship over the last 11 years.
Hugs,
Annie x #11

Shoshi said...

Nice to see you again, Elizabeth! So glad you managed to finish your plaque and the background is lovely. I’m glad (I think!) that Bleubeard decided to “help” you with this project - they do like to be involved, don’t they! Sorry to hear you are still feeling poorly and I hope you will be OK again soon.

Happy 11th Anniversary WOYWW,
Shoshi x #19

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Morning Elizabeth, so nice to see you back over @ the stamping ground to celebrate the 11th Anniversary and what a super finished UFO, i'm sure it will be greatly received after those 2 years in waiting. Hope you are now feeling better than before, such a worry during these times.
Take care & i'll catch up with you soon Happy woywW hugs Tracey xx

Sarah Brennan said...

Good to see you back for the anniversary. You made a beautiful job of that plaque Elizabeth. Did either of the tags I sent you for last year's WOYWW anniversary ever turn up? Stay safe and Happy WOYWW. Sarah #15

sandra de said...

Hello Elizabeth and a happy 11th anniversary to you and Bluebeard. Lovely to see you have been able to complete your UFO and what a project to have to complete when unwell. Well done and I hope you now have a chance to rest and recover. Stay safe and keep creating.
Sandra de @16

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Happy 11th Bloggyversary Elizabeth, how lovely to see you on the desks today! Your UFO is great and I hope the person likes it. I'm sorry to hear you've been poorly though and hope that you're feeling a little better now. Glad to see the rocking horses still on show!
Hugs LLJ 4 xx

Cardarian said...

Happy 11th anniversary! I haven't been around for almost a year and have just returned at the right time! I like your UFO and I see you still have rocking horses everywhere! Love them!
Nice to be back and see your desk again!
Love and hugs,
Cardarian

Mariane said...

What an amazing project! I think it was a great thing you did there. I do hope you feel better now? Thank goodness for Julia, because then we can visit each other and have a good time, looking at each other creativity!!


Thank you so much for sharing!

Happy WOYWW Anniversary
Mariane #25
http://art.cordes.re

Mae Travels said...

I hope your recovery is complete and permanent! That’s an ambitious project, good that it’s over.

You asked for permission to add my blog to your sidebar — what an honor! Of course I would like to be added. I will try to remember to have a glass of wine in my food pics on Tuesdays so I can add them to your list — at least sometimes.

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Twiglet said...

Happy 11th bloggyversary! What a fab UFO -you have made a very special sign there - great idea. xx Jo #23

Lillianb said...

HAPPY 11th Anniversary. Love the finished frame it does feel good getting things Finishes and I think we all have loads of unfinished things,

Take care and stay safe.

Lilian B #21

My name is Erika. said...

Nice. You did a great job on that frame. I hope Scott's mother enjoys it. Happy Wednesday!

CJ Kennedy said...

The throne room sign made me laugh. What a great gift. Hope you're feeling better.

Sue Jones said...

aww great that you were able to complete it. So glad you are on the mend and hopefully feeling stronger each day . Have a great week and stay safe xxx Soojay #27

Marit said...

Happy WOYWW anniversary dear! Some project you dragged out there... especially when you have been ill. Hooray for finishing it, it looks wonderful! Big hug from Holland, Marit #32

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Happy 11th WOYWW, isn't IT amazing, Elizabeth!? 😊 and so grateful to have your friendship through it!
Wow that is some wonderful UFO, Elizabeth, well done indeedy on finishing it all the way, love the colours you went with,real great work!
So sorry youve not been well. Hopefully soon!
Thanks for sharing, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love, in these different times.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X 7

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Elizabeth, and ear scritches to Bleubeard and Squiggles. I adore that background you used in the frame, it's a real beauty. So happy the dies arrived safely with you, when I saw them in a store near me, in a box of small 'child & baby' dies, I instantly thought of you.I actually bought myself quite a few, as they were extremely reasonable- just £1 each, which is a little less than 1 dollar, I think. So lovely to see you back for our anniversary,Stay safe, have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #12 X

Diana Taylor said...

Hi Elizabeth, lovely to catch up with you. Good for you finishing off that fab picture frame, especially as you've been so unwell. I'm sure the recipient will be delighted with it. I do hope you are well on the road to recovery,
Happy WOYWW Anniversary,
Diana xx #28

da tabbies o trout towne said...

bleu N squiggles; we bet ewe wood have a GRATE time on Elizabeth's desk !!!! we noe....ewe noe....what we meen :) ☺☺♥♥

Divers and Sundry said...

"Throne Room" Cool! I'm glad it got finished. It needed to find an appropriate home :)

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Elizabeth. Loving the finished plaque. I hope if they've had to wait for this so long that they didn't have any problem finding the Bathroom Lol! Love the rocking horses too, bet you will have fun with those. Thanks for all your kind words and wishing you a very happy woyww 11th Anniversary. Big hugs, Angela x17x

Lindart said...

Hi Elizabeth! So sorry you have been so ill, glad you have recovered enough to finish your UFO! It looks great! Happy Anniversary, I am so glad to have "met" all you wonderful people! I feel I have friends all over the world now! Stay safe, Lindart #40

Caro said...

Happy Anniversary! I've finished my marking so can now pop round the blogs and comment. So sorry to hear you have been ill. Your completed UFO looks fantastic! Take care and stay safe my friend. With love and God Bless, Caro (#19)

DVArtist said...

Wow 11 years that's quite an accomplishment. It has to do with all the wonderful people who submit art too. I love this piece of yours. Have a great day.

Stacy Sheldon said...

Hi Elizabeth, ooh they will be so happy when you can all get together in person and gift it to them :) (and I am impressed you colored that paper with a krylon pen and stamped on the paint) :) fun rocking horse dies too! Happy Anniversary, ~Stacy #38

craftytrog said...

The frame looks great, Scott's mum will love it! X

My name is Cindy said...

So lopvely to see you Elizabeth - I do hope you are fully recovered or will be very soon. You were right - I was looking for the rocking horse!! It's funny how something quite minor can just stop us in our tracks with a project and we cant go forward with it - but it all came right in the end! Happy WOYWW Anniversary, stay safe, stay well, Cinfy #26

Shoshi said...

Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth, and sorry to wear you out with such a long post! It didn't take me that long to do because I wrote quite a bit of it in draft form as I thought of stuff (like the seeds). Getting all those UFOs out to photograph them has inspired me to get on with some of them at least, and I've brought some down to the sitting room to work on from the comfort of the recliner. Who knows - this challenge may actually motivate me to complete them at last!!

Shoshi x #20

StampinCarol said...

Happy 11th!
Hope you're feeling much batter.
I have to admit that I like the blue marble-looking background better than the orangey one. And what a fun sign! Hope any humidity won't hurt it as it is so cool!
Cute rocking horse dies! Such a nice gift and the one on your desk looks cool!
Have a wonderful week and thanks for popping by!
Carol N #34

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh I do hope that you haven’t made things worse by forcing yourself up to do the UFO for 11. That certainly wasn’t the intent! I LOVE the marbled paper, a friend brought me a sheet from Italy and it’s no different to yours, what a great success you made of that. I expect the plaque will mean even more to Scott’s mum now. Clever to use leather for the letters, I’ve never thought of that and didn’t it cut beautifully.
Funny isn’t it that so may deskers have in the back of their minds that you collect Rocking Horses. I’m going too say it’s because it’s a more unusual collection, But so many of us are able to bring you to mind at the sight of one, even Mr Dunnit will point one out and ask if my friend would like it! You’ve been in on this WOYWW thing from the start, an exotic (from abroad!!) and I don’t think I can understate your influence on me over the years. Thank you, as always.

Elizabeth said...

Sorry to hear you have been so unwell, Elizabeth. I hope you will soon be very much better. Your UFO was quite some undertaking under the circumstances so well done for getting the 'plaque' finished at last. I'm sure Scott's mum will really appreciate it - the marbled background is fabulous and perfect for a bathroom! Thank you for your kind comment yesterday. Take care and stay safe. Elizabeth x #36

Crafting With Jack said...

Hello Elizabeth and Bleubeard, sorry to hear you have been unwell Elizabeth, I do hope your health continues to improve. I bet your framed crown was very much appreciated. I do like your fabric piece on your next post. It is years since I did anything with dyes. I noticed you have a lot of tutorials which I will investigate later. I am trying to get round and comment, but I get distracted so easily! Doing well with organising my stamps, all free form magazines over the years! I am trying not to buy any more magazines now. Your cat is beautiful by the way. Keep well, x Angela #44

Christine said...

Lovely work, thanks for showing your process.

Belinda said...

Hello! You must get extra credit for remembering what a two-year old project was supposed to be. I would have forgotten what I was doing and still have left it to sit!! You must feel happy to have that checked off of your list. I love how it came out. I really liked the idea of working on UFOs because I have so many. Thank you for visiting me yesterday. I have to spread out my visits between work and gardening now that the weather is finally cooperating. Stay well.
Belinda #39

Lynn Holland said...

Awh well done you. Stay well and safe
Happy 11th Anniversary
Lynn x

Anne said...

Hello. Thanks for popping by. Lovely to see you again. A rather belated Happy 11th WOYWW Anniversary. Anne x

RO said...

I adore the artwork for Scott's mom's bathroom. The colors are fabulous. Every time I look at your office I'm impressed with what looks like a rolling cart with several drawers. That just looks like it's so convenient, and I need to try to find one on sale. Then I'm always impressed to see "A Genius at Work" is still on full display.(lol) Sending lots of air hugs, RO

RO said...

OMG - I neglected to mention the not feeling well. I remember your cough the last time we spoke, and hate that you were sick. We were in the same boat because I had a dreaded sinus infection that made me very uncomfortable. You're right, even when we're sick, life must go on, somewhow. I sure hope you're feeling much better, and sendng some healing hugs. RO

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

"this post is already longer than Julia likes and I haven't even started" LOL, that was funny! I find that quite challenging too - I always end up skipping parts and using just half my photos and my posts are still too long! Love what you did with that frame. The background matches the frame perfectly. Job well done! Thanks so much for stopping by - happy anniversary - enjoy the weekend! zsuzsa #30