Tuesday, May 15, 2012

WOYWW # 154

This has been one incredible couple of weeks. I am a NEAT freak, but I have not deep cleaned since last autumn. I feel so much better about my house now, since I can breathe again. It's not that it wasn't neat, it's that there was dust, cobwebs, and with spring here, there was also cat fur everywhere! It was time to deep clean my house and spruce up the yard. The fact I have company coming has nothing to do with it. I needed to do it for ME!! That's why I missed WOYWW last week, and I felt LOST because of it.


While doing my major clean-up, I took (donated) some items to the thrift store. While there, I took a look around and found these doll pins and some plastic skulls. My friend Halle says thrift stores and garage sales don't count when it comes to buying things (like art supplies) this year. However, I have even avoided the thrift store until now. At least I donated items, thus reducing my excess waste. And, I have wanted these doll pins since I saw them holding ribbon on many of my British friends' desks.


A few weeks ago, my friend Kathy drew the poppy on the eraser and I have not had time to carve it. So many things to accomplish, so little time.



In the bag are two rocking horses I plan to use in my altered book. I knew you came for the rocking horses more than anything else. That black and silver thing is a tripod connector.


After I put the pins and rocking horses away, I remembered I have these sage wands I am drying, but forgot to show. So, I brought them up from the basement studio so you could see how well they are drying. While in my basement studio, I grabbed a clear plastic container and placed a bunch of wet wipes in it I got (over time) from the grocery store. Now I have a great place to keep these wipes in my craft room until I want to use one.

Are you confused as to why I'm showing my work table today? Visit Julia, our patriotic and well bred leader with the links at Stamping Ground for all the details of the most famous and hugely attended Wednesday blog hop on the web. Please leave your number when you visit, and don't forget the 3rd anniversary is two WOYWW's from today.

As an update, right after I posted this, my friend called to say he is in Ardmore, OK and will be here in the morning.  Looks like I won't be around tomorrow (Wednesday) after all.  I'll visit as time permits.

_________________

69 thoughtful remarks:

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...there's nothing like the feeling you get after a good spring clean, trouble is once you start the rest of your life stops till you finish...loVe your Dolly Pegs, a friend gave me some she'd painted and wrapped loVely laces round them...I do hope you get round to cutting the rubber stamp I loVe Poppy Seed Heads...have a loVely week Elizabeth...Mel :)

voodoo vixen said...

First and foremost, well done on the massive clean-up, I am sure you found some interesting stuff among the dust bunnies!! Love the dolly pegs, will wait and see what you do with them but I really need to know what you plan to do with the sage stick thingies... are you proposing to burn them and waft them about to entice good spirits to visit? ;)

Lisa Richards said...

Don't worry, we'll still be here when you're finished spending time with you friend! :) Congratulations on your spring cleaning!

Anonymous said...

I want to see that poppy when you find time to finish it. Have fun with your friend. I know he has traveled a long way and will be glad to spend a few days with someone ask caring as you.

XX Rachel XX

Create With Joy said...

Glad you had a chance to do some spring cleaning & some spring shopping - loved the peek at the horse! Happy WOYWW to you (although pouting cause I come for the cat!) :-)

Create With Joy
http://create-with-joy.com

HeARTworks said...

What does your friend mean by buying from a thrift shop not counting? Those sage wands look interesting! You always have lot going on! :^) patsy # 8 I think

SandeeNC said...

mmmm...a male friend, eh? And you really cleaned for him too...wondering minds want to know more, ok, nosey minds, lol Hope you have a great time with him ;) waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

Can you come and clen my place please? LOL I love all the bits and pices on your desk :))
Have a great time with your friend
Happy woywwing
Jennie #3

Dragon said...

Congrats on your cleaning!!! I wish I felt fit enough to do it myself, but the weather is driving my arthritis crazy... loving those wands, and the pegs remind me of my granny's washing day - ALWAYS on a Monday, no matter wat the weather!!
Love and light
Frankie
xx

VonnyK said...

There is nothing like a spring clean, thank goodness it is autumn here :) Love all the bits you collected and especially the rocking horses.
Thanks for the info on the H2O's, I mustn't be using enough water and leaving them long enough. Will try that next time.
Have a great week and enjoy your visitor/s.
Von #7

Neet said...

What on earth are sage wands and what do you want them dried out for. This has me so intrigued. Thanks for showing the rocking horses and the reminder about the pegs, but now I have forgotten how you wound ribbon on them so will wait to see yours.
Have a great week and weekend doing whatever. Love to you both
Neet x #11

kay said...

well done on the spring clean,but i am wondering what do you do with the dried sage wands,are they for craft or cooking?
Hope you have a fab
woyww week
kay #22

Astrid Maclean said...

Deep clean you say, and what would that be.....? Glad you did it just for you! Pegs and rocking horses look like greatd additions. Have fun with your friend and yes. I am wondering about those sage wands too, they sound like something witch crafty....

Sandy said...

Hmm yea dont know what sage wands are either but looks interesting. Yes ive seen the pegs with ribbon on them too and thought what a cool idea. Have fun with your visitor happy WOYWW Sandy :) #27

Inkypinkycraft said...

Well done on the clean up!! Lots of good finds too! Hugs trace x 18

May said...

Congrats on the clean up.. I must do the same!! Great finds, love the pegs.. Have a happy week, Hugs May x x x#26

RosA said...

Hi Elizabeth,

I couldn't resist the Washi tape, especially as it was in silver and gold! (Even though I don't know what I will do with it!)
RosA 13

Ann B said...

You got me there Elizabeth as I was looking for little doll brooches on your desk - what you call doll pins we call pegs, or, if you are old like me, dolly pegs.
Don't spend too much time dusting as someone once said 'after the first seven years it doesn't get any worse'.
Happy WOYWW
Ann B
#38

Helen said...

I wish I could get round to doing a deep clean - mind, you've seen the photo of my floor today so you know how hard that would be.... have a good time with your friend today. Helen, 4

Anonymous said...

Cleaning is good for the soul. It just feels fabulous doesn't it!!

Anonymous said...

I wish I could be as organised as you, alas between a 6yr old, a baby, two cats and my husband, most cleaning is undone immediately!

Happy WOYWW

Zoe #36

Annie said...

A good clean does us all good and now you can enjoy getting messy all over again....after your visitors of course :-)
Hugs,
A x #53

Carin Winkelman said...

I'm envious of your cleaning frenzy. I wish I had a need to deep clean, lord knows the house needs it. I'm more of a as-long-as-it-looks-okay-at-first-glance cleaner ;-). You have some very interesting things on your desk, all kinds of stuff that makes me wonder what you will do with them.

Spyder said...

I love these pegs, memories of making 'fairies' with my girls when they were little, only we drew the faces. I need to have a good clean up...there's a tiny spider dangling right in front of me as I type! Do love hunting for your rocking horses! Have a crafty week! HaPpY WoyWw!!
((Lyn)) #46

Redanne said...

I love your friend Halle's ideas about buying things. Can't wait to see what you do with those pegs and skulls. I envy you your spring clean. Happy WOYWW, Anne x

Lunch Lady Jan said...

You'll definitely be inviting the good vibes into your place, what with the deep clean and sage wands :) Think I need to do that at mine!
Hugs, LLJ #48 xx

Tuire Flemming said...

I have missed two weeks of WOYWW, but not even cleaned up... I´m also late with my AB homeworks, but not forgotten it...
Happy WOYWW!
Tuire #65

akilli melek said...

hmm, my tenant vacates my house at the end of the month. I too feel a deep clean coming on...
love your rocking horses, good to hear you are busy
caroline #87

Elizabeth said...

I have got to agree with your friend, Halle, charity shop purchases don't count - consider it another way of contributing to a good cause. I've only just finished wrapping my seam binding collection round those clothes pegs - much tidier. Spring cleaning ... gone are the days when it takes us just a week to do this, we have to pace ourselves so we tackle one task at a time. And we wage a constant battle against cat hair ... The Boss casts all year long! Enjoy your time while your friend is visiting - after all that cleaning, you deserve it. Hope you have a happy and creative week. Elizabeth x #42

Bridget Larsen said...

The okra is fried lol. I love it anyway, I cant get enough of it. Dont talk to me about cleaning up but you did a great job there
Bridget #12

Julia Dunnit said...

Well,just for a second, I htough you were showing us a pot full of asparagus - tis the season here ya know. Yum. Sage spears. How interesting. Am pleased for you and the deep cleaning..there does literally come a time when you just are IN THE MOOD and then nothing can stop ya. Have fun with your visitor; and don't worry about visiting us...we're happy to see you. Is enough. Oh and - what does your grocery store give you the odd wet wipe for then?

Amanda said...

There is nothing quite like the feeling you get after a clean up and clear out makes you feel lighter somehow. Love the sage sticks and can't wait to see the carved eraser. Your thrift stores have such treasures too. Hugs, Amanda #76

Glenda said...

I kept wondering what you had in that cup! How wonderful! Sage...
Nothing like a good Spring cleaning to get your heart pumping and the juices flowing! Enjoy your visitor!

Glenda
#96

CraftygasheadZo said...

Good on you with the deep clean, urm my house could do with that I reckon! Fab desk and super finds too. Take care & enjoy WOYWW. Zo xx 66

Kate said...

Rocking horses to alter, I might have known it!!

** Kate **

Miriam said...

You have some lovel things to alter on your desk. Look forward to seeing what you do with them.
#101

Claire said...

oooh!! i love sage - so calming and cleansing...
hope you have a fun, creative week :)
no. 37

Jackie said...

Interesting desk, thanks for sharing.
Jackie :)

Darla said...

I'm especially anxious to see that carved eraser. I'm still playing around with carving.

Darla

Annie said...

Great desk........thanks for sharing...........Happy WOYWW. Annie

Anonymous said...

Looks pretty darn neat to me. I have so appreciated decluttering this year too. I feel lighter, even if it doesn't show in the mirror. Nice sage there! xox

Unknown said...

So MUCH going on! Are you going to decorate the clothes pins? Did you get a new camera? Will you be ready for your friend? Questions, questions, QUESTIONS! Hopefully to be soon answered, company or not (grin)
Hope you have an amazing visit!
Stephanie

Healing Woman said...

Your posts are always worth waiting for! Have a great time with your friend!

Unknown said...

Perhaps your deep cleaning will be contagious and I'll catch it! #100

Jingle said...

You have some fun stuff going on!

Anonymous said...

We will make it easy for you to visit -- we'll stack up the comments here and you can just click, click, click when your friend visit is over. :) We did some spring cleaning over the weekend, too, in preparation for my daughter's birthday party and there is certainly still a way to go. Our biggest issue is storage, in the right places, so it's a constant battle against clutter. Ah, well. Happy WOYWW from Laura #117

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your goodies--now I want some doll pins!!

Shoshi said...

Well done, all that cleaning! I know what you mean about the cat hair - double trouble here with 2 kitties lol! They are both moulting a lot at the moment too - time I brushed them again!

I need to have a huge clear-out. I've made a start in my ARTHaven but haven't got the energy to do it very often!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #95

Jacqui Chimes said...

I love a good cleanup too ... as long as it doesn't happen too often

Jacqui Chimes said...

Sorry I am at #137 but no worries if you don't get round

Twiglet said...

Sounds like we have both been Spring cleaning!! It's nice to have it all tidy but my empty table is so boring - I need to get crafting!! x Jo

BJ said...

Can't wait to see what you do with your pegs BJ#52

Diane said...

I know just what you mean--I love a clean work space and house--this is very hard for me to accomplish, but when I do--it's so refreshing--so I'm very happy for you. And your friend Halle is right--supplies that you rescue from thrift stores and especially garage sales have to be scooped up for art's sake!!

Mary Jo said...

I have to say, I feel like I need to do a deep cleaning around here as well.
Like you said. It's not that it's not clean and picked up.
Although I think I will be doing it in the fall when the kids are both in school full time :)
Mary Jo #113

Angie said...

I wish i was a neat freak ...I marvel at how you can be and be so creative ...and I admire you. I was born with an untidy gene. As for cat fluff ...it gets every where. Its thick within 2-3 days with all our feline family and Toto, our Main Coon, fills a cat brush every day and still sheds clumps of fluff if stressed.
Everyone is commenting on your amazing altered book class ...wish i had made time tofollow it. take care.

kassa said...

Well I want to, but I KNOW I won't do a deep clean, surface will suffice! I have just won a DT member place at Craftwork Cards with a rocking horse card {my own template}Hmmm me wanders what you are going to use sage wands for?
Kxoxo

Ali said...

Glad you feel better after the clean... I am not by nature a clean and tidy person but I must admit I DO always feel better after I've made the effort to have a tidy and clean. Lots of lovely and interesting bits on your desk this week.

Hope you had fun with your friend visiting. :)

Ali #77

fairy thoughts said...

deep clean? it's a job to tidy a bit.
hope the AB is going well i plan to catch up in a few weeks when I have leave from work.
janet #40

Tracy said...

Spring cleaning must be in the air.... I washed and hung out all the curtains today. I love popping by and visiting. Enjoy your company! Warmly, Tracy #88

Scrappekatten said...

I could use a little help with my spring cleaning so you are very welcome to visit me in Norway LOL

KatzElbows said...

I did not come for the rocking horses. Turns out I came for the beautiful poppy. Can't wait to see it carved and in action.

Morti said...

Looks like you had some good purchases there! What are you planning to use the sage wands for - got somewhere needs smudging?

Thanks for stopping by!

Susan ~ Killam Creative said...

Oh how envious I am of your cobweb- free house! We haven't done the spring clear-out yet since the outside needed so much work this year.... And still needs work. *sigh* I hope you have a wonderful visit with your friend.

Cheers,
Susan #145

Queen Lightwell said...

Ardmore, OK...does this mean you are an Oklahoman as well? :)Actually, I see you are in Wichita, so that's about an hour from me...do you crafty people up there have any crop hops or stuff like that? We don't in my little city but it wouldn't be a bad drive to come up. Anyways, thanks for showing your tidy workspace...
#169 Deeyll

Tertia said...

I am not a neat freak, but I find it very therapeutic to have a good clean out every now and then, I think it is good for the soul.
Happy very belated WOYWW

Jacqui Chimes said...

I suppose strictly speaking they are not ATCs but it was the only way I could describe them to myself! lol Circle art cards! I enjoy your blog. Thank you for visiting my desk Jacqui #136

Shoshi said...

Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth - glad you like the card, despite all the fussy cutting lol!!

Shoshi #95

Eliza said...

Wish you would come here and clean up for me, looks like you have some work all lined up and the thought process happening. Always good to have a plan, thanks for sharing.

Eliza #19
http://queenartoypia.blogspot.com.au/

Kezzy said...

I always feel better after a good clean, I can't imagine not doing woyww one week lol. The art gallery trip looked amazing lots to look at. Your artwork is always so gorgeous and inspirational, I still haven't started my journal, I have everything but the actual mojo to give it a go. Happy woyww, sorry I'm late this week :-) Kezzy xxx