Tuesday, January 12, 2016

WOYWW 345: the one where it's too cold to craft


It's nearly Wednesday, freezing in my world, and I'm linking to the Queen of Deskers herself, Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground.  A bit photo heavy, not like Julia prefers it, but

I'll start with

the obligatory rocking horses that I decided to leave in place,

rather than taking them down and bringing them to my desk.  Did I not mention how cold it is here?

Now let's head to my craft table, where it's no warmer, either.   Several disparate bits of art fodder have found their way there to be dealt with.

This 1964 Consumer's Reports found its way into my life, and I'm so glad I found it.

As I was taking the trash out this morning, I found this beautiful leaf, which I'm going to press as soon as you leave.

And the final thing on my table today are the remains of green tea minus the tea bags I am using for an experiment in the basement studio where it's actually warm.  Nearly out of camera range in the background, WOYWWendy is jumping for joy that she doesn't have to fish those papers out of the cold tea.

Thanks for visiting, and if you are coming from Julia's please leave your number.  However, I have encountered a couple of  visitors who've left comments where I have to join G + in order to leave a comment.  Sorry, I can't and won't do that unless and until Google pulls the plug on Blogger.

46 thoughtful remarks:

Nikki said...

Are you aging paper in the tea pot? Hope it warms up for you soon hugs Nikki? ?

Valerie-Jael said...

Sorry it's so cold there, you have my attention, as my apartment is always cold, too. Well, in summer it is like an oven, because then it is so hot you can hardly sit down! Have a great day, and stay warm, enjoy your arty basement, have fun! Hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

we're having a cold snap (for this winter) here too, but nothing like you.. hope you warm up soon. I'm sure I'll find something to put in the hamper soon too! Helen #?

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

It's certainly turned colder here in the last few days. We've been lucky and had it very mild up until now. Good for the heating bills, but I prefer cold and crisp to mild and damp! Have fun with your tea dyed pages.

Neet said...

Love how you experiment so waiting eagerly to see what you do with that leaf and what the "brew' reveals for us all.
I am upside down (but not in Oz) at the moment, feels strange to be posting Tuesday night and it is Wednesday back home.
Thanks for the tour of the rockers - such a lovely collection - how many have you in total?
Hugs, Neet 3 xxx (One for you, one for Squiggle and one for my friend Bleubeard of course)

Lynn Holland said...

FreeZing here Elizabeth I've just been out to unlock the gate.... Brr
Do you do a lot of dyeing ? Can't wait to see what you do with that lot
Happy desk day
Lynn 6 xx

buterfliecrafter said...

my son would love your jar with tea and paper, he is always making mixtures (paint/paper/clay/...)Vicky#4

Nikki said...

I know it's early for valentine's and I have just started taking down christmas a little bit of it lol

Lynsey said...

It's cold here too! I hope you warm up soon, great photos! Lyns #24

Clair said...

A basement experiment? Sounds intriguing. Hope you'll be sharing the results!

Clair WOYWW #25

froebelsternchen said...

This kitchen display cabinet is gorgeous and I always enjoy the rocking horses -
Keep warm Sweetie, here it will get cold as well... brrr.
Happy Wednesday and happy experimenting in the basement Elizabeth!
oxo
Susi

Inside the artists shed said...

Oh how I'd like a peek in that 1964 book. Your 1st little horse reminds me of that childrens book 'The Little Wooden Horse' who wore down his wheels looking for his master. Jackie x 26

Julia Dunnit said...

We bought a 1937 handbook for a godson who is studying medicine,it's hysterical. I hope the consumer guide is at least good for reminiscing as you pull it apart! I'm impressed by the industrial scale paper dyeing, hadn't thought of doing that, and sometimes, however old, the printed pages are just not the right colour. Genius! Keep yourself warm!

sandra de said...

You always looks to be cooking up a storm in your basement. Hope it was warm and cosy while you create.
sandra de @15

Diana Taylor said...

I know you aren't especially showing it to us, but I do love your cabinet with those lovely frosted glass doors! I'm also intrigued by the pot of cold tea - I use tea and teabags quite often in my work but haven't tried green tea - you've got me curious now!!
I hope you have a great week and it warms up a little bit for you,
Diana #23

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Elizabeth, and hugs to Bleubeard & Squiggles!Love the colours in your eaft, and that book must be a cross between really interesting, and very funny, looking back 50 years at home appliances!I love to look through that sort of thing from so long ago.The eggs are intended as cosmetic sponges, so that would be a good place to look. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #5 xxx

Unknown said...

Know you have something in mind for those tea stained papers, a journal perhaps? Love the antique rocking horse and the oil bottle next to it. What so you have in mind for that old consumers report? Inquiring minds want to know! Diane #33

My name is Erika. said...

I hope it warms up some for you soon. But if the studio is the warm place then I guess you'll just have to stay there and make some art. Ha-ha. Can't wait to see those tea stained papers you are experimenting with. And those rocking horses are pretty cool. Stay warm my friend!

Glenda said...

Sorry it's cold there. It is here too! But it is January after all! I have been pondering some tea for some white seam binding and white lace. I may have to drag out a carafe and try it! Glenda #34

Christine said...

So pleased to hear you can retreat to somewhere warmer to craft. This will be my first winter with heating in each room so far so good for me.
Look forward to seeing what happens to the 'tea papers'.

Have a good week
Bishopsmate #41

Nan G said...

Always love to see what you're brewing, E! It's cold for here too...46 this morning and guess where the Girls are?! Yep, out on the screened porch! The cold gets them all frisky and they'll be running round like crazies in a minute. Love 'em! Sending warm hugs, Nan and the fluffed out Girls :) :)

Jane Willis said...

I'm intrigued - are you ageing that paper, or making a tea-dyed papier-mâché? Won't it go soggy, or did you fish it out as soon as you'd clicked the shutter?
Jane 30

Karen McAlpine said...

Cold here too ( Michigan USA). We have lots of snow too. I like how you repurposed the coffee pot to tea dye your papers. Good idea. I think I have one of those around somewhere.

Sharon said...

I'm with Karen - here in Michigan it is freezing! -11C right now and it's nine in the morning. Luckily for me my craft room is upstairs which is quite warm. Be interesting to see where the papers in that tea end up.

Sharon #50

Barb said...

Sorry to hear you're cold. I'm lovely and warm now but going out in the cold this evening. I wonder what you're going to do with your tea! um ... my hubby drinks green tea. I prefer milk in mine. Have a lovely week. Barbx #39

Unknown said...

Love seeing your rocking horses! Hope your weather warms up. And the leaf has such interesting colors! Your desk definitely has some interesting things going on! Happy WOYWW!
Carol N #47

J said...

So are you using he tea to dye things? Sorry it's so cold where you are, we've had such a mild winter here in Spain, the tourists are wearing shorts, being acclimatised we find it too cold now but still wearing tea shirts.

Hope it warms up for you
Jan. No 33

Annie said...

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date :-) I've been chasing my tail all day but have now managed to get to check out a few of my fav blogs :-)
There's always something interesting on your desk. I can't wait to see what the paper turns out like and what you will do with it :-)
Hugs,
Annie x # 11

Carol Rigby said...

I love your rocking horses. Happy WOYWW!

trisha too said...

Oooh cold crafting isn't nearly as fun, so glad you have a warm basement to play in, too!

Aren't old books like that Consumer Reports interesting? It wasn't THAT long ago, but things are so different now!

:)trisha
#62 today with
rabbits

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for the visit to mine. The weather here has been cold today but also very sunny so we have had a great day skiing. Maybe you could craft in some ski gear, sounds like you need it but the gloves are a bit difficult if you need to work on anything small! so maybe not. Have a great woyww and happy crafting when it warms up. Angela x 17

Meggymay said...

Look forward to seeing how you use the tea dyed fabric.
Stay warm
Yvonne xx

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Thanks for your lovely comment, I'm getting better...it's just taking longer than I'd like :-). I can feel the cold emanating from your pics..it's becoming a lot chillier here too with winds sweeping down from the Arctic. We are enjoying our wood burning stove, it's keeping us toasty; one of my Christmas presents was a box of pine cones that have chemicals impregnated in them. If you throw them into the fire, the colours that ensue are fantastic...like miniature Aurora Borealis!! Far out, man :-D
Keep warm, lovely gal!
Hugs, LLJ 16 xxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Looking forward to seeing the results of the paper staining! That book looks really interesting! Hope you and your furry friends can stay warm! Hugs, Chrisx

Bernice said...

The cold tea project looks very interesting - looking forward to seeing what you are going to use it for.
Bernice #66

Rita said...

Looks like you are tea staining cloth? Can hardly wait to see what you will make with whatever it is. :)
We just had a heat wave today and it got up to 18 F. It's all relative, isn't it? LOL!

okienurse said...

Are you dying the papers with the tea? I used the tea bags on some watercolor paper to see if they would leave a different 'color' then the black tea bags...they did but not as much as I would like. Love all your rocking horses. I am already tired of all the cold weather around here. I won't go out if it is wet or threatening rain because I am afraid to fall and bust my knee again. Tomorrow I go to the Doctor to find out what the MRI said. I don't know why this whole thing has taken so long to resolve. I have decided no shots or braces cause it is 4 weeks out now and too late in my book. Hope you have a great week and thanks for visiting my desk earlier. Vickie #61

CraftygasheadZo said...

You sure are busy I'm guessing you are tea staining?! Thanks for your visit and of course I got your joke! But it'll always be football to me, egg shaped ball sport is rugby! Lol Take care Zo xx 37

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

That book looks interesting. Will be watching to see how the experiment ends. Peg 66

Laura said...

Such a pretty leaf
Sending you some warmth!
Laura
38

Sandra Cox said...

Ooh, I like that leaf!

Anne said...

Hello and thank you for popping by - sorry I'm so late - still playing catch up. The leaf is beautiful and I'm thinking you are staining with tea! Gone colder here but nothing like what you are experiencing. Anne x #64

Anonymous said...

Intriguing pictures. Thanks for sharing, loves the rocking horses.
Catherine #67

Shoshi said...

A beautiful leaf, Elizabeth, and fascinating about the tea bags - just visited your later post on the subject and found it amazing! What an interesting desk!

Thank you for your visit and your lovely comment - I'm glad you are impressed with my tidying and organisation! Also, how amazing you've got the same handmade by stamp, and I love the idea of adding Bleubeard's paw print! Not sure I could get either of our kitties to oblige in such a venture though! If I left some work out and told them NOT to walk all over it with inky paws, then I bet you anything they would!

Funny you saying that about chucking stuff in a drawer - like you, I am determined to start putting things away properly from now on. Let's see how long that resolution lasts!

Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #21

Elizabeth said...

Hi Elizabeth, and Bleubeard, that looks like you are about to enjoy a most literary cup of tea. Or is this yet another way to distress pages? Lovely to see a few more of your rocking horses. That's pretty glass in your cabinet. Hope it warms up for you over the weekend. Elizabeth, and Bonnie x #51

Twiglet said...

Another week flies by and here I am trying to visit a few Wednesday desks on Saturday!! You always have some fun experiment on the go - I wonder what it will look like when its transformed! xJo