WOYWW: The Pictureless Imagination Edition

Today's desk inspection will have to be virtual.  Mr Lappy is still unwell, and I have not had time to get him fixed.  For any of you asking about desk inspections, welcome to the weekly What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, where we get to look at crafty workspaces.  This week, your challenge here is to close your eyes and imagine:

• a small stack of card (pearlescent and mirror) in silvers, aqua, deep blues and greens, plus aqua and silver ribbon, and glitter glues in deep blue, turquoise and sea green.  This is the start of the Ace of Water for the Playing Cards 2011 challenge (linky to the left, if you'd like to know more)
• my beloved Promarkers, now safely stashed in colour group boxes.  So easy to find, so tidy...
• a small pile of blank ATCs
• my travel insurance renewal (woo!  more journeys!)
• my travel journal (time for a bit of inkiness here)
• a big sign saying "TAX".  Although the nice HMRC man registered me, he hasn't yet sent me any papers, and I'm guessing that I can stop blaming the snow, and need to accept that it's lost in the post.
• a big while envelope box full of business receipts
• my enormous work diary
• a list of craft events I want to attend, and craft fairs where I want to book a stall
• a stack of notebooks and journals to alter
• my ink chest, made of a big Sanctuary gift box with 4 drawers: stamp blocks in the top left, distress inks in the top right, pearlescent inks in the middle drawer pigments to the bottom

Now imagine the above, stir vigorously, and that's my desk.

For more crafty desk hopping goodness, call on the Chief Desk Inspector Ms Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground.

* STOP PRESS*

And a big thank you to Jude, whose WOYWW blog candy arrived in a very timely way this Wednesday morning.  It contains lots of lovely treasures including ATCs (how did you know I needed them, Jude?), a mini canvas, beautiful brads and charms, cherubs, a lovely golden heart...in fact way too much to mention.  Pics later when I can find somewhere to upload them.  Spoilt I am, and thanks so much, Jude, whose blog you'll find here.

Playing Cards 2011: Sea Fever

Here's the second card from the deck for the Playing Cards 2011 challenge.  You'll find the link to the challenge, hosted by Rachel at katzelbows, over to the left of the blog.  I decided to go for the suits of the elements: earth, water, air and fire.  This week's card is the Seven of Water, and I have called it Sea Fever.

I grew up on the estuary in Devon, and now live almost as far from the sea as you can get in England: not so good for someone who loves the water.  So I make up for it by spending as many holidays as I can in, on or by the sea.  "I must go down to the sea again..." has always been a favourite thought of mine, so the second card I made had to be inspired by Masefield's "Sea Fever". 

The image has been added to the ATC leaving space at the top for me to add the suit and card number once I have worked out the font I will use for all the cards.  The reverse is drawn with italic pen and both sides are coloured with Promarkers.  I left the rough pencil marks on the reverse as I quite liked their roughness.

Next call of the rolling tide?  Next week, when we're off to Edinburgh (my birthday present from lovely OH), and will spend some time on the coast.  Can't wait!

Blog Giveaway Win: Sweet Birds From Michelle Palmer

I was absolutely delighted to be the winner of a giveaway from the lovely Michelle Palmer.  Michelle's art is focused around the sweetest birds and beasts, illustrated as watercolours, or on fabric.  So imagine my delight when an envelope landed on my doormat last week...and my frustration when I couldn't blog it immediately because the laptop was unwell. 

I was already smiling when I opened the package...  And then I found this beautiful coaster!

"Be full of joy..."  Now if there's ever a fine resolution for a new year, I think this is it!  Michelle, thank you so much for the gorgeous bird coaster.  I have it propped up on my desk, and it makes me happy every time it catches my eye.  I am sure that the birds outside are calling and flirting with their painted kin.

Pop over to Michelle's and see her sweet Valentine's mice and giraffes.  And if drooling over these beauties isn't enough, you'll find her creations available at Etsy too (link via Michelle's blog above).