Desk Job

So, I have rescued a lovely old desk that was destined for firewood from my workplace. It is lovely and heavy and has the most beautiful grain - the only thing is it needs a bit of love, as you can see on the top surface. The varnish is chipping off and it has some watermarks. From what I can tell by by internet sleuth work, I need to strip it, sand it, and re-varnish it with a very similar if not the same colour varnish. Anyone an expert?

Into Gear for the New Year

I like feeling prepared for each New Year. So it's about this time that I go out of my way to find things to get me organised - I find myself poring over the shelving sections of IKEA catalogues, reading the junkmail from the hardware store, and I take myself out for a day of diary shopping.

My diary is with me for 365 days of the year, and everything I do is recorded. So it goes without saying that it must be a beautiful specimen that I will enjoy every time I open it.

2008 had me with a Royal Horticultural Society week-to-a-page:

Which as I am a gardening loon was very approriate. This year, I'm thinking sleek, red, fabric cover. Possibly one from Kikki K, or a moleskine:

Even just browsing is exciting!

Dreaming of a Big Studio

Oh, wouldn't it be nice. A lovely big room all to myself. A window letting in the sun; a big corkboard with inspiring images and fabrics; a collection of vintage containers holding my sewing notions; my Andrew Wyeth print on the wall -

- shelves full of fabrics, organised by colour; and these drawers that I am yearning to buy after spotting them in IKEA today.

If I was a little bit more buff I would have carried them home by myself. But unfortunately I am not an Olympic weightlifter.

One day I will have a beautiful studio that cries out with my personality and is a cosy, welcoming home for my creations.

Until then I'll just keep on staring out at my trees and using my tiny flat for 101 things.