Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Workdesk Wednesday with a Question

Howdy, Workdesk Wednesday Folks and Passersby!  Just to prove to y'all that I do indeed know how to make a mess, here it my desk from Monday afternoon.  Monday was a holiday for me so I got to play all afternoon.
I was going to leave it messy for you until Wednesday but I have these evil cats that will throw things on the floor, hide things under the sofa, and break things (like that big glass jar of flowers, they'd love to see that shatter). So here is the real Wednesday desk:
Look! The glass jar of flowers shrank-lol.  I have some things here that I might play with after work this week.  The stamps in a baggie were given to me by a coworker.  I love unexpected presents!  The Brilliance inkpads are from a friend's storage so I was going to see if they had any life left.  The Hello Fall stamp set is all leaves that if you do in light green makes them springlike.
For my question, if you were diagnosed with a terminal illness and given roughly six months to live what would you do in reference to your crafty stash?  Would you keep it as is, leave it to your survivors to sort through?  Would you add to it hoping to beat the odds?  Would you make sure certain items had loving homes?  Would you discreetly start downsizing so your relatives wouldn't know the extent of it? Or something else completely?  Tell me in the comments!

I'll leave you with this sweet House Mouse card I received from a swapping friend.  I love that it is wintery, glittery, and cold looking but the promise of spring is there with the pink and the red berries.
The Fine Print: No, I've not been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  The ink pads and small jar of flowers came from a friend's crafting estate (which has been in storage for awhile).  It was bittersweet looking through her stuff, so many of her stamps I recall her using, sharing with us and enjoying yet it was sad too. She had so many wonderful things! I wondered what she would have done with her stash if she had known she was going to pass away soon.  That got me wondering what anyone would do.

32 comments:

Robyn said...

fun pre and present photos.
I try to live and create in the present, making lots of mess. Who ever comes after me will have to deal with it!
Blessings,
Robyn 5

Lynne Mizera said...

Oh WOW! I love your roll top desk as a workspace... and I LOVE your Housemouse card! I have a secret HM addiction and I have just joined the private House Mouse card makers facebook group( https://www.facebook.com/groups/HouseMouseLoversCardMaking/ ) in case you want to check us out! as for your question... I would USE MY STASH day and night and continue to buy even more stuff to use for all the time I have left so that what I leave behind will be completed works for my friends and family to share out and keep as memories of me... happy sigh! Scrapbook LYNNE#74

Di said...

Oh PJ, how bittersweet to sort through a friend's stash. I already decided that I would gift a lot of mine if I had time - failing that, all my crafty friends are already sworn to secrecy about the amount of pocket money I must have spent on craft goodies. Len would follow me toot sweet with heart failure if he had any idea! :)

Hugs

Di xx

Alexandra MacVean said...

What a cute desk you have there. I love all the little pockets of storage. Your little mouse is so cute! :)

Carol L said...

To answer your question - I'd give it all away to my crafty friends who appreciate the value of all the supplies I've accumulated through the years. If that task were left to my family, it would all hit the dumpster without a 2nd thought and I'd be cringing from the other side :) I just LOVE that little stamp with the cat & dog in the shape of a SU! tag punch! What wonderful gifts you have! I think you need more pink flowers to add to that jar *snort*

Whimcees said...

Hello!

What a great card from your friend - lucky you! In answer to your question - I would try to finish as many projects meant for special people as I could and leave notes giving my stash to those who I know might want it and if not to donate it where it could be used like at the local senior center, etc. Wishing you a happy day today!

Hugs,

Barbara DIane

Krisha said...

That is a tricky question PJ. I would leave a some of it to my GD that loves to craft and stamp. Then there would be things I would send to other bloggers that I know would use it ( or hoard it...grin) and finally a list for my family that would state "I will know if you throw it away, and I will seek a Mother's revenge immediately!"
I would most like leave an explanation as to leave it all to a senior center or a school.
Krisha #11

trisha too said...

Oddly enough, I've already had the "what if I died what would happen to my stash" discussion.

I had planned on dispersing with various things to my arty friends, but then the daughter basically said no way, it's all hers, and if there's something she decided she didn't want, she would know which friend to give it to!

Super cute little mouse, what a nice swap!

Princess Judy Palmer, Princess Judy Palmer, thank you for your visit, Happy woyww to you!

That's a little song, sorry you can't hear the tune . . .

:)trisha
#68 today with
monoprinting

Shoshi said...

Thanks for your marvellous upbeat comment, Judy. I know that keeping a positive attitude is the best thing, and I'm trying not to allow myself to imagine too much about what lies ahead, but to try and take it a step at a time.

So glad you like my RUBs - I love the look of them in my ARTHaven but not sure I'd want them in the living room! I am collecting them for the bathroom, though - I've got shelves under the tiled counter and they just fit, and look tons better than the tatty cardboard ones that were there before. I'm looking forward to my wayward mojo to make a rapid return so I can get creating again, but at the moment I feel too exhausted and unsettled to feel creative.

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #44

Shoshi said...

PS - sorry - meant to say, lovely stamps, but sad they are part of an inheritance. I have already thought about what will happen to all my stash, and it's mentioned in my will - all to go to one person who I know will appreciate and use it!! It might even encourage her to move into new areas, experimenting with paints and gel mediums etc. If not, I know she will distribute it wisely. My recent news has made me think a bit more about all my stuff - not that I am dwelling on the idea that I might not make it, because I am pretty sure I will - but I've got far too much clutter and a disorganised office, and these things are not good to leave for someone else to sort out!!

Shoshi

Stacy Sheldon said...

well, first let me say I hope you are healthy and are looking forward to more than 6 more months here. and geeze... I don't know I think it would depend on how I felt, if it was some kind of a thing that made you so sick you could not climb the stairs then it would have to be someone else's project to deal with. in off hand comments over the years I have mentioned to my husband that if he out lives me the PSX stamps are worth some money as are a few of the others (old Original house mouse ones from stampa rosa ) and to not put them on a bon fire...
~Stacy #75

sandysewin said...

I have already made a list of instructions for what's to happen to my stash, cuz like another commenter said, my sons & hubby would just toss it all.

Glad you got time to create, love that mouse card!

Happy Woyww,

Sandy #26

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oooer! You had me worried there! I have already asked a friend to come in if I should die suddenly but with a few months I would probably do it with her…and then I'd forget why we were doing it and have a play with the stuff instead!! Love your tidy desk as much as the 'before'! Thanks for your visit! btw the things I've sorted are just part of the big picture..he!he! Chrisx 54

Unknown said...

I love all the wee cubby holes in your desk! x

Glenda said...

I love your desk! So many places to store things! What a cute card you received! I love the House Mouse images!
Glenda #49

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Judy, thanks for the visit. So far no tangling has taken place but lots of skiing. That was an interesting question and I hope there is no hidden reason for it. here is what I would do..... no-one in my family would be really interested as they are not crafters so I would photograph as much as poss. and ask all my WOYWW friends if they would like the stuff so that at least it would go to someone who I know would love it and use it. So there you go Lol! Happy crafty week, Angela x 28

Leslie Hanna said...

At least we saw a glimpse of your not-tidy desk!

I already have a clause in a document that accompanies my will about what to do with my stash. (worst sentence construction ever) But if I knew ahead of time, I'd give it away to people I know would love it.

Ali H said...

Well I have sometimes cringed at the thought that my Much Beloved would have to stagger through disposing of my stash is anything happens to me - and that finding out how much I had spent would tarnish my memory forever !
If I had the change of forewarning, I would make sure it all went to my crafty friends and trust them to use, sell or dispose of with crafters' hearts ! Ali #20

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I think it's good to talk about the 'what ifs' in life rather than pretend it'll never happen. I'll tell my lads that my stash should be given to a craft club or school for it to be used for whatever! Using your friend's stamps must be very bittersweet but also a great way to keep her memory alive.....
Hugs, LLJ 25 xx

fairy thoughts said...

Hi PJ
that's a thought provoking question I think I would tell my 3 girls to have what they wanted and then sell the rest on my blog.... for a charity connected to whatever ailed me or breast cancer research...... goodness a serious answer.
BTW I prefer the first photo but I know what those naughty pussies get up to
janet #19

My name is Cindy said...

Love that House Mouse card!! Just adorable. And I love a surprise present as well (although I think my friends really give me things to store for them LOL) What a question you pose - but I have to confess I have considered it. Depending on the circumstances, I would have to do something with it - couldn't bear for it to go in the bin - so I would be making a list of likely people to contact who might want it/be prepared to go through the faff of sorting/selling it. Unfortunately you are in Arizona.......

My name is Cindy said...

Ha ha Just read your comment message above. Has that always been there?

Eliza said...

I would continue crafting till the day I die but everything I have will go to my daughter and my bestie would make sure it is used to it's maximum in my memory. Not a hard answer as this has already been discussed in my house. I love the fact that you have a desk shot in production mode, good for you, yes that flowers jar did shrink, how did you do that?

Hugs Eliza & Yoda 35
Happy WOYWW

House of Bears said...

Well, thank goodness you've not been diagnosed with a terminal illness although I'm sorry to hear about your friend. My amswer is easy, I'd give everything to my daughter and tell her to donate what she didn't want. She loves craft and art supplies.

Queenie Jeannie said...

My husband and I have laughed about this very topic!! I hope he would sell it all and live comfortably on the proceeds, lol! I enjoy ALL my things, but they are just things. I suppose if I knew I was going, I'd ask all my crafting friends what they would like and send them their favorites. The house mouse card is darling and what a lovely surprise to find in the mail!

Happy Crafting!
Jeannie #14

Neet said...

Love your cat stamp and the house mouse card is so cute!
As for stash - well, left to dil it would go in a dumpster so I have left instructions that some friends (named) are to be allowed free reign and to sort it. Sorry for my friends but they will get some bargains.
Hugs, Neet 3 xxx

okienurse said...

I love that desk messy or neat!! Girl that was a question I had to ask myself a few years ago when I was first diagnosed with these autoimmune disorders. I just knew I was going to die right away. I talked it over with my husband and daughter and set up an arrangement that Heather could have what she wants and would give/disburse the rest to friends, crafters, scouts etc. I am not giving it up till I am gone so it will be their issue. They will toss it in a box and it will be gone. Love house mouse and have a few of those stamps. I have way too many stamps!!! I hope you have a great week and thanks for visiting my blog earlier. Vickie #31

Shoshi said...

Thank you for your return visit, Judy. I have had so many lovely messages of encouragement and support and I value them all so much. Yours, however, is the only one that made me laugh out loud with a great guffaw!!! Porn buddies indeed! But what a great idea! ROFL!!

Shoshi #44

Kelly said...

I'm in with Carol and Lynne. Make all I could, designate good homes for the rest. Bob has already said he'd hold an open house to all my crafting friends :-) Isn't he thoughtful. LOL

Julia Dunnit said...

I've just realised... I need to get an evil cat, and then I'll clear up between bouts of doing!!
I think it's fab that you're able to have some part of your girlfriends craft estate....a bittersweet reminder, huh. But that's what I'd want actually. And I think, if diagnosed...I'd spend as much time as I could using it up!! And then Yep..I'd want my loved ones to let my crafting friends share /have what they liked. I think!

Sue from Oregon said...

I sure have missed WOYWW but life has gotten so crazy this year! I hope it calms down so I can join in this year!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Seems that being #1 this week would get me here earlier, but sadly, I'm running far behind. Your desk reminds me that cats can be very unpredictable. That's why mine aren't allowed in the craft room.

I would find people who wanted my stamps, and my tools. Most would NEVER want the things I collect, because most of my stuff is something others have given me from their trash bin.

BTW, that drawer I showed has lots of room for more things. Nothing but air in there now (grin).

Happy very belated WOYWW and thanks for the earlier visit.