Wednesday 1 June 2011

WOYWW - 104 - the great PIF

Hi all, hope you are doing well this fine and (hopefully sunny) Wednesday. Ater much building up then, it is finally the 2nd anniversary of Queen Julia's brainchild - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?

My PIF is all ready to post off to whichever of you comes next to me in the queue and in line with Julia's request I can't show you it till I know it's been received, but....just a sneak peak!
 The weekend just gone was a Bank Holiday in England so I took advantage of an extra day so on Saturday and sorted out my boxes of stamps....
I wanted to get some of these stamps in this blue box and the plastic one under the computer desk reorganised into the main storage drawers along the wall.....
So I pulled out the front layer to reveal the back load...
and took all the stamps out of the two overflow boxed... daunting task, I think you'll agree... (I showed this "during" pic at the weekend, but repeat it here in sequence!)

Couldn't get all of them in the Ikea boxes so some still in here!
Got the drawers more organised now - all my favourite brands now have drawers to live in as you can see!  These units are discontinued sadly, as they are even better than the Ikea ones, but they house my favourite favourites!!
and here too....  couldn't quite get all my Christmas stamps in one place, cos there are too many of them, and I couldn't face moving all of them around - but it's better than it was!
The stamps I use lots are now in the drawers at the front so I won't have to bend down over the top of these to the row behind!


Everything back in order.... one day I will label them but I kind of know what's in what drawer now! Lots of them are by manufacturer, but more of them - flowers, for example, are by type! All in all,
it took me about three hours!








I wanted to stop, but couldn't get out of the room till I'd finished cos I'd filled the doorway with loads of stuff I moved off the top/in front of  the drawers... it's as well no-one came to the front door!

There will be some new stash next week, because I am going to the Craft Barn Extravaganza on Saturday and meeting up with some friends - may see some of you there!



Thanks for looking - enjoy the rest of your PIF WOYWW - thanks, Julia for two years of fun - here's to year three!
Lets hope blogger allows us to play nicely this week!

71 comments:

Carola Bartz said...

Oh Helen, I love all your stamps - this looks like stamp paradise!!
You are my PiF partner, I already sent you an email.
Happy WOYWW!

voodoo vixen said...

OMGoodness me! What a lot of stamps you have!! I am not sure how you managed to get all that sorting done in just 3 hours... it takes me that long to do a couple of drawers because I am so easily distracted!! LOL

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

As someone who owns about 10 stamps, I am in total awe of all these. I can't believe all the stamps you have and keeping them straight must be a bit of a challenge. Like Annette, I would never be able to sort and clean in three hours. You did a super job. and now you have a place to put your new stuff you'll get this weekend.

Nicky said...

Wow lots of stamps and love the storage - great idea to block yourself in the room until it was all sorted lol - have a great week

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Wow! That's alot of stamps. :) But I love how you organized them in drawers.

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

wow! and I thought I had stamps.. nah! lol
Happy woyww Anniversary
Jennie#4

Ciara said...

Holy crap Helen! That's a lot of stamps! And two layers of drawers? Blimey!!

I don't think I'll ever get over the fact you craft on the floor, despite seeing your 'floor desk' ever week :-)

Happy 2nd Anniversary, xxx

angelfish said...

Oh my! What an amazing colection of stamps you have:)

Spyder said...

omg, sooooo many stamps! Heaven!! oh...aren't you meant to 'show' your PIF? I didn't read that bit! so...I'd better go and take it off! quick!

happy 2nd anniversary woyww
(Lyn)

Annie said...

Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday. If you need more stamps I have some real bargains on ebay at the mo. Happy crafting.
A x

okienurse said...

OMG girl it looks like stamp heaven there. I think you have me beat as to numbers of stamps. Happy WOYWW #104 Thanks for sharing. Vickie

Louise said...

WoW! That is a lot of stamps! I would have to have a sort out every now and then just to remind myself of what I had.

I often block myself in a room when having a sort out, maybe it is our subconscious way of ensuring the job get finished- rather than abandoning it for a cup of tea :)

Happy Wednesday.

Angie said...

OMG ..not sure which amazes me most ...the number of stamps or the fact that it took you only 3 hours to organize them.xx

Neet said...

I am exhausted now just reading your blog about all that work you did - and in 3 hours. Would have taken me two days - and what a lovely lot of drawers you have.
Thanks for sharing on this 2nd Anniversary. #15

HeARTworks said...

Wow! That is a LOT of stamps! It must be hard choosing what to use!! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Sue said...

Hi Helen
gosh im knackered now! luv all the storage loads lovely stamps, bet you feel better for ya sort out, thanks for the mooch, happy WOYWW, sue,x

Cardarian said...

Hi Helen!
You have the most amazing collection of stamps I have ever seen! I am very happy to do Woyww - especially looking at your desk! You are the only WOYWWer I know personally - well I have seen Hels and Linda but they were demoing! Thank you so much for always having a look at my blog!
Enjoy the WOYWW anniversary!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

Sarah said...

If we could have an Ambassadress for stamps it would have to be you - well done on such a major sort out - great job I say and in 3 hours - you are bionic...
Happy WOYWW...Thanks for sharing and have a great week,
Sarah at 12

peggy aplSEEDS said...

now that is an amazing collection you have there! wonderful to have so many drawers to store them in!
happy WOYWW anniversary and thanks for sharing!
hugs,
peggy aplSEEDS

Twiglet said...

Happy 2nd anniversary! Just giggling at the thought of you trapped by your stamps!!Ouch!

JoZart Designs said...

Such an amazing stash of stamps there. I would have helped tidy them for a share ... for sure! That was one great mess into a metamorphosis of organisation.
Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday,
Love
JoZarty x

Cauliflower Cupcake said...

Woooahhhhh - that's incredible. Any idea how many you've actually got!! Well done on getting tidied up!
happy WOYWW
Rebecca (69) x

RosA said...

What a fabulous collection of stamps! And great organisation too! Thanks for visiting me and I unchecked the sign in box on blogger which seems to have fixed things, at least for now! Happy WOYWW!

Sarn said...

Good grief . . . and there was me thinking I had a lot of stamps! I'm rethinking this now though!

Can I come play?

Hugs, Sandra

Anonymous said...

A-Ma-ZING space! I love the tour. My fav part of WOYWW - ok, well, tied with all the fab inspiration I get seeing what everyone else is up to :) Keep it coming and roll on 5th anniversary :)

Mary Anne

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Happy anniversary. What a lot of stamps you have there! It makes my selection look miniscule. Well done for getting then all sorted into order.

Pam said...

Ciara said it best...Holy Crap Helen! 3 hours? That would have taken me 3 years. I'll be so excited to see your PIF when it arrives at it's chosen destination! Many happy returns of this epic WOYWW!

Nicks said...

OMG thats some stash!!!

MvM-design said...

Love your stamps, and so many!!:-)))
Happy 2nd WOYWW anniversary!
Hugs Marleen :-)

fairyrocks said...

Great work on the stamps!! love your drawers.
Keep smiling and creating

SueH said...

Crikey Helen, how many stamps do you actually have there?

Looks like you’ve been very busy over the weekend but I can’t help wondering if you’ll have enough room for them all, so if you need anyone to take a few off your hands, I’m your girl. Lol!

Happy WOYWW 2nd Anniversary and …………….
Happy Crafting
Sue
x

Sarpreet said...

wow! and i thought I had a lot of wooden stamps! thats made me feel loads better. i only have three draws worth. Happy WOYWW 104 - Happy 2nd anniversary.

shazsilverwolf said...

Fantastic stamp collection- and I LOVE the draws. Happy WOYWW

donnalouiserodgers said...

Okay, so if you used a different three stamps per day every day, how many years till you have used each stamp once?

It's stamp envy that makes me ask...

Dx

Dragon said...

Woo Helen wot a lot you got!!! You might be on your knees but your stash is amazing!!!
Frankie
xx

Artyjen said...

Now I may have said this before but that's one serious rubber fettish! LOL Well done for finishing your big task though :)
xoxo Sioux

Hettie said...

OMG!! You should open your room up and sell tickets to see that collection!!! I would come!! I sooo prefer wooden stamps to acrylic!! How do you know what you have when you go out to buy more?

Anonymous said...

Well I just organised my unmounted stamps into some poly pockets - all 52 of them. Just csn't compete with your thousands?
Get to see your space and thanks for visiting mine.
x Tricia

Julia Dunnit said...

You don't need labels - you jsut know after a while...although I guess the back row might not be so easy to recall. And there was I hoping you'd come up with a load to sell!!

ElizabethR said...

Well done Helen, feel free to pop over and sort my stamps out when you are free LOL. Can't believe you got it done it three hours. Love Elizabeth xxx

Lizzybobs said...

wow what an amazing collection of stamps you have. Happy 2nd WOYWW Birthday have a lovely day ((HUGS)) ;o) Liz

Debs said...

woweee you got a rainforest worth of stamp mountings there!
Happy WOYWW anniversary #2

lisa said...

Wow, that's a serious amount of stamps you have and all beautifully organised.
Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday.
Hugs Lisax #85

Darcy Marshall said...

Happy Anniversary, wow so many stamps,but good on you for having a major sort out.Hope the new system works well.

Unknown said...

What a lovely collection of stamps from what I can see. I am waiting for my storage units but dread actually sorting everything out so well done to you as it looks great.
Happy WOYWW

Carol C

Andria said...

What an amazing collection of stamps, and fantastic drawers for storing them. It makes me laugh that you couldn't stop your task because you were stuck in the room from all your stuff...too funny! Happy WOYWW!

C said...

Whoa...I thought I had alot of stamps but I don't hold a candle to you!! Happy WOYWW!!

jude said...

Gosh ...wow thought i had alot of stamps but you sure beat me on that one.would love a rumage through those draws..lol
Happy Woyww 104 birthday have good one!
hugs judex 134

Di said...

All those stamps would be my idea of heaven! The little peek of the WOYWW PiF looked interesting. Di x

famfa said...

Wow. Stamps and drawers everywhere. Fantastic

Kate said...

OMG...thats a lot of stamps...how do you remember what you have? lol.
Thanks also for stopping by my blog
:0)
Kate x

karen said...

That is the most stamps i have ever seen in one place! Amazing! When can I come over!!!!
Happy 2nd Anniversary WOYWW!
xoxo
Karen

sandra de said...

Absolutely amazing number of stamps and well done for spending the three hours to tidy up. But then again I don't think those stamps were going to let you out of the room.

April said...

WOW Lots of stamps! bet you're spoilt for choice at times? great storage drawers. Thanks for sharing.

Kath Stewart said...

happy WOYWW...hugs kath xxx

Kim said...

Thank you, thank you thank you!!! My husband went a little bonkers last night when he saw my Michael's bag w/ 2 of the new stamp sets from Tim. (I usually sneak these things in!) Then I saw this, and he'll be seeing it tonight--not really throwing you under the bus; more like me jumping out of the way! LOL! I so love your storage, and can't believe it took only 3 hours! And I also saw some twins of mine peaking out here and there! LOL!

Morti said...

OMG - and I thought I was the one with a stamp fetish!!!! You knock my collection into a cocked hat, that's for sure! Thanks for sharing....

Happy WOYWW 104!

Deb said...

wow, you have an enormous amount of stamps! Love your drawer storage, how perfect!
Happy Crafting, Debxx

Elizabeth said...

Oh my, that's an awful lot of stamps - if you used a different one every single day how long do you think it would be before you ran out? But then you won't run out will you because your going to the Craft Extravaganza and I bet there will be plenty to tempt you there :) Have a great week. Elizabeth x #81

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Happy 2nd WOYWW Anniversary and love the stamps there too Helen, I cant believe you have that many I thought I was bad, you know this WOYWW-ing can be very re-assuring except it also makes you want what you dont have.. like those lovely drawers... ah well not to worry my few fit fine in the ones I have! thanks for popping over Shaz in Oz.x

DottyA Cards & Things said...

OMG....!
need I say more????
Oh to have that problem... what great things you have hinding, no telling what you might find!
Thanks for stopping by my blog too!

Sue from Oregon said...

Oh My lovely organization...so much work! Happy 104th WOYWW!

Tertia said...

OMW, I have heart palpitations after I have seen all those stamps! You have more stamps than all the shops in all of South Africa combined! I am so green right now.
Happy WOYWW Anniversary.

J.A. Martin said...

Thanks for stopping by my page! Wow, I thought I had a lot of stamps, but you top what I have! I'm jealous!!! :-)

Ohhh Snap said...

I'm soooooooooo excited to be the PiF recipient!!! Love the peek :D. I'm so impressed by your collection of stamps! And your organization of them :D. Just in case you are ever feeling low on them lol ... I've followed the example set by Tim Holtz and have been making some out of fun foam. Thick foam for Tim Holtz dies, thin for the thin ones lol.

Pam said...

Soo many stamps! Happy WOYWW I'm a litle late this week. Hugs Pam x

Lisa-Jane said...

Well that's a better supply than my local craft stores! I love those drawers, they are just the thing I was looking for this morning. Can your remember the name of them from Ikea? I've been searching this morning but I can't find them and I'm hoping they haven't stopped them. Well done on the task - I would find it very therapeutic and I hope you got a great sense of satisfaction and achievement.
Lisa-Jane #75

kezzy said...

Wow amazing, i am in awe of your stamp collection. I have just spent half hour enlarging your photos and have a fab time gawping at them all. I cant believe it only took three hours. Happy 2nd woyww. Kezzy x

Sunshine Girl said...

Hi, thanks for visiting my blog last week sorry I am so late in visiting back but I was on holiday until late yesterday - love your reorganisation it always feels so good when that job is done doesnt it! I think it also helps you get all creative again too - I took the plunge about 4 years ago to demount all my wooden stamps (I have hundreds of stamps at that time I was up to 600 so I dread to think how many I have now!) so now they are all stored in ring binders by theme and they are so much easier to find and use. Thanks for sharing and I hope you had a great WoYWW.

Jackie said...

Crikey, I thought I was building up a decent stamp collection till I saw yours!
This is my first week of nosiness and I'm loving seeing everyone's work spaces. x

Angela Toucan said...

wow, lots of lovely stamps. And back to back draws too, on my!