Wednesday 11 September 2013

WOYWW 223 - the "dining room"

Welcome to another Wednesday, another desk hop, another WOYWW. Don't know what that is? Check it out here - then come back and share your desk.

So it seems you are all keen to see the dining room.... not that there is much room for dining there any more...
But first, the desk. Because there has to be a desk. No matter that it's really a craft mat on the carpet...
Took this standing up... it's not that far down to the floor really! The panels are my Paperartsy blog challenge (see Monday's post )
The rest is all the detritus that surrounds my workspace..

Ok. so you want to see the dining room... I should be ashamed... somehow because none of you are likely to actually SEE it in the flesh.... I'll show you anyway!

 These two boxes are the overflow of my blog makes that don't get to a window sill... not that they are big enough or enough of them, to show it all...
My now largely unused Cuttlebug (I use the Big Shot) ...




OK, I'm delaying things.... you want to see the books.... the next photo shows what is laughingly called my dining room table....





Hmmmm      It maybe time to buy some more bookcases... I don't do turning out books, lol!! There are book cases lining one wall in this room, double/treble stacked...

There also seems to be in shot, a large pile of paper bags and boxes and cardboardy general stuff that will come in handy one day (and I recently culled this lot, it was much, much worse...)

So. there you have it.
I think I'll run away now and not come back until you've recovered from the shock....
All I can say is, Happy WOYWW!




56 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Believe it or not, Helen, your dining room table impressed me. That is an awesome way to store your books. And of course, I want to look through that London atlas (grin).

I'm not playing this week, but stopped by because I saw the post come up in my sidebar and simply HAD to check it out. Have a great Wednesday.

Nikki said...

Wow that is one collection of books and do you re-read them ?
tired to get a close up of the titles but they went blurry your desk is a collection of craftyness hugs Nikki 10

Unknown said...

I really like seeing your huge stash every week. You even have a large stash of books. Happy crafting #5

Tera Callihan said...

Happy WOYWW! Thank you for sharing your great stash with us! My Dining room table is covered in papers and cast off projects that are to someday find homes!! also i need to get more ink blending tools so my caddy will look as full and pretty as yours! (i just bought it and only have 1 blender tool that i still switch the pads out on) stay crafty!
-Tera #3

Unknown said...

Helen, you are so cute! And so brave! I think you have a wonderful stash of goodies, supplies, books and tools. I will not part with my stash...so why should you part with yours? You just need more rooms! I went to a craft fair this weekend and a lady told me that she and her husband live in a small house, and they bought the house next door so she could put her stash and studio over there because it was taking over their house. I said, what a great idea! But I have no problem with art taking over everything. I love it. Hugs dearest. Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #23

sandra de said...

That is an awesome collection of books and other supplies. I am impressed.
Sandra @22

sandra de said...

That is an awesome collection of books and other supplies. I am impressed.
Sandra @22

Belinda Basson said...

Yes, you will need those bags one day...NOT! My mom is the same and I just did a cull on her stash. She had enough to supply a store! Love your floor. #43

Jackie said...

Helen I always enjoy looking at your stash every week you have some great stamps
Jackie 39
Scrapbangwallop

Claire said...

Oh my!! No matter what other wonderfulness is in people's homes, I gravitate to the books... my fav. pic :)
Happy WOYWW and have a wonderful week!
no. 33

Anonymous said...

LOL! My craft room SHOULD have been the dining room too but I comandeered it as soon as we moved in!

and my bookcases are double layer as well, with the wndow ledge being taken over and stacks of books in various other places round the house. Glad I clicked HOME to see the post below as well - the PaperArtsy inspiration items are so, so pretty!

Happy (catching up from last week first) WOYWW!
Mary Anne (30)

Kate said...

Wow! you do a lot of reading, or perhaps a lot of buying of books?

Nice panels by the way.

~Kate~

Julie Lee said...

Well, Helen, I thought I had a lot of books! Can't compete with your craft stash though! I'm not shocked just envious! Oh, btw, when are you coming to finish off my kitchen???Lol! Julie Ann xx #42

Karen said...

Wow that's some pile of books, ever thought of starting a library! A real home that's lived in...lovely! Happy WOYWW! ♥ Karen ♥ 81 x

House of Bears said...

It must be tricky balancing your dinner plate on top of all those books, still, it makes for a good choice of lunchtime reading. ;)

The bears @#82

VonnyK said...

Now that's what I call a pile of books, very impressive. Where do guests go when they come for dinner? If the table and the floor are taken, where do you eat for that matter? Ah, it doesn't matter, you have a mess to be proud of. I love your flower and butterfly pictures.
Have a great week.
Von #34

voodoo vixen said...

Oh my... yes,that is a lot of books if the bookcases are full! Hope you aren't planning on having people over to eat anytime soon? LOL Happy WOYWW Annette #2

Carmen said...

You KNOW I just showed Craig :D His words were "a Kindle would sort that, no problem." Just doesn't get it does he? ;)

ike said...

OMGoodness - all those books !!! We tend to pass them round here on the Island so we got a kind of round robin lending library :-D
Definitely need some more book cases :-) LoL

Happy WOYWW 223

IKE in Greece #91 xxxxxxxxxxx

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Wow, you have a lot of stash and books!! No wonder you're so slim, you probably don't have time to eat :-) perhaps that's a technique that I need to try!
Hugs, LLJ 54 xx

Ann B said...

Thought for a moment I had wandered into Waterstpnes by mistake but no, they don't have as many books. Love your creative spaces always make me want to pop round and play.
Thanks for visiting already and yes I always manage to find a craft shop, can sniff one out a mile away.
Happy WOYWW
Ann B
25

famfa said...

Amazing table of books, would love to sit and look through them. Great space with lots of lovely loveliness.
(leftover Leo is happy because he knows he is being brought to life, Im sure he he)
Famfa 14

BJ said...

Quick someone get a fan to revive BJ. Where oh where did you hide this room? The saddest thing for me was the old forlorn Cuttlebug alone and neglected. If you ever feel like parting with it I'll give it a good home. BJ#94 yes #94 I got round to it eventually!

Daniella said...

If you aren't using the dining room to eat at every day, why waste all of that space!!
Looks like you know where everything is in there, even if it seems messy! That is a very good thing!
xxDaniella#15

Unknown said...

I understand you 100% ......why part within loved items....all you need it more space....my best is the 3 boxes with all of those colorful creations!!# 71 zeffy

Lindsay Weirich said...

wow, that is a busy room! Happy WOYWW! Lindsay #21

Anonymous said...

Ooh Helen, not only do you have a full service craft store in your own home but you also appear to have a library too! Not that I'm complaining, I'll be right over for a browse! I picked up, and was completely hooked, on an SJ Bolton novel whilst on holiday... Dead Scared. Very good, have you read any of hers before?

Hugs
Brenda 16

Maisie Moonshine said...

Your dining table reminds me of my local branch of Waterstones - but I think you've actually got more "stock"! I love a good book - can I pop over and browse? MMx #76

Krisha said...

Well, what more can be said about your book collection. I used to be the same way but got tired of all the dusting of the book cases. LOL I have many friends that read so books get rotated in and out, except for the children's books. I have a LARGE stash of those.
Thanks for the visit earlier.
Krisha #18

Unknown said...

Hello,, love seeing all your stash.. and the books.. wow I thought I had a lot, but I think you have be beat. great fun spot. And thanks for letting me peak in to your room. Roberta 6

Anonymous said...

I have four bookcases that contain just my books and then have some shelves in the living room, too, and still there are at least two boxes of books without homes. My 9 year old has two bookcases and already has her own overflow. Long live books!!!!! Thanks for visiting me earlier. Happy WOYWW. ~ Laura #13

kay said...

Oh I love books,lots of good reading there :-)
Happy WOYWW
Kay #45

Nan G said...

I've probably asked this before...Can I come play on your stash? :) Do you make altered books or just provide a home for them? Thanks for the earlier visit! Happy WOYWW! Nan G #92

Anne said...

WOW fab collection of books!!! I've just tidied my dining room so that we can use it on Sun. The smaller of our spare rooms is now choc a bloc :-) Happy WOYWW Anne x #69

Words and Pictures said...

Lovely to see I'm not the only one with books piled every which way... Fabulous looking panels there on the carpet craft mat too - can't wait to see them in full!
Alison xx

Winnie said...

Helen: Lots of fun in both areas! Your 3 panels are coming along great! I see a lot of the same supplies on your desk as I have like the spinner! I am chuckling as a book lover you can never have enough. My hubby bought us each sets of bookcases (mine house my massive cookbook collection) and his has more books than I can count! I think we are related! Thanks for the visit before! Winnie#79

Robin said...

Love all the stuff on your desk/floor. Looks like a great place to play! Your dining room table is amazing! Thank you for sharing with us! You're awesome. Rasz #125

pearshapedcrafting said...

Not shocked at all! Envious more like - not just for the space but for the fact that you can craft on the floor - I'd have trouble getting up in a hurry if the phone rang!! I used to do all my school prep on the floor many years ago! Chris 77

sandysewin said...

Ahhhh, stacks and stacks of books = a wonderful thing. :-)

Love your very busy pile o' stash, too!

Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier and for the kind comments.

Happy Woyww,

Sandy #8

scrappymo! said...

Always love to see your creations but must admit I have a bit of a phobia about clutter. No problems when I am working on a project in my scrapbook room...even if it takes days or a couple of weeks...but then like to clean up and start over fresh!

But I am a clutter buster in the rest of the house...You have a lot of books there...I bet they are really good ones...but I now want to come over and organize them all!!! And your stash... lol

I think you need a bigger house!

Darnell said...

Helen, I.am.speechless! That doesn't happen to me very often! LOL! Happy WOYWW and thanks for coming to visit me earlier! Have a wonderful couple of weeks! Darnell #24

Kezzy said...

Oh so much to see and so much to say lol. I'm afraid I couldn't work on the floor because of my back but I always wish I could for all the space but yours has just made me laugh as it doesn't matter where we craft we all seem to end up crafting in a small space with lots of stuff around us lol. I love love love your Paperartsy make, seriously it's awesome. I have been a bit stumped this week on what to do but now I'm feeling better I reckon I have some ideas. Your books, I love reading, I'm at a bit of a stand still at the moment as my normal authors like James Patterson I have read them all, I really need to try and find another author, I love reading detective type books especially in a series like the Alex Cross ones by James Patterson, so if you have any ideas could you please let me know lol. I yet again have enlarged all your photos so I can have a good snoop. I am amazed at all your gorgeous makes in a box, I would be tempted to put them all on one wall andbuild it up like wall ppaper, it would look fabulous but you may find crafty friends that visit just stand and stare for hours I know I would. This is something I want to do if we keep our house (find out Dec2014 if we loose it to a train track!!!). Right I better stop waffling lol. Happy Woyww :-) Kezzy xxx

Julia Dunnit said...

Late, late..started to work from the other end of the list this week so I get to see everyone at least once a month!! It's official Helen...you're hoarding. God how much I love your book store....mine were savagely culled over recent years for purposes of room. But you have room! Im also thinking that the 'what to do with the stuff you make' thing hasn't been completely resolved. you need another room to make into a gallery!

Jacqui Chimes said...

Oooh Helen - Books - not sure I knew you were a book lover - me too. I see The Night Circus on the nearest pile - I read this recently and loved it - did you or is it a 'to be read'? Your actual craft space is as tiny as all our craft spaces become every time approx 6" square I think lol.

JoZart Designs said...

Love it all... there's interest in your home and craftiness and culture and fun and an appreciation of the right values.... sod everything else.
jo x

Annie said...

Sorry I'm so late in paying you a visit this week but it's been really manic here this week.
Hehehe I may be mad but I really loved all your chaos. I'm sure I would feel very at home at yours :-)
Hugs,
A x # 46

Andrea said...

Hi Helen and thanks for popping in this week ,I love your space and wish I had your creativity your Pics always make me smile and just a little envious ...love the work on the go the paper artsy stamps are ace such pretty panels you've created fab colour choices too...hope you get a big bookcase soon ...how do you eat ?...not to worry I'm sure you've found a way have great week I love that we are all so unique hugs Andrea#44

Meihsia Liu said...

Wow.. you have such a busy and fun work space. Hope you get a bookcase soon. Those books look interesting, too. :)

fairy thoughts said...

Wow Helen that is one impressive collection of 'stuff' do you think it is time to get a kindle just think how much more space you have for crafting, you could even use the table as adesk
thanks for showing your dining room.... love it
janet #28

Neet said...

I thought I had a lot of books! You beat me hands down.
I went to a craft show yesterday - just for a couple of hours (seriously, I had only a very short allotted time) and guess what - I came across with rubber stamps, dies, lace and ...clothes!
Love looking at your collections so had to tell you of my deviation.
Hugs, Neet 113 (and thanks for the visit you made to me. I am so late!)

Elizabeth said...

Oh my, Helen, I'm just going to have the EM see this because he is forever complaining about my book hoarding tendencies ... like they were some kind of contagious disease! Your pic shows that a) I'm not alone and b) I could collect even more - our dining table is clear :)) In the interests of marital harmony I cull :( Have a great weekend. Elizabeth x #55

Jean said...

I love the books! And they are quite a bit more handsome than the messy bit on my table, which involves paper and mail and computer bits. :) Jean #11

Rossella said...

Wow, what busy work areas
Happy WOYWW
Rosie x

Spyder said...

OH My goodness so many books! An altered art sculpture perhaps!
Happy Late WOYWW! ((Lyn)) #60

Anonymous said...

The minimalist in me is having a panic attack right now!! ;) the important thing is that you know where everything is & how to get to it. Wouldn't mind a rummage through your books though..... :)

Eliza said...

Oh Helen thanks for the laugh, I laughed so hard I nearly p...d myself I used to have a book supply like that and yes the books all went. I now have all my books on my iPad in one place to take with me everywhere, such a heavy thing to carry around. LOL and then there is the kindle too. I do love the dust on the chair under the table and the dust on the wine bottles but they are ment to have dust on them it makes them taste better when you drink them. They are still drinkable right, you don't want to waste a good wine while crafting. Good for you posting about your space, truly I love it.

Keep up the hard work, love the tag piles too.

Belated Happy WOYWW sorry I am late, been working.

Hugs Eliza & Yoda 86