Wednesday, June 1, 2011

WOYWW: Oops, I Did It Again!

One thing that my fellow-WOYWWers and I have in common is our love of art and crafting STUFF. It is evident in the photos we take of our desks, table tops, and book shelves. We can’t pass up yummy new markers, notebooks, fabrics, beads, rubber stamps, ink pads, buttons, embellishments, paints, brushes, books…the list goes on and on.

And the goods are even more irresistible when we have a coupon in our hand! 

I went to Michael’s yesterday, intending to use my 40% off coupon on a pack of markers. And then I saw this:
I have seen this white revolving organizer in SO MANY workspace photos since I started WOYWW. When I saw it on the store shelf, I reasoned that I would save so much MORE money using my coupon on this (ridiculously overpriced) exciting addition to my craft table than if I just went with my originally-intended markers.

When I got home, I vowed that I would check it out, and if it didn’t offer efficient and accessible storage space, I would dutifully return in and buy those blasted markers.

But once that paper wrapper came off, all bets were off.

I have to say that so far it seems impractical. The drawers are tiny little trapezoids that fit very little. Almost all of the openings are so deep that anything I put in there falls down so far I can barely manage to retrieve it. (One only has so many rulers to store after all!) It takes up a huge amount of space on my worktable, where room is truly at a premium.

But that photo holder! (Like I I couldn’t just slap a frame on my table!)
Those little straps for holding my brushes!
Those little hooks for I-have-no-idea-what!

So, no, it’s totally impractical.

And, yes, I’ll be keeping it, thank you very much!

If you would like to check out other creative-types’ work spaces (and count up how many of these revolving organizers you can spot!), hop on over to Julia's Stamping Ground. This is a special week, as Julia is celebrating two years of WOYWW with a PiF (Pay it Forward) event. Participants are sending little handmade gifts to one another in celebration of getting to know one another and baring our oft-messy work spaces and works in progress over the months. Very exciting!

What’s on YOUR workdesk this Wednesday?

34 comments:

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Happy anniversary. Thanks for that in depth look at the storage thing. You have decided me to spend my money elsewhere, possibly a few more promarkers. I have just emailed you to get your snail mail address to send you your pif in celebration.

Jingle said...

I LOVE the organizer!!!! I have eyed that thing so many times, but I just can't think of a single place where I can fit the darned thing! LOL! I love that little bust you have on your desk, too! So cute!

Sally Morgan said...

I want one, no, NEED one! The hooks? I would hang little organza bags full of charms and gems and fibres and.....stop me now!

Haha, it's fabulous,a shame we don't have Michael's here in the UK!

Happy WOYWW 104
*hugs* Sal x
ps. I'm sure your PiF is lovely, don't worry! x

scrapwordsmom said...

LOL!!!! I want this so bad, too. I wonder why? It just looks plain cool!! I am headed to Micheal's tomorrow...I may have to use my own coupon;)

Sarn said...

Laughed at your post. The organiser DOES look nice and is obviusly a keeper despite being impractical! LOL!

HAPPY WOYWW.

Hugs, Sandra Take a peek at MY DESK here

Annie said...

Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday. It's so lovely to be linked up with so many creative friends. Happy crafting.
A x

laurie said...

i am also like that at michaels - i go in for one thing and come out with ten others! they really know what they are doing with those coupons because i know i always spend much more than i save with the coupon that got me in there in the first place. cute organizer!

lee said...

I to go dutifully to michaels coupon in hand usually I know what I want, but come out with something completly different. I to have looked at those many times, and thought how they would look in my studio, now you have me rethinging the whole thing impractability and all I might have to go get me one

J.A. Martin said...

Impractical or not, it is a cute bobble holder! And now, I may have to get one! ;-) Happy WOYWW!

Unknown said...

I do love that storage organiser. Very useful. I never saw those in the US when I was there but then how would I have got it home. heheh
Happy WOYWW
Carol C

Anonymous said...

Sometimes just having these things on our desk is enough however impractical they really are. At least it was a bargain!
Thanks for visiting - OH would have a fit if I used the dining table as well as my craft room. Just have to become tidy I think.
x Tricia

Helen said...

love your review of the spinning impractical storage! happy woyww.

fairy thoughts said...

this storage unit is great. we dont have michaels in the uk. i have been in on in the us . . . i didn't know where to start lol probably just as well for my bank balance !
janet

lisa said...

I love the reasoning behind keeping your new toy. It certainly looks very swish on your desk and not everything has to be pratical does it. We can all admire your workspace with organiser envy now!!
I'm glad I'm not the only computer game widow in the world!!
Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday.
Hugs Lisax #85

donnalouiserodgers said...

coupon culture -

I want to do a coupons graffiti collage canvas that embodies that culture,

You do KNOW that it makes you spend more not less don't you?

so long as you are happy and the kids are clothed and fed it is a wonderful thing,

Please - tell me they are not naked and starving

Artists are only allowed to starve themselves and wear rags - they still are supposed to provide for the rest of the family,

happy 104,

Dxxx

Nicky said...

Love your post on your new storage, ~ Happy WOYWW Anniversary

Anne said...

Have to love the way you think! Of course you need someplace to stash a mere 4 brushes!! I've been reading "Living Artfully" and it's obvious you are -- not just because of your journal pages or sewing inspirations, but because living artfully is also what you say, how you say it, what you bring to the lives of those around you, and the pure joy you find in living. Your blog is artful living and I enjoy it!

famfa said...

What a tidy desk, especially now you have the desk organiser. If it makes you happy then you should keep it.

Kate said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog :0)
Love that organiser...and your description lol.
Kate x

LuLu said...

Howdy Andria,

THanks for stopping by my blog.

I have the white revolving storage unit too! But for it is me very practical. I liked it so much I bought a second revolving unit.

I'll try to find some time to take pictures and post.

The only thing I didn't like was the horrible odor that emanated from them. But after a couple of weeks the odor dissapated...

Happy WOYWW!


Peace,
LuLu
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

karen said...

I have that storage carousel too but mine does not have the picture frame, hooks, brush holders. All the sides are the same. I love it! At the moment it is not being all that practical though because I have so much junk stashed around the outside of it that I cannot turn it, lol!
Happy 2nd Anniversary WOYWW!
xoxo
Karen

April said...

Thanks for stopping by my Blog and your kind comments about my cards. LOVE your reasons for keeping the storage unit! Lucky for my Purse we don't have Michael's in the UK!! I'm sure the practicality will grow in time :o) Thanks for sharing.

Dragon said...

Wish we had Michaels!!! let alone 40% off coupons!!!!!!!!!!! And that box is so impractical it is fabulous... I am sure I could soon fill it with more mess!!!! tee hee Have a great week
Frankie
xx

Deb said...

I have been looking at that spin around storage unit too, thanks for your opinions, I did wonder how practical it would be but it does look so pretty! I may have to get one!
Happy Crafting, Debxx

SueH said...

I’m making a really big effort to get around everyone seeing as it’s a special week. Mind you it’s taking forever and I have a bit of a numb bum now so It’ll be back to my random visits next week I think. I just don’t know how some people manage it every week.


What a shame that your new organizer didn’t live up to expectations but it is still usable and looks very stylish indeed on your Workdesk.

I myself have gone through countless options for storage on my desk and have ended up using a £3 holder that’s meant to be used for draining cutlery and it’s the best thing ever in my opinion.

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

Angie said...

I have been so temptd to search that organizer out ...reading your report on it I dont think i will bother...you just saved me some dosh xx

Nicks said...

Happy 104th week to you, its so lovely to 'meet' you by way of WOYWW Hope to see you for many more Wednesdays

Happy Days

Nicks xx

Twiglet said...

Happy 2nd anniversary and happy crafting! Neat organiser but I have far..... too much stuff!!

Debs said...

ohh that's too organsised for me!
it isn't big enough - it would never have what i needed in it! lol
Happy #2 WOYWW anniversary xxx

okienurse said...

love the organizer! I have some of the modular cube shelves but haven't gotten that yet! Sorry I am so late getting around but it was a busy week. Happy WOYWW #104 and the 2nd anniversary of blog snooping! Thanks for sharing Vickie #55

Pam said...

Happy WOYWW I'm a litle late this week. Hugs Pam x

Lisa-Jane said...

LOL! Your post made me laugh. Sometimes we have to keep something that doesn't work for us just because we love it.
Happy Anniversary Lisa-Jane #75

Julia Dunnit said...

Great post Andria - I'm totally with you - once the wrapper is off, I'd have made it work too. No matter what. What a charming sophisticated, needed and beautiful desk accessory it is. Looks like you've had it all the time. Hope you ate the receipt!

Angela Toucan said...

enjoy your new toy