From where I sit

I spend about 75% of the "working hours" in my craft room, which I suppose could also be called my office. It's a great set-up - I have a window right next to my desk, where I can watch the seasons change via the enormous tree directly in my line of sight. In the winter, when the tree is thinned out, I can spy on goings-on on the next street over. My desk is enormous, big enough to hold my computer and printer, stacks of patterns and spreadsheets and binders. When I worked in an office, I tried to clean off my desk every Friday. That doesn't really seem to work around here - even when all of my work things are safely put away, there's still yarn and empty cans of Coke Zero and various knicknacks.

I'm really not a knicknack kind of person. My mom is about as minimalist as you get - there are probably three family pictures in that entire house, maybe a small statue on a bookshelf here or there. She doesn't decorate for holidays except Christmas (and only on the years when we have it there). I've inherited her disdain for objects just meant for clutter and, no, I do not decorate for holidays, either. But I am rather fond of "guys," as I call them.

These are my two newest guys:

Green Pill Man and Snake are mystery box items. I love them. I found a little store in Westport that carries hundreds of these, and although the women running the shop wanted me to open my boxes right there, I waited until I got home. It was definitely worth the wait. I need to find a new place for them, though, because they're currently sitting on my printer, and I'll probably need to use the scanner sometime soon. Unfortunately, there's no more room at the inn:

This shelf is right above my computer monitor and was put up expressly to hold a passel of my favorite guys. From left to right, we have Roy, Chuck, Peep, Benjamin Franklin, Babo, Herbert Hoover, and CB. CB is made from my favorite shirt that my dad used to wear. I stole it in high school and wore it every week, and it finally wore out when I was in college. My parents' neighbor made CB for me, and even put one of my dad's old ties on him. He is one of my most prized possessions.

Benjamin Franklin and Herbert Hoover are, well, Benjamin Franklin and Herbert Hoover. I got them in high school. At Target. They were part of the Leaders of the World collection, which also includes George Washington and (I think) Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, and James Madison. I know, it's an eclectic group of guys. Ben is missing his tri-cornered hat (he probably lost it on a date with my Spice Girl Geri doll). I went to Herbert Hoover Elementary school, so of course I had to have HH. His suit is rather ill-fitting, but my mom thinks it's because he lived during The Depression, and he's wearing someone else's clothes. I like to keep them close by just in case I need guidance on matters of national importance. That happens more than you think.

Comments

[lauren]

I love Roy! He's a Soto Softie, isn't he? I have a woodchuck from her, and it is definitely one of my favorite handmade possessions... every time I see him I get instantly happy.
Love your guys!

[jo ann leach]

i love that shelf - i love everyone of those "things" .... what a great great treasure trove. i remember reading somewhere that you should have in your bedroom situated such that it is the first thing you see each morning when you wake up, something that just really makes you happy. same deal here with your buddies - each time you are at your computer, this must just bring that smile to your face in a huge way !