My corner of the universe
Mar 1st 2008
Karen RoseOn Writing!
All this blog talk of clean desks (Sabrina’s) and messy junk drawers (Suzanne’s) made me take a look at my own corner of the universe - my office. I have lots of really cool stuff in here:
1. My books - old favorites, research tomes, and a whole shelf I keep meaning to read
2. My ugly figurines - my favorite is a little fertility goddess with a goofy smile that I bought in Venezuela 10 years ago. It’s a cheap copy of course, but every time I see it, I grin. (If you click on the pictures, you can see a larger version, sorry it’s grainy.)
3. My collections of masks - they run from the ugly (a 
demon with his tongue sticking out) to the beautiful (a porcelain mask that was a birthday gift from my writing friends and RWA roomies) - they all stare down at me as I write. My masks, that is, not my RWA roomies. That would be too creepy.
4. My old postcards from my travels - Rome, Kobe, Helsinki, London, Caracas, etc
5. A photograph of my friends from my P&G days - signed by them all and framed against a bunch of flattened Always bags (we worked on the Always brand). The Always bags always draw a surprised look, LOL. I’ve hung that picture in every office I’ve had since 1996. Every time I look at it, I remember very good times.
6. The license plate I had on my car when I made my first sale - it says RMCEWRTR
7. My RITA statue from 2005
8. Oh, yeah, and my computer, where I do my writing 
. That’s kind of an important office item.
It’s all spread around in a very disorganized way, but it’s my stuff and I love it all. When the rest of my house gets messy it stresses me out, but being back here in my crowded, cluttered office makes me feel … comfy. And the comfier I am, the more evil my villains become! What a deal.
What’s your corner of the world? Your office, your kitchen, your cubicle at work? What cool things do you keep there? What makes you feel comfy?
26 Comments »
evlqn on 01 Mar 2008 at 1:23 am #
I have several corners in my world but I think my favorite is in my bedroom.I have my books,without which I would be one of those people in a clock tower. If I don’t read for at least an hour a day I never get centered.
My dragon collection, I have all kinds of dragons. My favorites are the ones that have been given to me by loved ones. I have one that is a bubble pipe my sons gave me years ago, there is not enough money on the planet to buy that one from me. My sister did a dragon queen painting for my birthday about 15 years ago, it hangs on my wall. I have a four foot red stuffed dragon hanging from the ceiling,his name is Benjamin. Yes I name all of my dragons. Stoney came from Australia.
Grey Wolf is a collabrative effort from my sister,Stanley. It is a ceramic mask of an indian shaman with a a wolf’s headdress. It is mounted on a piece of masonite that has running wolves under a full moon. It took first place in the fair the year we entered it.
evlqn on 01 Mar 2008 at 1:28 am #
And of course my plants, we live in a jungle. Does anyone need a rubber tree? I have six. And my “percolating water” by the window. Along with my music and I am a fairly happy camper!
claudia dain on 01 Mar 2008 at 9:09 am #
Well, not that you’re going to be surprised by this, but my office is my very (organized) comfy escape from the rest of the house, the rest of the world! It’s on the third floor, far away from the noises of the kitchen or the garage or the television—a must with three kids.
I’m surrounded by my favorite research books, a framed map of 1810 London, a framed print of the Haymarket (a gift from Liz Carlyle that I cherish), and my sword collection.
My office has two desks: one is black and modern and is where the computer sits. The other is old and mahogany and banged up. The mahogany desk was my grandmother’s and sat in her living room for as long as I can remember. She used it for everything, and it shows. I feel so honored to have it. My printer sits on it, as well as my research books. In the drawers are my contracts and my royalty statements, tape and paper clips, sticky notes: the usual suspects. I just love that the desk lives on, still in use.
claudia dain on 01 Mar 2008 at 9:10 am #
KarenR? I will mind meld with you any day of the week. I’ll trade you my organizational bent for your ability to write a book in a month.
Deal?
Freedom Writer on 01 Mar 2008 at 9:10 am #
Eeyore’s of all kinds decorate a shelf in my office. I have large stuffed Eeyores, small stuffed Eeyores, musical Eeyores, an Eeyore toothbrush holder, Eeyore Koosh ball, Eeyore Clock, Eeyore Christmas ornament and an Eeyore musical water fountain.
I also have the obligatory 3 bookshelves filled with books some read some waiting to be read. A picture called the Pink Lady hangs on my office wall. And a jar in which to store Butterfly Kisses.
Even though I keep my display of Eeyore’s in my office, I have another stash of stuffed animals in my bedroom. Many of them are white, but my newest bears are from Build a Bear. I got hooked in 2005, and now make regular visits to the store in our Tanger Outlet Mall.
Karen Rose on 01 Mar 2008 at 9:50 am #
Freedom - I LOVE Eeyore! I’ve never seen the musical water fountain before - I want one!
Claudia - do we have to trade completely? Can we both not synergistically enhance our previous strengths via mind meld? Translated - I want us to have our cake and eat it too, LOL. How grand that you have your grandmother’s desk. My office is very small - smaller than a tiny bedroom really. It was enclosed off of part of the lanai (the patio) by the former owners. But I suspect I make poor use of the space. My walls are pretty though
The great thing about my office is that it has two doors - one goes to my bedroom, so when I’m writing a book in a month, I have only to stagger a few steps to fall into bed for a few hours. The other door is sliding glass door that looks out to my pool and back yard, which is like a lush jungle. It’s my “Calgon” place.
Karen Rose on 01 Mar 2008 at 9:52 am #
Evqln - How cool you have dragons. I love dragons too - and have my eye on one for my desk - it’s a letter opener. The dragon is mounted around a sword and the sword is the letter opener. I promised myself the dragon when I a) finish the book and revisions and b) clean off my desk to make space for it.
I don’t need a rubber tree, though - I have palm trees and clusters of bamboo and an enormous bird of paradise tree in my backyard
Freedom Writer on 01 Mar 2008 at 10:13 am #
Karen R., my son gave the Eeyore water fountain to me a couple of years ago for Christmas. I believe it was in the Christmas gift section at Wal-Mart. I don’t know if they carry it any more. I don’t often put water in it because the cats drink all of the water out of it which isn’t good for the motor.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 01 Mar 2008 at 11:37 am #
In my office I have photos of my late parents during their dating days in the 1940s, as well as my dad’s parents on their wedding day in 1915.
I collect hats, so there are hats on the walls, and painting of hats as well. My sister painted those.
My cat is a fixture when I’m at the computor. Right now she is howling at me to let her into the main apt hall to roam. No one else is home in the building, so no worries that she’ll get let out into traffic. Usually she sits at the edge of the desk watching the birds fly by the window. Darn, now she’s howling for Comet kitty to come out and play. I’ll have to go down to let him out as well. His “mommy” is away and I’m kitty sitting, making sure he gets his meds and food
evlqn on 01 Mar 2008 at 12:10 pm #
Karen the painting my sister did of my dragon queen in what I have as the picture on myspace. Check it out. It’s myspace.com/evlqn. I want the letter opener too. Greedy greedy greedy!!
Kay on 01 Mar 2008 at 1:35 pm #
My “office” is our guest room, the room where I fold laundry & iron. No wonder I have a hard time working there. LOL I wind up writing in my favorite chair in the living room.
Our living room is my “corner of the word.” It’s the room kept the neatest & has stuff from DH & my travels bc (before children) & most of the furniture DH & I picked out together.
We have a formal portrait of the kids when they were little & our wedding pix.
The piano is in that room & all of the violins. I love sitting down to hear the kids practice. (My oldest child started voice lessons & there is singing in my world now. ) It’s my favorite part of the day. I’m the least musical person in the world, so the kids’ music gives me something I can’t give myself.
We are remodeling this year (finally) and I will get my own office in the basement–and laundry is not allowed inside. I have great plans for that room. Once I have my own writing space, I’ll have no excuses about not completing my WIP
Judy F on 01 Mar 2008 at 2:06 pm #
I really don’t have an office at home. I have my computer cabinet in the dinning room. On one side of the door I have post cards from books, pictures of friends, some hotties. on the other side is my hunk calendar. I have some cat beanie babies along with my tweetys. my desk at work has family pictures, a goosh ball, lots of magnets.
Karen Rose on 01 Mar 2008 at 2:20 pm #
Judy - why am I not surprised you have a hottie collection on your wall. Hope to see more of them on FROS in the future!
Kay - best of luck on the remodel - it makes a difference when you can tune out the world and focus on the wip!
Evyqln - here’s a link to the dragon letter opener. http://www.storesonline.com/site/826321/product/PUDRG125_Red
Aw, Cookie - it’s so nice that you have those old photos of your folks! I love old hats. Wish I looked good in them, like Bergman in Casablanca. That’s a hat I’d like to have!
Lisa H on 01 Mar 2008 at 2:54 pm #
My office is a special place for me. It is also the only room in the house with 2 closets, one both which are MINE! I have Captatin Jack stuff around my office, which I droooool over all the time. I also have some beautiful framed “Pictures” which are really just scrapbook papers with wonderful storybook elements like castles and little phrases that say”Once upon a time” “Happily Ever After” “Far far Away” and “There lived a beautiful Princess” My daughter made these for me for Christmas and I love them dearly.
My bedroom is my other comfy place, decorated in cream lace floor length curtains, and a cream satin comforter, it is very clean and calming. I love to get into bed early after at hot bath with my favorite book of the week. I always feel so relaxed there.
Karen R - I love your fertility goddess. A goddess is a goddess, right?
SuzyQ on 01 Mar 2008 at 3:07 pm #
In my home office, I have one wall with built in bookshelves - filled, of course. The tbr pile has expanded to stacks on the floor. The walls are filled with autographed plaques of the original and TNG crew (as well as some individual autographs) from Star Trek. I bought these years ago on QVC. I share the office with my DH and it’s a good thing we both like scifi. We have the robot from Lost In Space on the desk as well as Robbie the Robot. The only non-scifi thing on the wall is a framed autographed picture of Jimmie Stewart, who is a favorite actor of DH.
Gannon on 01 Mar 2008 at 3:24 pm #
Hey, Goddesses! We’re here at CR–PJ and I are roommates. Karen H sat at our table this morning, and we had lunch with Sabrina when she arrived. They are just fabulous! True goddesses! And, yes, Kim, PJ did bring chocolates. Yummy!!
We’ve been taking pictures–PJ’s been taking the most–so we’ll have some to share. We plan on a group photo tomorrow with all of us wearing our tiaras!
Next year, all of the Goddesses need to come to CR!
ronlyn on 01 Mar 2008 at 4:37 pm #
At home, my corner of the world is my kitchen. When my DH first started working nights I had a really hard time trying to find a space I could call my own. The bedroom wasn’t it anymore because he’d be sleeping in there while I was home, so I decided on the kitchen. My kitchen has everything…even a little writing desk in it. The desk is piled high with cards I’ve bought with the intention to send to people but haven’t for various reasons, my preschoolers art work, loads of cookbooks, photo albums. The fridge is covered with photos. The countertops are lined with fun kitcheny things…it’s a great little corner.
Kasey on 01 Mar 2008 at 5:19 pm #
I live in an apartment so I don’t really have an office just a corner of my living room where my computer desk is. I actually like it there because I can watch tv while wokring on my stuff. I need background noise and those music stations they have on tv work great, I almost like it better then my itunes because with my itunes I always want to change the song I am listening to.
My desk is full of picures of family, friends and places I havae traveled as well as little thngs I have bought on my travels, like the glass blown horse I bought in Murano. My desk is always fairly clutterd but I like it that way.
Since right no I am working on my thesis, the area around my desk is full of stacks of books and papers. I can’t wait until I am done because then I will have some floor space back becasue I can file away all those papers and put the books back on the shelves.
claudia dain on 01 Mar 2008 at 6:04 pm #
Karen, okay, let’s sign the contracts. Not a complete transfer of powers, but a sharing of them. Sounds ideal. I assume we’re talking a 50/50 split? A transference of energy that will leave us both better, enriched, nearly superhuman in our abilities?
I thought so. We’re of the same mind already!
And your “jungle” view sounds wonderful. My view is of the woods and a deer just bounded through. I’m sure he ate an azalea as an appetizer.
Karen Rose on 01 Mar 2008 at 8:09 pm #
I want a tiara! But I’d settle for the Eeyore musical waterfall thingie. Next Christmas, I’m keeping my eye peeled.
Yes, Claudia, I like your idea. Let’s sign on the dotted line. I used to have a gator in the pond behind my house. We named him Wally and never went down to the pond at night. He either moved on or was ‘relocated’ by the homeowners assn. Either way, I think our azaleas were safe.
Have fun at the conference girls! Have mojitos for us.
Kelly Ann on 01 Mar 2008 at 8:16 pm #
I love gargoyles. I actually have only one, which is a Windstone. We have a dragon too that doubles as a candle holder. It makes his eyes glow red when you light the candle. He is so very cool. But my gargoyle watches the front door, which is where my desk will be going as soon as the front living room is painted. It will be by the window so I can see all the life going on outside, birds & animals.
I do write, but mostly kids books and usually for my children. My family and friends love them, but I’ve never tried to get them published. It’s a difficult field to get in to!! I’ve written them mostly to help my children learn to read and improve their reading. It’s also been fun & relaxing for me, something I’ve done since I was a kid. Anyway, that is boring. I basically play anywhere. Right now, I’m in my favorite room - the kitchen, where I have my under the cabinet TV playing NCIS - USA is having a marathon today! I’m hiding because the boys are playing PS3….loudly!!
Yasmin on 01 Mar 2008 at 8:53 pm #
I have many weird things. Rock from the beach. Not pretty ones but the regular old black ones. Lots of different turtles. Some are made of clay, crystal, blown glass, and my fave one from Tonala,Mexico. It’s head bobbles around and only cost about 11 pesos years ago. I even pursuaded my parents to smuggle 2 baby turtles into the the U.S. from Tonala when I was 9. i still hold a grudge against my cousin for accidentally killing one. My walls are paper with photos from Middle school and high school. i know childish but I love looking back without having to open an album. I also collect the coasters from Olive Garden. I like how they different of their signature wines on there.
Nicole Jordan on 01 Mar 2008 at 10:45 pm #
I know this will sound weird to some of you goddesses, but organization is very comforting to me. I love my office to have everything in its place. If I can’t see at least 2/3 of the surface, I start getting antzy. *G*
evlqn on 02 Mar 2008 at 1:46 am #
Kelly Ann I have a gargoyle too, his name is George. He lives on the top of the bookcase in the living room. He is motion activated and his wings flap as he says,”Welcome to our haunted home.” and then he roars. We love George, he has been a member of our family for five years now. His first Christmas with us we put a silk poinsettia on him, he refuses to give it back. What ya gonna do, he’s a gargoyle with style.
Kelly Ann on 02 Mar 2008 at 10:24 pm #
Evlqn, that is so awesome! I have to name my gargoyle. He sits on top of a bookcase in our living room too and stares at the front door. He doesn’t flap his wings or talk darn it! My mother, on at least 2 occasions has said he is scary and should be taken down. I have explained to her the reason for gargoyles, but she still thinks he is creepy! We love him and I could never get rid of him!
evlqn on 03 Mar 2008 at 2:07 am #
Kelly Ann,I hope your mother can get over her feelings about your gargoyle. He will protect your home and everyone in it if given the chance. We would be lost without George. We have kids who have outgrown our daycare who come in and the first thing they do is check to see if George is still up on his shelf. Besides if you look, you can always find something beautiful about the ugliest of things. Have her look for the beauty. And yes he deserves a name.