WOYWW 176 ~ I've Come A Long Way, Baby!

Happy Hoppy Wednesday WOYWW Day!

As my first year comes to a close, it is a time of refraction.  Like a lot of you, I was an avid stalker of Splitcoast Stampers and when I finally took the plunge to start my blog, I scoured the forums at SCS for advice about how to attract viewers to my blog.  Again and again,  other stampers suggested linking up to What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday (WOYWW), hosted by the spirited and adorable Ms. Julia Dunnit.  

I got up the courage to link up with WOYWW at number 125 and here we are at number 176!  That first post, I got zero comments.  (Don't be sad, it was a really underwhelming post!)  I tried again four months later at number 139, received 15 lovely comments, and I don't think I've missed a week since if I've been home.  I now have so many wonderful friends from all over the world living inside my monitor because of WOYWW!

It is hella fun and very addicting!!

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During the year I have received numerous comments and compliments from crafters who are "green with envy" over my adorable little Playhouse.  I would be, too. 

If you've read the back story on the tab above, then you appreciate that I paid my dues before I moved into the Playhouse by stamping for over TEN years in the uninsulated, unheated, and unairconditioned garage.   Just to prove it, I thought you might get a kick out of seeing an actual picture I recently found. 

Here I was back in 2006:

Wow, does that bring back memories.  At this point, I'd been making cards at this desk since 2001.  In the picture I'm doing another favorite hobby, crossword puzzling.  It was late summer when this picture was taken so the garage north-side door is open (note the garbage bins right outside!), but most of the time that door was closed and curtained so I crafted using a single overhead florescent light fixture. 

You can see the weed-eater, the pails, the cobwebs, the hard-backed wooden chair.  You can also see my smokes and, just peeking in from the side, narcotics?!  I stopped the smokes five and half years back.  (CHF will do that and I'm grateful it did.)  It was actually a pain to be a smoking stamper because I had to make sure all my papers were always kept covered in plastic.  I'm not being preachy, but I have to say I'm so glad those days are behind me.  Can't say the same for the meds, which, I know, explains a lot ...

... and here I am six years later in 2012, upgraded to the Playhouse!

I am a lucky lady.  Life.  Unexpected happiness happens.

Enjoy your happy hoppy tour!  I may not make it all the way around again this week, but I'm gonna do my best.  If you are new, let us know.  There are a lot of us now, so be patient and keep on linking on!  Also, leave comments yourself because sometimes we only have time to return the visits of those who visit us.  It's a titting and tatting circle, you might say.

As always, thank you for stopping by to visit.  Special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower or leave a comment!