Monday, March 2, 2009

Writing space

Aaron got me thinking today. It hurt my head at first but after I relaxed and had a cup of coffee (or two) I said to myself, 'self, you are making this too hard.'

'Explain myself.'

'Okay, (nitwit) just take some pics of your workspace and post them.'

'That's all I have to do?'

'Yes.'

'I can do that.'

'So do it already. (nitwit)'

So without further ado here are the two desks in my house that I throw down the writing gauntlet. I prefer the smaller darker desk as apposed to the big airy behemoth. The first one is a desk that I refinished about ten years ago. It belonged to my father and to an old boss of mine before that. It has an actual typewriter tray that flips up to use and then folds away when not in use. I use it to store extra paper now.


The second desk is actually my writing place of choice. I find the smaller, darker space to be more liberating and and free of distractions. My wife and I bought the desk at an antique store in Carroll, Iowa that was going out of business. The chair came from a different antique store in Walnut, Iowa and was actually a match to the desk we use as an entertainment center (I had to modify that desk to hold video equipment, but no antique was harmed in this process. I don't know where this desk came from but the chair came from a church. As you can see it sits next to my bed, which is handy for those inspirational naps.
The lid of the desk is usually folded up to hide my mess of notebooks and pens and serves as a nightstand most of the time. I think it might be from about 1820-something but I could be wrong on that.

Happy Monday everyone.

16 comments:

Cate Gardner said...

Woot! I did this last year, but feel an update coming on.

Jamie Eyberg said...

It is interesting to see where others work the craft. all similar, yet just a little different.

Fox Lee said...

That last desk looks very much like the one my grandmother used to have. Ying uses it as a mail desk now : )

Carrie Harris said...

Yeah, you all are neat people. And I hate you.

It's nothing personal, of course. :)

Aaron Polson said...

There's a bed in the Man Cave, too, and inspirational naps are always handy.

The old wood is beautiful.

K.C. Shaw said...

I love that big old desk! Gorgeous! My mom has an old typewriter desk from the 1920s or so and I wish I could steal it from her. It's huge, and it has a section that slides out if you need more surface area.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Nat- I am sure it was a beautiful mahogany desk when it was new but, alas, it has cracks in the carcass and some of the veneer is missing.

Carrie- My wife will laugh at your statement. My office is anything but organized.

Aaron- I had a nappy spot in my last house as well. It was inches from the IBM Selectric II typewriter I wrote all my first drafts on. (R.I.P.)

K.C.- This desk as the same feature. It is too big for the room though and as soon as I am done with the rest of the house I am going to redo the office with a built-in desk and get rid of this one.

Cate Gardner said...

I miss the noise my old typewriter made and hitting the return thingy (which I've now forgotten the name of).

Jamie Eyberg said...

I have always called it a carriage return. I don't know if that is right though.

Cate Gardner said...

That's the fella. :D

Jeremy D Brooks said...

I used to have one of those desks, I think. Does it have the big drawer with the folding mechanism for a typewriter?

Hu-u-u-ge desk...it was nice, until it imploded during our last move.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Sounds like the same desk. The mechanism reminds me of one that Laz-e-boy uses in their recliners.

Danielle Birch said...

I love the second desk. And I love seeing where other writers work.

BT said...

Cool spaces - funny how that green coffee mug seems to do the rounds as well.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Danielle- It is kind of interesting isn't. (I like looking at other people woodshops as well. Kind of a professional thing)

BT- I never write without my coffee, usually it is a clear mug but it was in the wash. If I was going to show my workspace I wanted it to be as authentic as possible so I had to improvise my props.

Jameson T. Caine said...

Cool! All these "behind the scenes photos" are fascinating.