deskblogger

Chris

My Curiosity for Natural Curiosities…

Chris is the owner of Moss.  I’ve known about Moss for several years and had only experienced it once in that time.  Then this past holiday season (Christmas that is), I happened to be in Forest Park, and so I stepped in for what I thought was going to be a quick peek.  At first glance the space looked quite spare so I thought I’d be on my way in a short time, but then in a moment I found myself there for an hour!   Moss is now part of my routine whenever out that way, and each time not only do I manage to end up there for an extended visit, I often come away with some unanticipated treasure, as well as some flora or fauna I have not seen previously.

I was thrilled on one of the visits when Chris and I began talking about her desk, and intrigued to see it…as it is out of view, and rightfully so!

It is where she sketches and draws from her collection of inspirations, and where she occasionally opens her laptop to peruse the internet for design purposes & additional inspiration.  It is her “think tank” space, and where she enjoys her lunch.  It also serves as a secondary surface for over-spill of floral stuff.

This desk was the first piece of Chinese furniture she bought when the shop first opened.  She admits it’s more formal & ornate than her usual rustic leanings.  And although there have been plenty of offers, she knows whole heartily that she cannot part with it.

The other notable surface in Chris’s shop is her work-table.  This to me is the centerpiece of the shop, and is the first place I go when I walk in.  There will be any number of visual delights from several ginormous leaves umbrella-ing over the table, remnants of some arrangement in process, or exotic dried leaves or pods cast into a long wooden African bowl at the edge of the table.

A visit to Moss graciously feeds my never-ending curiosity for natural curiosities.  Getting to see her desk…simply a plus!

Moss is located @ 7405 Madison, Forest Park, IL… There isn’t a website, so I can only suggest you experience it in person!

Betsy

Betsy and I met recently through Greer Chicago.  We both agree that Greer is the best destination in town for the latest in papery products, beautiful pens and pencils.  We connected instantaneously! 

In our initial conversations about Betsy’s desk it sounded remarkably small.  I tried to imagine how she spent her time there, but figured I would understand once I saw it.

The child-size desk was designed and built by her grandfather nearly 80 years ago as a gift for her father (he was age six at the time). Originally it was painted black with ornate gold trim. Her father thinks it was given to him so that he would study more often!  It was passed down to Betsy when she was six years old.  In later years it belonged to her sister who is 13 years her junior. 

Ten years ago it was returned to Betsy in a large cardboard box for her grandchildren to use when they visited.  When it arrived Betsy’s husband restored and painted it.  The desk was the first place her grandchildren, Noah & Ava, would go to when they came for a visit.  They filled the cubbyholes with their treasures, art supplies & books.  Now that Noah & Ava are older, the desk is Betsy’s again!

It’s situated in a petite room, perfect for this petite desk. When you walk into the room you are enveloped by books from floor to ceiling.  In front of the books on most of the shelves is her collection of personal & playful trinkets.  The desk sits in front of a western facing window, so in the afternoon the light & warmth stream in. For this very reason Betsy enjoys countless hours in the library {as I refer to it} gathering inspiration from her beautiful collection of books.

Beside the desk is a black leather chair where she goes to read, write in her journal, doodle or chat on the phone with friends.

Betsy spends countless hours on the phone at work, and when she is on the phone she doodles!  She showed me several file folders packed full of her collected scraps of papers and cocktail napkins - her favourite doodling surface.  She had many notebooks & sketchbooks stacked under the desk all filled with beautiful rhythmic flowy lines, colourful shapes, & beautiful quotes  – such an inspiration!

There were more than several doodles I thought were magnificent and suggested that they be framed.  I’m thrilled she’s considering it.

Betsy’s thoughts on her desk:

My desk takes me back to that unspoiled core of my childhood – from the uninhibited flow of creativity to the scent of Crayolas and newly sharpened pencils.  From lined tablets and Golden Books, to my Mickey Mouse pencil box and my little brown composition book.  My favourite area of the desk are the little cubbyholes that you can fill with treasures.  And when I sit by the desk, my creativity seems to flow.