The view from my chair
I’m a sucker for inspirational knickknacks. I think nothing of splurging on items that delight my muse or remind me to have fun. I blame my mother for this. She’s an artist for Hallmark and routinely buys things simply because they feed her soul and she taught me to do the same. With that in mind, I thought it might be fun to take you on a virtual tour of my office.
Here are just a few of things that grace my writing space:
A boxed collection of “Wizard of Oz” Pez. (Love the movie, love and collect Pez. A perfect combination.)
A tiny replica of a gargoyle from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. It’s a little, scary dude with his fingers in his ears who reminds me not to listen to my inner critic.
A photo from our hotel balcony in Maui. My whole family (siblings and spouses and kids and grandparents) went a few years ago. It was the best, most memorable vacation ever simply because we were all together -and extra meaningful considering my dad had a heart attack just a month before.
A figurine of a girl with crazy hair like Roseanna Roseannadanna. (Am I dating myself here?)
A sparkly, silver pen I got when I met Ingrid Law, author of the amazing book “Savvy.” The pen says, “What’s your SAVVY?” Ingrid’s book helped changed the direction of my career and getting to visit with her for an hour or so was really cool.
A Nemo Pez (“Just keep swimming.”) and a Dinosaur from Toy Story Pez (“Great. Now I’ve got guilt!”) Are you sensing a theme yet? 
A photo of my niece when she was three. She’s got this wide-eyed expression and biting into a big, red apple. The photo reminds me to take each day “one bite at a time.”
A fringed, elephant lamp that I found at an antique store. I thought it was so ugly it was cute.
A 3 foot model of a narwhale tooth. I made it while working on a book on the Arctic and Antarctic.
A pyramid made of straws and pipe cleaners. Okay, technically I can’t see that unless I look up. It hangs from my ceiling directly above my head. My kids made it for me so I’d have “pyramid power” while I was working on my book, “Great Ancient Egypt projects You Can Build Yourself.”
What are a few special things you keep nearby while writing?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, Carmella, thanks for the tour! It’s so much more inspiring than what’s around my desk – zillions of sticky notes with bits of information on them stuck to the wall, and bins with an accumulation of memory sticks, erasers, glue, gift cards, stamps and iPod cords.
My bulletin board is better, with some inspiring quotes about writing and a calendar from my Korean publisher. But maybe it’s time I gave more thought to creating a nicer environment for writing, since I spend so much time here.
I don’t have too many belongings where I write because my computer is in the middle of the action at my house. As much as I’d love the luxury of shutting myself away from the family sometimes at home, I suspect it wouldn’t be healthy for us.
However, in my day job, my cubicle contains a Helga the Horrible doll, a Simpsons poster of Lenny and Carl that says “Dynamic,” a Series of Unfortunate Events 8-ball, and 9 different Meowth cards. Also countless comic strips, most about writing.
I’m a bit of a pack rat, so have TONS of things around.
I tend to like goofy and silly. I wish I could say I have meaningful writer quotes up on my bulletin board, but I don’t. OH WAIT! I do have a inspirational quote up on my wall, though:
Oh this is so fun! My is pretty boring compared to you guys! I have:
-My main character collage on the wall (if you want to see it, it’s on my blog).
-The picture of sister and I by the Eiffel Tower.
-Castles and more castles.
-A Japanese lamp my sister gave me.
-Sparkly, heart shaped, princess pens my boys gave me because they say I’m a princess (I love my boys!).
-All kinds of books depending on the novel I’m writing.
-CHOCOLATE!
Great post Car.