Tuesday, July 30, 2013

odds and ends

a collection of flotsam and jetsam found on my work desk today:


I have a question for you:
have you ever taken apart a drink parasol 
and unrolled the chinese newsprint at the end of the stick? 
(it's the "flag" in the photo)
I have been doing that for as long as I can remember 
- and at a recent BBQ - 
no one believed me - or could believe that I was so weird to do that :)

... so I wanted to ask my blog buddies ...


18 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Love the bits on your desk. It makes an interesting subject.

I get my parasols at the Dollar Tree, and I have taken mine apart to add to altered books, but never saw a flag. You must have "special" parasols (grin). Maybe I should find some that have been in drinks.

Yvonne said...

No I never did, but I will now!

Little Messy Missy said...

Never done that...will do it from now on!
xoxoxo

Elizabeth said...

Uh, no.

(but I know I will do so the next time I see one of those things!)

Zue said...

I had a five year diary as a child. The covers were stuffed full of Chinese newspapers. What a find, I was mesmerised by it! This all happened when, with constant use, the covers began to split and I poked around inside.
I wonder where else the newsprint will crop up? :) I love your little display, by the way!
Sue xxxx

Halle said...

Now I'm going to have to tear one apart! :) Such a nice bunch of bits you found.

jo said...

Always did as a kid. I couldn't wait for my folks to bring home an umbrella so I could do it. Haven't for about 55 years tho!! Yikes, I'm old!

Jill said...

I think I have some up in the cupboard I bought for the kids to play with once. I'll have to see if there is a flag inside.

cjsrq said...

Nope, never did because I didn't know to look I guess. I certainly will from now on!

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

No I have never explore this parasol...and to discover the Chinese flag.great work in investigation! Peace, Mary Helen

Caterina Giglio said...

ummmm no... but that is ingenious! and not your sea sadly... east coast, Norfolk, VA... but warmer ... : )

Gayle Price said...

I love the assortment of bits and pieces on your desk, they are very inspirational and make me want to create something either with them or about them. No I have never un-wound the paper on the umbrella stick and I had no idea it was actually there, maybe we don't have paper around the sticks here in Aus...will have to look more carefully next time I have a cocktail. Definitely don't think you're weird tho, just represents an active, inquisitive mind and fingers that need to be busy.....the fact that you have been doing this for so long tho, may suggest you are a little" obsessive/ compulsive tho.....lol. xx

Rebeca Trevino said...

i have taken the little umbrellas apart, and have never found a flag . . . what's up with that?
i wonder why that that is? and you have been doing it 'for as long as you can remember'? and you have always found flags?
wow! i wonder why i've never noticed?

anyway, love the arrangement on your desk. . . wish i could see my desk.
sorry, i'm just tired and 'punchy'
good night

Annie Cholewa said...

No, I never have, but I will be doing from now on!

Anonymous said...

All stuff in life is fodder for your art, of course I would do that. Love this marvelous tiny collection...xox New header rocks.

Gberger said...

I've never done it, but now I know that it's worth doing, thanks to you!

*jean* said...

never have but now i will! love the desk bits, so interesting!

retrosurfer1959 said...

just saw this and yep at least 50% of them have the writing at least from the ones Ive found. There somewhat less common now then in the past in fact a recent one instead of the paper had a small plastic shrink tube I was depressed for hours. It's amazing what wonderful; things most mis like the inside of safety envelopes and the wonderful; patterns and colors onside these business envelopes.

I feel sorry for the people that never see this and even sorrier for the people that see it but don't understand how cool it is.