Tuesday, January 6, 2009

In the Midst Of Run Amuck, Beached, Stranded by the tide......

There is a saying that is particularly pertinent to my plight that I think many of you may be able to relate too! It is said that when one is really cleaning and reorganizing (hate that word) "It always gets much worse before it gets better." Do you know this phrase??? Then you know exactly where I'm at!!!

I have decided to post some pictures in a last ditch attempt to get myself to focus on the situation that I have very successfully managed to avoid. Before Christmas there was the obvious, and very handy excuse. I had to finish gifts, Deal with the mess later. I have been trying very hard to work on it a little bit at a time giving myself a very small space where I can take a break and work on some journal pages or some such little project. This was all well and good and I actually got some things done but I found that I was spending too much time on the little projects and pretending that the Gnomes had arrived to rescue me from my mountain of mess. So by posting pictures of it at it's worst, I will feel obligated to get it done so I can post pictures of it all better!!!!




So here itis! There are a total of five (5) flat surfaces that are supposed to be clear for use as work surfaces. Don't see ANY, do you??? I am so very lucky to have such a wonderful space but I think that I almost have too much space- I can keep spreading! Not anymore- I am actually getting rid of stuff!! I heard that collective intake of breath as you all said "Oh NO"!! But I have got to do this!!! I feel guilty having so much space and taking such horrid care of it!!!!

So now I will share some of my progress.


My fabrics are all sorted by color- the bins are a bit small but we will rectify that soon. The fabric is on the opposite end of the room from the sewing center but as soon as I can clear a path and a space, the fabrics will move down to the sewing area.

Here I have gone thru all of my tubs and actually labeled the clear boxes with the contents. In the past I had thought that clear boxes alone would solve the problem- you can see what is in there- Not So Much!! So Now I have labeled the boxes!! This is huge for me!!

This remains!! I made alot of progress today, sorting through boxes of bits and pieces but nothing that will show in a picture.

Here are the journal page backgrounds that I also worked on during my Mess Breaks.
You see, when one cleans up, one finds cool stuff!! I added some color washes to some Gesso resist pages that I unearthed and I used some not so successful fabric-paper as a background on another page. These will all have lot's more added to them but they are ready to go when the Art Journal bug bites. (BTW have you seen the New Art Journaling Mag by Stampington??? Awesome!!! ) Check out the great articles by Julie Prichard of Lost Luggage fame and Ingrid Dijkers piece on page embellisments!! These gals are so terrific and I am thrilled to be able to call them art pals!!
I have also been working on a beaded bracelet cuff and here is a picture of it in progress.
If anyone has a stash of old metal toothed zippers that they don't know what to do with, I would love to do a trade!! (There could be a small muse bird in it!!!)
Just so you all know that I can NEVER do anything completely by myself- here is proof!! (The dogs even try to follow me into the bathroom!! i thought that I could getaway with at least doing that by myself once the kids grew up!!! NOT!!!!!!)

I did manage to get the bead box on my lap Closed before DISASTER ( I mean Pepper) climbed up!! Buddy was less than amuzed!!!

Enough fooling around, back to the task at hand!!







18 comments:

Talking Horses Arts said...

Dear Elizabeth....how I feel for you..lol. Must be awefull to have sooo much stuff? But you are making progress as it shows!
My thoughts are with you...good luck and many wishing you mane re-found treasures....
Andrea.

Wildflowerhouse said...

Elizabeth, You are so brave. You even published pictures.LOL I am doing the same thing in my painting studio. It's tiny and everyone drops their stuff there. NOT ANYMORE! Grrrr. If I ever get through this I shall post pictures. Have you looked at "Where Women Create". That's what hooked me on this journey. So far I have found 5 mind you 5bottles of Aleene's tacky clue. Now that's tacky..... Sharon

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much, Elizabeth!

Serious...my mouth is stuck open in shock and awe at your space. It's HUGE! LOL God speed my friend...god speed.

Doreen G said...

I know where you are coming from Elizabeth.
12 months ago I did what you are doing now and would you believe it--I am now doing it again.
My husband reckons that if there is a flat surface somewhere I will find something to put on it--I agree but it is eventually in layers one upon the other.

Leslie Brier, Brier Design Studio said...

Hi There,
I've been meaning to get in touch with you for quite sometime, now that I've seen your space I KNOW we are kindred spirits! I've been reading your blog for awhile. Then, I bought a wonderful little bird at Liberty Town in celebration of an artful week, and as inspiration for a happy year to come. After I bought it, I realized that I had seen it somewhere before...on your blog!

Anyway, I, too am in the process of cleaning my space, but was not brave enough to post it on my blog! Cheers to you for your bravery and perserverance! You've inspired me to go tackle one more pile before dinner.
Leslie
brierdesignstudio.blogspot.com

Judy Alexander said...

I can so relate to this! I have had a cold for the last week and have not been able to get anything done but my mess is waiting for me.....my main problem is that I get distracted in the middle of a project and start something new. Of course this requires that I pull out a whole new set of stuff. I am great at having multiple heaps of stuff all over the place.

Artfully yours, Linda said...

Hi Elizabeth, I thought I had a big task ahead of me - you win hands down. I feel better and am inspired to clean up my stuff. I actually moved out into the hallway and have been pretending that my studio does not exist. I was at Libertytown recently and recognized your pin cushions - very nice. Hope to see you soon! Linda Morgan

Dotti said...

This amazing mess is truly an artform in and of itself. Don't be too hasty to deconstruct it!

Dotti

Julie said...

I think we must all have the same gene! My workspce is equally in need of sorting out. I've made a bit of a start but still have loads to do. My problem is I can never decide how to store stuff. By colour? by texture? by fabric type? Then again, what do you do with the things that overlap between painting and textile? I have my sewing in a room in the house and my wet area in a summerhouse in the garden. The thing I need is always in the other place! Grr! Well done for getting to grips with sorting your space out. I'll look forward to seeing your clear work surfaces. :o) (I think it just shows how creative you are - no time to tidy up when the ideas are flowing).

Judy said...

Well, I don't know how I missed this post! Love the studio....the paint on the walls is singing my name! And now I don't feel quite so bad about my messy rooms!

Don't make too much progress, because then I will feel badly about myself again! lol

xo

Ro Bruhn said...

This is a very familiar site, my husband refuses to enter my studio at times unless he's wearing a hard hat. I find teaching workshops at home has been a big help, because I tend to clean up before the class, so people don't see my mess.

Mo said...

As usual, you inspire me, dear friend. And you even encouraged me that I am NOT alone in the creative mess... er.... arrangements? that I so frequently discover myself in. As soon as I post this I am away to keep plugging on my own "reorganization" and I may even come up with a few pictures of my own! And you'd better hurry up and make space for the goodies I'm sending your way! (hee hee). Love & hugs! ~ Mo

Robin said...

Y'know, I think some people actually function very well in a mess like this... maybe better than when it's all tidy. My best friend, who was a jeweler and now a mixed media artist, is like that. When she did get her space organized a little, she promptly "messes it up" again. She is one of the most creative people I've ever known.

I'm ususally one to like some clear space, clean surfaces and things at least with the "appearance" of being organized. Right now, my space is a cluttered mess. So I'm hoping you dedication to organizing will rub off on me.... rub, rub, rub....

Congrats on your determination!!!
Hugs, Robin

Robin said...

Oh, I forgot to mention how much I like the start of your beaded bracelet and also your gesso-resist papers. YUMMMMMM! I'm so glad you gave yourself an art break! Robin A.

Dot said...

Good on you girl for tackling this project! We all accumulate so much art during our travels. And I know you create a lot of art from your treasures.

Laughed at the pic of you and your dogs (bless their furry hearts).

Love you sweetpea!

Dot said...

P.S My fabric stash is growing and growing and growing. Won't be too long and I will need a creative space as large as yours :)

martha brown said...

WOW! That is some studio -- I love to see other people's messes! LOL. I have some metal zippers -- do you still need them? -- what colours are you looking for? Because, you know, I couldn't possibly throw anything out.....

Elizabeth in NM said...

I wanna come over and play! It looks like you have a very "creative" space. I feel your pain--I am constantly fighting the surface clutter, and I lost my sewing room to baby #2, so now it is in bits and pieces all over the house! Keep us posted!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails