Aaaarg--my unfinished projects and studio chaos have overwhelmed me once again! So many ideas and so few hands. We who are intuitive personality types get lots and lots of brilliant ideas everyday and we seem to work on them everyday, but as soon as we know how they will turn out, we lose interest and leave them for the next NEW idea! If you are someone who walks through her art-making space picking things up and thinking: "Wow, that was a great idea and it looks good--why didn't I finish it?" we are kindred spirits. One of my New Year's intentions this year was to take charge of all my UFPs and tackle them once again. However, when I began to pile them all on one work table I realized it would take me two years if I did nothing else, so I gave up that idea. Instead I made a list of them, ranking them in order of importance, and each one nicely dated with it's origin on my artistic timeline. It is a very fine list. Very detailed. Very organized. Then I put it on my bulletin board next to my other lists. I felt much better.
Mr. Bill had a better idea. He suggested that I clear out two large closets so that he could build me some lovely shelves--perhaps I could improve my organization in my studio that way? Now we are not talking ordinary closets here. We are talking about closets full of valuable stuff, the kind where I never open the doors because the valuable stuff would fall out on the floor. I decided to take Mr. Bill up on his offer, and after I had cleaned out said closets, I added another item to my project list: serious garage sale of valuable stuff. And now for a glimpse of the state of things:
See that unpainted lion mask I bought, thinking I would paint it up for the Sweet Pea to play with at Xmas time? Yeah, I was going to paint that thing while I ran around putting up the tree, cleaning the house, planning Xmas dinner, wrapping gifts, writing cards, and thinking up gifts for people I barely know. So why is it still sitting there with an accusing look on its face? Get with it, lion--Xmas is so over! Maybe next year.
Remember that book: "Where's Wally?" I can find five unfinished projects in this photo. Can you?
These Italian tanbours, which are on wheels, are supposed to help with studio organization but now I have three of them in various areas and can't remember which one is which, inspite of labeling every opening. I swear they switch places at night.
This is my doll and bear corner, although I must confess that with the current state of things, everywhere is a doll & bear corner. It will soon be replaced by a large dollhouse, the Red Cottage at Riverbend, where all the little bears will go to live and run their own household. Hopefully this will keep them from wreaking havoc on my desktop and playing with my laptop when they are supposed to be in bed.
Mr. Bill thinks we should do something about all the snakey cords lying in wait for innocent feet. That must be a guy thing. I don't mind jumping over them. Really.
Above is my "dedicated sewing table." I haven't done much sewing there lately. I spy two Unfinished Projects that are in my way. Maybe that's why. In the background is my desk--oh, that pesky little Mulan (panda bear) is checking her e-mail again. Excuse me while we have some words. Did I just hear Emilia say to Olivia: "If she only knew what really goes on around here!" Yes, I did.
Along one wall in the studio is a low shelf, The House on Blinker Street, where the dolls have their social gatherings. Here they are just finishing up Freddie's Birthday Party.
Mr. Bill is going to help me figure out how to hang painted backdrops on the wall behind the dolls so that they can have different rooms for their activities and travels.
"Travels? Did she say travels? Are we going somewhere? China maybe? Morocco?"
"Hard to tell, but maybe not China or Morocco."
Previous efforts at organization have turned out well. When we moved into our new house 18 months ago, Mr. Bill built this wall of shelves:
For a while it was Bliss! Everything was so neatly organized and labelled! I guess the basic problem is that more valuable stuff comes in than leaves, and pretty soon it's well, getting a bit disheveled again. And isn't that the way it always is--from chaos into order and then, inexorably, back into chaos again? Still, I remain ever hopeful of a better system...all the projects finished, everything in it's place, and time enough for Earth and Heaven.
"Time enough for Earth and Heaven? What is she talking about?"
"Sheesh, why ask me? I'm only 11" tall. You need to ask somebody bigger. A lot bigger."
Oh my,oh my does this look and sound so familiar. Sometimes I try ways to organize and it just doesn't work out for me. Maybe for someone else but not me. I am getting better at finishing projects but I must confess I have some needlework projects some which I started decades ago and keep moving with me. So far I've been a lot better at putting things away this year. However, when I can't find something that I know I have I'm sure it is because my dogs have been crafting.
Posted by: Myoriah | 02/02/2013 at 07:44 PM