Monday, January 3, 2011

It Had To Happen................

When you are a dollmaker, people, with the best of intentions, give you stuff.............their dog clippings, pieces of fabric they don't want, the lumpy stuffing out of old cushions etc. Don't get me wrong - I am very appreciative and sometimes the stuff is priceless. But it does tend to accumulate and storage space runs out. Also dollmakers need an incredible variety of stuff on hand - a list like you wouldn't believe. I am quite bad at throwing things out, but there comes a point, creative clutter notwithstanding that A STAND HAS TO BE MADE and a big cleanout is called for. I have reached that stage in my studio, drowning as I was in a sea of mess and disorder like this:

and this:
and this:

and this:

It got to the point that I was losing things in the mess and disarray and it was affecting my ability to work.
So, to start 2011, I have begun the mammoth task of throwing out useless, unwanted, old stuff and trying to organize my supplies a little. I'm being ruthless - anything I haven't used in the last 5 years is going; all those jars of forgotten and un-nameable substances are going; all those out-of-date things are going and all those ugly fabrics I will NEVER use are going. All those doll starts that are never going to be finished are GOING....GOING........GONE. As  result, I'm finding all kinds of things I had thought lost forever and I'm getting that pleasant feeling that comes after a purge. This cupboard was previously crammed with junk.......look at it now! It is tidy, I can see what is in there and there is even spare space. I know better than to try and do this all in one go - I'm doing a small section at a time, but it is amazing how quickly order is established! There - I've revealed my dirty little secret - I feel better! Now, if I can just get my husband to build me some more shelves.....................

                                        

27 comments:

Robin's Egg Bleu said...

Bravo! If only I were as courageous as you at tackling my mess! But each thing I pick up whispers to me: "You'll be sorry...so very, very sorry if you throw me away....hiss hiss." So...I put each thing back juuuuuust in case I may need it in the next week or so.

You'll probably see me featured on the show "Hoarders" very soon.

FairiesNest said...

Good for you! It's kind of like an archeological dig to clean out the studio, I'm always amazed at what I find in both the useful and useless categories.
And thank you dear for the sweet comment you left on my blog...Happy New Year to you!

paula nerhus said...

I really see no problem.....lol it looks cleaned up to me....in the firt shot

Cheryl @ Bingle Bears said...

WoooHooo! Doesn't that feel wonderful?!!

Cheryl said...

Now why did you have to go mess things up lol. Didn't you know the sign of a great doll maker is to be drowned in her pool of madness. Seriously though I can truly relate to everything you are going through. I have a friend who is always looking out for things for me sometimes she is on point then there are times I want to tell her please don't bring anything else to my house lol
Have a Wonderful New Year
Peace and Blessings
Cheryl...Snatch JOY~!

Unknown said...

I salute you! I really need to do the same as my chaos is overwhelming and it has the same effect: non-productivity.
Your re-organized shelves look great!

Michele Lynch Art said...

At first I thought how did she get pictures of my studio!! LOL! I'm in complete shambles too and need a serious clean in there. Wooo Hooo that you did it!!! Michele

Unknown said...

Hmmm obviously we are all kindred spirits, I too thought that you had photos of my studio before I had a big clean up. I actually got G to help me pull all the stuff out that was in piles on the floor and I put it away sort of. Just the table and the window seat to go. Oh and the bed in the spare room and don't ask me what the library looks like. I'll get there. Good on you

Susie McMahon said...

Ha! I KNEW there were people out there who understood me!

Cody Goodin said...

You go girl. I need to do that again.

Sarah said...

I think anyone who creates understands! You just have to have a lot of stuff to create a lot of stuff! I am constantly picking up something at Goodwill to aid in the process of reorganization. Small shelves, boxes, etc...It is a never ending process. Of course going to Goodwill in the first place could be part of the problem...

Anthropomorphica said...

Well done!!! It feels so good when it's done doesn't it. I really laughed when I read your post, I keep getting given cat hair ;)

KittyAnn said...

Good going Susie!! I'm scared to look in my 'creative' room as it is a true mess. I did a lot of sewing of Christmas gifts and didn't pickup or put back a single thing the last 2 months. I will have to devote a bit of time this weekend to clean it up, I need to be brave and throw things out and/or giveaway things I know I'll never use, that is the hardest part I believe.

Dixie Redmond said...

Oh THANK YOU for sharing because I don't feel SO alone. ;-) I'm going to start giving away things from my blog. Fairy Dust is the first giveaway! ;-)

Dixie

C & R Service Locksmith said...

I feel your pain, I just don't yet have the courage to do this myself...bravo for you for taking a stand..You're bravery will surely be rewarded...creativity does require an accumulation of a lot of stuff...

Happy New Year!!!
Jan

Anonymous said...

Oh Susie I feel exactly like you... I have a studio room full of things I don't use... gourds, tools, empty sketch books...

I'm seriously going to purge this year 2011!!!!

I hope you put some of your out with the "trash" dolls on my ning...

Thanks for sharing~
Cheers to the new year~
Pattee

Turtle Child Studio said...

Susie, you and I are such kindered spirits!! My studio is in a state like that!! Christmas made it worse as family members gave me more stuff to find something to do with!! I think I will take a page from your book and purge my studio also!! Hugs and Happy New Year!

Turtle Child Studio said...

Susie, you and I are such kindered spirits!! My studio is in a state like that!! Christmas made it worse as family members gave me more stuff to find something to do with!! I think I will take a page from your book and purge my studio also!! Hugs and Happy New Year!

Sara said...

Isn't it funny how everyone seems to have the same affliction, the messy studio/sewing room syndrome. I personally call mine the "vortex" and hope someday it will implode on itself and I can start all over.....

Marina said...

Oh I SOOO love to go through my junk and ruthlessly toss/donate unused stuff! I call it "a switch of energy". You will feel renewed and ready to create something new. Great start for the new year!
HAPPY 2011!

Susie McMahon said...

Well, the cleanup and toss out is coming along apace - I'm already feeling somewhat rejuvenated. Thanks for all the encouraging and understanding comments - I thought I was the only mess, disorganized one........not so, it seems!

Judy Turner said...

I recently did this myself. My "studio" had become so filled with stuff that I couldn't "see" what I had. In the process I did throw some things out that in retrospect I wished I hadn't...but...now it's opened the door for "new" ideas.

Anonymous said...

I am so in the same space as you Susie!!!

I've got gourds of all shapes and sizes.... 100's of them!

I also go with this rule... if it's been sitting around for years and I can go to a Michael's or JoAnns and get another for .59 then out it goes BUT if it's something I know I can't get easily (like 1,500 rattlesnake vertebrae) then I keep it!

Simple is better.....

Glad you are going to find homes now for some of your dolls.... including me!!!!!!

Happy New Year~
Pattee

Susie McMahon said...

Hmmm, Pattee..........1500 rattlesnake vertebrae - yes I, like you would never even consider throwing out something as precious as that! Like the mummified mouse and bird I have carefully saved. And the echidna spikes.

mary helen said...

Oh boy can I relate...but I've tried to "straighten up" more than once and it seems my things enjoy being a bit rebellious and wild. It's far easier to blame them than me, lol. I hope your things know their place better than mine, lol.

The Pixie Knoll said...

I must chime in here with the rest of these fine ladies. Sue, you are not alone, as I too am guilty of this gluttony called CLUTTER AND DISARRAY! Oh, how hard it is to separate myself from these needless items that refuse me the priveledge of tossing them out! Oh the shame of it all indeed. But, like you, from time to time, I find myself purging from the horde of creative clutter too. Clear the studio, free the mind. It works. hahahaha

Hugs,
Lori

BumbleVee said...

hahahha.... oh, sorry.... I thought I let my play space get messy....but this has me beat hands down!



looking good on the tidy shelves though...c'mon hubby...more shelves, more shelves ... !

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