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haven't used in the last 5 years is going; all those jars of forgotten and un-nameable substances are going; all those out-of-date things are going and all those ugly fabrics I will NEVER use are going.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.....................