Wednesday, May 31, 2017

After Slicing and Dicing

First of all, thanks to those of you who've asked how I've been doing post surgery. And for notes, surprises and check-ins. You really boosted my spirits! All is well. And, you may recall, I set a few rather lofty goals before my surgery. I thought it would make me accountable. But I think they just made me crazy!  I realized I'd better adjust a few expectations!


So,  I looked at the shelves. And one thing I realized was that much of what they needed was tidying up. Things were crammed into corners and piles and I just needed a little order. (OK, I need more than order but having order will help me sort!) And here's another view. I realized if I was going to do anything, I'd need to start with the desk, just to get some workspace! I don't have a photo of the entire desk "before" because I was too embarrassed but here's what I started with...


....and here it is now.


And of course this helps answer one of the deep questions in life: How many pencil cups do you really need?


(We art types, of course, need plenty. The pencils. The regular writing pens. The colorful markers. The smelly pens in bright colors. The Sharpies. Pencils. And so it goes.) I also weeded out a lot of the stuff on the back shelves of the desk. I don't think I had a photo of this before and it definitely needs another go but as they say, "You should have seen it before!"


Then I started tackling shelves one at a time. I ended up tossing four good-sized bags (but not garbage bags -- lifting regulations!) of just stuff that no one would want and have one bag of art supplies to donate and other bits pulled out for friends along with some things for Goodwill. Here's the before:


I realized that I had to do a combo of neatening and putting things away in the right spot. Sometimes I do sort of dump in the most available spot and then it just builds up. Here's that area after. Books in order, things better sorted and arranged.


That cabinet was particularly bad but now much more n line. The reference and rip-out books are better ordered:


Brushes, mediums and tools are all together.


I still have this pile to tackle in front of the closet (and a bit of a neaten-up on the closet door). These are things that belong IN the closet and that will be another bag of stuff to pitch-or-donate and require more fortitude and energy than I've had!


I also have to sort the rat's nest under my desk. Ninety percent of this is paper and probably 80 percent of that will get donated or given away. I find that I am using less scrapbook paper when I make cards and more of my own handpainted papers and gelli prints. I still haven't been able to part with all the collage embellishments, either but since I'm doing less of that, it's on the list. (Note -- since I started that post, I've tackled the under-desk too! Looks much better but then when you look below, anything would be an improvement!)


Another view. That gap on the left is for my painting box which is elsewhere at the moment.


I also tackled the top of the filing cabinet -- a hold all. This is just tidier (and yes, some things pitched as well.)  Before and after:

                        

Best of all, things are pretty well labeled, which should make both finding things and putting them away easier.


Now, I know there is more to do. In fact, Rick can't tell I've done anything, but I can! This was a first pass and a pretty productive one.  Mostly it is getting what I had in order and getting rid of a lot of things I knew I'd never use. But the next pass will be more ruthless (and given that it's coming up summer, will probably happen in the fall when I settle back at home.)


And in the back corner, the bulletin/inspiration board was weeded out a bit and the paper/computer/scanner better organized.


While I didn't scan one photo, I did manage to read three books and do some painting and will share that later. I did catch a couple of videos but my walking was inside (in circles from living room to hall, to kitchen to family room and back) due to the cold and rainy weather!


It's always nice to have something in the "to-do" pile!


All in all, a "good" confinement! Now onward!

Somewhat embarrassed today to be linking to Share Your Cup!

51 comments:

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Work space can get out of hand quickly. The before picture looks like my garage. I had it pretty well organized an then my room mate stored so much crap in there and moved all of my stuff around. I had it organized by season - well now it looks terrible. So I can understand how things can get out of hand.

You did a great job on yours and it looks good. I bet Rick is a very organized person.

Hope your not over doing - no heavy lifting as you can pull your stitch's out that are inside. Please take care of yourself, but have so fun and rest up.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Hugs,
Mary

Stacey said...

Way to go!! It's hard for me to keep spaces clean and organized when I work there a lot. I can only imagine with as many creative interests as you have...that you'd have a lot to tame. ;)

Sandra Cox said...

Wow! You've really been busy.
I'm so sorry, Jeanie. Somewhere I missed that you'd had surgery.
You're okay?
Hugs,

Joyful said...

You've made good progress in neatening things and tidying everything up if not in sorting and culling ;-) If you are anything like me you need the "right time" and a bit of order before starting to sort and discard all but the very obvious. It all takes time which is hard to carve out when one is busy. I'm very glad to hear you are recovering well!

Joanne Huffman said...

I can definitely see a difference. I'm still working on my studio (and my office/study and the dining room and the deck...). Don't hurry your recovery.

Red Rose Alley said...

You have done a lot, Jeanie. I can tell by the before and after photos. Isn't it nice to be more organized? It's good to give some things away that we don't ever use any more. I like how your pens and brushes and art supplies are in order and you can get to them more easily. I always like to see the computers that my blog friends use when blogging. It looks like you have a laptop?

You've done a great job, and it always feels good when we are finished with a project like this.

~Sheri

Valerie-Jael said...

What a lovely crafty space, well done on tidying some things. My space is much smaller, but also much untidier, so don't worry! Don't overdo things, will you? Hugs, Valerie

Mae Travels said...

Impressive!!
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

No need to be embarrassed. EVERYONE has some spot in their lives where chaos resides. I acknowledge that my desk will not be neat and tidy until I retire. I'll bet you feel good after organizing and getting rid of some stuff, though. Take it easy, Jeanie. We want you all healed up. -Jenn

Deb said...

I like your studio. And, all those sweet photos here and there make it look like a very loved personal space. :)

Laura said...

You are on a roll! And how impressive.
I look forward to organizing things when we have a house.
Thank you for visiting my blog and giving me such words of encouragement.

Laura
White Spray Paint

Victoria Zigler said...

Glad you're doing well post surgery, and making good progress with getting things cleared and organized.

Anonymous said...

Hey there! Glad to see you're doing well post surgery! You have so many art goodies in that room !! Organizing things is always a pain in the behind for me so I completely feel you... but in the end you feel so accomplished when everything is sorted out! Great job :-) Take care!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dearest Jeanie, hello! I think the season beckons all of us to declutter our homes and our minds so that we can better appreciate the freedom of spring and summer months. I did the same thing with my bedroom that seems to be the catch-all, since it's hidden UPSTAIRS! But things are getting in place.

Enjoy and take a deep breath and enjoy!

La Table De Nana said...

Desn't it feel good?:)

Jeanie..sent you some personal emails..no answer..and you have been added as a contact..not sure what more can be done.

Silver in AZ said...

wow, I'm so OCD (and Virgo to boot), that it was very hard for me to even look at those photos. I have one container of extra purses sitting in my office, and it's driving me crazy. I personally just couldn't handle all of that. Not putting you down at all; it's served you well; just my OCD couldn't personally tolerate it. ;)

La Table De Nana said...

Just saw the comment on my blog..NOTHING by email..just on the blog.

Sandra Cox said...

Now that you've organized your place, feel free to come to mine. Grin.

Little Wandering Wren said...

Way to go, that is making good use of your recovery time at home. I am trying to declutter and be tidier myself in my study but I'm not naturally very good at it!
Wren x

Linda Jo said...

Love posts like this! It is good to know it's not JUST ME! And, yes, why do we have so many pencil cups? I can't part with any of them!!! I wanted to mention that Mary Ann Moss at Dispatch from LA is having a new class soon to use up all our scraps. I'm seriously considering it. Better to sew them all together than leave them as is, right? Glad you are doing well!

Marilyn Miller said...

Loved seeing your creative room. Now I know I am not the only one that sometimes gets out of control. I keep thinking why do I need so many shelves in one room. Ha! And then there are the shelves in the basement too. Oh inspiration all around you, including the books were fun to see. I also have a pile of inspiration books too. Thanks for sharing and also healing as you cleaned.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Enjoyed your post. If things aren't put away immediately after use, they soon get unruly and out of control. I have such a small craft space, if I don't put things back where I found them each time, I'd go crazy. I like that you aren't afraid to share the process. It's a great post, and, unlike Rick, I can definitely see the changes you made. Good for you. I actually envy you having all the things you have.

Red Rose Alley said...

Jeanie, thanks for your sweet comment. People often asked me "why don't you cut your long hair?" But they didn't realize that if I did that, it would balloon out cause I had curly, frizzy hair. I've heard of people using orange juice cans to straighten their hair haha. Oh, the things we do. But, as I get older, I just wash it and go, as you said. : )

Pam said...

OH my gosh..I so understand how being an artist can take over your life....room I mean! HAHA....I have always been a crafter, since my teen yrs. It started with simple embroidery projects, needlepoint, rug hooking, and it went from there. My biggest issue is that I have no set craft or art! I draw, I paint with both acrylics and oils, I am thinking of trying watercolors next. I have more beads then a small bead store. I do my photography. I still do cross stitch although I am now thinking of trying my hand at macramé again! lol....then lets not mention the woodwork! haha....I can relate. DO NOT GET IN THERE AND OVERDO it. Like me, I tend to go wild after surgery and then I pay. Take care.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

You did a lot in there! I've been working on my space also. The first pass still leaves me with lots of stuff but I'll tackle it soon. I need to make a decision about all my scrap-booking items. I think I have to admit to myself I won't be doing anymore and just try to sell or donate all of the pages, papers, cutting system and punches I have. I loved doing it when I did, but it's been years since I touched any of it. Hard to let go.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Well congratulations on your hard work! But I'm sure you know how brilliant and creative people always nesty corners everywhere! Haha! Never enough space!

Pom Pom said...

Good work! You did so much! I know what you mean when you ask, "How many pencil cups does one need?" I have way too many.

My name is Erika. said...

Congrats Jeanie! You done a really good job picking up and sorting.I find purging difficult for 2 reasons. One, I like all my assorted stuff and even if I have Sharpies, pencils, colored pencils, water color markers, etc...I will use them all. Or so I believe. And 2, sometimes I get rid of things and then want them. It had happened that I had to rebuy something I got rid of. But my project this year is to continue some purging. I bet it feels good to go through everything and pick up. :) Now you can play and make another mess. Ha-ha-Hugs-Erika

shoreacres said...

You have made a lot of progress! It's still beyond what I could live with, but of course your projects are quite different from mine, and require scads of supplies. I can put words and photos on the computer, where they're nicely out of sight -- you? Not so much.

I'm glad to read that you're being a little cautious, too. When you're back at full strength, some of the things you can't do now will still be there, and you can continue on with your project. But your health comes first right now.



Lynne said...

I get lost in it all when I get into my "purge" mode.
All the saved things hold so many memories I hesitate to toss , get rid of.
Lois like you have made some good headway Jeanie . . .

Lynne said...

Correction . . .
Looks

Tracy said...

So VERY glad you are doing well there, Jeanie! And in some energy to do all the tidy up. That is a proper craft room you have--I love it! And you know, I think a certain amount of "organized chaos" is what happens for creative folks while working... or not, or just dreaming the next project. ;) I think we have to relax a little sometimes with what we have, and what we can do. Though a good clear out is helpful from time to time. Half the battle is to keep the tidy in check, isn't it?! I think you've done a great job it making it easier for yourself to get creating again when you're feeling more fit. Here's to you're feeling better, and onward and upward! :))) ((HUGS))

Barbara said...

I am so glad you are feeling better. Tackling these clean-up jobs is huge. My basement is my biggest problem. My daughter is going to help me with it. I will then be able to move some stuff from the office to shelves in the basement. Good for you, Jeanie, for sharing. This is a problem that so many of us have. You have inspired me

Barbara said...

I am so glad you are feeling better. Tackling these clean-up jobs is huge. My basement is my biggest problem. My daughter is going to help me with it. I will then be able to move some stuff from the office to shelves in the basement. Good for you, Jeanie, for sharing. This is a problem that so many of us have. You have inspired me

carol@The Red Painted Cottage said...

I weed things out and organize my studio and if I'm lucky, it stays like that for a few days or a couple of weeks and then it's back to being messy again. And so the cycle continues...

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jeanie, good job! Sometimes these things take a few passes, getting more ruthless each time. Glad you're recuperating from all the slicing and dicing!

Sally Wessely said...

I see all of the before pics and I see a very productive and creative person. I think the most creative among us are the ones least interested in order. I think one must be free to make messes in order to create.

I am impressed that you have done all that you did, but honestly, until a "mess" starts to mess with your ability to keep on messing, I think you shouldn't mess with it.

Hugs.

Eilis@MyHeartLivesHere said...

I would have used the surgery as an excuse NOT to tidy up! Double congrats on everything going well AND your organizing efforts. I was forced to sort through piles of paperwork a few days ago because I needed to find a receipt. It sure felt good after it was done :)

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

No embarrassment cute friend, it is life! :) I have not been in my craft room since Christmas. These estate sales have taken up mounds of my time. I Have some Christmas odds and ends sitting out that need to be reorganized and put away. I think you tackled a big task and did a great job! I have a lot of paper that is old and out of date. I need to go through it and donate it as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

Sandra Cox said...

Hope you're having a great weekend, Jeanie.

Cindy said...

Looks like great progress, and reminded me that my desk needs organized as well.

roughterrain crane said...

I hope you are enjoying the wonderful Sunday.

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

Well done, Jeanie! You have accomplished a lot and I can definitely see the difference in the before/after photos! I bet it felt good to get things a bit more organized. You have to be in the right state of mind to really get rid of things but what you did a good first step. And now you can enjoy the summer knowing you brought more order to your work space (because summer is not the time for these projects, as we both know, since our summers are kind of short!)

I hope you are fully recovered from the surgery!!

Vagabonde said...

Thank you so much for coming to my blog. I am trying to go to at least 2 friends’ blog every day, but it is slow. I really enjoyed your post on blooms in Paris – you had some stunning pictures. I also appreciate that you enjoy my country so much and show its beauty. I was worried that the extremist Marine LePen would win but was reassured that the French did not go for the extreme right party as they did here (and it helped that she copied Trump not realizing that 82% of French people immensely dislike him!) Yesterday by chance I read a couple of very right-wing blogs and could not believe the erroneous information they conveyed; of course they said they had seen it on Fox News and another said that she based her post on Sean Hannity’s research – so that explains it. You may recall the Forbes report last year that reported “Fox News viewers scored the lowest of over 30 popular news sources” in accurate news knowledge. I read several places that many the extreme Right believe that Trump getting out of the Paris Climate Accord was a win for the Right. Really? We are all of us on this planet, and it affects us all, and we should save it regardless of ideology, don’t you think?
I am pleased that you felt well enough to tidy the room on this post. You are courageous to show us your area – but then, it is not that bad. My rooms are way worse and I have 8 of them to keep clearing out for the move. You have been busy, but don’t overdo it – take care of yourself and take time to just do nothing, as this is important too.

HoneyBeeHelps said...

Well that was inspirational ! I'm so glad to see your still here blogging my friend !
I got locked out of my old blog years back , grr , and moved on to Instagram .
Missed all my old buddies so now that I'm blogging a bit again popped in to say " Hello" .
Hope you remember me. Hugs , Willow

Red Rose Alley said...

Jeanie, Yes, I saw the two parts of the painting, and I wondered about that. Thanks for explaining it. How wonderful that you saw this painting in person. Would love to have seen all the Norman Rockwell paintings like you did. It sounds fascinating and very interesting.

Many happy days to you in June, Jeanie.

~Sheri

Danielle L Zecher said...

It looks like you definitely made some progress. It always me how quickly things can accumulate. I hope you're doing well.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I'm glad you are healing and doing well my friend. And oh how I would have loved to help you organize. Sometimes I had rather do that than craft! haha! Of course I would have made off with some of your supplies...I can not tell a lie! lol I think the most fun is finding things you've forgotten you had. And getting ideas! Glad I'm not the only one with a rat's nest under her desk! HUGS!!!

Sandra Cox said...

I just noticed your baby sitting in the first picture!:)
How are you feeling, Jeanie?

Mary K. said...

Jeanie bravo for you. As you know I too am sorting out my messes and decluttering a lot. So I commend you on your work. It looks so much more organized. And to the undiscerning eye it would not look like much but I can tell that the piles are smaller and neater. And what is up with those pencil holders anyway? They seem to multiply every time we leave the room!

doodletllc@yahoo.com said...

Excellent job...lightening the load always brings in fresh new air and ideas...freeing and uplifting...a good have-to-stay-at-home project. Glad you're feeling better. :)

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