Organization, Dis
The fine art of being able to find that thing
Since plans changed, because life, the way it do… you. I opted to sink my energy into projects, rather than lament the shrinking world I live in. One of those was a final touch in the kitchen, of which more later. I do try to make these life-lesson essays entertaining for you all. Because if not, well, lighting is boring? I don’t think so, but it is my house.
The other project? I finally have an art studio. It’s all mine! well, except when it’s being used as a guest bedroom, and then it’s lovely to have a visitor so it’s still bringing joy. I have slowly been carrying all the things in there I think should live in my art studio: photography equipment, art supplies (of course), sewing doodads, all the books relating to those topics, my herbarium, the art computer…
It’s very full now. I can’t find anything, and I am a little overwhelmed by the totality of it. I know the best solution is likely to pull everything off shelves and put it back sorted by… something.
I made the mistake of poking at youtube for videos of people setting up or organizing their art spaces. Um. Not all of them were ‘spend thousands of dollars so it looks fantastic on video!’ but many were. The remaining ones were interesting, so personal it felt like intruding on their most intimate space, and completely useless for my space.
Which is, of course, the point. This is mine. I may be feeling weirdly detached from it, after a lifetime of grabbing a spot where I could work - having a desk, usually, overflowing with the detritus of life - but rarely having the privilege of creating my own space. Not since I was a teenager and briefly had a room all to myself. I have the ability to set this space up however I like, so long as I leave room for the guest bed to be set up when needed (it lives in the closet at other times). On the unseen side of the room is my treadmill (big beast, but sturdy), a comfy chair, and my sewing machine in it’s cabinet. There is a little room in the closet not occupied with beds (yes, plural, since I keep a supplemental mattress for the pull-out couch, and wound up with my son’s full-sized mattress when he enlisted and I don’t know why I am keeping that but I am because it’s almost new I guess).
Now, I just need to make sense of it all. I’ve already stashed the book binding supplies in a box in the closet, because I had a whim and haven’t even started playing with that. I’m eyeing the chainmaille gear - and there is a lot of it - and wondering if my eyes will stand up to that any longer even with Progressive lenses in my glasses. And do I want to try pour art again? That was fun, but messy. Not an inside project. Still…
Argh. So many possibilities, so little time! A while back I had started, in a way, by trying to use up art supplies. I’ve found a number of things that were empty, dried up, or broken and I could toss, which was a good start. I suspect, knowing much of my art stuff hasn’t been touched since Ohio, there will be a lot more of that.
I don’t have the time to hyperfocus on this, much as I have the urge to, so I need to figure out how to break it into bite-sized tasks and nibble away at it over the next few weeks. That’s actually harder for me to do. I lose focus far too easily and wander off into the next big project. Like, with fall coming, and rain… the garden.
I do have some time confined to the house by the heat, though. I’ll use that best I can to sort this space out and claim it fully for my own retreat. Somehow!
I meant for this to be a musing on why we can sometimes feel out of place in our own homes, even in the spaces like my art room which are wholly our own. It’s already too long, so I’ll come back to that soon. Have you ever felt that way? Why do you think it was, and what did you do to overcome it?
Cat tax! Toast managed to get into the closet with all the beds in it, and claimed it for her own.
I am with you on getting partially organized, with things put away, sort of, but not yet organized.
Finishing things is still a problem.
Our office / guest room / art room / sewing room works as a guest room, but the desk still needs digging out. :-)
About hobbies, at least the knowledge and skill sets pack small. :-)
How do you have lots of stuff for chain maille?
My stuff fits in a shoe box, except for the 16 ga stainless TIG wire.
John in Indy
This statement really struck me: "I meant for this to be a musing on why we can sometimes feel out of place in our own homes, even in the spaces like my art room which are wholly our own."
My 'office' is in our big, open attic, which is really more of a play room for the kids when they're not at school. I have a couple bookshelves and about a 8X10 space with my desk and other stuff. The remainder of the room is mostly covered in toys, legos, and other kid paraphernalia that completely overwhelms me sometimes. I end up abandoning my office and working on the front porch when it's nice outside. I know that one day we won't have all of that kid stuff cluttering up the house, and I'm half afraid that when that day comes I'm going to miss it so much I'm going to be just as distracted. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!