Destruction/Construction
July 4th, 2007
I spent most of yesterday digging through my studio space, moving furniture to make room for a new scanner, and throwing away loads of trash. I've been avoiding this job, but it had to be done. A studio space outside the house hasn't yet worked out, so I decided to let that go for now (it'll show up when it's right) and fix up the space that I have right now. I'm so grateful to have this space in our apartment. The room I have now, is a decent size, it's main fault being that it is the holding space for many different things such as files for business, all my life files (health insurance, car insurance, warranties, tax info, the cats' veterinary stuff and so on), rubbermaid containers of old journals and stationery, a big bookshelf full of books, photo albums and all sorts of paraphenalia, my nicer clothing (dresses and formal stuff for the obligatory events), my shoes (not a very big collection, but enough to take up space), desk with computer and printer, my sewing machine, and then there's all my art stuff...finished and unfinished art, full portfolios, art in frames, art on the walls, art supplies in boxes and rolling plastic carts, and an easel. Pack this all into a 10'x10' space and there isn't a lot of room left. But with some arranging and purging yesterday and some more to come, I know I'll have the space in enough working order to work in, which is very good. Plus, there's something very satisfying about a newly reconfigured, organized space. It's a good feeling. I'm only half-way there and I already feel a good bit of that satisfaction.
I've been at a loss lately as to where to keep my lists and calendar info. I have a nifty calendar thing on my computer, but for me it's out of sight, out of mind, and I forget to look at it. Plus, I like being able to physically write on a calendar, to doodle and play in the margins. For a long time, I used a sketchbook as an all-in-one organizer. It was my journal for morning pages, keeper of to-do lists, and sketchbook for ideas and inspiration, plus there were great little pockets to keep bits of paper, postcards, or whatever I came upon and wanted to hold onto for later. I haven't been using my sketchbooks for this in quite awhile, they've only been used as places to draw and doodle, and my to-do lists have been spreading all over the place from my mini-calendar and moleskin that I keep in my purse to my computer calendar to the little sketchbook I keep by my bed, to the bigger sketchbook, to scraps of paper. As you can imagine, this isn't the most efficient process. I need more organization in my life.
All this was rolling around in my brain when I came upon Mindy's fabulous post about her homemade life book. She put together a binder with a calendar that suits her needs with loads of space for catching inspirations. I love, love, love this idea and perhaps I'll try and put something like this together. I don't know what it is, but my mind doesn't think three dimensionally. I can't see spaces put together (which shows in my lack of interior design sense in my own home. It's rather frightening.) And this leaks over into how I organize things. I can't see in my mind how to arrange things. I need to see a layout. I can't picture how things will go together. Another example of this: I took wheel throwing in college and was so hopelessly bad at it. (I still loved it, but I made the ugliest teapot known to man.) So, for things like this, I really need to lean on those organizational innovators like Mindy to get inspiration from. So, thank you to Mindy and all the great 3-D designers for helping me out! Later, I saw a similar type of binder, this one for organizing fabrics, at "Cut Out and Paste" which reminded me of Mindy's binder a bit, but more specialized. Very cool. I've got some more organizing and mailing out of art to do tomorrow and then we're off to a wedding in Colorado (Boulder and Denver) for one of the fiansor's childhood friends. This summer has been full of so many fun adventures and I'm looking forward to traveling to a new place.
p.s. Ladders is up for sale on my website now (update: It has sold. Thank you!), Wind in Her Hair has already sold, and I should have prints of both available next week. The above kitty helpers are Emma and Tabbers. 
Happy 4th!!
13 Responses
have you read jennifer louden’s “the life organizer”? it might give you some more ideas to meet your organizational needs….those cat pics are too cute!!
Posted by: ruby | Jul 4, 2007 at 7:49 pm |
I’m big on organising spaces and decluttering – I found Feng Shui and ever since I’m all about positive energy, so I understand what you mean when you talk about that great feeling you get after purging all your ’stuff’. Those sweet kitties look like they enjoyed every minute of tidying up!
Posted by: Patti | Jul 4, 2007 at 8:37 pm |
I’m in this mode too right now, trying to carve out an art space within the office and various other pieces of furniture sitting in this space. I keep waiting for my husband to hang a shelf and that’s when I think I’ll be ready to organize, feh. Thank you for the inspiration. xo
Posted by: kristen | Jul 5, 2007 at 7:48 am |
I have an organizational binder that I keep everything in. I have a section that is this month’s calendar (printed from my computer) with all appointments on it. I have a schedule of my seizure medication so I won’t get it wrong (guaranteed if I didn’t have it written out!) I have a list of swaps that I participate in… a calendar with all the birthdays I want to remember on it… pockets to tuck things I want to remember (or put into my journal at some point)… a zippered envelope for reminder cards, notes I’ve jotted down and need to keep in one place, etc… a training schedule for the walk I’m going to do… to-do lists… extra paper… my 101/1001 list so that I can see it at a glance… etc.
I love it. It really works for me and I had fun compiling it too. Great idea!
Posted by: Karen Beth | Jul 5, 2007 at 10:00 am |
I would love to offer my no nonsense organizer idea, but I have none. And I recognize that movement from books to scraps of paper to things that go bump in the middle of the night and there you are wide awake knowing that there’s something that needs doing.
Congratulations on your sales! Things are generally just flying out the door for you! Well deserved!
Posted by: tammy vitale | Jul 5, 2007 at 3:48 pm |
I try to organize my space and it’s always me working against the law of entropy…it can be quite exhausting, but an organized space gives me an organized mind (or perhaps it’s the other way around?). Good luck in getting it all done
Also, enjoy Boulder and Denver. I lived there for almost four years before moving to East Providence and there are so many wonderful things there that I miss. Enjoy!
Posted by: Melissa | Jul 5, 2007 at 5:15 pm |
a binder sounds like a marvellous idea – i carry journals -
but a binder would be even better -
I had a peek at ladders and it is so gorgeous – you remind of
arthur rackam for some reason – the gothic and fairy tale and
layers and sheer exhuberance…
Posted by: madelyn Mulvaney | Jul 5, 2007 at 9:31 pm |
Your cats are so adorable! I can completely understand your need to have a paper organizer. I tried for a year to use a PDA and it just did not work for me. I ended up having post it notes all over the place with my schedules, to do lists, etc… so I finally decided to go back to a paper organizer. For me, there is something about the physical act of writing something down that makes it “real” for me. Good luck with the life book! I may have to follow your lead and create one for myself.
Posted by: Pilar | Jul 6, 2007 at 1:00 am |
I am pretty sure I need a homemade life book!!!
Inspiration at the finger tips.
I have planned a much needed major cleaning day NEXT saturday. I used to clean thoroughly every weekend and realized how crazy that was. Boy, does my place need it though.
Love the cats photos..they are such super helpers in their own ways!
p.s. FABULOUS shoes!!!!!
Posted by: Tori | Jul 6, 2007 at 10:40 pm |
TEE-HEE…well at least your baby is enjoying the cleanup! You’ll be so happy when it’s done, it was one of the best things that I did for my little wee studio space! (of course it’s getting out of control again…AH WELL!)
I LOVE the last 2 paintings, I really like “Home Field”….I love the colors and the house in the background!
NOW….I am still planning a get together!!! I have to skip my Oregon trip in August…(SUPER bummed about this, but I need a new car like NOW). The one positive from this, is that I feel like we have more choices for scheduling for a retreat here!!!!!!!! Now that I am back from vaca., and feeling like my old self again, I will take a good long, hard look at the calender!! WOOT! I hope we can pull this off!
ALSO…if you and the Man want a cheap weekend away, COME TO MAINE! Jon will take him fishing, and you and I can kayak and antique! (always keep that in mind!)
WOW, I’m a true-blue blabber-mouth today…I’ve got to get to work!
xoxoxox
Posted by: jes | Jul 7, 2007 at 7:16 am |
Such cute kitties! Aah, and the good old beast called “organization”! Isn’t it funny how we DO feel better for decluttering and putting things into order? My space looks very organized from the outside, but it isn’t really, and your post reminds me of what I want to get accomplished during the remainder of my summer break: get organized in my closet and office. My main problem is deciding on HOW to order things and what categories to apply; as so often I overthink this process instead of just getting started. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Kerstin | Jul 7, 2007 at 6:20 pm |
Holy taledo, chica! Are we on the same page, or what?! Wow–just think, we were practically cleaning out our studio spaces at the same time! Oh, I love it. Here’s to artful cleansing.
lots of love to you!
j.
Posted by: Jessie | Jul 10, 2007 at 12:13 am |
Hi Leah,
I can relate to Destruction Construction! A great title..I’ll be beginning mine tomorrow..and this I think will keep me focused (I’ll let you know). And..I just love your kitty…so very cute; and I love how they just cozy up into little nooks and crannies. I’d like you to meet my kitty, his name is Ike, and you can meet him here:
http://cherylsjewels.blogspot.com/2007/01/mango-kitty.html
- and here:
http://acapellasouljourney.blogspot.com/2006/04/what-ike-my-kitty-teaches-me.html
Also, thanks to you and everyone for the ideas on keeping the daily/monthly/yearly projects, to-dos, notes together. Being a commuter,keeping all mine in one big book gets to be like a heavy brick so I have to carry separate things…right now my Franklin Covey pocket-size planner works…and for daily to-dos and notes..I use a steno pad which I plan to collage the cover very soon! This organizing thing is ever-evolving.. just like us, huh?
Have a delightful day…and again…I love the idea of Destruction-Construction…I’ll let you know how it goes!
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl Finley | Jul 12, 2007 at 4:58 pm |