Back to the Clutter

Yes. I might enjoy PAPER a little too much. Paper equals Potential. Ideas. Images. Hope. Plans. Other peoples' ideas, hopes, plans. 

So.....  although a sheet of paper is of little monetary value in itself, it's value in other ways is tremendous. Therefore, shelves full of paper might be unwritten biographies or not-yet-designed rocket ships. I only joke a little.

After twenty-plus years of cramming stuff into a particular "linen" closet. Linens? "It is to laugh." Yes, a few - but mostly paper - and some.... of the record albums I might be keeping... for reasons.Yes, I actually have a turn-table and DO play records. But most often from other portions of the collection.... I digress.

So, as it is on the Goals for Week List - it's time to set the timer for one hour - and FOCUS on accomplishing Something. Here goes- 

Stuffed with stuff. But timer is running and on to the sorting!

Dotted papers, tissue papers. used part fair comment books, tiny notebooks, onion papers, un-used sketchbooks, a full-sized iron! Shipping envelopes and boxes. So many partially used legal pads.

Using the hallway floor, I put things into "like" piles. 

Put packing materials into new packing section in Studio B. But iron in a safer spot in house. Yes, It had been balancing on things irons should not be balancing on. Put some items aside for Little Free Libraries. But some things in spaces better suited for their eventual use. They WILL be used.

Timer went off every twenty minutes. I could see Progress with every break. And though the whole closet would not be finished that day it ended up in much better, and useful shape than it had started. Amazingly, there are two EMPTY SPACES in a shelving area. What Magick is this?? Cleaning Magick!

All the similar papers are grouped together now. I know where particular large envelopes are, and how many we have! I didn't find any particular Treasures, but I know where recent Art Fair Comments notebooks are. No, I DON'T know what will happen to those two empty horizontal spaces. There is a bit of Joy in this! The box of picture-hanging wire will stay as is - because it is handy having it there. But many things have moved on - whether into trash, or simply other areas of the house better suited to their being stored. Yes, I know where they are.

Anyway, that Goal box in the notebook has been checked off. Next week will hold another. Baby steps are starting to pay off.

Best of luck with YOUR Challenges and Goals!
Gardening Goals are next!

But first - a jazz album or two.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Keeping On -

Not that it matters much, but as February comes to an end, I am a little bit proud that the cleaned and organized spaces here have, for the most part, remained clean and organized.

The studio table that was completely covered with art supply clutter  is now covered with a large sheet of printing paper - a pastel piece in progress. And two other sheets waiting their turns.

The spaces on the kitchen work desk are pretty much as they were at the end of January. The wooden box of stuff still needs work but the main surface is all useable. And the shelves are still good. Yes, a drawer that shall not be named will be attacked some time  in coming months, but as it is mostly filled with older journals, calendars, and DIRECTIONS to places, I feel it is not so much cluttered as simply full.

I am hoping this bodes well for the rest of 2018. A lesson learned is Look at the surfaces and spaces every day. I forgot to do this and last week had to set the timer for twenty minutes of Put Things Back Where They Belong. But that was all the time it took. And now the coming week can be put to other uses.

Here is a little peek at a bit of "real" art and a month-long attempt at getting a model horse painted for NaMoPaiMo - National Model Painting Month. 

Yes, the cross-hatched bunny is again vertical. I simply needed a something for the background. Art Bunny to the rescue!!

It truly feels good to be motivated to create some things of beauty again. The brain took a much too long "vacation" from caring about things like that. Now to see how long the "CREATE STUFF!!" hangs around.

Having just cleaned the driveway and roof of the recent six-inch snowfall we are not looking forward to a larger dumping forecast to start later today. But there is a celery plant rooting, and sunlight feels warmer on those days we see the sun.

May the day treat you kindly. Dare to goof off in the manner of your choosing? (Do it... It'll be Fun.)

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Desk - Part the First

What seems to be working best here in the Battle for A Neater Home is to do stuff early and often.

I have a particular notebook that I designed for a week's worth of particular doings. With daily areas, Goals for Week space, and another simply titled Notes.

Lots of little boxes to fill in - I have to have my little spots for baby steps. Most often twenty minute attempts - brave or otherwise.

This morning's Desk Meeting lasted three twenty mintue squares. Two in a row, a short break for breakfast, and another right after.

A large area on the top of shelves is now very much "better." The box with art fair application information makes sense. Some things from the box have been moved to better places for their purposes. Some things were tossed in recycling box! Memories, good and bad, were re-discovered.

Now I feel more certain I won't miss the number of art fair applications I missed this past year - a few by one day! The master list for applications was been blocked out, as well as anaother sheet of paper for other possible events for which to apply. It is good to mix up events from time to time - new shows might add new fans to one's work. One never knows what jurors will decide, though, and some shows remain favorites through the years. Applying to art fairs is almost the only way I gamble...

Also worked on is a small wooden box on the left-hand side of the desk. Papers thought to be "important" go there. And then lie ignored - sometimes for years. Again, some sheets get tossed, and others get re-filed (so to speak). All of the single pieces I touched are now no longer in this box. More baby steps. Many more memories.

Now I am back in Studio B for an hour of dealing with greeting cards. Most of them are under control, but there are always a few that escape, and must be rounded up and put back in their proper numbered boxes. No, they don't escape on their own. Yes, it takes longer to put them back than to take them out...

It's time to quit typing, and start listening to the Golden State Warriors battle the Cleveland Cavaliers. This Packer fan actually enjoyed watching Vikings fan husband go slightly crazy after that most unlikely post-season victory by "his" team. Listening to sports  on the radio is just enough unreal reality for the brain to relax and focus and almost enjoy working at mundane tasks. Yes, I know. Multi-millionaires moving balls to other places, and other multi-millionaires trying to stall their progress.

As Kurt V. wrote: "So it goes."

Fare-thee-well,
and today a pal inspired me to attempt some different artwork - 
now to do the doing!

Sue

January Personal Challenge - Finish 30 Things

If you can start a something and, more often than not,  see it through to completion I salute you.

I am, like so many others, a Starter. Of many things. Paintings and other art doings, various projects, books, piles. So many Starts. So few Finishes.

This January's personal Challenge: Complete 30 Starts. Stuff that was started in 2015. Or.... long before.

Where shall I start? On the work desk, of course. Why? Because, once again, there is no place to work. This is an In/Out Box. No, not one of those new-fangled sheets for learning Math. Hiding is a vintage wooden box for use in holding stuff coming in or stuff going out. Problem is it comes in and stays in. Here was status earlier in the day:

What box??? Certainly you can spot that lower left-hand corner. No? Well, there are a few things piling up on the helpful office aid.

Time to set that kitchen timer, start sorting, and see what happens.

What happened? I probably stopped and heated up the tea kettle. That is quite the sobering stack. But a Challenge is a Challenge. It's only paper. Lots and lots and lots of paper....

Important papers: art fair applications, good finished drawings, useful articles long ignored. Notes about the passings of close friends and family? Yes, in this pile. Numerous quick sketches for greeting cards? MANY. Sort sort. Put in proper places and binders.

Unimportant papers: grocery lists, long-out-dated "to do" notes on torn envelopes. A newspaper column concerning a tennis match now two years done. Into the trash - yes.

The stuff in between: greeting cards from friends and family. More articles. Directions to places. Possible places to sell bears. Decisions to be made. Keep? Toss? Decisions MADE.

So many bits and pieces - carry on, carry on. Discoveries of hidden quotes - write words in quote notebook and toss away those little piece of papers. That plastic bag filled with possible pages for next book. Oh, so this is where it'd been "hiding." No excuse now to get on with THAT project. A small unused red napkin? Well surely there was a reason.

After a good part of the morning - and  two or three more cups of tea - ta da!

                               The Miracle of The Empty Box!!!!!!!!

Yes, soon it will hold other papers, but not those from '15 and before. Now it is a tool again, and I must be diligent in its use. Before it hindered (not through fault of its own!), now it can help.

One Thing Finished. 
Twenty-nine to go. 

I feel a wee tad accomplished.

A New Year. A New Challenge. On to the options that both hold.

I don't have a clean slate, but the desk has a clean spot.

Life is one day better. Whew.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

www.suerowe.com
Facebook Page: Sue-Rowe-Studios

Another Attempt at A New Year

Happy January 1, 2013!
 Yup. We've made it to a new morning, and with luck, we'll make it to the next and next.

Watching The Rose Parade for a few minutes. In younger days the HORSES were what I waited for, and they were the groups that seemed to usher in every commercial break. Sigh. Now, as a gardener I pay attention a bit more to the vegetation.

This past year held a new sort of artful fun. My friend, Karen, joined the Facebook group Art Abandonment, and so I followed her lead.

As it says in one of their tags - "Art Abandonment is a group designed to encourage random acts of art, left in various locations around the globe."

Today I left a greeting card at the local McDonalds. One has to give up caring about the outcome of the deed and just go ahead and do. It's fun to sneak something somewhere in hopes of making someone smile or laugh or know that "You CAN get something for nothing." And we abandoners get the joy of giving a tiny bit back to this great big tiny world.

Here's an example of another recent leaving. Some folks leave birdhouses in trees. Some folks leave comforting goodies in hospitals. There are no particular rules. I've sent things to friends to leave where-ever they choose. It's fun to share the adventure!

So, on to this day, week, month, and year. This is the first year in for-ever that "lose weight" is not a goal, but "try to get a correct diagnosis" is. Some things are more organized; others still need work. Want to get more artistic work done in the studio, as well as cull images used for cards and magnets. It's tough to say "toodle-loo" to some oldies but we have to make room for new possibilities. And of course the "culls" will still be useful as beauties to be abandoned! Win win?

I still want to encourage you all to do something you love doing, and perhaps find joy in a new adventure. A banjo is sitting in the bedroom wanting to be strummed. I will be brave in the attempt - ha!
If you USED to like to draw or write or paint or sing - this is the year to start doing it again.

So, this is it for the first post of the new year. If you'd like to join in the Art Abandonment adventure check out: www.facebook.com/groups/ArtAbandonment/

See ya there?
Fare-thee-well,
Sue