Sunday, January 02, 2011

Grounded ~

Can you guess what this is...if you guessed a crying shame you'd be right
~ it's also my studio!


No wonder I find myself creating in my wonderful, serene, and clean dining room it's more my studio than the above spot, but I have to haul everything downstairs and pack it all up again - it's not really working - nothing gets put back in it's place - this is when things started getting out of control. Hopefully exposing my dirty little secret, I'll be shamed into taking action - there's only so many times I can close the door on this mess...not to mention I cannot find things!

There was an attempt about a year ago to get organized...really, but I have a problem - I keep buying more treasures and my organization systems haven't kept up. I know, it's hard to believe I could call them "treasures" when I'm treating them this way! Did I mention that I can't find things (aka treasures,) I know they're in there, somewhere...

Everything in their place makes for a happy space, right? That would do my heart good right about now! I guess I've just given myself a little intervention, and you are all witness', no more denial...things have become unmanageable...I'm not one for New Years resolutions, but with deadlines coming up this is priority #1

So I'm officially grounded until I clean up this big mess!

Alright, I'm setting the timer for one hour and I'm heading in - that's a start! I'm not sure when, but I will post a spiffied up space soon...

xo Heidi

17 comments:

Birds of a Feather said...

...sadly this is NOT the worst of it. This is just the little hallway that leads to my "studio," on either side of the room are piles of "tresures," and the island (seen in the distance) is piled with even more treasures ~ eeek!

Unknown said...

Heidi,

Please know you are not alone!!!! I have a lovely room to craft in and over Christmas I could barely WALK in the room! Needless to say nothing got made....I have now cleaned up both desks and started with Valentines.....one step at a time girlfriend....one step at a time. :)

paperbird said...

we are two peas in a pod but heidi i think i could top your disorganization- seriously i can barely walk in my room- i think i could be on that show hoarders!

guess what i am doing tomorrow!!!!!

Diane Mars said...

Good luck Heidi I know it is always difficult to create and keep things tidy at the same time! I keep trying. I have a lot to straighten out in my garage. I just put all Christmas out there and I MUST get it cleaned up. But then I tripped on the front porch and ouch right on my bad knee. So... that is slowing down the pick-up and tote to attic project. Happy New Year! Hugs, Diane

Mary Anne Komar said...

Just take lots of breaks, sip a hot chocolate, some beautiful music, and start! Even 5 minutes or less, so not to get overwhelmed!
And is there any way to make it fun? And in the past what worked for you? Perhaps phoneing a good friend with a project that she has put off. You could set the timer for so many minutes, check in, chat a bit and continue, hope this might help!

Tristan Robin said...

I just went through the same thing. The only difference is that I'm very good at "hiding" all the mess, and camouflaging some of the overflow as "atmosphere" LOL.

Before I put up the Christmas decorations this year, I did a HUGE clear up, clean out, and purge. I sold a lot of stuff on eBay (like approximately 300 rubber stamps, leaving me with STILL more rubber stamps than I need - considering I DO NOT rubber stamp!), gave some away, and filled up garbage bag after garbage bag with gesso jars only 1/10th full, paint jars with two swabs of paint left, etc. And paper. I threw away so much paper!!!

The good part of this is when I get back in the studio - either tomorrow or Wednesday - it's going to be wonderful!

Birds of a Feather said...

Oh my, thanks guys - glad I'm not alone (somehow I knew there were others out there just like me!)

I'm very happy to say that you can now see the floor and there is a clear path - progress! My hubby came home a bit ago:

Hubby: What are you doing!?
Me: I can't take another minute of this mess...I know I'm messy!
Hubby: You're not messy, you're just being creative - I think the real problem is you've outgrown this little room.
Me: (he's a keeper!)

Alrighty, lunch break is over - now off to find a home for all the stuff that currently has no home.

xo Heidi

Terri said...

Yea for you Heidi! "Progress not perfection" is what Stuart Smalley would say!
I just did a major clean up myself, I get feeling the same way you do. It is hard to feel creative when my art room is a total disaster! I needed to video a new tutorial and so I had to clean it! It feels so much better.
My husband created a beautiful wall unit for me last year and it has really helped, only I seem to have already grown out of it too.
So I have decided, if I bring something in....something must go out! Keeping my fingers crossed I can do this.

Hugs to you,
Good wishes on your continued clean out and organizing.
Terri

Alison Gibbs said...

Oh Heidi I think we are all the same. Getting organised through not just my creative space but my whole house is my aim this year. Setting a timer for an hour at a time is a great way to do it. Take a break and then set it again.
Good Luck and imagine the rreasures you will find that you have forgotten about

Vintage by Crystal said...

Get to work lady! :) Well at least you have a pretty mess! And it's not even close to "hoarder's" status, so you're still good.

luckygirlgifts said...

Good Luck. Just remember my motto when I'm feeling overwhelmed by a task. "Everything you do is one less thing you have to do."
Happy New Years.
xoxo
Cari b

Heidi said...

Hi Heidi, First of all...
Happy New & Creative Year!

I had to laugh at grounding yourself....that's a good one!

Happy cleaning!
Hugs, Heidi

McMaster & Storm said...

thank you posting this.......you know sometimes i feel so inadequate with all the "perfect" studios all over blogland.

yes, i love a pretty picture of a studio--but, mine is a mess and as my husband says, "I'm busy" so that makes my messy craft room a picture of success!

hope to be in touch with you soon!
our best to you in 2011
kara & darcy too!

Laura said...

Heidi,

At least you have a studio and can keep your mess contained and shut the door. Hopefully as I go further up your posts I will find a photo with improvement as you promised.

When I create it's usually an outfit. it looks like a tornado blew through my closet and everything I own landed on the counters in the Bathroom or the bed. I get one outfit and an hour of clean up. OK! Sometimes I don't work through an outfit and all I get is a big mess.

DeeDee said...

I too know the call of the dining room table. :)

Angela Harris said...

Haha :) I used to have a craft room. And it always looked something like this so my husband said I couldn't have one anymore! haha..yours looks gorgeous even when all messy :)

Vista Gal said...

Heidi,
I am so happy to see that other friends of yours have had the same creative circumstance that you and I have!
I don't know how many times I have gone into my studio and tackeled the "mess", only to start another project and had to "pull treasures out" to create!
You can do it !!