There are two things in
life with which I struggle: tidying (and cleaning) and admin. The last week has been full of them both.
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| Furniture waiting to be made for Gillian Cooper Studio |
I desperately want to
start making again now my exhibition is up, but before I am allowing myself to
do that, I need to get my studio organised for teaching. In the abstract this is really exciting. In reality, it is a bit of a nightmare
because I need to tidy, organise and do the admin. The teaching bit will be fun as is designing
the classes, but removing all my stuff from the studio and working out what
goes where – not really in my skill set!
I did start last week with good intentions and I was making slow
progress, but on Saturday, I was ordered by R to stop pfaffing about, take
everything out and start from an empty shell adding in only what was
required. This was a nice idea, but of
course, where do we store everything in the meantime? So we got as far as removing everything that
was on the floor. The playroom now has
an extra table, the hall the embroidery thread unit, the kitchen the comfy
chair and the spare bedroom and its en-suite bathroom are full of sewing
machines, boxes of fabric and dyeing stuff.
What R has forgotten is last time he suggested this approach was when we
had the studio built four years ago and I’m still emptying my stuff out of the
old room I used as a studio. This has
become urgent as it is being turned into a kids bedroom (why does everything
happen at once?!), so goodness knows when I will see any of these rooms again!
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| One of the less flattering photos ever of me! |
At least it has meant that
I got the floor in the studio repainted on Sunday. I was fired up to get all the new furniture
in, but I can’t for at least 72 hours.
So come tomorrow evening, hopefully the studio will look like a new
teaching one, even if all the tidying and sorting needs to continue. Any good tidying tips anyone? Please do not suggest not buying in the first
place or binning everything. I know that
and it is not pretty to watch a grown woman cry!
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| Just to prove I did the floor myself |
6 comments:
Oh golly, I really relate to this dilemma!
Thanks! Glad I'm not the only one! Fingers crossed I can put the furniture together today!
I've always had strong admin skills (makes it really hard on my brain to make art)...even hired myself out for 3 years doing studio/office re-org for more creative types than I. Alas, I live several thousand km away and can't help you on site...but I'd say, set the 'new' space up with teaching as your priority. How do you want your class supplies organized? Where? What will your students need to access easily? That should be fun as you are excited about it, and it's all about the classes and students. Then set up an area for a) designing class curricula, hand-outs etc. (e.g., computer and such or whatever you use for that) and b) personal creative space. Make the last item your reward for getting the other stuff done...Good luck!
Oh my goodness. I've been thinking of moving my studio to a different room and I can't even work out where to start so I can imagine what you must be going through. I guess I jut need to go through everything and decide what I want to keep and what to throw first
Thank you Margaret- that is good solid advice. Got to empty out the cupboards next and then start putting things in their new places.
I know Maggi. It's ont easy! Part of the problem is I don't want to get rid of much and there is even more coming down from my old studio too. I know I haven't used them for 4years, but It includes things like my old college samples, which will be useful for teaching!
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