For those among you who are under the illusion that I am some sort of Domestic Goddess... please look away now as I am about to show some distressing images.
I am often asked if I have more hours in the day than anyone else. People comment on how much I seem to get done.... but I am about to reveal my secret...
I never put anything away, I hardly ever do housework... I am slovenly beyond belief. This is my studio a month ago and even I can't believe what a mess it is.
It was time for drastic action.
It would not do to shove things in bags and stuff them in cupboards... this time I needed to go through every box, bag and drawer. There needed to be a serious cull!
I collect and save the most ridiculous amount of useless junk. There were these endless cross stitch kits collected from magazines from years ago. If I didn't make them then when I actually did cross stitch there's not much chance I'll do them now... they all went!
Along with the pot of googly eyes. I don't even know why I would even have multi coloured googly eyes but they must date back to when I did a lot of workshops with children...
As did this large booklet of fruit prints...
I was about to throw them out when I turned the page and found each page of prints had a letter on the reverse.
And I weakened and put them back in the cupboard.
But there have been six bags of fabric to the charity shop, a huge sack to the dump, several bags of rubbish and I've filled our recycling bin with paper and old magazines. I've even thrown out Johnny Depp...
Every year at Open Studios at least one visitor would tell me my calendar was on the wrong month and I'd have to point out that actually it was the wrong year but I just rather liked the photo...
But I thought after seven years it was probably time he went.
And this is my studio this afternoon!
It is so clean and tidy I keep having to go in and look round!
There is still too much in there and I probably needed to be more ruthless but at least I can actually work in there without it being a health hazard!
And I have vowed to unpack my bags after teaching workshops, put things away when I've finished with them... and learn to say no when people say " I've got this bag of fabric I'm throwing out... would you like it?"
You've heard me say it!
Well, I am amazed. I understand now why it took you several days to clear up your studio. Time well spent. Did you find any really useful things in the corners, or something you have missed for a while? It looks just perfect and very inviting. I would have probably kept Johnny, he is rather handsome. There's to happy working! x
ReplyDeleteWow, you did a massive amount of work there! I think that you definitely did the right thing to keep the pieces that you did with the children, that is a great memory to have, but I know too what you mean about the kits. I try and make them up when I get them with magazines, but then I am not sure what to do with the items, so they do have a habit of loitering around the house a bit! I hope that you found some treasures too, as that is always a nice surprise isn't it. Shame that Johnny had to go though! xx
ReplyDeleteThat's spooky, I'm just the same in the garage when I work on my bikes, always putting my tools where they'll be easy to reach and then forgetting which bit of (very messy) floor I put them down on! Last week I had a big clear out of the garage, must be some sort of Family ESP at work!
ReplyDeleteOh Gina! I admire your courage in tackling this monumental clean up. I should show you a photo of my sewing area and you wouldn't feel alone. I'm glad you kept the notes from the kids, so cute. But I'm sure I couldn't have parted with Johnny ;) Thank you for showing us a side of you that I for one wouldn't have known existed. It looks wonderful now! Wendy x
ReplyDeleteBravol Gina, on the transformation of your studio. I know that you must have taken quite a few strolls down memory lane as you came upon buried treasure.
ReplyDeleteEven Johnny Depp today, in real life, doesn't quite look as good as he once did. Think I will stick with that crazy guy K Richard.
Your conversion of the the embroidery into tea cosies has turned out so well. Seeing those notes to you left by students would have melted my own clearing-out heart.
Belated Happy Birthday wishes to your handsome family men.
Something's gone a bit astray with my access to my "followed" bloggers, so please be patient with me as I play catch up from time to time. Great to have your emails. xo
Looks like a good job jobbed! A nice place to sit can be very inspiring. I think I need to do mine next.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so satisfying. There are two rooms here which need that sort of attention- the Beansprout's rooms. I just need to be feeling very strong to start on those! I hope you're spending loads of time in there now and swinging a cat or two too, Ax
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain Gina! When people comment on how much I get done I feel like pointing at my lack of housework. Or the untidy kitchen. One day maybe I will have to take people on a trip around my small apartment and see what junk I have accumulated.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Now must stop reading blogs & get on with it!
ReplyDeleteI have cube envy, :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes we just have to be ruthless to stop ourselves drawing in the clutter. I can understand you keeping those pages with the letters on the reverse but throwing Johnny Depp out ???
ReplyDeleteHa I love the warning at the top of the post, it's like the kind you get before most TV programmes now!
ReplyDeleteWell done Gina, although in a lot of ways I wish I were more like you and not so tidy, I put everything away much to the annoyance of everyone!
Sad about Johnny ! :( Although to be honest I only prefer him as Captain Jack! ;)
V x
Your studio still looked better than mine before you had tidied it! It is so hard to say no to a bag of free stuff - how can you be sure there isn't something wonderful in there! Best of luck with the Open Studios event.
ReplyDeleteDon't make any rash decisions about unpacking bags after workshops. Your birthday gift makes adequate provision to leave stuff where it is.
ReplyDeleteThe tidy workshop looks amazing but I have to say I did feel a bit guilty when I looked at the early pics as that is how I work.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a pretty site but it's where a LOT of work takes place and I can cope!! Well done you. x Jo
It looks good but don't let the neatness stifle your creativity! Get back in there and get it messy again!
ReplyDeleteImpressive......but I was never under the illusion you were a domestic goddess
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh, not JOHNNY!!!! GO GET HIM BACK!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHaha -- your studio looks fabulous now. What a great job of cleaning up. I need to do the same at my place -- instead, I spread the piles to new rooms LOL!
what a massive clear out Gina. bet you can think straight now lol
ReplyDeleteI hope you rewarded yourself with cake and a stiff drink after all that work?
ReplyDeleteWow what a transformation!
ReplyDeleteThat looks really great, the question is will it stay like it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference. I bet it made you feel good to get organized.
ReplyDeleteWell done Gina! There is a point where it HAS to be done, but I'm always amazed by how fast it gets messy again! "You done good" as the Year One's would say!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can say is that I ought to do the Same! Well done.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Wow Gina, what a transformation! I'm so glad that you included the before pictures because it's making me feel a lot less guilty as I look around me here! I too shun housework and I'm naturally messy. Anyway, it looks like you did a stellar tidying job, if you fancy hiring yourself out as a sorter-outer-er I think you'd make a very good living, I'd certainly hire you!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Gina! I must say, though, your before pictures look a lot like my work space......tsk tsk, I know .....i do like to have things handy while I'm working, but on the other hand, I also like to have everything well organized. I rationalize by saying it's organized confusion...lol!..but I do know where everything is.....strangely enough, and every once in a while I take a day and put things away. The problem is, there's always a new project that needs doing........
ReplyDeleteJust catching up after a visit to Poundstretcher to buy crates in bulk to replace my collapsing shelf unit in my little study room. I envy you those gorgeous square shelf units. It all looks so professional and organised. Now I must take a leaf out of your book and follow suit in my space. The shelves are falling apart because of the weight of files and paper on them. I need a cull and will be ruthless but if I had those sweet children's letters I'd have to re-file them too. They are so lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour studio space looks wonderful after your efforts. I've had an afternoon sorting my sewing room out today but have a mountain to climb in terms of parting with stuff. I'm impressed that you parted with fabric but I would have kept Johnny Depp too :-) I will be full of admiration if you manage to put everything away after your workshops!
ReplyDeleteYeah yeah, say no to fabric? Goggly eyes yes, chuck 'em. Johnny Depp? Yes, unless as Captain Jack then a definite no. Unpacking bags? Maybe for the first one or two workshops...Seriously though, I hope open studios goes really well and you get lots of visitors with fat wallets!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I laughed so much (probably from relief more than humour), just to know that I'm not alone. I thought it was just me who had a work space like this. Funnily enough after a clean up I can never find anything, but can always put my hand on anything at any time when the place looks like a bombs hit it. What a huge relief to know others work like this - next time I wade through the mountains of "stuff" scattered everywhere I will just sit amongst it and smile knowing there are others doing the same, LOL!!
ReplyDeleteMy studio looks like yours at the beginning of your post, so well done; this week I'm going to be very busy!
ReplyDeleteBut can you find anything now ?
ReplyDeleteYou do realise that next week (or the week after) you are going to need googly eyes.............. and I mean, REALLY need googly eyes..........
ReplyDelete