Avalanche in the studio

Every 2 years or so I get this brilliant idea to re-arrange my studio space. I had told the Lord of the Manor, in the past, that when this brainstorm comes upon me :  "Slap me until I come to my senses and snap out of it!"   Good grief, he did NOT slap me and I did NOT come to my senses; instead  I TORE into the studio redo with great enthusiasm and lots of energy, at first.

           Four major pieces of furniture were not positioned against the walls that I supposed they should be; yes, the big desk would look best against the window with the southern exposure and the  84 inch long printers table should be placed along the east wall. HMMM... I hate the clutter of all those books being visible on open shelves and therefore they should be moved into the pine cupboard  rather than the papers and art supplies which should, in turn, be moved to the old chifferobe cupboard. Indeed, my mind is ablaze with all the dizzying possibilities!   Now, one cannot move furniture that is stuffed FULL of THINGS so All THINGS must be removed from shelves, drawers and cupboards.. and dumped into the middle of the room.

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This is when you discover just how much junk you have and vow to never purchase another thing as long as you live.

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 What a disaster! WHY am I doing this??!! Oh Well, too late now, I am knee deep in art debris.

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 What comes out must now go back in.....

 This is also when you realize that moving furniture is the easy part... it's organizing all the clutter that will kill you in the end OR send you to the madhouse. If I find ONE MORE STRAY pen or pin or xacto knife or picture hanger or notebook or paintbrush I think I shall scream! How did all of this *&%##!!!%$??? come out of these  cupboards?!

It simply boggles one's mind.

Everything, And I mean EVERYTHING must be put back again, with great deliberation and tidiness. Little by little the piles of STUFF get smaller... oh dear, I have such a headache, but these rubber stamps need to be precisely and pleasingly placed atop one another in proper drawer,

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 and reference books must be within easy reach and stacked according to size and usefulness,

  nature's gifts are all collected together and most carefully arranged upon likely shelves.

 Flosses must be put into corresponding cubbyholes

 And all the makings for Paper Gardens, Pysanki and molded chalkware and beeswax are neatly placed in the old oak Hoosier.

 I am breathing a sigh of relief as things begin to come together again.

 All drawers are marked with tags stating the contents within.

  Chalkware molds are posed on shelves in a most pleasing manner.

 I've got one more PILE to disperse.. I've been at this for 6 days and I am still sane!

 This fabulous desk came from England and I love it to bits! Look at all those drawers!

I put all my paint palettes, tubes of paints, brushes and inks and pens,etc,etc, etc in these drawers

This is where I illustrate my books, at this fine desk, ( now placed against  the window with the southern exposure, mind you)

 

 And look, SECRET COMPARTMENTS TOO!

This little cubbyhole is on the top of the desk and you would never know it was here if not for the tiny hinges.

There are secret cupboards on either side as well. I added the knobs, else one would ever know this opens up.

 I stashed  240  books inside this cupboard, whereas, before they were on open shelves. This is much neater. The antique storybooks I collect, with wonderful graphics, are set atop the cupboard for visual inspiration. I am a big fan of caddy cornering furniture, as done with this old cupboard.

 The Peahens are on the rooftops spying on me... or admiring themselves in the glass more likely.

The 84 inch  printers table has been moved beneath this east window. This table's length makes it a  perfect  place for cutting  scherenschnitte, making paper gardens and machine sewing.

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Six days of non stop cleaning has finally paid off.

 Now, remind me not to do this again for another 2 years... make that 5 years.

   Good Heavens, is this the same room?

Yes!... I like it.. it is so , so, so Organized.

Now I can make more paper gardens.

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 Two weeks ago, I had a cleaning frenzy on the stair landing which connects to this studio.

 I stacked all the fabric.

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I put all the patients in the doll hospital...

( also known as the Little Green Cupboard),

 and tidied all the yarns and threads

 I need to take a vacation from myself, before I get any more bright ideas.

   The really good thing is: I am way ahead of Spring Cleaning! And speaking of Spring....

 here is some sweetness. Dear little Demelza was broody and determined to have a baby. I did NOT want baby chicks till Spring, so I took her eggs away from her. Then out of pity, since she would not budge from the nesting box and insisted on staying put, I gave her 2 real eggs to make her happy. Today, they hatched and she has 2 little winter chicks. 

 UPDATE: 3 baby chicks! She had a hidden egg!

Is she happy? YES! and so is Ursula, because I just gave her a handful of corn.

Maybe you'll get an urge to clean up a storm, if so, I wish you luck!