Lotsa Boxes

Lotsa boxes are being dusted off 'n posted in the shop. Guess I've been kinda hoarding these boxes but I do use them from time to time to make shadowbox assemblage pieces.

Green Wooden Boxes, Set of 3

But...the truth of the matter is I have way too many boxes and many of 'em moved with us from Mobile, Alabama four years ago. Patrick's graduate school stint is quickly drawing to a close here in Manhattan and an inevitable move is on the horizon next summer.

Old Sewing Drawers, Set of 2

So...my new, self-imposed rule is if IT moved with us to Kansas from Alabama it won't be moving again. Basically, I've gotta Lighten. The. Load.

Extra Long Wooden Drawer/Box

These boxes are great for displaying baubles on the coffee table, holding art supplies in the studio OR making shadowbox assemblages ('cuz that's what I love doing with 'em).

Galvanized Metal Bucket

And...there's even an old bucket in the shop right now. Picked this one up off the side of the road in Alabama. You never know what you'll find on an afternoon stroll!

Filling Drawers

Remember this metal cabinet I recently claimed for my studio? Thought you'd like to see the drawers are now filled up with inventory and a few of my rotating vintage collections. I didn't realize when we brought it home that each drawer slides out and removes easily--like those old school card catalog files in the library. This drawer-removal feature makes it super handy to quickly make up game parts and game ephemera packets for the vintage shop. All this stuff used to be stored in plastic totes, stacked on a shelf which worked ok but this is even spiffier and more efficient.

TAKE

Why thank you...I believe I will take this old-school metal cabinet full of practical drawers. It could be more than useful to me and I will fill its drawers with all kinds of goodies (or inventory). Hmmmm...we shall see....rearranging the studio sounds like a fun weekend project to me.

Happy Easter Weekend

Hopping back in to wish everyone a Happy Easter weekend! Not sure what these fellows are lookin' at--lined up like Peeps in a row--but I'm thinkin' their eying all those jellybeans and chocolate eggs. They may be trying to decide if they should run away 'cuz the New York Times has declared sugar as a toxic substance. I really shouldn't have read that article the week before the Easter bunny's arrival--it spoils all the fun.

Piles of Things

You know how when nothing is coming together right it helps to take a step back...(breathe)...and then CLEAN, clean, clean? Somehow the act of dusting, scrubbing, purging, organizing and general straightening up of things is good for the mind and body. Well at least it's that way for me! My studio received a bit of this cleaning action over the weekend as did our stove which was long past due. Our house is by no means "company ready" but it's been enough to make things start coming together again (ie, now I can find that particular book which I know has the perfect image of a certain pair of feet for the collage I'm working on without going crazy and throwing the entire bookcase across the room). **whew** Ok. Now that I'm feeling like myself again, I did remember to take some snapshots of the piles of things that I cleaned up around the studio. Boy am I glad it's a new week.

To Do List Confession

Confession: I make a lot of "to do" lists and I have a peculiar habit. Many times I will write down a task that has already been completed just so I can have the satisfaction of physically crossing it off my list. I realize this is redundant and a waste of time but I can't shake the habit. It's like I have to see every single mundane task of my life stricken out. Do you ever do this? Have you ever done this? Please confess so I know I'm not alone.

More Stuff

Here is Lizzie's list of things to do today. Yep, still into the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books. 'More stuff' will include the things on my list like going to the post office, the library and possibly a couple other stores. It's going to be a busy Tuesday.

Sushipot Vignette no 19

Sushipot Vignette no 19 (bulletin board)

Each image in the Sushipot Vignette series is composed of a grouping of objects found in and around my home or studio. One of several bulletin boards in my studio. Take a peek at previous images in my vignette series here.

Ephemera Files

Take a peek inside my ephemera files (er....um...plastic drawers). As I find "special" pieces, that I think may work well on a Doll House or other assemblage, I file them in one of three drawers: anything anatomy related, cutesy stuff (paper dolls, etc), or the "other images" ephemera file. It's very sophisticated I know, but this system seems to work for me! All other scraps of paper floating in the studio are either tossed into the "to be cut up" box or the box of clippings ready for collage.

Sushipot Vignette no 15

Sushipot Vignette no 15 (rulers & scissors in a jar)

Each image in the Sushipot Vignette series is composed of a grouping of objects found in and around my home or studio. A tin container holding an assortment of vintage rulers and a glass jar with my collection of old scissors. Take a peek at previous images in my vignette series here.

A Vicious Cycle

There is a bit of randomness to the way I contain my collections of objects and they are constantly getting mixed up, used in my artwork, resorted and/or borrowed by Lizzie. As Patrick likes to point out, "there are no sacred objects in our house." 

So, I'm continually pondering ways to better organize all the junk in my studio. It's a constant battle of sorts and has been known to get out of control rather quickly. I would have to say my solution (when asked) is that I have learned to collect containers: tins, jars, boxes, etc. so that I always have somewhere to place my "somethings".

And...as I always say (about more than one thing in life), "it's a vicious cycle".  

I Like Myndology

I've recently discovered that Myndology's 3" x 4" disc-bound memo pad is the handiest little blogging tool. Previously, I was using a small composition notebook to jot down blog ideas and topics but got frustrated when I couldn't re-order the pages.

Yes, I did consider using a small 3 ring binder but I can be impatient when writing/sketching and end up just tearing pages out of the rings without snapping them open. This may seem a bit obsessive but it's very handy to be able to scribble thoughts down in any progression and then rearrange them quickly once I decide on the details of when/what/where the post will be used.

These notebooks will come in handy for shopping lists, to do lists, goals, ideas, etc. Hmmm...maybe I need to add some tabs to to this one?? I'll confess...I know what I really want is this so I can concoct my own with scraps of ephemera (hint, hint anyone?).