Sorting Jewelry...

Apologies for these fuzzy photos. I believe I am feeling as fuzzy as these photos. This is the second set I took and both times the images were not clear. I understand I have no expertise in the photography department and further understand that I do not wish to learn photography as it seems to be far more complicated and time consuming than I have patience for. Mr. C is an expert and we never agree on my need to learn and take my time to photograph things. So I am posting these lovely fuzzy photos because this post is not about the pictures but the object of them.

Over a week ago I decided to gather all of my costume and semi-precious and general jewelry. I thought it would be a good idea to sort it all out and then organize it so it would be quickly recognizable and usuable for my crafting.

What was I thinking?

I started out strong. Then I lost the momentum for sorting all of this stuff! I decided to purchase some clear medium paint pails from the local craft store. This way I could see what I have and access it easily.

Okay so far so good.

Now I have some of it sorted. Earrings in one container. Bracelets in another. Pins separate from tac pins. Broken pieces of jewelry by themselves. Necklaces...oh far too many to fit...Oh yes a very large glass container that was only holding ephemera. Jewelry is so much prettier to view and inspire my creative ventures.

But wait...I'm far from done...

I have run out of steam yet I have so far to go to complete this task.

What happened? Well, I began straying down memory lane with some of the pieces I was finding in my stash of jewelry. Some of it brought me great joy and some pieces brought me great sadness. With my Grandma and my Mother both gone it was bittersweet to come across a piece of their costume jewelry I just cannot dispose of. And with the rain and very gray days it is not a good time for me to become sad. So, I have officially put this project on hold until the brighter days of summer when the sun shines and I feel so much happier. In the meantime I shall merely gather up all of this and put it in a bin which I can set aside.

In gratitude for the pieces I am finding I have been thinking of some wonderful ways to honor my Grandma and Mother and leave bits of memories for my daughter and granddaughters. Knowing that none of them would ever wear any of the pieces I shall create some sort of mixed media pieces. Ahh...that will be for future projects. Already I am happier just knowing I shall be able to create some sort of legacy to be handed down to the next generations.

Now for getting my vanity back to normal.
What would you make with costume jewelry?

May you have a wonderful week and enjoy the celebration of St. Patrick's Day and wearin of the green...

Sorting, Eliminating & Organizing...

Today I entered my wonderful studio Mr. C built for me totally intending to create something. Hmmm...where did I leave off last evening? Oh yes, I was sorting and clearing my table top. But, I did not finish so that is what I began again today. It was going so well that I really dug in and this is a peek at my worktable around noon. The piles are shorter and I can see over them.

All this sorting, eliminating and organizing began last week because I want to find some unfinished projects and complete them or decide if I even want to still make them.

Mr. C knows how I always cram 10 pounds of stuff into a 5 pound bag, box or bin. I always deny that but as I was literally cramming a huge bundle of black lace into a shoebox sized bin I thought what am I doing and why am I doing this. Could it be that I have too much stuff? NO! But it might be that I am always saving all my stuff for later. Later? When is that? When I no longer am able to use it or enjoy it? Well! I better sort, eliminate and organize what I have so I know what to use.

So this is how my studio table looks. I feel so much better for filling the trash can, the recycle bin and the donation bag.

Now I not only can close the containers that were bulging before I can also lift them without a crane.

I am vowed to myself to use my stuff and enjoy creating with it NOW. On that note I have found all sorts of supplies for Easter to make cards and other goodies. I also have several birthdays and other celebrations coming up that need proper gifts and cards and now I am much more prepared to know what I have and what I may need to supplement from the store. I am feeling rather excited after my morning treasure hunt in my very own studio.

What are you saving? What are your best treasures?

Happy creative week to all...

Oh My Friday again???

This picture has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that I love butterfly everything. This week my Saucy Chick partner Lorraine (SCL) and I spent more time in the studio and sewing room sorting , organizing and disposing of items. SCL is fantastic at doing these tasks and I am not. I begin and then find myself traveling down memory lane or sentimental avenue and then can't seem to make any progress. Today we began - and I specify began - the overwhelming process of sorting and organizing our fabric stash. We really need to inventory our fabrics so we know what direction we are going to make items for our etsy shop. Well...I have a ton of fabrics along with all the fabrics SCL and I have acquired together. As always space is limited and when Mr. Hubby designed and built my sewing room he specifically built shelves for fabrics. His instructions were, "What ever fabrics you organize and can fit on the shelves you can keep...the rest you get rid of!" Oh dear! What was I to do? I immediately began to think of what my dear grandma would have done. Hmmm. Upon reaching a workable solution to my imminent problem I began to stack fabric very neatly on those shelves. Then I continued to stack (read cram) until my fingers wouldn't fit in or out of each shelf. It worked and I survived without having to dispose of any fabrics. Except that through the last couple of years and pulling out fabrics to use or see if they would work for a specific project you can imagine how nothing got put back neatly or properly. I merely just kept cramming until I could still close the doors and my room looked neat. Ha!
So today SCL and I began to take out each fabric piece from each shelf and sort them into managable piles...big picture. Hopefully next week we will complete our plan and refold and re-shelve the fabrics with a clear idea of what we have to work with on future projects. Oh by-the-way we also have 5 large plastic bins under the studio desk that contain fabrics so we must include those in our inventory and restocking and organizing.
I must admit it is fun to "find" that special fabric I purchased years ago for a specific need and just knew I had it somewhere but never could locate it. I really do have a lot of fabrics and of course I love them all. It will be so nice to have them organized again.
Thank you SCL for your expertise and patience once again and for all of your help. Yes bloggers this is the same very special lady who just spent weeks putting my kitchen in order after the remodel.
We also spent time this week helping SCL learn how to crochet. She instinctively knew from her youth and merely needed a refresher course. We both had purchased some hand dyed alpaca yarn from some local alpaca ranchers and thought we would crochet scarves. I prefer crocheting to knitting even though my grandmother did teach me both. She was a fabulous knitter and crocheter however I never liked knitting as it was too hard to fix my mistakes. SCL's mother was also an extremely accomplished knitter and crocheter so that is why we each learned in our youth. I have pretty much kept at it through the years as I find it to be quite an effective stress reliever and in the end I have a nice gift to give to someone. We'll post pictures of our scarves one of these days.
Happy Friday to all.

A new week...

A new week begins and I have lots to fill it with. We are continuing to work on the kitchen. There is progress...however so much to do. Today my girlfriend is coming over to help me sort, dispose of and organize the contents of the 24 drawers that are in my kitchen. She really has a special talent for organizing and for getting me to pare down. The last two weeks we spent working on the cabinets contents. We definitely have a truck load of items to deliver to the local thrift shop. Saturday was a food drive by the post office workers and that helped me empty out the pantry. I am so thankful for all that I have and therefore I was extra generous with my food donations.
I shall keep this short as I have lots to get busy with.
Maybe next week Lorraine and I will get back to making things and being creative.
Happy week to everyone.