2011 - The Year to get Organized!!

Those of you have been following my blog for a while know my dirty little secret: I cannot, under any circumstances, despite the best of intentions, keep my studio (aka. walk-in closet) organized!! You will find several posts on the subject here, here, and here. This is the year, folks! This is the year I actually finish some of those "organizational" projects like getting all of my loose beads sorted...

As you can see from the photo, I am definitely making headway! I did SOOOO well when I started this project last year and then got sidetracked by... well... life, you know?? Other work has suffered as I try to tackle this job but it will all pay-off in the end! I still have several bags of beads to go. For many months now, this super fantastic and uber-cool vintage planter has been the repository for beads needing to be sorted. The pot measures 11" across the opening and seems to hold a bucket of beads! Bag by bag, I am making my way toward the bottom. Someday, this pretty planter might actually have a plant in it!!

2011 is also the year for new beginnings and re-beginnings. I have dedicated myself to learning more about my newest love - fiber arts - and have re-discovered how much I enjoyed bead stringing. As a beadweaver and bead embroidery artist I have been known to rail against "pretty beads on a string". Sorry for my bad behavior! Having found myself in a bit of a beading rut I am going back to "pretty beads on a string" for a while. I think much can be learned by revisiting skills you feel you are "past". Besides, I am loving simply making jewelry that is just pretty (and, dare I say, wearable and affordable) without the need to make it into a gallery piece.

So, I am also organizing my fabric and trims into color family bags. It's amazing how much one of those gallon sized zip locks can hold!!

And I have added a thread holder to my studio wall - what a difference THAT has made!

How nice to just scan and grab - the "scan and grab" method is my favorite way to gather supplies for a new project. All of these efforts are taking me closer to being able to that more effectively.

So, there is a short explanation as to why my shops and my blog have suffered as of late but it feels great to be getting these jobs done. Am I making a resolution to STAY organized?? Absolutely not!!! Setting myself up for failure puts a damper on my enthusiasm and seems like such a dreary thing to do... but feel free to keep your fingers crossed for me. :)