Studio Needs Cheering Up

I'm so on my path to getting organized and changing up stuff around here. I have so many things to do to get myself to my ideal place. My ideal place is both physical and mental. I need the mental ability to see how I can change my physical space, and yet my physical space needs to be organized to allow for optimum mental clarity. Such a cycle...

Here is a picture of my bland studio basement (I just adore that big oil tank in the back - I should paint that some other color when I'm doing the walls - maybe just black - nice, clean black). I moved my production into this space about 3 years ago when we moved into this house. I personally worked out of an extra bedroom (office and glaze room) and just ran production here. And things have been so busy with the business and personal things going on (losing my mom to Leukemia and having a baby all in the same year) that I have not spent any time being "creative" in my basement studio space. And truthfully - when I really look at this space - it has only functioned to make stuff and store crap. It is very uninspirational.

But now that I have this new mission - this get stuff done - no more excuses and procrastination - I'm ready to get to work. Then my new work in porcelain can really take off. I'm working out ideas now, but plan on making my space a priority (right behind family, orders and show stock of course).

By October with the onset of Fall - I want this space made over! I've got about 4 things before it to do that are stepping stones for this to happen - and this makeover studio space is my push to get those other 4 things done as soon as possible...

Thanks Lisa (ZoaArt) and Jen (Jangles) for showing your studio space renovations - you are quite the inspiration!

Tagged Monarch Sighting

Chloe and I were out in the garden the other day (8-25-08) watching the flowers grow and the insects going about their daily activity when a tagged Monarch Butterfly stopped by. I was taking lots of pictures of garden things for some new pieces I'm going to be working on. I already have some Monarch pictures since they have been in our garden quite a bit. But I noticed this tag on it from the University of Kansas and I knew that there was no way of remembering the tag information, so I quick snapped it and plan on emailing them to let them know one was sighted here in northern DE.




I used to work in the butterfly house just up the road at the Ashland Nature Center, and I just love the butterfly visitors to our garden. I do love gardening and am quite the novice at it. I usually go by my gut with gardening and hope that over time as some plants make it and some don't that I can get it established to be beautiful and healthy. As you can see in the picture below - I'm also trying some pumpkins so that once the annuals are gone, we have some cool fall plants (and pumpkins to carve for Halloween... we love Halloween pumpkin carving!!!). I think this picture was taken after I did some deadhead cutting (getting rid of the flowers that already bloomed, so 2 can take it's place). More recent pictures should show even more flowers...

Finally... A new beginning

Ah...

Mark another thing off my list of "One Day I'd Like To Do That"... I've got my blog.

I feel like I've been out of my own body for the past few years and on a bit of a roller coaster. It all began when my business stared to take off. Sometimes I can hardly believe what I have accomplished in 5-6 years... Then there are times where I feel like I've recently accomplished nothing in the studio.

So now I'm getting off that wagon and will crack the whip to get myself back on track. With a lot of help and encouragement from my family and friends I am taking small steps to get things organized so I can spend more time doing what I want instead of constantly feel like I'm treading water.

I plan on posting on this blog at least a few times a week. If you are a fellow passenger in my boat of procrastination in starting your own blog - here is your kick in the butt to get out and get started. It's all through Google - just get an email account with them (like gmail) and get started!

Now to figure out how to do pics and such!