Monday, January 5, 2009

happy New Year!

I AM OFFICIALLY SELF-EMPLOYED! I'm in my studio full time now! My last day at my "job" was Thursday, December 18th. This was about the same time my fourteen year old son went on Christmas break from school, and I primarily served as taxi mom. It was a fun two weeks and my family and I had a wonderful Christmas. So, I have marked January 5 on my calendar (and my heart), as the first day of my new adventure! I am so very excited and feel blessed to have the opportunity. I believe this is where I belong, and what I am supposed to be doing!

(new workshop)

I'm looking forward to 2009. I have workshops on the calendar, new online classes scheduled, and lots of new projects in the hopper!

I have been working on my studio area. I don't have a lot of space so I needed to really work on organization and making the most of the space I do have while making it look pretty. It's gotta look pretty because my studio is my dining room.

I have two book shelves. I put the pretty stuff on the top shelves and the not so pretty stuff on the bottom shelves hidden behind curtains. Wire baskets work great for organizing all my fabrics and boxes hold a lot of my trims, trinkets, ribbons and such. I found the wire baskets at Staples Office Supply and the pretty little boxes at Joannes Fabrics. They work really well - pretty and very functional. I Just love them. Of course I got out my label maker so I could mark what is in each of the boxes. Believe me...that's really helpful.

Between the two bookshelves I have a dresser, and stacked on top I have these fun wood box units that I found at Michael's (on sale of course). I'm trying to decide what color to paint them. I thought green, as you can see, but I'm not sure. The color will probably change. Maybe I'll cover them with a neutral paper collage type of thing. I also want to make knobs with faces to go on all the drawers. I think that would be fun. Also, I have a shelf for all my favorite magazines. You gotta have those you know!

I have lots of nooks and crannies where I stash the things I'm working on, and all my little treasures.

I do have a closet in my work area. It is crammed full of tubs, racks, and shelves. They are full of all my paints, wire, glues, batting, and other utility type items and tools. I am grateful for the closet - it holds a lot of stuff and I can just close the door and hide it all!

Now the picture above shows my true nature. This is my workspace! I didn't clean up after I was done working and all the stuff that doesn't have a home yet gets dumped there. But, I have decided that I really do like being organized. So, I'm going to crack that whip and keep myself on task. It is all still a work in progress; my studio, my career, my art, my life.

Thanks for joining me on my journey. Have a blessed, safe, and wonderful 2009! Enjoy!

Hugs,
Cyndi

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Cyndi

That's fantastic news - looking forward to seeing all your beautiful creations. Hope you find making the transition easy - just remember to be gentle with yourself.

Megan

robin dudley-howes said...

Wow! I'm jealous...you are very organized and tidy! Pretty colors too! Love your blog banner too. I need to change mine up a bit. Saw you are following my blog. I'd love hearing from ya' too!! I see you will be teaching in Julian? I got Patties newsletter and requested info on the retreat. Life is so fun! AND congratulations on being a full time artist!!

robin