diana d darden: My Constant Quest.........
I love being an artist...: My Constant Quest......... I love being an artist. I love being in my studio with my studio mate, Flora Adora ( she is so helpful!) a...
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
My Constant Quest.........
I love being an artist. I love being in my studio with my studio mate, Flora Adora ( she is so helpful!)
and all of my stuff. I have collected a lot of stuff... a lot, and most of it is small. Beads, charms, bits of this and that.
If you have read any of my other blogs, you know that I am easily distracted. My mind feels like it is in constant motion, and the feeling is amplified with all of the bits and pieces on my work table. Shiny. Old mushy papers. Pieces of chain. And on and on.
My constant quest has been to find the perfect thing to store all of my goods, and to have easy access to them.
EUREKA!!!
I saw a picture of a beautiful turquoise hardware store cabinet on the PORCH AND atelier Facebook page.
This is a wonderful shop in Buffalo, Mn. I started bombarding the owner, Teresa DeJarlais (I had not met her....yet!) with questions about the piece. I couldn't stop thinking about it. So, when Steve and I were on are vacation in July, we went to Buffalo, and went to meet Teresa.And now I wonder, how could I have gone so long without meeting her?? What a treat and a treasure to meet her.
And then the beautiful piece , with close to 300 drawers !!
I was obsessed with it and it was there screaming to be mine. I had a feeling of giddiness that I hadn't felt for a long time. Now, pondering how to get this....
I rarely ask for or want anything, but I felt like I really needed this. Agreement made.
Then, how to get it home????
The most logical thing would have been to hire a mover to get it...oh no!! Logic went out the door when my friend, Anne who owns Mixed Up Designs (and understands) said that it would fit in her car.
Road trip.
Crown on dash.
Starbucks.
Drive.
We arrive and thankfully Teresa is there with help! Beautiful new possession loaded in the car, and I tried not to look at this huge heavy thing, and just kept telling myself that we could get it into the studio...no problem.
We were going to need nourishment to achieve this, and fortunately, we had spotted the happiest looking place on earth...PEPPERMINT TWIST in Delano. Pink and more pink. An old fashioned drive up restaurant !!
We finally decided what to order after studying the menu. But then I saw the sign..NO CARDS.
I had raised a teenager, and as we know, your role is an ATM. I learned not to carry cash, and now this. NO CARDS!! Anne starts digging because I only came up with one dollar, she managed to find what we needed, and then like our collage days, we were scouring for coins to tip our waitress!! We managed to find a respectable amount! Our lunch was yummy divine, and then it was time to continue our journey. The whole time, I was trying to shove the thought about getting my new treasure into the studio into the back of my mind.
Arrive..back in, and READYSETGO! We could not even push the thing an inch.
Determined.
I see our yard crew and wave them over and ask for help. Sure no problem, until they get to the entry and announce that is far as they are allowed to go. Rules. I go into super determination mode, while Anne who is the most logical of the two of us, is saying "this isn't going to happen."
I assure her that we can do it! So after an hour of pushing, pulling, balancing, making straps out of FLoras' leashes, it gets into place.
For some reason, during this process, I kept thinking I have super powers and could move that thing with nearly 300 drawers. I had multiple bruises, sore muscles, and am still tired and it has been a couple of weeks since we did this!!
I spent days painting labels, and sorting!
I have rearranged the studio and loving my work space. I can be at my table, and just spin my chair around, pull out a drawer to get what i need, and put the drawer back where it belongs. This is new and huge for me...to be organized. I still have more to do, things are far from perfect in my studio, but now it is busy time.
Shows booked, class to teach, Etsy shop to get ready for holiday season.. so much to do, but so gleefully giddy and happy when I get to sit at my work table and create! I am so inspired, while sorting and cleaning I was able to rediscover so many treasures that I had "put away"!!!!
So many things to make!!
back to work table now! thank you for taking the time to read this...
diana
I love being an artist. I love being in my studio with my studio mate, Flora Adora ( she is so helpful!)
If you have read any of my other blogs, you know that I am easily distracted. My mind feels like it is in constant motion, and the feeling is amplified with all of the bits and pieces on my work table. Shiny. Old mushy papers. Pieces of chain. And on and on.
My constant quest has been to find the perfect thing to store all of my goods, and to have easy access to them.
EUREKA!!!
I saw a picture of a beautiful turquoise hardware store cabinet on the PORCH AND atelier Facebook page.
And then the beautiful piece , with close to 300 drawers !!
I was obsessed with it and it was there screaming to be mine. I had a feeling of giddiness that I hadn't felt for a long time. Now, pondering how to get this....
I rarely ask for or want anything, but I felt like I really needed this. Agreement made.
Then, how to get it home????
The most logical thing would have been to hire a mover to get it...oh no!! Logic went out the door when my friend, Anne who owns Mixed Up Designs (and understands) said that it would fit in her car.
Road trip.
Crown on dash.
Starbucks.
Drive.
We arrive and thankfully Teresa is there with help! Beautiful new possession loaded in the car, and I tried not to look at this huge heavy thing, and just kept telling myself that we could get it into the studio...no problem.
We were going to need nourishment to achieve this, and fortunately, we had spotted the happiest looking place on earth...PEPPERMINT TWIST in Delano. Pink and more pink. An old fashioned drive up restaurant !!
I had raised a teenager, and as we know, your role is an ATM. I learned not to carry cash, and now this. NO CARDS!! Anne starts digging because I only came up with one dollar, she managed to find what we needed, and then like our collage days, we were scouring for coins to tip our waitress!! We managed to find a respectable amount! Our lunch was yummy divine, and then it was time to continue our journey. The whole time, I was trying to shove the thought about getting my new treasure into the studio into the back of my mind.
Arrive..back in, and READYSETGO! We could not even push the thing an inch.
Determined.
I see our yard crew and wave them over and ask for help. Sure no problem, until they get to the entry and announce that is far as they are allowed to go. Rules. I go into super determination mode, while Anne who is the most logical of the two of us, is saying "this isn't going to happen."
I assure her that we can do it! So after an hour of pushing, pulling, balancing, making straps out of FLoras' leashes, it gets into place.
For some reason, during this process, I kept thinking I have super powers and could move that thing with nearly 300 drawers. I had multiple bruises, sore muscles, and am still tired and it has been a couple of weeks since we did this!!
I spent days painting labels, and sorting!
I have rearranged the studio and loving my work space. I can be at my table, and just spin my chair around, pull out a drawer to get what i need, and put the drawer back where it belongs. This is new and huge for me...to be organized. I still have more to do, things are far from perfect in my studio, but now it is busy time.
Shows booked, class to teach, Etsy shop to get ready for holiday season.. so much to do, but so gleefully giddy and happy when I get to sit at my work table and create! I am so inspired, while sorting and cleaning I was able to rediscover so many treasures that I had "put away"!!!!
So many things to make!!
back to work table now! thank you for taking the time to read this...
diana
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