All work and no play ...

Oh, my aching back!
Because I spent the past two weeks working on quite a few small hangings, my studio had become uninhabitable. Seriously. We're talking Katrina-esque disaster mess here. Stuff everywhere. So I decided to take a day off and clean, straighten, neaten up, and generally not do anything productively artistic. We can all use a slave labor day to keep us humble and thankful right?

I got my sewing and storage shelves straightened out. My mother would be so proud of me - I took off every item, dusted it, Pledged the shelves (we always used Pledge Furniture Wax as a verb - don't ask), and put it all back together. Go ahead. Click on that photo so it gets huge. I defy you to find a speck of dust!

In addition to storing boxes and baskets and jars of things I use in my art, some of the items on these shelves are gifts from dear Bloglandia friends. Just some of the stuff that I treasure and enjoy having around me when I create.

And, here is my neated, rejuvenated, reclaimed, and immaculate work bench! This is the best workbench in the world! Actually, it's an oak and stainless kitchen island from Ikea. But it makes the best work bench. Perfect height ... and all the drawers are so handy. I used to like having the glass fronts and being able to see what is in all the drawers. But they started making me crazy seeing how much they had in them. So I hid them by putting paper "curtains" inside the glass.

The quilt is one of mine (I rotate them) ... and the partial views of paintings are by Jon. More unframed paintings are stored under the bench. Bad storage, but no choice in the matter.

See how those little glass front drawers fit embellishment trays perfectly?! And rubber stamps. And ink pads and embossing powders. And Stickles and alcohol inks. And brads and soldering supplies. And and and ...

I spent so much time emptying out my showcases and Windexing (yes, we use that product as a verb as well!) all the shelves. This holds a lot of gifts and swaps and giveaway prizes, as well as storage for a few of my mini-theatres that haven't sold yet. The piece of red and gold art glass hanging above the cases I found in a wonderful art glass shop in Athens - and the curlicued pottery sculpture is by Jon.
Tell the truth ... does any grown man need this many boxes filled with silk, vintage and reproduction ribbons? Seriously. What do I do with all this stuff?!
So, I'm wiped out. It's been a long day. I should be finished, right?!
But, noooooo. Tomorrow, I have to work on this disaster storage cabinet. I may just find Jimmy Hoffa.

I mean, really, isn't this how everybody stores their supplies for easy accessibility and convenience?
Then, I have to tackle this hodge podge of mediums, glues, adhesives, acrylic paints, and plastic-toys-waiting-to-be-primed-and-then-rusted-for-collages. Do you also buy supplies thinking you need them, only to find out that you have already one - er, two - er, four?
This mess may required a shovel. I hide it all very neatly behind my large "scrap barrel" basket. But, it really must go. However, don't you just KNOW that the second it all gets thrown out, I'm going to need a box exactly that size?!

But, after all is accomplished tomorrow, they can do a featured article about me!
Now, you know you don't want to clean up your studio. So, go make something beautiful!

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(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥