A small obsession in the sewing room.

As I walk down the hall, I glance into the joy of my sewing room.  The sun bouncing through a beaded collar.  I'm lost.  No work is getting done this morning.  The room has cast it's spell, time slows as my breathing relaxes.  The rest of the day is spinning past, yet time in this most magical place stands still and allows me to follow creative desire where it will lead.

Baskets of colored threads line a shelf.  Spools of vintage ribbons stacked by color.  Drawers full of carefully stored millinery stems, some so tiny and delicate it's satisfying to just gaze within.  Old, complicated laces pinned to mannequins.  Fabrics stacked on open shelves,  organized by color, with lace, ribbons, buttons and trims piled on top.   Each pile carefully chosen to someday use with the fabrics.  Rows of large antique jars full of tiny parts-embellishments for projects, bits of ribbons to exquisite to waste, Frozen Charlotte dolls peeking out of the glass, surrounded by color and textures. Huge baskets with buttons categorized by color, at least thirty pounds of buttons.  Antique scissors and other tools from all around the world tucked into every wooden box or jar.  

I think it's time to admit to an addiction that consumes me.  I love the look, the feel in my hands, the faded, muted or tattered textiles, tools, EVERYTHING to do with woman's work of times past.  At one point I remember reading that woman's work was a lost part of American life.  This may have been true for a time but I think there is something, maybe deep in our DNA that connects us to our generations of mothers past, that drives us today to continue to sew, knit, embroider, quilt and the many other hand traditions.









  There may be a new spin on designs and materials that we can readily access, but the simple process of pushing a sharp tool through a piece of fabric is still the same, still satisfying.  

Rarely a day goes by that I don't at some point thread a needle or wrap a yarn around a my finger.  When I see an old tool or pattern I have to save it, give it a home in my room.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59705660/vintage-pink-tape-measure-sewing-tool

I've been reduced to a bag woman

Okay, I'm a professional artist, translation:  people are now paying me enough for my art, jewelry and handbags to support myself- but isn't that why I got married>?  His money supports us, mine is whatever money or on responsible days~my retirement fund!  Even though I have 4 online stores and I work as an art teacher part time, even  sell my jewelry wholesale now!!!  I am still the maid, cook, chauffeur, care giver, dog walker, poop picker upper!, laundress etc, you can fill in the rest as I'm sure you have your list!  Popping a tube of paint is directly causes a  "Mary, ..."  or the phone rings..."Mom..." or someone stops by because I'm not working, can't be- I'm at home. 

 

I read a great article about creative people, we're disorganized, scattered, etc!  No I'm not, I just have to fit it in between the 90 other demands of the day.  My husband asked at breakfast why I was soldering on the kitchen counter?  Uh, last night  they all wanted a big dinner- soldering had to be done, can't I do that while I watch a vat of spaghetti sauce simmer?  Made perfect sense to me!  I didn't get any flux in the pan!

 

By working like this  I  am still able to cook, clean, be healthy in my home-if you don't clean that mold will kill you!...hmmm, wonder what kind of medium I could mix it with to make...I digress.  I’m always multi tasking, just  moving the art with me.  I've become a bag woman!  I have great tote bags, saved over the years from every charity, club or wherever they seem to come from, now I have a new GREEN stash of grocery totes to pull into service.  All  the bags have glue, scissors, thread, needles, yarn, crochet hook, knitting needles and about four ongoing projects.  When I leave a room, a bag goes with me, when I go in the car, sometimes two bags go with me.  I am never without my projects now.  I went on vacation one time and forgot a bag and had to go to the store just so I could have some art supplies with me.  I wouldn’t be comfortable otherwise.  Now before I go I pack the art supplies a week in advance, my clothes an hour before I leave for the plane.  I have my priorities right!  Gotta go, which bag will I take with me?  

Is This A Sickness? And are you qualified to help??

Yeah!! I went to an auction and have a huge haul of bronze keyholes,VICTORIAN SHABBY CHIC BRASS METAL PRIMITIVE MEDIEVAL GOTHIC ART DECO HARDWARE GOTH ESCUTCHEON COVER PLATES FURNITURE PLATE ALTERED ART MIXED MEDIA ASSEMBLAGE STEAMPUNK !!!!! Dancing around my pile BUT!!! I have to sell some in my supply store on etsy to make the money back I spent that I don't have!!!! That's NOT THE PROBLEM!! The problem is I want to keep most of it for myself. The problem with being an artist is stuff. You never have enough, you're always looking for more, have no storage for all of it, can't get rid of it because it may just be the piece you're looking for in the future and on and on.....Is this a sickness??? I have two bedrooms, an office, a finished basement that is HUGE, an area in the family room, MY CAR!!, the garage and even things in the shed. OHMYGOSH!! Am I going to be on the news someday as the woman found under a pile of newspapers, only insert art supplies and paintings for newspapers!!! My pile is growing....and GROWING. I opened a supply site on etsy, then a sewing supply site on etsy. It hasn't helped, it's actually hurt! Now I can't pass up anything because it may go on the site OR in the pile for later. Really, I'm not a nut, just obsessed with my art. THere it doesn't stop. I am obsessed with my art. Does that mean too many paint brushes. NO. I paint. I draw. I sew. I build. I assemble. I make jewelry. I make soap. I make paper. I make things from paper. I collage. I do mixed media. I do clay, both ceramic and polymer. Now you take all of those and you have art supplies X however many and on top of that I'm an obsessive instruction and biography and anything altered art book and Magazine collector. I think it's a sickness, but right now I'm not looking for a cure. I will take some off today's finds and put a FEW of them in my store. The rest I'll leave out for a while so I can just enjoy gazing at them. Help needed, qualified destashers only need apply. http://www.pinksupply.etsy.com