Thursday, August 25, 2011

I'm not fond of rework, but sometimes it has to be done

As my dear blog friends on the east coast are suffering the effects and aftershocks of an earthquake that made history, I have reached what doesn't seem like a very important milestone in my own city. Yesterday our temperature was 107 F (which broke the previous record), and has made it the second hottest summer in my city's history. Just three more days of 100 F or higher temps, and it will be the hottest summer EVER!! The forecasters are predicting we will set the record by the end of the weekend.

So while my east coast friends put their books back on their shelves and my southern friends continue their long heat and drought, all I can offer are some photos of a bit of rework I performed last week.


I'm not a fan of rework, preferring to do it right the first time. but this shelving had to go. The overall length of the shelves was too long, didn't reach high enough, and the buckets holding the shelving in place took up too much room. In the background is one of my new shelving units. It is exactly the same as the others I have in my hall and the south wall of my studio. As for the trash, I was still collecting it, as you can see by the large box in the photo's foreground.


One nice thing about finally opening most of the boxes was I found most of the poles for my shelves. This is actually one complete and part of a second set of shelves that I had replaced. See here for new shelves I bought for the studio area. Remember, we are in the hallway.



I first got rid of the old shelves, but saved the buckets because they were full of assemblage goodies. Please don't ask how I thought I would get to the contents of these buckets when they were acting as shelf dividers. I think I was more concerned with getting some shelving up than I was in practicality. I have used my stairs and buckets as staging areas, which Bleubeard decided to decimate. Can you see him working his way down the stairs in the above photo?


The shelving was now gone and all the goodies were sitting on the stairs, as Bleubeard worked his way over the baskets and breakables, while I shrunk in chagrin hoping he wouldn't break anything. After he got to the base of the steps, he decided to clean himself. This was when my camera batteries died, even though I continued to work throughout the rest of the day.


This is what the shelves looked like the next day. Perhaps you can see (right back side of photo) the new shelving unit is still not assembled, but still in its original packaging. It was at that time that I went to the studio and did a bunch of rework there, also.


Fast forward to a week ago Wednesday and here is the little area with the shelf unit filled to the brim, the new shelf unit assembled, the rocker in place, and my new gray shelf (on the right side of the photo) assembled and filled. The glass ashtray in the cast iron holder is a drink holder. Only the fan is out of place in this photo and I can't find my other hanger for the second painting that used to hang on the wall (to the left of and above the rocking chair).


Turn around and you can see all three shelves on the south hall wall are now filled. I have brought my fabric down and placed it on the middle shelves for easy access. Most of what you see is old sheets in plastic bags. Sorry the lighting is so bad, but since this is a hallway, I don't need lots of lighting, only enough in case I want to find something special on the shelves. I don't normally need much light, so what I have (15 watt) is sufficient for the hall.


From the other direction, you can see it's still a bit of a mess and all that tissue paper which sits on the top shelf of the closest shelving unit, has taken on a life of its own. I ran out of room to store it standing upright, so added a bag and a plastic container full of it. I really must use it this fall or winter to make fabric paper.



Here is possibly a better view of the south and east sides of the hall. Note I still have a couple of boxes that I have yet to find spaces for.


Also on Wednesday, I brought my chairs to the basement from the kitchen that live on the north side of the hall. Then I placed my small carts back where they belong. I still can't find the hooks that go in my pegboard to hang my art I had placed there before, so I may need to replace those, too.


Here is most of the north and east sides of the hall. Note the box and pan that I still have not unloaded. The door between the shelves and rocking chair goes to my basement full bath. This is enough update today. I'll show more later in the week and I hope you caught yesterday's WOYWW post, too.

I hope everyone is having a good week. It's been fun showing what I've finally accomplished, and contemplating what still needs to be done.

15 thoughtful remarks:

Darla said...

Your pictures show just how much stuff you have and just how much hard work has been involved in getting the studio space in shape. I'm just amazed.

Darla

RosA said...

I don't envy you all that sorting and organising work, but I bet it will be all worth it in the end! I reckon you will end up with an absolutely fabulous studio! Thanks for visiting me for WOYWW.

Helen said...

Wow, Elizabeth!! Such a lot of stash, and some amazing re-organisation. You deserve a treat after sorting that lot out.

Healing Woman said...

Sometimes I think we can analyze things better when we see them posted on our blogs. You have accomplished a lot in a relatively short time.

Weather patterns have been erratic in a lot of the world this summer. Your heat and our earthquake on the east coast. Makes me wonder what is ahead this fall.

Canace said...

Okay, I'm exhausted.. lol I don't know how you can do all this hard work in the heat. I can't imagine temperatures that high... arghhh you poor thing.

As for the earthquake... I live 70 miles north of New York City in the mountains and I felt it here very strongly for about 30 seconds. The dogs got so scared they ran upstairs and under my legs... at which time I decided to get us all out of the house as everything was shaking even harder. Quite an experience.. scary!

Stay cool.. and congrats on all your hard work Elizabeth!

Caterina Giglio said...

Oh E, this is the second time I have tried to post a comment! blogger doesn't like me today... well at least you get something out of that heat wave and this winter you will remember how bloody hot it was when you are dealing with the frigidity of winter eh? your studio looks so inviting and organized... as usual, guess I should take some photos of mine and post them too! xx

Dianne said...

what an amazing transformation. I love that you painted everything white and the shelves are white--makes the space look bigger. And it sure is full! A huge amount of work, but you'll be so pleased when it's done. too bad you can't 'bottle' the heat & save it for Feb.! Stay cool my dear...

Laura Tringali Holmes said...

Big strides! It must feel so great to have so much accomplished. And I'm laughing about the tissue paper. I get so frustrated with it. Now I just toss it into a corner of my shop for "storage." At least it doesn't wrinkle. Tissue does indeed have a life of its own!

~*~Patty S said...

you ARE a busy bee Mz E!!!
Must feel great to see so much progress...had to giggle about your assemblage bits tucked neatly away in your bucket shelf holders...

one thing that happens to me when I try and tidy up my art cave is that I come across so much great "stuff" I get antsy to play and well you know what happens then...the work stops and the play begins

I admire your discipline!

BIG GOSH on your heatwave...it is relentless!
sending cool thoughts your way!
oxo

Jo Murray said...

There's a lesson in this for me... I'd best hop to it and tidy up. Good work!

PeggyR said...

WOW that's a lot of organizing! I'm in the process of doing our basement as my husband was a hoarder! I have before pictures and will post them all when I'm done as it will take a while to do this.

Steph said...

you've been really busy, dear E.....organizing is good in a way too .....we'll find a little treasure here and there....:))) stay cool....

Halle said...

Holy cow! You've been very busy. It looks great!

Clare with paint in her hair said...

If its not right its gotta go! Best to sort it now or it will bother you to no end until you do I find!

Terri Kahrs said...

You've worked your butt off on this project, Elizabeth! It seems as though it's been "forever" in the making, but now you can breathe a bit easier and have a wonderful place to create!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo