03 March 2011

my creative space 'a new creative space'

Greetings all,
My Creative Space this week is creating a NEW Creative Space!!  Do you love your children enough to give up this much of your studio??  I've dug deep, i love mine 25m square worth of floor space!!  I'm chopping my studio in half.  This empty space + pushing those racks of fabric further back (forming a faux wall/ divider) will make this room even wider . . . so the children can each have a bedroom.  My eldest will move into this space, we'll seperate the twins, the boy remains in his fabulous room.  Easy??
Just a few weeks into school this year i could really see the twins need their own bedrooms as they approach the age of 10.  So it's room swapsies & making this 4 bedroom house into a 5'er.  They didn't ask, i could just feel it - they weren't as happy as normal (i'm a drama avoider).  This space also removes the high schooler from the 3 younger siblings, to the other end of the house, for more peace & quiet.  I'll do my studio first, then move the girls - life here is a giant puzzle.
 Oh dear, that rack just couldn't be moved one more time!! I combined the two to make one non broken one so all was not lost!!
This girl found an old size 1 Marcs skirt she used to wear as a toddler. I kept it to copy, it's such a cute skirt. She's also trying on her old plain black one piece for the swimming carnival - honestly, she doesn't out grow anything that incy wincy child.
Photos in reverse . . . that mess behind her is 'the before' of what i had to sort through after taking trestle tables to the market & dumping everything on the floor, the shame of it all. 
Cool things i 'found' again in the rubble - Smiggle animal 3D cardboard calendars, favourite tiny super sharp scissors & gorgeous soap from Thea&Sami which Thea sent for Christmas, smells divine!!
 Are you the type of mother who buys gifts & puts them away, then forgets??  I picked up these French wooden blocks from Donna Hay's General Store like 2.5 years ago . . . with my helper one step ahead of me in the clean up, she discovered this box & said "please tell me these are for me".  "Yes, for Christmas 2008 i think!!"  So in the middle of all that mess, she started playing with them.
 Then i started playing.
 How gorgeous are they??
 How did i forget these were in my house??
 How did i stop playing & get back to cleaning, sorting & tossing??
 I really should set these up & create a header or logo or something??
So, i'm setting myself a deadline, Sunday morning i want to be able to wake up to a fully organised & functioning studio.  So far i've tossed 3 garbage bags worth of junk & have 3 garbage bags filled with scraps/ remnants/ can't-bring-myself-to-throw-that-tiny-piece-of-fabric-yet.  I'm going to bag up all my bits & sell them in $5 bundles at the next market, huge value, but in a 'share the love' kind of declutter.  Then i'm going to set myself new goals about how i work, in my new half sized studio.  I'm going to sell all my vintage Ts, toys & supplies on line in a huge sale. 
Next week, oh la la, i'm going to reveal my new pigeon hole world's-most-organised-craft-shelving-unit-of-all-time (well that's the image in my head) on My Creative Space.  Love Posie

25 comments:

Cate said...

Oh you are a good mum!!
And yes, I really must get around to making a banner with the block pic that Amy made me :-)
xxxCate

Kerry said...

Very much looking forward to seeing the new/old space! Having lived in a tiny two bedroom house as a kid and sharing a room with my much older sister, bravo to you for making the space for your girls :)

yardage girl said...

You are a very good mumma! Good luck with the space deadline!

Wendy said...

The sacrifices we make! Hope you and your kiddos enjoy the new setup...

Mimi said...

I look forward to seeing the new space. Mimi x

another donkey design by kate said...

YOu are a generous mum - love those blocks and best of luch with the space deadline!

Anna Bartlett said...

I totally get it. We've been in this house just over 7 years and I think every room has been used for at least 2 different purposes so far. And at the moment my 'work' is crammed into a corner of the office. I'm thinking I'm going to need to take some space back, but I have no idea where to get it from!! In 2 years I'll be able to work in my proper studio again (the girls will be at school) and move all my gear out of the main house... my eyes are on the prize!

Felicity said...

Wow! Wow!!! and WOW!!!

Your energy never ceases to inspire me Jen and there is so much in this post.

This is a mammoth undertaking but I know that this time next week, there will be a fantastic new creative space to reveal - can't wait!

xxx Felicity

PS Loving the idea of the new header with the blocks - a terrific find

Bron said...

Next week is going to be a big one by the sounds of it!

Anonymous said...

What a good Mum, I'm not sure I could do it, then again I've never had a room for all my stuff so I figure if I ever get one I'm not letting it go, lol. Those blocks are totally gorgeous!

Photography said...

I am thinking of doing this right now too except we really need two new rooms and there just isn't any more space :-( I LOVE those blocks! and yeah I forget half of what i have too. I am sure when i empty out my room i will find things :-)

Sarah@Dolls And Daydreams said...

Oh my goodness i need to do that too to my space!!! And yes, i am one of those mums too!!! I have so many prezzies tucked away that i keep finding ... so silly!!

Chicken Willow said...

You are SUCH a good mother!!

Can't wait to see the new space next week.

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

You are amazing and my motherly/crafty inspiration all in one!!! I'm sure your eldest will love having a little sanctuary to herself and your twins their own space! can't wait to see that organisation system you have in your idea file xx

Rosalind said...

woah - well you have the most enviable space I have seen my dear

Trish@Show and Tell said...

Hi there
Just "discovered" and followed you via Sarah at Aah The Possibilities.
Kids do need their own space, but to have to give up so much of your own? What a bugger!
Good mum. Very, very good mum.
Look forward to seeing the revamped space!

Trish
xx

Chantal said...

I think I've said this before but Posie you're an amazing Mum. With all that you manage to do with your kids and business on day to day basis and now to throw in a quick reno which leaves you with less space for yourself is pretty remarkable. I also admire people who listen to their intuition and act on it before a crisis occurs - your kids are very lucky.

Gorgeous blocks by the way!

Jacinta said...

Looking forward to seeing the BIG REVEAL! :)

Maxabella said...

It makes sense if you can afford to have less room in your studio. They will love having their own space!

I am exactly like you in the toy department. I am always stumbling over things I bought ages ago and didn't gift. Weird, but there you go! Love those blocks. I keep meaning to go to the Donna Hay store but have never mustered the effort. I prefer online, I think. x

Teek said...

I am thinking you are a very generous mum :-) It's a big call to give up some of "your" space. I am sure the girls are going to thanks you for it. I think setting a deadline is a good idea. I might just have to do the same.
Thank you for your lovely comment
Tanya

Seaweed and Raine said...

What a loving Mum you are sharing your space and providing what your kids need. I look forward to seeing the re-organised space.
Those blocks are a cool find! I tend to squirrel stuff away too (and sometimes forget about it)... it all goes in 2 big drawers. It just means I have a few things to choose from ;)

Knicky Knacks said...

Talk about ambitious. If anyone can do it, you can! My goodness, I'm glad that's not me. You are a very thoughtful mum. God love ya!

Anonymous said...

Those blocks are so lovely, I just want to reach into the screen and grab them. Miss A would adore them. Can't wait to see how your new creative space turns out. xx

All For Love said...

Double WOW! What a project! Awesome mama you are for organising more space for your kiddos, I bet they will be stoked with the new arrangement. As I'm sure you'll enjoy the challenge and change of scenery for your studio.
YES I am always buying gifts to stockpile away... so hard to remember what I have bought and who it was meant for!
The blocks are gorgeous too by the way!

Michelle @ The Crafty Little Fox said...

You are a great mum. I gave my son back some of his room the other day when I moved out some clothes that had migrated to his wardrobe. The things we do :)