Friday, September 9, 2016

Finding the Muse while finding your stuff

my quilt Imagine hanging in the entry to the studio

I forced myself to go into the studio this week, and realized you can find the Muse while finding your stuff. 
 Is anyone out there as messy as I am??? We are in the Pilot program, pile it here, pile it there.
I had created an archeological dig in the studio. Just keep throwing bags in, PIGS (projects in Grocery sacks), new fabric and beads, books, etc. I was barely able to find a path in.


This week, after coming to acceptance... I decided to be brave.

AMAZING!  I found things I thought were lost forever, or accidentally thrown away.
(AS IF I would throw something away lol)

I found this bag, this magical bag full of finished and nearly finished beaded projects and tons of beads! Yea!

I found supplies I've looked for for months!
The shiny packets are some iron on baguettes (beads), some piping, some labels.

I found scraps given by friends, and made some items as medically necessary sewing

These were from some scraps given me, some odd strip sets. I cut them into 9-patch size, and resewed them. It might become a table runner with some sewing room fabric borders. Or a valance.

The point is, it got me sewing.
Sewing is calming.

It's a good thing. 








I also sewed together some floral scraps given me... these things are good to do when you need to sew but your brain isn't firing on all cylinders. I'm making a tote bag with it, stay tuned as it's turning out so cute!



This is September's calendar page

It says, "the world is not going to come to you.
The sooner you realize that, the more time you'll have to pack"

Hmmmm

We have had changes befall us recently, and there are some changes we need to make. There are even some changes we WANT to make.

Better get going...


38 comments:

Julierose said...

Oh so happy to hear you are moving forward a little. I cannot seem to "Find" things in my "archeological digs"
either--: art stuff, journaling, bookmaking (not betting hahaha), journaling, beading, scrapbooking, sewing, and on and on....Yesterday I went through all my "STUFF" and could not find my nice bone folder...(I did find some watercolor journals I had made--thought I had given them away--nope.) I either need a bigger room or less stuff--neither is an option....
I have been working on my first love from when I was 6 years old--glue books--cutting images from magazines and stuff (more stuff yet!!) and making little worlds of my imagination...so relaxing and fun...imagine boxes of hands, faces, arms, clocks, trees etc etc..and so you begin to see my problem....yup--I totally "get it"!! hugs, Julierose

Amy Art Quilter & Fyber Cafe said...

OMG! My room has been collecting bags and boxes that have no home for quiet some time now. I am so tired of seeing these perfect clean studios with lots of unused space. A quiet little sitting area, NO WAY! My studio is floor to ceiling shelves and boxes, the shelves so full of fabric I can't squeeze in one more fat quarter. I plan on making the "man cave" a painting/dyeing/printing studio and that will give me some much needed room in my studio as things get moved down there. But I am having trouble moving on too, and cleaning up all his stuff is difficult. I'm glad you are able to sew again, keep on peacing.

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

Well, I'll tell you what. You go about straightening up and rearranging things. That will give you some organizational calm. When you decide you don't need something, toss it into a box. When we are back into the house, I will pay you postage to send it my way!!!! We BOTH win! LOL

quiltedfabricart said...

You are on the road to recovery if you feel like sewing. Getting your mojo back will be oh so good for you! I am soooo glad to hear this :-)

Nancy said...

I had to laugh when I read your post. I have been packing up our house in preparation of moving and I keep finding stuff. I started on my sewing room this week and had to force myself to pack as I would find items that I would much rather be working on than packing up.

Norma Schlager said...

Glad to see you sewing again and I love your Pilot system of organizing. I'm good at that, too!

Sara said...

Love the sentiment of that calendar page. I should make it my new theme.

And yes - I am definitely just as messy. My sewing room is also in the Pilot program right now.

claudia said...

I course, you DO know that I KNOW that you wrote this post for ME!!! Here you are in my head again!
I didn't realize that there was a Pilot program. I must have joined in while sleeping. Now that there is a name for it, I may be able to do something about it!
I think we are sisters, twins, born a few years apart, and there's a whole country in between us, but you put things out there and they are things I either need to hear or am in the throws of. And your venturing into your studio is exactly what I am in the throws of. I haven't found the treasures that you have, but I have sewn! I have two denim pillow tops almost done. Yes, I know there are a few more hours of figuring out and sewing to do on them, but the main thing is; I sewed!!!
I am so proud of you, diving in there, and it looks as though you were duly rewarded!
I love the second wall hanging. It speaks to me...loudly! I must listen!!!
And the calendar page? Yes, it is so true!!!

PaintedThread said...

I love your names for stuff (pilot, pigs). LOL. And it is so fun to find stuff you forgot you had.

Kaja said...

It's good to see you able to go back into your studio and do a little bit of sewing;you may not firing on all cylinders but your tote is going to be so pretty and look at all the goodies you are uncovering!

Joanne said...

Thanks LeeAnna for sharing the PIGS and Pilot programme!
What a treasure cave you have!
Those florals look great!

easyweimaraner said...

I need a gps for my office now... but while looking for a scissors I've found the chewing bones I bought for Easy last week. I thought I forgot them in the store, good thing that I found them back... like Mr. Einstein said: "Everybody can handle order, but only a genius can master chaos"

Turid said...

Been there, but right now I'm digging myself up. Maybe I will be on track again soon. A great idea to dig in the plastic bags to get new inspiration. Yesterday that gave me a little finish, too. Have a nice weekend!

Debbie said...

About 4 years ago I had an encounter with my "dig" area. It took a few weeks/months to get thru it and find homes for those items but now I only keep one pile to stow away. I can function better....note it takes determination to keep it organized:0

Quiltdivajulie said...

TERRIFIC post -- so happy for you!

Shari - a prim and (not so) proper quilter said...

I'm so happy to see you found your way back into your studio. Welcome back!

Lin said...

Sounds like a mammoth task but always sooo good to find things you had lost or forgotten about! xx

Sue said...

LA reading this post made me feel so happy this morning. Thanks for sharing this with us. Keep making, it is the very best therapy.

MissPat said...

Yea! Moving forward, one step at a time, one day at a time. So good to see some of the old LeeAnna peeking through. Glad you took the time to sew a little and not get caught up in organizing. Love the floral patches.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Yep, I am a member of the Pilot program, too! A lifelong member! Lol! I love the concept of medically necessary sewing. That's what it is for me - totally necessary for de-stressing. Your nine patches are pretty and looking forward to seeing the tote bag you are creating!

PaulaB quilts said...

Your sweet flower patch project will bless you by doing it, as well as blessing the recipient. Are you making floor space for those IKEA units? I have solved the pilot program. I order more fabric online and it comes in wonderful stackable boxes, much neater on the outside. Plus I get to buy more fabric! Hugs.

Katie Z. said...

I've learned I can't take part in the Pilot program, or else my kids will carry off the piles and bags of precious bits! Good luck with life changes.

Tails Around the Ranch said...

Woo-hoo...we love Christmas in September! Congrats on finding the muse in your own studio. Here's to some pawsome changes down the road! 🐩

gayle said...

Oh, thank you for giving a name to my system - the Pilot Program! Yes, indeed!
I'm so glad to see you moving in an arty direction again. Even just stirring supplies around is creative!

Sheryl said...

Isn´t it great to find things you had forgotten you had. I still haven´t found a bag of threads I bought months ago and I haven´t got a studio/sewing room.

Lisa said...

I am not alone!! Yay.

AlidaP said...

I am totally messy myself!! every few months I have to go through all my stuff because I remember I bought something for a project and I cannot remember where I put it (even if I clearly remember that the thought when I was putting away that object was "I will put it in this special place so I won't forget I have it" :) yeah, right!). I am happy you are getting back your creative muse! Hugs!!

Karen's Korner said...

Consider your room an "Aladin's Cave" of treasures.

Rhonda said...

My sewing room, too, is in a pilot program. Every day, I tell myself I'll tidy up, but as long as I can still find things, I let it slide. Good to see you're doing some simple sewing while awaiting inspiration for another project.

Dar said...

Loved your post. I too have some of the same symptoms as you, but didn't know that there was a name for it. I can now officially tell my friends that I have been participating in the PILOT program within my sewing studio. It sounds so impressive. Thanks much.

Shadow said...

PILOT program. I like that term. Until moving into the RV I lived that program. It is amazing how going from 1800 sq ft to 430 sq ft alters that program. However the finding lost treasures no longer happens. Enjoy your lost treasures.

Sarah

Jayne said...

It is good to see you are getting back in the swing of things! Messy?! I almost wish I could be! Since I quilt in my dining room I have to keep it all contained!

Nicky said...

Scraps are a great way to get stitching again! Well done for tidying up too. Thanks for linking up to #scraptastictuesday.

Maria said...

Organizing is very rewarding and it might help bring some peace back into your life. It is very calming and productive at the same time. I love finding things that you thought were tossed away it's like getting your winter jacket out for the first time since last season and finding a twenty dollar bill - SCORE!

Bonnie said...

Yea for organizing. I am still finding things I need after the move -- and things I found after moving into the finished attic several years ago! I really understand your concept of archeological digs... I used to say that about my desk at work too. Glad you are back on the sewing/beading/creating track.

Daytona Damsel said...

I just cleaned and organized my studio in preparation of selling my home. I found all kinds of goodies. One draw back though is now I can't find the things I use regularly. Your studio looked neat compared to mine before I cleaned it. Good luck oin getting your muse back. Debbie

Susan said...

So glad you got back into the studio, if just to clean and organize. And I'm sure it feels great to find things you thought were lost - a bonus! Thanks for sharing on Midweek Makers

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts said...

It's like your birthday all over again as you discover things you forgot you had! Thanks for linking to Finished or Not Friday.