Do Something!

Organizing

Sorting the assortment

I like to think I'm a pretty creative person.  As a jewelry designer I see the potential 'creativeness' aka inspiration, in almost everything I see from the color or form of a plant or flower, to the texture and pattern of fabrics, to shadows cast on a long summer day etc, etc....

So, when I saw Holly Becker's Creativity Series 8 (DO SOMETHING!) over at her delightful blog, Decor8,  I couldn't resist taking on the challenge (or was it an exercise?) and getting my creative juices flowing. The challenge/exercise was to write down at least ONE thing that you planned to do this past weekend that would put you in touch with your creative side. Then come back to Holly's blog on Monday and report if you did it, how it felt, etc. 

I decided to multi task and get organized as a way to inspire my creativity.  

Here is my original comment on her blog: 

"Holly, you always manage to motivate me, thank you!
This weekend I will:
1. Sort through some of my stones and beads. (this always gets my creativity going)
2. Add to and edit my Inspiration binder
I hope to do more than that but I don’t want to commit to too much then have to come back on Monday with less accomplished than I hoped for!"

Creating

Beautiful Baubles!

Well, I didn't get both items on the list done. My Inspiration binder is still in the same cluttered mess it has been...

However, I did sort many, many, many beads & pearls which in turn lead to making a ton of new pieces, some for my Etsy shop, but most for a local boutique that sells my work.  I feel such a great sense of accomplishment in getting what feels like two things done at once, organizing & creating.  While I still have a few more trays of beads & stones that need to be sorted, I'm actually looking forward to setting aside some time next weekend to not only organize but create once again!

Oh, and I managed to pick out several paint chips for my Bookshelf Project, and I can't wait to get started on that...

An Etsy Experiment...

Green Glass Bauble Earrings

available in my Etsy Shop

Over the next week, Monday through Sunday, I'm going to test a little theory about Etsy. The theory (or it is a myth?) goes something like this; the more you list and renew the more sales you will have. So, the experiment will be to list and renew up to 5-10 times per day at various times during the day. The total cost for this experiment will be somewhere between $7.00 to $14.00. I have read that advertising should comprise 10% of your sales revenue so in order for this experiment to be considered successful I will need to sell somewhere between $70.00 to $140.00 worth of merchandise depending on what my actual listing fees end up being.

I have always renewed and listed as needed as opposed to in a deliberate, "make a sale" type of fashion so I'm interested to see what results this intentional listing & renewing will bring.

Would you like to join me in this experiment? I would love to hear what your results are as well.

I'll report back next Sunday, March 15th...stay tuned!

What I Want...

Eames style office chair

available at: AdvancedInteriorDesigns.com

I  have been lusting after this chair for ages.  I love the simplicity of the design and the fact that it's white makes it the perfect chair for my studio.  The chair pictured above is a knockoff of the original Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair.
"Aluminum Group chairs were originally developed in 1958 as a special project by Charles and Ray Eames for a private residence being designed by Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard. The seat-back suspension was a major technical achievement and represented a departure from the concept of the chair as a solid shell."

Whatever, I want one.  And when I do get one it will be a knockoff.  The Herman Miller chair sells for around $2000 and I really can't justify that kind of expense on an office chair, especially since I can get my hands on an incredible facsimile for around 1/10th the price. 

Obsessed

Project Number 1

Behold the current state of the built in bookshelf.  Location: Living room

At first glance the photo doesn't look so bad...but look closer

Inspiration bookshelf.  

I love the contrasting color inside the shelves, the storage bins

and all that...beauty.

Real Simple

O.K., I have a confession to make.  I'm obsessed with organizing. It's a shame that obsession hasn't yet translated into actually being organized.  What it does translate into is browsing the aisles of the Container Store, Target, thrift shops, just about anywhere really, in search of beautiful items with which to contain, camouflage or hide my clutter or, better yet organize my clutter. I attempt to read every article online or in magazines regarding getting organized & reducing clutter.  Real Simple & Martha Stewart are my new best friends.  

I have now decided that my obsession needs to become something real.  In order to make that happen I've given myself a new goal.  GET ORGANIZED, once and for all.  My plan of attack is to pick an unorganized area of my home or studio and focus completely on that one space until it is organized to perfection.  It's sort of like the addage, "How do you eat an Elephant?  One bite at a time." (although I would never advocate eating elephants).

So, one bite at a time I'm getting organized....Join me, won't you?  I'll be posting before, during and after photos and invite you to do the same.  I would also love to hear which organizing tip and tricks have worked for you.

My first project is an abandoned corner of the living room, a built in bookcase that is overrun with clutter and a serious lack of functional and attractive storage.  It needs to serve as storage for books, video games and controllers (which we never use or play with, but I don't care as long as I don't have to look at them!) a few family photos and my unintentional apple collection etc.

I would like to have some attractive storage baskets or bins such as these:

Feathergrain Bins at The Container Store $14.99 to $34.99

Feathergrain Boxes at the Container Store $14.99 to $24.99

I'm also thinking about painting the inside of the shelves a nice, bright color. Not too bright though, as I'm married to a man who is scared to death of color.  My first thought is something in a golden tone, I must find paint chips now.  The quest begins...