Monday, December 17, 2012

It's Been a Rough Year

You gain strength, courage and confidence
 by every experience
 in which you really stop
 to look fear in the face.
  ~Eleanor Roosevelt

 
I haven't posted anything since March, because I haven't spent any time in my studio this year.  It's been a rough year for me and my family, as I was diagnosed with cancer back in January.  I've undergone 3 surgeries earlier this year, and am having another major surgery in early 2013.  I went thru chemotherapy treatment, finishing the end of August, but continue to get 1 of the drugs every three weeks. This will continue until the end of next May.   Throughout all of this, I've kept a very positive attitude that I'm going to beat this!  I'm finally feeling pretty good again, although I get tired very easily.  Needless to say, my creativity level has been at zero. 
 
Since I wasn't working in my studio, it quickly became quite a 'catch-all' for assorted junk that I didn't know where else to go with. It got to the point that even if I wanted to work in it, I wouldn't because I couldn't stand the mess and clutter that overtook the workbench, table and floorspace.
 
Fortunately, I am finally beginning to get the urge to start working on art again.
 
I took the bull by the horns yesterday, and began the process of reclaiming my workspace.  I'm proud of the progress I've made so far, but I still have a lot more to do.  I took a few photos of the areas that I have finished, but my metalsmithing area is still in a state of shambles.
 

 This is only half of my studio space.  It's the part I got organized yesterday. 
 
 
 The wooden cabinets are full of assorted found objects.
 
 
 This is another view of the workspace.  The table under the window is where I can work on journaling, stamping, and mixed-media projects.
 
 
This photo is taken from my workbench where I do all my metalwork.  All the studio space from this point on is still in a state of chaos.  Hopefully, I'll get more organizing done on it today.


4 comments:

Kim Rae Nugent said...

I'm happy to see that you were feeling up to cleaning your studio space. It looks great! Perhaps after Christmas we can have another project day!

My studio needs to be cleaned and reorganized too!

Linda Cardella said...

I wish you the best of health for 2013 and a return to making art and collecting all those treasures.

Gayle said...

Beautiful Studio Space........
Be well.....

get a 13 number said...

Nice photos..i pray to the god for your good health..And I must say that your photography is too good...