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.