Thursday, November 12, 2009

My creative space...

Thanks to a looming editing deadline, I've been practising great restraint in recent weeks and have barely sewn or otherwise crafted anything. I have, however, been employing those other tried-and-true forms of procrastination: Tidying and Redecorating. Or, as I tend to call it, Creative Redistribution of Clutter.

Mainly I've been focusing on the 'creative space' in our bedroom, which is where I keep my creative tools, notions, machinery and stash: 



From left: I've covered the wire shelving that holds thrifted clothing and material with some stash fabric. Mrs Doubtfire has been clothed in an old table cloth from my mother-in-law (the poor thing has been taken off her 'pedestal', which was the stand for our fan, and is thus back in use in the warm Melbourne weather!). And I swapped my open bookcase for this one that was in the boys' room, which is much roomier and easier to keep tidy. A vast improvement on THIS, don't you think?:



I've hidden away all my gorgeous bright modern and retro materials. Not because I don't love looking at them, but I've started to realise that in the bedroom I need a bit of calm. So only the most muted, subtle (oh ok, and BLAND) stuff is now on display!

Also on display (when not in use) is this bag, my absolute favourite bag in the world. It brings together my love of hessian, ampersands and of course, clutter! Bought at a lovely store called, you guessed it, Love & Clutter, in Hobart TAS.

32 comments:

  1. That is a great bag - I really like the simplcity and humour - Tassie has some great little shops. Nice space, and I hope you're keeping cool!

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  2. Oh Gina - I love your creative redistribution of clutter. I would love to try that myself ... I am just not sure that I would have half the success of your beautiful styling!

    The bag is fabulous. Ampersands are always the punctuation of choice. They look so better than full stops, dashes, ellipses and semi-colons.

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  3. looking good gina. nothing better than a freshly tidied space-or so i'm told- as if i would know

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  4. It is so not procrastination. There is NO WAY you could complete the editing task with a messy, cluttered house!

    Those neat shelves make my heart smile!

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  5. Just love the creative redistribution of clutter! I've been doing lots of that in the last few months too!Way to go!
    Annamaria

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  6. "Creative Redistribution of Clutter"

    love it! this is what i've been doing all morning and now it has been justified and legitimised, thank you very much :)

    btw, i also have some of that bright blue and red retro patterned fabric in the 2nd photo, as well as brown, and green versions of it!

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  7. love the new look, so nice and fresh. I agree, leave the bright colours for when you are working with them I agree the bag is very cool.
    It looks fab

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  8. Creative Redistribution of Clutter.... I love it!

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  9. That is a very calming space, Gina. I think every home needs one. love the bag too. Good luck with your deadline. K

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  10. sounds like great procrastination to me! Creative Redistribution of Clutter is a fantastic way to say it :)

    I think I need a little calm in my bedroom too. sigh. one more day of class, then, then... the to do list of housework!

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  11. it looks so tidy...C.R.O.C...I will join that club!!

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  12. I'm dumping the Crafty Vignette theories and working with Creative Redistribution of Clutter from now on. It still sounds viable but I think I can live easier with that kind of honesty. Still reckon I love ampersands more...

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  13. i love your terminology too. and so tidy now :)

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  14. it dooes look so calming! I agree too I do a lot of art work while having to lie down and I have to keep a cap on how messy the bedroom gets, it's too overwhelming otherwise

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  15. "Redistribution of Clutter" - love it!!

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  16. Oh that is such lovely Creative Redistribution Of Clutter (CROC). I really need some CROC in, well pretty much every room here!

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  17. Why do your posts always make me luagh so much? Mrs Doubtfire definately looks more appropriate in crocheted 'wrap' rather than fitted shirt. The CRC-ed space looks very soothing now.

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  18. Oh I love that bag! I'm a bit of ampersand fiend myself, loving your space...Tam xo

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  19. I think your redistribution has worked super well, your space looks fab.

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  20. Inspiringly redistrubted. I must get on and try some of this myself. It's good for the soul, don't you think!

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  21. I need to learn the art of redistrubution Gina!!! I shall look here for wonderful ideas and new distributing ideas for around the home...hehe Meanwhile I crafted enough for both of us this week!!

    xo Steph

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  22. That bag rocks!!! Think I'll keep the redistripution idea in my back pocket and use it for a big excuse sometime :P

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  23. I am loving the bland and the bag, de - cluttering is so satisfying!

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  24. Love the bag! Your space looks very calm and restful.

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  25. I noticed the bag straight away - it really is great! Your phrase Creative Redistribution of Clutter is one that I'm going to HAVE to pinch of you - it's brilliant - and something I do a LOT of aswell! The problem is are you going to want to get it all out again when your deadline's over?!!! xx

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  26. Great bag - it looks like it's been loved over and over. I agree, the bedroom needs to be calm...save the retro for everywhere else in the house!

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  27. Oh you love hessian too ! Awesome:)I am a bit of a hessian nut and still have 150 meters of it left to make glorious bags with Yay! I love your definition "creative redistribution of clutter" I think you just created another global definition. some day it may be abbreviated to CRoC lol as all thing internetty are. p.s i just read everyone elses post and SEE it has already started lol

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  28. great bag! lovely organisation ~ very serene.
    (i like your new header too)

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  29. I do like those shelves. They look so ordered in a not at all uptight kind of way. Off to Ikea (AGAIN) today, so you never know, there might be some hope for the sewing table!! Soon?

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  30. ... i too am loving ampersands at the moment and I really love that bag!!!

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  31. I love the way you redistributed the clutter! Most days it seems what I do, but I really need to de-clutter instead of redistribute. Love the bag too!

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“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
~Albert Einstein