The other day I had just finished reading a short essay, by Tosha Silver, that was in her book OUTRAGEOUS OPENNESS, Letting the Divine Take the Lead, when I received the clear message that today I would finally clean out the three draws in the Hoosier Cabinet. The essay was titled "The Energy Vacuum" and discussed getting rid of clutter and things that might be useful but they are no longer useful to oneself. As a result, they suck up our energy and take up creative space in our lives.
Now, I had already been been going through the house and even the studio and getting rid of clutter on a pretty regular basis, for the last several years. I thought I was doing a pretty good job but I really knew better.
I knew those drawers needed a good going through. I received a very clear message that " today is the day to clean out those three drawers". I groaned at the thought of going through all of the stuff that had accumulated in them over many years. While I have kept all the other drawers in the kitchen free and clear of clutter, those three continued to lurk in that corner of the kitchen, weighing me down every time I thought of them, or had to try to find something in one of them.
So, I found a cardboard box and emptied the first drawer into it. I figured that I would only put what was needed and/or wanted back into the drawer. It all went surprisingly smoothly and by time I tackled the second drawer, I had decided on a strategy for reorganizing the drawers. I also had a pretty good size box of stuff for Goodwill and the trash can was filling up.
The third drawer is the big one, in the photo at the beginning of this column. I was shocked at some of what I found in there. A newspaper from 1988 was lining the bottom and there was a can of shoe polish that might have been from Steve's army days, back in 1967 to 1971. Yes, very old and molded.
I only found two items that are still useful and they are now put in a more appropriate place. I finished filling the trash can, wiped out the drawer and put it back in the cabinet empty. It's going to stay that way.
I did feel a huge sense of relief at getting rid of all that stuff. I had not realized how much those lurking drawers were affecting me until I had dealt with them. The more I got rid of, the lighter I felt.
I also am left wondering why I let them get so filled with clutter but that's probably another subject for another time. I can now enjoy opening a drawer and finding what I need. Most of all, it's opened up space for something new to now appear in my life.
I've been using this same approach in the studio. I realized that I haven't been really excited about creating anything new. I started looking around at some of the unfinished projects from years back and felt weighed down by them.
I know that sometimes it's best to just give up on a project; that not all beginnings are meant to have an end, but these were things that I wanted to try finishing. Some of them I really liked and others are a creative challenge that still looks like fun. I've decided to open up space by finishing those projects that still appeal to me.
One of them is a collage that I started many years ago at a KHQS Getaway.
I got as far as painting the background and the three green silk rectangles, and then set it aside.
Here I've accented the quilted lines with brown shades of watercolor pencils and added more paint to the green silk rectangles. I've also found a collection of antique buttons, pearl leaves, turquoise and a belt buckle.
It was looking a bit plain, so, I decided to check out the trim drawer.
After applying the trims, I decided to add some beading.
Things are coming along. More is being added and I'm feeling a bit of energy coming back into the studio. A project is about to be finished up that I'm really liking while I'm having fun finding and using things up and making room for something new.
Hopefully, I'll be posting the photos of the finished piece in a few days.
To paraphrase Tosha Silver, "when we let go of what we don't need, what we do need can then arrive."
I'm opening up space and inviting in more creative energy.
Creating Always,
Karen
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