Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Organization ~ It's a Beautiful Thing!


I'm here to report that yesterday, I created absolutely nothing. I did however, get better organized.

We each have our own level of cleanliness including everything from slob to neat freak. I tend to come in more on the neat side. I don't think I'm quite freaky. If you visited me by surprise, you would find unmade beds, the evidence of boys in almost every space, and probably a few dishes in the sink. I do however, have a cleanliness quirk in my nature. You see, I become paralyzed creatively if I'm surrounded by clutter. I cannot work in a space unless it is clean and organized. I find any level of mess to be a distraction. It feels like a car alarm going off or a jackhammer; one of those disturbances that just can't be ignored.

My dye shelves were starting to feel like that. I have a custom dye request to fill, but yesterday I had to take time out to overhaul my pantry, and in the process, make a better situation for my dye stock and equipment. I simply could not dye one more ounce of wool until this was accomplished. Of the tasks I performed yesterday, the most life altering is the labeling of the lids on my dye stock jars. I may start to sound a little freaky after all, but this is major for me. For years, literally years, every time I need a certain color, I lift jar after jar until I find the right one. About a zillion times I have told myself that I need to label the tops of my jars. Finally, I've done just that. Not only did I label the lids, but I changed to using only one size jar for a more uniform appearance and I've organized them by hue. Now they are lined in rows in the color order of the rainbow. If I need a certain shade of green, I know about where to start looking.

Today, I will create something. I'll paint that rainbow roving for my customer and it will be a pleasure gathering my tools and my dye. I am no longer halted in my efforts by a noisy space. For me organization isn't just a beautiful thing, it's a necessary one!

3 comments:

  1. I also feel like I am unable to be creative with clutter :) I'm glad I am not alone! Hopefully now that your dyes are oganized, it will make more time for fun!

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  2. It looks awesome! Wow!

    I'm the same way. With the result that nothing ever gets created.

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  3. I didn't think I was alone, but it still feels good to have that confirmed! Sometimes I envy people who can work in any space. On the other hand, this little handicap of mine means that my house stays a lot cleaner.

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