* Mail Art and Organizing the Studio ...

Organizing my studio here is turning into a bit of a challenge.  It's all about climate.  I know, your saying "Climate? .... Whaaaa?".  April and May can be HOT here.  Who knew?  Everything I read about climate in this area used words like moderate and temperate.   Perhaps these reports have not been updated since climate all over the world is changing.  Yesterday for example, we had a wind storm.  The air filled with dust and small tornadoes appeared off the hills and mountains.  My head is currently wrapping itself around the dust issues here.  There is no escaping it.  I've come to the conclusion I either accept it for what it is, or I move!  I use the word dust loosely.  It's a 'silt' ... so fine, if there was a hole the size of a pin head, tons of the stuff would make it through and layer whatever lies beyond with it's blessings.  So, it becomes an issue, not only for working, but for storage of art materials, especially paper of any kind.  I purchased plastic towers for storage in the studio.  The silt filters in, through any crack it can find.  I changed my strategy and bought large bins with air tight lids ... nope ... does not keep it out.  Working can be even more of a challenge.  I wipe everything down with a damp cloth before I begin.  Yesterday, for example, during the wind storm, I found myself wiping everything down, including myself,  about every ten minutes. There simply is nothing else I can do but accept it's part of life here.  After I finish a project ... say the earrings for example, I wipe them down, slip them into small zip lock bags and place them in a box with a lid.  It's something I'm going to have to learn to live with.  Fortunately this weather is only for a couple of months at best (or worst) ... so surely I can accept two months of dust.   Wish me luck.  The rainy season is approaching ... I'm all for it!

After yesterdays putter session in my studio,  one can actually see the floor again.  There is hope.  Pretty much everything is in bins and drawers.  Now to do the fine sorting and label, label, label.  I like to know exactly where everything is when I'm working on a project.

Still much more work needed ... however, it is progressing.

I'm very fond of this piece which I was fortunate to find at a garage sale.  The tin punch doors are done by quite a well known local artist, and it fits into the niche like it was custom built!  How lucky am I.

A few more days, I may be comfortably ensconced ... working happily on my projects.  I have no idea what I'm going to do with my large easel.  It's currently on the terrace.  Because of the way I had it built, it does not fit well in this space.  I may have to sell it and have a different one made.

And now for something completely different (Anyone out there a Monty Python fan?)  .... here's the latest mail art, ready for the post office.

 

We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today.  I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great.  If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time.  ~Art Buchwald

A reminder that we really only have this moment, this NOW.