Acedia: the lost name for the emotion we're all feeling right now*

   *from theconversation.com

image of Acedia by Hieronymus Wierix

 

     It begin as a deceptively slight shift in thought, or rather...a quick succession of thoughts that distract me from my right mind.  I've been working too long and need a break; maybe I should read a mystery novel to clear my head.  I tell myself I'm too weary to concentrate.  I tell myself that it is a matter of respecting my limitations, and of being good to myself.  If I manage to read one book, and then return to my other obligations, no harm is done.  But often, one book does not satisfy me.  My "rest" has only made me more restless, and as I finish one book, I am tempted to pick up another.  If I don't check myself, I can slip into a state both anxious and lethargic, in which I trudge through four or five paperbacks a day, for three or four days running.  I am consuming books rather than reading them.

 

    I may have begun with a well-written novel, but soon I am ingesting whatever I can get my hands on.  Morbidly conscious of the time I am wasting.  I race feverishly through a book so preposterously and badly written that it nauseates me.  If I pick up a more serious book, something that might bring me to my senses, I am likely to plow through it so thoughtlessly as if it were a genre thriller...My days are not lived so much as wasted in compulsive reading.  I stop answering the phone and getting the mail, ignoring everything but the next page, the next book in the pile...

 

     It amazes me how quickly acedia can deaden what has long been a pleasure for me, and with what facility despair will replace the joy I once found in the act of reading.  But my dilemma is less literary than spiritual.  If my torpor is left unchecked, I lose the ability to savor not only reading, but life itself.  I develop a loathing for fresh food, letting salad greens and strawberries languish in the refrigerator while I fill up on popcorn... 

                                                                                from Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris

        

I couldn't believe when I read the above passages!  It was exactly what I've been doing/feeling.  I've read several books on the topic, and this one has been the most comprehensive thus far.

 

 〰

 

As for as Kondo-ing goes, I'm completely stuck at art supplies.  

 

I did finishing going through my books and unloaded all my art therapy books, psychology, women's studies, fiction and art magazines.  Kept all my art books.   That ended up being about 25 boxes to the Salvation Army.

 

Papers were a real drag.  I got rid of about 10 boxes of papers. 

 

And that's the way it is/was

 

Ever Onward

...in the midst of everything, 

I've been tidying and/or escaping by reading novels.  

 

~ rare needlework instruction book, Dublin 1833 with samples of sewing, embroidery, knitting and miniature clothing ~

 

But I did finish going through all my clothes (which included tops, skirts, pants, dresses, jackets, coats, scarves, hats, gloves, socks, undies, pjs, shoes, boots and bags).  Oh my.

 

 

~ Guerra de la Paz ~

 

Let me give you the stats.  

I got rid of 32 big garbage bags (to Goodwill). It me took about 3 weeks to go through all the clothes, and then reorganize what I kept and put it in place.

 

I'll break it down by category: 

 

4 bags of tops to go, 4 big piles to stay, took 2 days  

3 bags of dresses/skirts to go, 3 big piles to stay, took 2 days 

6 bags of pants to go, 3 big piles to stay, took 1 days

3 bags of jackets/coats, 4 big piles to stay, took 2 days 

0 bags of hats/gloves/scarves to go, all stayed, took 1 day 

4 bags of socks/undies/pjs to go, 3 piles to stay, took 2 days 

8 bags of shoes/boots, ? to stay (just enough to fit in my available  space!), took 6 days 

4 bags of purses/totes, ? to stay (I stopped counting the keepers), took 2 days                                               

 

 

Then I went on to books...

                                            ...but that's another story.

    

Quarantining and KonMari-ing

 

The perfect match.

 

 

~ Quarantine Collection, Fedora and Florals, Han Cao ~ 

 

 

 

Yes, I was feeling swallowed up by all my things after being sheltered-in-place for the last 5 (or was it 6?) months now.  

~ "Paisajes" series, Cecilia Paredes, multi-media artist ~

Especially by my hand-made clothes and that unrelenting fabric stash.  Oh, my.

 ~ Phyllis Galembo, Fine Art Photographer ~

 

 

 So, after reading Marie Kondo's Spark Joy and starting with her first step of tidying,

I pulled out all my clothes in one place...

  

~ Song Dong, installation artist ~

No, I didn't make an art installation out of it (darn!), it was more like a mountain overflowing the bed.  I did, however, manage it somewhat by excavating one sub-category of clothes at a time.  That would be "tops."  I did want to be able to sleep on the bed every night after all.  And I have a lot of clothes. 

No, I don't have any pictures of the process.  I was too involved in it.  You're supposed to gather all the clothes from wherever they might be in the house.  (Excluding those of my spouse.  He has the bare minimum anyway.)  

 

I did include my mother's stuff that had been left untouched in the so-called guest room since she passed away 6 years ago.  And the enclosed back porch off my sewing room which contained all the clothes I was going to recycled.  aiyiyi.  You can't imagine.

 

 I actually ended up trying on everything to see if I liked it, if it fit, if I would wear it, and most importantly if it "sparked joy."  If it did, it went into another pile in the adjoining room for saved "tops."  The discarded items went into a black garbage bag for Goodwill.  My husband put them in the car right away so I wouldn't be tempted to go through them again.  They went to Goodwill at regular intervals.

I kept track of how many bags went out and how many piles stayed in.  Tops: 4 out, 4 in.  Of the 4 to keep: 2 summer, 1 winter & 1 to mend.  The whole process for tops took 2 days.

 

Stay tuned for the next update.

p.s.  I started tidying on Wednesday, July 8, 2020!

 

What Works for Me and What Doesn't

I'd been thinking about doing a post on what didn't work in 2018, but it sounded so gloomy.  Then I read Catherine Daze' latest post and I was like, yeah, that's helpful.  I can get into that.


But first, here's...

  the Dress for the Season

~ image by Tom Chambers ~

 and now, here's...
 

  my illustrated take on:

How I Do What I Do, What Works for Me, 

and What Doesn't.

~ painting by Lori Field ~

Much of my sewing experience is directly related to my experience as an artist.  I use that as my paradigm for everything really.  My creative process I call it.

~ by Chili Jenson ~

•  I can't push or force it.  If I try and bully it, things turn out all wrong, stilted, boring, trite, you name it.  

~ painting by Cassie Taggart ~

 

• On the other hand, I can't just lay around waiting for a brilliant idea to bubble up either.  

~ painting by Joyce Ho ~

• What I have to do is show up every day and be ready to go.  

~ image by Jenny Bowers ~

• And take some kind of action toward sewing (or whatever the creative thing is). 

~ colored paper doll by Liat Yaniv ~

• I do it without a plan, just starting somewhere, anywhere.  I might look at my Pinterest board, or pick out a fabric that calls my name, or a pattern.  I don't make a big deal about choosing the "perfect" any thing.  The important thing is to just start. 

~ Woman Sewing by Helen Chene ~

• I remind myself to be patient (if I need to), that I have all the time I need to do what-ever needs to be done and there's no need to hurry for anything.

~ painting by Elena Papadimitrion ~

• I pay attention to the "whispers" throughout the process.  If I don't, loss of integrity is the price I pay.   In other words, I try to catch myself doing anything by rote.  If I'm bored, it will be boring, etc.

~ painting by Mary Jane Ansell ~

•  If I need a break, I take it.  As long, or as often, as needed.   How do I know I need a break?  I'm frustrated, confused and can't make decisions...

~ painting by Maria Kalman ~

•  ...I've found that what's actually going on is:  I've stopped paying attention to the whispers, to my creative spirit, and I've started doing what I think I should be doing rather than what needs/wants to be happening.   And if I keep on going in that direction there will be hell to pay, I tell ya...

~ installation by Chihara Shiota ~

• ...Actually, I just can't keep going on that way.  A cat nap to the rescue.

~ painting by Anna Afanasjava ~

• Sewing with a plan does not work for me.  Whenever I've tried to make something to go with something I already have, it has never, ever worked out.  Never.  Whatever it is, it simply doesn't go with what I made it for.  It does, however, always go remarkably well with something else I have.  

~ painting by Alexander Sterzel ~

• When I spontaneous buy fabric I luv, or make something I like, I miraculous find stuff to wear with it.  It seems like most of my stuff goes with most of my stuff.  Probably because I'm the one who liked it and made it from that creative space and not from any "shoulds."  In fact, it's during MeMadeMay that I find out how well my clothes combine in ways I hadn't realized before.

~ painting by kt small ~

• Sewing according to a pre-scribed type, format or style doesn't work for me.  In fact, I can't stand it.  For me, it's too regimental and goes against my idea of creative processes. 

~ painting by Amy Blake ~

• However, I do enjoy the benefits of being organized...  

•  ...My fabric stash is in sight and arranged by type and then by color.  Most of the fabric is labeled with content, yardage and width.  It is listed similarly on a Pinterest board... 

~ photo of Dorthy Liebes, Textile Designer ~

• ...My patterns are arranged by type in Clementine boxes on shelving units, while PDF patterns are in alpha order in 3-ring binders.  They are also listed by type and brand on Pinterest boards... 

• ...I have Pinterest boards of clothes I've made, clothes I'm working on, my sewing queue, ideas for fabric I have, details to consider and more.  I find all this extremely helpful, especially in the just show up and take some kind of action phases.

Okay then, that's all I can think of for now.  I've posted this so I can flip back here and remember when I'm in that 'spaced out, what am I doing' phase.  As much as I go through the process, I can be as unconscious as the best of them!


I'd luv to hear how your method of sewing works for you - as everyone has their own way.  Thank goodness for that, eh?!

I'm joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, and the others too, if they're on during the holiday season.

 Here's to a Glorious New Year!

~ image by Chen Yan Ying ~

Mission Possible Position

Yes, it's one of those days.

Nevertheless, I didn't want to miss out on my big date with Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style.  Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

Moving onward and upward.  Here we have my hand-sewn, with primary colors variegated thread, a hunter green jersey knit Lotus duster.  The rest of the pix are so bad they can't be seen.  I've already redone the fastening device and plan to do so again soon.  Another story...

Actually I've been sewing like mad, a least a dozen or more lovely pieces, but no photos.  Bad at photos.  And now I was just working on a lousy pj top and scorched the ivory cotton a nice toasty brown.  grrrrr.  grrrrr.   So rather than go down that road, I thought I'd share a success with you all.
For myself, really.  But you can look if you want.

Now Is The Time

...for a massive-clean-up-your-mess-however-long-it-takes session(s). 

painting by Cassie Taggart

Enough with procrastination, work-a-rounds, and not paying attention.  Hear that?    I'm going to take the time it takes, i.e., stop sewing (!) and just do it.  yeah.  So this is probably enough talking about it and the moment for action.  woo-hoo!

See you on the other side...

Spring Studio Sweep

But first, a shoe shot especially for Bella's ShoeShine.  

~ my flamin' oxfords (from ebay, of course) ~

Thank you, Bella!

Not nearly as cool, but still substantial, are my shots of the newly revamped and reorganized studio for sewing.  Check It Out!

Addendum to my Previous Report

Now this is the actual State of the Studio these days:

In the midst of it.  Of course I art-ified it to make it a bit more glamorous...

And here's another view around the corner a bit more...

more clutter that can't be glamored

See the sewist's power source after the break.

State of the Project Minima: Y2 Q3

Seems this Winter Quarter was a slower production period with a total of 14 pieces completed.  The items can be seen on the Clothes for Winter  page under Year 2.  On the other hand, I know I've doubled my ebaying...

painting by Antonio Donghi

Trends noticed from the last 3 months:

~  for the first time I had a 2-week hiatus from blogging that spontaneously occurred in mid February.  (I think this came about due to extraneous stress from outside obligations where something had to go.)
~  joined a Bra-Sew-Along and quickly dropped out when it seemed out of my league
~  bought more boots from ebay (2 pair of cowboy boots, 1 extra pointy brown, 1 black suede & leather and 1 pair extra pointy black leather riding boots)
~  buying more patterns, now from ebay
~  I'm working more from patterns and fabric, less from old clothes to be refashioned
~  Although I do tend to deviate from patterns and go off on my own design
~  I've really enjoyed using up scraps of fabric and/or mixing fabrics in one article I'm making


Some trends I'd like to see in the next quarter for Spring:

+  Much less ebaying (come up with a schedule or limit)
+  15 minutes a day/ a week of sorting an area
+   maybe start a project using every pattern I have...
+   do a swap...
+   figure out the self portrait-paper doll-clothes I'm wearing-drawing art project that's been on my mind

How's everyone else doing on their projects, goals and intentions?  What are some of your top to-dos or don'ts for the season?  I'm back to visiting y'all in the bloghood again.  yeah.

Let Me Brooch the Subject

Oh good, I've just heard the news: Une Femme wants to see our jewels!!!  Well, brooches really.  And I simply must obey, as I've been displaying mine forevah.

 painting by Pat Otto, Jewel, 1984

 
I have a pix of them on my Clothes for Fall page, but for your convenience, I'll place it right here...(after the break)

Animals and Angels

~ artwork by Emile Morel ~

...were just pouring out of me in the jewelery-making scene.  But that's it for awhile.  I've cleared off the table in my studio and am ready for a sewing bout again.  Meanwhile all the jewels-to-be are now organized to the max which delights me to no end.

Without further ado, here's my latest playthings (after the break)...

Tripping Down Memory Lane

In my recent spate of organizing, I came upon some old photo/ scrapbooks.  This completely derailed whatever task I had going, of course.  But it was so cool.  The first things I found was a photo of me wearing that dress bought in Egypt and worn on a cruise down the Nile some 30 years ago.

See, I look exactly the same then as my recently
 posted "Starry Night with Van Gogh" seen here

Now the other totally awesome thing I had was an old scrapbook picked up at an estate sale in Saugatuck, Michigan for 50 cents.  I remember feeling so honored

Hanging Up Your Clothes - DIY

Jean (of Dross into Gold) mentioned something about getting a spare bedroom/ dressing room into shape that didn't have enough closet space...
 

~ photograph by Aline Smithson ~

Since I was still in an organizing mood, I tidied mine up a bit and shot some pictures.  My true love and I had made a wooden shelving device for clothes and shoes several years ago to accommodate a spare room in our house.  It was inexpensive and easy to make.  And it's sectional so when we decided to relocated it to a different spare room, there was no problem fitting it in.

Here's some pictures...

I Don't Donate and I Don't Thrift

~ painting by Alice Neel ~

...anymore.  Let me show you why.  I spent today cleaning up and sorting through my fabric stash, et. al.  It felt very virtuous.  So I took some pictures to remind myself it can be done or rather, that I can do it.  Wanna see?  I can get pretty obessive with my organizational skills...Okay, here they come after the break.

State of Project Minima - The First Year

Yes, a year has gone by since I decided to launch Project Minima and I'm still as involved as ever.  Let's look back and see if I accomplished my original goals and what other doors have opened along the way.  hmmm.

illustration by Clare Owen.

Well, the main goal I had written on Day One was: "...everything works, everything looks good, it all fits and I like it."  I would say I have achieved that - although in ways that I had not envisioned at the time.  In terms of my starting with the clothes list, I have favored the "play with to be altered" item rather than the "give away the not wanted."  The significant refinement came for me in my second post when I decided to go on a shopping free ban for the year.  I haven't bought a single item of apparel (new or used) in all that time.  This allowed my creativity to flourish -

Status Update: Celebrate Good Things!

I've kept my end of the bargain up - so far so good.  Today is my check-in day with the coach/owner of the exercise place.  Yes, I did the group calisthenics, which was actually more like indigenous dancing if you ask me and performed in a circle so I couldn't even be in the back row!  Nevertheless I kinda did have fun after a bit.  I also woke myself up at 5am to get there by my 6am deadline on one of the days.  I did enjoy being up and about before anyone else was out on the streets. It reminded me of when I was a kid and used to get up real early to talk with my dad before he left for work in the mornings.

painting by Thian Joo.

In other news, the studio/supply room/enclosed porch/dressing room project is declared a success!  All is satisfactorily completed and I'm still in a state of shock after all that moaning and groaning I had going.  Of course there's always some fine tuning that could be done - like organizing my sock drawer by color (oh, it already is!) - but the most important things have been accomplished.

I am so ready to get back in there and do some sewing again.  yea!

On Getting it Done

I did show up on Monday.  I let it slide til afternoon, but that was because I was working on the studio/dressing room extravaganza.  And I did the F.A. (Fitness Assessment) rolling of the eyes here.  Facing reality is good.  geez.  It's a start,

painting by Catherine Kehoe.

I'm starting...and look here,  I'm at the foreseeable end of the studio renewal project which several weeks ago seemed insurmountable.  yep.

To help things along, I instituted a new habit.  After I take that first sip of caffeinated beverage, I go upstairs and get dressed for exercise - whether I go or not is a different matter.  It's the getting dressed for it that's the habit I want to form.  So linking the task to something I already do without thinking - like getting my caffeine is the idea.  Like I said, it's a start.

Keep those doggies movin'

ahhha...

artwork by Nick Scalfittura.

Another day well spent.  After a morning of my task and nap routine, I was able to sustain the task aspect for the rest of the afternoon.  Accomplished much more than expected - even though there's much more still to do.  Man-o-man.  Note to self:  just keep at it, rather than dwelling on what to do or how to do it, etc., etc. and

Just Move It!

I'm doing it, moving it.  With much help from my true love, of course, who got me started this morning.  yea.  

painting by Eric Budovitch.

All the driftwood has been boxed and taken to the garage (it's a long story).  The enclosed porch has been swept, all the shelving cleaned - still some empty boxes to get rid of though.

Moved all the not fitting jeans back there from the dressing room.  Next to go are all the T-shirts I don't wear.  Put all the shoes away for now and started sorting out the wearables from the non's so they can make the trip to the porch too.  Woo-hoo!  Soon I'll only have the items I like to wear and that fit me - all in one place.  Imagine that!  The possibilities for outfitting are too exciting...

Well, gotta go and get back to it!

To Be and To Have

Okay, I declare the studio and art supply room are done and done.  The studio is really cleaned and completely re-organized to my satisfaction and the supply room is good enough to move on.  That took 2 weeks to do with intervening naps when overwhelmingness over came me.

artwork by Alli Arnold.

That leaves the enclosed back porch (if I really need more space) and the dressing room as the next target areas.   I just can't bring myself to deal with that disaster area - aka my dressing room - right now.  awwkk!  It is filled with all the clothes unearthed from ___________ (fill in the blank).

It was about this time last year when I started Project Minima and decided to do something about my accumulation of things, especially clothes.  What I had decided to do was remake whatever didn't fit, I didn't like, or wear. So now I have all this unwearable stuff that has become my fabric stash, so to speak.