I’ve been working on cleaning out this big cabinet now for a few weeks. In Part 2, I’d gone from this…
… to this…
Shelves - in progress
Closet top shelf - in progress
Baby steps, right?… So now I tackled the rest of the cabinet, the closet area below the top shelf. I’d been avoiding it like the plague. I had a lot of emotional attachment to what was in there and I didn’t want to deal with it.
To begin with, though, I just took everything out and just got the facts about what I had. I didn’t try to evaluate its worth or anything, just made a mental list of what was factually in there… Very interesting! Here’s what I found…
A sample and pattern from school (over 5 years ago) made in half-size
A custom wedding dress pattern for a client I had almost 6 years ago.
Many other patterns from school, before school and recent patterns as well.
LOTS of reminders of my past artistic abilities…
A charcoal drawing I did years ago
Photography I did shortly after high school
A stipple drawing I did in college (in the late 80s) - one of my favorite techniques
A favorite contour drawing - another favorite technique
What else?… LOTS of art supplies I didn’t know I had.
An earwig and another spider (eew).
My wedding dress which I designed, plus several other dresses and outfits I made over the years, like this dress I made in the early 90s (I love the fabric!)
Things my gramma knit – no way am I getting rid of these but I wanted to show you how beautiful they are…
And last but not least, and certainly the most emotionally charged…
Art-to-wear samples made over the past 15 years, my heart poured into them for hours and hours, some of them published…
Most recent, a matelasse jacket with brocade and silk accents at neckline and sleeve hems
A velvet evening gown I made in college (about 8 years ago)
A jacket I made in the 90s - I call it "Spiral Sun" - published in Belle Armoire magazine
Here's the back
My "You Are The Sun" jacket, made in the 90s and published in Belle Armoire magazine
My "Face Jacket" also made in the 90s and published in the Chicago-Sun Times
All right, there are the facts. First off, I went through the art supplies – least emotionally charged. Asking the questions again – when was the last time I used this? when will I use it again? – Of course I have had these supplies for YEARS and they’ve occupied space in my closet – without my even knowing! – so what is the point in keeping them? But my inner voice kept asking, “But what if I throw them out and then I need them or want them?” Good question… What if? Are they replaceable? Yes. All right then, I throw them away and clear my space and my mind.
Next, all my artwork. I went through ALL of it and believe me there was a lot. Photographs, drawings, paintings. I found a lot I didn’t like and had no attachment to (easy to throw out) and a lot that I did still like and would love to frame someday when I can afford it. So there’s still quite a bit of artwork in my cabinet but it’s less than before and more organized now.
Next, patterns. I went through ALL of them. The half-size pattern I showed the picture of – I kept that JUST IN CASE I might want to make it a full size pattern and/or need reference material for pattern making. But really, do I need it? No. I have pattern making books I can refer to and if I want that dress again I can look for a pattern or make a new one.
The wedding dress I made custom for a client? I kept it JUST IN CASE she might want it re-made. Ha! What are the chances? Unlikely.
Patterns from school, same thing, keeping JUST IN CASE. Replaceable? Redoable? Yes to all.
Recent patterns. If I’m using them or have in the past 2 years, I kept them.
So I have this huge garbage bag of pattern paper to recycle now.
Next, dresses and outfits I’ve made over the years. The multicolored dress I showed above I made in the early 90s. When was the last time I wore it? MAYBE the mid-90s. It doesn’t fit anymore, but I LOVE the fabric. What to do? First I took pictures of it, front, back, details. And somehow just documenting it released something in me. I felt able to let it go after all this time. Yes I feel wistful, but now I have pictures. Hopefully someone else will enjoy it now.
The matelasse jacket I made a couple of years ago. I put a lot of effort into it and it doesn’t fit right. I’m so disappointed yet it’s pretty. I’ve held onto it, well, I’m not sure why. Maybe I’ve been hoping it will suddenly fit right – ha! So I took pictures again, and again felt the ability to let it go. Maybe it will fit someone else like I’d hoped it would fit me.
The velvet evening gown I thought I had more attachment to but when I got it out, I realized there was none. It was easily put into the charity bag.
All my other art-to-wear pieces, well, I’m keeping those. I haven’t worn them in years, but who cares. They’re art. Maybe I’ll hang them in my studio. I’m thinking I’ll make the You Are The Sun jacket into a pillow or something. But the rest, I’ll keep as is.
With that, I am finished (for now)…
I started with this…
And now have this…
Plus – BONUS – a clearer mind! Woohoo!
Artwork and art-to-wear designs ©2011 Tiffiny Appelbaum dba TiffinyDesigns
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I had a lot of ideas for this weeks pillow but at the last minute decided to go a totally different direction. Remembering this wonderful book I’ve had and browsed and drooled over for years, I decided to make one of the pillows from its pages. Front cover, actually! The pattern is for a Japanese style Obi wrapped pillow. Looked than it actually was and now I wish I’d made one sooner… Here’s my take on it, and consequently, Pillow #5…
TiffinyDesigns 