I've decided, if I'm going to be serious about my business and my art, I need to be as organized and neat as I was when I was working for The Man. So, I've launched into a major project. For the next 30 days I will be transforming my current office/studio into the space I need to do all my creative stuff. And, of course, I'm going to blog the whole experience, starting now. (I'm looking for accountability, folks!)

First, the highly embarrassing before shot (taken last night).

BEFORE

Yes, it's awful; truly a terrible mess of my own creation. How did it get this way, you ask? Well, whenever we clean the house or the car, I gather up random stuff that's not where it belongs and shove it in here. Then, there's the thrifted stuff that hasn't found a home; pottery, fabric and clothes piled to the point where I just have a narrow aisle to walk to my computer. Oh, and then there's the magazines (and books). I love them, and read them again and again, but they don't have a permanent spot (other than in stacks on the floor). The rest is all my craft gear and computer paraphrenalia.

I have big plans for this space. I followed another blogger as she redid her studio (can't remember who at the moment), and she had a designer help separate the space into zones. I'll have a think zone, a make zone, a storage zone and a computer zone. I'll post a plan soon (with details about what goes in each zone), so you can get an idea of what this place will look like when I'm done.

Storage-wise, I have everything I need, including a large, Art Deco cabinet I scored on eBay. Most of the furniture will need a coat of paint. I'm going with a matte black, and will probably distress it a little bit.

I've decided to paint the walls a pale, warm yellow. It will be neutral enough to make other colors still pop, and, most importantly, it won't be white.

Anyway, I'll fill in more of the details when I show you the floor and zone plans. For now, here's the overall work plan: The first week, I'll be sorting through all the stuff in here, and hauling it out. The second week will be demo of the dropped ceiling (this will be the scariest part of this project because we don't know what's up there). I'll do all the painting and light installation during the third week. Then, week four will be move in time!

Seven days to sort through all this stuff! Oy! I did make a good dent in the piles nearest the door today, and have a box full of stuff for the thrift store along with a large bag of trash.

DAY 1

I'm really excited to see this project through. Then again, check back in a few days, and see where I'm at!