Clearing Space – A Turning Point
This past week felt like a turning point. After what seemed like endless weeks of sorting, rearranging, and rethinking my basement studio, it’s finally done – organized, functional, and ready for creativity to flow again. There’s something deeply satisfying about walking into a space that feels both calm and inspiring. Every drawer and shelf now holds exactly what I need, and everything seems to breathe a little easier – including me.
I didn’t realize how much the clutter had been weighing on me until it was gone. Creating is hard when you’re surrounded by piles of “to deal with later,” and sometimes the best way to move forward is to pause, clear the decks, and make room – both physically and mentally – for what’s next.
And the reorganizing didn’t stop there. I also tackled my upstairs studio – clearing the floors of stuffed that got piled there, clearing the surfaces, and putting things away. I even treated myself to a new storage unit from Ikea that fits perfectly under my side table. It has drawers just the right size for the fabrics I reach for most often, which makes working so much easier and more enjoyable. It’s amazing how a simple bit of order can change the entire feel of a space.
The timing couldn’t have been better. I had a private student for three days this week, and it was such a joy to teach in a space that finally feels just right. We stitched, experimented, talked about design and composition, and by the end, I was reminded once again why I love teaching. Sharing what I do, watching someone else’s ideas take shape, always sends me back to my own work with fresh eyes.
Meanwhile, progress continues on my pieces for Unbound, the FibreArts Take Two course. My design wall is covered in some of my painted and layered fabrics – beginnings of something new. I’m also preparing and assembling pages for another book, slowly adding and changing as I go along. I had prepared 5 pages plus front covers, when I decided the format was not conducive to what I wanted, so out came the fabric again and the process started all over. This time, in landscape format. While making the first new “page”, I realized, once again, that it wasn’t going to work very well for the process I have in mind. Thinking cap back on, I came to a conclusion. Now I have a new plan and a way forward for the rest of the pages. Stay tuned. Below are images of some of the first set of pages I created, now set aside for another book. Coming soon.
All the pages above have been made using monoprinted fabrics – ghost prints and layered ghost prints mostly and painted fabrics. Pieces I wasn’t sure I cared about or what to do with them, but torn into strips and arranged in sets, became part of an exciting new whole.
On another front, I’ve been revisiting my rocks — experimenting and making work using them in preparation for an exciting project, though I can’t really talk about it just yet. For now, it’s been inspiring to find new ways of using and repurposing.
There’s a rhythm to weeks like this – a balance between doing, thinking, and making. Teaching feeds creativity; tidying feeds focus; and slow stitching feeds the soul. When everything aligns just right, the work feels almost effortless, even when it’s demanding.
Reorganizing my studios wasn’t just about creating space — it was about making room for possibility. It’s a reminder that creativity needs both chaos and order, energy and stillness. And right now, I’m exactly where I need to be – surrounded by fabric, colour, and ideas, ready for whatever comes next.
The weather is getting colder. It even snowed up in the mountains last night! It gives me a good excuse to hunker down and get to work.
Until I write again, keep smiling.
Ana
