I realized a few years ago that there was no way I could keep all the magazines that were accumulating in the studio. And then there were the stacks of computer printouts, workshop instructions, yada-yada-yada.
So at first, I put loose items in three ring binders, then I went through many of the magazines and clipped out the articles that I wanted to keep(leftovers went into the collage pile or recycling) and these went into the binders as well.
But of course,over time, when I would come up with more articles or printouts, they just got shoved into the nearest notebook and you guessed it - pretty soon I had a whole new kind of chaos!
One of my projects this spring was to tame this particular paper tiger. First I amassed all the binders, all the loose pages and all the magazines that were waiting to be clipped.
Then, duh, I actually came up with all the categories I needed and,"duh 2", made labels for the outsides of the binders so I now know what's in each one. I know it sounds so simple, you'd think a college graduate, not to mention a librarian, would have done this the first time around. But better late than never.
Now if I'm looking for that article on "art journaling" I can just go right to the binder that says Art Journaling, if I want info on shops and flea markets - there's a labeled binder!
Sometimes it's the little simple things that make us so happy!
This is admirable organization. Knowing what to call the category so material can be retrieved and then, well, actually doing it (the part where I fall behind)...I think being a librarian and someone comfortable with order does help. A great system. xo
ReplyDeleteMarylinn - I've often been accused of being a "left-brained" artist - but it does come in handy for all the organizing, record-keeping and scheduling part of the artistic life. My guilty secret? - I love organizing things!
ReplyDeleteErin
WHAT? This cannot be done. I realize you have photographic evidence, but seriously. You posit the impossible, woman.
ReplyDeleteChris - It can only be done because I have the "organizing sickness"!
ReplyDeleteErin