creative space

My workspace currently

by Amy on May 7, 2012

By request, here are some photos of my office so far….

We moved into our new house March 10 … and then spent about 3 weeks moving all of our boxes out of storage into the house.

We moved in with 1 tall bookcase (now in our sitting room off the kitchen) and 2 big EXPEDIT bookcases (now in the guest room full of records).

Which means that ALL of these books and all my scrapbooks and scrapbooking supplies have no home.

On my birthday, we went and bought some more bookcases for my office. They fill up one whole wall, but they put just a dent in the boxes we’ve got….

Take a look ….

(For reference, the BEFORE tour of our house is here)

This first image I’m standing in the doorway shooting toward my desk and window (there is a small hallway and closet to the right, and the rest of the room with the bookcases to the left)….

a little the the left …. you can see the chalkboard wall in this shot…

further around … the chalkboard wall and bookcases …

shooting back towards the bookcases (the door is just to the left of this photo)…..

{random: I just found these 3 big bottles of Mod Podge in a box. No idea why I have them!}

and then back towards the little hallway (to the bathroom) and closet. You see the door on the right, desk on the left.

Those big pieces of wood-looking things toward the back are pieces of another EXPEDIT shelving unit that we had in storage. But I still have to find the big screws that hold it together. Most likely in one of these boxes that I can’t really unpack. Convenient.

Lovely, right?

Clearly we need more shelves. I can’t imagine that I’ll have much space to hang up wall art (even though I had all these grand plans to get a big world map and other travel-related art).

I’ve just accessed a couple boxes of scrapbooking supplies for my Project Life book, but I have a TON more … mostly paper. (Don’t forget, I worked for Michael’s for 3 years and spent all my paychecks there).

I seriously can’t wait til this room is put together … I miss my books, I really want to go through the scrapbooking supplies and purge, and I really REALLY want to use the chalkboard wall for some fun photos!

Still planning on getting blinds for the window, maybe one day a ceiling fan, and (obviously) shelving…. Somewhere under that pile of boxes is a sewing machine, too!

How does your creative space look? Like mine, or is yours all put together?

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Where are you working?

by Amy on January 24, 2012

We are currently in escrow to buy our first home! In fact, we’re having the inspection tomorrow morning (scary!)…

Wish me luck because, really …. this place is a WRECK.

And every time we go see it we find something else wrong. Last time Andrew went the backyard was flooded for some inexplicable reason. So we are fully prepared to do a lot of work on the house, but fingers crossed there’s not something invisible wrong with the foundation or huge mold infestations or something.

But I have wanted my own house for so long. SO so long. …. And this particular house is such a good deal, and I’ve been picturing us living in it since the first time we walked inside (which happened to be our wedding anniversary).

There’s a long (long) list of reasons I am super excited to own my own home and move into a new space.

But one of the top reasons is so I have a place to WORK.

Right now, I spend a lot of me “free” time (read: not at my day job and not doing chores) working on L&R and related projects.

We have been living in tiny tiny tiny apartments for years. Always temporary. Always small. The current apartment is the biggest one and it’s just a 1 bedroom with a large living area.

Which means most of the time I’m just sitting on my corner of the couch with my computer on my knees…. OR if I really need to focus and Andrew wants to watch a movie, my only option is to go into the bedroom with my computer on my knees.

I hate that. I hate that the place where I sit to answer emails and pay bills and write ebooks is the same place where I’m supposed to be able to relax with my husband and watch a movie.

Those 2 places really need to be separate…..

In the new house I will be able to actually set up a WORKSPACE. Get a real ergonomic desk. Set up physical boundaries so I don’t feel like work invades every part of my life. Even invest in a desk top computer now that I will have somewhere to put it.

The space you work in matters. That’s why I have an office-pinterest board. That’s why I have already started planning what I want my space to feel like.

You don’t have to have an entire floor of your house dedicated to your work. But you should pay attention to your designated workspace.

Is it near the cat litter box? Is it too close to your child’s bedroom that you’re distracted by their music? Is it where you go to have private, dramatic, painful phone calls?

Most of all, I think we can train ourselves to associate certain places with certain outcomes. There’s a reason they built those cathedrals. Pick your place, on purpose. (from Seth Godin)

Guard your workspace carefully.

If you’re going to do GREAT WORK and constructive work there, you will need to craft the space. Return to that space whenever you are going to work and soon you’ll be able to associate your creative inspiration with the space itself. Truly.

Try it.

Where are YOU working? Have you crafted that place specially to work in or just wherever you happen to be?

I talk a little bit more about our relationship with places and locations in my ebook Tell Its Story …. Grab your copy today and check out a photo of my childhood home!

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embrace the messiness

by Amy on March 14, 2011

I hereby release you from the guilt of not having a perfectly clean and organized creative workspace.

Last week I blogged about how Malcolm Gladwell is my new favorite person, so it should come as no surprise that I believe him when he tells me to embrace chaos.

Embracing intellectual messiness goes against our instincts and training as educated people, but writers and artists should accept and understand it as crucial to the creative process.

As creative people we need to guard against over-editing.

Part of the creative process involves lots of brainstorming, lots of note-taking, lots of exploring and playing just to see what happens.

“There is always something of interest and value in whatever [we] encounter” …. There is always the risk that something we edit out or throw out could turn out to be brilliant in a future project.

While completing a creative project DOES require focus, the creative process itself belongs in messiness.

Truly creative ideas emerge in the connections and links between seemingly unconnected things. You never know when that box of paint might inspire your next blog post or when that book you’re reading might inspire your next painting.

Even something seemingly unrelated like a deck of cards might be the basis of your next big project….

Here’s just a glimpse of of my workspace as of Saturday:

This is why I don’t really feel all that guilty to have my projects all OUT and in view in my workspace….

Having the fun foam visible from a previous project may help solve a problem for a future project. Reminding myself that Seth Godin’s Linchpin is on my list of to-re-read books may help inspire a related blog post.

Don’t shy away from all the creative bits and pieces in your life. They are all valuable in one way or another. You never know when that paragraph that you’ve edited out may fit into a future work, when that photo series might work for a future project.

Be diligent in your brainstorming and recording of ideas, but be careful in your editing of these same ideas.

Note: I am NOT encouraging you to make a mess beyond your comfort level. I AM encouraging you to let go of any guilt or worry you might have about the natural chaos that ensues from being creative.

Embrace the messiness. Embrace the chaos.

For more discussion of creativity and ideas, sign up for the L&R newsletter!

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strangely productive

by Amy on January 26, 2011

I have been very strangely productive over the last week+

I haven’t 100% established WHY or HOW I’ve gotten so much done …. but I suspect it is a combination of

the spring-like weather here in SoCal – always makes me feel like cleaning and organizing. Even if that means my inbox.
The ebook deadline bearing down on me
I’ve moved my computer to my desk

I know – it’s revolutionary! My computer! AT MY DESK!

I’m sure I’m the first to have come up with this brilliant maneuver….

True story.

Since we moved into our current apartment – and got our first grown-up couch – Andrew and I have each had our own spots on the couch from which to watch movies, work on our laptops (and usually eat).

Which means that – unless I take my laptop to the day job to work on during my lunch – nearly all of my online work (blogging, photo editing, writing and editing, design, email, social media, etc) is done in the exact same place as my movie watching and relaxing.

No wonder I wasn’t getting as much work done.

But about a week and a half ago I finally cleaned off my workspace enough to fit my laptop. I’ve got enough space for my laptop, a drink and a notepad or two. …. Along with my supplies for art journaling and other crafts within reach.

And what do you know?

Sitting in a chair that ISN’T for lounging … sitting in a space where I am NOT distracted by a movie or television show …. Sitting and actually being able to focus on my to-do list actually helps me get things done.

Strange how that works, isn’t it?

Where are you doing your work? How can you cut out some distractions?

For my next trick, I will be moving my phone charger out of the bedroom so I stop checking my email first thing in the morning.

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workspace: December 19

by Amy on December 27, 2010

This is what my house looks like when I decide to MAKE a couple Christmas gifts last minute AND plan a blog party the week after Christmas

In the image above (appx left to right)

roll of Christmas wrapping paper
On the ground next to it, box of Christmas gifts opened a couple weeks ago when my parents were in town and not yet put away.
White plastic bag full of a 1/2 finished Christmas garland
black bag full of camera gear
on the front corner of the desk, memory cards full of photos
shoe box full of gift-wrapping supplies (tape, scissors and handmade tags)
behind the shoebox – blank canvas for painting
spindle of blank DVDs for backing up photos
white plastic bag full of fabric paint/etc for DIY Christmas project
big box on the desk full of 1/2 finished wedding scrapbook
framed family photos (on big box) to be scanned
2 small boxes (on big box) full of scrapbooking/etc supplies
trashcan full of plastic wrapping from the big frame
big frame on the floor, face down, with a fabric-wrapped white foam core board in it
next to the frame, the other filling/backing pieces that came with the frame (branded piece of paper, white mat, back piece)
against the wall under the window, black suitcase-sized camera bag
tripod
gift boxes/bag for wrapping gifts
TV tray with white tissue paper, leftover setup from a photo shoot for the blog party (P.S. button on the right from the same photo shoot)
Christmas gifts along the wall
just out of frame on the right is our Christmas tree

It’s only *slightly* cleaner now that Christmas has passed ….

See previous Workspace posts

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Workspace : May 28

by Amy on June 9, 2010

workspace 001

Pictured:

Far left – part of a desk lamp. Not pointed at the desk. Pointed across the room as a reading lamp for the couch. With black ribbon used to hold the arm in place
behind that – my memory card reader for photos. I keep losing it.
Center – yellow legal pad To-Do list. I am just using up that pad of paper like it’s water.
Plastic bags – full of fabric and other little doo-dads for various bridal-shower-related projects
Box of blank 4×6 envelopes – for a bridal shower project
Pink 4×6 photo album – another bridal shower project
(underneath that) – blank sketchbook. I think I might try my hand at art-journaling
far right – white tissue paper. For photos.
book rings – for a not-yet-started DIY project

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planning my creative space

by Amy on March 23, 2010

We moved this week.

I’m a *little* more excited than you might expect.

Among other reasons why our former apartment was grating on me, this new apartment will be the first time in about 2 years that I have a creative space again.

Actually, truth be told, this will be the first time in about 2 years that I have a living room and my own real kitchen.

True story.

We signed a lease last week and moved most of our stuff in Sunday.

A lease for an apartment that is only about $200/month more than we were paying but nearly 3x as large.

Which means there is enough extra little space for me to have a little office/studio area!

This will be my work-from-home office, and will likely house my computer, printer and scanner; my camera and camera equipment; my crafting supplies (for crocheting, scrapbooking, etc); as well as any packaging or marketing materials for either my wedding photography business or this site.

What I REALLY want to do (but I’m not getting my hopes up too high) is – in a little corner of the room – paint one wall with chalkboard paint, set up a big IKEA shelving unit, and use this big ol’ desk I have.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

We plan on moving in what furniture we have (not much) and flea-market/estate-saling the rest.

We’ve yet to determine which corner will be mine. Likely this corner by the window (ahead and leftish in the photo) :

apartment 002

If you have any hints or tips for maintaining a (tiny, hopefully not too messy) creative space in a main living area PLEASE leave them in the comments below.

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