Okay, so it’s 4 p.m. on Jan. 11 in Southern Indiana. Is that to late? I usually don’t make New Years resolutions because I never end up keeping them. This year I decided to make one, and for me it is a doozey. For you non-Hoosiers a doozey is something big. I have decided to bring order from Chaos. Alright you say, what the devil does that mean? Chaos is the name we have given my office/ soap room/ craft room. About 2 to 3 times a year I decide that I am going to go into this room and throw absolutely everything away that I have not used or looked for or thought about using for at least 6 months. Then reality sets in and I end up playing Scarlett O’Hara, “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.” As the old proverb goes “Tomorrow never comes.”
It constantly amazes me how much space a very small business can occupy, especially when I had more or less closed everything down with the intention of going out of business less than a year ago because of some health issues. I had been attending the weekly Farmer's Markets and doing many shows but it became to much for me to handle with the back problems and uncontrolled blood sugars. With the help of good doctors, some rest and an Etsy shop that pretty much took care of itself instead of closing the business we have jumped back in full force. This brings me back to the Chaos Theory or how do I find anything in here.
We live in a 2 story 3 bedroom triplex with very little excess space. The extra bedroom has become a combination office and soap room. Most everything with the exception of the carrier oils, butters, stainless steel pans and actual soapmaking equipment is stored up here. Then the other crafts that sneak in the door like the duvets and pillows I like to make, my photography equipment, fabrics, boxes of fabric trims, sewing machine,sculpey clay, etc. are also stored here. Then we have the shelving units to hold the drying soaps and the finished soaps, the completed toiletries and not to mention the desk with the computer, printer & everything that goes with that is stored in here.
I have seen beautiful and fantastic neat craft rooms with everything having a place and everything in that place that I truly envy. Many have shelves completely lined with matching containers and color coordinated and neatly labeled boxes to store each and every item that their craft requires. All of their shelf units match the perfectly coordinated office furniture making an absolutely gorgeous and perfect room.
I have to admit that color matched, perfectly coordinated furniture and containers would be great, but expensive. I just wonder how much time I would have to spend keeping it perfectly neat and arranged. What would I have to give up to be able to afford just one of those beautiful wicker file baskets. Would I have time to do my work for the business and have play time left over to do the "fun" things I like to slip in and do when the soap biz and my schedule allows?
Would I have time to make things for myself that I could not afford to buy like the matelasse and toile duvet I made or the lampshade that I made to go one the $.75 yard sale lamp that I found? Or the Christmas wreath with cinnamon and flour gingerbread ornaments & dried oranges that I saw on one of the other handmade sales sites (not Etsy) that sold for $95.00. Would I have time to strip and paint an ugly pressed wood chest of drawers that sat out on a curb to be picked up by the trashman later that day. I think I have changed my mind and will permanently give up on New Year’s Resolutions. In the course of about 20 minutes I have managed to screw up my first New Year’s resolution in 10 years. I will have to pretend to be brilliant and learned and will quote NIETZSCHE. “You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.”
