Hello Kathy, I've enjoyed visiting you site for a couple of years.  Keep up the great work....now here's my problem.  Basically, I am stuck creatively.....I have an abundance of talent and skills....but lack space and finances.  I live in a two bedroom apartment with two teenagers, 1 dog, and 1 cat.  With such tight quarters....there's no room to be creative.  Kid's occupy the bedrooms (1 each)...kitchen is small and the kitchen table is my home office (we eat on the couch). If I start a project on the counter...it must be cleaned up to prepare dinner.  Very small living room and the bathroom's as big as a closet.  I find working on projects very challenging and can not afford a studio.  So now my creativity is getting stuck. Other times I worry about soiling the landlord carpets....I am a painter, ceramic artist...amoung other talents.  Any ideas to help stimulate my creativity....other than moving...I'm melting away....thanks alot....Cola


Cola, I can relate! I went through a major transitional stage in my life once where I was living between two homes (my parents and my Nana's). I literally had NO space to call my own, except for my car, but there was no flat surface to work on in there (seriously!). What I did have was my craft box - one of those plastic boxes with a handle - where I stored portable type of projects. I even had a smaller box that I could fit in my totebag. At the time it was beading (using plastic sectioned boxes) and crochet. I also worked with paper projects (watercolor paper earrings) and those fit nice and neat in there too. I kept a folding TV tray at both houses and whenever I had time to craft, I would pull out my box and the TV tray. I was the Queen of Compact Crafts! That's what I would suggest. Maybe if you have room in your own bedroom or living room to put up a TV tray that you can leave there, then you could sit at the couch and use the tray to make your things. To clean up, you would just have to pick it up and scoot it over to a corner. I used to do the kitchen table thing too, and it drove me crazy! I always felt so rushed and my projects came out looking that way. Please don't give up! Make the most of the space that you do have. I know you can do it!
Here are some tips:
- Keep your supplies minimal. A few brushes, a few bottles of paint. Usea Dixie cup and a paper towel for easy clean up.
- Again, invest in a TV tray that you can work on.
- When working, leave your supplies in the box in stead of putting them on the TV tray, that way you will have more space.
- Tell you family members to please respect your space for this. If mom is happy, everyone is happy!
- After you make something, display it for the world to see. It will motivate you keep creating.
- Check with local paper art stores - many of them have open labs where you can go and use their workspace for a small fee. Some even let you use their supplies!
Yours in glitter,
CC
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