riot gear

i’m wearing purple tights today – purple tights and a celery green pullover top – oh, you betcha - because i am finally headed into that blasted studio, full on, and need something loud and bossy to shore me up.  you see what i mean?  abominable.  i’m disgusted with my rat nest tendencies, but as i’ve discussed numerous times with friends, i do not think that my jewelry and artwork would be what it is without that spontaneous approach of grabbing things willy nilly from here and there, trinkets that have been knocking about on my tabletop for weeks or months or sometimes, even years, and wiring them together into a story that unfolds as it is formed.  i am to the point now, though, that I can hardly walk into this tiny little bedroom-turned-studio, one that faces the north and becomes dark and uninviting with the coming winter months.  if i had my way – with ample extra space (what’s that?  I’ll never know, a novel thing) and also worlds of time on my hands to tinker around with arrangements and lighting (there is but one single outlet in this small space – imagine that, with flexshaft drill and dremel and engraver, four table lights, three french hens, two turtle doves, a heat gun, a polishing tumbler, and a dog named aspen), i would clear out one entire wall (all five feet of it) in one fell swoop, perhaps paint it in a soft and buttery old faded brick or ochre color, line it with tree branches and a simple wooden crate, set up an intimate shrine with candles and bowls, incense and small smooth stones, and hang tiny white lights from all those spindly tree branches.  as it is, i think i’ll aspire to climb up on the ladder back chair, once i’ve cleared out the table and emptied the shelves, and string as many lights as I can without causing a fire, so that i’ll be able to walk into that dark, forboding room and with one pert flip of a switch (or four plugs of some strings, okay?) i’ll be able to transform that ominous space into a bit of a miraculous place where magic comes to life.  you think?

"Dear Nina,
Here is your horoscope
for Friday, November 9:

There's no need to keep things superficial today. In fact, the opposite is true: you need to dive in deeply if you want to get the most out of your experiences. Try to look beyond the surface of things."

Dear Nina,
Here is your horoscope
for Saturday, November 10:

Though your life is good, you still want to try a few changes. Today is perfect for that and you should find that any modifications you make to your routines are much easier to deal with in the long run. 

for now, i’m leaving you with a preview of delicious things to come.  this box of treasures holds findings from my forays into antique shops i visited in virginia, as well as a couple of ones not too far from my quiet little house here on firefly road – some that were just up and over beautiful balsam mountain, east of here (and please, no special requests about anything you see here - the magic has to happen spontaneously; thanks for understanding).  you’ll be seeing these "ornaments" come to life once again, with new stories of their own to tell, new memories to share, soon enough, soon enough...  if i can ever make my way to that tabletop again, under those sparkling lights….

Comments

[Lisa]

Thanks for sharing the "real" working studio. I too have piles in my studio, and last week I started working on it...one pile at a time. It is looking better...but miles to go I tell you. Now a word from my husband...who so lovingly put it when he installed two cabinets in my space....the more space you get the more of a mess I make...so perhaps a small space is a blessing. Perhaps I need a bright pair of purple tights to help me get it done in one swoop. Wishing you success in your endeavor.

[Vickie]

The magic already is alive; you'll just be turning up the velocity with your wonderful strings of lights! Can't wait to see what flows from your creative hands to the pages of your wonderful blog!

[Lesley]

'tis a magic place indeed, messy or not.

[Hillary]

I'm drooling over your treasures, thinking I will always stop in Balsam from now on. Also now I know what my studio will look like in a few years. Maybe I will spend sometime in my cleaning up. Thank you for all the magic that you give us.

[Bonnie]

Dear dear Nina, Thank you for your honesty. Too many folks think that one needs a 'beautiful, neat' studio to turn out beautiful work. Not so! I fell into that trap early on and I painted my room RED and decorated till it was to my liking ......only to turn it back into a 'rats nest' within moments. I found out that I do better art on 6 square inches than a whole table. With a clean table, I sit drumming my fingers wondering where I 'saved' all my pretty papers and things. Nothing causes me to walk out of here and slam the door quicker than not being able to find my STUFF! :o) I w-i-s-h I could work in a neat room but ideas only flow when I have a messy table. I love to use what is 'out and about'
and not have to root for stuff and at my age, memory is poor indeed.
.....but do get some light going on in there!!! :o) I am getting depressed just thinking about winter and lack of good light.

[Carol]

Looks like a beautiful creative nest to me!! I can sympathize with the dark, north facing light. When we moved five years ago,I originally set my studio up in the small north facing bedroom downstairs (only one window!!!)and gave my husband the bigger south facing bedroom for his "den".After a month, I couldn't take all that darkness so we decided to switch. The really strange thing is that I'm one of those odd people who really enjoy a grey misty day. (It must be that irish ancestry!!) Anyway, magic happens in that rat's nest as you refer to it, so hang those lights and bring something beautiful to life.

[Carter]

Oh....you operate just like me! As much as I try to be neat and tidy, somehow it's like the creativity inside needs to be messy and all over the place. There's that quote: "one must have chaos within ones self to give birth to a dancing star." Pretty true, huh?!
Enjoy those purple tights, let them sock you into gear. I always find that once you put on your big-girl panties, and grin and bear it for a few hours, suddenly the burden is lifted, and the mind takes flight.
Enjoy- I can't wait to see what you do!
Carter

[Karen Cole]

I wouldn't touch a thing.

Maybe the chair.

Yes.

I'd want a softer seat.

Love the purple.

[Jo Stables]

What a magical box of treasures that will become such special little works of Nina art!
I love your room, it reminds me of something..., now, what is it?? Wait, it looks just like my room!
I can totally sympathise, my space is in such a mess I have no spare room to create. I would love a room full of twinkling lights and artful arrangements *sigh*, I guess that is just not me!
Love you and love your mess!!
Jo xoxoxo

[Emmie Seaman]

A wonderful artist once said to me, if my studio were neat, it would mean that I'm not making art. Go for it!

[m]

Love you and love your mess!!!! ...if I may steal a few words from jo. ;-)
and love the tights, but i think lettuce is more your color. okay, so perhaps that joke has worn out...time to make new?

the shops here are all having a huge sale soon...lots of treasures to be found, we should go shopping? xo

btw... can't wait to see the lights.

[Robyn]

What a relief!Now I know I'm a normal creative. If Nina Bagley can stir up a mess as bad as mine then I can be comfortable with it. My mess is so bad I've had to start working outside in the courtyard......until it rains.

[kim]

for me your blog is like walking into willy wonkas chocolate factory....where magic happens.....xox

[Sandy]

Love, love your little dolls, & other goodies you've collected.

[ro bruhn]

I'm sure the room lights up when you enter Nina, all your treasures are saying me, me, me, begging to be used in your next magical creation. And large doesn't always mean tidier, it just means you have more space to lose things.
Ro
xo

[Shirley]

Dear Nina~

I was relieved to see your studio. Thought to myself if she can produce so much in that space what is your problem,Shirl. Get busy creating and stop criting
(is that even a word).. Anyway, our rooms match, except that my windows face west so there is more
light. But no more order. HA!
Love the tights,BTW. Wish I had some.
Good luck with all your projects.
Hugs,
Shirl

[Shirley]

Great little treasures you have there; can't wait to see what magic you'll make.
\Hugs, again
Shirl

[kelly]

Good luck knocking it down today. That will feel so good, I imagine. I'll enjoy knowing that someone is out there tackling their chaos today while I'm curled up on the couch finishing Thirteen Moons (per your spot on recommendation) and nursing this bronchial/sinus infection while the kids hopefully give me a little head space.

[Cindy Ericsson]

I'm to the point of having to deal with my own creative mess or rent a backhoe. It's really difficult to keep it in check when you have to see what you have to remember to use it! I'm interested to see what magic you will bring to these bits of treasure.

[Laurie G. (morningk)]

yummy wonderful collection of goodies!

[Emily]

Yes, chaos can produce creativity. I can't work in a neat space. I always have 3-5 projects going at once, and it just works out better that way. Love your light idea, however I think your entrance into the room lights it up already.....

[Becky]

Nina, in "my small space" hangs a sign. You can't be creative without making a mess. http://heartinmyhand.blogspot.com/2007/10/from-old-to-new.htm You are more than welcome to use it.

[Becky]

Oh and one more thing love the dolls and all the goodies

[Bonnie]

Sat. Afternoon.........
Anyone else wondering how Miss Nina is doing in her Studio ? :o)

I love the twinkling lights idea but I have used up all my outlets and then some.......Wonder what a licensed electrician would say about our studios? Maybe we wouldn't want to know!!

[Jen Crossley]

Nina I have a sore nose??? I keep bumping my nose on the computer screen checking out your goodies,you have amazing treasure but the rarest one is You
Luv
Jen

[Steph]

Thanks for sharing your mess with us ! Like you there are little fairies who turn my workspace into a mess once I leave the room ! Never got to catch them ..but I'm sure they exist ! ;)

[c]

oh my. i don't think a person with a neat studio is to be trusted...

[nita from red tin heart]

i love your little rat pack tendencies. and the little dolls are so wonderful. xoxo nita <3

[Deb G]

Oh my gosh that top photo is such a comfort! I have my own piles to tackle (am avoiding right now actually) and am hoping that the B52's album "Cosmic Thing" will give me the energy boost to get started.

[maire602]

I can't wait to see the transformaiton of your studio. I totally feel engulfed by my treasures and yet need to see them to be inspired. Hmmm... where is the "meet in the middle"?
Marilyn

[Lee]

Nina, how are you doing? do you need some help with the cleaning? I'll be right over. My kids would fall on the floor laughing to think i'd offer to help anyone clean, it is my least favorite thing to do. But in this case, to touch all the treasures and tools, and maybe some of the magic would rub off on me??
Hope you will also include an *after* photo, like they do on all those tv make-over shows!
Looking forward to more magic!
Lee

[Susan]

Last weekend I overhauled my studio/office. Took out a mish-mash of tables and replaced them with unfinished kitchen cabinets and countertops from the mega-hardware store. My goal is to get the piles sorted and stored before Thanksgiving. I set the timer for two hours and do what I can in that time, or else I'd get so overwhelmed I'd quit before I started. The best thing is finding stuff I'd forgotten I had! Good luck and don't let the task at hand get the best of you. You can do it!

[annielockhart.typepad.com/isla]

hey you...just took a quick peek...i'm still away from home, but stole a minute on a friends computer....can't wait to catch up with you. will return home this evening. mmmmmmmm.....

[Jenny Rebecca]

Ooh! You must take a picture when you have the pretty, sparkly lights up!

[cd brinkley]

oh, Nina, i know what it is like to avoid cleaning up the studio! it took me two weeks to organize, lable and clean up my studio. but you know what, know that the dreaded task is done, i find myself spending much more time in there, creating, thinking, exploring. while cleaning out the studio i found treasure that i forgot i had! it was like walking into my favorte stores, rediscovering wonders that i had forgotten existed! i used lots of mason jars and blue bottles to sort and store buttons and baubles into. this way i could see what i had (which is a ton of vintage jewelry and other fun finds). i find that being able to see what i have and being able to find that perfect "thing" quickly has helped tremendously. oh, alas, the studio will not stay this clean and organized for long, my creative muse is a messy little thing, and she does not concern herself with things like putting tools away and putting jars and boxes back into their proper place, but for now, i am enjoying the peace and serenity that comes with the organized studio. i will let you know how long that lasts! good luck. if you want to see my studio i posted a few pictures on my blog
www.cdsartisticendeavors.blogspot.com
can't wait to see your finished studio!

[rachelle t]

Hey funny lady with lots of interesting stuff (what I wouldn't give to fossick and rummage through all that cool looking stuff!!!).

Ok, so how do people who make our kind of art also manage to clean and organise everything into it's perfect place??? If you find out, let me know. I will often clear a day just to organise and straighten then find myself doing something creative instead. I procrastinate and then give in, it is what it is.

My space looks like your space all over the house. My poor family have to put up with all my projects spread out all over the place. Let's see ... clean my stuff .... or ... make something new?? Housework or art. No competition. I must create. I will have a tidy house when I am an old woman. Or not.

Rachelle T.

[Barbara]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I feel vindicated. You are a much better person than I to post a photo . . . and I'm afraid yours is still cleaner than mine. . .I don't have the guts to post a picture of the spaces where I work and the litlle hills of clutter that are absolutely everywhere. But it is a system because I know where everything is and I can put my finger on just what I need at a moment's notice and audition lots of little things from multiple piles. If we worked with only paint, or only fiber, or only metal, etc. then we could pull it all from one stash. But we don't, so the piles are the most realistic and efficent means that I know of. But I must admit that for me it's a mixed bag: I love clean surfaces almost as much as I love my art. Fortunately for the art, it's the "almost" that saves the day. Art always wins.

I love your little collections. Can't wait to see what wonders you will create from them!

[Stephanie Brockway]

Riot gear...lol , describes what my art space looks like. no pretty photo-op here...just a big heap.. i need to over caffinate, and tackle it.. all fresh with posibilites then, sigh to only find my self lost in a sea of debris, yet again. Can't wait to see where your muse takes you next, your story is meant to be told, one little chapter at a time.
thanks
steph b

[Bonnie Moench]

A neat studio would be as threatening to me as a blank canvas....I need to be surrounded. So glad there is someone else that feels that way.

[Amy McFadin]

Hello.

I saw your work in Somerset Life. My husband lived in Whittier for a time in the late seventies. We often visit his friends there now.

We recognized the suspension bridge on your website. I make jewelry and other items. I would love to visit with you and share ideas the next time we are in the mountains, if you would be open to the a visit.

Let us know.

Amy