thoughts while packing

I am sure I've already told you that I think this packing is for the birds--or maybe I said something stronger--well it was not strong enough! But I'll let it go at that. A friend came to help me pack today. She left saying, "Oh, poor Gay." I told her it was karma at work--I bought it/collected it so now I have to pack it!

I had some other thoughts too. I have been an enthusiastic practitioner of several crafts through my life. The first was sewing--I've made most of my clothes since I was in high school. Then after marriage I got into cooking--a necessity but for me it became a creative expression. Then I tried my hand at several arts for brief periods until I encountered clay, which became an almost overwhelming passion. In each of these endeavors I've enjoyed collecting all the paraphernalia. Sometimes I wonder if it is the equipment and tools of the trade that attract me more than the craft. Well, you see that is what I am having to deal with now. I have everything you could use in the kitchen, I have all the sewing equipment and supplies one could imagine. And I have left-over collections of pens, inks and papers from my calligraphy affair. I have more dishes that some restaurants. And the tragedy is that I don't want to give any of up. So here I am packing up all this stuff--you would not believe how many trips I've made to buy boxes! It seems to be too late to change--so I'm stuck packing, storing, finding space for it all.

I am excited about my 'new' studio. But it is only a 2 car garage and I don't think it is going to hold all of my pottery equipment, tools and materials. I'll report in after we are settled and we can see how it is all going to fit.