It's strange the things you do to resettle into a rhythm or routine. We returned home from a few weeks away - with work-work and celebrations - and I knew I needed to be in the studio doing stuff.
But I was feeling my way back - it's not always easy to dive into something straight away; I need to re-familiarise myself with the space, the way I work and move through it; consider what I need to do. Work out where to start. So I started with tidying (which was long overdue) and filed and put away and threw away and set aside, and lo and behold the work surfaces returned!
Then serendipitously, we went into town and whilst Barry was asking about some photocopying, I saw on the shelf of the newsagent's a box filled with nibs. Like real nibs. I almost fell over. I took it off the shelf and opened it and played with them and thought good grief, how good is this? I could buy William Mitchell nibs and their reservoirs in my tiny town of 3, 500 people!
So I bought a few - including the blue pumpkin - and thought I'd better put them somewhere safe when I got home.
So I sat for a wee while, cutting up some corrugated cardboard into 10cm wide x 5 cm high strips and placing many of the nibs I re-discovered around the studio into compartments, naming them and having them ready to go should I ever need them.
These nibs are mostly NOT broad-edged nibs (I keep them in pen-holders elsewhere). These are nibs for copperplate or pressure-release writing. Some are stiff, some are very flexible. The ones I use often I have popped into nib-holders; these are the ones I rarely if ever use. Most have come from op-shop finds or when I literally couldn't walk past some old nibs.
Then I found a beautiful old wooden crate-box and they fitted perfectly. The other bags of nibs have now joined them and I reckon I'm ready to roar!
Filing nibs - who'd have thought?
But I was feeling my way back - it's not always easy to dive into something straight away; I need to re-familiarise myself with the space, the way I work and move through it; consider what I need to do. Work out where to start. So I started with tidying (which was long overdue) and filed and put away and threw away and set aside, and lo and behold the work surfaces returned!
Then serendipitously, we went into town and whilst Barry was asking about some photocopying, I saw on the shelf of the newsagent's a box filled with nibs. Like real nibs. I almost fell over. I took it off the shelf and opened it and played with them and thought good grief, how good is this? I could buy William Mitchell nibs and their reservoirs in my tiny town of 3, 500 people!
So I bought a few - including the blue pumpkin - and thought I'd better put them somewhere safe when I got home.
So I sat for a wee while, cutting up some corrugated cardboard into 10cm wide x 5 cm high strips and placing many of the nibs I re-discovered around the studio into compartments, naming them and having them ready to go should I ever need them.
These nibs are mostly NOT broad-edged nibs (I keep them in pen-holders elsewhere). These are nibs for copperplate or pressure-release writing. Some are stiff, some are very flexible. The ones I use often I have popped into nib-holders; these are the ones I rarely if ever use. Most have come from op-shop finds or when I literally couldn't walk past some old nibs.
Then I found a beautiful old wooden crate-box and they fitted perfectly. The other bags of nibs have now joined them and I reckon I'm ready to roar!
Filing nibs - who'd have thought?
Symphonic!! Ax
ReplyDeleteOh Annie - I think there's poem in there somewhere! Thanks for the lovely visual image, hope all goes well.
ReplyDeletethis is a wonderful idea
ReplyDeleteand looks gorgeous and inviting
inviting art supplies, now that is a wonderful way to organize
Thanks tammie Lee! They are so delicious inviting aren't they? And all the more beautiful for being organised! Go well.
DeleteLooks like a Munsie sculpture. Do you think you might have an obsession with nibs?
ReplyDeleteIt could be a Munsie indeed Jo - and yes I imagine that somewhere there is word for nibaphiles like me...
DeleteWell, who'd've thought! But aren't they beautiful? What a find, too, in your local stationer's!
ReplyDeleteI was most excited to see them in town Carol - totally crazy, but good. And yes they are beautiful to look at in their organised gorgeousness - if I was really really good I would have done them alphabetically and done an exemplar of what they write like; but enough is enough for now. Go well.
DeleteLike a gorgeous art installation. How fabulous.
ReplyDeleteAlmost too gorgeous to use Lesley! But now they are out of their bags and boxes and envelopes there is every chance I'll be tempted to pick one up and try it out so that is a fine thing. Go well.
DeleteGorgeous! I have a similar problem with brushes and pens. One day, I WILL organise them! Thanks for this idea!
ReplyDelete