Muddling along and Memories

 It has been a task that is for sure. I am edging closer to the complete emptying of the Deckled Edge Press studio, with all that remains being the items for sale at the Garage Sale next weekend. Quite the achievement.

As I have gone along, I have been examining and clearing out 20 years of my art making and my teaching. 20 years of commissions and projects, and exhibitions and general stuff and experimental forays. Perhaps it has been long and tough because I was a person who kept a lot of things and filed them in case I needed them, or needed to refer to them? I don't know but my memory was frequently jogged as I went through the project and teaching boxes.

All my practice layouts for the Book about Silence that Susan and I made for our Pas de Deux collaboration back in 2015....

I threw out all the cut out letters and counters from my work Lost for Words made back in 2016.  After my mum died suddenly, I lost my words. I had nothing to say, and so I went very slowly and just explored how many ways could I make words disappears??? Who knew that here in 2026 I would find another way!

Testing and trialling binding possibilities for Fragile Gains  (2014). I ended up using aluminium shim for the binding, but did end up using one of these stitching variations I created to hold the fragile paper and allow the pages to turn without tearing. But yep, these too went in the bin.

As did these trial covers; but the brass rods were saved!

This goes right back to a commission in Tasmania in 2004 (5 years BB - before blogging). I made the artwork for each of the bedrooms in a boutique hotel. Each room had a name and I also did the name signs for the doors. Lots of test, trials and swatches! Gone.

And this is in part how I have spent my days. Asking myself big questions about why? Why would you keep this? Why does it matter to you? Why do you think you might need it? Why has this never sold? Why do you think it might sell in the future?

So many whys.

Ahhh, and one hopes along the way one has also been wise.

The studio tables have gradually shrunk in terms of the volume of items upon them. Book cases, tables, chairs, storage tubs, storage units, sets of drawers, trolleys, and the fridge have all gone and found new homes. The vintage and collectables man bought ALL the collectable items which was marvellous, as well as some books. Lots of scheduling catch ups and pick ups, but all is progressing well.

Sunday

Wednesday

Sunday

And a Sunday panorama shot

All that remains is for sale. We have the final sale next weekend; ad then its finalising things, cleaning and signing off...

The new space awaits!