I spent a couple of days last week packing up the art studio. I have to confess that is the hardest room for me to pack. I started packing in there a few weeks ago as I was selling a couple of large pieces, but I planned on continuing to use the studio, enjoying a few more weeks with it, between packing up the rest of the house. But, sickness and a broken foot sort of through a stick in the spokes of that plan! So, last week, I packed up more of the art studio. While I miss all of my stuff that is now in boxes, I do also love the feel of a clean slate. The room feels so open, bright, and inviting.
I am setting aside things in bins and bags that I’ll want to take with me during our nomadic period. I do still have to work and I’m looking forward to painting more and taking some art classes.
I’m still sorting and paring down, but I’ve warned Jeff that my portable studio will include quite a few bins of paint and I will be taking some books.
I already went through once and kept out books I thought I would want to reference or read before we move, but I’ve gone through them again and whittled it down to three small stacks. (You can see a full list of my collection of art books HERE.) I’ve packed up most of my art boxes, but I am taking a few of them with me to use and also to protect them from the heat of the storage containers. We’re renting an Airbnb for a month in Rochester that has a dining room table, so I can cover it with a drop cloth and set up a little studio/office in there. I think I’ll feel more creative if I can have some of my pretty things to inspire me.
I still have more to pack up, but it’s been fun to do it in stages. The hardware cabinet is now completely empty and ready to be moved.
I tried my 1920’s typewriter on the antique typewriter stand (which I usually use as a side table for the easel), just to see how they looked together. The typewriter will go in its box this week to get ready for moving day. Taking a little bit of time to enjoy things before I pack them up makes the piles of boxes a little more tolerable and it helps me decide which pieces I’m ready to let go of and which ones I want to sell. This typewriter is definitely a keeper!
It’s sort of funny the things I feel attached to and the things I can sell or pack away in boxes without a second thought. I’ve sold tons of furniture, antiques, ironstone, and household items, but I packed all of the seashells I’ve collected. I packed away the ironstone that I’m keeping without hesitation, but I’m procrastinating on packing my paintbrushes. We humans are interesting creatures, aren’t we?
I am hoping to photograph a few newish art supplies I’ve acquired before I say goodbye to this studio. I bought a few things from Jeanne Oliver along with a couple of antique pieces that I couldn’t pass up.
And I even have a few goodies from my friend from across the pond, Julia, that I haven’t shared, yet.
I am going to share more about our plans in future posts, but the next three weeks are all about packing, continuing to downsize, and leaving this house in beautiful condition for the new owners…
20 Responses
I’m so excited for your new adventure. Looking forward to you finding new furniture treasures along with other bits and pieces.
It’s a hard change. And it’s an exciting change! When we moved I tried to pare down, was somewhat successful.
I still can’t believe that you almost had your house perfectly designed for you – worked so hard on it – only to sell before you are finished……and moving just to move. Do you guys thrive on stress or something? I could never EVER do what you are doing. Not in a zillion years. I am excited for you but still keep shaking my head at the venture.
I am also most sad to see you pack up the art studio. It was just so YOU and I LOVED how you made it uniquely your own.
Ha! I get it and I’ll write more about it, but we felt like it was time to move and be closer to our parents, who are getting older. We want to be there to help when they need it and we want them to be more present in our boys’ lives. Our last two moves were nailbiters as well. It’s not what we would choose exactly, but it’s sort of always how it works out. It wasn’t an impulsive decision. We thought about it and prayed about it for almost a year. Despite the uncertainty, we’re at peace with it and I am very excited to see where we land.
I COULD HAVE WRITEN MICHELE M’S COMMENT, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I READ ABOUT YOUR MOVE LEAVING A HOUSE SO CUSTOM MADE REFING IT YEAR AFTER YEAR, ROOM AFTER ROOM. AND TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM GREAT PIECES OF FURNITURE AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, SUCH AS THE IRONSTONE. KEEP THE BRUSHES, THEY WILL ALWAYS BE USEFUL TO YOU THE YEARS TO COME.
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING.
The new owners of your house are very lucky people!
You and Jeff sound so much like my husband and me! We remodel and DIY most of our home getting it just the way we’d like it and then in a few years sell it! There is something so rewarding about transforming a space, adding character, charm, and beauty. I know it blesses the new owners, as well as, us. It’s bittersweet, hard to leave, but also very exciting for a new place to love, transform, and chapter to begin.
The reason you are moving is so honorable….to be closer to your aging parents. That to me is priceless. How precious it will be for your boys to know their grandparents on a more day to day basis as well as giving your parents the opportunity to pour into their lives and yours as well. Time and life is going by so quickly. We need to take advantage of these opportunities when we can! It really isn’t where we live, but who we live near that is what memories are all about. Praying right now for a safe move and all the details in the process!
I’m sure you have better things to address but, I’m so curious what kind of littles you sold. I didn’t see any of the instagram posts. Did you delete them? And I think you did a post on the furniture you sold, but did you share photos of all? I’m again, just curious. (Curious on what I missed out on!) I think it would make a fun post…but who has the time!!!
We sold the majority of our stuff on Instagram and it went quickly! Ironstone, transferware, antique scales, linens, art supplies, wooden crates, baskets, wall art, flatware, plus more furniture than what I listed here. We sold a ton of stuff!
I’m sure your next home will have an even more amazing studio space for you-because why not?! Can’t wait to see where you land. ?
Oh, that would be a hard studio to leave! It was just perfect. I’m sure you will create an equally beautiful space wherever you land.
Are you moving back to Pennsylvania ? Does Jeff have a job at a church ? Best wishes as you start this journey . I’m sure it will be wonderful for all if you
I LOVE that you’re moving to be closer to your parents. If it’s all possible to be near them you should definitely do so. I loved being near my parents. You will never regret this.
I can’t wait to see where ‘we’ end up. I’ve followed you for years. This is exciting.
You guys are such troopers. I’m a person that hates change. I admire people that do what you’re doing.
Good luck
The best part is when you finally settle in your new home, it will feel like Christmas opening and unpacking all your boxes. It will feel like being reacquainted with long lost friends . . . and there is no better feeling.
I’m looking forward to what you do with a new house because I love seeing how you style a room, adding your personal touches. But hopefully, you will find your forever home next. The older you get, the harder it is to start over, even with the excitement of redecorating. But for now, it is a new adventure to look forward to.
I have received so much inspiration from all your posts showing your beautiful home. I am not able to do my house the same ways at this time and we have many styles in common. So, just being able to “walk through” your lovely rooms, has given me a strange feeling of peace, even though I’ve never met you. That’s hard to explain, but I suppose I have to obtain my peace vicariously through other sources right now–our life and home is in such chaos currently. I do hope you will leave your previous posts up so we can walk down memory lane and enjoy the pretty pictures again and again….
So glad that this paring down and packing up process seem to be going well for y’all, despite being down with the virus and then breaking your foot. Wow! It’s been inspiring to see you let go of many things in your home reminding us that they are after all just things. And I’m sure you’ll be blessed with lovely things in your next nest. Thankful for all of your family that you will be closer to your parents. You will never regret that! Looking forward to seeing what God has for you around the corner.
Bless you little lady.
Marian,
I’m so excited for you & your family and what comes next. About 10 years ago, my husband and I sold most of what we owned, along with our home, to be nomads for a few months. We kept books and some family/special items, but all of it fit in less than one small storage unit. We weren’t certain exactly where we would land, but knew it was time to prepare for whatever was next. It was such a sweet, simple time that preceded some big changes — a move closer to family, new job for him, return to school/career change for me. Anyway, just wanted to share because sometimes these changes bring such refreshment, and for me, it was a re-calibration of values and dreams. Thanks for bringing us along on your journey and I hope the rest of the move goes really smoothly.
Marian, the phrase you used incorrectly, “widdle down” should be “whittle down” (meaning to pare). According to Merriam-Webster, ‘widdle’ means to struggle or wiggle. It also means to urinate in British slang! ?
Oh my gosh, so funny! I should’ve known better and looked it up. 🙂
Wow… hope your move is after your sons are finished with school. I LOVE your style…following you for a long time. we even added slate to our entryway because of you! But… I hope all that youve created in your current home was just for your blog/job… and now finding yet another home. I understand youre going where your heart is… but with mixed feelings….