Final Countdown Day Three

Shelley was tricky today.  She didn’t just ask us to work; she asked us to think!  The challenge is this:

Pick a new habit to start (and keep)

I have been thinking for a while now that I wanted to organize my design work better.

Right now my “Ideas” file looks like this.

Innocent enough on the outside, but when you open it, it explodes into something that looks more like this.

When I think of an idea I try really hard to write it down right away.  That is a good habit I started a few years ago.  However, the sketches are usually on 1/4 sheets of paper and get lost, set aside or shoved into this folder.  I wanted a way to keep them organized.

Ta-dah!  Look what I found!

Not too exciting, you think?!  Wait until you see what is inside.

One side is graph paper and the other side lined!  I can sketch out ideas, check dimensions and make notes.  It is exactly what I hoped for.  Better than I hoped for, really.  Graph paper included and spiral bound is terrific.  The spiral bound leaves extra room so it won’t be a problem if I tape in my first sketch.

It is so thrilling to have a place to keep things.  You know that old saying “a place for everything and everything in its place” only works when there IS a place.  Now there is one.  Hopefully this will spark more creativity and support my best ideas.

Oh, look!  It might be working already.  One small sketch has found a beginning place here.

Wow!  Along the way I also sorted and disposed of a lot of papers and some truly astonishing dust bunnies from under the washing machine.

Now, along with general family stuff, I want to tackle my end of the year goals.  If life goes my way, I will have three finishes before midnight.  Unlikely?  Well, of course, but I might as well try.

Talk to you later!