A pitiful HGTV reject/refugee...

[blackroseivy]

*sigh*

Such VISIONS as only HG can give me.

& here I live in a cramped HUD apt. with oyster walls, moss-green carpet, EXTREMELY high ceilings (it's an old renovated hotel) & absolutely 0 storage space!!

That is my MAIN problem in life, in this place: I am an artist, & there is clutter, clutter, clutter!!!! :(

I'm doing something about it, though...

I am in the process of applying to get my MFA. Once THAT is out of the way, & I have months to kill until I even find out if I'm in or not - I am turning this place UPSIDE-DOWN - thoroughly cleaning my whole place, going through the junk & getting rid of whatever I can (including clothes - even though it feels as though I only just DID this!), getting some of my art on the walls, & just generally freshening up.

Anybody else out there stuck in housing? ;)

[blackroseivy]

1 of the WORST things about it is the constant stale cig smoke. Smells like a cheap motel most of the time...

[Brigid Rowan]

Tall ceilings, vintage hotel building?...thats often a cool thing!

[blackroseivy]

Sure - but I can't hang things high up enough because I can't reach, & I'd LOVE to have a canopy over my bed but nope, can't use the ceiling!

I have 2 tiny little rooms, with a half-room for the kitchen, & slightly more room in the bathroom.

Well, I take responsibility for the clutter - as soon as my application for the MFA program I want to take is over with, I'm turning this place UPSIDE-DOWN!! :D

[willa]

I totally understand how you feel. When my oldest daughter & grandson moved out, I decided to get rid of my house because the upkeep was more then I wanted & with my allergies worsening, doing yard work was making me miserable. I moved into a very nice duplex, more like a townhome, that's much smaller - went from a 4 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom duplex with a much smaller yard & enclosed courtyard that I love. Anyway, I'm still going through boxes, trying to get rid of stuff & get organized. Finally feel like I'm making some progress. My goal is to go through one box a night & sort through it.
2 suggestions - you can rent an extension ladder fairly cheaply for 24 - 48 hours when you get ready to hang artwork on those high areas. Make sure you have a friend there to help though. You might even check with your building's maintenance crew, they should have one they may let you borrow & may even help you hang your art work.
Since you're an artist, if you find yourself with an over abundance of supplies that you need to find a new home for, donate anything still useable to an elementry school in your area. Since funds are usually short, the teachers always appreciate donations that can be used for arts & crafts projects. Just make sure paints & such are non-toxic.

[blackroseivy]

Hehe - thanx so much for the tips! ;)

The main problem with the whole entire ladder deal is that there is simply noplace to wedge one in here, especially along the walls - & the aggravation of even TRYING to move things isn't worth it...

I have a step-stool though, & I can use that to reach at least midway. ;)

My art drop-in for us mentally disableds can use ANYTHING I have that is extra, so that's that taken care of - IF, that is, I feel there is anything I don't use - I use most of it! ;)

Oh - the bldg. would help me hang, I'm sure, but like I said, there's just no room to do it. Same reason I can't even get my drapes down to clean them... :(

1 thing I DO plan on doing, is taking the "mosquito" canopy I had that I wanted to hang over my loft-bed back at my sister's, & just tack it to the wall above my bed. Again, the ability to reach up higher would certainly help, but I'm not going to let that stop me! :D I have to stand on the bed & can't get up very high - which is unforutnate because I have this simply GORGEOUS architectural fleur-de-lys, which didn't cost me too huge a bundle (the acanthus scrolls for either side, on the other hand - YIKES!!), & I LOVE it - I wanted to perch it just above the point of the canopy, don't know if I can get high enough, but I am going to see...

I'll have to come back with pix of shtuff once I really get this place under control!

OH! & very important:

I have told my mother tha t I DESPERATELY need to go bin-shopping!! - & also she sez I need a filing-cabinet & that is SO true; those 2 things in combination should see me getting this place into liveable shape yet! :D

[materra]

Okay. Some thoughts on the apt and such.

If you use kilz paint it will stop the smell of smoke etc. Then paint it a soft warm color you like. ( or the buildings required color if needed.)

For storage, go to a thrift store like Goodwill, Savers, Salvation army etc. They have lots of filing drawers all the time. For much less than the retail shops. I also helped a friend use a series of these to build a divider in her basement to separate her basement office from the laundry. These store everything!! We made cardboard bottoms to protect anything cloth or special and stored her linens, books, can goods, laundry products, cooking supplies and equipment. You name it we figured out how to store it. We got the taller filing cabinets and it cost us about 100.00 all told for truck, gas, and 6 tall cabinets and couple of short ones. We backed the cabinets with fabric and velcro to remove the fabric and wash it if needed.

Borrow a step ladder for hanging art etc. Also, two of them with shelves between them make great book cases.

To hang your canopy, see if you can find a large plant hanger or even a wood support piece to hold it off the wall. Again, use your thrift stores...

I hate the dark, so I group lights together, usually those paper lanterns or make my own with tissue paper and balsa wood, wire etc. If I get sick of them or they are too dirty to clean, I recover or recycle them.

Anyway, be creative, good luck with the cleaning and fixing etc.

Warm hugs....

[blackroseivy]

HUD housing = can't paint. Unfortunately.

Fortunately, the clouds of smoke come & go.


To hang your canopy, see if you can find a large plant hanger or even a wood support piece to hold it off the wall. Again, use your thrift stores...

Actually, I have a way I want to drape it that I do like ok. I have a very ornate French (but of course) fleur-de-lys that I want to use to top it - IF I can manage to reach high enough on my bed (forget a ladder in THAT room! - unless I maybe ask for help from one of the maintenance people)!

We are getting me bins in a rack, kind of drawers, for my room - I think I can JUST squeeze it in...

HANG ON though! :D

I just remembered.

I have talked to my main bldg. super about potentially moving to a 2-bedroom (for which I would only be subsidized for 1, meaning I have to pay more rent + extra, but it would SO be worth it!!). She just told me 1 may open up soon. :) OH to have an office & a seperate studio!! :D It may yet come true!

[materra]

Wow, that would be great... a whole two bedrooms!Studio space!!! Woohoo! My one bedroom is so packed with supplies... yikes. Even though it costs... wow to have one room for just art. Maybe you will get away from the smokers too. My upstairs neighbor has quit smoking and it is wonderful... for me and the neighbors. She was a one person chimney.

Anyway, much luck with the designing and organizing.

[blackroseivy]

There ya go - 1-person chimney right next door! :(

I'm afraid the moving is out, though.

I want to save to REALLY move - to BOSTON. This will take years of simply saving without spending ANYTHING more than bare necessity, + it will mean saving beyond what I'm "allowed" to have by the govt. (TOUGH - um - NOOGIES!!!) So, in that cramped apt. I must for the time being, & for the forseeable future, stay... :( :( :(

Well, could be worse - at least I don't have a ROOMMATE!

No, I just cannot afford that apt. much as I would love to move.

I have to work on my deck - the one that's photographic - with sunlight from my south-facing windows, in my cramped little space - on my dining table. & I HAVE to have a better cam for this - there goes the 1st of whatever I CAN save!!!!!! :( After that: MOVING. Period. Actually, I mean to visit Boston 1st so it will come 1st but be related.

Probably have an awful apt. in an awful place in Boston - but it will be BOSTON!! & worth EVERY SACRIFICE!!

Ok, enough ranting for now - I get cracking on organizing (& fixing my vacuum-cleaner)!!