March 28, 2024

038: Packing the Studio

I’m delighted to bring you another episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast!  In today’s podcast Mom and I have three conversations (September 1, September 16, and September 27) about the big move to Boston.  We discuss the practicalities of purging the studio, moving it, and my hopes for my business after the move.  I hope you enjoy it!

Here’s a peek at the stack of boxes of crafty goodies I gave my friend:

Boxes
When I say, I purged…I really purged.  Thanks for stopping by!

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18 thoughts on “038: Packing the Studio

  1. Thanks for the great podcast. I needed to hear that I should use my stuff instead of hoarding it. Paint dries up. Paper gets old and dry…Good luck with your move and do a podcast about your new life in Boston.

  2. Thank you for sharing your move experiences. I moved away from San Francisco 5 years ago, after 22 years in the same house. Went through much of what you are experiencing. My “art” life is different. I am still doing needlework but have now begun moving in new directions.
    Best of luck!

  3. Julie, I wish you a wonderful move – it will all be good. I too left the NY area over 20 years ago and I never regretted it. New beginnings, new space, new friends and adventures. I look forward to attending many of your classes in your new studio in Boston. Eileen, you are the best…..enjoy having your lovely daughter nearby.

  4. I have a little story to share with you – and, by the way, you and your mom are adorable. I moved from Staten Island – you know, the land of townhouses that have 4-5 cars each and nowhere to park them after you get through the world’s longest commute and everyone is angry and defensive – to slower lower Delaware. Before the move, people were giving me every reason in the book (from it’s too early for you to retire to how can you do this to your mother-in-law?) why we shouldn’t go. Then I realized they were saying these things because they were going to miss us. If there weren’t reasons why you’re moving, you wouldn’t be at this point. Write it down, slap it on your fridge, and go forward. We did a huge purge before moving (crafters don’t like to throw away things, it’s a universal law) and I, too, had a really tough time getting rid of stuff. I’m an indecisive sort which made it hard to part with things, and, as I was running out of time because of my frequent trips down memory lane, I had to make up my mind to get rid of it or put it in boxes and deal with it later, or the moving truck was leaving without me. Taking the stuff along turned out to be a wise move because we had a second purge once we got here and made the local thrift shop very happy. It was such a liberating feeling to get rid of things and not be over-cluttered that we agreed every four years we would make believe we’re moving again and go through everything in the house and purge. Your new place is a blank canvas. Keep envisioning where you’ll lay out everything to make it functional and organized, and label a drawer “mechanical pencils”. This is an exciting chance to start fresh, and although it’s stressful, it can also be exciting. Anyway, once we were in Delaware and calmed down, we realized we were living a life of anxiety in NY but didn’t know it. It feels good to distress! People are so nice here that we thought they were putting us on. They live a slower life, and if someone isn’t paying attention when the light turns green, you just wait behind them til they wake up and hope you get through the intersection the next time around. They think we talk very fast and get a kick out of trying to figure out what we’re saying. When I get tired my NY accent kicks in and people have no idea what I’m talking about. It’s fun playing stump the locals. And, although it hadn’t crossed my mind, it’s truly wonderful discovering different nature and wildlife (even bugs). I don’t miss the rats of S.I. If you think you won’t have inspiration because you’re out of NYC, you’re in for a great surprise! Look how many famous artists went through different periods. Even learning the different roads around a new location is an adventure. Good luck, look ahead with excitement, don’t overthink the move, and embrace your destination! Chris

  5. Good luck with the move! Have you read the book by Marie Kondo? “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” I would STRONGLY recommend it, probably would have helped prior to the move. Very thought provoking and potentially life changing. Noelle Hyman on the Paperclipping Roundtable did a podcast on it, very interesting how it changed so many people. Take a look.

  6. You might want to consider having internet through your cable provider that has wireless for your phone or laptop, such as Comcast xfinity or whoever has it in Boston. Then you will always be ” online”.

  7. very excited for you and your new start in B
    Option. Very exciting to have a new environment. I am sure it will have a positive influence o. Your life, art and business. Great opportunity.

  8. Julie, you won’t be giving up Scrapbook Soup, will you.? Your relaxed approach encourages me to do more. Thanks

  9. So glad you featured your podcast in your latest newsletter, because I didn’t know you did a podcast! I love the intersection of emotion, real life, creativity, and crafting in what you were discussing. Crafting touches on so many aspects of life, and it surprises me how comforting yet challenging it is when you practice it. I look forward to hearing more episodes! And I grew up in Chicago, and just loved hearing your mom on this podcast 🙂

  10. I am laughing as I am listening to the 9/27 podcast. As you mentioned having a bunch of watercolors you haven’t used, I was thinking it would be great if you would donate these and others to some organization that uses art as healing, and working on a shoe string. But why I am laughing, is I am cooking and I have no money to buy some of the food I would really like……soy sauce!!! And now I am hearing you did donate!

    I have been so sad because I would love to attend a workshop of yours, but I could not get to NYC. But, I am in Vermont…..so Boston is closer 🙂 so maybe my Fairy Art Godmother will figure out how to make that happen!! YIPPEE…

    One more thing….you & your mom were talking about not being able to get into art making while you are packing, etc. I have an illness that robs me of energy, and now I know there is a reason why they say “creative energy”. You are experiencing both emotional and physical energy drain with the move. Be gentle with yourself, things will be fine.

    It is funny to listen to you say moving to Boston will be so different, and your friends are planting doubt about leaving NYC. If you were moving to Plainfield, VT where I live….THAT would be different than NYC. Boston is still a city, true it will be different, but I think you will be fine. 🙂 I have moved all over the Country, and it has affected my art, but never in a bad way.

    By now, you are probably in Boston, so I hope it all went well, and your apartment is everything you hoped it would be and more, and you have the studio of your dreams!

  11. I just finished moving from the Boston area down to South Carolina. After living about 40 mins. from Boston for 14 years I can honestly say I think you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for there. The treasures in the consignment stores selling for a song are amazing. I believe that Boston as a city is very inspirational and walking around there will certainly inspire you and your art. I did live in NYC many years ago for a year so I understand the excitement of that city, Boston is different but also extremely fun. The people of New England are warm and so funny I know they will embrace you and make you feel loved and welcomed. Take a deep breath, it’ll be over with before you know and you’ll be in your big new studio! If you want the names of any of my old haunts to shop for treasures just let me know I’d be happy to share them with you. PS~ I love listening to your Mom too. What a lovely relationship you have.

  12. Oh my gosh. You’re moving to Boston! I know it can be a little nerve wracking but I have to tell you. I am more than a tiny bit excited. I live in New Hampshire and would be so excited to attend any classes you might have in or around Boston!!! So this is me … A long time fan doing a happy snoopy dance that you’re coming to Boston!!!!! Hope your move goes smoothly!! Hope to see you soon.

  13. Hi Julie
    Good luck with the move I hope it all goes smoothly for you. In spite of all the upheaval that moving initiates, it also opens the door to so many exciting new things. Enjoy each moment. I can’t wait to hear about your adventures in your new home.

  14. I loved the three part aspect of this podcast. Hearing your thoughts about packing and purging at different stages of the process was so interesting. When I moved after 23 years in the house I had bought with my ex-husband, I was confronted by many reminders – photo albums, journals, letters, and other memorabilia – from what was a very painful part of my life. I also had a completely different career during that period, and although I didn’t want to carry painful memories with me to my new house, I also didn’t want to lose that chunk of time. It was quite a reckoning. Wishing you all the best with this ending and beginning.

  15. This podcast was really helpful. I am decluttering a house I’ve been in for 20 years in anticipation of moving away from the country and back to the city (near Atlanta) once my youngest goes to college in a few years. I am going through a divorce and that is making it all the more poignant as I come across loads of memorabilia, most of which I hope to trash. I moved out of NYC in the 80’s and I have to say that I still love it so and it feels like home when I visit but it definitely created way more time and energy in my life to leave it behind. Hope you’re settling in well! And please do a follow up podcast.

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