Fall Cleaning of the Studio

O.K. first of all I want to tell you that I KNOW it isn't officially FALL. Second I want to tell you that to ME September IS Fall which is also to me the beginning of the year. It has always meant new wardrobes, paper, pens, snuggling in for the cold days ahead even though it is still 85 outside.

A lazy Sunday afternoon and I finally decided to undertake the daunting task of going through my magazine pile. Make that piles. I love magazines. Anyone who knows me knows this. It is an obsession in a way, or perhaps just a hereditary flaw. My mother is the same way as was my grandmother.

I currently have subscriptions to Health (one must take care of oneself), Bazaar, Vogue (never hurts to dream about $2000 shoes), Lucky (so I know what to buy that will look like the $2000 shoes but not require financial acrobatics), Country Home (a slough of ideas that are inspiring and practical), Veranda (the Vogue of home magazines) and probably a few others that escape me at the moment. Remember too that magazines cost around $12 a year, $1 an issue for so much entertainment!

Why the obsession? They are a wealth of inspiration, motivation, ideas, and dreams. They can educate you, entertain, you and transport you anywhere you wish to go. They can also pile up and collect dust. When I have spare time (never) I go through them and pull articles and pictures that may do any of the things listed above for me. As a designer I often pull articles of other inspiring designers. Ralph Lauren's name amongst the top billionaires of the world was of particular interest to me as was the top trends for 2007, these were pulled immediately to the bulletin board.

As a female I find issues on women's health interesting even though I have finally come to realize that just because you subscribe to SHAPE magazine doesn't make you IN shape (who knew). As someone who loves to entertain I need recipes (I know I'll make them someday) and decorating ideas are simply too precious to throw away. "How many years of Martha Stewart do you NEED?" someone once asked. "Many" I believe I replied.

Travel always interests me as do book and to a lesser extent movie reviews. Yes, I know this is all info. that is readily available on the internet but I have always been a tangible person. My TO DO list is written on a piece of paper daily despite the fact that my computer would be happy to generate it for me.

And so, I greatly reduced the piles today. I gave myself a half hour to go through them and pull what I wanted and the rest. . .o.k. MOST of the rest went to recycling. I'll get through those other two piles soon. . . .