Blog: Letterpress

n*Studio Organization Part I

As hinted before I am going to write a bit about my progress in re-organizing my studio.

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It is kind of weird:  I studied law and I always worked very structured and clean at the law office. I was known for going through unorganized areas of offices and telling bosses, colleagues and trainees that there should be never never ever a pile of files with unclear content or without to-do-steps. Very german-like telling them they could die in a car accident and I would not know what the heck is going on (believe it or not they still liked me- LOL – or at least that is what I think- hehehehe)

 

Anyway- my studio…total different thing. My studio is a MESS. Not in dirty mess…in “I can’t find the right place mess!”. My friend Julie tried to reorganize me eh the studio a bit going in her organization way when she visited me a while ago- but the thing was…it didn’t really work for me. It worked better and it was a good start but it wasn’t MY perfect organization. Time to tackle this again…because let’s face it…it is my work space an average about 10 hours a day- so…

Let me tell you how I found the perfect storage first…

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When I went to the flea-market a couple of weeks, I found these letterpress blocks which I in itself eyed closely and bought a couple lots of. They were beautifully placed in this array of drawers. I somehow had this urge to ask the nice seller “so…those drawers, what are you doing with those?” To which he replied, that they actually belonged to a cabinet, he didn’t bring to the flea-market but plans to sell too once he sold all the letterpress blocks.

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I asked what he wanted for it…and he named a prize that was really low. In fact the price made me think that the cabinet probably looked pretty bad. Despite the fact the price was low, I decided against further inquires, because even the low price was still something I had to chew on about. Imagine me for a whole week thinking to myself how stupid I am, what an opportunity I missed out on and dreaming and researching about letterpress cabinets. My husband the usual very mindful person actually gave me the push “You should buy it- let’s go to the flea market next saturday and see if he is there and try to get it”. And so it was.

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I was a lucky ducky…that is all I can say- the cabinet belonged to an old tool school teacher who loved this cabinet from the 20s/30s and took good care of it. He taught kids how to print letterpress posters and when he retired had to move to an elderly home he had to sell everything. Knowing this background story makes this even more treasurable (is that a word?) for me and I wish he could know that his beloved cabinet got a home where someone equally loves and treasures this cabinet. I also was super lucky that the cabinet fit perfectly into the ONLY possible spot in my room- between a pole and a wall and with still being able to open the drawers which are quite deep without ruining a doorway (also known as “entering the American Zone” or my husband’s studio)

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Let’s finally get to the organization part…I probably lost half of you already…but ok…you know I can’t contain my excitement for this. I wish those cabinets would be still built – yes! Because they are AWEsome- this cabinet is mall and look at all those drawers and they are thin and deep. Perfect for storing stamps:

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Perfect with all those tiny containers which were for the metal book setting letters. I filled several drawers with found objects and embellishments. Being able to finally see them…it is like an inspiration drawer…open…spark…take…create!

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Tapes …they lived in a box- some of them untangling, making it hard to control them (I might have control issues- LOL)

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Oh wait…there was chipboard and canvas elements…

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Letterpress, stamp- and lino-carving tools

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I do not use a lot of ribbon, but what I knew I would use some time was dangling from a hanger…hated it (I know it is a strong word- but yes…true)

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some of my Prima-Educator stuff…not perfect- but better when I had it before in boxes – I am still thinking about this.

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the die cut tools – perfect… I was surprised to find some of them- ahem ;)

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And as to not leave you with the false thought of a perfectly looking and wonderfully organized super duper power artist studio…here is the rest of my studio. Pretty much looks worse when before- hahahaha – because I started to pull stuff there out of the drawers and had to put it somewhere in between. It is now about organizing the paints and tools I use all the time. I will keep you updated in another post…hopefully soon ;)

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BTW – I left the labels of the letterpress on the cabinet because I somehow think it adds to the charm of it…but maybe it might be better to label it with what is in there- LOL.

What do you think I should do – leave the labeling as is?

Have a gorgeous day

Nat

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Comments (63)

  • Susan

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    That is a fabulous find. (The letterpress cabinet) I would very artistically label the drawers with the contents. But keep the original labels.

    Reply

  • Viki B

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    Your studio is awesome! I love that cabinet!!! I wish I could find one for a reasonable price but around here. They are so expensive. I have been looking for one for years.

    Reply

  • Sally C.

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    Leave the labels or take them away? I would definitely leave them in place — they are nostalgic and probably tell their own story. But, knowing me — always wanting everything identified — I would make my own small, but accurate, labels with my good old Dymo, and place them down the LHS of the cabinet.drawers. I LOVE the cabinet and would be so thrilled to find something similar. Well done.
    Gruss! Sally in France

    Reply

  • Nancy

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    Great cabinet. I do not know if it has a copy write or not but you should have them made and sell them. Everyone wants one, including me.

    Reply

  • Denise

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    Oh what a great find! That was such a blessing. A friend has some metal cabinets wit draws like those. Jealous! I love your said io, so bright and cheerful. My favorite thing though is your blog photo – you full of joy and laughter in front of a painting. Never saw a more perfect representation!

    Reply

  • Colleen Dequaine

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    Beyond awesome!! And, leave labeling as is. What a find, I am jealous!

    Reply

  • Lisa

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    what a score, that cabinet was made for you !

    Reply

  • Cindi

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    I’m raising my hand! I would love a cabinet like that! What an amazing find, the contents and the cabinet! WooHoo! You are a lucky ducky! And it fits so perfectly! I would also be torn as whether to keep the old labels??? I like the suggestion to keep them and use them as ephemera, or do a page about the chest and include them there. On the other hand, soon you probably won’t need labels, at least for the most used drawers, so you could leave the old labels …. Tough decision! Let us know what you decide, and keep sending organization pics. I can use all the help I can get!

    Reply

  • nydiart

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    Keep the labels! There is history there! maybe make a chart on the side with what is in your drawers.. A mini drawing of the cabinet with the drawers written on and labeled! That is a great find! Congratulations! i love your studio! Mine is a HOT mess! Sooo…I am looking forward to your future entries!

    Reply

  • Pam Fairchild

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    This is wonderful. U have cabinet envy. You were lucky that he still had it. Obviously it belonged with you and your appreciation for it would make the gentleman very happy. I’m sentimental so I’d keep the old tags.

    Reply

    • Pam Fairchild

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      I meant I have cabinet envy. LOL

      Reply

  • basementgal

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    I am so envious you can not imagine. It’s like a whole studio worth of stuff in one place (well not really a whole studio). It’s cleaned up really well. I’m now on the look out for one of my own but I doubt I’ll ever find one at the right price.

    Reply

Leave a comment

I will tackle that…eventually or…n*Studio Reorganziation

This letterpress cabinet makes me extremely happy. I found it…or let’s say it’s content at a flea market. I will show you more pictures soon…as it is  right now a big task to clean this up and it also goes along with reorganizing my studio…I think my friend Julie might be very happy about this ;)

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So there… I put it out into the World Wide Web…now I really need to get going…It seems like such an enormous task right now- LOL.

Tell me about your studio/place where you get creative.

Huge hugs

Nat


uberMedia
Über*Media is my series of online workshops that is dedicated to different kinds of media that cross a variety of materials. I also teach project based online workshops which you can find here.

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