Perspective

The second bookcase went in the studio today.  Doesn't sound like much, does it?  But this bookcase holds the "everything else" of my multitudinous interests.  The first bookcase took all the quilting books, well, most of them, and the second one has books on buttons, beading, crazy quilts/embroidery, designs, doll making, journal writing, knitting, letter writing, needlework, painting, rug hooking, tatting, and I haven't finished, yet. There are books on textiles in general and  handkerchiefs in particular.  Books on blackwork, redwork, and goldwork.  There are still piles of books in the computer room waiting for me to check them out and see if they are still worthy of inclusion in this curious library.

For that's what takes so much time.  Books that I use frequently or within the past 8 - 12 months sail on through the doorway to the bookshelves.  Those whose pages form indistinct memories have to be searched through.  Then a decision has to be made.  Is there enough in this book to merit taking up space on a shelf? Or is there so little that is different from the offerings in other, more favored books that it should go to the library sale table?  Sometimes those decisions are hampered by emotional attachments.  You know how it is, "Oh, I used this book to find how to make that lace shawl for Great-Aunt Cordelia that she loved so much."  Then all your memories of spending time with that aunt who was especially kind to you rise up and cloud your judgment.

Despite all that, progress is being made.

But painting is not.

Yet I keep in mind how much I will be able to truly relax and enjoy and use this studio that D has - incredibly enough - built for me once it is organized.