One thing that has really kind of stressed me out lately...the many artist calls and exhibition opportunities that I a trying to keep up with. Right now my system is as follows; I find'em, print'em, highlight'em, make notes on'em...then add'em to my calendar(s) then take the printed materials and hang'em to my bulletin board.  But I still miss out on some things.  Deadlines pass.  My current system is not working as well as it could. One thing I know about myself is the old adage really is true, 'Out of sight, out of mind'.  If I don't see something, even if it is neatly placed away and labeled in some kind of color-coded, alphabetized fabulousness...might as well not even exist.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands (literally, its called DIY for a reason!) and I started thinking of how to correct this organizational flaw.  I think I was straightening up in my studio at the time...and the answer was right there- my closet door.  

Ain't no free organizational real estate like the back of a door....but that's a whole other post so I will stay on topic.

This space isn't used for anything,  I walk by it every single day, multiple times a day...perfection!  I thought about mounting some sort of dry erase or chalk board system but the main drawbacks were the door itself (I didn't really want to both with nails, screws, etc)...I didn't want to spend alotta moola (DIY on a budget, always!  Momma Love taught me RIGHT!)...and I thought that the dry erase marker and chalk might get on my clothes when I walked by.  

So then it came to me...here's what ya need;

1. Two pieces of Foam Core board
   
2. Some sort of adhesive to attach it to the door or wall (ummm...I did double stick tape...hopefully it will hold and not be too crazy to get off later)
   
3. A permanent marker
4. Some (decorative) tape
5. Sticky Notes

The foam core boards were perfect because the standard size is easy to divided up, six sections for each board, so two will give the full year.  I didn't measure out the sections, just kind of eyed them. The decorative tape was pretty easy to reposition, and if you use Washi tape it would be even easier.  I wrote in the months, mounted the boards to my closet door and done!  Probably took me 15-20 minutes to complete.  I think...wait...I KNOW it took me longer to choose the sticky notes that I would use.

And as for those stickies...each one represents a different call to artist/submission/msc deadline.  I even have notes posted to help me plan my upcoming themes.  (the lil' blue stickies are some of our trips, I try to think about that so I can plan materials if I am traveling)

I think this system will work better.  I am still going to maintain my physical planner and add things to my Google calendar...but this...this might be the start of some type of organizational zen for me.  

One of the items in the 'haul' was a group of wood wall covering samples.  I tucked them away, knowing that at some point I would want to draw and paint on them. At first I thought I would do a few pieces on these samples and then move drawing/painting on discarded wall paper samples and maybe other surfaces, like old sheet music or even phone book pages.  But then I started that first drawing...and I loved the sound of my colored pencil on the paper, the feeling of it going over the wood grain...

So...without any additional rambling...here it is, the inspiration for my new series...inspired by wood...inspired by my favorite wood worker...the muses that are in each piece of wood, telling him, inspiring him to create.

And as for the name of the series...well, if you know Raffaele Gironda then...well, you KNOW ;)