I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Monday 23 November 2020

Moving Day

Hello all!  Today, all being well, is the day the removal men will be here to load up my life, so I thought it was about time I shared a few pictures of the process I've been going through to pack up the craft room (and the rest of my life, but I'm guessing it's the craft room you're mostly interested in!).

I'm afraid it started from a very overloaded, cluttered state - every surface crammed full (including the floor).  Going round the room from the doorway, here's a little rotation through 360 degrees.  (There's a video too, but it doesn't have the midway stages, just the before and after, and in case you can't access it here are the photos - and remember you can always click on them for a closer look.)











And it didn't get any better if you looked upwards...  Bear in mind that quite a lot of those boxes contain my hoarded recycling - cardboard, acetate, jars, bottles, weird objects like shoe-lasts or cheeseboards picked up at car boot sales or flea markets for upcycling... so there were many times I was literally packing rubbish!





It was a long slow process, and felt overwhelming and chaotic at times, but eventually I had most things sorted into boxes.  The bulk of it had to be moved into the living room as each box was packed, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to manoeuvre in the craft room.


As you can see in the photo above, even though I was moving things out as I packed them, it still became pretty impossible to move.  Here's what I refer to as Box Mountain in the living room...


Those are the proper packing boxes, but I also used lots of wooden apple crates (which I have on the shelves anyway, on their sides, separating stamps by make, or holding tags and substrates) to pack up most of my own creations.   And of course the ones that had stamps in still have those stamps in, just the other way up.  So all those apple crates and the wooden Moppe drawers got packed and wrapped and stored back on the shelves so that I could continue to move around.



The plan is that that is how they will travel in the van - on the shelves, which gives the often fragile contents some extra protection, and also saves masses of room of course.  But obviously you can't have all the boxes piled on the shelves already... you need the shelves empty in order to load them into the van, so this was the final stage before loading day...




The box in front of the cabinet there is open for a reason.  The cabinet is pretty heavy just as a piece of furniture so I had to remove all the contents - those are just some very flat light things which I'm hoping can go back inside and travel there once the cabinet itself is loaded into the van.

But it's all pretty accessible - so if they want to start with the heavy boxes they can.  If they want to start by loading the shelves and putting all those small boxes in place they can.  It'll be like a huge 3D jigsaw.  

I'm praying the weather gods and goddesses are going to be kind.  And then of course there's the unloading and unpacking to come... but the unpacking has to be a more gradual process as the floors aren't quite ready for me to do everything.

You'll be glad to hear it's all going into a larger room at the other end!  I'll update you on progress when there's something fun to share, but if you're on Instagram you can see something of where I'm headed to, including the view from my back-door-to-be here

Right, I'm off to do the final bits and bobs.  By the time you're reading this, we should be loading up!  In the meantime, I hope you'll wish me luck and I'll see you on the other side (all being well).  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll see you again soon, when time allows.

I give you this to take with you: Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.
Judith Minty

Settling into a new country is like getting used to a new pair of shoes. At first they pinch a little, but you like the way they look, so you carry on. The longer you have them, the more comfortable they become. Until one day without realising it you reach a glorious plateau. Wearing those shoes is like wearing no shoes at all. The more scuffed they get, the more you love them and the more you can't imagine life without them.
Tahir Shah

28 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Good luck with the move, safe journey and a good arrival! Hugs, Valerie

Cestina said...

Ummmm...right...I keep in my mind how the museum stuff looked before loading and I take a deep breath! Good luck and many positive thoughts are heading your way. And a warm welcome awaits you dv. xx

Nan G said...

Oh my! What a huge undertaking. Sending well wishes for a smooth trip to CZ. Warm long distance hugs! :)

craftytrog said...

Goodness! You have had your work cut out Alison! It would be the same here. Wishing you a happy and smooth move to your beautiful new home.
Alison xx

sally said...

Oh my! That’s been quite a few days of packing and I’m glad I don’t have to get it all on the lorry never mind do the unpacking at the other end. I wish you all the best in your new home and safe travels to Czech Republic. Look forward to seeing your beautiful new studio in due course

Sally xx

Abbeybufo said...

Having seen where you are heading a year ago, when we were in Bavorov, I think you will certainly fill the space! Wishing you a smooth relocation, and every good wish for your future from Peter & me.

pearshapedcrafting said...

I was wondering what Cestina might be thinking!
Hoping all goes smoothly today! Whatever happens you know that all will be well when you get there!
Love the quotes and a big well done for getting everything packed so efficiently! Hugs, Chrisxx

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow! You certainly had your work cut out for you Alison. How did you ever get it all packed away. Amazing. Hope the move goes smoothly and that everything ends up safe and well on the other side. Best wishes and safe travels! xx

Mac Mable said...

Wow you had a lot to do Alison and well done you.....Safe packing and loading and I am thinking of you and sending positive thoughts and hugs x.

Meggymay said...

Good luck with the move, I hope all will go smoothly as you have planned and organised in the coming days.
Sray safe.
Yvonne xx

Marci said...

That was a huge job! I hope the move goes well and you breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Fonda said...

It was nice to see your studio! Best wishes on the move!

Lagene said...

Congratulations on the big moving day arriving! Good luck in all the travel and arrival in your new home!

Redanne said...

I do wish you much luck and happiness in your new home! I thought I had lots of stuff in my craft room but you have done an amazing job packing it all up so carefully. I look forward to seeing how it all fits in your new home! Take care, keep safe and hope it all goes to plan for you. Hugs, Anne xxx

Sandy said...

I'm exhausted just looking at this!!! My very best to you!
Sandy xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Gosh Alison, I thought I had a lot of stuff. You have packed everything so well, and labeled it, too. I wish you the best of luck with this move and truly look forward to seeing your new home and studio in the Czech Republic. I hope the move is as smooth as these photos you have shared with us. I also hope your are able to unpack everything and nothing is broken or mislaid. We'll wait anxiously for your next post, dear.

Loved the last quote, too. I have shoes just like that.

Sue said...

Oh it looks so sad seeing everything packed away like that, certainly the end of an era. Good luck and happiness in your new home, and safe travels xx

Let's Art Journal said...

Oh my, you did such a great job packing and planning how it will be all transported to keep everything safe and maximise space in the van - wonderful 😁. Happy travels and wishing you well in your new adventure, your new home looks so beautiful! Happy wishes! Hugs, Jo x

experiments in paper said...

Oh, boy, does that ever look familiar, lol! Great job, Alison! It was wonderful to see that your space is not spick and spot tidy, because mine certainly is not (and frankly, never is)! Safe travels.... and look forward to seeing your new space, and makes once you settle in! xxx Lynn

Christine Alexander said...

What a wonderful adventure heading off to start a new life in a new country. It must be so exciting and also having a bigger craft room with an amazing view would be a huge draw.
Hugs Christine

Cocofolies said...

YES, GOOD LUCK Alison!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing all this!! Fantastic to look at your lovely place (but so full ooops! :) :D
Ha ha, I'm sure you will have more room in your new home, at least I hope so!!
What an exciting new adventure for you... But things will go well for you, I hope also your precious artworks will travel safely. xxxx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Where to begin?!! First, I didn't know anyone could have more stuff in their crafty space than me...lol! Way to go packing it all up, and leaving no thing behind! So great you will have a bigger room! Next, your new place is absolutely something special. You are surrounded by glorious nature that is so beautiful...lucky you. I am sure you will fit right on in. Congrats on your new place, a new chapter, new adventures!

Paper Profusion said...

Oh my lord!!! What an adventure and undertaking Alison!! Hats off to you.

Yes, your craft-room was full to the brim for sure but it cleverly seemed zen given remarkable colour co-ordination continuance!!! Lovely neutral tones all around so it appeared calm. Not sure if accident or design or simply trademark Alison but that is a clever design achievement!

I truly wish you immense good luck, health and happiness in your new home. Not to mention oodles of joyful creativity. I'll check out Insta in a little while...

Nx

Diana Taylor said...

Wow Alison, what an enormous task you've had - your studio looks fascinating and it looks as though every inch of space was utilised beautifully - how lovely that you are going to have a bigger work space to move into - I think many of us yearn for that!!
I've just followed your link to have a look at your new area - what a wonderfully idyllic place to live. I hope your move has gone well, and I wish you good luck and every happiness in your new home.
Diana xx

Craftyfield said...

Wow... that's what I call a well appointed craft room! I think it must have been harder to pack than any other room!!! I hope you are on the other side now and slowly organising the new house. I'm sure we will be treated to a visit in the new, improved and more spacious craft room soon... All the best x

Sandy said...

Oh my goodness Alison - do you have enough stuff!!!!!? You could sell half of it and still have a gracious plenty.
Sandy xx

Neet said...

Oh Alison, how on earth did you do all of this on your own. Such a mammoth task but you got there. I wish you every ounce of luck there is to be settled in your new home.
hugs, Neet xx

Mrs.B said...

That was one huge task! and no doubt just as big at the destination, and probably just as well that it's all going into a bigger space. Hope everything is in it's rightful place now.
Avril xx