Marion Street Gallery

Last month I attended an art opening at Marion Street Gallery where Susan Hong-Sammons was displaying her art.  Susan has been a blogger friend of mine for quite a while.  I've always admired the fact that she and Karen Phipps brave the elements and paint plein air in all kinds of weather, including our freezing cold Chicago winters.  


Susan's paintings are stunningly beautiful in person and they give off a kind of energy in the room.  I was encouraged to join this charming gallery with my own work and this month (last Friday) I put up six of my own paintings.  Thank you, Susan!

If you're in the Chicago area, please stop by the Marion Street Gallery.  The next artist's opening will be December 10th and should be quite the holiday gala!

Time to Declutter

This is a corner of my basement that's been making me nuts for quite a while.  I'm in  the process of organizing my basement studio.  But before I could even get at my paintings, I had to convince my husband and son to drag a bulky loveseat out.  That's where we finally found the Scrabble game, underneath the sofa:)  My space used to be organized.  Until my college age kids decided to move back home for a while.  My son no longer lives here but some of his stuff does.  Like the weights on the floor.

What to do with some pieces that are too good to give away or throw out?  Like my daughter's old wardrobe next to the painting trolley?  Don't know.  But I'll figure it out.  (And maybe start sneaking things into the garbage.)

After all the clutter space makes a cluttered mind.  Does anyone else have decluttering rules that work?  I would love to know.