When I got home from my ‘Maggie’s Garden’ exhibition on 14 Nov 2020, I found my place had been flooded during an extremely high rainfall event in Napier a few days earlier. You couldn’t tell from looking through the window of my place, but the carpets were soaked, & they had been sitting in water for 5 days before I got home & opened my door. Sigh. Bugger. Nothing else to do but get on with finding storage for all my salvageable stuff, take damaged stuff to the dump – & while the landlady & insurance company sorted out fixing the damage, accept emergency accommodation – which was ok for a week or so, but as time dragged on … I felt more displaced & distressed. In the end I decided it was a ‘sign’ to make some serious changes. #1 – I wanted a dedicated studio space to create bigger work in,  #2 – I wasn’t keen to return to my rented place anymore, #3 – I wanted to spend more time making, & less time working for wages.

By the time my rental place was livable again in early January 2021, I’d found a studio & signed the lease. I couldn’t move into the studio until early February, so that gave me time to give my landlady notice & sort through all my stuff & seriously downsize. It was tough going through everything & deciding what had to go. Truthfully…… it was just an accumulation of stuff over time that no longer served a purpose as it once had. Some stuff was sentimental attachment to times gone by too. After a few tears, I made a deal with myself to let it all go, say goodbye to everything that was no longer relevant, because I wanted to live a different kind of life now, & spend as much time as possible tinkadoodling!!!

When I did move into the studio I discovered I’d accumulated way too much creative stuff over several years  – projects I hadn’t got around to (!!!) – & old work I just hadn’t let go of –  so again a priority was decided upon for what stayed & what was let go. Although I felt emotionally exhausted, it felt great to have LESS stuff!

After all that downsizing, I took some time to reflect & just be in my studio …… to fully settle into the freedom of having less – & the intentional focus I’d decided upon. I found I had some free mental space & clarity about what I wanted to achieve in 2021. It took longer to figure out ‘how’ – but as of 23rd April 2021 –  I can honestly say I do know what I’m doing!! (OMG – thats’ a new experience for me!!). It seems I am indeed gradually strengthening my willingness & ability to choose my own path… a big freedom indeed!!!

I’m genuinely excited to finally be able to get on with the actual creative work – from the bliss of my dedicated studio nest :o)

Vicky xxx