Mar. 3, 2008 - *I* Am The New Generation
I got busy and cleaned out a corner of my basement to create a sewing area. I've NEEDED this so bad for far too long. If you don't know the history, my Grandpa built this house in 1946 and lived here until 1999 when we moved him into an assisted care place. He has since passed away. My Grandpa was an organized hoarder. He saved every single thing. He grew up in the depression so I do understand why he was that way. We found 5 hairdryers that were taken apart so he could use the parts to fix one hair dryer...and many other things like that. He was a carpenter. The corner that my sewing area is now in, used to be his woodshop. We have slowly gotten rid of all the tools and much of the junk. Some of that junk is still piled up on shelves and I can say it's NOT organized like he had it. Someday we just might get through it all. When we were filling up 3 dumpsters of my Grandpa's life back in 1999, it was the strangest feeling. That got me started on a reality check that "things" mean nothing. He had almost 60 years worth of stuff that was just plain junk or that he couldn't take with him to the assisted living place. How depressing. You work all your life for stuff and it ends up in the trash. Since then, I live on the philosophy that less is more.
As I was clearing out more junk and cleaning 60 years worth of sawdust and dirt, I came across something that I had completely forgot about. We had cleared all my Grandpa's tools off the wall and we had a monster stereo in front of it. I hadn't seen this in a few years.
I told you he was organized!!! My mind started going crazy about how I can paint over that wood and pound some big nails in there at an angle and hang all my serger thread on it. I was getting more excited about it and then something hit me. I am the next generation. So, how did I come to that conclusion? That board is pretty much all that is left of my Grandpa's woodshop. I'm painting over it. It's going to be gone. My Grandpa is gone. My Dad, his son, is gone. Then, I realized I have NO one left on my Dad's side of the family who I associate with. My Dad's sister is...well, I won't go there. Then, there's my Dad's other sister and her wacko husband who we haven't talked to in years. They saw my brother after my Dad died and he yelled something like, "So, the old man is dead, huh?" and laughed in his psychotic laugh. I have never really known any of the other relatives on my Dad's side. We went to a fancy family reunion when I was about 13 and it was not the most comfortable thing. Let's just say that we are lower middle class and they are NOT.
Then, I got thinking about my Mom's side. We used to have these huge family get togethers just because we could. We didn't really have to have an occasion. We were all very close. I swear I went to a wedding once a week when I was a girl/teen. Graduation time was another big time for lots of parties and fun. Everyone was so loving and fun to be around. I realized that we haven't had a time like that in many years. Everyone is dying. I realized my girls are around the same age as I was when I remember all of that fun stuff. I realize my parents were my age back then. I'm going to be 40 next year! Jim and I are the generation that our children and grandchildren will look back on and remember. That all seems crazy to me! Where did all the past years go! There's a lot of stress and pressure when I realize that I have to make good memories with my girls now so they have something nice to remember when they are 40 and have to start their own generation.
I have no idea if any of that made any sense to any of you, but in my head it makes total sense. 
I suppose I can show off my new sewing area now. I wasn't going to do it until I got it painted. When you look at these pictures please note that the place truly is spotless. I scrubbed and vacuumed until my fingers bled. And that's no exaggeration. You can ask my husband. He's seen my hands. They're not pretty. But, there is only so much a person can do with a 60 year old woodshop without fresh paint. Also, keep in mind that this is temporary. I'm going to be doing a lot more decluttering and moving stuff around. I have a desk on my patio that's going to go in place of that thing that my sewing machines are on. I have to say that is NOT the most ergonomic place to sew. But, I have to make it work until I can get more junk moved out and get the desk down there. I think I'm going to store all my packaging stuff in that thing. I'm going to paint it up as well as the walls. My cutting table was a folding door that Jim decided would make a really nice bar table. I stole it for my cutting table. 
He hasn't complained too much. Check out the window! No big deal you say? It was so filthy dirty that I never really noticed we had a window there all these years. I had to scrape the dried on dirt off with a razor blade. I can't believe how much brighter it is down there now.
This is definately an improvement compared to the tiny spot I had at my kitchen table. I feel so blessed to have this right now! I can work so much more efficiently even though I still have a lot of work to do to make it better.
We have a nice junk table...I mean pool table under all of this junk....My Grandpa made it. Someday we just might have all of that junk cleared off of there too. It's coming along slowly. We need to find a place for Jim to put his mixer board and stuff on.
Then, there's this other corner. Jim's band corner. I don't touch that. I won't touch that and I would never even think to touch that. That's ALL his and I respect that. 
He can make his pretty music in that corner while I make my pretty diapers on the opposite corner.
Speaking of new generations...I better get moving and get sewing on Liam's diapers. I should start a daily count down. He's going to be here SOON! He's due to arrive March 19th. It seems that when I was pregnant the pregnancy when SO slow. Angi's pregnancy has went way too fast. I can't believe we're going to have a new baby around here soon.
Comments
Mar. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Cool workplace! You must have spent a lot of time cleaning that up. Where will Victoria play while you work down there?
Mar. 9, 2008 - A paint idea
Posted by Sheri aka kitchenmaid
Years ago, I painted the cinder blocks in our basement using a heavy paint that filled in some of the bumpiness of the blocks. I first bought some ready-mixed paint cans but went through them so fast, it was going to cost us a small fortune. We discovered we could buy the powder and mix it with water ourselves. The consistency was like plaster of paris; you have to work quickly a bit at a time as the paint 'sets' quickly.
I think if you only painted the cinder blocks, the sewing corner would be brightened up immensely. Leave grandpa's boards just like they are; that's perfect! I'm impressed with the job you did cleaning up a work area for yourself. Good for you!
