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The Ranger

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Aug 21, 2002, 11:06:31 AM8/21/02
to
I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd like
to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate the
works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
becoming overwhelming.

How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
order?

The "Drowning in Art" Ranger
--
"It often amazes me at the complexity a simply-worded e-mail can convey to
so many different people. And yet, so many people willingly complain that
e-mail is an imperfect tool for communicating those same simple ideals."


Nan

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Aug 21, 2002, 11:24:02 AM8/21/02
to
The Ranger wrote:
> I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic
> living under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures,
> and the layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming
> unmanageable. I'd like to save things for a time when they're all old
> enough to appreciate the works of their previous stages, but after
> four years of school, it's becoming overwhelming.
>
> How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance
> of order?
>
> The "Drowning in Art" Ranger

Heh. I used to want to save *everything* my son did.... artwork and
schoolwork with good grades.

I finally had to whittle it all down to the most select pieces..... once I
came to the sad conclusion that I just couldn't hang on to *everything*.

For organization purposes, you can get several boxes. The type one wraps
shirts in as gifts will do nicely. Papers fit inside well, and the boxes
store easily.

I implemented the rule that artwork got prominent display (on the fridge)
for a period of not more than 30 days.
When ds wanted to display a new one, an older one had to come down.
The older one was placed into the box. The box was placed on a shelf in my
closet.
When the box was full, I taped it shut, labelled it, and we started a new
one.

*I still have some boxes to go thru ;-)

~Nan~


Lochlain

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Aug 21, 2002, 11:20:53 AM8/21/02
to
The Ranger wrote:
> I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic
> living under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures,
> and the layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming
> unmanageable. I'd like to save things for a time when they're all old
> enough to appreciate the works of their previous stages, but after
> four years of school, it's becoming overwhelming.
>
> How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance
> of order?
>
> The "Drowning in Art" Ranger

Scrapbooks? Just a thought.
Angela

Angie [dot]

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Aug 21, 2002, 11:19:49 AM8/21/02
to
1 word - tupperware.

Not those dinky food ones but those storage ones. They have many sizes and
are very very good for organizing. I have 5 under my bed :)

"The Ranger" <cuhul...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ak0a19$1eecuu$1...@ID-61173.news.dfncis.de...

Ynahteb

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Aug 21, 2002, 11:30:56 AM8/21/02
to
Have them pick out one thing per week or bi-weekly or whatever (depending on
how much they produce ;o)... and throw the rest away. Buy them each a
large plastic box for their artwork, with the intention of them having many
years to fill it... Be sure to have them sign and date what they want to
keep.

Stuff that they might not want to keep forever can still have their day in
the sun on the fridge for a while... but once you start having to layer it's
time to get rid of some of it.

It sounds harsh, but you can't possibly keep everything... (unless you're
my MIL of course har har)
Bethany


"The Ranger" <cuhul...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ak0a19$1eecuu$1...@ID-61173.news.dfncis.de...

iphigenia

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Aug 21, 2002, 12:27:53 PM8/21/02
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"Ynahteb" <bob...@hotmail.com> wrote...
: Have them pick out one thing per week or bi-weekly or whatever (depending

on
: how much they produce ;o)... and throw the rest away.

I like the idea of letting the artist decide which works s/he wishes to
keep - good way to avoid any hurt feelings because a parent threw something
special out!

--
iphigenia
little boy www.tristyn.net


Janet

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Aug 21, 2002, 6:08:39 PM8/21/02
to
On Wed, 21 Aug 2002 08:06:31 -0700, The Ranger wrote:

>I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
>under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
>layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd like
>to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate the
>works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
>becoming overwhelming.
>
>How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
>order?
>
>The "Drowning in Art" Ranger

For the flat art, look into some acid-free scrapbooks or photo albums
-- the kind you can purchase replacement pages for. Get one for each.
They'll only be able to fit so much into each binder so as they get
older they may decide to toss some older, less desirable pieces for
space for their new and more sophisticated works.

For the 3-D stuff maybe shadow boxes they can hang on the walls in
their room?

Janet

--
"Am I ignorant or apathetic? I don't know and I don't care! Does that sum it up for you?"
- Linzo Albatroza

Cheryl

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Aug 21, 2002, 11:41:15 PM8/21/02
to
On Wed, 21 Aug 2002 08:06:31 -0700, "The Ranger"
<cuhul...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
>under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
>layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd like
>to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate the
>works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
>becoming overwhelming.
>
>How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
>order?
>
>The "Drowning in Art" Ranger

A friend of mine uses all the artwork produced by her kids to wrap
gifts to friends. It works particularly well for grandparents, and
the kids think it's a great way to show other people what they are
doing.


--
Cheryl

DS#1 (Mar 99), DS#2 (Oct 00)
DD born 30 Jul 02

annabellz

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Aug 22, 2002, 1:30:27 AM8/22/02
to

"The Ranger" <cuhul...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ak0a19$1eecuu$1...@ID-61173.news.dfncis.de...
> I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
> under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
> layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd like
> to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate the
> works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
> becoming overwhelming.
>
> How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
> order?
>
> The "Drowning in Art" Ranger
> --
We use those expanding large file folders with the rubber band and the flap
that folds down. We go by year. Eventually may whittle down what we have
but for now we have it all


Anni


michelle downunder

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Aug 22, 2002, 2:42:46 AM8/22/02
to
On Wed, 21 Aug 2002 08:06:31 -0700, "The Ranger"
<cuhul...@yahoo.com> brilliantly stated:

|I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
|under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
|layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd like
|to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate the
|works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
|becoming overwhelming.
|
|How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
|order?
|
|The "Drowning in Art" Ranger

i use an old suitcase... it holds all this type of stuff, along with
old birthday cards etc that i can never throw out


Teri

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Aug 22, 2002, 7:07:00 AM8/22/02
to

"The Ranger" <cuhul...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ak0a19$1eecuu$1...@ID-61173.news.dfncis.de...

I read a good idea in a magazine about taking a pic with your child in the
center and their artwork all around so you have pics of the artwork ... and
then save only the 'special' pieces. A lot of people suggested letting the
artist choose, no doubt my ds would choose a picture of blue smear and *not*
want to save the first car he drew with 4 wheels and a driver. I choose
what to save and I date the back of it. I have a tupperware-like box, one
labeled OS one labeled YS. ... I occassionally go thru it to toss stuff that
has lost it's 'specialness" - now, why did I put that there?

For the school year, my girlfriend uses one of those accordian folders - one
slot for each month and goes thru the folder entirely at the end of the year
... I may try that this year!
-Teri
>


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:30:46 AM8/25/02
to
Angie suggested:
> 1 word - tupperware.

I'm a Rubbermaid devotee. :)

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:33:10 AM8/25/02
to
Lochlain suggested:

> > I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a
> > Pollack-mimic living under one roof. The piles of papers,
> > the stacks of sculptures, and the layers-upon-layers on
> > the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd like to
> > save things for a time when they're all old enough to
> > appreciate the works of their previous stages, but after
> > four years of school, it's becoming overwhelming.
> >
> > How do others sort things, separate items and maintain
> > some semblance of order?
> >
> Scrapbooks? Just a thought.
>
And one we've attempted. The problem with scrapbooks is shelf space, time to
add to the scrapbooks, and drive to keep the daughter-units involved without
making it seem like another chore.

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:45:24 AM8/25/02
to
Teri wrote:
> > I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic
> > living under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures,
> > and the layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming
unmanageable.
> > I'd like to save things for a time when they're all old enough to
appreciate
> > the works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
> > becoming overwhelming.
> >
> > How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance
> > of order?
> >
> I read a good idea in a magazine about taking a pic with your child in the
> center and their artwork all around so you have pics of the artwork ...
> and then save only the 'special' pieces. A lot of people suggested letting
> the artist choose, no doubt my ds would choose a picture of blue smear
> and *not* want to save the first car he drew with 4 wheels and a driver.
> I choose what to save and I date the back of it. I have a tupperware-like
> box, one labeled OS one labeled YS. ... I occassionally go thru it to toss
> stuff that has lost it's 'specialness" - now, why did I put that there?
>
> For the school year, my girlfriend uses one of those accordian folders -
> one slot for each month and goes thru the folder entirely at the end of
> the year ... I may try that this year!
>
We use garbage bags for collection and then sort at the end of the school
year.

Unfortuately, as you point out, when we allowed Alpha and Beta to choose,
they consistently chose paintings and scribbles and scraps of paper vs.
items where there were clearly defined-and-drawn-and-pasted. Things that
showed details and progress (to SWMBO and me) were never picked -- in fact,
these items were often shunned. We're working on developing a system -- that
doesn't allow too much procrastination -- and I appreciate the feedback!
Thanks.

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:46:41 AM8/25/02
to
michelle downunder typed:

> |I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
> |under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
> |layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd
> |like to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate
> |the works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
> |becoming overwhelming.
> |
> |How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
> |order?
> |
> |The "Drowning in Art" Ranger
>
> i use an old suitcase... it holds all this type of stuff, along with
> old birthday cards etc that i can never throw out
>
I'm not allowed to keep old suitcases. I can keep everything else (and as a
packrat, I do) but not suitcases. Go figure.

The Ranger

The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:49:45 AM8/25/02
to
annabellz told of her method by typing:

> > I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic
> >living under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures,
> > and the layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming
> > unmanageable. I'd like to save things for a time when they're all
> > old enough to appreciate the works of their previous stages,
> > but after four years of school, it's becoming overwhelming.
> >
> > How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some
> > semblance of order?
> >
> We use those expanding large file folders with the rubber band and the
> flap that folds down. We go by year. Eventually may whittle down
> what we have but for now we have it all
>
As do we. At the end of a school year, the work to sort the bags is
daunting. <G> I'll float the expanding file experience past SWMBO. It might
just fit with her "A place for everything and everything in its place"
ideology.

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:54:04 AM8/25/02
to
Janet suggested:

> >I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
> >under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
> >layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd
> >like to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate
> >the works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
> >becoming overwhelming.
> >
> >How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance of
> >order?
> >
> >The "Drowning in Art" Ranger
>
> For the flat art, look into some acid-free scrapbooks or photo albums
> -- the kind you can purchase replacement pages for. Get one for each.
> They'll only be able to fit so much into each binder so as they get
> older they may decide to toss some older, less desirable pieces for
> space for their new and more sophisticated works.
>
> For the 3-D stuff maybe shadow boxes they can hang on the walls in
> their room?
>
We used to do the scrapbooks but it became a chore -- and I live with a
woman that LOVES scrapbooking and photo albums.

As far as the 3-D stuff: these often don't last past the public display
times so we don't have a lot of them left to store (thankfully.) <EG>

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:57:16 AM8/25/02
to
iphigenia agreed with Ynahteb's suggestion:

> : Have them pick out one thing per week or bi-weekly or whatever
> : (depending on how much they produce ;o)... and throw the rest
> : away.
>
> I like the idea of letting the artist decide which works s/he wishes to
> keep - good way to avoid any hurt feelings because a parent threw
> something special out!

Unfortunely, this is a Kobayashi Maru. ALL artwork is generally viewed as
too special to throw out by the artist involved. And making the
daughter-units pick became a major chore.

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:51:47 AM8/25/02
to
Cheryl thought:

> >I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic living
> >under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures, and the
> >layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming unmanageable. I'd
> >like to save things for a time when they're all old enough to appreciate
> >the works of their previous stages, but after four years of school, it's
> >becoming overwhelming.
> >
> >How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance
> >of order?
> >
>
> A friend of mine uses all the artwork produced by her kids to wrap
> gifts to friends. It works particularly well for grandparents, and
> the kids think it's a great way to show other people what they are
> doing.
>
Hmmm... That might work, actually. The grandparents actually loved when we
wrapped one of their anniversary gifts in white tissue and told the
daughter-units to have at it with pens and crayons.

Thanks.

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 11:59:59 AM8/25/02
to
Ynahteb suggested:

> Have them pick out one thing per week or bi-weekly or whatever (depending
> on how much they produce ;o)... and throw the rest away. Buy them each
> a large plastic box for their artwork, with the intention of them having
> many years to fill it... Be sure to have them sign and date what they
want
> to keep.
>
> Stuff that they might not want to keep forever can still have their day in
> the sun on the fridge for a while... but once you start having to layer
> it's time to get rid of some of it.
>
> It sounds harsh, but you can't possibly keep everything... (unless you're
> my MIL of course har har)

I agree that we can't keep everything and am now going through the process
of whittling down what we have saved.

<sigh> I hate getting rid of things.

The Ranger


The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 12:01:28 PM8/25/02
to
Nan commiserated:

> > I have a Picasso-wannabe, a Michelangelo-muse, and a Pollack-mimic
> > living under one roof. The piles of papers, the stacks of sculptures,
> > and the layers-upon-layers on the 'frigde door are becoming
> > unmanageable. I'd like to save things for a time when they're all old
> > enough to appreciate the works of their previous stages, but after
> > four years of school, it's becoming overwhelming.
> >
> > How do others sort things, separate items and maintain some semblance
> > of order?
> >
> Heh. I used to want to save *everything* my son did.... artwork and
> schoolwork with good grades.
>
> I finally had to whittle it all down to the most select pieces..... once I
> came to the sad conclusion that I just couldn't hang on to *everything*.
>
> For organization purposes, you can get several boxes. The type one wraps
> shirts in as gifts will do nicely. Papers fit inside well, and the boxes
> store easily.
>
> I implemented the rule that artwork got prominent display (on the fridge)
> for a period of not more than 30 days.
> When ds wanted to display a new one, an older one had to come down.
> The older one was placed into the box. The box was placed on a shelf in
> my closet. When the box was full, I taped it shut, labelled it, and we
> started a new one.
>
> *I still have some boxes to go thru ;-)

The shirtbox is another idea that just might work with SWMBO; thanks!

The Ranger


toto

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Aug 25, 2002, 4:11:27 PM8/25/02
to

Try a trunk. They are good size and are wonderful when the kids go
off to college. They can be made into a coffee table for a dorm
room and used to pack and ship stuff to and from college.

Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
source unknown

The Ranger

unread,
Aug 25, 2002, 6:13:51 PM8/25/02
to
toto recommended:

> Try a trunk. They are good size and are wonderful when
> the kids go off to college. They can be made into a coffee
> table for a dorm room and used to pack and ship stuff to
> and from college.

Got two: one from my father-unit's military tour (circa WWII) and my
mother-unit's world-hopping during the same era. They are currently doing
duty as clutter-catch-alls from each parent (year books, papers, art
projects -- both parents were gifted artisans, awards, etc.) They're heavy
as heck, too!

The Ranger


michelle downunder

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Aug 25, 2002, 7:35:54 PM8/25/02
to
On Sun, 25 Aug 2002 08:46:41 -0700, "The Ranger"
<cuhul...@yahoo.com> brilliantly stated:

|michelle downunder typed:

Oh... dh is a real hoarder... we have so much junk!!! he thinks he
will find a use for everything

Janet

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Aug 27, 2002, 3:33:03 AM8/27/02
to
On Sun, 25 Aug 2002 08:54:04 -0700, The Ranger wrote:

>We used to do the scrapbooks but it became a chore -- and I live with a
>woman that LOVES scrapbooking and photo albums.

Hey Ranger! Just had a lightbulb moment...How 'bout you scan them in
and keep them on a disk?!?!?! Would take up a lot less space and they
could view them in all their glory any ol' time.

Janet

--
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia."
- Pablo Picasso

Sarah

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Aug 27, 2002, 4:22:45 AM8/27/02
to

Janet wrote:

Cool idea Janet :)
Im going to be doing this!
Sarah


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