[Lynn O. Doughty]

This might P.O. a few people but it has been my observation that messy surroundings usually indicate messy people. My Mom always encouraged us kids to clean up after ourselves, sometimes...ok...a lot of times, with a little extra applied force. Evidently her methods worked as I've always tried to keep any area I might be in as neat as possible. A carver who leaves his tools laying haphazardly all over his workbench is going to have dull tools and we all know that dull tools produce lowsy carvings. A painter who doesn't take the time or care in cleaning his brushes and painting area is going to produce a messy product. It only takes a moment to put your tools away, wash out a brush, sweep the floor. If you can't seem to get motivated just pick up a broom and sweep the floor.......maybe some inspiration will come as you're pushing that broom.

[mwilleson]

Michael,

When I've worked in autobody shops, one rule always existed. Friday afternoon at 4 was cleanup time. Everything was put away, floors swept, and then hosed down - every Friday, no exceptions.

Try figuring out one time a week you can dedicate 30 minutes to clean the shop. If you do it every week it won't take too long and it won't get out of hand.

Just an idea....

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

The language on this forum is getting atrocious!! "clean-up, sweep, put away, unclutter!" Arrrrgggghhh

[Nancy-ID]

For me motivation is:

1. an idea that I really want to see come to life
2. a clean workspace
3. shows (a goal)
4. talking with or seeing what someone of like mind is doing (since that is rarely available except here) then
5. art/carving magazines

Like Jillsy, my shop is a place to relax, think about what I want to do or should be doing next on a carving. If it is a mess, I can't relax. So my routine goes something like this; start clean, make a huge mess roughing out, clean the shop, detail, clean the shop, burn, put burning stuff back in it's place, do deep cleaning of shop, paint, put painting supplies in place, dust benches, put on finish. Start all over again

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Excellent observations Nancy. I was wondering whether this would come around to "inspiration" which is something completely different than "motivation", at least to me. To me motivation is the desire to do something, anything really, without a set goal. Inspiration on the other hand is an idea that puts the "moti" in motivation. I think I do pretty good work when I'm just motivated but I know I do my best work when I'm inspired.

Here's a good example of how I get inspired to get motivated: I have been whittling around on the body of a figure for the past several weeks, not really applying myself as I had other more important things on my mind. Then the other day Claude posted a thread on his recent heart bypass. I made a comment to him that I, as the rest of you, wished him the best with his recovery. A little while later down at the shop, piddling around not applying myself to anything in particular but thinking about Claude I happened to glance over at a head I recently finished of a sad faced fellow. BINGO! Inspiration strikes! An idea starts to take form! Now don't get me wrong, in no way would I willingly want to use the misfortune of someone, especially a friend on this forum, as the basis of an idea for a carving. But that's the way it happened. Anyway, the thought was of a poor kowpoke standing by a mailbox, reading a letter he had just received from his wife which said that she was tired of his late nights at the saloon, his long absences on cattledrives, and that awful lump of you know what he has between his cheek and gum! "This is to inform you that I've gone home to Mama!" He's holding the letter in one hand and the envelope in the other standing by a rural mailbox stuck in an old milk can shot full of holes by passing saloon-mates. There's a crystal tear running down his cheek...a challenge I haven't tried yet. It would be titled: "Heart Bypass!"

Well, the gears started working. First I made the mailbox. It turned out really neat, red flag and everthing, even the little metal holder that keeps the door shut. Then I did the milk can. Turned the shape on the lathe, carved it, added a couple of handles and some bullet holes. Terrific! Then I started thinking about the scene overall again. Wait a minute....she wouldn't have sent him a letter she would have left a note on the kitchen table! CRAP! So much for that idea. Then, out of nowhere came another inspiration....how about substituting a letter from the town bank with the words "Foreclosure Notice!" That would work! So now I'm off again.

So, while Claude got his pipes rerouted to give him many more years to whittle away I got the inspiration I needed to hopefully turn out another classic! Thanks Claude!

[Kenny_S]

ROTFLMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What works for one doesn't work for someone else. It's just an opinion and relies on what makes you tic. Nothing more, nothing less.
There, Now back to more decking for my son.

[Ron Davidson]

I was wondering what that noise was south of me the other day. It was Lynn's gears turning.

[Kenny_S]

Wow, all the way up there ? Means they haven't been greased in a while eh?
Well I have always heard the squeakist gears get heard. Or was that wheel?
Same Same!

[whitecree]

Originally Posted by jillsy

Well, I'm no sailor ... but I'm with Squbrigg on this one! If things are a mess, to me, it's like trying to relax in chaos.

I find chaos very relaxing. I've always figured a clean shop is the sign of a sick mind. At least, any time I've cleaned my shop, I've always felt kind of sick afterwards.

And if you really feel the need for a little shock therapy, just stick a bobby pin in an outlet...

:lol:

[stickman]

Well after reading all of these reponces I went down to my work bench, and you guessed it .found a little something I was pratcing on and grabbed a knife and headed upstairs to sit in the living room with a towel on my lap and listened to csi on the tv.Its still all cluttered down there but oh well I'll clean it another day.