Back in December I started organizing my craft/woman cave. I shared back then what I found when going through all of the sewing boxes in the basement. Now I thought I’d show you a bit of how I organized the stuff.
I did some research and decided on the Gorilla Racks. They aren’t real pretty, but they were exactly what I wanted. I like how the shelves are movable and how they could be configured differently than just one rack. My third rack I divided up into two short racks – one for my printers and one for scrapbook paper and more.
This scrapbook paper shelf I bought when Ben Franklin was going out of business.
Then I found this spool rack at a flea market. I’ve seen newer ones at Joann’s, but they aren’t made as well and they aren’t as cheap as this one.
That is a picture of my Mom and Dad in Hawaii many years ago. Dad won the trip and they had so much fun there.
I bought a whole bunch of these. I can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner. How did I ever find anything before? I always had problems starting projects because I couldn’t find anything. Now I have no excuse!
I realized a couple months into this reorganization that not everything should be put in a box. That includes these pens/markers.
I had so much trouble finding the ones I wanted to use so I took them out of the box and put them into this old dishwasher utensil holder.
When we moved in four years ago, we had a new dishwasher installed. When the installer found out that I was into crafts he brought me several of these holders. “My wife loves these for crafts,” he said. Anyway, I’ve used one or two in the garage, but had not put them to use in here until a few weeks ago. I love that I can now see the different markers. Maybe some shouldn’t be stored this way, but this way I will use them. I also have one for my pencils.
I repurposed this laundry cart. If fits perfectly between the table and the closet and just the right width for those dishwasher utensil holders.
Then I realized I also don’t use my ribbon and they needed to be where I could see them. I strung a wire and I hung them.
They are hanging in front of the shelf that holds the cd player and cds so they aren’t in the way.
I also hung some of my early art journal pages.
In addition to my artwork, I spend a lot of time in here writing. I was going to clean off my desk, but this is how I work – in a mess! There is something soothing about the pile of paper on my desk. I’m left handed so I do keep the left side a bit neater.
I bought this desk back when I had my business in my home many years ago. It has a printer stand that matches, but it’s in the garage now. The rack works much better and fits both printers perfectly. I love being able to sit here and write (or surf and read all of your blogs) and look out the window. Dave bought me a bird feeder for Valentine’s Day a couple years ago and hung it outside this window. He keeps it stocked with food for our bird friends. I enjoy watching them.
I’m not finished with my organizing but in addition to being able to write, I can also create in here. I really love this space.
Now to get back to – let’s see – my column. It’s due soon so I’d better start writing it. Thanks for dropping by craft/woman cave.
The dishwasher utensils holders are a really great solution! I’ll have to go raid the town recycling and see if I can find a couple!
Your ideas are great, and I bet you are getting heaps more done now you can see stuff!
Heckety, Thanks! Yes, it really makes a difference when you don’t have to hunt for things before you make something! I still have some tweaking to do – standing and sewing is just not working so I’ll be moving the sewing machine. Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Hey Lynda, great ideas here for organizing and i could sure use them. I like the small tote ideas and labeling them…I may have to look into that. I totally “get” your feeling of soothing with the mess. I feel no stress to have to “clean up”…I think that is what I love..there may be more reasons…sometimes I actually just enjoy the looseness of having a mess. My husband would never understand this. Right now on my list of things to do is to “try” to clear off my worktable so that I can create today and tomorrow. I have some ideas of things to work on for Arts in Harmony and beyond. One has to have a space to work!
Also, I think flatware caddies would work too, for organizing your markers and pens, if you couldn’t get your hands on the caddy from the dishwasher!
Oh yeh, I LOVE that spool rack. Awesome find!
Flatware caddy would also be great for organizing rubber stamps. Although I ran across recently an idea from Carole Duvall on organizing them that I like and might do since if I can’t see them, I won’t use them! She puts them in a gallon ziplock bag. She also puts a piece of cardboard with the stamped image in the bag so when you remove one you know where it goes back to. They are all housed standing up like files in a big cardboard file box. Since I don’t have that many rubber stamps, I could see the stencils also being stored that way or at least propped up in the box all together. Looking forward to seeing what you create next!
Wow, that must have been a lot of work organizing all that stuff! But I bet now that you have everything in its place it’s a lot easier to get started 🙂
I LOVE that spool rack, so pretty!
Good job! Everything looks so organized and at hand.
Sage Butterfly, It’s getting there! Thanks for dropping by.
Very inspirational! I’m working on getting my area cleaned up…I took some before pictures of the mess. Will blog about it when I finally get it all cleaned up.
Halle, Thanks. Would love to see your place!