With all these new found projects, I need to start organizing my supplies, as my fabric cutting table is now covered with things to do. Many times I get overwhelmed, I need to finish what I start, before I start something else. So, that's what I started doing yesterday. I sectioned each project on its portion of my 120" x 54" table, and starting at the beginning, I am doing each thing to completion. Or at least I will try!

With all that said, it would be great to have a thread listing tips with photos on organizing my supplies.

You asked and it's now here for you, Debbie!

I bought a lot of the clear tubs over the years, looking for sales. At least most are clear. I am in the process of labeling everything, even though they are see through.

A few months ago I decided to get super organized and go through each box and make everything find it's correct bin. I placed them all in one room with the tops open and one by one, sorted as I watched TV in the evenings.

It took me a few weeks to do this, on and off. I found 27 rolls of scotch tape! I am now nearly completely organized...I just need two more shelf units and I'll be there.

In this photo, the storage wasn't quite complete as you'll see a pile to the right. It is now though!



In my dream world, I would not share my studio space with an office unless it was 25 feet long and about 15 feet wide. I would have lots of open shelving for paints, brushes and things I most often use.


How has everyone else organized?

http://www.google.com/search?t...

I just Googled craft organization.. Be warned: wonderful ideas!

You are too sweet Becky. Thanks so much. And yes, that's a great idea with the clear bins and shelving. Just happen to have both in use for other things. Guess I'll just have to put the other things in a different place so I can get mine all together like you have yours. Looks great! and thanks for the link, going to look now.

Oh, I LOVE all things that keep me organized

Oh my................ I love the painted flower pots, the jars, the cans. Focus Debbie, focus. I love it all!

Good morning Vicki. I see the morning shift is coming in, so maybe I'll try to get a nap in before the family wakes up. Vicki, many ideas have come in during the night. Enjoy!

Great idea for a thread! I'm almost afraid to look at the link for "Googled craft organization", it will probably make me realize what a mess mine is! I've only had a "real" workshop since last November and I swear I've already organized and reorganized at least three times and there's still more to do! It's unbelievable how much crap I've collected in such a short time but it's all GOOD crap!

My workshop is in an unfinished, unheated area of the basement and this is the first shelving unit I set up. Took this photo last December and it's now piled high and overflowing with supplies.

I was fortunate though these shelves were already in place, all I had to do was clear them and add MY stuff! Plus we already had a couple of extra tables I could use and the one in the foreground is on casters so I can move it anywhere I need to!

I've got all my mushrooms lined up waiting to add pebbles or be painted.

And I've collected so many "forms" to make concrete mushrooms I had to stuff them all into a crate with wheels and roll it under a table!

And then of course there are ALL those pebbles!!! Most of them come in those little mesh bags but those I had already opened were falling everywhere so I cut pieces of foamboard to make dividers for this bin.

The worst part is I ended up having to expand into an adjacent area of the basement so now I've got even more area to keep organized. And soon I'll be planning storage for my "outside" workshop! This is the window I'm hoping to transform into a "faux" stained glass and I've got a preformed formica countertop which will be installed against this wall. Probably not the best choice for an outside area but I picked it up for $5.00 at Habit for Humanity and you can't beat the price!

Oh Debbie, you are the epitome of a place for everything and everything in it's place

Morning shift I LOVE it!

GREAT photos Debbie!

Yes, looking at the link I provided is mind boggling. But remember that real artists could never stay that tidy. When I'm on a project, it looks like a robber came into my studio!!!

Morning shift indeed!!!

I'd love to have a basement for all my craft "JUNK". Of course, I would need one of those chair lifts that would take me up and down the stairs.

I have a neat little organizer that DH took out of a dumpster, separate compartment for my glass globs, etc. I've got it filled up and now need more room. Than I have small containers with rocks, glass, etc. in them, but I can't seem to put them all in one area. Have an old type ice box out under my patio that needs to be cleaned out so I can store things in it. A lot of garden stuff in it now. Why do I think I have to try every craft I see, but never finish one. Just organized confusion.

Pegi...I sure understand that. I think organizing does help me do more.

Well, I also pull everything out when I'm working on a project. But I'm hoping to find time to make some of those awesome flower pots and hanging jars and cans (shown in Becky's link) to help me in organizing. I figure if I put a shelf real close to my work table, I might, and I say , might, put the things up as I use them. I have however learned to start with a clean slate at the beginning of each of my drapery projects. So, I'm finding myself doing that, at the start of each new craft project. But mercy, while I'm working on it, well, let's just say, no visitors allowed.

vic said:Oh Debbie, you are the epitome of a place for everything and everything in it's place

Morning shift I LOVE it!

Oh please, the photos were taken right AFTER organizing, you don't think I'd take photos when I'm actually "working" on a project do you? My real problem is that I've reorganized everything so many times that I forget where something is. I've got a special rasping tool for concrete I bought last fall and I STILL can't find it????

Our basement has never been used for so much fun! Two-thirds of it is finished and the only time I ever went down there was to do laundry and I spent as little time down there as possible! I'll have to try to remember to take a photo of the other area I'm now using. The one I posted is "unfinished" but I expanded into the "finished" area for less messy projects, i.e. mosaics. I rearranged the tables that were there and set up three old dining room chairs we had kicking around. When my friends arrived for our first project last winter they laughed and said they felt like they were back in a classroom! We create our pieces there and then move to the other side to complete the "messy" stage, grouting, etc. All these years of having a 'vacant' basement and now it's finally seeing LOTS of activity!

Good for you Debbie! and you can show us messy - you can get the beautiful art we're seeing on these forums without messy first

I've tried organizing before and of course it didn't work out. Debbie, I'm not the only one who buys something then can't find it. Funny story: I had a large stapling gun and I knew right where it was, until DH used it. Now he can't find his or mine, they are in a bag somewhere. Only thing I could remenber where I put it. He is still looking, so this confusion started many years ago. He used to tell me he knew right where everything was, ya right!! No one has a messier garage than ours and he keeps piling things in it., I should say piling it in.

I get so happy when I find a lost item!

Pegi, those darned DH's! I'm the one who always has to find something Rick has "misplaced" so he's definitely no help in finding my lost items! I swear sometimes I can find things easier when everything's a mess....I remember it being right under a stack of whatever? Then I organize the stack and can't find it!

I finally learned to go around after my DH when he wasn't looking and pick things up and put it so I can find it. He's learned never to touch my stuff or he goes without dinner.

DH just came in to ask if we had a bigger fan for out in his "barn". I'm supposed to know where things are for him when I can't remember where I put things. Started going through a box of treasures, wow I don't remember having some of those things. Out of sight, out of mind. Going to straighten out my office and see if I can't make a little more room for craft things. Very small office and I have a little of everything in here. I think I will have to put some shelves up. OK, time to really get serious about this.