Some friends and I were talking the other day

about our crafty organizing and how our ‘systems’ tend to evolve as the way we craft changes from time-to-time. Have I shared this with you already? [Hope not!] I think I’ve alluded to the fact that I have slowly pushed Craig out of the upstairs office as my crafting *STUFF* has grown. [But that’s okay because he’s taken over the oldest’s deserted bedroom and is making it into a mighty nifty little home office of his own. [Lucky dog can work from home!] I've always had the window alcove as my scrappy space - and love it still [some of the organization has changed but you can see the foundation of it in the post list to the right.] We also have a little niche that holds our computer armoire perfectly and a couple of nice bookshelves and a futon on opposite walls. So now I will share that this is the where I paint:

I’ve moved some things in and out [and returned storage options to the store] as I’ve found what works best for me right now – I’ll divide it into thirds and share a little more details:

First off, the computer sets to the right so I tend to use the rolly computer chair for ‘puting and crafting. So there's a chair to the left that holds a bin [formerly above the scrapbook desk] with patterned papers that I use for backgrounds or clothing for my girls [sorted by color and divided with chipboard, of course!] My aprons hang over it when not in use. To the left of the desk I've placed a TV tray behind the door to give ma little more extended space and I have a little bookshelf that I got at the ReStore [Habitat for Humanity] for $5 - already painted that gorgeous green! It holds old dictionaries, hymnals, and project bases. On top is a large basket that has files full of ideas in it and in front is a big basket with all my [cheap] paints - divided in smaller baskets by colors.

The middle of the desk is where I work - it's covered in layers and layers of newspaper so that I can just lift off a layer when I need a clean surface. You can see that most of my materials [including stamps and inks] are divided in those little green bins I picked up at Old Time Pottery. I have shoe boxes with drawers to the right and some of my larger stamps and extra supplies are in those. The panels behind have screws to hold recent work [but I did the Artist Market the day these photos were taken so they were still packed away.] This is a folding screen that I've used on top of a table in shows - love it [also from the ReStore - $12 - I painted it at home.

To the right you can see how I have the shoe boxes stacked to give a little more storage room - There's a couple of baskets that hold pens and brushes, my green pedestal bowl full of nick knacks, some notebooks that hold notes from art classes I've taken and a cake pedestal I got at Hobby Lobby a few years back for 80% off - love it too. It has a giant teacup on top that holds additional 'extras.' In front of it is another of my favorite things - the old train case I picked up at an estate sale - it perfectly holds my CTMH stamps sets and other various stamps that I use occasionally. It's so easy to throw some ink in on top and take it to a crop with me!

So this is what works for me - right now... lol - I still have plans to take the closet doors off [they are just behind the train case] and put shelves in it. I'd love to have my sewing stuff in this room and also some of the other crafty stuff that's stored elsewhere. I know my organization may not work for everyone - but take what you can use and who knows? I'll probably be changing it again as time goes by --