I am very glad I decided to open up an Etsy shop. I am now privy to a lot of great articles on all types of subjects. Here is a wonderful one, with photos to drool over, about
different artists' work spaces.
I was so impressed with myself when I cleaned up my office at the beginning of the year. The issue is that if you don't have the right storage for all your stuff, the organization doesn't last long. In addition, there needs to be space in which to work. I am so frustrated with the lack of space that I am contemplating renting some studio space. However, I love staying at home to do my work, so it is a problem. I keep eyeing that second bedroom that my daughter Chelsea is in, and imagining how I would organize it with my Stuff if she moved out. (She has the only real closet in the whole apartment.)
Once I brought my basket making supplies into the house, chaos reared its ugly head once again. Every bit of wall space already has either a book case or a cupboard on it housing my yarns, knitted samples, fibers, books, and tools. Time for a road trip to Ikea, I think.
I wonder if any of you have found a great solution to housing your Stuff. Wanna share?
About Beth Brown-Reinsel
I am a knitter, handspinner, weaver, and basket-maker, teaching knitting here and abroad.
I keep eyeing my daughter’s room. She’s only 9, so I have a long time to wait, unfortunately. But my future plans for the room were always in my mind when we renovated her room this summer.
I love looking at pictures of others beautifully organized stash and work spaces, so I love your link today. Thanks!
Thanks Jenn, for your comment. I am so glad you enjoyed the link!
I live in NYC, so space is an absolute premium. Most of the craft rooms shown in that post are bigger than our whole apartment! All my “active” stash and samples live in (and on top of) a a china cabinet that I inherited from my grandpa, and the rest lives in a storage locker down the street along with our off-season clothes.
Inside the china cabinet my yarns are divided in transparent shoeboxes so I can see what I’ve got and stack them without everything turning into a giant tangle. Thank goodness knitting is so portable – my studio is the couch, the subway, the park, and the kitchen table. Oh, and the giant color printer I use for patterns lives in our non-working fireplace.
OH yes, NYC is the ultimate challenge for anyone living in an apartment. I love that you even use the fireplace for printer, Daniel! LOL! We do what we have to, right?
I purge. Recently there was a call for odd yarn balls for a womens group in Afganistan and I was ruthless, I found all my odds balls, my mohair, in total it was three LARGE storage bags that went out. It felt wonderful. I still have a ton of yarn, in plastic containers, somewhat labeled, and lots more to clear out. Several tips
I save magazines so when I find the BIG binders I put the magazines in them with the plastic magazine holders. I label each binder.
2. Become ruthless with magazines. While I like knitters, I no longer like the current fashions presented. Unless there are several (3-5) sweaters that I find really well thought out, well done, or could see me wearing it, I don’t get the magazine. Also more and more patterns are available individually after a period of time, if it is in electronic format all the better, I buy just that pattern (making sure it fits my current figure)
3. Trade with friends. Every once in a while I realize I am never going to knit fingering weight clothes. I go through my tubs and contact friends and let them know I am destashing and do they want anything? Have a destashing party.
4. find groups that want your knitted items. While family may not appreciate your hard work, others love it, knit for them.
Hope this helps.
Patty
Patty, what great ideas! Thanks for posting.
Ikea is your friend! My whole office is “decorated” in Ikea stuff and it’s so great for organizing. I also find that getting the stuff you don’t use often out of your working space is really helpful. I’m lucky enough to have a garage and that’s where some stuff lives that I don’t use very often but don’t want to part with. That frees up space in my actual working area.
The best thing I bought from Ikea was the Varde kitchen counter/cabinet thingy. It gives me a great working surface which I use all the time, but with really useful shelves and drawers below. I call it my “shipping table” and I LOVE it.
Another great idea and one I should consider. I have two long tables from Ikea that are essentially doors on legs. So I jam stuff underneath , but don’t have organization and much of the space at the top is wasted. Thanks Janel!
I struggle with this, too, despite having already taken over one son’s room and having another “sewing room” already! I blame my poor organization on having to work full time, but have a sneaking suspicion that retiring (hopefully in 6 years) won’t “cure” the problem
Glad to know I’m not alone. I, too, knit, spin, quilt, AND weave baskets — too much stuff!
And, I keep starting interesting projects — like your Latvian Mitts from Knitting Traditions which I started last night. Kept me up late – I love them!
WOW! Lucky you to have two rooms to store stuff in. The Law of Entropy (often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in a system) states that no matter how organized you are, the Stuff will naturally revert to a state of chaos and disorder. Further, the Law of Craft Stuff states that your supplies will double or triple when you aren’t looking. YIKES!
But I am loathe to get rid of anything because what if one day I am struck with the inspiration to weave a basket, warp my loom, or spin yarn for a sweater? Starting projects are always so much fun aren’t they? I am so happy to hear that my Latvian Mitts pattern has given you pleasure, Cate!
Those rooms are so full of inspiration – thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome, Jo!
Personally I haven’t solved all my problems, though I keep making an effort. The first thing I need to do is stop acquiring and USE much of it. However, my friend Caron has made huge progress with Ikea, so next time I’m near one, I’m shopping. She likes the plastic bins that stack, yet open from the top, among other things. Good luck! (PS – A friend recently said to me: “If your fiber is causing you a problem, maybe you have a fiber problem.” He would be right!)
Yup, Sandra, your friend would be right: you and I have a fiber problem. I will be attacking the problem next week, after I get back into the swing of things from being gone a week. Not looking forward to it….