This past week, I decided to address the “Elephant” in my life – My craft studio/ craft room.
We’ve moved several houses over the years, and with every move we realized the enormous bulge in my craft supplies – (not that I had anything to do with it !! You see, there’s this fairy God mother who keeps dropping supplies in my craft room every night for sorta good behavior 🙂 )
When we left Dubai, my mastodonic craft room was the only thing I carried in its complete form – furniture, bins, cupboards, all the art supplies = everything minus the spray cans (for obvious reasons) However, after a month of ‘futile attempts’ in setting up the craft studio in the basement, I just gave up. I was overwhelmed between the pails, buckets, bins, baskets, trays, drawers and boxes full of supplies. I was fed up of labeling and mentaling tagging items. I just needed a breather – which lasted for 5 months !! (Talk about procrastination !!)
So I gradually (subconsciously ofcourse) started encroaching the dining table for my craft projects. Bit by bit, twine, cord, glue sticks, paint brushes kept sneaking upstairs.
It was easier and convenient since I was closer to the family – had easy access to the kitchen for coffee and playing ostrich (to the buried treasure in the basement) could get me this far !!
Ofcourse, you know the saying ‘out of sight – out of mind’ !
Do you know, organizer junkies claim that a cluttered work area inhibits creativity – (as much as I agree with them ) I’m living proof, that my desk is almost always a chaotic mess – yet I manage to redeem myself with creating some quirky and quaint pieces of joy every now and then.
Its not like “my craft room” is on virtual volcanic eruption mode, but my desk, almost always is.
One of the biggest hurdles of being a perfectionist is that everything has to be in its exact place and for that to happen, one has to ‘establish an exact place first’.
I ‘set’ my entire house within 3 months but when it came to my craft room in the basement, I decided to get all the furniture in place first and then start unpacking the 100+ cartons in the craft room. After the 71st carton was unpacked, there was no place to even walk in the room. That’s when I decided to take a break. The lockdown took effect around the same time and I got distracted …. kinda distracted for a long long time.
Until around 2 weeks back. While I was getting the laundry done in the basement, one quick desperate gaze at my helpless dusty paintbrushes, bins of chalk paint and heaps of paper cutting tools and supplies, really left me feeling like a complete failure.
It almost propelled me back to the dining room. However, an hour later, I was determined. I was going to stop looking around with dread and finally hold the proverbial bull by its horns and tackle it. We have a long way to go, but we’ll get there, so long as we I carry on – small bites but with consistency.
I am happy to report that there is progress albeit slow – but I am not giving up.
These pictures were taken two weekends back.
I did not want to just dump stacks of rubber stamps or die cuts or pails of paints without some form of organization. Hence the process has been slow. I keep feeling defeated but somehow pull myself together and dive down.
Here is a glimpse of the craft studio four days back.
Do you work out of a craft room or a designated art area ?
Have you heard of Marie Condo ?
(Well, she’s not heard of me – so lets keep it that way 🙂 )
Thank you for stopping by and writing to me. I truly appreciate it.
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Wow! I wish I could stop by to craft with you 🙂 ha ha you do have lots of supplies. Great job with keeping at it. I am also a hoarder of craft supplies and horrible at keeping them organized! Of course my girls help me to disorganize them lol
I told ya !! The big stuff is fine, its the tiny bits that always get to me 😦 I’m lucky that the basement is spacious, well lit and comfortably accommodates all my furniture. I think, it might take another one week to get it to a “workable” condition.
You’ve done a great job – congrats. 🙂
Sheila
Wow! I just see so much potential creative goodness there! What you’ve done so far looks great. I do think small bites are the way to go. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Naush, my thing is watercolor painting, and I don’t have nearly the amount of supplies you do, but my “studio” is also my home office. And the sticking point in my home office has long been my very large desktop, which is like a magnet for piles of papers. I think I need a personal visit from Marie Kondo! #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty
Thats EXACTLY my issue. My desk is almost always full of ‘stuff’. Some of ‘stuff’ appear out of no where – while some ‘stuff’ is from a project in the oven or supplies I just purchased.
The only time my desk is tidy is when I have a photo op 🙂
Marie Kondo, would have a mini heart attack in my basement 🙂
Thank you for dropping by Jean.
I’m a Pink Saturday Newbie. You are all so creative! I’m not, but that doesn’t stop me from buying craft stuff haha! It’s all in boxes in the skullery. Don’t get me started about Marie Kondo (everything sparks joy with me!)
🙂 🙂 Sparks joy !! Thats one of her tag lines now !! I am an emotional, sentimental type of a person, so little mundane things that I bought at a certain time, from a certain place for a certain reason, also carries emotional value to it !! I mean how foolish is that, right ?! But thats me 😦
You have made some awesome progress and are so lucky to have so many shelves/racks/etc. to organize things on/in. I have a “spare bedroom” crammed with so much stuff that I can’t get into it. 20 year old clothes in a closet that I could clean out and stack bins/boxes in! Someday! I have made inroads into the stuff on my kitchen table; there is room for 2 dinner plates. It all brings me joy; I just need more hours in the day and more energy! So I don’t want to get rid of it; it is all “good” stuff. I will enjoy seeing your progress.
Omg !! Kathy – your story is so similar to mine !!! In the past, once I organize my craft room, I rarely spring clean it – until Its time to move homes !! Becoz I work with alot of recyclable items, It becomes difficult to convince the husband, how important ‘the junk’ really is 🙂 He’s a nice guy – He ‘understands’ (most of the times) 🙂 Thank you very much for dropping by. I really appreciate it.
Oh, the struggle is real, Naush, but you have such a wonderful space! Clutter is my issue….it just seems to appear! lol
🙂 Ann, I have avoided visiting my basement for so many months, for the same reason. Its mentally exhausting – trying to determine where and how, things should be stored and then, when you desperately need a certain tool, your ACTUALLY all over the place, inspite of having established, some form of organization system. You’re right – they do appear out of nowhere 🙂
Naush!!!
I thought I had a lot of craft supplies but you by pass me by leaps ad bounds!! i do love all your shelving and storage units!! And I am jealous of the amount of space that you have to set up a craft space in!! I took over one of my son’s rooms when he moved out as my craft room but it is only 8′ by 10’….I organized it a few years ago and then last year, when I stopped working and retired, I went through everything again and cleared out some things that I knew I would not be using, passing them on to family and crafters that I knew. Because of the heat of the Summer and lack of air conditioning in that room, I have not spent much time in there except for throwing things in to be put away and now it looks like a bomb hit it…It is on my list to re-organize again as soon as I am done decorating for Fall and Halloween…..Thanks so much for your visits and kind words!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Debbie, over the past 6 houses, I realized what kind of room works and does not work for me – what shelves and what kinda furniture helped and looked good at the same time – so I’ve had alot of practice with the furniture bit. When we were searching for homes, I knew, I wanted a house with an undated and well lit basement – and if we do come across one – Its going to be craft room. I was delusional, 3 houses back, when I thought, my supplies would be good enough for one of the bedrooms ! Not only do we have supplies, but we need ample space to carry out the project as well. We as crafters, really compromise alot. I started from one humble corner of my bedroom with an Ikea slim desk when my oldest son was 2 years old and look how I have flooded my basement today !! My son is 21 Alhamduallah. 🙂
My craft area is usually pretty neat and organized but the desk where I am working is often a huge messy mess. I had to downsize hugely a few years ago when our heating system broke and my craftroom became the new utility closet. My “room” is 1/2 our bedroom now and that move really forced me to look critically at what I was keeping and what I was using. Best of luck getting it all organized again- I found tackling just one area at a time helps me. Like one day I just sorted and found a system for paper, another day just rubber stamps, etc. Breaking it into small tasks always help me focus and move through the other stuff.
You have a wonderful space to start with, nicely painted walls, beautiful flooring, nice window, etc……and wow, what great storage racks and bins !! You are doing a very nice job so far, just do a bit at a time and the time will fly.
I have 2 small guest bedrooms, with no beds, because they are both for crafts!! One has my sewing machine and supplies, the other has the computer office, cutting table, storage, painting supplies and fabric storage. Paper crafts and other crafts are in the sewing room too. The sewing table has the machine on it and …..the cat…..its where she looks out the window at the bird feeder !!! Jewelry design takes place in my bedroom at one end and is a table and two bookcases. Hey, I love all of it and it brings me joy !!
Happy creating !!!
Oh wow ! You’re quite the all-rounder Cleo. You sew and design jewelry ! That’s great. We have two things in common : I design jewelry as well. I have cats as well. All are rescues. I think, I am beginning to notice a pattern. Creative folks have a soft heart for animals ! Who knows !! My basement is nearly almost a J shape. I have divided the area in zones and stations. Work station and computer station. Zones are meant to identify with jewelry making supplies, paper crafting supplies, wood work tools and also storage for teaching supplies. I teach as well, so I kept an area to store teaching tools etc. I am happy that the progress has been gradual but consistent. I’d love to see pictures of your craft area.
Much love and thank you for visiting me today.
Naush
Hi Naush! My sewing room is fairly neat but it has to be in order for me to continue to sew. If I have too much piled on my table there’s no room for cutting or sewing. I can see how you would feel overwhelmed! But small steps really do make a big difference. Thanks for linking up today on To-Do Tuesday. ~smile~ Roseanne
Hi Roseanne. So glad you’re visiting me today. I was frustrated with the clutter but I’m pleased that the progress has been gradual but steady. Hopefully, another week. I’d love to see your work space.
I quite like it that it’s messy – makes it lived in and a used space. But wow – I’m envious that you actually have a whole room for craft x #AnythingGoes
Hi Rosie. Its been a long long wait to get to the point – where I can actually get an entire well lit basement all to my self. Just waiting to complete my studio and begin crafting. Thank you for visiting me today.
Definitely give yourself permission to clean a little and craft a little. And, I’ve heard or read that messiness is a sign of creativity. I’m sticking with that one as I’m a messy quilter.
🙂 Aww ! Thank you for the encouragement Bonnie. I think, my studio should be all set in another week – hopefully 🙂 You’re right – small steps is my strategy too.
I wish I had the creativity to craft #alittlebitofeverything@_karendennis
Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Farmhouse Friday!
🙂
Wow! An amazing array and amount of craft stuff. I do think crafters have a tendency to hoard. Plus every craft you decide to take up needs more ‘stuff’, and thus the pile grows! I spend more time organising than I do crafting sometimes. LOL. #MMBC
“I spend more time organising than I do crafting sometimes.” Spoken like a true crafter !! I think you can relate to my situation completely. Luckily and thankfully, I have almost completed organizing the studio. Hopefully, in a week or two – I’d do a makeover video. Thank you for dropping by hon.
Naush, I love this post! Your crafting room looks very similar to my closet room and your story of procrastination and overwhelm when it comes to organizing it sounds very similar to my own closet story! But we will prevail…little by little. And my desk is always a downright disaster as well! Thanks for letting us have a look behind the scenes! And thanks for linking up.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
🙂 Quite frankly, I was alittle bit embarrased becoz there was NO “after” pics and I was alittle worried I might be judged for being as messy and unorganized as I might come across. But I am overwhelmed by my crafter buddies – who relate to my situation. I found so much encouragement that I got clearing up immediately. I was a woman on a mission ! And Thankfully, shelbee, I am nearly done with the studio so maybe in a week or two, I might upload a detailed studio/ craft room tour. Thank you for write and sharing your thoughts – Its such a wonderful feeling when someone truly understands what you’re going thru as a crafter.
Oh my days! That is an impressive crafts room! I think us crafters gain so many supplies it takes time to organise it all. I’m forever tidying my stash up.
Thanks so much for sharing with #MMBC Naush. Have a lovely week ahead. 🙂
Thats my story too Jayne. But I’m happy that the craft room is almost ready. Thank you for dropping by.
Naush – you had me laughing so hard with this post! Of course, there was also this feeling of guilt…. I loved it so much I am featuring it on the Farm Fresh Blog Hop 72. Thank you so much for such a fun post!
Aww !! Thank you Julie. Not all of us have large rooms to work in – I started from a corner of my bedroom and moved into the guest room and so on so forth. Luckily enough this time around (buying the house), my only clause was that the basement should be fully useable and It would be my craft haven. Thankfully, hubby has always been supportive of my creative endeavors. Thank you for the feature.
[…] of Doodle Buddies shared her post, My Messy Messy Craft Room. I really loved this post because it made me feel a bit more normal! While I am not a crafter and […]
So many good things in there and I’m jealous of the large space – even with all that clutter. My craft room is smaller and right now I can barely walk in there. I have one way in and one way out. So I understand your frustration and desire to avoid it. Good luck with the continued efforts. #HomeMattersParty
Thank you very much. Frankly, I have gone thru that phase too, where I barely had space to work – becoz there were supplies everywhere, however Alhamduallah, this time around, I was careful and made sure I reserve the basement for my craft room. I am happy to report that the craft room is nearly ready. I already moved in there and am loving the quiet and silence in the room. Its perfect for me. Thank you for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.