When you like to tinker, you tend to save bits and pieces of almost anything with the thinking of "maybe I'll use this to make something someday ... "
I found my initial efforts of trying to keep this random assortment pretty organized (as in this older post photo) slipping through the cracks. It was becoming difficult to find what I needed when I needed it. The make-shift baker's rack-as-shelving in the Girlie Office closet just wasn't working.
Over the summer, The Hubs* installed some adjustable shelving. I quickly moved everything back in and it helped but still lacked organization. So you know what I did the other day?
Click to enlarge for a fun game of I-Spy!
Find 1 wreath; 3 corsage pins; 1 broken sea shell lady; the word "celebrate"
Yep. I dumped out every box in the closet to do a super-sort! Even my boys were shocked to witness the mess I had made but like I always say, sometimes it takes a mess to clean a mess. There I sat amongst scattered piles of bagged sequins, spools of thread, half sheets of stickers and much more with emptied photo boxes at the ready, determined to categorize my crafty chaos.
I soon determined categories worthy of titles and posted notes to each box.
I didn't want to invest in new boxes but still desired a tidy look so instead printed out uniform titles to label each box.
Much better. Now I feel more like a tinkerer and less like a hoarder (for the moment, anyway; in this closet, anyway)!
Can you relate?
xo
elyse
*Is The Hubs a good reference for Jeff? Sounds better than Mr. Cottage or Mr. Troll. Hmmm?
32 comments:
I currently feel like a bit of a hoarder. well at least my hubby says i am... maybe i can get some energy and get organized soon....
hugs
What a great idea, Elyse! I need to do the same...I'm definitely feeling like a hoarder lately!
Thanks, as always, my friend, for the beautiful inspiration...
Julie
Absolutely! Since I'm moving soon, I have been dumping out lots of boxes of stuff and going through it.
Brenda
i like the hubs... not to corny of a nick name and not to personal either ; ) and i need some of that organization to rub off on me... sweet as usual ; )
Looks like you're well on your way to having an organized space! I love the I-Spy picture. I used to play that game with my kids at the Dr's office to occupy them while we waited and waited for someone to remember they had stuck us in an exam room... :)
(Sorry for the deleted comment... typos drive me crazy... why don't we have an edit button?? LOL)
I can totally relate. My studio hasn't been organized since before we sold our old house. I was trying to work on a little project today and realized that I was looking for things in the places they were at our old house! I love your organization. It looks just right.
Oh I sure need to tackel my Girlie Girl Room! Its a Big mess at least to me I do know my craft table is covered ..help I promise this week to get some work done in here! Love what you did! Hugs, Diane
I NEED to do the same thing! I have soooooo much stuff and it is way tooooooo scattered:) Have a blessed day with your organized self! HUGS!
Brave girl! And lucky girl to have your own craft closet! (Charming old farm houses don't have those.)
I organize and organize and I still forget where things are. I guess adorable labels on cute boxes are the answer! I can see it now... The "half sheet of stickers" box. The "tiny bits of lace" box.... I think I need little boxes. I really don't have a lot of supplies and i have to be creative to use as much as I have instead of buying more. finding supplies at the thrifts is my reward for that.
Hmmm... The Hubs is much better than Mr. Cottage. When I was growing up, I hated when my mom would say hubby. I thought it was so dumb! Of course,"The old man" was much cooler. Ha! ♥
Oh yes, I can relate - I'm about to clean out my craft/fabric/yarn closet again.
How lovely Elyse. I love what you are doing with your organizing...you always make everything look pretty. You made me laugh when you said you feel more like a tinkerer than a hoarder. When I watch that show I get scared that someday my home might look like that. What a scary show for us collectors to see.
It is so true that we artists and artisans collect things that might fit into a creation someday.
Have a lovely Sunday, and thank you for the inspiration.
Karen
OH MY GOSH! Can I relate? Have you looked at my house lately? Sigh. It seems there is no end.
But you have been INSPIRATIONAL!
I better get going because there are two more rooms to get torn apart by MONDAY! YIKES!!
:) Thank you. I needed this. I now know I am not alone in the world of messes. Although...yours is already cleaned up - NOT FAIR!!
HUGS! :) Karen
Pretty & organized!!! I really do need to go through my art & craft drawers and neaten everything up! :)
Have a great one, Elyse!
Zuzu
Hoarder is such an awful word. I prefer saver and yes I think most of us (including me) can certainly relate. You are a brave one to tackle the closet o'stuff. I need to do that and soon.
Danielle
Hmmm are any of us crafter types known to hoard anything??? We might use it someday!! I just helped my sister~in~love purge & organize her spare room & office stash (crafting treasures). I had a blast, but she did say to me, "oh my gosh, I am a hoarder!!" I did come home to start purging again on my stuff. I have deleted a lot since packing to move & then unpacking...I think it is an ongoing job. Love your post!!
Blessings,
Cindy
Hi Elyse,
Thanks for visiting my blog! I love the looks of your blog--my daughter does too! I relate to this post on organizing. I need to do the same. It gets out of hand so easily. On thing I noticed was that you have a whole box of cupcake toppers. I'm so jealous!
Looking forward to following your blog,
Betsy
If I promise to feed you good treats, will you come to my house and help me? I need a major intervention! I really like your labeled boxes.
xoxo
Joyce
I refuse to comment because I may incriminate myself! ;}
m ^..^
I am in the "it takes a mess to clean a mess" camp! I love your boxes. Sadly, I have to use see-thru boxes or I forget what treasures I have collected.
So . . . what does it look like now? we want photos!
Thanks so much for joining me as I re-live my grand summer adventure!
~Marilee
oh i can relate...my girly office is a tornado of chaos right now! i am planning on moving my free standing shelving to the closet as well to free up some room and contain it all better. what's wrong with "Mr. Troll" for your husband??? ;)
Hi Elyse!
I love your boxes and organizing look! I just did the kitchen and re-did all the shelves and cupboards and it felt fabulous to "clean out"! Now I can say nothing is "expired" , lol, for now :)
Hugs my friend!! Happy Fall!
Love , Cyn xo
can I relate??? eeeekkkk, mine is soooo overwhelming I don't know where to start!
I do the same Elyse, have matching labels that I do on the computer for all of my containers. Unfortunately they have to be clear containers or I can't get them all the same and I am compulsive about having matching containers - I seem to need more and more - but in different sizes. And I also use adjustable shelving. I have a wardrobe full and above my work area I have a 10ft length of 4 shelves. That lot is for my miniatures. For scrapbooking I have two bookshelves with expanding files for papers, cardstock, and stickers; boxes for ribbons, brads etc. As for my patchwork - each project is in its own plastic clip-lock bag until I am ready to work on it, then it goes into a project bag with everything that is needed for it. Sounds organised, right? The problem is that I have far too much to fit into far too little room! So the result is still chaos and I can't work at my worktable - so I work in the living room lol!
You are so cute...I hear you my friend...I have messes everywhere! xoxoxo
What a nice storage space you have there. And I just adore your labels!!
I am having a little give a way.
Would you like to drop by? :o)
hugs. Trish
Elyse- Yes... I know the hoarder feeling! I feel that way in my office right now.
I am working on that tomorrow!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
Great ideas Elyse and so very pretty! It makes tinkering fun when organized!
Love,
Maryjane
Oh, you're so cute. I like the idea of tinkerer instead of hoarder too. I've been getting rid of quite a few things lately. I think we've watched that hoarders show a few times to many.
You did a great job reorganizing!
Blessings,
Marcia
What is it with us crafters, I am always sure I will need something, and a lot of times I have. I have been looking for some magnets I bought 6 month ago. I think Hubs is good, but I know how creative you are, how about hunky man, or one blogger calls her man Mr. lots a hair....I think you have got to think on this one LOL!
Absolutely I can relate. I feel like I'm always making a mess to clean a mess. And coming here is like having my very own supprt group. :-)
*PS Does this mean 'Mr. Tinkered' is not an option?
Oh my, this is inspiring. Of course, I'd rather hoard more yarn than re-organize it but every time I see one of your projects like this it moves me a wee bit closer to being a nice, neat tinkerer!
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