Chaotic craft area

I've been in non-stop arts and crafts mode in preparation for this Saturday's craft sale. 

Haven't taken a moment to clean up 

Yes, that is my clothes dryer...

Don't judge me, the height is perfect for a workstation

I'm both nervous and excited.

So much so that I'm having 

those dreams....

you know the ones...

like the one when you're on your way to take a final the determines if you graduate 

and you can't find the way... 

or you forgot to study.... 

or you get there 5 minutes before the test is over.

Seriously...

I'm planning to do a test setup of my table display and make sure I have all my ducks in a row tomorrow.

 

Working tea

I've got a bunch of ideas in my head but not enough time to play lately. As a result...I have chaos.

Stop by Kimmies for the list of the Tea Tuesday participants this week.

Revamped Art Zone

Recently, I was asked about my craft area. Did I have my own room? How do you handle storage? Lighting?
Here's a glimpse into my world.

My art space has gone through several transformations.

Above is the view from utility portion of the space. My back is pressed against the water heater as I took the picture.

This area has remained mostly unchanged. I have TONS of stuff within reach when I sit in the "command chair". I use the cute Chicks Rule bucket to hold my scraps. My little girl was kind enough to let me use it. Thanks sweetie!
I have a small florescent fixture that hangs for direct task lighting. There is also a large florescent fixture smack in the middle of the room that provides light but since it's behind me when I work, I tend to create a shadow for myself. Fabulous...

I love my Pampered Chef tool organizer. I know it's meant for kitchen stuff but it is perfect for all my "go-to" items. I use a self-healing cutting mat to protect my counter top. The stamp pad and ribbon storage rack was bought on eBay a couple years ago. Can't image what I did without it!

This cabinet was the latest piece we added to the space. I sold the old TV stand that was here to make room for this.

Now I have a standing working surface as well!! I love it.

Look at the rolling shelves! Awesome storage!

My husband put up this cabinet several years ago to help control my creative clutter. I have it jammed full as well. Although, I do know where every single thing is!

This is how I store my 12x12 scrapbook papers. Not the prettiest system but it works for me. Your eyes do not deceive you either...yet another storage piece under the counter top. It's on wheels so I can pull it out to store my sewing machine behind it when not in use. I didn't take a picture but there is also a tiny 2 shelf bookcase under the counter. It was way to messy for a photo.

The large orange file cabinet is also "new". To me at least. It came from my folks place along with the cabinet. The top 2 drawers just boring administrative stuff.
Oh, did I mention my craft area is in the laundry room... The dryer makes a great spot for my guillotine cutter.

But the bottom one holds all my scrap sorted by color and other ephemera.

Well, that's probably more than you ever cared to know about where I work. Now I should probably start using my space instead of just talking about it!

Sorta clean.

I buckled down and got at least half of my space clean and organized.

I scrubbed most of the paint and glue off my self healing mat and counter top as well.

I think now that it's clean, I'm going to work on some jewelry. Nothing worse than a messy space with beads and jumprings floating around!

Rearrranging and organizing

I haven't been able to be creative since we did some rearranging of furniture through the house. We call it the grand rotation of the crap. We never seem to get rid of any, it just moves to another room of the house.

I had to clean off the desk that went to the family room for the kids to work at...hence, the big pile on my workstation and chair and floor....

The light colored piece in the lower right is an old TV stand that was in DH office for lack of a better place. It should provide me more storage in the long run as soon as I figure out how to utilize it.

Hopefully I can get everything sorted out over the long holiday weekend so I can get back to being creative.

Here's how it looked the last time I organized.

Clean and organized

I finally got my art zone clean and organized. I had made a really good dent in the organizing process a couple of months ago but then of course..I got sidetracked and the mess multiplied. I've been in an end of the school year panic. I've been trying to get as much cleaned and organized all through the house as I possibly can before I have both kids home ALL THE TIME.