the studio...

so here we go... in the next few days, i want to share some pictures of my studio and show you some ideas of how i stay organized.  i get asked all the time about the space i create in, where do i find inspiration, and am i organized???  well the key to my creative world is my studio (which used to be the master bedroom), some call it their craft room, maybe you call it your dining room table, wherever you create, that's your place and you have the right to call it what you want to and embrace your space...

i like to stay organized, even though my art is an assemblage of all types of things that often resembles chaos - let's just say it's organized chaos.  so how do i describe my organizational style?  i am a digger, i'm not the kind of person who likes to have every little thing in it's little drawer or little box or divider by every little color, i like to dig!  i think sometimes it inspires me to find things or come across things i may not  originally set out to use, but by digging thorough things, i find inspiration.  now that doesn't mean i have one big pile of stuff, i do have categories of my supplies (ribbons, punches, adhesives, rub-ons, etc.).

i figured i will take you through areas of my workspace and what things work for me.  the main wall in my studio is lined with wire shelving.  these shelves were purchased at Costco, they are heavy duty, can handle 800lbs. and i love the ability to see everything through them.  the fact that these shelves are adjustable means you can fit anything you want into them so you have many options.  next i added some wire baskets and wire drawers that are from the Martha Stewart Collection at K-mart.  you can also find wire things at Linens & Things, Ikea, Target, or the Container Store.  i use the wire bins for things like rub-ons, foam stamps, book kits, fabric scraps, and various trims.  the sliding drawers allow for things like paper trimmers, punches, and other tools to have access to slide out and get what you need.

these little hanging baskets are from Ikea, i like the way they can just hang on the side of the shelving.  these baskets normally hang from a rod you can have directly on the wall, but i liked using them here too.  the convenience of being able to just lift the basket off the shelf and work from it on the table is also a plus.  i store things like stipple brushes, wire, brayers, ink tools, and hand punches that i use the most.  i have also taken advantage of the shelf behind them with more wire baskets.  if i need to get to those, i just slide the hanging baskets aside and pull the basket off the shelf.  there are also options for a storage system like this from Cropper Hopper called the "Rail System".

i tried to take advantage of every space on the wire racks and I need a place for my ribbons.  now i've heard of using rain gutters from the hardware store, or even ribbon boxes, but again i like to be able to see what i have.  so i bought a metal draw rod from Ikea and insert it through the spools of ribbon.  then i hung the rod from simple S-hooks (you know the ones that just look like an "S").  i then fed the ribbons through the wavy part of the shelves and it keeps them separated and works great!  well there you have it, just a start of how i try to stay organized.  keep in mind that your space is all about you, it doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to be comfortable, and inspiring to you.  i like to take simple things and make them work for what i need them to do.  so what works for you?  share some of your ideas and post them on the blog.  the more you share the more i will share - fair enough?  we must never lose sight of the fact that we are in an industry of sharing ideas, being creative, and enjoying the moments - that's what it's all about...

-t!m

Comments

[Tigger]

You have lots of stuffs. Looks GREAT. LOVE the wire idea... I guess I need a real scrapbook room first though, eh?

#1... ((hug))

[Hillary]

I LOVE it!! What is your lighting like. The pics seem dark, is the room dark?

[Angela]

oooh I love your ribbon storage idea :) Mine are all shoved in a paint can and then it takes me an age to untangle them all to use them... I am so untidy, but I totally agree with you on the "digging" thing being good - so many times when I am hunting for something I have lost I come across something that will be amazing in my project! I find it so hard to be organised, but am looking forward to seeing what else you use :) I can't wait til Ikea opens here in Northern Ireland so I can get some more affordable storage. Thanks for sharing with us!

[reflections:0)]

Great room! The lighting does seem a bit dark... I have an issue with this in my own craftroom and would love more ideas about lighting... And where do you now sleep seeing as how this is your master bedroom?

reflections:0)

[Denise Morris]

Oh -- My -- Goodness !!!! I have had people make fun of me for years for being so over the top organized but to see that another human being and a man no less be the same way makes me want to shout for joy!! I knew I loved you for a reason Tim and not just for the creativeness - you are a man after my own heart!!

Denise (Beer?)

[Rachel Greig]

Great space! I need something like that for my ribbons. Currently I have them in one big box like a milk crate, and just dig through until I find what I need. Not many of my ribbons are on rolls though, they're just offcuts and bits and pieces, so the box way seems to work. But it would be nice to have them more easily accessible.
Love the wire racks!

zrvnhuvuiughhikjhkhyuhtl///l;/.[0i. (that's hi from Zoë)

Thanks for sharing!

[Rachel Greig]

Oh and the photos aren't dark for me - nicely exposed! The bright window in the first pic makes the room appear darker to the eye, but that's only because our eyes are adjusting to the bright window. The room itself would be quite nicely lit I imagine?

[Lisa]

OMGosh, Tim!!! Will you come organize my space? Your studio is awesome!

[sandie]

I love the shelves of stamps, my best storage solution of ribbons, i put them all on a cork board (im up to 2 boards at present) they hang on my wall and i can see all my colours ... most of my ribbons are bought by the metre, this looks great as well as makes my room look real crafty...

[Maggie]

I am in the process of organizing my scrap space- it will soon move to another room, so it's in limbo right now. But I have been loving everything from IKEA. (We just got one here in Orlando last week!) I am envisioning something more along the lines of Margie Romney-Aslett's scrap space (though not *quite* as pink as hers.) She has her studio pics on her blog. Right now I have 6 of the Crop In Style Modular cubes. Thanks for all the great ideas!

[Jen Crossley]

Oh how I wish I had your room, or any room I have no studio only a dining room table and my poor daughters half her room with my junk.
I was try to get close to the screen to see your goodies in your baskets, I was like a kid in a candy store!!!
Thanks for sharing Tim
Jen

[Alicia Sharp]

I so love your space!!!! I would give anything to have it! Thanks for the tips and ideas!! I love your dress form in the back! It is uber cool!

[marie]

omg LOVE it.I have just Discovered you in the past few weeks. YOU ROCK

[sarah]

Thanks for sharing....wow....

[Natalie Briney]

Oh My Gosh Tim.I am so wanting a room like this!! Any room, right now, as i share a lounge room/office with the rest of the family, so my stuff is just shoved into baskets, with no easy access to anything :-) but hey at least I have a space of some sort...... but I'd have to say in my dream of dreams, I'd love a room like this... Go you!!

[Wendy Vecchi]

I LOVE IT! I love to organize as much as I love the shopping & creating part. I'm dieing for a close up of your stamp area/storage!! And a photo of Cooper too.
THANKS for sharing!!
Wendy

[catherine feegel-erhardt]

amazing!
how do you keep things from slipping thru the slats in the wire baskets or staying level on the wire shelves?
hi mario.

[Andi Sexton (RrlScrapGal)]

I'm impressed that your table 'work area' seems so small! Do you have another work area in the room???

[Michelle]

OK..... I admit it..... I am so so so jealous right now! ;)

[margie]

sweet...
i would love it if you would have me over to play in all that yum...
loves...
kiss kiss
m

[margie]

sweet...
i would love it if you would have me over to play in all that yum...
loves...
kiss kiss
m

[Jill]

Thanks for sharing! I personally use old metal lockers to hold my stuff. With a 2 year old it is handy to be able to lock away most of my stuff. You said it though...there is no wrong way as long as it works for each individual artist!

[rachel carlson]

BRILLIANT just like you! wish i could come over and play. happy weekend, rachel

[Jan Scholl]

I have all my stuff crammed into my son's old bedroom. If I ever had it this neat, my head would implode!

[Sarah S.]

Wow - your space look awesome Tim! I work for a craft storage company here in Australia so I love seeing the different ways people organise their stuff! :)
Showed the pic of your room to hubby - he nearly died when he saw how many stamps you have! Now he can't complain about my stash - because it could be worse! LOL!
My best tip for storage - work out what you want to organise, set a realistic budget, and buy storage options that can expand as your supplies do. Work out the storage system that works best for you - as long as you are comfortable with your system, you creativity will soar!

[Carolyn]

Truly an amazing studio!

I do hear you about having to have things visible. Of course I don't have the cool metal shelving that you have, but my husband did put up those white wire shelves, and I used clear storage boxes for my items, but I like how your's looks more open, then what I have, and your ribbon idea is one of the best I have ever seen. I may have to adopt a similar version of yours for my space. I have out grown my original storage for ribbon.

Thanks so much for giving us these peeks into your space.

[Jenn]

I LOVE your space! It is nice to see that a "professional" artist/creator/crafter uses bargain finds and affordable storage solutions in his space. :)

My favorite thing is to mix it up with containers, but I also sort by product-inks with inks, rubons all together, etc. Then I can grab a container and start digging! I live to "find" things I forgot I had. :) The best thing that works for me for ribbon is wrapping them on an embroidery floss plastic bobbin and storing those on big jump rings by color. Then, I hung an inexpensive drapery rod under my shelving so I can access them without getting up.

I tried to include a pic of my scrap space that is up on the CK gallery. Not because I'm that special, LOL, but because I want to see more of yours!

[Kaz]

WOW!!! Can I move in with you? pleeeeeease, I won't be any trouble, promise!!! lol

brilliant stuff. love looking at all your stash and the way you store it all.

[Genevieve]

Thanks for sharing your space, Tim. I currently work in a small room that needs to be seen to be believed! (I'm more cramped than a sardine in a tin!) Am currently drawing up the plans for the extension and my new studio space! It will be complete with sink (for washing out the paint) and extraction fan (for sucking out the smelly stuff!) Still deciding on the storage, your wire rack system looks practical. We'll have to wait and see.
Cheers!

[Lorri]

oooh Tim, that looks great. I would have loved a close up of those back shelves too!!
Thanks for sharing :)

Lorri

[flossie]

Wow, thanks for sharing some of your organizaing tips.

[Gabrielle]

Super functional space! LOVE IT!

Now if only I could find the Distress Ink refils! I see them in your space and know they're out there!

Guess your not having me over anytime soon...table doesn't look big enough for both of us to craft on! :)

[gina armfield]

your studio is beyond words a dream palace! Just delightful - if only I could be that organized. What a lovely space to work in. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Brigitte]

oh myyyyyyy !!! i actually posted a picture of my 'studio' in my blog yesterday (bcos i've got to move it all soon !) and now i look at yours, ohhh myyyy !! not only you have loooooots of stuffs but they are sooooo well tidied and organized !! woww !! totally awesome !! Good to see how others arrange their things and how it works for them !! Love it !!
Thanks for sharing !! :)

[Samm]

Love the ribbon rack Tim!!

Samm
x

[Adriane Winchester]

Super awesome! I love the ribbon organizer... it's on my list for my next Ikea trip (they just opened one in Orlando, a 90 minute trip!) P.S. Loved your classes at CKU/Orlando...

[Tammy]

I LOVE it! Just loooking at your pics has inspired me to do some more "inspiration" typr things in my space. I use several different methods to my organization..baskets, ikea s hooks, cubes, a hodgepod so to speak, and I to am a "digger" LOL
Can't wait for creative escape...

[Nicky aka Slinkyminx]

WOW!!! Can I move in with you? pleeeeeease, I won't be any trouble, promise!!! lol

brilliant stuff. love looking at all your stash and the way you store it all.

KAZ, i couldn't of said it better myself lol

[Kimberly D in FL]

This is a dream room for sure. I love the shelving units (we have those in our garage and they are great!) If only my studio was big enough. WOW!

[scrapperlicious]

Your studio is absolutely breathtaking! The idea of using wire shelving and baskets are so cool! Love it! Irene

[Denitza]

WOW! So very cool!

[Denitza]

WOW! So very cool!

[Julie Howard]

OMG,what an awesome studio! How inspiring! Wish I could come over and play - I would clean up after myself, I promise!!

[Sue Farrant]

HEY! My I also have a "Master" studio LOL...made a deal with hubby...If I can have the BIG bedroom for my craft room I will keep all the stuff within those four walls....he agreed! :-) Now I only "come out" with my stuff for classes etc.
TFS...sometime in the future we are building a new garage and hoping for planning permission for a studio over it for me...great ideas here!

[Monica Sheldon]

I just love how everything is organized. I am trying to get my craft room organized also but it is taking me along time as I keep getting sick. But in the long run it will get there as i know I will love it as i keep seeing rooms like this and ideas that will give me great hints on doing mine. many thanks for showing me your craft room. I love it.

[Joana]

OMG your craft studio looks very organized , love the way you display the ribbons i like he idea of open shelving ,
i only have a dinning table to craft from:(
xx

[Lore]

oh my god! It's incredible.
I would be so lucky if I can have the same.
What a pleasure to scrap there.!!!!

[maggie]

Your studio is awesome Tim.
I love the ribbon idea but most of my ribbons are just odd pieces so I have got a length of elastic pinned to the wall with giant drawing pins and drape my ribbons over that. when I want a piece I just pull the end and it slides off ! If only the rest of my room was that organised....
You have inspired me to have a good tidy-up !

[maggie]

Your studio is awesome Tim.
I love the ribbon idea but most of my ribbons are just odd pieces so I have got a length of elastic pinned to the wall with giant drawing pins and drape my ribbons over that. when I want a piece I just pull the end and it slides off ! If only the rest of my room was that organised....
You have inspired me to have a good tidy-up !

[Nadine]

I have always wondered if your space was as distressed as your designs! I like your organization method, and thanks for the great links. I was wondering, do you relax and think in this space? I could do layouts in your space, maybe paint and do altered art or collage, but I couldn't write there. It would be too stimulating. Do you find a balance?
Nadine