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Newsletter Archives
December 2009
Wrapping It Up
November 2009
Prepare the Pantry
October 2009
Costumes & Decorations
September 2009
Enough
August 2009
Help for the Home Office
July 2009
Getting Crafty
June 2009
A Better Bedroom
May 2009
Eco Organizing
April 2009
Getting Ready to Garden
March 2009
The Path To Clutter
February 2009
Easing Into Downsizing
January 2009
Organizing For Renovation
December 2008
Organizing For Next Year
November 2008
More Of My Favorite Organizing Tools
October 2008
Making Life Easier
September 2008
Clearing The Closet
August 2008
How To Let Go Of Stuff
July 2008
Managing Medical Records
June 2008
Road Trip Organizing
May 2008
Collections Instead of Clutter
April 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
March 2008
Where to Begin
February 2008
When You Want to Help
January 2008
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization
December 2007
Organize for Air Travel
November 2007
Organize for Small Spaces
October 2007
When Life Happens, Reorganize
September 2007
Bathroom Organizing
August 2007
Paper Organizing
July 2007
Uncluttered Kids' Rooms
June 2007
Top Ten Organizing Tools
May 2007
Grapple The Garage
April 2007
Managing Your Time
March 2007
Spring Organizing
February 2007
Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents
January 2007
National Get Organized Month
December 2006
Year End Organizing
November 2006
Give Thanks for Being Organized
October 2006
Holiday Kitchen Organization
September 2006
In Case of a Weather Emergency - Organize!
August 2006
Back to School Organizing
July 2006
Declare your Independence from Summer Clutter
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ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: JULY 2009
Getting Crafty
Arts, crafts, and hobbies--such as scrap booking, painting, and quilting--bring great personal satisfaction. The activities can also be a disorganized source of frustration. Let your creativity bring you joy. Bring your supplies and tools under control. I have many ideas to help.
- Get Rid of What Doesn’t Work: Go through all your tools and supplies. Donate things you do not like or no longer use. Community schools, recreation programs, senior centers, scouts, and elementary schools may welcome donations which fit their programs. Toss unusable or broken items.
- Be Honest about What Brings You Joy: It may be that your interests or physical abilities have changed. If your dexterity has diminished, you may want to switch from doing cut and paste scrapbooks to making digital photo albums on the computer. Or if you no longer have an interest in a hobby, you may box all your tools and supplies and donate them to an appropriate organization who would love such a gift. You can also swap craft supplies at www.craftster.org.
- Reduce Clutter, Focus Outward: If you have more than enough of your personal creations on display, consider creating for those in need. If you knit or crochet, contact neo-natal units about donating caps for newborns. If you quilt or sew, contact the Linus project about making blankets for seriously ill or traumatized children. www.projectlinus.org Are you an artist? Non-profit groups could use your talents to create exhibits or you could create cheerful murals for clinics.
- Contain It: I have sung the praises of clear bins, and there is no better use for them than for storing art, craft, and hobby supplies. The variety offers endless storage options—from clear boxes with sections for storing tiny beads to 70 qt. clear bins for bundles of batting. If you are storing supplies in public areas, use decorative baskets and boxes. They can be subdivided with smaller containers inside.
- Always Label: Never underestimate the power of a label to cue you to what is inside a container. Even if you use clear containers, a label gives you a 2nd visual cue to the contents. Things may look similar when bins are stacked. Labels are a great way to make sure you grab the proper supplies and remind you to put things back in the right place.
- Group Your Supplies: This is especially true if you have more than one artistic endeavor going at one time. Separate oils and acrylics—label containers to avoid errors. Group yarns by color or properties. Sort photos by subject or date. Zone your storage so each area only contains one type of project.
- Dare to Decorate: If storage space is tight, let your storage become part of the decor. Use a cubby system or shelves, such as those found at Ikea and Target, to make a wall of storage. Use consistent baskets, decorative boxes, or clear bins to fit. You can create a work of art by attaching magnetic boxes with clear lids to metal strips or boards on the wall. You can also attach rows of magnetic pencil cups to hold scissors, pens, markers, and paint brushes.
- Someday is OK: If you have an unfinished project you just cannot let go, put it in a “someday box.” Mark a completion date on it; enter the date on your calendar. When the day arrives, assess whether you want to complete the project, let someone else complete it, swap it, or donate it.
- Redefine a Room: Many times it is difficult to control creative clutter because we have no defined space to work. Take a look around your house and evaluate the function of each room. Is there a room, such as a living room, guest room, or basement, which can be redefined as a creative area? Decor can disguise the function. I use baskets and an armoire to store my paints, floral supplies, and sewing items unobtrusively.
- One In, One Out: If you are a serial crafter, i.e. you are always adding a new hobby to your repertoire, your home may suffer from supply overwhelm. Creativity is a joy, so do not let the stuff of old interests be a burden. When you feel the urge to begin a new type of creative project, consider clearing a space for it by letting your least favorite go.
©Cheryl Harrell, 2009 All Rights Reserved
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