Friday, December 13, 2013

The REAL Studio Tour- storage



Welcome to the Coop and Saucer.  This will be sip and say kinda post so I hope you have time for a cuppa!

First I must tell you that I don't want to 'store' things.  I want to find things.  Quickly.  Easily.  And then  Return them just as easily.  I must say that in order for 'finding'  to actually work it needs to support the worker and the workspace so it is very unlikely that one storage system fits all! ;)  Nor does it remain the same.  As we understand how we work and what our latest hobby/interest is the layout needs tweaking.   Macrame does not have a top priority space, in fact its been purged!   lol

Two different concepts influence my storage needs.

I favour form over function.  That just means I like pretty more than workable.  But I have learned a few things about myself over time and I am now willing to sacrifice pleasing design to making the process of making things relatively easier.   I adore those perfect studios. But I am part of the Real Studio Tour because a real studio must function first and foremost and that will be different for each one who lives and works in the form. :O  Valuing form over function may produce a pleasant workspace but it has not moved my creativity forward.  I am now compromising nice for 'get er done'.  lol

Secondly I have discovered that there are filers and there are pilers.  I luv visiting those office stores that have files and storage to accommodate.  Colour coordinating supplies is just wonderful icing on the cake.  oops!  I have been sew busy getting ready for the tour that cake slipped my mind.  ;)  Sorry, my creativity doesn't include food.  My Rooster is in charge of pantry and kitchen layout. 

But much as I luv the whole idea of filing, I had to give away the filing cabinets.  It made perfect sense when I filed something but I could never, ever find it once the file swallowed it up.  In fact I couldn't find the tops of the cabinets.  And then the real truth is...


I'm a piler!

So my solution to my storage problem is to eliminate any flat surface that could possibly contain piles. No small problem!  LOL  Especially if it can be concealed behind a closed door.  yikes

The best storage for me has been plastic bins. I can pile stuff into them. I can sorta see whats in them and a card label confirms it. ;)  Then I can stuff everything back in and slide it back into its designated spot.  That's the ideal anyway.  I shopped sales for the rolling storage and got most of the shoe box size on sale as well. Because they are all the same size they are interchangeable. 

Plastic storage units on wheels have been excellent and I really like the shallow drawers so things don't get buried.  They also do double duty as supports for my counter. 
They can be reconfigured to fit under my cutting table.  All my fibre and sewing stuff is on this side of my room.

I have fabrics for projects stashed in the shoe boxes.  I have colours grouped (piled) on shelves and backs  have their own shelf.  I have set boundaries. This much and no more.  It has taken a few years of giving fabric away and curtailing my buying but I can now sleep nights. ;)  My white curtains hide the visual chaos and provides me with a design wall.

I had thought the peg board would work well but I cannot create in chaos. This is evolving and I already added the magnetic bar for my scissors. :)  Too much visual stimulation stalls me. Now next week you will see that in the midst of creating there is a lot of visual chaos and that is part of the process.  But I do have to clean up and start with a relatively clean area whenever I start something.

This has taken time to set up as I begin to understand how I like to work and with what materials.  I am learning to group things together.

Left is all my dry scrap booking stuff.  In the centre is my wet mixed media stuff.  I so wanted to put all my little bottles in cute white boxes but then I admitted defeat and just grab  bottles and when there are more on the counter than up on the shelf  I put them all back and start again!  Having them at eye level is perfect! I always seem to work in the same two square feet so I just tried to make the rest somewhat organized.  The right spot had the old cutter and is now a desk and repository for my inevitable piles. At least it is in the farthest corner.   But at one time that whole counter would have been piled high. 

So my storage strategies advice is don't expect a quick fix but take the time to try things and determine what works best for you. 

My introductory photo is now the cutter station and is in great jeopardy for piles.  I'm hoping the runner covering it will deter my piling desires.   I also stashed my closet door behind the cupboard inside.  (I do hope to reclaim this as a bedroom if we ever get a utility room/studio accomplished!) It sure opens up my space and because the cupboard isn't so deeply into the closet there is less floor space for piles!  yippee!

But I think I will first take advantage of the cleared and tweaked floor space to see if I can wash it up and get some of the paint and glue off the floor.   Next week's tour will reveal how successful my finding and returning works!  ;) ;)

The Real Studio Tour

For more great storage ideas join the tour.  Its the Real Deal! 

12 comments:

Mary Ann Tate said...

I also have the rolling storage and the clear show boxes. Works perfectly for me. I use the shoe boxes for fat quarters and I colour code them. They are just small steps to getting myself organized...so far so good:)

Jo Vandermey said...

I love the tour...
I too am a piler but I can't create in chaos... but chaos comes when I create.
I also find at times I need to reorganize. I find it a down time where I feel like I want to create but my brain is to tired. I spent one day last week ironing, cutting and organizing scraps from my projects I pile into .... a plastic drawer storage tower...
Your room is functional and pretty!

Kathy Schwartz said...

I love your line "there are filers and there are pilers". I am definitely a filer and if a small pile starts to form in my space I start to panic! Wish I could be a little more relaxed, maybe one day.

Leanne said...

I wish I was a filer. Lovely space and thank you for so many insights.

Createology said...

Elle thank you for the "real tour" and being able to see what a working space really looks like. I also pile on every horizontal surface. I think we creative types are always evolving our spaces and wants and needs and in fact our pursuits. I don't always do the same sewing or mixed media or beading. Always trying different mediums so things have to adapt. Your space is wonderful and how you utilize every inch is very creative. Creative Joy...

Vicki W said...

What a great space and I appreciate your discussion of how you need things easy to get to.

Mystic Quilter said...

Gosh I have enjoyed looking at your shots of storage ideas. You must have a pretty large room - lucky you.
I especially liked the curtains you had cove rig fabrics etc. something for me to think about for the area under my cutting table.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I guess I have a problem because I think I'm both a filer AND a piler! I just this week purged my overflowing recycled denim stash in favour of a new (wider) bookcase, all as a result of my old bookcase falling apart. The evolution of a working studio!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Like you I have learned a lot about what works for me. I am a piler but my piles need to be out of sight. When my room gets too chaotic I avoid it. So my plastic goes mostly in the closet and I've started using boxes or white bins on my shelves that I can't see into. I wish I'd figured this out years ago!

Mary said...

I confess I am a piler too, but you actually appear to be a very organized person. Thanks for sharing your storage solutions.

Sharon said...

I so try to NOT be a piler. But in the mist a project - it just happens! What a great studio! So much storage! LOVE!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I spent forever catching up on your antics. I applaud your attitude on reorganizing until your art spaces are right. I've been reading and critiquing my book review this month and feel the authors who wrote articles on "purging" didn't give credit to artists and their individual spaces. What I think is, I could organize your space, but it has to be YOUR space and feel like it's yours, too. Good thought process on this post, too.