Organization and The New Studio Space Part 1 by Kim Hyer

I have recently relocated to Oregon just a pinch south of Portland.

That being said I get to re-assemble a working studio. Join me in this journey.

I live on 4 acres with a 15 X 30 shop, a similar size garage and a huge barn. I had plans. Grand plans....

So after several weeks of debates (in which I lost) sadly I didn't get the shop or the garage. I can have the barn. The upstairs with the rats and spiders. No heat and a trek in the freezing wet weather through the mud.

So let me tell you about my space I do get.

It's cozy. It's painted peach (ugh) and my new name is Harry Potter. If you have read the first book you will understand. If not,  Go here and you'll understand. I am in the cupboard under the stairs. 

Hee Hee Hee!!!

"the cupboard under the stairs"

So, the first step was to move this junk to the barn. Tractor with a wagon and teenage boy.

So there is the junk... 

Here is the transformation...... drum roll. Please????

Much like a blank canvas. I now can start from scratch. Designing and getting my creative juices going. Trying to sort and fit only what I will need into my 6 X 6 space. 

Don't for a second get the mistake. I am over the moon to have the cupboard under the stairs. It has been 9 months without a space to paint, play and create.

Next was a trip to storage. Worse than it sounds. I got some shelving and some boxes. I attempted to be selective about tools, paints, ephemera and what not.

I moved from a custom made art room 10 x 10. Into storage then 958 miles to the cupboard under the stairs. 

I added 2 shelves. Then adjusted the table height and have unpacked some boxes. 

Maximizing the space the best I can.

I brought all my rolling carts. They are cute and I like them.

As you can see I have some more organization to go. This is the start. 

Join me for part 2.

Wish me luck.

 Where to find me:
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Create a Shipping Station for Small Spaces By Kelly Campbell Corso

I think if you ask some Creative business owners what they like least about their job, one of the most popular answers would be shipping my products. I know for me, it can be a bit of a nightmare! I have a small room in my house that is my studio. In said room I have 3 tables. One is for my needle felting, one is for painting and the last is my sewing table.

So, when I hear that little ching ching on my phone and know i have an order, here is how it has been playing out!

1- Do a happy dance for getting an order

2- Print out the order

3- Find the item on my inventory shelves (which could be a whole other blog post!)

4- Put these items on my dining room table and go searching for a mailer/box

5- On the way to find a mailer I see some of my kids dirty socks so i pick them up and take them to the washer which reminds me that I need to do a load of laundry.

6- Start a load of laundry then remember I was looking for a mailer

7- Find a mailer and head back to the dining room table

8- Realize that I need tissue paper, head off on a tissue paper hunt

9- Find tissue paper, now I need scissors

I’ll spare you the rest of my very non linear thinking and get to my solution!

This mailing process should only take about 5-10 minutes but with all the distractions in between finding the items I need can stretch this process out quite a bit!

The solution- a shipping station box! When I have to ship an item, I grab the box and take it to my dining room table and I have everything I need in there! No need for searching and getting side tracked with dirty socks, a pile of toys or whatever else may grab my attention.

Here are the things I’ve included-

- Mailing envelopes/ some boxes

- Tissue paper

- A pair of dedicated scissors

-Tape and packing tape

-Little notes I like to include

-Little free gifts I also like to include

-A Sharpie

-Some pens

-Business cards

-A shipping scale (which I do  not have yet but plan to in the new year!)

This is a box that I had handy. When I am able I will purchase a bigger box that will enable a bit more organization within the box but for now, everything I need is in one place!!!

Perhaps this can help some of you who do not have the space for a dedicated shipping area!


Until next time, Happy shipping!

Website Bird in a Tree

You can find my creations at Bird in a Tree

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5 Tips for Art Studio Organization in a Small Space - Laney McDonald

Hello there! I’m Laney from Sugarplum Patchwork and it’s my day here at Cre8ive Klatch to share about organizing in your creative space.

My studio is a small room in our home. I’m an artist who likes to stitch and draw and paint – and all of that has to happen inside a room that is about 9 x 9.5 feet.  Luckily this room has a (small) closet and that is where I keep most of my supplies.

In an effort to make this small space work for a variety of activities, I have learned some organizing tips I’d like to share with you.  

Tip #1 - SHELVES

The tiny closet has a shelving system to take advantage of the space. I keep fabric and art papers on these shelves.

I rescued a three-shelf cart from the kitchen and keep this against the back wall to make more shelf space for works-in-progress, cotton batting and all those inspiring art magazines!

Tip #2 - BAGS, and BOXES

I keep less used paints in a plastic box on the floor just inside the closet door where it’s easy to reach. When I need those paints I just grab the box and bring it to my work table.

Soft goods like fiberfill stuffing and poly batting go on the floor on either side – kept clean inside plastic bags.

Tip #3 - DRAWERS

I have a large work table so I keep my sewing machine on one side and my painting board on the other. My frequently used sewing notions and scraps live in drawers under the table right beside the sewing machine. (You can read more about this on my blog.) My most used paint and craft supplies live in a small chest of drawers close to the painting side of the table.

Since my room is so small I don't have room for tons of stuff and I have to keep it neat or I feel claustrophobic in the small space, which brings me to . . .

Tip #4 - The trick is knowing what you really use and finding a way to have those items close by.

As long as you keep that in mind you can create a small space that works for you.

Need some more ideas? Want to see tons of inspiring photos? I have one word for you.

PINTEREST.

Tip #5 - PINTEREST

I love Pinterest. I have a Studio Organization board there.  Here’s the link.  I pin pins about studio layout, storage options, making use of small space, as well as design and decorating for your art/craft/sewing room.  Hop over and take a look. I hope it gives you some good ideas.

Thanks for visiting with Cre8ive Klatch! We’d love to see how you organize your creative space. Feel free to share on our Facebook page.

You can find me here:

sugarplumpatchwork.com

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January is National Organization Month!

Did you realize that this is National Organization Month?

It seems normal to re-organize during this month of renewal (also our gr8full theme on Instagram for the month)

We wanted to share with you some of our organizing tips and how we feel about the topic in general.

Here goes:

Laney from Sugar Plum Patchwork says...

My room is quite small - only about 9' x 9'. I have a large table that serves as my my sewing and cutting area. I have to make use of all the space so I keep rolling drawers beneath the table. I keep sewing notions, ribbons, trims and thread in the top drawer and have fabric scraps organized by warm and cool colors in the other drawers.

From Kelly Campbell Corso and her Bird in a Tree Creations

Organization: my friend and my enemy!

This seems to be a concept that I am constantly fighting to integrate into my life, for my studio and my house! I have come to accept that my brain doesn't totally work that way so I do what I can. I picked one thing in my studio that is the most organized and that is this shelf. It is great to keep all my glitters, liquid pearls and alcohol inks. Being a fiber/mixed media artist can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of supplies one can collect over time. I like this shelf because I can see everything that is available instead of searching. Hope this is a helpful hint for anyone out there in supply overload! 

P.S. I was going to crop the picture but didn't because you can see part of my inspiration board, which could be a whole other blog post!

From Lori Leissner of Leissnerart

My favorite organizing tools in the studio are these vintage crates. I have two soda crates and another wooden box. My paints, mediums, and all kinds of other arty things fit great and look so pretty (when I can actually get the stuff back in there).

Lori also has a great post about her word for the year, reclaim, and her closet.

Reclaiming and My Closet

 Michelle Reynolds from Shells in the Bush shares...

For me, Susan of Susan's Art Circus, my re-organization or new year renewal starts with every day spots in the house.

The rest of my kitchen re-organization post is here.

In my studio one of my most prized possessions for organizing is this tool caddy. It's almost as tall as I am and it holds my rubber stamp collection. Each drawer is labeled with a theme so I can find, most of the time, what I'm looking for.

How are you re-organizing for the new year? Do you continue to find spots that need some TLC through the month? What area is your priority?

Let us know over at our Facebook group or here in the comments!

Until next time!!

ARC Planner: Ideas by Connie Rawlins

I have been using ARC planners for several years now, and I love them!  They can be used in so many ways.  Just check out some of the previous posts on ARC planners here at the Cre8ive Klatch.  Lori Whether you're using your planner as personal or for a business, I want to suggest that you add your goals to the front.

Intentions are very powerful things.  It may sound elementary to say this, but to reach your goals, you have to define your goals.  And the ARC planner is the perfect place to document your goals.

Best way to define your goals is to write (or draw) them.  Vague goals, such as "make more money" are almost useless.  The more detailed the goals, the greater the likelihood of achieving them.  This doesn't have to be a long dissertation of where you want to be in five years -- although that might be nice.  List a few defined short term goals and a few long term goals.  The more detailed the better.

This is a page from my e-course "Counting Abundance" and you can download a copy here. That's the wonderful thing about the ARC system -- punch and add to your ARC planner.

If you're more visual, you might want to do a "vision board".  Here's mine from a couple years ago.

By putting your goals (written or drawn) in the front of our ARC planner, then that's what you see each time you open it.  The ARC planner even has some slots on the inside of the front cover.  Perfect for an inspiration card.

Wishing you the best in reaching your goals!

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Arc Planner: Another Idea by Susan Walls

The first few days of January always make me want to clean up for the new year. Try to start with as much of a clean slate as I can muster. Drawers need cleaning, kids clothing needs culling, floors need deep cleaning, and the mind needs to sweep itself clean for 2015.

Being that I love to cook I collect recipes, and cookbooks, from all over the place. Clippings and page ripping are all a part of collecting but where do they go so you can refer to them? Yep...you guessed it. They go everywhere. Frankly I'm sick of it. I recently opened a cabinet and recipe clippings fell like confetti to the ground. 

My solution? An Arc planner, washi tape, and a couple hours of time. (okay, maybe longer...)

          

I love this disc system!!

First I threw out recipes I KNEW I would never use. Since I'm eating vegan most of the time I knew that anything meat centered or something I couldn't easily manipulate into a vegetarian or a vegan meal was out. Second anything that seemed too complicated...no time for those.

      

With that done I fancied up the blank pages with Washi taped edges. Not only do I like that it makes the book more colorful but it makes the edges thicker and easier to turn.

         

Then I could use the Washi tape to tape in the clippings or use my Arc punch to add magazine pages directly into the book.

          

Also imperative for a book you'll use for cooking is that the pages are covered in something that you can clean or wipe off. My solution was to punch Arc holes into plastic cover pages that I already had on hand. I've also kept a large Ziploc bag with my cookbooks so I could slide it over the page I was using...or you could run a piece of plastic wrap over your book or page. Sometimes there isn't anything handy so my pages are marked with years of splatter from using the favorites over and over. Oh well...

          

Now I'm not going to lie and say this didn't take me some time. It did. But the results are a great book full of recipes I will try to use plus they are all in one place! It feels like it's ready for another year! A New year!

       To share your Arc planner please come by and join the conversation in our Facebook group:

Cre8ive Klatch

Other places you can find Susan:

My website

My blog

My Etsy Shop for Jewelry

My Etsy Shop for art Supplies

Instagram/Twitter @susanmwb

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Google+SusanWallsBeverly

A Peek Into My 2015 Arc Planner: An Introduction By Cindy Jones Lantier

Today begins our introduction to the Arc Planner System, how some of us ventured into it, and a peek into how customizable it is.

We are thrilled to welcome Cindy Jones Lantier as our guest today! She kind of got roped into the Arc Planner by some of us that are (overly) passionate about it. 

Please give her a warm welcome!

I think I'm in love.

Not with the hot new guy at work (I work from home; sadly, there is no hot new guy at work!). Not with my favorite television hunk (Jim Caviezel)  or even the new baby in the family.

I think I'm in love with my planner!

Like many people who strive to create order out of chaos, I've spent years wanting the perfect planner. I don't just want a date book, but I also want a way to record my thoughts and ideas and to document my days. I long ago realized that a typical store bought planner wasn't going to work for me, so I bought a Day Runner. Then a Franklin Covey. Then I tried putting together my own in a three-ring binder -- but I spent more time applying hole re-enforcers than I actually spent using my homemade planner!

In mid-November, I began my search anew for the perfect system. Because I am both an artist and a Personal Empowerment Coach, I need a system that has a lot of flexibility. I ran across a mention of the "ARC Customizable System" by Staples. Being attracted to the word "customizable" I headed to staples.com to see what the fuss was all about. As with many online stores, you have to already know what you want. There were plenty of products for the ARC System, but there was no real information about it. Certainly there was no glowing sales talk convincing me I needed this!

Little by little, I began to see talk of this system in some of the groups I'm in on Facebook. Finally, I just asked one group "What's the big deal? Convince me I need one." People responded with descriptions of their ARC notebooks. I asked for more detail: What exactly do you put in your ARC? You see, there were so many possibilities that my mind was frozen. I just couldn't see the potential.

Then I saw a video. And another. And another. I basically spent an entire sleepless night watching videos about the ARC, and then I knew I had to have one. Or two. (Or three!)

I finally understood the beauty of the disc system. The specially punched paper hugs the discs so that it stays in the notebook securely without pinching my fingers, as three ring binders inevitably do, and there's no worry about the rings becoming misaligned. It is very easy to rearrange pages and sections. The ARC notebooks come with small discs that hold about 60 pages; the 1.5" rings (sold separately) hold about 200 pages.

The discs are cool, but the main love goes to how personalizable the system is. If you buy the punch, you can put anything in your ARC. I have some lined ARC paper (it came with the cover) that I'm using for my bullet journal and longer notes. Then I have the EPICDAY tear sheet that helps me plan my days from a business perspective. Following that is the first quarter of the Passion Planner PDF. I love this as a calendaring system! There is plenty of space to write appointments, as well as space to help me keep up with a weekly/daily focus, good things that happen, and space for note a brainstorming. My ARC ends with my goals for the first quarter of 2015, as well as a rough outline of how I'll accomplish those goals, and broad stroke goals/dreams for the next three years. I'll be adding in sheets for blog and podcast planning as soon as I get them printed (I also need some section dividers, but Staples isn't handy).

My planner is full, so another ARC notebook is in my future. I want one to keep a few ebooks in. I'm eager to work through Your Best Year 2015, but it just won't fit in the ARC I have. I also have a blogging handbook that I want to keep in that same ARC for reference. And I have a tiny ARC in my purse to keep track of ideas and notes that I want to transfer to my big journal, since I don't plan on carrying it with me all the time.

I know a lot of you are also in search of the perfect planner. I'd suggest that you investigate the ARC Customizable System. There are tons of free printables around the internet to help you organize and document your life. There are also lots of printables available on Etsy (just search for ARC) for (mostly) reasonable fees. 

Stop by the Cre8ive Klatch Facebook Group and let us know how you organize the chaos in your life!

Also check back here for more information about the Arc Planner System. It has so many uses we've all gone crazy with it! Come back on January 5th when Lori Leissner of Leissnerart will show you hers!!

Cindy is a mixed media artist and life coach who can be found at the following links:

Cindy's Website/Blog

Empowerment Coaching Facebook page

Cindy's wonderful Podcasts