your crafting space?

[PancakeGoddess]

Has this been done to death? I've only really read the subforums here and not the main craft threads. We just moved, and for the first time I have a dedicated crafting space (well, I am sharing with my artist teen, and a small bit will be a meditation space, but still, yippee). We also have a new IKEA opening up near us. (Can you believe it? IKEA opens 2 weeks after we move in?? ) So, I have many options coming up.

Can I see pics of your work space and/or storage setup? Can you describe how you store stuff and where you work and basically anything you want to share about your crafty supplies and routines? FYI, most of what I'm storing is sewing, knitting and spinning supplies, but I also need to store all the kids' crafting supplies and provide the teen with a way to store his - which is drawing, painting, possibly sculpture in the future.

TIA!

[slsurface]

Boy a designated crafting space and an IKEA, I'm totally jealous! Sadly, I don't have my own craft space. My crafts are scattered around the house. I keep scrapbooking and yarn/knitting supplies on shelves in baskets in the office that dh and I share. I also keep my sewing machine and a few basic sewing supplies in this closet. My painting and fine art supplies are in large plastic tubs in the basement, along with my huge collection of fabrics. I usually just pull out whatever I'm working on and set up on the dining table. Because my ds is too small to stay out of things, I have gotten in the habit of packing everything up when I finish work for the day and put everything away. The only good thing about having to do this is it forces me to keep everything relatively neat and organized so that I can pull it out or put it away as needed.

Dh has mentioned the idea of creating a "studio" space in the basement for my crafts/sewing and his RC models. It would be really great if we could set up something like this, but I'm not going to hold my breath...our house is 92 years old and we have a lot more pressing home improvement projects (like fixing a leaking tub).

If I could set up a craft room, the things I would want are:

1) a large, flexible work surface
2) lots of baskets/drawers for sorting and storing small craft tools and supplies
3) some shelving for books and storing papers flat and neat
4) some larger baskets or containers for storing bulky items like fabric yardage or lots of skeins of yarn
5) magnetic board or bulletin board for posting current projects, photos, etc.
6) a study easel

Think about how you'll be using your space, the types of crafts you'll be doing and how these will need to be stored. IKEA has a ton of fabulous organization products. Have fun shopping!

[Scribe]

This is a timely thread for me, as I just spent a chunk of the weekend, redoing our office for my craft space. It's pretty basic, just a desk and a chair, a lamp, and a bunch of large Rubbermaid tubs that store my supplies (collage, so I have a lot of paper). It is so wonderful to have my own place, though, where I can make a mess and have it not be in the way.

[pumpkin]

The best tip I ever got was to organize by function not by craft.

I got small plastic drawers at target. One drawer for measuring tools, one for adhesives, one for cutting tools, one for embellishing tools, one for odd accents I pick up, one for inks, etc. I do so many different types of things that it helps to be able to pull out the drawer for the function I need and find the right tool. Originally I kept things separated by craft and that was just a mess.

From IKEA I picked up 3 small bookshelves to keep in the closet. The plastic drawers sit on top of those. I also got on of the expedit shelves that is little cubby holes. I love that bookshelf. Its very versatile.

[Scribe]

I took a few pics of my newly cleaned out and organized craft space to share.

From the doorway
Other side of the room
My imperfect storage solution
Craft table

[PancakeGoddess]

yay! Fun pictures - thanks! Looks like a bright, creative room.