The Big "O"... for Organization!

Organization...can be a saving grace or an albatross depending on the degree of organization you have and how you feel about being organized or unorganized. When my studio is clean and organized I feel happy to walk into my space and ready to create. I make such a mess when I am in my creating frenzy and often times I use whatever time I have to create, not to clean. Every once and awhile my space gets so crazy messy that I have to clean up before I can find a teeny bit of space to create. This part can be as much fun, especially when you find long lost treasures that inspire something new.

Is organization your saving grace or albatross?

Morgan offers some of her favourite organizational tips and tricks. Check out her blog for more great tips and her wonderful creations ... http://www.morganmelim.blogspot.com/.

Morgan Melimblab...Organization…ha!

Kidding, for the most part I try to keep things organized so I don’t loose my mind.

I work mostly with Felt and Cotton fabrics, so there is an endless supply of scraps and thread all over my art room. When we first moved to this place I promised my boyfriend we could split the spare room, well I lied and took over everything! I’m lucky that the room oddly enough had no door on the closet and a full set of wire shelves installed. This has helped me immensely what with the one million Rubbermaid storage totes I have. Yup, that’s my organization: Ziploc bags and a rubber bin for every teensy tiny scrap of fabric. I also love a wire basket for things like tape and glue and paint. My feeling is the more containers the better! One thing that has really helped is having two desks in my work space, one to sew and one to list, email, edit photos and things of that nature for my Etsy shop.

I read Domino Magazine religiously and drool over all of Martha Stewarts work spaces. Recently purchasing a ribbon organizer and a large floppy tote for fabric by the yard, I’m constantly on the look out for another bin to put things in. I feel if each thing has its own container your less likely to forget about some really cool fabric, or loose ANOTHER pair of good scissors. I also have tiny containers with handles that I take small amounts of product to work on the couch while watching TV. Its all about finding out what works for you, and accepting that it will probably always be kind of a mess, but hey at least you know your being productive!

Visit her etsy shop http://www.morganmelim.etsy.com/

New York City Photographer

Check out Matt's amazing photography and his immaculately clean and organized space.

I love it. It looks so inviting. I agree with Matt. I would much rather create in a space that starts off relatively neat, although it doesn't take much to spread out and make a mess in the creative frenzy!

Photosect

I'm a photographer, who lives and works in New York City. I work freelance, so a lot of my time is spent in front of the computer marketing, working on images etc. While I'd much rather be outside working, I find myself more and more needing to be here doing my thing.I'm a very unorganized guy, but I hate it when I wake up, get a cup of coffee and sit down to papers, flashcards, and general clutter all over my desk!My wife and I had the desk "ends" built so that we can store our files, receipts, CD's, and DVD's, etc. down below. We also put up cubes on the wall to put all of our items, that generally find themselves on top of the desk up, and out of the way!

http://www.photosect.etsy.com/

website:http://www.mattmorrisseyphoto.com/

blog:http://www.mattmorrisseyphoto.com/Site/Blog/Blog.html

Schedule Some Time In Your Studio

Tips For Busy People

(From A Busy Person!)

Well... I finally got around to cleaning my studio (kind of). I've started at least. Why is it that the things we love to do the most are the things that seem to be put on the back burner until we "find" more time.

I recently read a tip in the new Somerset "Studios" magazine to schedule time in your studio every day. I think that it is a great idea! I can manage 30 minutes a day!

Some might say that takes away the spontaneity of creating but I say it gives me time back in my studio where I haven't been for too long.

I really do plan to start this daily scheduled time in the studio, and so... cleaning and organizing was a good first start. My studio was definitely a reflection of the busyness of my life. It actually looked a bit chaotic. The first session definitely took more than 30 mins. (actually 4 hours) but I loved every minute of it, rediscovering old friends and rekindling my passion.

Now I feel better about entering my studio, a place to take back time for myself each day, a mini getaway from the busyness and stress of every day life and routines.

Gotta go. It's Studio time.

Here are some recent creations!

Post studio clean-up...scheduled

studio time!

Patterned paper birds sit on top of a ribbon wire .

Burlap background is adorned with coloured beaded stars.

When The Snow Flies

A Time To Reflect

Well the snow has officially landed in Northern Ontario. We are very fortunate to experience the four seasons and each is magnificent. I love the first snow, so clean and white. It glistens in the sun and blankets the ground signalling the beginning of a season of hibernation. I think the snow often forces me to slow down and savour the time inside. That is when I love to create the most. When it is cold and chilly outside, I am wrapped snugly in a warm robe complete with fuzzy slippers. My girls love to spend time in the art room creating with me which adds to the warmth I feel. I am glad that nature gives me the time to reflect and rejuvenate at such a busy time.

"Snow Much Fun" ~ one of my wintertime snow creations
www.folkartbykerry.etsy.com

A Generation of Artists and Crafters~ A Before & After Studio Tour

Here is a great before and after studio tour. Check out Giggling Goldfish and her new studio and more pictures of the gorgeous transformation.


Before

After

Check out Giggling Goldfish Etsy Shop www.gigglinggoldfish.etsy.com

Giggling Goldfish

I come from a family of artists and crafters and have been creating ever since I can remember. I grew up working and playing in my father's wood working shop and knew early on I loved to work with my hands. So of course when I had children of my own I hoped they (two beautiful girls and a 15 month old boy) would love and appreciate art and creating as I do.

Fortunately both of my girls are creative in many ways and do appreciate the concept of handmade and my son has a little space all his own in my studio. My youngest daughter and I have been creating together for a while now and I am enjoying it immensely. It is so awesome to see things thru a child’s eyes. She and now my little son bring so much color and life to our creations. I am inspired by so many things especially color and try to reflect our fun personalities into the things we create.

This is our studio in the making. I had tons of fun collecting little things here and there to create our space and even more fun building my little tables. I am a flea market and salvage yard junky and have been hording my little finds for years and now was able to put some of them to good use. I try to work on it here and there when I have time, but nonetheless I am so thankful to have a place to bring our thoughts to life.

Haha, that doesn’t mean I still don’t take over little parts of the house though. I am like a whirlwind when I am in the middle of a project with little bits and pieces everywhere, but as soon as I’m done I have to clean it all up and reorganize for the next time. For me it is much more relaxing and allows me to focus on what I am doing when I have a clean space. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gigglinggoldfish/sets/72157603946800035/

Good luck on your art space…I look forward to stopping by and taking a peek where you create.