What is it about a new year that makes me want to run out and immediately buy all the things I just "know" will solve my organization and storage problems in my craft room/office? (Okay--note to self #1--if you intend to take this room more seriously in 2009, it will be known as a STUDIO, not a craft room/office).
I have known for a while that I need more shelving and more ribbon storage. The bookcase space is ready and waiting and as soon as I have appropriate transportation, the final bookcase for that room will be in place; the goal is by the end of January. I have picked out another storage shelf that will hold my second (not used for paper crafts) sewing machine, the toaster oven I intend to buy for crafting, my button and embellishment boxes, and other, bulkier items that aren't used daily. It will even allow the toaster oven to be used without being moved. I recently earned a $50 gift card for perfect attendance on the job and that's what is buying the shelf unit--I just have to decide whether to ask someone to help me pick it up after having it shipped to the store or if I want to pay the $10 extra and have it sent directly to the house; since I have a second-floor apartment, I'm leaning towards delivery--my friends are getting a bit tired of helping me haul things upstairs all the time LOL!
The ribbon bar is waiting for Walmart to get a new shipment of curtain-rod mounting hardware. I use dowels for my spooled ribbons and mount the dowels on the wall using cafe-rod brackets that extend about 2.75" away from the wall. Two are already mounted; when the third goes up, I'll try to post a picture.
The other studio goal for 2009 is to begin saving for a laptop. Now that I am working more seriously on TGAN (aka The Great American Novel), I am finding a distinct need for more desktop space by my PC. I had been seriously looking at a flat-screen monitor rather than the traditional, huge monitor I have, especially since flat-screen monitors have dropped so much in price. Then I discovered the energy usage for a desktop is approximately 110 watts versus 15-45 watts for a laptop. That's insane! Laptop prices are falling and purchasing a laptop would allow me to watch DVDs in my bedroom eliminating the want/need of a second TV, especially since my bedroom can't be wired for cable and any TV in that room would only serve as a way of watching VHS or DVD (our apartments were built in the era of one cable outlet per apartment, located on an outside wall of the living room--they will not allow the cable company to install extra outlets even if I could afford the $150+ installation fee). Let's not discuss what insanity I went thru running Ethernet from the cable modem to the router to the two PCs...
My inkpads are finally organized--and I have room for growth! I love these Ink Pad Palaces and now have six--look at http://www.motherrubber.com/InkPadPalace.html for what I mean! They were shipped very fast, they are fantastically easy to put together, and they were the most economical storage solution I could find that would fit my space requirements. I now am looking at marker/pen storage that will keep my dual-ended markers in a horizontal position and have just about decided to add drawers to my Ink Pad Palaces--then the markers that match the ink pads (like my Close To My Heart ones) can be kept right with the pads. (No paid endorsement by the way; I just believe in praising good products and companies).
Speaking of praise, if you are looking for organizational ideas, check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrganizedStudio/ and feel free to join us! I am a chronic lurker there, but most (if not all) of the ideas that have worked for me in organizing my studio have come from these talented ladies. It is a very friendly and knowledgeable group of women who do not overload your inbox with chatter but who willingly share what works (and what doesn't) for them.
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