Sometimes the most difficult part of starting a new project is finding not only the time, but the space to do it! I know that I need a clear, large space with great lighting, good music, and all of my materials within arm's reach. For me, a clear space equals a clear mind for creating.
Easier said than done, though, right? I have been painting for about seven years now, scrapbooking for three years, and beading for almost nine months. My best intentions as I moved from Milwaukee to St. Paul five years ago, then back to Milwaukee last year, were to keep these things away from each other. Well, as I've been packing to move into a new apartment, I realized that the oil paints are kind of mixed in with the letter stickers and paper supplies. It's not the best. So in my new place, I am bound and determined to get organized right off the bat to so I can tackle my creative projects more frequently.
I'm sure tomorrow night, I will stand in my new living room surrounded by mismatched furniture and unmarked boxes wondering what on earth to do next. Our new special issue, Beading 101 and Beyond, has a section all about organization and storage, and while the issue is all about beading, many of our tips can be easily applied to any craft. Here are a few highlights:
- Designate a work area/creative space, even if it just means setting up a desk and shelves in a corner of your living room (which is what I'll be doing in my tiny apartment).
- If you have the wall space, add a bulletin board or a magnetic board above the desk to display inspiration, bead strands, paper scraps, etc. It's great to have these things for visual inspiration!
- Keep materials separated in bags or containers and make sure they're well-labeled.
- Keep your space clean! Put away your scrapbook supplies when you're done so the next time you look at your creative space, you may see "painting space" or "beading space" instead of "scrapbook space." Creativity will strike easier this way!
Be sure to check out Beading 101 and Beyond to get the rest of our tips and some great photos, including before and after pictures of the BeadStyle staff workroom!
I also found a few cool places for great "creative space" ideas. Start looking and start organizing!
From Domino magazine (which recently closed, much to my chagrin), some tips for getting your creative space started
From the Making It Lovely blog, a designer's studio
From the Craftzine blog, a few different craft rooms