Craft Stuff Storage

I recently received an email from Jennifer C, who wrote:

"You've inspired me to be much more ambitious in crafting with my children!  If you have a chance would you mind sharing how you store your craft materials?  Do you have an abundance of room?  Or do you have to be picky about what you keep for future projects?  How do you keep it aesthetically pleasing, or do you?"

Organization has never come easy to me.  Actually, I think of myself as very much like Mrs. Murry in Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.  Scattered, distracted and cooking supper over the bunsen burner while absorbed in her work.  Except, I don't have a bunsen burner.  But if I did.......  Anyway, I'm not really proud of the similarities, but I cannot deny them.  With that said, I'd be more than happy to share what currently works for me in the way of storage and organization.

       

This is my main craft center. It is a corner of the utility room, which the kids affectionately call "Mom's Studio". (And where I could stick that bunsen burner... )  The upper work surface is where I do quick projects (because I am perched on a stool) or pull out a bunch of supplies (like various beads etc if I am doing rosaries) to work with on the lower section.  The cabinet area, behind the two white doors, holds most of the kid's craft supplies.  They are grouped somewhat (Felts are together, and paints etc.) and stored in clear plastic boxes.  I list the contents, with a Sharpie marker, on the outside of each box. 

I really wish the open shelves above the work area were enclosed in a cabinet.  Things would look so much neater that way, and much more "aesthetically pleasing". One day, maybe.  Most of the various containers you see on the shelves are from garage sales, flea markets or really great Hobby Lobby sales.  I wouldn't say that I have an "abundance" of craft storage room, (The old house originally came with zero closets!) but it is enough for now. I am fairly careful about what we keep for future projects.  The items must have a place or be able to fit in with a current group of supplies.   

           

This lower part of my craft area is home to my beloved, old sewing machine and geriatric serger.  I love the view of the back yard out of this window, but right now all you can see is rain, rain & more rain.  I also do most of my major beading and painting down here so I can sit in a chair with a back.  As you can see by the photos, I have a tendency to spastically hang things in the nearest available spot.  There are chaplets, ribbons, chains, pictures, wire etc. hanging everywhere. 

       

In the picture above, you can see a few more details on the shelves. (Click it to enlarge.)  Some of my favorite storage containers, for little things, are baby food jars.  You can barely see a few of them on the top of the set of little drawers.

      

I love hiding stuff in baskets.  The top one holds all our Sculpey and tools for clay, while the bottom one contains the kid's beading supplies and more.  I purchased these when they were 50% at Hobby Lobby.  The skinny box next to the baskets contains Priority Mail boxes for shipping Gardens of Grace orders.   

For inspiration and ideas, I really enjoy looking through the pages of Where Women Create, by Jo Packham.  So many beautiful studios pictured in that book!  I don't have it, but I'll bet Organizing Your Craft Space (by the same author) would be pretty good, also.  If anyone has any good craft-stuff-organizing tips for Jennifer, feel free to leave them in the comments! (I could use a few more ideas myself!)