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I always find it amusing that people who craft spend as much money, time, and effort on ORGANIZING (and re-organizing) their stuff as they do crafting and creating.
If you are like this, are you as organized in other aspects of your life? Or only your crafts?
Is there a correlation between being creative and being organized? I always thought it was the other way around! :lol:
I have to be organized in my job (environmental chemist) and it certainly does attempt to overflow into my real life, but my DH has other plans that seem to derail the organization
__________________ Kate
�So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.�
I like to organize (used to be a cataloging librarian) and I get great satisfaction from having all of my stamping stuff neatly categoried in boxes, containers, and storage units. Staying organized is a whole 'nother thing altogether. Once I get going, there's stuff everywhere, and it looks like an explosion rocked my craft space, aka dining room table and surrounding floor.
Yeah, I'm organized (I actually have to work on my stamp organization I just got into stamping-- but my scrapbooking organization is very, very good and the system works for me).
My idea about that is this: what is the sense of buying anything to craft with(or anything in life for that matter) if you can't find it when you want to use it (or forget you have it b/c out of sight- out of mind- or buy the same thing over and over again)? So yes, I organize so that I know what I have, don't buy things twice (unless on purpose LOL!) and can find it when I want to use it.
Now, when it comes to the actual "creation" of my masterpiece, well, that's a whole other story- put me squarely in the "explosion expert" category. LOL!
Yes, other aspects of my life are organized as well. Light bulbs? Closet- right hand side- second shelf. Drives my DBF crazy, but hey, I'm the "go-to-girl" when he needs a new bulb! I also love the "Do we have 'X"? "Yes, dear it's in....".... makes him laugh and he does appreciate it.
Organization and creativity? Hmmmm, I don't know about that. I organize for practical/economic reasons but I do have to say that an inviting, organized, clean workspace does inspire me to do "something" rather than a messy- everything everywhere workspace would. Perhaps being organized inspires us to work on our projects?
Here is a picture of a night stamping at my place....
Bawhahahaha!!!! That is SO how my area looks after stamping! All of life's necessities are there: chocolate, coke, salty snack, and stamps!
I am borderline organized. I organize it, explode, organize it, explode, organizie it.... Yeah, its a vicious cycle. I need to learn to put away as I go, but then I end up needing it again right away! I'd rather stamp than clean any day!
__________________ ~Barbara
Wife to the most wonderful man in the world - he sits through all my "look what I made!" sessions!
Love the pic! I think we can all relate to how our work space looks as we create. When I'm done, though, everything gets put away right away. I am organized at work and at home. I can't function any other way.
I always try to attempt organization but it never happens. I enjoy the "hunt" too much to be totally boxed in. Great thread. I think we all reflect the span of personalities. Some of us are structured and some are spontaneous. The thing to remember is one isn't better than the other and we need both types to keep our world interesting.
The reason I organize is that my stash looks smaller. This makes me feel less guilty when buying new stuff, and hubby has no idea how much the smaller looking stash actually cost (but it definitely looks less than it was).
Cost spent organizing - around $150 cdn
Cost of stash - around $2000 cdn
Here is a picture of a night stamping at my place....
I actually shrieked when I saw that...I have a disease...(yup, that is what my husband calles it). I am so anal that everything (all my supplies) have to be lined up, used, and put away ASAP...I even organize my inks by color (lightest to darkest) when I pull out a few to use on a card.
(I think I would be a lot more creative if my area looked like yours...and I would probably be having more fun.)
Just an aside...it gets so bad my customers even comment. When they are finished with a stamp, I actually will put it away on the shelf...clean up the area...put inks back...and they always say, "Hey, where did (fill in the blank) go? Oh, she put it away already!?
I know, I need help....and yes, it is the same with MOST of the other things in my life.
colleen
__________________ Colleen Schaan - Education Specialist at Imagination International Inc.,/Copic Marker
Blog - Distinctive Touches;My Copic Books!
My stash is definitely not organized. I try to be and do a good job at it. Then is the middle of the night in creeps the little disorganization elves and messes everything up! It's not my fault I tell you.
Location: In my Happy Place with no one bothering me....I hope!
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My craft room looks like a hurricane went through!! Organized???? Never!
When I try to clean it up....I get the urge to start stamping and then it's a mess again ! Oh well......I close the door and no one is the wiser!
That picture looks exactly like my table when I'm stamping!
As far as organized...not really. I am anal about things being where they're supposed to be but I have to do a top-to-bottom organization blitz about once a year because other people (The men in my house) get their hands on my stuff!!
__________________ Jenna
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I made it! Dec 2006-July 2007!
My nonstamping, weight-loss blog sort of.
Here is a picture of a night stamping at my place....
So you're saying if you cannot be a good example...serve as the horrible warning. Actually I think I would have fun stamping at your place...you have a fine selection of snacks and beverages.And by the looks of things lots of fun inks and stamps to play with. ;)
__________________ Have an awesome day!
Loretta Rathert~
I was born this way! God help me it is an addiction! and an Affliction!
I am a BO with SPS (Born Organizer with Severe Perfection Syndrome)
I spend MORE time organizing my stamps and supplies, that I do stamping! It's a plain fact! Sure and simple!
Yes, my husband has to grin and *bear* it. Everything in my house has a place. It has to be in it's place at all times or I freak! You can ask me where anything is, any color, any style - and I can tell you which drawer, box, cupboard or shelf it is on! Right side, left side and in the middle.
My stamps are organized in an order that may only make sense to me, but I know where each and everyone is! Every tape runner, glue stick and staple! It is funny about people with organizational disabilities like me, that's why they call us *neat freaks* I guess?
Don't we have fun?
Karen
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I was born this way! God help me it is an addiction! and an Affliction!
I am a BO with SPS (Born Organizer with Severe Perfection Syndrome)
I spend MORE time organizing my stamps and supplies, that I do stamping! It's a plain fact! Sure and simple!
Yes, my husband has to grin and *bear* it. Everything in my house has a place. It has to be in it's place at all times or I freak! You can ask me where anything is, any color, any style - and I can tell you which drawer, box, cupboard or shelf it is on! Right side, left side and in the middle.
My stamps are organized in an order that may only make sense to me, but I know where each and everyone is! Every tape runner, glue stick and staple! It is funny about people with organizational disabilities like me, that's why they call us *neat freaks* I guess?
Don't we have fun?
Karen
Karen, I am the exact same way!! I felt myself gasp when I saw Sarah's picture and here is what went through my head...."OH!! What if that pop gets spilled on a project?? How can they find anything? What if they touch the paper with greasy fingers!! Goodness, what a mess!!" ROFL :mrgreen:
LOL - LOL - Thank goodness Sarra! I am soooo glad I'm not the only one sitting in front of my computer in complete terror! I have a mop in one hand and my organizational boxes in the other, trying to figure where to go to first!
Karen
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
Oh - I remember what it is my brother calls me - *Clutter Challanged*
Man, if clutter was in the Olympics, I would be a gold medalist every stinkin time. I am not hugely tidy, but I never craft with food around because I worry about crumbs/sticky/greasy. Maybe that is all my years of labwork at play, though.
So FUNNY! I know I can be upsetting to people with OCD... and I should note that this isn't my mess alone... but a group of 10 demonstrators. I too love this picture and I feature it on my website! It makes stamping look like a party right!
I consider myself a fairly organized stamper. When I am not stamping, everything is neatly put in it's spot. After I finish a project, and before I start another, I HAVE to put everything back in it's spot, otherwise I quickly lose interest and inspiration....I am easily overwhelmed by the messy chaos. And I agree, salty snacks, chocolate, and beverages are a no-no at the craft table. Cause I am clumsy!
I consider myself a fairly organized stamper. When I am not stamping, everything is neatly put in it's spot. After I finish a project, and before I start another, I HAVE to put everything back in it's spot, otherwise I quickly lose interest and inspiration....I am easily overwhelmed by the messy chaos. And I agree, salty snacks, chocolate, and beverages are a no-no at the craft table. Cause I am clumsy!
I can't handle a huge mess either but I'm not a neat/organized freak either. My desk gets messy, but before I can start the next project, I have to clean it up. I work better with a blank slate in front of me ... My stuff is organized in a way that makes sense for me and I have no need to reorganize all that often (unless we move ...)
Everything has a place in my craft area, but when I am using stuff, it is everywhere!!!! Pop, chocolate and chips are allowed as long as you're careful, otherwise what fun would it be to have a stamping night! Of course as soon as I'm done everything goes right back into it's place. The rest of my life is like that as well!
Are all crafty people insanely organized?
