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Friday, February 3, 2012

HOW MUCH STUFF CAN YOU STORE IN A 6 INCH SPACE?

I am pretty sure you are getting tired of me posting on working on the studio as I am pretty sure I am tired of working ON the studio instead of IN the studio.  But, there is a huge beaming light at the end of the tunnel and I can see it.  I am reaching for it.  I know the place where I create will continue to evolve and change as need arises, in these final stages of getting the last furniture pieces in place and having a place for everything, only the things I love and want to create with, I feel like I have accomplished a huge goal.
 Honestly, it feels just a tad bit scary to be at a done place, the real work will now have to begin.  The thought is both daunting and exhilarating because it means another step towards my goals.  Little fears trickle in...What if I can't create anything except a pretty functional room?  What if I fail to move forward?  What if?  What if?  What if?...such a nasty hiss!  The Pollyanna side of me pushes the Doubting Thomas aside and whispers...What if you succeed?  What if you glad beyond glad that you took the time, effort, and energy to create a tailor made functional for you creative space?  What if you create your masterpiece?  What if?  What if?  What if?...whispered with such hope.

So it is with Pollyanna positivity that I press on and with any luck I will actually have the job complete this weekend.  I know, I know, you have heard this before and if I could have foreseen the future I would not have said that and it may not happen this weekend either but I will give it my best try.  (Just in case you are wondering I am waiting on Handy Hubby to finish up some welding and that is the hold up.)  While I am a lady in waiting for my knight in shining welder shield to come to my rescue I have been working on a tiny overflow storage area, behind the door storage.  You might not think you can do much with a mere 6 inch space but I will prove that you can!

I began with two old wooden crates that I picked up at a flea market for a mere $3.00 each...
I had Handy Hubby cut them down into equal sections.  I glued and clamped the sections together and Handy Hubby added a 1/8 inch wood backing to the whole thing.  Once dry and secure I used old book pages to cover the back of the unit.  We then attached it to the wall by using screws into the wall studs...
I purchased a wooden thread holder at a flea market and cut it apart into three sections, attaching one section in each of the three upper boxes...
I also found some small tension rods at a flea market.  I spray painted those with brown spray paint and installed them for extra ribbon storage...
Lastly I found glass jars that fit the shelving on sale at Hobby Lobby and filled them with ribbon scraps sorted out into like color families...
(There's room for two more jars but they are out of stock.  I will purchase those with my sale price rain check as soon as they get more in.)

On top are some free boxes that were given to me.  These small boxes store craft feathers...
I glued a strip of on old dictionary page around them and stamped a feather on each one.  I used colored pencils to color in the feathers to match what is in each box.

I consider this over flow and room to grow storage, after all, I have other ribbon storage here...
And here...
And here... 
And more thread storage here...
 I was thinking I might add some hooks to the sides where I could hang things from that too, maybe like extra shipping tags or who knows what.  I even gave pause to adding decorated tin cans to the sides to store pencils, pens, or paint brushes and I still might!

You could fill a whole unit like this just with threads, with rows of ribbons, or with jars of supplies.  
It is amazing what you can actually store in a 6 inch space!

Here is a sneak peek at that very last furniture piece...
So, I guess you know what I will be up to this weekend, got and great plans?

17 comments:

Vee said...

Very inspirational. I steal all your best ideas if possible. Sometimes, not possible, though if I could steal that behind the door idea, I would. (No door in my room.) Wait a minute, there is certainly space where the door would be...okay, I'll be putting wooden crates on my flea market list along with old forks and doilies. Will you do a video of your workspace...you know a 360°?

Have a lovely weekend doing the final touches.

Sonya Badgley said...

Hi Sandy,
What clever ideas you've shown us today! Your craft room is fabulous! I really love the fact that they are inexpensive! And everything is so handy-right there!
You are so clever!
Hugs,
Sonya

The Country Nest said...

What great ideas you have. I love what you did with the wooden creates. You bring your art to all you do.
hugs,
Donna

Dorthe said...

Dear Sandy, that was a wonderful idea with the boxes, cut down to match the place ,and give more room for your threads and ribbons, and you surely used the place you had fantastically- I love the old book pages inside.
And you have such order, -like all ribbons rolled up on paper spools , sitting there in the drawers- it looks so gorgeous- and all that thread standing in family colours beside each other, looks beautiful.
All this will ,when the day comes very soon- inspire you so much and you will create some of your stunning creations, I know for sure.
Hugs and love, Dorthe

Gail said...

Wow, wow, wow Sandy! Well done, I especially love the crate shelf that you and dh made.....excellent!
I'm in awe of your organizational skills, wish I had 1/4 of them....:).

Doni said...

Hi Sandy! I'm so excited to stop by and see what you've been up to! And oh my....I must catch up! You have done an incredible job on those crates and making such a lovely storage spot. It makes me want to get to work on my own craft space. I'm a hoarder and MUST get some of the things out of my space before I can even work again. I've found that having eye candy for storage helps my creativity, and you have hit that exactly with those crates. I am super excited about all you've done! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas and gorgeous storage space with us!
blessings, Doni

Ruth Kelly said...

How nice to be so organized. Love the candlestick holders holding thread spools.

Anonymous said...

I'm not tired of it at all! I need all the inspiration I can get!

Very clever and creative ideas for storage, Sandy!

Have a blessed weekend!

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing. I've been following "unofficially" for a while, but am now on Blogger. I'm now officially following. If you have a chance, stop by and visit a likeminded crafter although I focus more on vintage linens. If I could blog tea for you, I would.

threadsinthenest.blogspot.com

JD/ Jill said...

What great ideas...I could never get tired of looking at all your great ideas!

Unknown said...

You are so creative. Thank you for the organizations skills you have shown. I need to organize my craft room.

Angela Richardson said...

Hi Sandi,
Oh my, do I need to do this!! I spend so much time searching for things I need. If I start now I may be organised in case Karen has another 'Where Women Create, blog party this summer.
You have some great ideas, love them all.
Hugs, Angela.

Unknown said...

Have fun getting everything worked out.. its a pain isnt it? But then you'll be creating goodies in a nice and clean place :)

Hugs,

Anonymous said...

I only have one thing to say to you, my friend, after creating such a lovely, functional and organized work space:

DON'T BE AFRAID TO MESS IT UP! LOL!

Oh, you'll have to clean it all up again, but a creative mess is better than idle boredom. But you know that!

Don't be afraid! Everything you make is beautiful and special.
And so are your words...always.

No doubt you have things blooming there in the south. Too soon probably. Here, our bulbs are coming up. Hubby just covered them with mulch. Wishing for snow!!

Can't wait to see photos of the messes next. ;-)

XO Diane

JD/ Jill said...

Sandy, I have sent you an email...

Createology said...

Genius use of space for the never enough supplies! You and handy hubby are asuper great team. Sandy your dreams are happening...

Vesna Maric said...

Love your blog. Thanks for the button. I have put it on my new blog http://kalipso-treasurechest.blogspot.com/.
I am yet to make my button. Greeting, Vesna

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