extreme organizing

Inspiration arrived via a very cool blog, Camp Creek Press.  Lori is a homeschooling mom of two boys with a art background and she has lots of great info on her site.  She is starting to write specifically on project based learning, which I am really attracted to, you must check it out.

As I was browsing her site the other night, I came across this post about organizing.  It really lit a fire under me because I made a plan on paper that night for my very neglected laundry room, like 3 years neglected, since we moved in neglected.  We moved in and I tossed everything on the shelves and could never find anything.  I also worked on the art and craft supplies we have in our shared family studio which were all tossed haphazardly in big bins and hardly used these days.

That night I sorted through all the art supplies and rummaged through the recycling bin, in the rain, for reusable cans and through the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator for anything that might be useful.  I managed to set up a very accessible display of supplies for us all to use.  I was able to make a list of supplies we needed because I could see what we had and needed.  I didn’t need to buy anything for storage since I recycled, I’m so green, well not if you know me well.  Everyone is excited about the new space and it is getting more use for sure.  Even the train set, which has always been there, is getting some use and Erin has her own cart with playdough and toddler friendly things to get to.  If only I can stop her from climbing the chair to get to the good stuff.

The plan for the laundry room was to purchase storage totes to hold light bulbs, candles and miscellaneous items for the shelves, milk crates for the extra paper products and a over the door shoe holder for the cleaning supplies, and a thin laundry cart for the detergant and bleach.  The next morning I woke up really early, about 2 hours ealier than normal thinking about organizing and I just had to go out and buy what I needed for the laundry room.  So, I made my coffee and headed out to the 24 hour store and found all my tools.  By that afternoon, that house was a disaster with pillow forts and toys everwhere, but I had a tidy laundry room where I just might be able to find what I need and do a little laundry.

So, my brain didn’t stop with those two areas and I started scheming about some other neglected spots.  I worked on my personal art supplies, my wrapping paper and ribbon stash, and my computer desk.  I have tried just about every type of crafty hobby since just before kids and everything has been stored in boxes in the closet or out of reach, which leads to the inability to use them and no crafting.  So, with this revamp I’m hopeful I’ll be able to plop myself down even for a few minutes and work on something.  I’m just not too sure I can keep the littlest one from trying to help out.  So, we’ll see.

I’ve been drooling over the wrapping paper center at Pottery Barn for years, I know that’s sad, but it’s true.  So when I was falling asleep last night, I know that’s sad too but that’s how I work, I thought of a way to store my papers just like I’ve seen and it worked.  I used tension rods to hold the wrapping paper in a newly (had to take out all the junk and move it somewhere else to be sorted through later) emptied cabinet.  There you have it my own gift wrap center, ready to be used.  Who’s birthday is next?

Finally, there is my desk.  The space where I spend way too much time wasting time.  Well, it did help me find ideas to organize, so it’s not all that bad.  There was this really big printer on it which took up all the space next to my computer, so I moved it under the desk and reworked all the cords, which drive me up the wall.  They were a tangled mess and now they are wound up and tied so as not to become tangled again.  I covered an old desk top file box and my old mouse pad with some yummy Amy Butler paper and gave them some new life.  A reused can holds some pencils and my journal lies waiting for me to scribble a note, right after I take a nap.  That’s it, I’m done organizing for anothe 3 years or so.