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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Chaska, MinnesotaHello Teddy Bear Friends: I am not a professional bear artist but it is my hobby. Over the years I have collected so much fur, sewing notions, crafts and so forth that I am overwhelmed with how to organize it all. So many projects have been started; I can't find half of my materials because they were place with the projects started. Now it is all over the place.
So my question is how do you organize your room? What does the ideal sewing/craft room look like. If money was not a problem what would you have done?
Posts: 3,540Well my room's a far cry from being organized. I finally came to the conclusion I was wasting a lot of time trying to find things, though, and bought some plastic stack a bins to organize my stuff a little. Its two cases of four drawers stacked atop each other. Each level holds something different, patterns in little plastic baggies on top, a drawer just for drawings and ideas, another holds eyes, noses and thread, and yet others hold the 'finishing touches', pendants, and flowers and whatnots that I collect. My furs I store in two cedar chests, and I have a paper bag for the scraps.
Its a far, far cry from some of the beautiful workspaces I've seen on here, but it saves me time having to root about for things. I can now go to my stackabins and select the drawer an item 'should' be in. 
Jare Hares & BearsI have a small plastic 3 drawer organizer that I keep my patterns in. The top level for the most fequently accessed patterns and then the next drawer for once in a while patterns and the bottom for patterns that were made a long time ago. I also use another set of drawers to keep my wire and wire cutters. The middle drawer on that unit keeps my pens, pencils, wrench set, seam gauge, and small shears. The top part keeps my beeswax, brushes, and etc. I also use pencil holders to keep bigger tools, Shears, Forceps, Threads and fur trimming shears, and etc. I place that in the middle of my roll of duct tape. I also have magazine boxes to keep issues of both magazines. I have a couple sets of shelves that I keep other items on. I have two laundry hapmers with lids, one holds my excelsior and the other hold scraps of mohair and poly fil. I have a cuboard where I store my mohair and on the top shelf I keep already cut bears/hares and my larger paper for drafting patterns.
well mine looks like nothing on earth, before we moved I had a large attic bedroom I now have the tiny room about six foot by eight foot this holds most of my things, computer, sewing machine, stacker boxes of materials brown paper boxes of magazines. I sew downstairs so have one of those large double wooden captain chests full of mohair and patterns, joints ultra suede and cottons this is in the lounge and doubles as a coffee table. I have a draw in the chest of draws with the older patens in. I have two plastic organisers with tools and paints in them; I keep all the necessary stuff I need at hand in them. The filling is in the loft and I bring down just a bit at a time.
Hugs Kerren
Chaska, MinnesotaThank you everybody for the feedback. Plastic bins are they way to go I think. I was watching the Carol Duvall show one day and she gave a tour of her craft room. It looked great. I have the second bedroom as my craft room. But it is also my computer room and spare bedroom for guests. A bit crowded. I may tackle my stuff with the plastic drawers that all of you recommend. I think Target has them. I'll check this weekend.
WienOR-what is the word? :crackup:
Gaby 
I've posted these pics before, but they may be useful to you Michelle, so I'll pop them up here.
The linen cupboard hides away all things like spare stuffing, a big tub of paw pad fabrics, art materials, metalwork for jointing etc etc etc. I keep all my plastic pellets in the big pink tub on the floor .. it has a jug in it too, so that I can just pour them into the bear whenever I am ready to. The wooden trunk is where I store all my mohair and the tall thin chest is idea for keeping hardboard joints in! Different sizes in different drawers. I also stash things like bowties, growlers and music boxes in a couple of the drawers. The small pine cupboard is ideal for paperwork and as you can see, I use shelves for my bears and also for my reference books. I have several plastic tubs and toolboxes to hand on my sewing table, so that I can grab whatever I need as I work. I've also used a couple of desk tidies to keep my tools easy to find. My pattern pieces are stored in an A3 portfolio case by the side of the cupboard and I keep a couple of plastic storage boxes to stash my 'work in hand' bits in, so that I don't lose any bear parts as I work.
My favourite storage device has to be the cotton reel holder on the wall - it's so useful!
Back Road BearsMy room is set up to teach workshops this week or else I'd take some pictures for you.
But YES.... platic drawers! I couln't live without them! They really keep me organized.
I have the little 3 drawer ones (all I've gotten at Target) on my work table.... 3 sets of them...one for all my eyes, test eyes, eye floss, etc. Another holds all the hardware... one for cotterpins, one for hardware for 1/8" joints and one for the 1/2" joints. The last set of drawers holds all my embroidery floss and upholstery thread for closing seams.
On the floor right under my table is a larger stack of drawers that holds my joint discs (I have thousands) and they are again separated by 1/8" ID and 1/4" ID. NEXT to my table is another 2 sets of dawers... one holds my patterns, the other all of my ultrasuede, wool felt, etc.
In my closet on one side is all my mohiar, on the other is, yup, you guessed it.... more plastic dawers... they hold all of my bear accessories, overstock of tools, some of my sewing necessities for quilting, supplies for my workshops, etc.
I have a desk in my room as well... big one... with my computer, etc. Then in a little back corner I have my "photo studio" and lots of lights.
Have fun at Target, Michelle!
Chaska, MinnesotaPaula: I love your sewing room!! My goodness you have really found a place for everything. Thank you for posting the pictures. I really like the idea of putting my threads on the wall. I assume that can be found at Joann’s. I think Martha Stewart sells them too. I'll check out her website.
Daphnie: Thank you for giving me more ideas too. Because this is a hobby for me it always has been manageable with just enough items for a couple of projects. But over the years, for some reason, it snowballed on me and I got too much stuff and found I need organization. Imagine that!?
Yes Target is definitely a place to visit this weekend.
Back Road BearsOK... I took some pictures... it was a good reason to clean up!
Here is my work table with the bins holding joint hardware, eyes, thread and embroidery yarns.
These are the drawers next to my table with joint discs, patterns, ultrasuede, etc. in them.
And here is my closet... some of my mohair on one side, MORE plastic drawers on the other... I had to label the drawers... there were too many to remember what was where!
THANK YOU!!!!!! I've been needing help with this!!
Mutz's Tootsz Bears & BudsHi,
I love my storage "system". I put all my patterns on wire shower curtain rings & then hang them on a hatrack.
Actually I am looking for more 
hat racks to expand.
I also have another "find" My sister was getting rid of an old baby crib. I sue that for hanging my mohair so I cna see it during projects.
TTFN
Amy
Jellybelly Bearsyup, those plastic draws are wonderful!! I even have them in cupboards to organise more. Plus boxes like the ones you get at cheap as chips for $2. They are great to pile all your unfinished projects/bears on the go etc into organised lots. i always keep them on hand to pack away at an instant if the little ones are coming over and i need to clear up in a hurry.
Rufnut Teddy's:hug: Great topic, thanks for sharing you girls have some great setup in your studios, I am still in the process of organising myself, I will take a nice picture soon when I spend some more time at home. kids sport is taking up all my spare time at the moment :dance: :crackup:
Hearts Ease Bearsi have buttons and charms in plastic drawers,im moving them to glass jars where i can see them..plus i have a cart with shallow wire racks for ribbon and paper..otherwise plastic bins!
and i have a cedar chest for the mohair..200 year old houses dont have closets! 
:):) cool photos! deb
Back Road BearsI'm not too sure what I'd do without closets! 
Of course if the house has other endearing characteristics, which most houses that age ae loaded with, I think I'd find a way!
Chaska, MinnesotaDaphne: your pictures are amazing. That is organized to say the very least. Thank you for posting the pictures.
Amy, what a creative system you have there. I never thought of hanging the patters on curtian rings. And that is ingenious hanging your fur on a recycled baby crib!
Yes, it is time to make my sewing room more organized....
Jare Hares & BearsAlright ladies let's see those rooms when you are actually working in them... 
Back Road BearsAlright ladies let's see those rooms when you are actually working in them... :lol:
NO WAY!!! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
