Crafting Organization - a collaboration with MakeSpace

I am an avid maker and always have been. One of my favorite activities is sewing. I love the feel of the fabric, the rush of finding just the right pattern and the ability to sit down and create something that just hours before was only in my head or sketchbook. 

Although I have always been a maker I haven't always had a lot of space to store supplies. I don't have an office of my own. I don't have a room devoted to just my sewing, nor have I ever had one. Not having a large space to create has forced me to get creative with my storage. In a lot of ways having a small area has been helpful. I don't buy too much more than I can use in a short amount of time. I find myself more creative this way. If this isn't your strong point, MakeSpace has a variety of self storage locations that can haul away anything you won't need for a while (this month, this season or this year), store it for any amount of time and bring it back whenever you are ready for it. 

Storage is huge when you have spent a lifetime creating. I would like to share some tips with you on how to make the most of your space. 

Group items together. Store your buttons all together. Keep fabrics sorted by color and or texture. Everything is more visually appealing when stored by color. 

Find an appropriate sized container for each group of items. Mason jars are perfect for ribbons, buttons, lace, elastic and other small notions. Shoe boxes covered with cute paper make great storage for fabric scraps, trims and patterns. 

Fold fabric so it is all the same width. This saves so much space and is much more visually appealing. 

Make your space pretty. It is a lot more fun to be in a space that is pretty. Although my space is in the unfinished part of the basement I have done everything I could to make it pretty. And I really want to be in this space. 

My sewing space also works as my gift wrapping station. I love wrapping presents. I would much rather present a gift that is gift wrapped than bag wrapped. I know it's personal preference but because of my preference I have a collection of gift wrap. I store it in a tall glass vase. It is the perfect multi-purpose container. 

Sometimes you have to think outside the box. A container could have two purposes. In fact, frequently I think of the item I want stored and then start hunting different sections of a store looking for something that would be attractive and functional. 

Although this isn't a storage tip it is a life tip that will help you stay on track and be more productive in your space. Create a mood board or an area where you can post your ideas. This helps keep your inspiration focused and your goals in mind. 

I use these cute pentagonal cork boards to store my inspiration. When I see something in a magazine, a catalog or with my phone I pin the picture up on the board. Most of the things I make are kids clothes, so my inspiration is usually for kids. 

I hope you have found these tips helpful! Good luck in all your projects!