Just a little warning about taking the quiz - what appeals to me vs what actually works for me in terms of Cass’s quiz were two different categories entirely. I love the idea of streamline and aesthetic spaces with things tucked away in pretty boxes, but if something is out of sight for me, I completely forget about it! I had to go with more clear and open containers in full view for display to make my space really work for me. For instance, I would like to have a beautiful kitchen with clear countertops and decorative containers in my cupboards, but it didn’t help me stay organized or on track. I have to have things on my counter easy to see, handy and ready to use, while also being quick to stash back in place.
Yep, I'm aware of that little difference too. What "is" versus what I would "like it to be" are two separate things! It's important to be mindful of that when taking the quiz.
T R - I had the same experience! What appeals to me (clean, unfussy, tidy, blank slate) is not what actually works for me (I need to see it or I will forget I have it, plus I'm inspired by seeing things). It's an important distinction, and I may need to "try on" a few different methods to really know. And maybe it's a combination - Cleared off desk and workspaces + shelves with lots of things visible.
The quiz said I was a Butterfly 🦋 however when I read all four categories i *identified* as a Bee 🐝 too but wanted to aspire to a Bug 🐛 Creative people are multifaceted, layered & complicated ! Cass’s info is a useful guide and helpful too which I am grateful for 🙏🏼🌟💞🕊
Even though this is a year old, the video (and the one before) is so very timely for me. My space is in our walk-out basement. It's a mess... We decided to renovate and finish the basement. Everything must be moved out in order to put in the new windows, insulate, drywall, paint... I have fewer days before me than behind me. This calls for radical honesty: am I really ever going to use this in the time I have left? So far, I have donated three full car loads of things to local charity shops. This includes 45% of my books. I've also been creating a floor plan that is spacious, lovely, and inviting. This has been very helpful. The rule is: I'm getting rid of stuff now. When the reno is finished, stuff comes out of the boxes, and if it doesn't 'fit' it's going to go away at that time. So, two purges. I've concluded: I never, ever need to buy paints, pens, pencils, fabric, threads, sewing tools, brushes... This has been a sobering and liberating process. And I'm looking forward to being finished with the reno and CREATING AGAIN! Thank you so much.
Wow!! What a process. I know it's difficult, but I am so excited for you! You are going to love your new space, and it's such a great thing you are doing with getting rid of the things that you don't want to hold on to anymore. I'm cheering you on! 👏🏼💜🙂
I am knee-deep in purging my art studio. I tend to work in other rooms when the studio gets too full and then I have to quickly clean up when company comes so everything goes in the bags and piled in the art studio. It got so bad I had only a little path cleared to my desk (piled high) and was so frustrated! Now the floor space is cleared and I can begin purging items in drawers, cupboards, and cubbies. January and February are great months to evaluate what you have. Strangely enough, I do not hoard anything other than art supplies. My daughter is the office manager of a Head Start preschool. I sent six large shopping bags full of art supplies from my purging. She has taken two bags in at two different times, and everything was taken quickly as the word spread. The staff is extremely grateful for the supplies, and of course, many items we’re taken by the staff for themselves as much of it was for adult crafting, a win-win for all of us. I have much more to donate, so I am looking into federally funded senior living establishments that might enjoy receiving kits for their residents. They would be very fun to make and hopefully fun to receive. Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your video. I also prefer usual and fun containers to store things rather than a wall of storage containers.
Margarete: I’m getting ready for a cleaning and organizing time for me and my studio. It’s way out of control. Another idea I came up with is to make up shoeboxes for my nieces to start their own little craft boxes of goodies. It’s such a simple idea. And then you can help them with projects. It’s always so much fun to watch children create. I’ve gone into class rooms and had craft time with young children. It is so much fun and so rewarding. Just a thought. Carol from California
Margarete, such sound advice. I know how hard it was to give many stamps and dies away to a local charity shop which I had kept for many years because of the money I spent on purchasing them. But boy I feel so relieved by the space I gained by only keeping the ones I truly love and use. It has also taught me a very valuable lesson. When I next go out to buy something I ask myself, do I really need it and more importantly how often will I use it. This does make me step back and think twice before buying. Thank you for a very informative video 🥰
Yep, that habit of having a short conversation with yourself before a purchase really can be a help, I agree. And I'm so glad that you have been successful in the past with clearing things out that you don't use. It feels so good to sharpen your focus on things you love to use and get rid of things on the peripheral. 💜
In recent years I’ve been slowly decluttering around my house, including my craft room. I’ve been able to be more realistic and let go of a few half done projects that I knew I was unlikely to ever finish. I also minimised a lot of stuff I was keeping “just in case”. One of my big problems has been not being able to shift my brain between “creative” mode and “tidy up afterwards” mode, so my desk was permanently a mess and making it harder to create. I accepted that this was too hard for me so I’ve assigned one basket to just dump stuff in that I’ve been using. This helps keep my desk clearer and then I just put those things away when the basket gets full or when I’m cleaning/tidying anyway instead of trying to force myself to do it while I’m still in creative mode.
Nice! I like your basket idea. I, too, have something similar. I have these short bins that I can stack and have different projects in each. I've got a lot of those bins hanging around my workspace, though.
Another terrific video! Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom and ideas. It was so helpful! I’m ready to get started doing something I should have done months ago. 😊
I'm a bee! LOL It's still great to rethink this thing. I had a massive sort out and organise maybe 4 months ago, but already things are piling up and new things have arrived. Yeasterday I went out to my other studio which I have been winding down slowly, and realised I had 5 tubs of bits of fur material, I realised I would possibly never use them, so I donated them to my freind who will make things to sell. Giving him some income, when he is low income. This felt good on two fronts. I helped someone out, and I also felt a weight lift off my shoulders from having too much 'stuff'. Thanks for the inspo Margarete. (Hope Jadzia is doing well 😀)
Margarete I’m hoping you have given me the strength to let go of things I’m not using, regardless of what I paid for them, in order to have more space to actually create. thank you
Thank you for all the great suggestions for organizing a space for crafting. I worked for a senior center and an after school program. I donate to my neighborhood community centers that house these programs. They really appreciate it because most art programs are under funded. Just something to keep in mind when thinking about places to donate to. Looking forward to next video.
Thanks for the good advice and the quiz. I'm in the middle of a major redo to my craft room right now. We pulled up carpets and doing flooring. I need to thin out my stash. This will help me.
Such great ideas and suggestions. I’m a “Bee”. And after taking the test and reading about “A Bee”. I fit it perfectly. These video sessions are wonderful Margarete,
Thank you. I appreciate the time you took to lay these thoughts and ideas out in such a digestible manner. I liked the space method, and the questions you ask yourself when purging...purging is the hardest thing for me. Many of the things you spoke about, I had already been implementing while trying to declutter. Such as pitting like with like so that I can see what I have. I especially liked the way your describe how to view the purge as "what do I really want to keep" VS "what I have to get rid of". Putting that reverse order of thinking brings the process more positivity and gives you a more true sense of what is truly valuable for you to keep. It has been a long process for me as I have had 20 years of collecting to go through. Thank you for a thorough and well presented video on how to declutter craft space. You have been very helpful to me.
Thanks for your advice. I have done a lot of this recently but I agree it’s something that has to be done often. Reassessing is important as you use your space and find what works and what doesn’t! Thanks!
I'm a 🐝 and I think I'm ready to declutter my stash. My problem is that I have many hobbies and even if I don't use something for months I found myself using it later. It's the reason 'cause I love so much scrapbooking, art journal and card making: I can use so many techniques! Water painting, embroidery, acrylic paints, I can use polymer clay to do little embellishments, etc... I'll try my best to declutter as many stuff as I can!
Tfs all this wonderful info! I use my dining room as my craft room. I need to days to straighten up before company! 😬 Love the quiz, I’m a bee and WOW! That explains SO much! This was fun!
I had to move from my own home to my daughters house. I donated almost everything and thought I could cry about “my life” and the loss financially and emotionally but it was always just “stuff”.My bedroom is now my creative space. Very limited. I’ve definitely over collected supplies through the years but now I teach crafts to seniors at assisted living compound and by sharing I’m using the over abundance of supplies. I went from scrapbooking, drawing, painting, book making, fabric crafts, etc. and I might go back to them but not yet. Thank you for your suggestions and ideas.
I'm glad you're feeling better now about having to let those things go. And it's so great that you are teaching at an assisted living facility. You are providing a great outlet and much help to a lot of people 💜👍🏼
Few months ago I bought Ikea Kallax containers, some with doors and some open. I'm now getting a totally new organization for my crafting items and as you said it is important to overthink the organization and it really help you to get focused on your next crafting project (if I need flower images, I have them now together and so on). Thank you for these declutter videos Margarete! Hugs xx
This is great advice. I am inspired, but at the same time I'm overwhelmed. I've crafted for my entire life (5.5 decades!) and done so many different crafts. From time to time I have gone back to some of the older interests, so that leaves me hesitate to get rid of some supplies. But I will say that you've inspired me and I'm making an effort!! Thank you! 🙂
This series has helped me contemplate and assess my style, as I did take the quiz. Copious notes will help remind me of the steps this “bee” needs to take to get ready for my next venture, which is to create a book showing my life and experiences. Making it available to my family as I approach my 80th birthday gives me a goal, but I need to have space to work in comfortably.
I'm so glad you're thinking about your space, Carolyn. You've got some big plans and having a space that works for you and makes you feel good is so important. 👍🏻💙
Thank you for taking time to make this video and provide so much truly helpful info! I have needed to do a major reorganization for some time so I can enjoy using what I have! I will have a better space at home soon. I've used labeled plastic boxes and plastic carts for years. I definitely plan to purge and donate items someone else can use.
You gave good advice on decluttering so we can be more creative. I keep an office supply box in my craft room and when I come across something that I don't want or need to use anymore, I just toss it into the box. When it is full I put the lid on it and put it into the garage so I can take it to donate. So far, I have donated a truck load of fabric and craft supplies to an orphanage. I also donated one treadle machine for people who don't use electricity to sew. (Yes, there are people out there who don't use electricity.) Thanks for your help and encouragement-we all need to support each other.
this has been on my mind lately of feeling over whelmed by how many items I have to paper craft with, I spend more time sorting it than I do crafting. so thank you for this thoughtful video it will not only help me but everyone else watching it!
Hi Margarete. Thank you for this video. When my kids used to go on vacation with their father, I would clean their rooms and pack up toys they didn‘t use. I kept the boxes in the basement for 6 months and they never once over the years asked for anything I had removed. Never occurred to me that I could do the same for myself 🫣. That will be the impetus I need to declutter - I am one of those people „but what if I need it someday“. True words of wisdom in your video Greetings from Austria 💕
Interesting that you had that memory of packing up your kids items. Yes, it's a good idea that you can try for your own things. I'm wishing you lots of success with that. I hope you don't open those boxes!! 😅
Thank you! I am gonna declutter magazines. I am finding that I am not really into glue books so I'll make it a point to just "harvest" what appeals to me and then declutter the magazines. They're just taking up real estate. Have a great day!
The angst about getting rid of something expensive even if you don't need or want it anymore is called the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It can be so hard to get rid of an item that was expensive, that either you don't use anymore or didn't work out as you'd hoped, and you try to convince yourself you may use it in the future. I'm really bad about holding onto things because I'm a serial hobbyist and I DO go back to hobbies from my past. But there is only so much room in my tiny house so I'm trying to be selective about what I accumulate for collage art right out of the gate... TRYING... :)
Wonderful Margarete! This couldn't have come at a better time. We are undergoing a home remodel due to plumbing issues😢 we have an entire bedroom plus overflow for our crafting area. Alot of it is stuff i found at GW and Savers... bags of discards from other crafters but ALL USABLE ha. I need to sort, etc., and am excited about how to look at the project. GREAT video ❤❤❤ - Monica
Wow! You've got a big project on your hands, Monica! Good luck with everything. I like your enthusiasm and how you are looking forward to shaping your new space 👍🏻❣️🙂
@MargareteMiller update- I am making great progress! I keep running thru my criteria for keeping but mostly for donating... a lot is headed back to GW and Savers, stuff that is completely usable, for some other crafters to hoard, er, um, use! Not done yet but give me a day or so hahaha
I’m new to your channel and I want to say thank you for this series! I started scrapbooking back in the 2000’s and then worked at a scrapbook store that fed my addiction in purchasing pretty things by giving me a discount. Whew. The money I spent. I used the stash to make cards after I stopped scrapbooking for a while. It was so overwhelming to find anything and I was kind of organized but just had too much stuff. I packed it all and donated it to a thrift store that benefits a worthy cause. So now I have a lot of props from my still life photography passion and I’m going to apply your advice and my “butterfly” organizing style to simplify. Thanks again!
Wow, wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm so glad you were able to let things go to clear out your space and allow for new ways to be creative. Good for you❣️👏🏼💜
Thank you so very much for this valuable guidance. Your insights are spot on: curating supplies hoping that someday I'll create, clutter gets in the way of creative productivity, and the SPACE organizing model. I'm an organizing BEE and often overthink projects leaving hundreds of craft supplies throughout my house with the intention that I'll get to organizing, someday. I'm inspired to tackle my craft room and bedroom so that I can sustain creative focus and be energized, inspired when I enter those spaces.
At 61, I have been diagnosed with ADHD. My clutter accumulation is a symptom, and it has definitely gotten worse over my life. My dread and fear of getting 'tucked in' and working on organizing and purging is a symptom. My hesitation to let go of things is also a symptom. Sigh. Knowing that the clutter is not because I am a slob or lazy, but rather ADHD'ing, helps me stop beating myself up, but it doesn't help get the decluttering job done. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you so much Margaret’s! I just purged colored pencils, markers, etc. What a relief! I can’t believe how many I have not used for years. It created so much extra space!!!!! I always get so much from your videos. Keep them coming 😊 ❤️
I decluttered some time back but I find myself falling back into bad habits. Thank you for the inspiration to take another look and do some more purging so I can better find my supplies and be creative.
I appreciate your suggestions on organization. I find I want to hold on to all my creative supplies/finds, etc. and like to visually see them all for inspiration BUT, I definitely need to do some purging. Thank you for your step-by-step instructions!
I've already started to think about what I can let go. It will go out to the garage for now until we can have a yard sale. But, first, I have to go into the room! That's the most difficult for me at this point. Maybe soon.
Very helpful series Margarete. I was hoping to get some ideas on how to store things for collage, but I think I’ll try a few things: labeled files in a box for painty papers(by color)/book pages/ music paper/magazine pages with larger collage images, a binder with various sized pockets for fussy cut images/postage stamps/stamped images, and labeled food prep containers that stack well on a shelf for smaller scraps of papers (by color). I like to make cards, scrapbook, sew, crochet,and occasionally make seasonal floral arrangements for my home or gifts. I would also like to keep a creative journal as a stress reliever. I do have an ongoing bookmark project for our local library that I make out of food packaging and various papers. This helps me to use up many scraps, and I’m hoping that as my collage skills improve, they may be able to sell some to purchase more books. Thanks again for sharing.
I'm going through my craft room now and making some decisions about what can stay and what can go. It's difficult, and I can do it! It's going to take awhile.
Thanks for this timely advice. I have just began this journey and really things accumulate so quickly. With this video I can hold up and reaccess now. By doing that i can avoid the clutter and having to get rid of things😊
Thank you so much for your support with this huge issue. You struck a chord with me when you said that once you've sorted and got your space only then can you buy containers that will work, I think a large part of my problem is I keep buying more and more containers to squirrel stuff away in with the result they're all around the house in cupboards and the roof etc making it extra hard to get stuff together to actually use it. Apparently I'm a Bee so I'm off to sort with that in mind.
I'm guilty of that too. I buy containers before I consider how much I have of something. Then I realize the size is not quite as a good as I thought it would be.
I did the Clutterbug videos and it still didn’t connect until I watched your videos. Thank you. I love your clear and nonjudgmental take on this issue. 🤗🇨🇦🤗
Wauw... this was helpful🎉 I will start decluttering! Not because I am not crafting... I am! But I am pretty sure it will help to craft more😅 And it was so fun to take the quiz. I am a butterfly🦋 Now I know how and what to do. Thank you so much❤
Interesting. I am half butterfly and half bee...which explains a lot to me. (I live with that dichotomy in so many areas...the split between my detailed Dad's and my more free-spirited Mom's gene pool. It comes out in my art too - I draw like my Dad and paint like my Mom, lol.) But understanding my need to store things visually and how to live with it, what steps I need to take to organize my life and my art supplies - I really needed that. My house is small -- my tiny spare bedroom/sewing room/treadmill room is a catch-all and my dining room is the room where I eat my meals, create art and open my mail. I'm already starting to think of what things I need to weed out, how I can use furniture differently, and am excited with the prospect. I have taken some of the steps already quite by accident - the hooks for clothes and the rolling carts sorted into supplies for watercolor, acrylic and just general markers and supplies. Thanks for the insight and recommendation to Clutterbug!
I'm so glad it was a helpful video, Trudi. There are so many things we need to consider with thinking about our living space and our creating space, don't we? Especially when a space is smaller, we need to constantly assess. Good for you that you are being proactive with this 👍🏼💙
Thank you so much, Margarete for these ideas/tips. I’m just a beginner and I’ve been wondering how I’ll organise my paper stash - for eg if it’s double sided paper with one side being a geometric pattern and the reverse side being floral, how will I file this? So enjoying this series of videos so thank you.
I like the way my things are organized, but I use plastic things with plastic drawers. On 2cpieces of the plastic, they are leaning and it looks so ugly. Any suggestions other than purchasing expensive things like wooden furniture? Thank you! Love your videos!
Lots of great info I seem to have a lot of prints and cut out pieces from all thes kit and don’t know what to do with all of it I must have 100 digital copies I do have them in a file cabinet but I also cut out all the embellishments and have many plastic boxes full of them and still can’t find what I need when making projects please help
All right let me ask you this. You take all of your clothes out of the closet and pile them on the bed And the doorbell rings and it's a friend Who really needs to sit down and talk. Or your child runs in and says I need 2 dozen cupcakes for tomorrow's class. Now what do you do with all this pile of clothes on your bed and it's time to go to sleep.
Just a little warning about taking the quiz - what appeals to me vs what actually works for me in terms of Cass’s quiz were two different categories entirely. I love the idea of streamline and aesthetic spaces with things tucked away in pretty boxes, but if something is out of sight for me, I completely forget about it! I had to go with more clear and open containers in full view for display to make my space really work for me. For instance, I would like to have a beautiful kitchen with clear countertops and decorative containers in my cupboards, but it didn’t help me stay organized or on track. I have to have things on my counter easy to see, handy and ready to use, while also being quick to stash back in place.
Yep, I'm aware of that little difference too. What "is" versus what I would "like it to be" are two separate things! It's important to be mindful of that when taking the quiz.
T R - I had the same experience! What appeals to me (clean, unfussy, tidy, blank slate) is not what actually works for me (I need to see it or I will forget I have it, plus I'm inspired by seeing things). It's an important distinction, and I may need to "try on" a few different methods to really know. And maybe it's a combination - Cleared off desk and workspaces + shelves with lots of things visible.
The quiz said I was a Butterfly 🦋 however when I read all four categories i *identified* as a Bee 🐝 too but wanted to aspire to a Bug 🐛 Creative people are multifaceted, layered & complicated ! Cass’s info is a useful guide and helpful too which I am grateful for 🙏🏼🌟💞🕊
I couldn’t answer most of the questions as there wasn’t an appropriate option to describe me. I’ve concluded that I’m organised and tidy!
Even though this is a year old, the video (and the one before) is so very timely for me.
My space is in our walk-out basement. It's a mess...
We decided to renovate and finish the basement. Everything must be moved out in order to put in the new windows, insulate, drywall, paint...
I have fewer days before me than behind me. This calls for radical honesty: am I really ever going to use this in the time I have left?
So far, I have donated three full car loads of things to local charity shops. This includes 45% of my books.
I've also been creating a floor plan that is spacious, lovely, and inviting. This has been very helpful.
The rule is: I'm getting rid of stuff now. When the reno is finished, stuff comes out of the boxes, and if it doesn't 'fit' it's going to go away at that time. So, two purges.
I've concluded: I never, ever need to buy paints, pens, pencils, fabric, threads, sewing tools, brushes...
This has been a sobering and liberating process. And I'm looking forward to being finished with the reno and CREATING AGAIN!
Thank you so much.
Wow!! What a process. I know it's difficult, but I am so excited for you! You are going to love your new space, and it's such a great thing you are doing with getting rid of the things that you don't want to hold on to anymore. I'm cheering you on! 👏🏼💜🙂
I am knee-deep in purging my art studio. I tend to work in other rooms when the studio gets too full and then I have to quickly clean up when company comes so everything goes in the bags and piled in the art studio. It got so bad I had only a little path cleared to my desk (piled high) and was so frustrated! Now the floor space is cleared and I can begin purging items in drawers, cupboards, and cubbies. January and February are great months to evaluate what you have. Strangely enough, I do not hoard anything other than art supplies.
My daughter is the office manager of a Head Start preschool. I sent six large shopping bags full of art supplies from my purging. She has taken two bags in at two different times, and everything was taken quickly as the word spread. The staff is extremely grateful for the supplies, and of course, many items we’re taken by the staff for themselves as much of it was for adult crafting, a win-win for all of us.
I have much more to donate, so I am looking into federally funded senior living establishments that might enjoy receiving kits for their residents. They would be very fun to make and hopefully fun to receive.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your video. I also prefer usual and fun containers to store things rather than a wall of storage containers.
Wow! Good for you for taking on this important project of clearing your space. I'm cheering you on!! 👏🏼🎉👍🏻. Keep it going. 💙
Margarete: I’m getting ready for a cleaning and organizing time for me and my studio. It’s way out of control.
Another idea I came up with is to make up shoeboxes for my nieces to start their own little craft boxes of goodies. It’s such a simple idea. And then you can help them with projects. It’s always so much fun to watch children create. I’ve gone into class rooms and had craft time with young children. It is so much fun and so rewarding. Just a thought. Carol from California
That's a lovely idea, Carol. A shoebox for each niece will make them feel so special. 💙
Margarete, such sound advice. I know how hard it was to give many stamps and dies away to a local charity shop which I had kept for many years because of the money I spent on purchasing them. But boy I feel so relieved by the space I gained by only keeping the ones I truly love and use. It has also taught me a very valuable lesson. When I next go out to buy something I ask myself, do I really need it and more importantly how often will I use it. This does make me step back and think twice before buying. Thank you for a very informative video 🥰
Yep, that habit of having a short conversation with yourself before a purchase really can be a help, I agree. And I'm so glad that you have been successful in the past with clearing things out that you don't use. It feels so good to sharpen your focus on things you love to use and get rid of things on the peripheral. 💜
This helped me so much. I’m in the middle of a huge craftroom make over. I’m starting to feel calmer. lol. Hugs, treen 💕💕💕
Wonderful! I'm so glad it was helpful 🌟
In recent years I’ve been slowly decluttering around my house, including my craft room. I’ve been able to be more realistic and let go of a few half done projects that I knew I was unlikely to ever finish. I also minimised a lot of stuff I was keeping “just in case”. One of my big problems has been not being able to shift my brain between “creative” mode and “tidy up afterwards” mode, so my desk was permanently a mess and making it harder to create. I accepted that this was too hard for me so I’ve assigned one basket to just dump stuff in that I’ve been using. This helps keep my desk clearer and then I just put those things away when the basket gets full or when I’m cleaning/tidying anyway instead of trying to force myself to do it while I’m still in creative mode.
Nice! I like your basket idea. I, too, have something similar. I have these short bins that I can stack and have different projects in each. I've got a lot of those bins hanging around my workspace, though.
Great strategy!!
I’m having a craft/art space crisis and I do appreciate your encouragement and suggestions.
Such a well thought out and kind video! Perfect timing. Thank you so much! ❤
I have been trying to declutter and stay organized. This has been very helpful thank you . Blessings from New Mexico
Glad it was helpful!🙂
Another terrific video! Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom and ideas. It was so helpful!
I’m ready to get started doing something I should have done months ago. 😊
Glad it was helpful! ❤️ I'm glad you're working on your space.
Fantastic video thanks for sharing hugs from a very great full butterfly cheers from canada
I'm a bee! LOL
It's still great to rethink this thing.
I had a massive sort out and organise maybe 4 months ago, but already things are piling up and new things have arrived.
Yeasterday I went out to my other studio which I have been winding down slowly, and realised I had 5 tubs of bits of fur material, I realised I would possibly never use them,
so I donated them to my freind who will make things to sell. Giving him some income, when he is low income.
This felt good on two fronts. I helped someone out, and I also felt a weight lift off my shoulders from having too much 'stuff'.
Thanks for the inspo Margarete.
(Hope Jadzia is doing well 😀)
Just what I needed 🩷💜🩵
Thank You !
Perfect! Thanks for watching! 👍🏻💜🎅🏼
Margarete I’m hoping you have given me the strength to let go of things I’m not using, regardless of what I paid for them, in order to have more space to actually create. thank you
That's exactly the idea I was hoping to share with you, Susan. You've got the motivation now to do it❣️👏🏼💜
Thank you for all the great suggestions for organizing a space for crafting. I worked for a senior center and an after school program. I donate to my neighborhood community centers that house these programs. They really appreciate it because most art programs are under funded. Just something to keep in mind when thinking about places to donate to. Looking forward to next video.
Thank for the suggestions! A senior center is a great idea. 👍🏼💙
Thanks for the good advice and the quiz. I'm in the middle of a major redo to my craft room right now. We pulled up carpets and doing flooring. I need to thin out my stash. This will help me.
Awesome! Good luck with everything!! 💜
Great advice - my clutter is definitely dampening my creativity so this has been really helpful, thank you 🙏
Such great ideas and suggestions. I’m a “Bee”. And after taking the test and reading about “A Bee”. I fit it perfectly. These video sessions are wonderful Margarete,
So glad they are helpful!
Extremely helpful
Thank you. I appreciate the time you took to lay these thoughts and ideas out in such a digestible manner.
I liked the space method, and the questions you ask yourself when purging...purging is the hardest thing for me.
Many of the things you spoke about, I had already been implementing while trying to declutter. Such as pitting like with like so that I can see what I have. I especially liked the way your describe how to view the purge as "what do I really want to keep" VS "what I have to get rid of". Putting that reverse order of thinking brings the process more positivity and gives you a more true sense of what is truly valuable for you to keep.
It has been a long process for me as I have had 20 years of collecting to go through.
Thank you for a thorough and well presented video on how to declutter craft space. You have been very helpful to me.
I'm so glad the video was helpful!! Thanks for letting me know. 👍🏻💙
I'm a Bee/Butterfly - can't decide!!
This was wonderful, do encouraging. I feel hopeful and excited.
Thank you so much.🌹
Thanks for your advice. I have done a lot of this recently but I agree it’s something that has to be done often. Reassessing is important as you use your space and find what works and what doesn’t! Thanks!
Reassessing is so important, and if it's done often enough, only small changes might need to be made, rather than big changes. 👍🏼
I'm a 🐝 and I think I'm ready to declutter my stash. My problem is that I have many hobbies and even if I don't use something for months I found myself using it later. It's the reason 'cause I love so much scrapbooking, art journal and card making: I can use so many techniques! Water painting, embroidery, acrylic paints, I can use polymer clay to do little embellishments, etc... I'll try my best to declutter as many stuff as I can!
Thank you so much for this video. Very helpful. I'm drowning in stuff and can't focus on anything. I will follow your suggestions ❤
Thanks for watching. Good luck!! 👍🏼💜
I *am* inspired! Thanks! Looking forward to the next one!
Will try to start doing something in the meantime to deal with some stuff!
So glad to hear that, Peggy! 💙
such a great video, thanks for posting
Thank you!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 👍🏼
Tfs all this wonderful info! I use my dining room as my craft room. I need to days to straighten up before company! 😬 Love the quiz, I’m a bee and WOW! That explains SO much! This was fun!
I suppose that's the drawback to using your dining room as a craft space, but wow, that's such a great space! 💙
I had to move from my own home to my daughters house. I donated almost everything and thought I could cry about “my life” and the loss financially and emotionally but it was always just “stuff”.My bedroom is now my creative space. Very limited. I’ve definitely over collected supplies through the years but now I teach crafts to seniors at assisted living compound and by sharing I’m using the over abundance of supplies. I went from scrapbooking, drawing, painting, book making, fabric crafts, etc. and I might go back to them but not yet. Thank you for your suggestions and ideas.
I'm glad you're feeling better now about having to let those things go. And it's so great that you are teaching at an assisted living facility. You are providing a great outlet and much help to a lot of people 💜👍🏼
You have encouraged me! Thank you
Few months ago I bought Ikea Kallax containers, some with doors and some open. I'm now getting a totally new organization for my crafting items and as you said it is important to overthink the organization and it really help you to get focused on your next crafting project (if I need flower images, I have them now together and so on). Thank you for these declutter videos Margarete! Hugs xx
This is great advice. I am inspired, but at the same time I'm overwhelmed. I've crafted for my entire life (5.5 decades!) and done so many different crafts. From time to time I have gone back to some of the older interests, so that leaves me hesitate to get rid of some supplies. But I will say that you've inspired me and I'm making an effort!! Thank you! 🙂
I'm so glad to hear that, Michele!! 💜 Thanks for sharing.
This series has helped me contemplate and assess my style, as I did take the quiz. Copious notes will help remind me of the steps this “bee” needs to take to get ready for my next venture, which is to create a book showing my life and experiences. Making it available to my family as I approach my 80th birthday gives me a goal, but I need to have space to work in comfortably.
I'm so glad you're thinking about your space, Carolyn. You've got some big plans and having a space that works for you and makes you feel good is so important. 👍🏻💙
Thank you for taking time to make this video and provide so much truly helpful info! I have needed to do a major reorganization for some time so I can enjoy using what I have! I will have a better space at home soon. I've used labeled plastic boxes and plastic carts for years. I definitely plan to purge and donate items someone else can use.
Wonderful! It sounds like you've got a plan 😉💙👍🏼
You gave good advice on decluttering so we can be more creative. I keep an office supply box in my craft room and when I come across something that I don't want or need to use anymore, I just toss it into the box. When it is full I put the lid on it and put it into the garage so I can take it to donate. So far, I have donated a truck load of fabric and craft supplies to an orphanage. I also donated one treadle machine for people who don't use electricity to sew. (Yes, there are people out there who don't use electricity.) Thanks for your help and encouragement-we all need to support each other.
What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts 💙
this has been on my mind lately of feeling over whelmed by how many items I have to paper craft with, I spend more time sorting it than I do crafting. so thank you for this thoughtful video it will not only help me but everyone else watching it!
Hi Margarete. Thank you for this video. When my kids used to go on vacation with their father, I would clean their rooms and pack up toys they didn‘t use. I kept the boxes in the basement for 6 months and they never once over the years asked for anything I had removed. Never occurred to me that I could do the same for myself 🫣. That will be the impetus I need to declutter - I am one of those people „but what if I need it someday“.
True words of wisdom in your video
Greetings from Austria 💕
Interesting that you had that memory of packing up your kids items. Yes, it's a good idea that you can try for your own things. I'm wishing you lots of success with that. I hope you don't open those boxes!! 😅
Thank you! I am gonna declutter magazines. I am finding that I am not really into glue books so I'll make it a point to just "harvest" what appeals to me and then declutter the magazines. They're just taking up real estate. Have a great day!
Great idea!! Go for it 👏🏼💜
The angst about getting rid of something expensive even if you don't need or want it anymore is called the Sunk Cost Fallacy. It can be so hard to get rid of an item that was expensive, that either you don't use anymore or didn't work out as you'd hoped, and you try to convince yourself you may use it in the future. I'm really bad about holding onto things because I'm a serial hobbyist and I DO go back to hobbies from my past. But there is only so much room in my tiny house so I'm trying to be selective about what I accumulate for collage art right out of the gate... TRYING... :)
THanks for your comments, Katie! I had no idea there was a special term for that angst. Good to know! 👍🏻
This series has definitely encouraged me to declutter ! Thanks for bringing all the elements together! I found the questions and the quiz helpful.💙
Wonderful! I'm so glad it was helpful 💜
Both videos were really helpful in getting things straighter in my mind & giving me a way/ ideas to declutter and get organised. Thank you! 😊
Awesome! Thank you!
Wonderful Margarete! This couldn't have come at a better time. We are undergoing a home remodel due to plumbing issues😢 we have an entire bedroom plus overflow for our crafting area. Alot of it is stuff i found at GW and Savers... bags of discards from other crafters but ALL USABLE ha. I need to sort, etc., and am excited about how to look at the project. GREAT video ❤❤❤ - Monica
Wow! You've got a big project on your hands, Monica! Good luck with everything. I like your enthusiasm and how you are looking forward to shaping your new space 👍🏻❣️🙂
@MargareteMiller update- I am making great progress! I keep running thru my criteria for keeping but mostly for donating... a lot is headed back to GW and Savers, stuff that is completely usable, for some other crafters to hoard, er, um, use! Not done yet but give me a day or so hahaha
I’m new to your channel and I want to say thank you for this series! I started scrapbooking back in the 2000’s and then worked at a scrapbook store that fed my addiction in purchasing pretty things by giving me a discount. Whew. The money I spent. I used the stash to make cards after I stopped scrapbooking for a while. It was so overwhelming to find anything and I was kind of organized but just had too much stuff. I packed it all and donated it to a thrift store that benefits a worthy cause. So now I have a lot of props from my still life photography passion and I’m going to apply your advice and my “butterfly” organizing style to simplify. Thanks again!
Wow, wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm so glad you were able to let things go to clear out your space and allow for new ways to be creative. Good for you❣️👏🏼💜
Thank you so very much for this valuable guidance. Your insights are spot on: curating supplies hoping that someday I'll create, clutter gets in the way of creative productivity, and the SPACE organizing model. I'm an organizing BEE and often overthink projects leaving hundreds of craft supplies throughout my house with the intention that I'll get to organizing, someday. I'm inspired to tackle my craft room and bedroom so that I can sustain creative focus and be energized, inspired when I enter those spaces.
Wonderful! I'm excited for you to get the space back and start creating again. 👏🏼💚
At 61, I have been diagnosed with ADHD. My clutter accumulation is a symptom, and it has definitely gotten worse over my life. My dread and fear of getting 'tucked in' and working on organizing and purging is a symptom. My hesitation to let go of things is also a symptom. Sigh. Knowing that the clutter is not because I am a slob or lazy, but rather ADHD'ing, helps me stop beating myself up, but it doesn't help get the decluttering job done. Thanks for the inspiration.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad this was helpful 💙
This is exactly what I needed! Thanks! ❤
Thank you so much Margaret’s! I just purged colored pencils, markers, etc. What a relief! I can’t believe how many I have not used for years. It created so much extra space!!!!! I always get so much from your videos. Keep them coming 😊
❤️
That’s awesome, Amy!! 👍🏼 Keep it up. 💙
I decluttered some time back but I find myself falling back into bad habits. Thank you for the inspiration to take another look and do some more purging so I can better find my supplies and be creative.
Good! I'm so glad you'll be taking a fresh look. It really does help 💙
I appreciate your suggestions on organization. I find I want to hold on to all my creative supplies/finds, etc. and like to visually see them all for inspiration BUT, I definitely need to do some purging. Thank you for your step-by-step instructions!
Awesome! You are so welcome. 👍🏻💙☀️
I've already started to think about what I can let go. It will go out to the garage for now until we can have a yard sale. But, first, I have to go into the room! That's the most difficult for me at this point. Maybe soon.
Baby steps, Fonda. Maybe have a friend come and help. It would be good to have support. ❤️
Very helpful series Margarete. I was hoping to get some ideas on how to store things for collage, but I think I’ll try a few things: labeled files in a box for painty papers(by color)/book pages/ music paper/magazine pages with larger collage images, a binder with various sized pockets for fussy cut images/postage stamps/stamped images, and labeled food prep containers that stack well on a shelf for smaller scraps of papers (by color). I like to make cards, scrapbook, sew, crochet,and occasionally make seasonal floral arrangements for my home or gifts. I would also like to keep a creative journal as a stress reliever. I do have an ongoing bookmark project for our local library that I make out of food packaging and various papers. This helps me to use up many scraps, and I’m hoping that as my collage skills improve, they may be able to sell some to purchase more books. Thanks again for sharing.
I'm going through my craft room now and making some decisions about what can stay and what can go. It's difficult, and I can do it! It's going to take awhile.
I'm so glad you're taking the steps, Fonda. Continued good luck with the process ❤️
Thanks for this timely advice. I have just began this journey and really things accumulate so quickly. With this video I can hold up and reaccess now. By doing that i can avoid the clutter and having to get rid of things😊
Great! I'm so glad the video has helped to keep you mindful of how quickly things can accumulate.
Thank you for this great information!
New subscriber. Helpful! Thank you
Wonderful! I'm so glad it was helpful 👍🏼💜
Thank you I’m gearing up for a cross country move and I’m hoping this will help me pack up and purge well. 🦋
Knowing your organizational type will definitely help, Mary. Good luck with your move! 👍🏼💙
Thank you so much for your support with this huge issue. You struck a chord with me when you said that once you've sorted and got your space only then can you buy containers that will work, I think a large part of my problem is I keep buying more and more containers to squirrel stuff away in with the result they're all around the house in cupboards and the roof etc making it extra hard to get stuff together to actually use it. Apparently I'm a Bee so I'm off to sort with that in mind.
I'm guilty of that too. I buy containers before I consider how much I have of something. Then I realize the size is not quite as a good as I thought it would be.
Great info!
I did the Clutterbug videos and it still didn’t connect until I watched your videos. Thank you. I love your clear and nonjudgmental take on this issue. 🤗🇨🇦🤗
I'm glad the message is connecting with you now. Thanks for watching! 👍🏼💙😉
My Kallax units are the very best organizational purchase I’ve ever made.
Wauw... this was helpful🎉 I will start decluttering! Not because I am not crafting... I am! But I am pretty sure it will help to craft more😅 And it was so fun to take the quiz. I am a butterfly🦋 Now I know how and what to do. Thank you so much❤
That's awesome, Randi! I love to see that you have momentum and a real drive to declutter. That's more than half the battle 👍🏼💙
Lol, I turned our unused dining room into my craft room 3 years ago. And have no regrets at all.
Ohhhh! Lucky you! 🎉
Interesting. I am half butterfly and half bee...which explains a lot to me. (I live with that dichotomy in so many areas...the split between my detailed Dad's and my more free-spirited Mom's gene pool. It comes out in my art too - I draw like my Dad and paint like my Mom, lol.) But understanding my need to store things visually and how to live with it, what steps I need to take to organize my life and my art supplies - I really needed that. My house is small -- my tiny spare bedroom/sewing room/treadmill room is a catch-all and my dining room is the room where I eat my meals, create art and open my mail. I'm already starting to think of what things I need to weed out, how I can use furniture differently, and am excited with the prospect. I have taken some of the steps already quite by accident - the hooks for clothes and the rolling carts sorted into supplies for watercolor, acrylic and just general markers and supplies. Thanks for the insight and recommendation to Clutterbug!
I'm so glad it was a helpful video, Trudi. There are so many things we need to consider with thinking about our living space and our creating space, don't we? Especially when a space is smaller, we need to constantly assess. Good for you that you are being proactive with this 👍🏼💙
Thank you so much, Margarete for these ideas/tips. I’m just a beginner and I’ve been wondering how I’ll organise my paper stash - for eg if it’s double sided paper with one side being a geometric pattern and the reverse side being floral, how will I file this? So enjoying this series of videos so thank you.
I’m a cricket!
My biggest problem is way to many containers!
I like the way my things are organized, but I use plastic things with plastic drawers. On 2cpieces of the plastic, they are leaning and it looks so ugly. Any suggestions other than purchasing expensive things like wooden furniture? Thank you! Love your videos!
Lots of great info I seem to have a lot of prints and cut out pieces from all thes kit and don’t know what to do with all of it I must have 100 digital copies I do have them in a file cabinet but I also cut out all the embellishments and have many plastic boxes full of them and still can’t find what I need when making projects please help
How do you organize your creative space when you live in a tiny studio apartment that has no closets? HELP!
Perhaps bins? Do you have space under your bed that you can keep bins of things underneath? What other space are you not using?
All right let me ask you this. You take all of your clothes out of the closet and pile them on the bed And the doorbell rings and it's a friend Who really needs to sit down and talk. Or your child runs in and says I need 2 dozen cupcakes for tomorrow's class. Now what do you do with all this pile of clothes on your bed and it's time to go to sleep.
😆 Well, if it’s a good friend, they’ll probably volunteer to help 😉❣️👍🏼