Using top of cabinets with uneven surface

Enhance tops of cabinets and other furniture for using the top to display or store items

I have a vaulted ceiling and in my living room my entertainment unit and kitchen cabinets are places that I store or display things. The way the unit and cabinets are built they have molding at the top.

Problem: Items set on top of the unit are partially hidden by the molding. Or there is an uneven surface.

It was a couple of years ago, that it dawned on me how to best deal with this. Previously I was using other objects like plastic trays upside down or tins to use as risers so the items weren't hidden by the molding. 

Solution: Add one or two layers of construction foam to level the top.

One layer can be pieces.

Top layer can be solid or pieced together. 

These pics are from my kitchen cabinets. Before I was limited about where I could place things both by the cabinet sides that stuck up and by the molding in front. From the angle of these pics the molding isn't obvious that it blocks the view.

On my cabinets I only added one layer and where I had the pieces to fit as one, I used one. But where I ran out of large pieces or had smaller areas to fill, I used pieces together.

In the 'new to me' cabinets in my studio, I did the same thing. However, I used two layers because of the way they are constructed. I used odd pieces to fit the lower portion - not filling the area, but providing support. The top layer was also pieces, but fit together sort like a puzzle. Once I had them arranged I taped them. I used pieces so as to use what scraps I had on hand rather than buying a new sheet. 

Before I added the foam layers, I would not likely placed anything on top. This way I can display miniatures that typically I rotate to other locations throughout the year. One on left is summer and one on right is winter.

I would not recommend placing anything high like this without a cover. (that pumkin doesn't, but cobwebs could be ok on it. The other project in lower left corner is in a case, just can't see it.)

It doesn't have to be display - it could be storage boxes. But the filling of the area so it is flat would make it easier to retrieve items. I guess it all depends on whether want to use a step stool or not and have to lift them out of the 'hole' they would be sitting in.

Softer side - Day 11 of 31 Days of Organizing

The softer side of miniatures includes things I like to call fiber.
When it comes to this material, like my other supplies, I like to sort by category, by color, by texture, by whatever appropriate to that material and I like to separate so it isn't a mess to find something and later put away.  I admit that my fiber stash is like some of my other supplies, I have pockets of disorganized stuff.  So it is future organizing moments for when I feel it deserves my time to deal with it.  

Fabric/cloth My fabric is stored in a single drawer.  A few years ago, I did some clearing out of fabric. The remaining pieces were sorted by color and stored in large zip bags.  I press the bag to remove the air when closing to save space.  This also helps the bag to stand up on it's end.

By having them in bags, some messiness is allowed.  I pull out one bag and go through that bag.  If I had a larger collection of fabric, then I would still sort by color but separate by prints versus solids.  

Feathers and misc other fiber

Looking at this picture I think one day I should sort these feathers into smaller bags by color.  I don't use feathers often is probably why I haven't already.
The other stuff in this drawer are stuffing, some flat batting, and some netting.  So this is a catch all for fiber that otherwise would just be in a bag or box in the closet.

Excess ribbon and lace

Since I do mostly smaller scale, this drawer holds ribbon on spools and extra lace that I am less likely to use in miniature.  I do on occasion still do some non-miniature craft projects and these would be for that.  tomorrow.

Come back tomorrow for more on my main ribbon and trim storage ideas during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

Preble

Electrifying - Day 10 of 31 Days of Organzing

Electric lights in miniature is so much fun!

When it comes to supplies for electricity in miniature I don't have much.  I use up what I buy so have little to store. 
First, I have a couple of small drawers that I store my supplies.  I would like to switch this to a divided box.  
I also have a plastic shoe box full of transformers I bought for real cheap at a thrift store. I don't use these much anymore since I switched from 12 volt wiring to LED's so I think I should donate them.
Another drawer I have is my pliers.  Pliers are useful for more than just electrical, so I keep them with my tools.

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

Preble

Ooo Shiny Things - Day 9 of 31 Days of Organizing

Shiny Things such as Metal and wire

There are many materials to use in miniatures and metal is something good to have in the stash.  I don't use metal often, but I now have two designated places to store them. This excludes metal findings and electrical items that I will discuss another day.  The metal I am referring to today is flat metal and wire.  
My wire is stored in a long box so the wire doesn't get tangled up.  Most all the other metal is stored in one drawer.  This is due to a recent organizing spree.  I realized that my metal was stored all over my studio and when I needed to try different ones for a project, I had to find them all.  Once I found the one type of metal that worked best, I decided to combine them all into one drawer. I also made sure that all my non-electrical wire was in the same long box.  
I do have one other type of metal - wire mesh.  This type of wire mesh is used for sculpture support but I use it mostly for window grid.  I have this mesh stored with my other materials that can be used for window grid. I could just as easily store this with the flat metal instead. This is an example of making a storage location work for you.  I am choosing to store based on in the most likely use for it. 
When it comes to metals there are a couple of considerations.  Some metals can oxidize, so these need to be protected from the air.  Plastic zip bags would be good.  There are also plastic boxes that have a special chemical in them to help avoid oxidizing.  Metal can be sharp, so protect yourself when handling. 

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

Preble

Seeing is Believing- Day 8 of 31 Days of Organizing

Seeing is Believing

Today I want to talk about glass and plastic.  

When it comes to miniatures, I don't use much glass.  Why add weight to a project when plastic will do.  What I do have is mostly for covering my finished projects.  I tend to have a few extra glass domes.  I like to pick these up at thrift stores if I can.  
Until they are officially paired with a project, I need to store them. I may use for them temporarily to cover something that isn't finished.  Or I can just have them on a shelf.  Or I can wrap them carefully and store them in a drawer or box.  So my advise for glass is to protect from breaking.  Secondly, since it is not used as often, I would consider this as something that I could store in a large box and stick in the closet.  

Plastic on the other hand is a different story.  I use and save plastic a lot more. Plastic items fall into different categories for me: flat, shaped, containers and other items.  The main thing about plastic to keep in mind when storing is if it will be used to see through, it needs to be protected from scratches.  I do this with plastic cling wrap or by just laying flat with other flat plastic.  Larger items I would use to cover with are stored away in boxes and the flat items in a drawer with other flat plastic.
For items that don't need protection, I just combine them in drawers based on their use. So I have a drawer for items that I might make something with (think Borrower's story or other repurposing).  Also I used to send and receive many swaps, so I save items that I can use to store smaller items in or to ship them in. These are things like the film canisters, pill bottles, and other small boxes. This drawer is also where I keep the dish and bottle lids. 

Lastly, when it comes to cleaning glass and plastic, I use a glass cleaner for glass and a plastic cleaner for plastic.  I used to just dust the plastic and use a multi-surface cleaner, but now I use something called Brillianize.  I use it faithfully on plastic surfaces.  It doesn't remove all scratches, but it does really clean the surface and improve the appearance.  

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!
Preble

31 Days of Organizing - Day 7 - Wood

Storing wood all depends on what size and shape of wood is needing stored.  OK, this is true of all things needing stored, but with wood we have an additional consideration and that is warping.  
Wood for miniature projects has a tendancy to be fragile.  Some pieces of wood more so than others.  Also if wood is longer - like sheets or molding these can bend over time and that will cause warping.  

Long Wood and Molding
One storage solution for wood particularly long pieces like molding is to use tubes.  I did this using cardboard tubes like from the inside of wrapping paper.  Add paper to one end and adhere to the sides.  Then allow them to stand upright in a wastepaper basket or box. When ready to use them, I picked up the tube emptying it out onto my table and picked the piece or pieces I needed. I know that some use this idea only they cut the tubes shorter so the wood sticks out a bit.  Also they choose to lay on their side (to help with the warping).
Later on I purchased a batch of wood to make kits with.  The wood just so happen to come in a really nice size box for laying longer pieces of wood inside.  That is what I use today for any longer pieces that will fit.  So far I haven't outgrown this box.  

For other wider pieces I also have a long narrow plastic bag.  I got the bag full of various types and thickness of wood at an estate sale of a miniaturist.  This has worked quite well to avoid warping as some of the wood in the bag is really thick and the combination of them together is keeping them from bending.  But I don't necessarily recommend this.  If warping is a problem, then laying wood flat in on a shelf is a good idea.  

Wood bits
I used to have a drawer in my drawer cabinet full of various pieces leftover from my projects.  This drawer over time morphed into a second drawer.  One day I realized I had another solution available that would save me time sorting through the drawer.  I am all about saving time.  
My solution was to use a divided plastic box.  This one was a leftover from my work and it didn't have a lid.  Actually have two of them.  I sorted all my smaller pieces by shape and similar in size and used the dividers that you add in to have sections  as needed.  

In the second box, I added my longer scale lumber but still fit into these boxes.  These were in special packs that were sold in a hobby shop.  This was a case of using what I have on hand to fit the need that I currently have.
Now when I need a wood bit not only am I saving time not looking through a jumble in a drawer or two, I am also saving money because I don't cut more from a longer piece that I actually had a short leftover.  The shorter leftover previously would have been over looked until later and I realized I had cut a longer piece un-necessarily.
I will say though I have gotten lazy and during a clean up I added a bunch of wood bits to a box and just set that in with the other trays.  This could use some sorting one day when I think about doing it.  

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

Preble

31 Days of Organizing - Day 3 Make it work for you

Make It Work for You
Today I am talking about accessibility.  No matter how much organizing I do, if I make it difficult to access, I have defeated one of my main goals of organizing.  This is goal is to make me more efficient.  It is the primary reason I started organizing the way I did many years ago.  

I thought I had a great system when I first got started.  I had boxes from my grandmother who sold Avon.  Her stock came in cardboard boxes and I had previously used them to move.  These are great moving boxes or even for storage of larger items, but for frequent access to miniature supplies, they were too big.  

It was time-consuming for me to pull out the boxes and get out the supplies.  I had built up enough items to store that this was no longer working.  That's when I believe it is time for a change and accessibility needs to be an important factor in selecting what to use.  For me this meant using smaller boxes so I could contain smaller categories.  So that is my tip today, use what you have but consider how easy it will be to access what you have when you organize.

I know about not having much space to make make solutions accessible.  So in this instance I encourage you do the best you can to make it accessible.  One way I do that even with as much space as I currently have ( a whole bedroom) is to have a small toolbox with all my frequently used tools and have extra and less used tools in another location.  

It doesn't matter what solutions you choose, boxes, bags, dividers, cabinets or shelves or a combination of all these and more.  Whatever you choose needs to be accessible, easy to find things and always keeping it simple as much as possible.  Making miniatures should be fun and time spent on the making not getting to things.

Before I go, I also want to share with you something about NAME.  I am on the Free Projects Committee and this month we are sharing a bunch of tips on organizing from NAME members.  This info is found on our Special Projects website.  You don't have to be a member of NAME to view them.  Since I was editor and on the committee you will see many tips from me and see them here on my blog as well.  I hope it isn't too much organizing for you.  I think it is worth a read as the other members gave some really great tips that I hadn't thought of.  That is what being a part of NAME is all about for me - sharing.  This also emphasizes the idea I am sharing today - make it work for you - which is exactly what these other members are doing. 

See you tomorrow with another idea for my 31 Days of Organizing.

Happy miniature organizing!
Preble

31 Days of Organizing - Day 2 KISS

KISS is an acronym.  Keep It Simple Stupid
I don't particularly like the stupid part, but I like the idea.
Keeping it Simple is important.  

Organizing should be about making it work for you.  Don't make it complicated.  Your organizing system and solutions don't have to be fancy.  They can be simple and what is currently available too.  I am not advocating to go buy a bunch of new stuff.  It would be fine if you can afford to do that, but it is not necessary.  Consider what you have and how it might be used.  If you want to add some new solutions that is fine but isn't needed.

As I was putting away my Christmas decorations, I thought about how I had these stored.  It isn't complicated.  It is just a bunch of big tubs/boxes that I added over time as my collection grew.  Because I only get these out once a year, it doesn't matter how they are stored as long as they protect the items and get them stored away.   
The large boxes is not much different to how I had started with my miniatures as I had moved a couple of times.  The boxes were left over from moving.  It was a simple storage solution but impractical.  So although I am suggesting to keep it simple, there are other things to keep in mind as well.  Come back tomorrow  when I talk about this further.

Happy Miniature Organizing!
Preble

All the Trimmings - and more

All the Trimmings -

that is the label I have on my tin that I now keep most of my ribbons, bunka and other trims in.
When I first started in miniatures I had to buy trims nearly every time I needed something.  Over time, of course, I have been able to build up a good collection of different types and styles.  As my collection grew, the way that I store them has changed as well.  I believe I started storing them with the project.  Then as I finished a project they moved to a zip bag.  Then they were moved to a drawer - this being about the size of shoebox and was all jumbled together.  The zip bag was fine as it was a much smaller amount to sort through but the drawer was a mess.

The one on the left is ribbons that I am unlikely to use in miniatures for 1:48 scale, but I show as that is how that drawer was. The one on the right is a drawer of Christmas styles also unlikely to use in miniatures.
One day as I was getting everything out to find something, I realized that every time I needed something for a project I was pulling out two to three 3x5x3 inch plastic drawers,  and a cardboard drawer like above, and additionally I had stored some in a case binder that had business card holder pockets.  Oh wait, plus I had participated in a supply swap and it was in an additional cardboard drawer. I recognized after the other organizing I had been doing, that I needed to get my trims organized better as well.

My Solution

I started grouping the trims by color and putting then in smaller zip bags.  I even pulled the silk ribbon and bunka from their special smaller plastic drawers and put them in the zip bags.  This was a really big step for me as I was seemingly committed to the drawers for some reason.  I am not sure what my hang up was, maybe the way they looked in the drawer - all lined up like colored files that you could easily see which to grab, but it did take me a while before I decided to add them in the zip bags.  
My ultimate decision was 'what is the most efficient means to store these different types of trims?'  I thought about how I was getting out all these containers and only looking for a particular color.  It occurred to me finally that the most efficient way was to pull out a bag of the color I was looking for and then I could sort for the possible trims to use.  This truly was my best solution.

Next steps - adding more to the collection

A year or so ago, I lucked into a garage sale of items from a miniaturist who had passed.  The lady had a whole bunch of ribbon and other trims.  Her storage solution, as they were mostly ribbon, was to wrap them on paper towel tubes and then pin them.  These were in small paper shopping bags when I saw them.  I purchased the whole lot of bags and got over 200 different ones.  Granted there were some that I decided later that I could part with as they were larger in scale or a type of material that was not conducive to use in 1:48 scale which is what I prefer to work in.  Some of these tubes had 20 or so different trims/ribbons on them.  But the pins seemed to come loose and long term not a solution I wanted to keep.  Maybe it worked for her, but it wouldn't work for me.
So I removed each and wound them onto cards I made.  These cards are just some I cut from thin cardboard.  It is nice to have the ears on the cards, like the cross-stitch thread or bunka is sometimes seen on but I found it wasn't necessary.  To hold the end in place I cut a notch in the side or end of the card to insert the end of the ribbon/trim into.

Well, now my stash has grown and I needed to find a new container to hold it all.  I had been keeping them in a plastic box slightly smaller than the typical plastic shoe box.  But rather than switch to two boxes, which I needed to if I didn't have anything else, I switched to a tin that I have.  

This cookie tin is quite large as tins go and boxy.  I got it quite a few years ago.  I had been storing a project in it.  The tin did keep the dust out, but it was far too easy to forget what was in the tin where it was being stored.  I can't recall what exactly prompted me to change my usage of this tin from storing a project to storing the bags, but I did have to change my way of thinking.  If there truly is a second lesson to be learned here it is to always be willing to re-evaluate your storage options.

Large Tin used to store current collection

This tin was just right for my current collection.  However I always seem to go OCD about a storage solution and find some flaw.  The flaw in this was bags can't be sorted by color. Plus the bags are different sizes.  OK, I can deal with the not having them 'filed', but the bags sizes - I have do something about that.  Fortunately, I had spare bags available. I switched them to smaller bags.  I of course saved the larger zip bags.  Anything that couldn't fit into the smaller bags, well I just divided up the color - making a lighter and a darker of that color.

Alternative storage solution

A few paragraphs above I said a lesson I need to work on is to always be willing to re-evaluate storage solutions.  As I write this, I reminded myself of the remaining solution i have for my trims - a super cool binder - shaped like a box but it has the rings in it.  Inside I have business card pocket pages.  I confess that I am still using that binder.  Silly I know as the whole point of pulling everything into the tin was the make it easier to find what i might use, but I am still hanging on to a prior solution.  

I am not going to beat myself up over this.  I will do something about it.  But I mention it for two reasons - one to drive my point about re-evaluating solutions but secondly because it is truly a great storage solution.  The only problem with this solution for me is it currently cost prohibitive.  Only reason I started it was because I had been able to get the binder and the pocket pages when they were throwing away items at work.  This binder is called a case binder and they come in different colors and different thicknesses.  

fabric

I wrote about my fabric storage in a prior post.  It really is nothing fancy - a drawer of bags where the fabric is grouped in the bags by color.  I really only mention it here because yet again, I had a moment when I reminded myself about having more than one place for storing something.  One of the supply swaps I was in included fabric swatches.  Those swatches took a while to be moved to the fabric bags.  And it was not just because I hadn't gotten around to moving them.
I pulled the drawer out today just to see if there was really something to talk about.  Well, even though I had some new to me fabric, not in the bags, at least it was in the same drawer.  When I feel like sorting or I need a particular color then I will have them all in same place and not have to hunt down that new fabric.  That's probably when it will get sorted.  But I am okay with that.

Moving - Rearranging and Downsizing

Moving things around is a really good way to figure out what you have and consider better ways to organize.  Moving house can force us to choose whether we want to keep something or not, especially when the new space is smaller.  Smaller space can be a good thing if viewed from the idea that having things in reach makes one more efficient.  It doesn't have to be a bad thing as maybe the new space can afford more shelving or some other advantage previously unavailable.  So if moving to a smaller space, think of it as positive.  If nothing else, you will get the advantage of going through you things to be reminded of what you have already.  It might also inspire you to work on what you have.

Savers - Hoarders - call us what you will

I know that many miniaturists are savers - some might even call us hoarders - but I do not.  To me, a hoarder is someone who is unwilling to part with things that have no use to them and I believe that some of them have a real medical condition.  I know some things are relative as to whether they are useful, but from my perspective someone I would call a hoarder tends to not really have an answer as to why they have so much stuff.  Another aspect of being a hoarder is someone who will save too much.  Too much can also be relative as a person who makes a kits might have a justification for saving many of something so they can have enough for kits, where someone who only saves for themselves doesn't need a lifetime supply for ten people. Being a saver is one way to stretch the funds available, but there is truly a fine line between just right and too much.

So when it comes to tossing versus keeping here are some points to consider:

• Do I have a current need for this item?
• Do I foresee a future need?
• Is it easily replaced?
• Do I have too much/many?
• Do I still have room for it?
• Can I make it fit into a smaller space?

Each of these questions will be answered differently for different people and at different times.

Current need / Future need?

If there is a current need then by all means keep it.  However depending on the answer to other questions, may still be a candidate for tossing.
Speaking for myself, I am always saving for a future need.  However again, depending on my answer to other questions whether I will continue to save it.  The key here is to be honest with yourself and not just assume that keeping it is the best thing to do.  Moving it or continuing to store it may cost you, sometimes in terms of money but also in the weight it has on your mind. Granted there are some items that we know we should hang on to because of the next question.  

Easily replaced?  

In the miniature world, I learned early on that when it comes to one-of-a-kind items I may see at a show, I need to buy it if I can afford to do so.  The odds are that it won't be available in the future.  But when this question is applied to a material, particularly one that is common every day item that i am recycling - say an egg carton or plastic lids, then I need to limit myself to what I save.
Let's talk about egg cartons - the paper machie kind are good for cutting up to make faux stones, or torn apart and make tree bark.  The foam kind can also be cut up to make faux stone or bricks - just a different style.  Saving them is a good idea - but think about how many to save goes back to whether they are easily replaced.  So I say save a few and toss the rest unless your stock needs to be replenished.  Although I will admit it is ok to keep in mind that the egg sellers may switch from one to the other and sure that is when you probably will need more.  However if you are still connected to the internet, I would suggest to ask other miniaturists if they might be able to share as their egg seller may still have the other kind.

Too many?

One example of the too many question combined with the easily replaced comes to mind.  I have used butter dish lids for paint before. Since butter dishes are something I frequently empty, I don't save every lid as I don't use that many for minis.   I can wash them off and do so for a few times, but then will discard them. Usually by that time there is another one available. 
The big key about saving items is whether I have room to continue saving and whether I have used what I have saved. 

Fit in a smaller space?

When it comes to smaller spaces - one thing I do is remove the packaging.  For example, over the years I have participated in many swaps.  Each swapper wraps the item individually.  Fairly early on I decided to remove them from the wrapping and store the swap items in my divided boxes.  The notes that tell who made it were recorded and then I could discard the notes and the wrapping.  In this case it also makes it much easier to see what I have to use in a project. 

Saving or Tossing Organic Items

When it comes to organic items - here are a few more questions to consider?

• Is this item spoiled?
• Is this item contained to keep out critters?
• If used in miniatures will it be safe from critters then?
• Has the color changed since purchased?
• If the color changes will I still be happy with it having been used in miniatures?

Item spoilage

Regarding that first organic question, several times I have chosen to throw out dried flowers because they were growing mold.  This is likely due to the humidity in my house - more so in my prior one as it was not controlled environmentally as well as the house I have now. It is possible that had the flowers been in a project they would not have the mold, but keep in mind these are still organic items and being dried doesn't always mean 'never going to change'.

Keep out the critters?

I have heard stories of how critters have eaten away bits that were glued down.   Also very important to store these items properly to keep the critters out.  Even more importantly is to get rid of the critters before storing.  Heating organic materials like sticks and pine cones to kill critters is a good idea. I tend to steer away from organic materials today because of critters and other issues - read on...

Color change

Exposure to light can change the color of materials that are not color fast.  Read labels.  I used a product clearly labeled as not color fast and then got it wet.  The color ran and I didn't want it in my project.  It was a serious task in order to remove it.  If I had read the label, I wouldn't have used it.
A friend of mine once made a garden of all dried items.  A few years later that garden looked drab and not nearly as nice, because the dried items faded.  There is a lot of time and effort put into making miniatures.  It is such a shame to waste said time and energy only to have it look less inviting a few years later. 
Organic materials are not the only things that can change color.  Take paper for example, ever notice how newsprint changes color overtime.  That's because it has lignin in it.  As lignin deteriorates, it gives off acid and that acid causes the color change.  
It is also good to have acid-free paper for the same reason.  Even if it doesn't change color - it can still cause damage to the miniature it is used in.  I spend too many hours making these wonderful collectibles to knowingly use materials that can damage it over time.
Protect things from light - sun and other sources of light can cause fading.  This is true for things besides organic materials and paper and include things such as paint and fabric.

Downsizing

Ten plus years ago, I decided to focus on 1:48 scale miniatures.  To be honest, I don't recall why I decided to stop making miniatures in 1:12 scale.  Maybe I got a wild hair and just decided I couldn't do it all.  There's a thought.  One that bears consideration for our lives, but will leave that for another day.  
Back to the 1:12 scale minis.  1:12 scale takes up more room than 1:48 scale is probably one of the big reasons I decided I would scale back.  I went through all my things - purchased items, finished items and supplies.  I photographed many of them and sold them online.  I kept a few projects already started - a scrapbook dome and my rabbit collection domes.  One rabbit dome was already full but the second one had not be made yet.  But I knew I wasn't going to stop collecting rabbits so I keep those things I knew would use in those projects.  The rest - either I sold, donated or gifted to my daughter who still has a 1:12 scale house.  
It felt good to downsize. It also helped clear my head of projects I was no longer going to do. Some of the projects I have adapted to 1:48 scale and most of the others I have abandoned.  In that sense - I cleared some space in my brain as these projects hadn't been started yet.

Tools - Downsized

I also downsized my tools.  Sort of.  Mostly this meant that bigger tools that I didn't use for 1:48 scale frequently were put away and not carried in my tool basket.  In this case, I just chose for my tool basket the smallest tool I was comfortable with to use most often.  For example, I have a 6 inch ruler, not my 12 inch in my tool basket (now tool box). I still have the 12,18, and 36 inch rulers available should I need them, but stored away.  In my tool box, I also keep a small square and small right angle.  I store these extra tools in drawers or on the wall - hanging on pins.  
Scissors for example - I have several in multiple sizes, but in my tool box is just a couple.  The bigger ones are put away.  I even gave away some.
When I switched from a tool basket to a small tool box, I had to be even more selective in my tools.  
Last year I purchased a bunch of tools at a garage sale.  Because I bought the whole lot, I got a great deal on the ones I really wanted.  There were many of tools I already had.  I picked through this bunch and kept the ones I really wanted.  Then I gifted the rest to two other miniaturists.  I could have kept that whole bunch, but instead I choose to pass them along simply because I knew that I didn't want to store them or deal with sorting through those when I really didn't need to.  Being a miniaturist, I love my tools, but I recognize when I have too many of something.  But twenty years ago, I might not have.  I have come a long way to being able to part with my things.

Fabric Stash Downsized

Fabric was a biggie that I downsized.  I used do some real life quilting and making my own clothes, so had accumulated some fabric.  When I downsized minis to 1:48 scale, I was very selective in what I kept of the fabric.  First, I examined the weave.  Would I use it in 1:48 scale?  How much could I reasonable use in 1:48 scale project (or projects if it was  common enough fabric)?  What about the print?  Really large scale flowers or prints - they were donated unless I felt I could possibly use a portion.  Anything I kept was a small amount unless I could see using quite a bit of it, such as to make kits.  Also fabric I felt I could reasonable purchase at anytime - well I keep a small amount as well.  Much of the excess was donated so someone else could benefit and I no longer needed to store. 

Landscaping supplies - 

I downsized these as well.  In this case it was to get rid of the excess - either in amount or the types I couldn't see being used in 1:48 scale. 
I still need to work on these.  Right now I have a large cardboard box in the closet of my studio room.  It houses the dried things that are bigger.  When I do landscaping I generally need to purge from this box due to spoilage.  Which should really tell me to stop using these type of things.  
My other location is a three-drawer cart sorted by color.  This works for now, but I want to review this storage for more focused divisions than just a drawer for greens, flower colors, and neutrals.  The main reason is to downsize this further - by consolidating all the same colors and texture into same bags.  I am quite sure that I have multiple bags of same things in this area. 

BE SELECTIVE WHEN SAVING

Again I will say that if moving - see it as an opportunity to explore new options, even if it is to a smaller space it doesn't have to be a bad thing.  Being more organized or more selective in what is stored may be the key to feeling freer and comfortable in the new space.
Rearranging things will remind us what we have.
Downsizing - also can be freeing - projects no longer weigh on the mind or take up space in our lives.  

Happy organizing and miniaturing!
Preble

Increasing Creativity

How being more organized has increased my creativity two times in the past week...

I have been working on a new workshop for the MicroMini Convention that is coming up in March of this year.  As I work on the various parts of the workshop, I have needed to look through my stash for items to complete it.


Looking for one thing I was reminded of another that I had.  This happened to me two times already in just the past week. 
The thing I am posting about is that, had I not organized my stash of beads all in one place, looking for one I wouldn't have noticed the other.  The same was true of another type of medium I have - plastic, that I looked for one and noticed another.  For neither example did the creative thought come when I saw it, it was afterwards.  Both came to me like the proverbial light bulb.  Bam! that would be a great idea for....


I know - from personal experience - that being more organized takes: time, effort and in some cases money.  Time is needed to do the sorting, effort needed to do the task and money sometimes for containers, shelves or whatever to store.  All of these are things that at different points in my life I didn't have. 
Time - do a little as you can.  Small increments add up. 
Effort - well it will be worth it in the end.  Both time and effort are saved when you can lay your hand on an item without searching. 
As for money, I am all about the recycling.  Use what you have now, upgrade later.  Even if that upgrade is just another recycling idea. 


Is my studio a wreck right now as I am working on this workshop?  You bet it is.  Am I constantly moving things to find stuff - yep.  Are all the flat surfaces covered in something?  Yes, that too.  But the supplies are where they are supposed to be. 
For example, When I need beads - I just pull out one of the two boxes I have them (in trays) and find what I need.  I can pull out that one small container from that location and put the rest back.  Later when I decide to switch to another project - that's when the clean up happens.  Would I stash that small container of beads in with the unfinished project?  Maybe, it all depends on whether I am likely to use all them.  Also it depends on how I feel about the project at the time of putting it away.  Whether it was specifically bought to meet a need for that project.  All good questions to think of when I decide where to put away. 
In general, I would more likely put the supply type item back with the others of that supply - so that small bead container would go back with the beads and not necessarily with the project box.  That way, if I needed it for another project it would get found in the beads and not have to remember which project I might have put it away with. 


Well, until I post again...
Happy Miniaturing and Happy Organizing them!
Preble