The best laid plans of crafters! LOL

@jillhill (37354)
United States
October 24, 2008 7:44pm CST
I am getting ready for a Christmas craft sale....I have one room dedicated to my crafting and today I decided that I would regroup and clean up and get my room back in order.....well I went in and straightened up and as of ten minutes ago....it looks like it did when I started. Do you have a problem keeping your mess under control when you are working on your crafting projects? I have a hard time going in there without sitting down and working on something! LOL....so when you are working on crafts does your house suffer? Do you have to stop and regroup so you can be organized again? Please let me know I am not alone in this!
5 people like this
18 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Well since I've started crocheting a lot more, I have yarn and projects all over the couch. I usually only work on one project at a time, but I've gone a little nuts here lately and I've got two afghans on one end of the couch and a bunch of different kind of squares laying across the back of the couch, a couple of dishcloths I just finished from the new pattern I worked up, and a prototype for a back scrubber. Oh yea, and a fuzzy and warm scarf that's half done. Need to dig out the other small ball of yarn to finish that.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Wow! It's so nice to have such wonderful company in this! LOL
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I think we made need a 12-step program.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
27 Oct 08
Did you see her cookie holders. How cute are they. And here they sell the cd covers at wal-mart. Where I can't go because I buy yarn as well. unless I send my son in. I think it sounds like a good plan. Your friend onlydia. I found more yarn today in my closet.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
26 Oct 08
OMG no you are not alone. My house is in the middle of walk way's trying to redo this and that. And working on things. So no you are not alone in this. I will start to get it all put away right and see something and go oh that is where that went. Next thing I'm back to working on that instead. Your friend onlydia
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Oct 08
I am glad I have such good company in this!
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
27 Oct 08
I have found a scrap book today that I started when my son was about 8 that was ten years ago. So now I started looking at it and found the other pic. for it and did a mental slap and put it with the other scrap books for -20 this winter.So there we go one more found. And didn't finish. Have a great night. Your friend onlydia
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
27 Oct 08
You're definitely not alone! This room is half office, half craft/sewing room. You can imagine the mess I have here. It never gets organized all at the same time. I give up... I have a rug in progress, new yarn to be put away, needles out, an ironing board that stays out all the time, plus computer, printer, bookshelf with software, paper, cds, etc. I'm glad I can shut the door to it when company comes.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
27 Oct 08
LOL! Glad to be of help.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Oct 08
OMG! LOL.....I feel so much better!
• United States
26 Oct 08
You sound like we were cut from the same cloth! I have a problem with organization when I am working on a project. If I don't place an item back in its place directly after I use it there is no doubt it will accumulate with the rest of what I am using. The piles get out of control and I spend more time looking for something than working on the project.
• United States
26 Oct 08
I did have a room that was just for my craftwork. It turned out to be more for storage, then it was a guest room. Back to storage again. One day it may be used for my crafts. I would love to get back into working on them. I did so enjoy doing craftwork.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Oct 08
I am so glad it's not just me! LOL
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
25 Oct 08
As I type, there is craft stuff strewn across my apartment. I've given up on cleaning it up unless I have to vacuum under something that has fallen on the floor, or we have people coming over. I imagine it will remain like this until I have finished my holiday crafting.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Yes..me too...about a week before I assume! LOL
@busyB4 (874)
• United States
31 Oct 08
You are not alone!! You can see that! I thought once you were a crafter you had rights to clutter! LOL!! Put you a sign, Its not just stuff, its an unfinished project!" LOL!
• United States
25 Oct 08
Oh, you are so not alone! My craft room now looks like a bomb went off in it. I know where everything is... as long as no one goes in there and moves anything, but the room is trashed. (Okay, I did misplace a craft show application...twice and I'm going to probably ask my hubby to pick up another one for me, for the 2nd time) It's very hard to keep all my stuff neat during craft show season. Tables, chairs and displays are constantly going out and back in. There's always different size show spots, so different size tables are needed. The displays are always different. Sometimes, like tomorrow's show (probably in the rain )I need my tent. Then after the show, I have about a week to build up my inventory, so I'm pulling out all kinds of totes with supplies. I have trays of polymer clay pieces in various stages... it's bad, so bad that if my sons saw the room right now, they'd never clean their bedroom again
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I know where you are coming from...I'm getting ready for one too....I'll make the things I want to bring..then go through what I already have....sort things out....repack....but if I didn't do the darn things I miss them so bad! LOL
• United States
26 Oct 08
Oh my did was today's show rough. If you've been watching and waiting for the start of the Phillies/Rays World series game, then you are seeing a bit of what today's show was like! The show was about 30 minutes away from where tonight's game is supposed to be played. It was on the ground's of an airport, so the layout was wide open and it rained! Worse than the rain was an unforgiving wind. My hubby was hanging onto the tent for most of the show. It was tied down and we had 2 -25 pound weights and 5 cynder-blocks holding down the legs and the wind was just brutual...so bad in fact that my hubby ended up removing the wall completely on 1 side and half way in the back & the remaining wall...and that only got us through half the show. Vendors had tents break, large displays were sent flying and I had quite a few of my jewlery displays sail off my table. And then we received a weather report saying the winds were about going up to 40 miles per hour and that was the end of the show for me. It's a shame. The show was well-promoted and despite the horrible weather, the customers came out and I had such a GREAT location. I guess sometimes, mother nature has other plans and today they didn't agree with the show's plans. Maybe next time...
@venshida (4836)
• United States
26 Oct 08
I have a craft room/office/TV room. I start one project get bored put it down start another. I am in my craft area now, and I have magnets on a table, the bead tray on another table yarn on the sofa a real mess. There are times when I cannot find stuff. Its a good thing my family does not use this room. It's my little sanctuary.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Oct 08
Its nice to have a room all to our selves!
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
28 Oct 08
oh yes, totally! i have a section in the basement where my craft stuff is supposed to be (its quite big) and my hubby just put some shelves together for me too. i cleaned it up on the weekend and have some space to work now, BUT craft items seem to end up all over the house (i am guilty of working on projects in front of the tv and in the dining room...) you are so not alone! lol
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
28 Oct 08
How very wonderful....we are all in the same boat! LOL
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
27 Oct 08
I wish I had a dedicated craft room. I have alot of crafting supplies and yet they are packed, piled and stacked in closets, shelves and bookcases. I just try to keep them as together as I can. [b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~ **AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG** [/b]
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Oct 08
It's nice and I can shut the door too....that helps a little! LOL
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
26 Oct 08
My biggest dream is to have an enormous room dedicated just to my crafts! It doesn't work that way in real life. I inherited my parents home and am redoing it to fit my needs. What used to be my bedroom is now craft storage (even though it doesn't start to hold everything!) The original room that I did crafts in is now a family room. I have craft books stored in the family room, and all the teddy bears waiting to be finished for a craft show in two weeks are in the family room. In the two end tables are various craft supplies. The crafts area is so messy right now it's unbelievable! I also have craft supplies stored in the laundry room, under my house (in rubber maid bins) and in my storage shed. It is kind of miserable as when I am trying to do crafts I feel I should be cleaning house. When I am cleaning house I feel that I should be doing crafts and then if I'm doing either I think I should be doing school work. Oh, and to make you feel even better, I am planning to do some remodeling and the house will be an even bigger mess! I am tearing out the kitchen and putting in new cupboards and a wood floor. I am redoing the bathroom and updating the fixtures, I also am tearing out the paneling and putting up dry wall and installing better insulation. When I finish with the dry wall there is going to be new flooring throughout the house. Which means that I need to pack up the craft supplies and store them until I'm finished. That wouldn't be so bad except that I am planning to do mega organizing of the craft supplies so that I don't have to search for them (LOL, is there ANY crafter that is totally organized????) It wouldn't be so bad as I am trying not to buy any craft supplies until the work is finished, but my adopted sister keeps finding wonderful stuff for me to bring home. I am getting yarn and needles from her next week....ARRRRAAAAGGGHHHHH!!! Of course I find things to add to the stack. I recently found a wonderful basket that I am going to do a Christmas arrangement in to take to the first craft show I am doing...so Sis isn't quite as guilty as I think she is... I am rather proud, today I did manage to vacuum and clean carpets, and I made a pot of chicken soup (I could hug the person who invented crock pots!) and finished laundry. I also am getting ready to finish homework so I don't feel bad about spending the four hours doing crafts. I will say that I have found that if I clean up while I am in the middle of preparing for a craft show I spend too much time trying to find stuff that I put away. I wait until the show season is over and then clean up. It saves a lot of time and aggravation looking for stuff that you put away "Where you could find it easily again".
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Oct 08
Thanks! Now I don't feel so bad! Today I am stopping to clean though...I can't take it anymore..but not the craft room. I need to pack up some stuff for the craft show though so it stays nice and clean.....but you sound like you have much more on your plate! But isn't it fun? LOL
@ryzach (1544)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I have stuff all over but pretty much know where everything is in all the disorganization that I have right now. I want to redo it but cannot find the time because I have so much. I want it to be more organized but the way it is right now I manage to find what I need and it works. I have so many beads and findings and sometimes I need to brings several varieties out for designing ideas. The down side to being unorganized is I went out and bought stuff I didn't need, knowing I had it somewhere but could not find. Only to find after I had made the purchase(of course). Maybe one section at time can be organized. I feel I have stuff all over but all my stone beads are together in separate box, and all my glass beads are together etc. but it still is disorganized within each section or part of my stuff in up in the "craft" room and some downstairs where I can work and be with the family too. Best of luck to you.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
It's so nice to have all of you in the same boat with me! LOL
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Oh, my gosh, that is so funny! You are so lucky to have one room devoted to your crafts, though. I have the bottom of my master bath linen closet where I put all my yarns and supplies for knitting. When I go in there, thinking I'm gonna get out one project, I come across 2 others that I forgot I'd wanted to knit! Then, when I am knitting on a project, I have my knitting bag in a chair in the living room with my scissors, crochet hook, needle tip covers, and whatever else I need on my side table. I definitely do not keep up on putting things away and stuff starts piling up! I do have to stop and sort through my stash (that's what we knitters call our "extra" yarn--I have over 28 skeins after last count)and try to remember what I was supposed to make out of that yarn!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Wow! You do have a stash! LOL
@hug14me (123)
25 Oct 08
You are very much NOT alone! I keep telling myself that when I get a certain chore done I can then go to my crafts. Telling and doing are very different! Then when I am working on a project it is everywhere. I wish very much I had a whole room just for myself and my crafts. Your lucky you do. And how about finishing. Do you finish a whole project before you start another one. I can't tell you how many I have on the go.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I am finishing most of my projects now as I have a Christmas craft sale in three weeks....but I do have a snowman that still needs finishing! From last year!
• Australia
25 Oct 08
When I was doing orders and getting ready for the markets my home always looked like a whirlwind had come through,I didn't have that room in which to keep my craft stuff and I usually did my craft in the lounge room and yes my house suffered from lack of attention .
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Yes...sometimes you just have to act like you have blinders on....personally it just about drives me insane seeing all the mess....but until I am finished no sense in cleaning up! LOL
• United States
25 Oct 08
Oh lord, I wish my craft stuff would organize itself. I have one shelving unit dedicated to just craft stuff (I live in an apartment), everything is neatly arranged in bags and piles so I can find stuff when I need it. After one day, everything is just piled back on top of the bags. Even if I put it back into the bags, it just gets piled up. Even if I take 10 minutes to organize it, it goes right back to a mess.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
It gets frustrating doesn't it? Maybe if we could find a genie! LOL
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
25 Oct 08
My front room has been a total disaster since we moved things around 2 years ago! And without help, it isn't getting better - OBVIOUSLY!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Oh oH!!!! LOL
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
25 Oct 08
When I worked on crafts with my brother and sister in law they had two portable buildings, one where my brother cut all the wood things and one where the painting, staining, and sewing was done so needless to say both of them would get messy. We started out each day with it cleaned but that didn't last long when we were busy getting things ready to go off for a craft show. Oh but it was so much fun.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I know.....I go in there and bingo! I am sitting down doing something! LOL
• United States
25 Oct 08
I use to keep them on my desk, and in a box, and then I had another box for paint chips, and then a shelf and 2 boxes in my closet for sewing and yarn... and it keeps expanding, its hard to get myself to give away or throw away some of the stuff too... so yeah... more organization would be great XD
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Oct 08
It would be! LOL....about drives me crazy sometimes!