05 March 2010

a tour of my home office

welcome to my home! i am excited to show you around my art studio and craft closet. being a work-at-home / stay-at-home mama, i am lucky to claim a corner of our apartment and dub it as my office. since my workspace is out in the open (with no door to shut out the mess, cords and drawers full of supplies) it has been an interesting challenge as my little boy grows more mobile and curious.

i try to keep my computer desk free of clutter, with only the essentials on it. this way i can bring binders or books over and there is actually a spot for them to rest open. i like the good advice i read once about making a habit of clearing your desk off at the end of every work day to prepare for the next morning. more about my favorite desk essentials over on formspring. we got this desk at ikea and i am very happy with its size, sturdiness and overall look. the printer is on a little shelf underneath, which means benji can now work at a printshop, after exploring every nook and cranny. now, into the craft closet...


after reading Organizing For Your Brain Type, i realized (and am embracing the fact) that i am the type of person who loves having everything out in the open. i forget about it if it's tucked in a file or lost inside a deep dark drawer. (i just discovered some really cute christmas cards that i could've used had i remembered i had placed them in a special spot. oh well.)

since i cannot have things literally out in the open since we are in a small space and i live with a tiny blender, i had to reinvent my workspace. i utilized the closet bar by hanging clothing and shoe cubby shelves. they are lightweight and less expensive then fancy scrapbook shelves and the perfect fit for all my odds and ends. the materials i don't need often (bookbinding supplies, files for the archives, tax stuff, etc.) went into labeled boxes on the top shelf. i packed the everyday necessities into the cubicles and clear drawers for easy access. i also love my set of white drawers from ikea. the large drawers are wonderful for 12x12 scrapbook paper, maps and oversized artwork. i love the fact that they are on casters and can roll out easily if i need an extra table top space. i used white round stickers and a sharpie pen to create my labels, i plan on sticking another label over one if i need to revamp a drawer or two. take a look at the contents inside...

i love that every item has its own space. all the effort i put into giving each important item a spot will hopefully help me keep it that way. i've created a mailing center with various shipping boxes, a place for cellophane & glassine bags, a ribbon drawer (which still needs to be tamed), drawers for mini mart products, a cubby for gift tags and notecards, a place for my works in progress (notebooks, journals, albums, photo prints), and drawers devoted to patterned paper, printer paper, envelopes and scraps. pretty paper scraps can rule your life if you let them. am no longer a slave to scraps. i only keep the best scraps in a handy drawer (for re-use) and save the rest in a big box labeled craft box for times when little ones come over to craft.

i have a shelf of A2 and 4 Bar (my favorite sized) envelopes. a box of small gifts (soaps, books, candles, tea towels) sits on a shelf too. i love having a gift shelf inside my craft closet. something about it feels very legit and grown up. it is liberating to give yourself the time to purge your messy space and give it the complete makeover it deserves. my bulletin board is next. i must admit, the march issue of Oprah magazine was a great motivator in my clean-out project.

i also have a craft desk, in the other corner that is perfect for cutting, mailing, crafting, labeling, drawing and writing. it is my go-to space when i am writing a note card, tying ribbons on gifts, filling orders or when i feel like making something with paper.

i made two simple files to hang up. i cut a simple v-shape into large manilla envelopes. one holds my mailing labels and the other is for round sticker labels. i use these items constantly and was tired of opening up my binder to get to them. (yes, indeed you're learning about my lazy ways.) i prefer my craft station ready-to-go, it makes my creative process so much smoother. which means i can have more time to create new ideas and so on. having an organized workspace makes life efficient and enjoyable.

so enjoyable, in fact, others will want in on the fun too. after the episode of spying benji climbing on the table, i called my mom and asked her what happens when little boys turn two? or three? or four? she just laughed.

that about sums up my workspace. thank you for visiting! i've found that making a home office a nice place to be, in whatever way works best for you, will make your job much more pleasant. do you have favorite office supplies or organizing tips? when my studio is tidy, organized and ready, i love it. it's what i call going to my happy place.

see you tomorrow for the final day of our workshop. many of you have come up with great questions, so i'll try to continue our blog & business discussion in the coming weeks. have a great weekend. xo.



38 comments:

EliseBlaha said...

love this tour marta. i am, this very moment, going through all my work stuff and packing for the big move. this weekend i am hoping to search for billions of boxes. LOVE your clothes/shoe hanger idea for storage.

Kayla said...

I LOVE this post! I love seeing what other people's spaces look like. You're so organized, it makes me jealous.. and actually gives me a bit more motivation to organize myself!

Becca Groves said...

wow. a good organized space makes my heart so happy. I, too, am a girl who needs everything visible with easy access...felt good to recognize this!

Deanna said...

Wow! You have really done a great job of utilizing the little space you have. I love the idea of using the closet organizers. Thank you so much for posting this. You've given me some really great ideas and got my brain rolling.

Tiffany said...

Loved taking a peek! I have much to learn from you!

Diana Hulme said...

ah...i love this...i'm on the run but i've bookmarked this post for a total revamp this weekend of MY work space! you are so inspiring. i am an out-in-the open type too, so this is perfect! thanks, marta!

Chelsea said...

I love seeing people's workspaces! I wish I had a space that was this organized and lovely!

Thanks for sharing!

Emily said...

Thanks for sharing! Have you been able to track how many followers you have gotten on your blog just because of this workshop? It's fabulous!

ErikaKay said...

this is very inspiring for me to keep my desk and room in my house more clean and organized! I love the thought that everything should have a place where it "belongs". thanks for all of the great advice!

Ashley said...

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait until we have room for me to have a home office.

Becky said...

This was very fun to see- and very cute too! Thanks for sharing!

Christine said...

ah i'm not very organized myself, but for some reason i love seeing other people's organized spaces! maybe all of this inspiration will get me movin'...

Dayka Robinson said...

love this blog & business thing, and i love your organized office space. this is what i dream about, and hope to achieve by the end of the month. keep your fingers crossed!

Amanda said...

Oh my goodness! This is so awesome! I too have to have things out in the open or I'll forget about them, which also drives me nuts because I hate clutter so everything has to have a place. So cool that you can have that space and have it utilized so well! And I have to ask, is that your writing on the labels for your containers or is that a font? So cool either way :)

Missy said...

So nice and organized - I LOVE it! I also am curious about the labels - fun font or you have gorgeous handwriting!

swell.life said...

must. organize. my. office.

looks like your hard work has really paid off. so glad to see your happy, functional space. am so inspired by your inspiration board, clean desk, and perfect labels.

looks like it's time for you to kick back and relax.

p.s. what does happen when little boys turn 2...??

Megan said...

I have the same problem with wanting everything out in the open, but i love the idea of putting the stuff you use less in a pull out drawer; while the most used items are easy to see and grab :)

Thanks for all the inspiration!

Today Hilary... said...

You've inspired me...

Unknown said...

I love the drawers! I'm big into the small clear drawers, too. I use them in my bathroom under the sink, in my craft/linen closet, in the kitchen pantry...

Thanks for sharing!

Sweet European Dreams said...

I'm domestically challenged so this is so very helpful to me. I have a work space that I'm attempting to organize...ever so slowly! Great ideas - thanks for posting!

amy said...

Such great advice about cleaning up your workspace at the end of the day. Even when I'm juggling multiple projects and feeling frazzled a clean desk helps me to focus. Very helpful post - thank you!

Fruitful Fusion said...

Thanks for sharing your personal space with us! I'm in the process of sorting out my work space so this is a great mid-task motivator!!! :)

Ann @ The Scrapbooking Housewife said...

You motivated me to get my act together and organize the studio! I was going to start on a project, but with all the clutter around and things left so unorganized I knew I needed to take action! Your post is just what I needed! :-) Now to work at organizing the office! ;-) I really got a lot out of your Blog & Business Workshop...thank you so much for doing that!! I don't want it to end...you have provided invaluable information! Thank you again!

Travelin'Oma said...

Love the closet! When little boys turn 2 they learn to open the closet. (Good luck!)

One Love Photo said...

CUTE! I just ordered the book. I always struggle with keeping a tidy art room. Mine is always "closed to the public" when family and friends visit. Very inspiring! Hopefully the book will help :)

Mary said...

thank you! this series has been so informative. and fun! I finally made it here to read all the posts from the workshop and I am really impressed! you did a great job with the contributors - and your own "stuff" is awesome, well-organized, helpful. and inspirational.

summer said...

this is true beauty, marta. i am in awe of your neat labeling and skinny sliding drawers and, of course, those enterprising cubby hangers. cute, so cute. and how fun for me to get to peek inside your house! i adore it! it's so cool to see your winning personality shine through in your home. you have such a cheery corner. i will love picturing you in it from now on.

ashley maureen said...

this is one of my favorite-ever posts, and i plan to save it for a long time. am in the process of developing my space, and i love to have loads of inspiration. the organizing tips are superb. thank you!

cropstar said...

Gorgeous and inspiring! I NEED an organized work space like this! Love that you used your space so well.

elizabeth rosemond said...

love this!! i actually find that i have TOO MUCH space. this allows me to collect way too much stuff. time to do something about it. thanks so much for sharing!!

Anonymous said...

You are amazingly neat!

Brenda Rothman (Mama Be Good) said...

Arghhhhhhhhh! because I'm pretty sure my office space will NEVER look like this!!!! Can you move in with me?

siniann said...

The way you have organised all things to boxes gives good ideas how i should make my desk too. It's awful mess now, hardly can have my laptop there ;)

Sini

http://bonsbaisersdefrance.blogspot.com/

Devon said...

just found your blog while browsing... and i really needed to see your organization!! i'm the type of person who needs to see things too... so you've inspired me to try to get my stuff together and organize! i have so much crafting stuff... but very little space. i may have to kick my husband's stuff out of the closet in the spare room and take over!!

CMN said...

{ahem} I would like to freely confess that I love this post the most, Scarecrow. I love seeing how other people organize their work area. And peeking into their crafty closets and drawers to see what treasures they have. In fact, if I were to ever come over to your house and your Craft Closet were open, I'd ask to take a peek... I'm just that sort of person. And if you ever come over to my house and were to ask... I'd return the favor. Because it'd be so much fun to discover it all again through YOUR eyes.

So thanks for sharing, Marta. Appreciate the peek AND all the interesting deets!

Amie aka MammaLoves said...

I miss those days when they are so little and cute and pick-up-able.

Three boys here. Never a pen or pair of scissors to be found.

Lilies of the Field said...

love these photos.. I've been wanting to do this. Have everything stacked away and then never get it all out and use it properly. You've inspired me! Thank YOU!

The Single Nester said...

Thanks for the great tour! I was just thinking of heading to IKEA for some office furniture. Found your blog just in time!

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