Organizing Space and Supplies

No point in having it if you can't find it!

While I was expanding and organizing my art studio last week I realized that many of the things I was incorporating would work in any space. Whether your studio subs as the dining room table or your walk-in closet, many of these items would work for your space too.

Crock and Basket. Good for all types of paper rolls, material bolts, long tools and rulers. I got the crock at an auction years ago and have the heavy container on a plant stand with wheels. The heaviness makes it good for my bigger rolls of paper i.e. newsprint ends. The orange wastebasket was a thrift store find. Lorri Flint, our fiber artist, keeps her long rolls of cloth in a 32-gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck trash barrel, which also has wheels. She tried a galvanized trash can, but while it looked really cool, it was awkward to move. We have found that a straight-sided container is the most stable and space efficient.

Flexible bag holder. Another Rubbermaid oldie, often found in thrift stores. This can hang on your wall or on the inside of a door or cupboard door. As a mixed media artist I save interesting bags, foreign newsprint and plain brown packing paper for use in my hand made journals. This is the most compact and efficient method I've found so far. I don't know if the company still carries them, but I keep an eye out for the unassuming beige piece of plastic at garage sales and thrift stores.

Tape or ribbon holder. This is a favorite for me. I found these paper towel holders at Home Depot. So you should be able to find them
easily too. They are short so that you can spot your favorite spool easily and then get to it without unloading your entire col-
lection. Used this way your goodies are kept relatively dust free and undamaged by stacking. Also your bright colored items contribute to the 'art' of your room.

Folding Print Holder. Light weight and convenient, this folding print rack is a favorite for Carol Tuttle, our water color artist.  The stand is easy to set up and also easy to stash in the closet or under a table when she is working away from her studio.
This one anyone, anywhere can manage.
A Clothesline. Yes an ordinary old clothesline, strung along one side of a room can be wonderful for your large or funny-shaped art pieces and materials. You can use it for display or storage or both. Hanging can also help keep your items clean. With care this could also be used to hang large pieces as they dry.