January 2023: Is anyone organizing this month?

I have started re-organizing (seem to do it at least once a year).

Hi! I just got started yesterday on trying to get better organized! And trying to figure out what I need to keep right on my desk or very nearby, as you said, to make more accessible so I use them! I think I need to find a better way to organize my ephemera. I don't have a ton but what I do have is just in it's packaging laying in a basket for me to dig through, lol. I also have a lot of 6x6 paper pads that I've had for too long and need to be finding a way to use more!

Funny you should ask that Maria. I ordered a new desk with a bookshelf attached. I am currently working and crafting on an old kitchen table in my spare room/office/craft room. I have a large Kallax, a smaller Kallax, a sofa bed and a bookcase in there. Yes we are reorganzing - and I started today as my new desk is coming tomorrow. I emptied the small kallax so I have boxes all over the room (I will be moving my desk laptop down to the living room to work this week lol) I then emptied the large Kallax, cleaned up where I want it and moved it (with Mooseman's help) and then we lifted the smaller kallax onto the top. I HAVE SO MUCH STUFF!!! we then started taking stuff off the old tall wide bookcase and put it into bins so we can just take that out to the garage (I need to get it empty so I can put my storage cubes back in my Kallax. I am going to have such an organized cleaned up room in a couple of weeks. I am going to go through everything. Mooseman said he will help me - purge, donate/sell, keep and find a place for it - if there is no room for it - it has to go.

Hi Maria, What a great idea for the New Year. We had hardwood floors installed in 2022, beginning in April, but didn't get our furniture back in the house until the first week of November. Which put us up against the holiday decorating season. When we emptied the house for our floor remodel, all the art, my mixed media craft cart, everything from the hall closet, extra rugs, etc was all put off into my craftroom. I haven't had access to my crafting goodies since last April. And, unfortunately I had several project baskets of crafting supplies from late 2021 that still needed to be put away. I injured my calf pretty bad in November (2022) and have been laid up recouping since, Just these past few days, we've started taking down Christmas decorations and are trying to get the house back in order. I've been putzing, just trying to put things away back where they belong, but it's going to take most of Jan, if not February also, to get my craftrrom back in order. So count me in!

I guess it's that time of year!

wow, you have inspired me... although with so much stuff, where does one begin. I am such a hoarder of craft supplies, it's terrible.

Toni, Welcome to this thread! I truly need to stop buying also. I cannot tell you the number of things that I have not even opened yet. I plan to put myself on a buying freeze so I really need to budget thread to keep me focused.

I did an overhaul on some girly paper. My sister promptly picked what she wanted. I have cleaned up and reorganized in the last month (December always seems to be my favorite month to do that). I cleared out some drawers and "stuff" that was not being used, like ever. But ever since I bought the large pieces of furniture for my craft space I've been super happy with most of my organization. AND they aren't even full to the brim!! I have plenty of supplies...really all about re-inventing what I have for whatever idea pops into my brain.

Maria @gluemore girl your video link to the Clutter Bug offered invaluable insights into my organizational style and how to get control over any space! I watched quite a few of her video's and learned so much about myself and how I manage (or not) my spaces. I'm definitely a "butterfly organizer" with a "macro sorting" style. I love a home where everything has it's place, and there's a place for everything. But purging trash (I'm looking at my big scrap stash that I say I will make more cards from, but never do!), gifted items that aren't my cup of tea, expired items, out of date technology, bulk purchases from Costco (I'm looking at the TP and paper towel storage) and even my husbands large tools in the garage. I'm going to start small and see what I can get under control in my craftroom closet. I'm still putting away Christmas decorations this week to get my home back under control from the holiday season, then I'll report back when I start in my craftroom. Thanks again for sharing!

Glad you found it helpful, Dawna! What she says in one of her videos really hit home: that all the other organizing books/tips/etc are really meant for the ladybugs and crickets, not for the bees or the butterflies.

Hi Vivian & welcome!

Thank you for sharing the link! I also am waiting in sb.com order. In it I got the last live stream bundle to hopefully help with what I need to have right on my desk. If I ever determine exactly what all that is, lol.

Maria it's funny that you should mention what hit home for you. As a butterfly, I have a lot of cased goods, cupboards and drawers in my spaces, so combining like items together is fairly easy for me. But organizing down to a micro level, for the most part, drives me crazy. It's just too difficult for me to put things back where they belong if I get too detailed with labeling. There are exceptions in my space, honestly only a few that I can think of in my craftroom.

That's awesome Vivian! I was gimpy over this past holiday so I just couldn't deal with my messes in December. Did you watch any of the organizing videos yet? They were very inspiring, giving you lots of options to choose from, based on your natural organizing tendencies. Very eye opening and worth the time to watch. Also I'd love to see pics of your craftroom space. Do you have a link to anything in your gallery?

Hi Vivian - lovely to see you. Hope you are well.

Wow, did not realize you've been WFH at a table. Back in 2017 when I was taking classes, I realized I needed a more ergonomic set up and have had one ever since. It's saved me!

Hi Christie:

Dawna, I started a response and lost it! Ugh!

Hi Maria...

Thanks so much Maria! That definitely helps! I'll keep a look out on your gallery! 😊

I went to Habitats for Humanity and scored two large dressers by Haverty's. They are the right height and plenty of storage space in both. I was so excited to get those pieces home!!!!

Hey everyone. Hope y'all are having a great new year. I saw your post about the insect organization types and I am a bee. In 2021, when we moved into our house, I had a gorgeous, perfectly organized area. Then I decided "it wasn't working" and moved it, and then moved it again. All 3 spots were perfectly functional and exactly the way I wanted it (except the last spot, I kept getting hit with the bedroom door). Then we switched bedrooms with our son because he's the tallest in the house and we gave him the biggest bedroom (he was in the smallest before). So then, I took our oldest daughter's room when she moved out, after trying to set up in the living room in 2 different arrangements. 6 months later, my husband and I converted the garage into our bedroom and my scrapbook area is regulated to one corner. To say my area is a clusterf*** is a complete understatement!!! It's "Functional" until I try to get to my paper and then there's embellishments and crap all over the place. I'm very behind now with no drive to scrapbook at all.

Hi everyone!

Hi everyone:

I don't have my stamps organized like that, but I do have photos, completed LO's, and items to go on specific project LOs sorted like that. I have a notebook that lists it all. Each photo has a note on the back about the LO I intend to use it on. The photo case has a label with the project, and then the storage envelope I place the completed LO's in has a label of the project. It's a bit much for most people, but I love how I can immediately tell what I printed the photo for and find everything associated with that project.

oh Maria I have no room to laugh..the first thing I thought when we finished putting my desk/bookcase together was oh I need to buy some pretties for this. I have a ton of pretties I do NOT need any more pretties or even uglies for that matter.

omgosh - I think you mean insect organization please tell me that is what you mean...lol

Oh my gosh, you're too funny Tammy! Have you watched any of the Clutter Bug YT video's yet? She does a great job of explaining the 4 different organizing and sorting styles . So worth a watch!

Maria so sorry I didn't send along pics to you this weekend. I was up in the middle of the night all weekend and starting dragging things out of my craft space that just didn't belong. Poor DH got up Sat morning to a hallway completely overrun with lots of items that just didn't normally live in my craftroom. I ran him ragged Sat and Sunday putting things away in the garage, shed or other areas in the house where things actually belonged. Now I'm down to just the project baskets, 8 of them to be exact, that need to be put away, before I can really start purging and reorganizing the troubled spots in my craftroom. I'm down to two key problems in there. All 3 of my dressers have Anna Griffin organizers and product folio's lined up across them, making my it impossible to effectively clean in my room. I do have a small glass cupboard that I use to store completed projects and my annual card mini albums. But, it too is overrun with with too much excess stuff that it needs a serious purging! Then lastly, there's my closet. I had a revelation last night. I think I'll empty everything out, have DH make me 3 more shelves on the left side (the right side already has shelves) so I can put all my AG stuff away in the closet! I'm not investing in anymore AG stuff, I've got way too much now! So hopefully that strategy will free up my dresser tops of all the organization cubbies and folios, paving the way to a cleaner craftroom! That would really make me feel very accomplished! It's still going to take me a few weeks to get all the project baskets cleared out and put away, little by little, this macro butterfly is making headway!

Oh my goodness! I had to go back and see what you mean. I meant insect! I was on my phone and didn't even realize it. Going back to fix it now.

You and my friend would get along perfectly! I am way too lazy to organize to that detail but you and she really have a handle on it and it works well for you! It just makes it easier when a space is set the way you need it to be.

No worries Dawna. Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead. DH and I tackled a couple more areas and this weekend it'll be the bathroom closet and cabinet.

I do love my pretties but managed to get them down to a bit less (one of them broke in the re-set).

Aren't phone typos the worst ?

Well, I re-organized my Stickles into two drawers. So that's done. I've moved some of my Cricut cartridges around. I don't have a good spot to put them away, so I squished them all onto the top of my shelf. It kind of works. Now I need a home for my journalling markers, my embossing powders, and the rest of my glitter. I say I've made progress

I'm down from 8 projects baskets to just 4 now! Yay, progress! It's only taken nearly the week to get those done. I'm still a bit gimpy from my holiday season calf/ankle injury, so it's been slow going with all the stooping and bending that's needed. I'm jealous that you've managed to tackle other areas in your house already! I went to Home Goods this week and saw that they are very flush with clear pantry organizers, baskets, and great drawer organizers too. They are also reasonably priced too! I didn't realize that they were a great source to pick up containers. Yeah, I see several of those needed in my future! lol

Hi Everyone:

Oh, I'm organizing, but not by choice. I get a new computer every ten years or so -- whether I need one or not -- and this time, that meant going to a 64 bit iMac. "NO problem," says Silhouette America, "We can transfer your account to your new email address, you can download the compatible software for free and you'll have access to your whole cut file library." What they did NOT say is that all 2900 cut files (give or take a couple hundred) would arrive in alphabetical order, rather than in the tidy little category files I had set up in the old software. Just freakin' shoot me now. This is going to take months!

Oh my gosh... how frustrating!

Oh NO Peggy, that's awful, and so darned good to know!!! Ever since SB did their last major update, all my tags for the photos were lost, so now I have a gallery with over 1650+ images that can't be searched! So, I definitely feel your pain! Tech, can't live with it, or without it! Ugh!

yikes, I couldn't even imagine having to do that. I have enough problems keeping up

Maria, what is the craft storage box that you keep dies in? I would be interested in seeing if that is

Yikes. That's a mess for sure.

Hi Maria, Well I've made significant progress since I last check in with you. My donation/garage sale boxes are getting pretty full! I've filled three of them so far! I can hardly believe how much useless (not serving my current needs) stuff I have! The last of my new drawer organizers arrived this morning, so I'm back tracking a bit to finish up the bathrooms. My really huge chore for today is the linen closets. After looking through my sheet sets, I finely just decided to order a few new sets of sheets, mattress pads and extra pillow cases! And, since I was at it, a new set of bathroom towels and rug sets! lol Now I'll be all set for several more years to come! At least my sister will thank me when she comes to visit in June for 3 weeks. It's been years since I updated my bathroom colors, so it's really a fresh look in there now. I'm so happy with my new space.

Hi Toni,

Dawna, that is amazing! You are really on a roll!

Thanks, Maria.

Thanks Maria, I sure wish I had taken before and after pictures of my linen closets. When I was done, I had seven sets of sheets without a matching fitted mattress sheet! Seriously, I've been digging through that junk in there for years! The difference is just astounding! Of course, that lead to purging all the table cloths and runners (which all actually live in my buffet), as my next stop. I'm sure I've got 2 dozen sets of placemats and cloth napkins that I no longer use stuffed in there. So, I'll work on purging the buffet today so I can get things back where they actually belong.

Purging is great once you get on a roll!