Thoughtful Thursdays: Organizing!

I'm kind of a weird artist in that I loooove to be organized. It brings me great pleasure to know where everything is, whenever I need it, or perhaps any time inspiration strikes! My methods may seem like madness to some, but on the contrary... they keep me from going mad!

Some things I categorize by type... like this here is my "plastic things" drawer. These are the kinds of things I like to root around in. Ahhhh.... just forming my hand into the shape of an upturned rake and sifting through it all. Yeah, baby! I also have drawers for metal things, paper things, craft things and nature's things. Oh... and doll parts, game pieces, wooden stuff... you get the idea.

Then there's the crossover stuff... the "sorted for sifting" stuff. Like these buttons. I'll typically need a button based on its color, so I've divided them up into ROY (red, orange, yellow) and GBV (green, blue, violet), as well as entire jars of white, black, silver and gold. Whenever I'm ready, I'll dump them out into a bead tray and do that sifting thing I love so much!

After years of using items for projects, when I gather enough of the same thing.... they get their own category... and if they're lucky, they get their own drawer... and then they get separated by color. Hmmmm... looks like someone's got a pink ribbon fetish. Not a bad thing. Ha! But this is only the half of it (the neat half). I've got an entire tub full of loose ribbons, fibers and trims I collected over the years (that's another post!).

And when I have lots and lots of something... well, they get their own cabinet! Like my rubber stamp collection. I need everything out in the open, easy and quick to see and identify. This CD storage unit with it's adjustable shelves was the perfect solution. Purchased at the unpainted furniture store for extra savings!

So those are just a few ways I stay organized... by type, by color, and by item. What are your favorite ways to stay organized?