A new year. Always a good time for reflection and for resolutions, I suppose because it feels like a brand new beginning. If you think about it, though, every day is a new beginning. And the moment we are in now is the only one we’ve got. Every day should be appreciated as new beginning.
Budding plants always remind me of fresh beginnings.
What are you doing to make the most of the new beginnings in your life? Have you made some New Year Resolutions? I hope you give it some dedicated thought…how do you want to live the rest of your life? Now is what you have to work with. Make the most of it.
One thing I love to do is organize. It makes me happy. I told Youngest Daughter if I am ever in the nursing home and need something to occupy my time, just give me a jumble of beads to organize. It will make me happy and, when I’m done, they can be mixed up and given to me again. I’d be just as happy doing it the second time.
My craft room is in need of some major organizing and I am resolving to get it done. I am using the room differently than I did five or ten years ago. When the room was remodeled in 2004, I designed it around my scrapbooking hobby. Now my creative direction centers on Putz houses and Christmas ornaments. I need to organize my craft space for what I’m doing now.
I have a long list of things I want to do with my Putzing. I would love to make a series of Putz houses, one for each month of the year. January would be a New Year theme, February would be a Valentine’s theme, etc. A set of four Putz houses for the four seasons is also on my list. And then there’s the Dr. Seuss Putz houses I would like to make. And the larger Putz houses, and the tiny Putz houses…lots of ideas whirling around in my mind.
How do I accomplish all that when my craft space is so unorganized? Not easily, I assure you. So decluttering, organizing and refitting the craft room is a big item on my list of things I want to accomplish. Maybe the resolution is “get organized” and one of the ways to implement that is to work on the craft room.
One step at a time. I spent yesterday and today organizing the items I have listed in my Etsy shop. Every Putz house got a number which will make them easy to find when I am filling orders. It is a good feeling to have that done. Now I am going through drawers and cabinets. Clean them out, organize them, use the available space in the best way. I need to think about my space in terms of prime real estate where I put things I use every day, secondary real estate where I put things I need less often, and the outer limits where I keep things I need only occasionally.
Before I even think about organized drawers, I need the dream house to go with them. It’s funny how sorting out little paper houses makes you think about real ones. The kind where the kitchen drawers actually slide properly and don’t get jammed on a spoon. That’s the kind of space I want—one that feels well-thought-out, not just thrown together. It’s a lot easier to keep things tidy when the home itself works with you, not against you.
That’s what makes me peek longingly at the listings in Miami from time to time. There’s something about those breezy, sun-drenched homes that just call to you, especially after a drawer-clearing marathon. Whether it’s a cozy beach bungalow or a modern condo with views for days, the idea of a fresh start in a place that feels like vacation every day has its charm. While browsing for inspiration, I came across https://exprealty.com/us/fl/miami/, and I have to say—it’s a bit addictive. Scrolling through homes that could one day hold your very own clutter-free, carefully labeled craft space? Pure motivation.
Of course, once you’ve found the one, that’s when the real fun begins. Planning out what drawer gets the scissors and what shelf holds the glitter. Designing a craft room or an office space from scratch, in a home that fits you just right, is like opening a brand-new box of potential. It’s not just about cleaning out what you have—it’s about creating a space where everything has a place. Miami might be far away for now, but the vision? That’s getting clearer by the drawer.
DH brought up an 8′ table from the basement to the craft room so I could organize my packing supplies. The table fits across the east wall, so it’s out of the way, but accessible. I put my packing boxes and the box of extra cardboard that I use for making bases under the table. On top the table is my light box setup for taking photos of the things I list on Etsy. Also on top the table are the boxes that store my Etsy items. Neatly available when needed.
I organized my file drawer today. It is to the left of where I sit to craft. Took everything out and started over. Getting that done is giving me incentive to do more! I’ll keep plugging away at it. And when I need a rest, I’ll take it! Like Ski. He’s good at resting. Though I probably won’t use the nearest box.
I glanced out the window the other day and saw the dogwood blossoms. They are on the tree all winter. They always give me hope for the new beginning that spring brings us each year.
Are you organizing a particular area in your home or in your life? What are your favorite resources for motivation?
~~Rhonda
