Craft: transforming traditional crafts

CRAFT: What kinds of crafts do you do?
Jessica: I do a little of this and a little of that. I have yet been able to win the battle with anything dealing with yarn though, unless it's glueing it to something. I sew, I patchwork, I doodle. I like coming up with new takes on classic crafts.

CRAFT: Where do you craft?
Jessica: A little bit here and a little bit there. The sewing machine is on the mister's desk and everything else gets done on the sofa, the living room floor or the kitchen counter.

CRAFT: How do you all your craft supplies organized?
Jessica: I'm ever so slowly trying to get organized. For now, a little here and a little there. Living in a small space keeps you creative. Jars, drawers, tins and shelves all hold my supplies. Oh and two smallish gardening sheds out behind the tiny casa.

CRAFT: How do you motivate yourself to keep your space organized?
Jessica: I get motivated when the last pair of scissors in the drawer find themselves on vacation. With thirteen pairs floating about the casa and not one of them being where they are supposed to be, it's time to clean and reorganize. Sadly, this happens way too often. Sigh.

CRAFT: What's one organization tip/tool/trick you swear by?
Jessica: Clear jars in my vintage Pepsi crate with their butts sticking out. I can see where everything is so it is easy to get inspired and with the whole thing looking fun and nifty, I feel extra pressed to put it all back. It's only pretty when all the jars are tucked in for then night.

CRAFT: How do you feel when your space is organized? Unorganized?
Jessica: When it's organized, I am all jazzed up to make something, anything. When I am disorganized I feel compelled to create but can't find anything so I sulk. The catch is that getting crafty and inspired usually results in a big old mess that doesn't get put away and the chaos just grows and grows until I am crowned queen of disorganization.

CRAFT: Describe your dream workspace.
Jessica: A room with a clean tabletop, space for everything to be see-able and lots of natural light. Dark and gloomy actually keeps me from crafting. I don't need a large space, just a space where everything has its place.

CRAFT: How does the way your craft space is organized affect your crafting/creativity?
Jessica: When everything is out there in an organized way, like the jars, I get to see all the happy colors without taking them out and getting everything all wacky. When everything is tucked away in boxes and drawers, I have a difficult time visualizing the materials I have on hand and that wither keeps me from doing anything or I go out to buy more and end up with too much for my tiny space.

See more photos of Jessica's craft space and home in her flickr set.