Craft: transforming traditional crafts

CRAFT: What kinds of crafts do you do?
Cathe: I love taking graphic design to another dimension through crafting.  A lot of my crafts involve the computer design at some point. I don't enjoy producing the same thing over and over again, so most every craft I do is something new and different from the last. Most of my crafts are vintage in nature, whether by using old images or antique supplies and trinkets.

CRAFT: Where do you craft?
Cathe: When my design and craft projects began to completely overtake one end of our bedroom, my husband carved a section out of the garage and built a wonderful little studio for me where I design logos as a business and craft for fun. Often I work at the dining room table when my family is home and where I can spread out larger projects. I have a small workbench just outside my studio in the garage for soldering and Dremel work and still keep a corner of the bedroom as my sewing niche.

CRAFT: How do you keep all your craft supplies organized?
Cathe: I am crazy about vintage watchmakers's cabinets, old mail-slot organizers, my library card-catalog cabinet, stacks of cigar boxes and anything vintage with drawers and nameplates. I keep all of my fabric and ephemera in vintage suitcases. In my house, I store craft items in an antique dresser near the dining room table. The dresser is a good place to tuck everything for a quick clean-up and then re-sort later. My living room houses my large library of design and idea books.

CRAFT: How do you motivate yourself to keep your space organized?Cathe: I'm not as organized as one might think.  Rather than organize as I go, I tend to have days here and there that I spend putting everything back in its place.

CRAFT: What's one organization tip/tool/trick you swear by?
Cathe: I label everything. Labeling every drawer, box and container helps me so much as I easily forget where I put things.

CRAFT: How do you feel when your space is organized? Unorganized?
Cathe: When my space is organized I am much more inspired with fresh ideas. When it is unorganized, I am unorganized in thought and low on creativity.

CRAFT: Describe your dream workspace.
Cathe: My dream space would be my studio on a much larger scale with room to sew, and spread out. I think having room for a couch or just a comfy chair to sit and pore through resource books would be wonderful.

CRAFT: How does the way your craft space is organized affect your crafting/creativity?
Cathe: I am much more motivated to create when I can find supplies. Again labeling is huge in my studio as I have so many different types of supplies that I have collected over the years that stay tucked away until I have a crafty brainstorm. If I have a great idea and can't find a specific item, it is very frustrating.