Fellow adult female with ADHD. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 years old with 3 children. My life and home where literally falling apart around me and I couldn't figure out what was "wrong" with me. Finally being diagnosed helped me understand so much. Open storage is a must. Out of sight out of mind is a very real thing for me. I use clear storage and zip lock bags a lot in my craft room. The easier the storage the more likely I am to keep up with it. I also group like things together in larger containers. Good luck and I look forward to seeing your progress.
Great start! I hope you’re able to pat yourself on the back without self-mitigating. I’m going to hit Follow because my craft room could use some help too. I call mine the OCR -Office Craft Room - so I know about multi purposing. ADHD? 🙋🏼♀️
thanks! I did end up labelling the baskets as I was finishing up and holy cow it's been awesome for cleanup especially! WHY DIDN'T I LABEL SOONER???!!! I'll share the final reveal soon!
You have made progress! Being a mom of an ADHD I understand! My son would be rearranging his bedroom at midnight. And he is 48 and is on the correct meds now and can sleep at night!
thanks! In true ADHD fashion I got distracted and ignored the project and this channel for a few months but I'm so close to sharing the final reveal video!
This looks soooooo familiar 🙈 I use my dining room too, am single without kids, don’t have people coming over, so my 6 person table is always messy with my craft supplies…
ADHD + autism spectrum. Always rearranging craft supplies when I get several new supplies. When I make even 1 card, it looks like a few bombs went off on table and floor. I have to clean up immediately after a project or I get overwhelmed easily.
You may have already heard about the yt channel called clutterbug, but if not I wanted to give you a link. It’s just a way to think about how you organize, and how people tend to fit into one of four general categories (though many of us also find that I prefer to store different things slightly different ways - I consider the video a jumping off place for this kind of thinking). Understanding this can also help People with the friction that might happen around the house due to the way people do or don’t appear to be organizing their stuff, Because you can acknowledge their thought process and be respectful of it. The lady that put this out is also ADHD, I believe, and recently got that diagnosis. Other factors go into how we organize like our state of health and energy level, our physical flexibility, and whether or not we need a space to look good in public, as you mentioned that your dining room doesn’t need to look great because you don’t entertain and you eat on the couch. I don’t like having clutter out when I entertain and my husband can’t stand it, at all (But at least he understands and is patient about it). So even though I am a bit like you in that I want to see things to remember that I have them, I’ll accommodate his needs as well by making things easy to see and access but having them out of the public eye behind doors, and in cabinets and closets. The main thing is that I need to be able to grab things with one hand and put them away the same way, ideally in one motion if at all possible. I'm thrilled now that my kitchen has been functioning perfectly since I did cluttered and set it up so that the things I need every day or grab and go, and easy to put away. it’s been well over a year and everything is working so great! Even having a big party was easy (50 people!) because of that grab and go organization of serving dishes, chafing dishes etc. It’s great that you recognize your need to have visual organization. Being able to see the stacks of fabric makes perfect sense. Because you mentioned that you’re not interested in folding things perfectly, I suspect that it would be a great strategy If you think about making things as easy to put away as they are to get out. I believe that your craft area would then serve you more easily AND stay a lot tidier with a lot less effort. That is a lot harder to do with stacks of fabrics (I completely understand that because I have a lot of fabric as well), but having shorter stacks might help, whether you are grouping by color or fabric type or whether or not there’s interfacing on it or not, etc. My biggest successes in the sewing/craft area involves stacking plastic boxes that are shallow, like 12 x 12” and maybe 2 inches deep. (The mine are hidden inside of cabinets with Tambor doors that I can ship easily, but don’t get in my way when they’re open… old Ikea Galant units). I printed really large, bold labels declaring the contents of thread, machine accessories, elastic, embroidery hoops etc. I have three squares of four drawers each. still working great after multiple years, And I really like this recent ability to put them behind doors when not in use. there is room for interfacing to sit on top of the drawers inside of those cabinets. Some of the cabinets have hanging files where I can put patterns and overflow file storage. I still have a lot of stacking plastic drawers that can form a unified look, and they get repurposed. Not loving those, but I can put really big bold labels on the inside of the front translucent drawer for a uniform look while knowing what’s inside of them. Those also function as hanging file drawers if you want them to, that’s the dimension of them and there are some that are half that size but stack perfectly, shorter. Drawers like that can be good for A single project in process, the next project coming up, storing cameras and accessories, art/photo/printer paper, Things you don’t necessarily need to see like a stack of Muslin if you use that. The iron, spray starch or just water in a squirt bottle. Hand steamer. things that don’t want to stack on their own. I’ve had mine for about 20 years, and they have been used for all manner of things as life's needs changed. Right now, some of them are holding mailers for shipping things. Different sizes in different drawers. Another craft/sewing success: I also have a portable folding multi-pocketed-zip bag, originally some sort of jewelry organizer Or toiletry organizer, but I turned it into my travel sewing kit that I can take to a table and I have needles, thread, seam Ripper, Two sizes of scissors with caps on them because they’re ultra sharp, little screwdriver if Something Happens on my machine, box of pins, measuring tape, you got the idea: Just all the things that I need for any mending or small project work (except sometimes the right color thread). it worked great when I had to take a trip and revamp some curtains at my destinations. It works when I just want to do a quick mending session somewhere besides my sewing area. It folds up very small and is easy to tuck onto a shelf when I’m not using it. I guess I should give my definition of success in this situation: successful organization means that I can use the same system for a long time and it doesn’t get messy because it is so easy for me to keep it tidy. It’s literally easier to keep it tidy than to leave things out. That’s when I know I have hit the sweet spot. link to short video explaining the four basic clutterbug types: ruclips.net/video/0di7jc9j_7Y/видео.html
Love you are not messy, you may have the space redone for yourself by now but if not i'll toss in my 2 cents worth, if you can, invest into the black resin shelves that are sturdy . i know they are ugly but hear me out lol. The space looks narrow, guessing 2 sets on that wall would do you with a gap in the center to tuck in the ironing board (the pegboard can go on a different wall). Those type of shelves are great if you get creative on how to use them. Make or buy (cheaper & more fun to make) containers that will suit you & how you wish to function. Think about storing fabrics in a way to see quickly and access them. All other items for crafting, some of your boxes will be dandy for, you just need labels , don't need fancy, index cards can do you. Leave yourself hand reaching space if you have to access any outlets that are on that wall. Now back to those sturdy but ugly shelves, grab cheap long thrifted curtain rod or hardware store dowel cut to the length you'll need to go full length of the wall. those resin shelves have slots running across each shelf, make rod hooks from wire coat hanger, hot glue ribbon and beads to your hanger hooks to pretty them up and hang curtains across your storage wall. before you hang those curtains, tape a number or letter around shelf uprights, either use paper on clipboard to keep on pegboard or use spreadsheet to know what you put where. place castors on your sewing table so you can make use if it and move it around the space with ease. Keep your eyes peeled for a free or cheap narrow folding table (on wheels as well) so you can avoid using your dining room for spreading out. When you do buy your house and can do a fancy space those old resin shelves can continue to serve in a shed /garage , unless you've grown to appreciate them as much as i have lol
Spend the money and design your craft room properly. After 30 years of mismatch/curb side garbage finds/thousands of holes in the wall for shelves etc.. I spent the money on 6 prefab kitchen cabinet bases 30Hx18Wx24Deep and had them installed with a 32x64 piece of melamine for a table. Everything has a place and it goes there before I leave the room every time… If it doesn’t have a place then you don’t require it, this stops impulse buying. This is NOT just an ADHD thing. I have a current project drawer that is 32Hx16Wx2Deep. If this drawer is full then the project must be completed or discarded. This is NOT just an ADHD thing. Scraps of any sort can only fill a shoe box and must be used or discarded after 6 months. This is NOT just an ADHD thing. Stop hoarding, this is NOT just a ADHD thing. Stop starting a project before one is finished, this is NOT just an ADHD. This all boils down to self discipline, it is NOT an ADHD thing. Work, spouses, housecleaning, children and ADHD are not a valid excuses. This is a self discipline issue. You have to make some serious decisions. You don’t allow your spouse and or children to have spaces like this mess, why do you think you can get away with it. Lead by example. ADHD does not have to be your go to excuse, ADHD gives you a gift to think outside the box and plan to the last inconceivable detail, use it to your advantage.
What about you stop telling a stranger how to live her life 😃 You’ve got no letters after your name so you’re not a doctor or a shrink. Chill out and write reminders to yourself not to harass people for sharing their struggles
Fellow adult female with ADHD. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 years old with 3 children. My life and home where literally falling apart around me and I couldn't figure out what was "wrong" with me. Finally being diagnosed helped me understand so much. Open storage is a must. Out of sight out of mind is a very real thing for me. I use clear storage and zip lock bags a lot in my craft room. The easier the storage the more likely I am to keep up with it. I also group like things together in larger containers. Good luck and I look forward to seeing your progress.
YES! Honestly just knowwing "what's wrong" was so helpful because I could stop wasting energy on all the solutions that won't ever work for me!
❤❤❤❤
The scraps would make a great confetti quilt. D
Good luck with your projecct.😊
ooo, Great idea!! I have things almost finished - so close to finally filming the reveal video!
Girl you should see my sewing room! Disaster is a nice word!
Great start! I hope you’re able to pat yourself on the back without self-mitigating. I’m going to hit Follow because my craft room could use some help too. I call mine the OCR -Office Craft Room - so I know about multi purposing. ADHD? 🙋🏼♀️
Oops! I hit Subscribe.
I have ADHD you think and speak my language. Your wonderful and I know your space is going to be beautiful.
aw thank you! so nice to know we aren't alone, isn't it? I love the internet for that reason!
New stubby here. Great job with the first step. Remember to label, it works wonders❤️💯🙏🏻🕊
thanks! I did end up labelling the baskets as I was finishing up and holy cow it's been awesome for cleanup especially! WHY DIDN'T I LABEL SOONER???!!! I'll share the final reveal soon!
Those scraps,would make a cute little Easter wreath ,maybe just add some strips of lace???
ooo, I'll have to play around with that for a spring wreath or something!
You have made progress! Being a mom of an ADHD I understand! My son would be rearranging his bedroom at midnight. And he is 48 and is on the correct meds now and can sleep at night!
thanks! In true ADHD fashion I got distracted and ignored the project and this channel for a few months but I'm so close to sharing the final reveal video!
This looks soooooo familiar 🙈 I use my dining room too, am single without kids, don’t have people coming over, so my 6 person table is always messy with my craft supplies…
so glad I'm not the only one 🤪
ADHD + autism spectrum. Always rearranging craft supplies when I get several new supplies. When I make even 1 card, it looks like a few bombs went off on table and floor. I have to clean up immediately after a project or I get overwhelmed easily.
yes! I definitely feel so much more creative once I finally tackle the mess!
❤my craft room is mess, because I have too many projects, need each wall to be a different hobbies
YES! Zones for each hobby!
❤
You may have already heard about the yt channel called clutterbug, but if not I wanted to give you a link. It’s just a way to think about how you organize, and how people tend to fit into one of four general categories (though many of us also find that I prefer to store different things slightly different ways - I consider the video a jumping off place for this kind of thinking). Understanding this can also help People with the friction that might happen around the house due to the way people do or don’t appear to be organizing their stuff, Because you can acknowledge their thought process and be respectful of it. The lady that put this out is also ADHD, I believe, and recently got that diagnosis. Other factors go into how we organize like our state of health and energy level, our physical flexibility, and whether or not we need a space to look good in public, as you mentioned that your dining room doesn’t need to look great because you don’t entertain and you eat on the couch.
I don’t like having clutter out when I entertain and my husband can’t stand it, at all (But at least he understands and is patient about it). So even though I am a bit like you in that I want to see things to remember that I have them, I’ll accommodate his needs as well by making things easy to see and access but having them out of the public eye behind doors, and in cabinets and closets. The main thing is that I need to be able to grab things with one hand and put them away the same way, ideally in one motion if at all possible. I'm thrilled now that my kitchen has been functioning perfectly since I did cluttered and set it up so that the things I need every day or grab and go, and easy to put away. it’s been well over a year and everything is working so great! Even having a big party was easy (50 people!) because of that grab and go organization of serving dishes, chafing dishes etc.
It’s great that you recognize your need to have visual organization. Being able to see the stacks of fabric makes perfect sense. Because you mentioned that you’re not interested in folding things perfectly, I suspect that it would be a great strategy If you think about making things as easy to put away as they are to get out. I believe that your craft area would then serve you more easily AND stay a lot tidier with a lot less effort. That is a lot harder to do with stacks of fabrics (I completely understand that because I have a lot of fabric as well), but having shorter stacks might help, whether you are grouping by color or fabric type or whether or not there’s interfacing on it or not, etc.
My biggest successes in the sewing/craft area involves stacking plastic boxes that are shallow, like 12 x 12” and maybe 2 inches deep. (The mine are hidden inside of cabinets with Tambor doors that I can ship easily, but don’t get in my way when they’re open… old Ikea Galant units). I printed really large, bold labels declaring the contents of thread, machine accessories, elastic, embroidery hoops etc. I have three squares of four drawers each. still working great after multiple years, And I really like this recent ability to put them behind doors when not in use.
there is room for interfacing to sit on top of the drawers inside of those cabinets. Some of the cabinets have hanging files where I can put patterns and overflow file storage.
I still have a lot of stacking plastic drawers that can form a unified look, and they get repurposed. Not loving those, but I can put really big bold labels on the inside of the front translucent drawer for a uniform look while knowing what’s inside of them. Those also function as hanging file drawers if you want them to, that’s the dimension of them and there are some that are half that size but stack perfectly, shorter. Drawers like that can be good for A single project in process, the next project coming up, storing cameras and accessories, art/photo/printer paper, Things you don’t necessarily need to see like a stack of Muslin if you use that. The iron, spray starch or just water in a squirt bottle. Hand steamer. things that don’t want to stack on their own. I’ve had mine for about 20 years, and they have been used for all manner of things as life's needs changed. Right now, some of them are holding mailers for shipping things. Different sizes in different drawers.
Another craft/sewing success: I also have a portable folding multi-pocketed-zip bag, originally some sort of jewelry organizer Or toiletry organizer, but I turned it into my travel sewing kit that I can take to a table and I have needles, thread, seam Ripper, Two sizes of scissors with caps on them because they’re ultra sharp, little screwdriver if Something Happens on my machine, box of pins, measuring tape, you got the idea: Just all the things that I need for any mending or small project work (except sometimes the right color thread). it worked great when I had to take a trip and revamp some curtains at my destinations. It works when I just want to do a quick mending session somewhere besides my sewing area. It folds up very small and is easy to tuck onto a shelf when I’m not using it.
I guess I should give my definition of success in this situation: successful organization means that I can use the same system for a long time and it doesn’t get messy because it is so easy for me to keep it tidy. It’s literally easier to keep it tidy than to leave things out. That’s when I know I have hit the sweet spot.
link to short video explaining the four basic clutterbug types:
ruclips.net/video/0di7jc9j_7Y/видео.html
Thanks so much for this! I love the idea of redefining what a successful space looks like for me!
Love you are not messy, you may have the space redone for yourself by now but if not i'll toss in my 2 cents worth, if you can, invest into the black resin shelves that are sturdy . i know they are ugly but hear me out lol. The space looks narrow, guessing 2 sets on that wall would do you with a gap in the center to tuck in the ironing board (the pegboard can go on a different wall). Those type of shelves are great if you get creative on how to use them. Make or buy (cheaper & more fun to make) containers that will suit you & how you wish to function. Think about storing fabrics in a way to see quickly and access them. All other items for crafting, some of your boxes will be dandy for, you just need labels , don't need fancy, index cards can do you. Leave yourself hand reaching space if you have to access any outlets that are on that wall. Now back to those sturdy but ugly shelves, grab cheap long thrifted curtain rod or hardware store dowel cut to the length you'll need to go full length of the wall. those resin shelves have slots running across each shelf, make rod hooks from wire coat hanger, hot glue ribbon and beads to your hanger hooks to pretty them up and hang curtains across your storage wall. before you hang those curtains, tape a number or letter around shelf uprights, either use paper on clipboard to keep on pegboard or use spreadsheet to know what you put where. place castors on your sewing table so you can make use if it and move it around the space with ease. Keep your eyes peeled for a free or cheap narrow folding table (on wheels as well) so you can avoid using your dining room for spreading out. When you do buy your house and can do a fancy space those old resin shelves can continue to serve in a shed /garage , unless you've grown to appreciate them as much as i have lol
Spend the money and design your craft room properly. After 30 years of mismatch/curb side garbage finds/thousands of holes in the wall for shelves etc.. I spent the money on 6 prefab kitchen cabinet bases 30Hx18Wx24Deep and had them installed with a 32x64 piece of melamine for a table. Everything has a place and it goes there before I leave the room every time… If it doesn’t have a place then you don’t require it, this stops impulse buying. This is NOT just an ADHD thing. I have a current project drawer that is 32Hx16Wx2Deep. If this drawer is full then the project must be completed or discarded. This is NOT just an ADHD thing. Scraps of any sort can only fill a shoe box and must be used or discarded after 6 months. This is NOT just an ADHD thing. Stop hoarding, this is NOT just a ADHD thing. Stop starting a project before one is finished, this is NOT just an ADHD. This all boils down to self discipline, it is NOT an ADHD thing. Work, spouses, housecleaning, children and ADHD are not a valid excuses. This is a self discipline issue. You have to make some serious decisions. You don’t allow your spouse and or children to have spaces like this mess, why do you think you can get away with it. Lead by example. ADHD does not have to be your go to excuse, ADHD gives you a gift to think outside the box and plan to the last inconceivable detail, use it to your advantage.
Have you GOT ADHD? Let her give herself grace. She's not failing by choice.
What about you stop telling a stranger how to live her life 😃 You’ve got no letters after your name so you’re not a doctor or a shrink. Chill out and write reminders to yourself not to harass people for sharing their struggles
Mom, is that you? 🤪