ORGANIZATION !

This month I am writing and participating in the Etsymetal Carnival Blog.  Here we share a common topic and this time it is discussing the question of organization re: my tools, my shop, and my finished work.  
Organization:  "to be arranged in a systematic way, especially on a large scale".

This is the definition of "organized" that I choose - there were others, but this one favoured ME!

At first I thought this topic would become an exposee on my LACK of organization and the ensuing chaos.  But no !!  It isn't meant to be like that at all.  To be organized has nothing to do with chaos!  So slip into my workshop and witness how I organize and therefore know exactly where my tools are! 

I know where everything is in this possibly perceived clutter.  This is where I do my thinking, sawing, stone setting, drilling, sanding.  I sit on an office chair and wheel myself around.

I thought I was impossibly organized when I purchased these kitchen drawer inserts.  Here I keep lots of stones out so I can see them.  If they are put away out of sight, I forget I have them.  I need  to see them for inspiration to strike. 

Here's my soldering station out in the garage.  Looks like the mad professor lives here.  But check out how organized I am at keeping my serious tools clean and dry.  Under those towels and pillowcases are my rolling  mill, my bench shear and my steel block.  When my partner made this table set-up for me, I said it was too big.  Yah, right!  I exploded into the space! 

So you've seen some of my work-in-progress space.  Now what do I do to keep the finished pieces organized?   If the pieces aren't being sent off to a gallery or shop, then they are placed into a glass case in my home.

Pieces are ready to show for anyone who pays a visit to my home studio.   I keep track of each piece by taking a photo and uploading it into a program on my  ipad, with it's location and price.  I also keep a log book with a sketch of each item that is one-of-a-kind, recording the weight of the silver used, cost of the stone and my time involved and any special instructions I would need to know should I try to duplicate a similar piece. 

Are you impressed?   I am!   I'm  far more organized than I thought! 

Please visit these other blogs of my Etsymetal compatriots and see how they deal with ORGANIZATION!    Thanks for visiting, Debbie

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