Our client story this month is a story of clutter.  Clutter was happening in every room, on every surface, in every corner of our client's home.  We implemented a system in her art studio a few months ago and lo and behold she can maintain it.  I asked her why this system works where others had failed.  She replied, "Everything has it's own cubby.  There's a cubby for pen and ink, one for beading, one for rubber stamps, and so on.  I know right where to go to find something and even better I know where to put it back.  Also, I have a limited amount of space [boundaries] for how much I can have of one category--that keeps me from over spending on art supplies and keeps the materials from creeping into other zones."

 

She asked if I could help her with her family room because it was experiencing clutter creep especially on an unused loveseat and the surrounding floor.  We talked about how we could implement a similar "boundary" system for her family room activity "stuff".  This included art supplies (for when she wants to doodle while watching TV), office supplies and a paper management system for her household paper because this is where she pays her bills, book storage, and a place for her traveling bags (Spanish Class and Art Class).

 

My team of 3 and myself spent 3 hours with our client weeding through box after box of paper, setting up files, and categorizing and containing her family room activity items.

 

The result, gone is the cutter catching loveseat and its place a sleek modular functional furniture system to contain the TV, art supplies, office supplies, traveling bags, books and a matching file cabinet that doubles as an end table.  Our client now knows where everything is and more importantly where to return items.

 

 

 

I offer a Professional Organizer Business Owner Seminar seven times throughout the year and I am recruiting "real clients" for each of the remaining 2008 seminars. The dates are May 7, July 23, August 27, October 8, and November 14. 

 

If you are interested in participating as a "real client" e-mail me and describe your project--please include pictures.  Here are the selection criteria:

• Available on a weekday (either a Wednesday or Friday) from 10:00-5:00 p.m.  You join us for lunch and materials shopping at Storables. 
• Have an organizing project that can be completed in 4 hours by 4-6 people (think equivalent of 16-24 hours of hands-on time).
• You are comfortable working with a group of people versus one-on-one. 
• Pets and/or children are cared for by someone other than you during the organizing session.
• Pay my hourly fee for 4 hours (a 16 hour value) and any materials that you approve for the project.

This is a great opportunity for you to complete a large organizing project for a fraction of the time and what it would cost you to work one-on-one with me.

 

 

Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer 

                      

An over-the-door shoe organizer is a great product to contain your shoes.  But, don't limit your thinking to shoes.  This product works great in your coat closet for containing hats, gloves, scarves, sunscreen, goggles, sunglasses, dog leashes, and anything else you have to grab on your way out the door.  Don't stop there in bathroom install a over-the-door shoe organizer made of clear plastic pockets to contain, brushes, combs, hair accessories, lotions and potions, and even a little rubber ducky.