Over the last few days I have been re-organizing my studio and I am so happy with the results!  Since I have added the second medium of oil I have found the extra setup and supplies has resulted in an overcrowded studio.  I am a very neat and organized person by nature so this situation was like a thorn in my side.  I realized I needed to do something different with all my pastels to open up the space for reorganization. This picture will give you an idea of how my studio arrangement for pastels was eating up my space.  They are laid out in Dakota Studio Trays on two old end tables and one old TV table.  As you can see, my still life setup is on top of three tote bins.  To the right (out of view) are squeezed in a work table for my oil paints and a second easel.

My husband, Bob, actually started the ball rolling for the studio revamp when he brought a Harbor Freight ad in the paper to my attention.  I had shared with him that I had been thinking of a tool chest for storing my pastels as an option and he showed me one on sale for a very reasonable price.  However, when we went to look at the tool chest there was a reason it was so reasonable.    However, Bob remembered reading that Sears was having their semi-annual Craftsman sale so we decided to check out what they had on sale.  Lo and behold, I found the perfect tool chest!  It is a black Viper tool chest and has 4 drawers that are perfectly sized to store my many pastels and additional drawers for storing lots of other art supplies.  It is very sturdy and the drawers slide in and out like butter!   In addition, it is 51" high and became the new home for my still life setups.  Here are a couple of after photos.

My pastels are now safely stored and yet readily accessible.  I was able to separate the two easels and my one work table so they weren't on top of each other.  My still life setup is now on a more stable foundation that is even on wheels and can be moved around.  I moved some of my materials from my storage closet area into the lower drawers of the tool chest giving me more room to reorganize my closet.  This all took me about three days......but I am sooooo happy with the results.  Now I can work more efficiently and definitely more happily!  Life is good!!