In an earlier blog I talked about finding places for all my shop stuff, eliminating clutter and at the same time keeping things accessible. All that efficiency has created a new but similar problem: Where to put all the stuff I’m making?

For my Civil War Woodworking book, I’ve been cranking out a lot of woodworking. The book includes 18 projects, and although some are quite small – like the handheld mirror I talked about in my Feb. 6 blog – some are full pieces of furniture. I have a couple squirreled into nooks in the shop, but the rest would just be in the way. So I’ve started scattering them around the house.

Later this year when the book comes out, I’ll likely give some of these projects away and put the rest into use with my own reenacting. But for now, they have to remain in pristine shape in case I need to do additional photography, so I can’t just stash it away with the rest of my banged up, dirty gear. Plus, as I wrap up a couple small late projects, I’ve been scattering those around the house, too. As the finish on some of these cures, I don’t want them in the shop gathering dust, so they’ve ended up on shelves, bookcases, and even the sideboard in the dining room.

To her credit, my wife has kept her hands off of them. Understand, my wife is the consummate putter-awayer – if it’s out, it will be moved. Doesn’t matter what it is, set it out and it will disappear. Set it out again, and it’ll disappear again (to a different place). But she understands that these are part of my job, plus some of them are actually quite attractive as reproduction items and serve a decorative purpose.

What do you guys do when you’ve made a lot of items, but they’ve not yet been sent to their ultimate destination or owners? If you make furniture that you need to save for shows, where do you keep it in the meantime? And as you make more and more, and as more and more starts creeping into your home, how does the rest of your family handle that?

Being productive is a great thing, and gives me a keen sense of satisfaction. But I’m being buried by my own productivity.

Till next time,

A.J.