Turning creative chaos into a digital catalog

Having creative outlets is a lot of fun. Learning new ways to express your creativity is always a treat, and by treat I mostly mean the part where you get to collect new tools and supplies. There is nothing more thrilling than entering a craft store. They must put something in the air because they all have me itching to touch and explore the massive potential inside every aisle. Have I personally ever wanted to make jewelry? No. But do I think about it every time I see those glittery bins and needle-nose pliers? Yes. The downer is when you actually find what you went to the store for and realize you also need blue paint… but do you already have that shade of blue at home?

I recently became an avid knitter, and part of that hobby includes collecting a ton of yarn through project leftovers or aspirational yarn when I encounter a skein that is too beautiful to leave behind. The problem I’ve run into is the organization of it all. What brands have I used? What colors? What projects did I make? Do I already have some of this yarn at home? Dropmark has given me a simple way to design a digital catalog of my yarns. It’s been super helpful and fun, so I wanted to share how I did it.

First, I took “yearbook pictures” for each yarn that I have to use as thumbnails. Sorting my stash this way really let me see what colors I’ve been gravitating toward. A bit eye-opening, I’ll stay away from gray for a while. Each color is a stack labeled with the retail name, and inside each stack, I’ve linked to the online store or manufacturer. I’ve also added links to the patterns I used for each yarn. Again, I used custom thumbnails to display a photograph of my finished object so I can see how my own tension and knitting practice result in a particular fiber. Finally, I added tags for color and weight so that I can make searching my catalog simple.

The best part is, I’ve realized that this style of cataloging extends to other hobbies as well! A side benefit of this whole process is that I started this catalog as a way to organize things I can’t easily see all the time, especially when I’m out buying new yarns. But I’ve come away inspired by my other hobbies, like photography.

If you’re curious about creating your own catalog but aren’t sure how it translates to your hobby, check out our other examples below and give it a go!

Designers
Licensed fonts and projects you’ve used them on
UI kits
Illustration packs

Illustrators & artists
Brushes
Inks
Paper types

Photographers
Lenses
Film stocks
Presets

Dropmark is often where ideas begin, but it can also be where your creative system lives. When collections hold both inspiration and execution, you spend less time searching and more time making.
Your supplies stop being scattered. Your past work becomes useful again. And every new project starts with clarity instead of chaos.