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Tote bag frustration

Over the past year or so, I've built up quite a collection of silver charms and castings for my "cheap jewelry" line. It's gotten to the point where I have to organize them into compartmented boxes... about half a dozen boxes with 36 compartments each. These are the most useful size of compartmented box I've been able to find. They measure 10" wide x 7" deep x 1.5" high.

So now I want to get a little tote thing to stack them all in, to carry to shows and stuff. I can get one that's about the right size at Michael's for $25 -- but it comes *with* boxes in it that I don't want or need! Rio only has totes sized for full-size jewelry trays, which are considerably larger. Fire Mountain has what looks like the exact same tote as Michael's (boxes and all) for $36.50. I keep thinking that SOMEONE has to have a tote bag for half-size jewelry trays, which would be about the same size as my boxes.

Finally, I find a tote for half-size trays, it's only $11, and it doesn't come with anything in it -- hooray! Then I check the overall dimensions. It's 7.5" x

9.5". ONE FRIGGIN' HALF INCH TOO SMALL.

Guess I'll be going back to Michael's. I'm sure I can make *some* use of the boxes that come with the thing. If I had more work space this wouldn't be an issue at all.

Celine

Reply to
Lee S. Billings
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Sell the boxes you have already...surely someone here, or on eBay can use the things you will no longer need! I am a scrapbooker, and am changing my paper storage system, and you can bet I'll be selling my racks!! (oops, somehow that sounds bad, lol!)

Arleen

Reply to
Arleen

how's about one of those Lands End boat totes that were suggested for my "Derby" fiasco?

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The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Reply to
LC aka Fiddy

Good thought, and I did go check out their site, but none of their totes are the right dimensions. I need something which will hold the boxes in a stack, with not much room for them to slop around. I really do suspect the Michael's tote is going to be my best bet.

Celine

Reply to
Lee S. Billings

Get thee to a WalMart, KMart, Fleet Farm, etc. Any place that has a fishing section. There is a HUGE variety of soft-sided totes available for fishing stuff. I have several in various sizes and I love them all!!!

I have 2 that I use to organize. One has all of my natural stone, one has all of my glass. I have a smaller one that works perfectly to hold smaller trays and I use it as my Travel Kit. I can get what trays I need inside, and then it has nice little pockets on the outside to hold tools, wire, stringing materials, etc. etc. etc.

They are as nice or NICER than the ones sold for craft purposes, and they are a FRACTION of the price. (marketing weenies somewhere found out that if you put the word 'Craft' in the title, you can charge 3x as much!) My 2 large ones were $13 each (craft ones in the same size were $35-45), and my small travel one was $11. they all came with trays. It is totally worth it! You can either resell them, or stash them.... I've always found a use for them at some point!!

My 2 cents!

Katie

Reply to
katiewise

Ah, thank you! I should have thought of that myself, after all the discussions of PowerPro and Fireline I've seen in here. I'll definitely check WallyWorld before making my final decision.

Celine

Reply to
Lee S. Billings

Thank you again, Katie! We hit Wal-Mart this afternoon and found just the right item over in the fishing department... and *it was on clearance* for $15, down from an original price of $40. It's a fly-fishing tackle tote, with a rack that holds 5 boxes the size I use (and yes, it came with boxes, but for that price I don't care), a sturdy zip compartment on top that will hold 2 more in a pinch, and mesh side pockets all around. My partner is out checking other Wal-Marts around town to see if he can find any more, and my best friend who does cross-stitch wants one if he does!

Those who think they might have a use for something like this should go and look NOW, before all the clearance ones disappear. Although if you live in an area where fly-fishing is common, you may not find them on clearance. Texas isn't a big fly-fishing state, and those totes may have been sitting on the shelves for a year or more. The brand name is Shimano. I found a website for them, but it doesn't seem to list tackle kits of any sort, just rods and reels.

Celine

Reply to
Lee S. Billings

You're Welcome!! glad to be of service!!

Shimano makes wonderful bags/totes. Glad you found one that works for you!

Katie

Reply to
katiewise

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@mindCHEMISEspring.com (Lee S. Billings) :

]The brand name is Shimano.

don't they make the most wonderful stuff???? i love their plastic boxes with the moveable dividers!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

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----------- I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all.

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vj

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