Organization and Storage

Frustrating, isn't it? Especially when we can't imagine parting with anything!

I have some of those cardboard magazine holders for my magazines. I put the name of the magazine on the outer edge of the box & just keep them in order. Books go into slotted book holder - by subject. Charts are in a file cabinet. Alphabetical by Designer. Kitted projects are on the bookshelf in the plastic file holders with the little wrapp-y strings on the front. Also have some that are in zip lock baggies.

Don't use Aida, but my fabrics are in Sterilite drawer systems. I use the 8 drawer towers.

The top shallow drawers are used for DMC & Anchor floss on bobbins. They're seated w/ the number up, so I can see at a glance what I've got/need.

The lower larger drawers are for fabrics. Evenweaves are separate from linens. Keep little ornie sized fabs in 1 drawer, then migrate to med & large sized pieces. Black & red fabrics are wrapped in tissue paper. I also have some of the BIG Sterilite drawers for yardage fabrics & fabrics I use for backing of ornies, etc.

There are also smaller drawer units to hold scissors, needles, cording for ornies, speciality fibers, lights, stuff, stash, etc!!!

If I don't have any foam core board, I'll roll them & put them into a tube temporarily. But that rarely happens as I mount my own projects. Once mounted, I'm more inclined to get them framed.

The really main thing that I use harkens back to the patterns, magazines, kits, WIPs, etc. I keep an Excell Spreadsheet of EVERYTHING! If I get a new magazine, it goes into the spreadsheet w/ the name, date, & a few of the patterns that I'm interested in. Patterns are entered by name, designer, subject, size, type, etc. All WIPs & UFOs are entered w/ the floss being used. It was a big job to create. I keep it all on a jump drive & I print it out to binder pages a few times a year - especially if I'm going shopping! This has prevented me from buying patterns I already have - but forgot about, flossies that I have 10 of - all in different WIPS! Plus, friends have fun looking thru it, then trying to find the item in my shelves & files drawers!

Hugs n' Stitches - RoseAnn

I have a cabinet made by my husband that would be called a large map cabinet. It has 12 drawers ranging in depth of 3" to 5". I have EVERYTHING in it!!!

My patterns are in 3 ring binders with sheet protectors. They are arranged by designer. I have noted on them if I have bought the fabric or any specialty items for the pattern.

In another drawer is the fabric. Each piece has a paper stapled to it to tell me what pattern it belongs to. If it is extra I have it separated by count, color, and type. As for large pieces of fabric -- ironed and rolled.

My floss is in 3 drawers - everything on bobbins is in one drawer while in 2 others is the loose skeins (DMC) arranged by number. All other fibers are on metal rings. The spooled metalic flosses have their own spot.

The three deepest drawers have finished framed items. There is a drawer for finished unframed items.

I could go on and on. I am an organization nut and it shows in my stitching.

Hope this helps --- Denise B

I currently keep everything in my bedroom - because my family room is being remodeled and neither of my teenagers will let me have their room for a sewing/craft room!

I have a 2 drawer file cabinet where I keep all my patterns and charts - by subject (i.e. Autumn/Halloween, Winter/Christmas, samplers, Hearts, etc.) I have all my books in a bookcase with doors - not arranged in any specific order.

I did have fun picking out a rather large unfinished wood armoire/cupboard at Ikea which has adjustable shelves on both the right and left hand sides. I have all my supplies in various clear storage boxes stacked on all the shelves by type of supply. DMC floss (in numerical order) and overdyeds, metallics, silks are all in separate containers and on one shelf. I've printed off some of the database sheets that are online and checked off which fibers I have because I find myself buying duplicates too often otherwise.

Fabrics (labeled at minimum with fabric count) and tools and interfacing, batting and misc. stuff are on another shelf and below that I have stretcher bars and hoops and frames together. Most of my finished projects are on another shelf - I rotate a lot based on seasons or holidays - I don't look at the same thing in my house all the time that way.

I also have a large section of to-do projects - either kitted up or in progress of and I keep the current projects I 'm working on in those large zippered mesh pouches. I have a shelf with containers of beads and charms and embellishments and ribbons and such as I've become pretty good at finishing small pieces such as ornaments, scissor fobs, etc.

Last shelf is where I stash works in progress, ideas or designs I'm working on and paperwork for my EGA chapter (I'm now doing GCCs and Workshops this year).

I must confess that I adore my cabinet - it's plain and simple and I can open both doors and just admire my stash in all its neat organized glory. Best part is I know where everything is. If I need scissors or fabric or beads I can just pull the box I need out of the cupboard - no digging through trunks or emptying something to get to the bottom - bliss :) My kids tease me that I'm too anal retentive and I am an organization nut just like Denise said she is (yes, I own a labeling machine too) ... but I find that I spend more time stitching or creating than looking for things that way.

Anyway - sorry to ramble on so long - hope you get some ideas from this. MelissaD

Stuff that's kitted up is in file boxes. There's a box of stuff intended for Mom, a box that's intended for my cousin's family. The stuff that doesn't really have a designee (or is for me) is in boxes by Small, Small-Medium, Medium, Medium-Large, and Large. In my system, Medium is generically 5x7 to 8x10.

Pamphlet-type charts are in magazine files. I figured out what topics I had a lot of (cats, flowers, alphabets) and gave those their own file.

Magazines are on bookshelves, all of one title together.

Fabric -- I *want* to get it in my grandmother's double dresser, but haven't been able to get anyone to bring it up from the basement (the movers finally arrived 3 days before the housewarming party, so anything that I thought we could move ourselves was put in the basement out of the way for the party). For now, it's in large plastic drawers from the office supply store, where a 15x18 piece will lay more or less flat, sorted by color.

Floss is in a "parts cabinet" from the hardware store.

I think you need to remind them who pays the mortgage. :)

We've had that discussion at 1 AM the last few nights. I'll wake up to Kitty hissing and Emilie protesting "Mom says I can sleep on the bed". Kitty is not happy that Mom wakes up and says that Emilie is right, and even less happy that Mom emphasizes the point by putting Em under the covers and cooing at her.

Do a spread sheet of all your stuff. Or maybe (like for me) several of them

Charts, kits are in various types of sleeves and organized by designer in notebooks. One spreadsheet covers all of those. I try to make notes about theme if not apparent by the title. Books - on the shelf above the note books. I have a spread sheet of these as well. Reminds me, I need to update that with presents received....

Two, fairly neat drawers, organized by type, loosely that is. One with "block weaves" (Aida, Tula....) and one with "linen types"

Now, my dear, you forgot about organizing beads, embellishments and flosses....

Would you send me a picture? I am so jealous, I'd love one place instead of several for my stuff! C

color then count.

Just to be different, I do mine by count, then color!

Gillian

Blowing raspberries at you dear!

Cheryl -

Denise

I only like fresh raspberries, not frozen ones!

Trust me, definitely frozen today!

I don't know - I think I want to see pictures of yours! it is a great looking piece though! Cheryl

Well my Ikea cabinet isn't a lovely custom one (lucky Denise!) but if you're curious there's a photo of it here:

Since starting this thread, I've done some major rearranging!!!

Unlike many of you, I don't have an extensive collection of charts or graphs. Instead, I *had* looseleaf notebooks full of pictures that might serve as inspiration for a project or printouts of online freebies. Each notebook was devoted to one or two topics such as blackwork, ladies/women, kids, counted stitching (hardanger, xs), needlepoint, florals, critters, humorous, etc. If I couldn't punch holes, I put the ideas or completed chart or kit designs in plastic sleeves. I had just about run out of notebooks and couldn't find cheap large ones. Since I'm no longer a computer geekess who needs a collection of tips and tricks or manuals for lots and lots of hardware and software or newsletter editor for my EGA chapter who needs fillers and other stuff, I was able to free up space in a small filing cabinet. The hanging folders are still organized by topic.

My small collection of books are arranged by topic and further subdivided by author. Magazines and somewhat bulky leaflets (think Leisure Arts or Dover pubs) are in magazine boxes.

I've got 4 multi-drawer plastic carts. Cotton floss(es?) is(are) in floss a way bags on large rings. They're grouped in drawers according to my abbreviated version of DMC's color families. Other fibers like silk, ribbons, or metallics are in their own drawers. I've even got a drawer for snippets/orts ;-) Unsorted, cheap buttons are in plastic shoe boxes as is my small collection of my sister's leftover thick perle cotton. Beads that are in tubes also live in one of the cabinets. Other beads are in several plastic boxes that have dividers.

On top of the cabinets are several organizer thingies that have multiple little pullout drawers. They're home to needles, threaders, largish beads, plastic flower beads and more butterfly, beach, leaf buttons than I'll ever use. FYI, they're sometimes quite a bit cheaper in stores like Home Depot than they are in craft stores even on sale or with a coupon.

A wider cart holds my punch needle supplies, hoops, stretcher bars, q snaps, and other stuff. A very large basket that's about the size of the bottom of a beer keg holds most of my crewel wool which has been divided by color into baggies.

A lot of fabric that might be used for embroidery is in one drawer. Heirloom and vintage dish towels, tablecloths and napkins that came from family closets and drawers that might be used someday in a stitching project are in another drawer. Some linen napkins have already been washed and ironed and are pinned to hangers. They're just waiting to be used ;-) In the 2 years since I've purchased my sewing machine, it's been a constant battle to keep 'sewing' fabric from taking over my craft/sewing room

There is no way in heck I'd create a spreadsheet or database to inventory my stash; I'd rather spend the time stitching ;-)

Have I forgotten anything?

Is that a cabinet with drawers, shelves or what?? When we lived in Maryland Ikea was a new entity. I have seen them since in our travels, and always need an eye-out for practical storage.

Gillian

In Florida, hoping to sell house and move north.

As a mere mortal - and a colour-blind male at that - why not have a simple folder with three lists of your stache each sorted in one particular way, by colour, by type and then by use? Or am I missing something (my long-suffering and incredibly patient wife often makes that remark...)

Hello Melissa - your cupboard looks so orderly it is inspiring, even more inspiring is your collection of fobs........I love these little treasures, and I am particularly intrigued by the 'bunch of grapes' - can you advise details of the pattern for this - so I can add it to my lust list.

Cheers

Joanne