storage

[Audrey Mucci]

What is your most unusual storage solution?

[Ruby Hollembaek]

I use the cloth shoe organizer at one end of the shelves to hold glues, paint, anything that can be stored upright with a cover. I also like to use any open containers that are nice, real eye catchers that give me a lift when I look at the shelves. I use the suitcase type file boxes to put ideas, magazine clippings, newsletters in and then I use 3 ring binders with clear sleeves to add things that are for certain areas such as "for the home", "for the yard", etc.

[pat winter]

Well, I am a crazy quilter which means I have a lot of beads,mostly seed beads. I used to store them in the plastic screw jars that are stackable, and then placed them on a shelf. This became a nuisance when I bumped the shelf with my shoulder and they would topple over and sometime open and spill. I decided to buy the tubes from my local bead shop. I have a sweet bead gal who allowed me to order a few hundred tubes with caps. My husband then came up with a wall storage system which holds several tubes safely. The unit hugs the wall and I can view all of the beads in one browse. I love it. Below is a photo of some of the units.

[Audrey Mucci]

This looks great! I don't have as many beads, but this could could work for other things with bigger tubes. You've really got me thinking.

[pat winter]

Yes, it would work, just get a deeper board depending on how large your tubes are.

[Anne Marie Desaulniers]

Wow! Great solution, and you are so organized. I envy you and wish I had enough wall space to do something like this. Having your tools right in front of you gives an added boost to the creativity. Also, I imagine that it's very easy to try out new colour combinations. Just move the tubes around until you see one that you like.

[pat winter]

I find if I can see my supplies, I am more apt to use them. Before I put my things out for me to see, I would forget what I had and replace items. I wish my studio looked "calm",and super neat, but if I don't see the stash, I am not motivated to use it. I do love the bead storage,and that is a great suggestion,moving beads near other's to see how they work together.Thanks!

[Anne Marie Desaulniers]

My "studio" (read spare bedroom with lots of stuff) is full to the rafters. I have one of those 5 drawer basket systems full of scraps of multi-coloured fabrics. In a perfect world, I would have one basket for reds, one for blues, one for greens, one for blacks, etc., etc., etc. However, I can't imagine how much time would be spent organizing and reorganizing my scraps. In reality I stuff as much as I can in each of the baskets, and have a great time rooting around for the perfect piece. I work very intuitively and a little bit of chaos seems to help the process.

[pat winter]

You are on to something! I find that to be true as well.My fabrics are in same color bins,but there are times when I find they sneak into another and that is a happy surprise. I have started projects with "happy accidents" like that.

[Sandra Wyman]

I'm always losing scissors: I now use hooks to attach them to a metal grid on a stand which goes at the back of my construction area. So far it's working though I still have some that I haven't unearthed yet, including two pairs of lace/reverse applique scissors I lost some time ago before moving into this studio.
My other favourite storage solution is large glass jars from IKEA, one each for yellow,orange,red,purple, blue and green fabric scraps - easy to find and they look beautiful too.

[Anne Marie Desaulniers]

I work at a long term care pharmacy and was fortunate enough to scam a couple of dressing carts that were no longer being used. These are carts that nursing homes and hospitals use for bandages and dressings. They were in perfect condition and have three narrow drawers and one larger one. Threads, beads and fabric paints fit perfectly in the smaller drawer. The large drawers hold bits and pieces of batting and other unsightly miscellaneous stuff. One other bonus is that it's high enough for rotary cutting and painting. Also, if you know a pharmacist, try to get hold of some empty medication vials. The mid-sized ones are a perfect storage solution for seed bead hanks (and nicely fit into the narrow drawers).

[pat winter]

Sounds like wonderful storage to me.

[Linda Lynch]

I purchase old vintage suitcases and store vintage lace and linens in them. I also use them for supplies, but the only problem is I forget what is in them! I am going to label them so I don't have to go searching. Overall my workspace is very organized with traditional storage, but I love fun and different types of storage. I have a lot of baskets and open suitcases filled with yarn for projects or fabric projects. I like to be able to see my ongoing projects so I will not forget them!