I keep a lot of my sewing supplies in old-fashioned glass jars. Not only can I see where everything is, but my supplies look delicious this way. They call to me, “Heather, Heather, come play with us!” Several of these fun jars line the high shelves of my studio – with pink walls and distressed white furniture, my studio is a virtual candy store, hence the nickname above!
There are many systems for organizing embroidery floss, involving cases, binders, hinged rings, zippered baggies, plastic cards or any combination of these. I prefer the hinged rings. I can clearly see my colors, without a lot of extra ‘packaging.’
I record the color #s on the end of the plastic cards with a permanent marker. In the off-chance I need to replenish a specific color mid-project, I’ll know what to get. When I’m traveling with a project, I detach all of the necessary cards and group them onto a new ring. The best part? The rings easily stack in their jar, where I can drool over the colors at will.
For me, creatively, it’s important to see my supplies. A random arrangement of spools in a jar might inspire a new approach to color or a unique patchwork design. The same goes with buttons or stacks of fabric. When your supplies are in a snarl and tucked away in a shoebox (as were my threads a few years back), you’re limiting your creative resources. Attack one category at a time: fabric, thread, trims, buttons, etc. Rent a good movie and enjoy the monotony of it all.
Personally, I still need to sort out my trims. I’d like to wrap them around these chipboard cards and line them all up on a shelf, keeping extra cards on hand for future trim binges. But, I haven’t discover a resource for these gems. If anyone knows where to get ahold of a stack of these, PLEASE let me know! I have a back-up plan involving corrugated plastic, but I’m holding out for Plan A.
Yes, I have far more supplies than my space allows for and not everything is neat and tidy. But, every effort I’ve made at organization has proven well worth my while. In fact, I’m sure there are some fantastic forehead-smacking ideas out there in blogland. Tell me your favorite tricks — I’d love to hear how you keep your supplies
in check!
I think those jars of yours are calling my name too! So pretty.
I really enjoyed this post. What beautiful colors in those photos. And, well, I could go on and on about every photo in your blog! The idea for embroidery floss rings is fantastic. I may have to borrow that one. As far as trim organization, I made my own cards out of card board, wrapped my trim around them and lined them up in a shallow drawer. I can see the color and pattern of each right on top when I open the drawer. Think of a card catalog in a library. If you want them in plain view, you could put them in clear plastic boxes on a shelf. I hope someone has a source for you for the cards. I’d like to know too!
I like the drawer idea — keeping ribbons and trims out of the light will certainly prevent fading. Thanks!
This is exactly the sort of thing I’m working on right now… how did you know? Trying to work out how to get my crafting materials organized and out where I can see them and get inspired! I have the glass jar system, too, but I use lots of Bon Maman jars to hold buttons grouped by color, tiny clothespins, pom poms, itty bitty dice, etc. The red gingham lids always make me smile. I’m looking forward to reading other creative crafster’s ideas.
Yeah I was going to suggest those thin cardboard sheets cut with a paper cut and then use a half circle punch on each end (or I guess you could use a half square) and then you would have the same things and they should pretty darn cheap! I am a big fan of the embroidery ring method. I love your photos! So yummy I licked my monitor which is not as yummy!
i have a bunch of wooden clothespins that i wrap my ribbons and trims around, and then secure with a little pin. i also use a lot of glass jars so that i can actually see what i have – such a great idea!
all of my ribbon is piled into one of those cute valises you can get at papersource, which looks nice from the outside, but the tangle inside always makes me cringe.
My daughters often reorganize for me so I am spared much of the monotony. Its alsofun to “guess” where something might be.
I keep my floss in a large tackle box on those plastic bobbins. The year my husband gave me that box for valentines day, all his buddies thought he was nuts. I loved it.
This year for my birthday, I am getting an empty barn. We are creating a studio in an old barn and he is cleaning it out for me. I am so excited about that. I am thinking orange sherbert walls, white ceiling, and red floor. I can’t wait.
Have a beautiful day.
I love your ideas! I use those jars too for some storage and I love them. The floss ring idea is great – I definitely want to do that! Where do you get them? I also work with a lot of ribbon and am trying to find a way to store that – I think the trim storage idea would work for ribbon too. Right now, my ribbons are in a jar and, while they look pretty, they’re a BIG mess!! Thanks for the ideas!!
i love the idea of storing things in the old-fashioned jars. i just saw some at target last week and wondered how i could use them. now i know! i may have to go buy some …
i like the idea of being able to see everything. right now my thread and bobbins are in a large ziplock bags. not pretty, but i can see them. my buttons are in a cookie tin, but i can’t see them. even though i love to run my fingers through them looking for the “perfect” one, it would be nice to see them!
thanks for the idea.
I love the idea of these rings for floss, but i cant tell what they look like or how the floss goes on! Very cute! I use alot of vintage jars for my goodies too! Love the childs shirt, your choice of fabric & attention detail is what i love the most!
The best idea I’ve used so far (part Carolyn’s idea from splityarn and part my own) is to wrap lengths of fabric around legal size file pockets, pin the ends in place, and then they can hang in a file box. I can sort them by color or what have you. I’m working on an even cooler version of this for my new craft room, where the file rods hang from the wall.
Wow–what an inspiring post! My sewing/crafting area is a total mess right now, and you’re pictures make me want to tidy it up right now! 🙂 Great ideas–I especially love the idea of the floss in jars. Mine is stuffed into the top drawer of a doll-sized dresser. :p
Eye Candy, this fantastic, it would be like walking into a lovely lolly shop everyday, a very inspiring post, most of my stuff is all in lovely boxes, but they are piled on top of each other where I can’t see them, so each time I make a collage, out come all the boxes and a giant mess is made!!! Jars here I come, off to IKEA, they have some great jars at the moment!!
I keep DMC floss on plastic bobbins like yours and line them up like soldiers in a row in two plastic boxes like this:
http://www.joanns.com/catalog.jhtml;$sessionid$FHFCU5AAAC5UUP4SY5NBIHR50LD3OEPO?CATID=85443&PRODID=159198
Seeing the rainbow parade of colors makes me smile every time I open the box and I can see everything from the outside, too.
My daughter has her own matching box (in pink, of course) and I also make embroidery kits as gifts and provide a box and several bobbins already wound with floss, along with needles, extra flosses and bobbins and a pair of wee scissors. I add a notebook of embroidery stuff in plastic protectors, a hoop and a couple of flour sack towels, some carbon paper for tracing and presto, great gift!
(I seem to have gotten over excited for a minute. Whoops!)
I store ribbon remains in a cut glass rose bowl (wedding gift) and others on spools in a drawer, but my guest bedroom doubles as a craft room, too.
Double comments: thank you caffeine!
Jars are gorgeous. I also love very plain big glass canisters (I get them for $5.99ish at Tarjay) for storage, but jar lids screw on safely, unlike canister lids.
oh, tidy organization of supplies by color! I love it! that ring idea is fantastic, especially the portability factor!
Hi I used to work at a fabric store and when we finished with a trim or ribbon we would throw away the cardboard or plastic that they came in on…so you might just want to ask around at your local shops you might be able to get those for free.
Hi. I ran across this site (http://www.thefabricorganizer.com) today that has something similar to what you might be looking for. They have these organizers in two sizes; the fat quarter size may work for trim.
By the way, I found your site a couple of weeks ago. I really like your style and beautiful photography. Looking forward to seeing your fabrics. Thanks.
I use those same jars which at present hold my trims, others hold bits and bobs sorted by type. Each trim jar holds a different color but that will change as they are already getting too full. I have some of embroidery threads on those cards but not on a ring, that’s a great idea I will use. I like the idea of the spools of thread in the jar as well.
I completely agree about wanting to see the supplies and at the same time they become part of the decor.
Isaac needs to have a how-to-build blog too!
Your fabric cabinet looks so fun! Y want to dive right in.
I also use the rings but in a different way. I put all my trims in ziplock bags, organize them by color and hang each color set on a separate ring (by poking a hole in the ziplock). Then I hang all my rings of rainbow baggies on a “hook ‘n hang” hanger that has two arms of holes and folds closed when I need to put it away. (I got it at american science surplus.)
Isn’t organizing your stuff the best!?
Mmmm…I love glass jars. Michael’s Craft store has Bell jars right now, and they’re smartly pairing them with wonderful little spools of ribbon in different color families! I believe jars and spools are 1.99 each, I lost track though, because I spent almost $40!
Where did you get your jars?
Is there an online source to purchase your fabrics? Thank you!
Hi Heather, I mentioned your beautiful studio on my blog today – I sent you a trackback but it looked like it might not have gone through. Just wanted to let you know!
Hello Heather, I got an email today saying you were looking for cards to hold your ribbons/ trims, we manufacture something similar to what you are looking for at http://www.magisticalmemoreis.com look under ribbonwrap.
Crystle
Hi – I found your site while noodling around looking for storage ideas. Great eye candy & pretty ideas. Just want to caution you against using cardboard or chip board that isn’t specifically treated to be acid free. Untreated paper and cardboard aren’t kind to fibers or fabrics for long-term storage, and I’d hate to see you invest time and effort to an end that would wreck your working collection.
Hi,Heather. Sorry to be contacting you so long after this posting, but I just came upon your site. I adore your studio set-up and think your storage/display ideas are great!
Please, where did you find those marvelous hinged rings that hold your embroidery floss bobbins? I have tons of bobbins stored in plastic boxes, but when I’m working on a cross-stitch project, I’d like to have my threads handier than they are now just laying on the table. These rings would be great!
Hoping to hear back from you. Jo-Anne
This is a great post! Thanks for sharing!
Hi there,
For all looking for the plastic bobbins with the ring. I found them!!!
http://www.shopdmc.com/acc610512s.html
Good luck to you all!!!
Hi there,
If you are looking for the plastic bobbins and rings here is a link to DMC.
http://www.shopdmc.com/acc610512s.html
I know I’ll be getting some!
oh, my goodness! I am in awe! I love your style!
hello friend congratulation you did a great work with this post about The Sugar Shop
In the off-chance I need to replenish a specific color mid-project, I’ll know what to get.