My pattern storage has always annoyed me. My patterns used to fit tidily in a cabinet but that was when I owned all of three patterns and the rest were homemade. As my collection grew, those files bulged and overflowed and looked downright terrible.
At the suggestion of several people, I tried shifting my Oliver+S patterns into binders but that just didn't work for me for a couple of reasons. 1 - the weight of the patterns made the holders sag out the bottom. 2 - Australia is idiotically stuck in the binder dark ages and 98% of binders sold in this country are the two ring variety. Epic fail, Australia. I quickly returned to my overflowing file cabinet.
I was in Hot Dollar today and the solution was right in front of my eyes. Hard shell encased binders. I recognized their perfection straight away.Perfect for holding patterns, pattern sheets and all of my tracings. Transparent, so there's no need to label them. Yes, they cost $3 each. Given the amount of time saved by being organized and not having to recopy things, I think they are worth it for me.
I bought 15... all of the clear ones they had in stock. I think I need more.
My name is Amy, and I am a storage solution addict. If your craft room is a disaster and you need storage ideas, you can hire me in for a consult. =)
Your first available appointment is?????
ReplyDeletePlanning an IKEA trip next week - anyone interested? lol!
Great idea, I have mine in clear ziplock bags, but they are not quite big enough for all my pattern traced sizes, or sturdy enough. Now I am thinking of ziplock bags IN these binders!
ReplyDeleteI moved and there is no ikea where I live now - eeeeek! (I miss it).
I'd say quite clever!
ReplyDeleteOn another topic, I received the fabric I ordered from you today & I am in love!!! It's really prettier in person-the buttons almost glow! Thanks so much!
I always thought the three ring binders were pesky (I'd never seen a three ring punch) but with your comment about the droop I see their worth now. I'm a wee bit impressed with your Oliver + S pattern collection, nice one, I only have one so far so it can hardly be called a collection but I see many more in my future.
ReplyDeleteDo these have rings or are they just clear flat cases? I can't tell from the pictures. They are pretty cool and I don't think we have them in the states.
ReplyDeleteBummer if I knew you were looking I could have bought you home some of the plastic things I use for my patterns. We have boxes of them at work that will probably get throw out because no-one uses them anymore. I'll bring one next time I see you and you can have a look in case you want more. They are great to cut up and use as templates too or in place of template plastic.
ReplyDeleteYay, you can sort out my laundry - the only storage area in our 1930's house .. where my fabric also lives
ReplyDeleteI'm having a storage & mess problem today too - and avoiding it by being on the computer!
ReplyDeleteMy biggest gripe with IKEA is that the bookshelves/storage aren't self tidying.
I use those plastic folders to hold all my "cut out of magazines one day to be made" pattern pages.
The crowd goes wild and thinks this is perfect for dust proof patterns.
ReplyDeleteThey are perfect for patterns - I have an ongoing pattern problem, just can't find the right solution. It is extremely lucky I love 300km from IKEA or I'd be there weekly.
ReplyDeleteI used to work for a professional organizer, there's nothing wrong with compulsive organizing (as long as it doesn't interfere with life!) but the hardest part of the organizing process is you are not supposed to buy bins until the last step...but, that's the fun part! So, the fact that you know what needs storage, then you buy it, sounds about right! People often buy the bins, throw the crap in it, and put it back on the shelf. That's not organizing! You've gotta purge and sort first!
ReplyDeleteokeydokey, off to hot dollar I trot. thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteA place for everything and everything in its place. You can never have too much storage!
ReplyDeleteI once thought about being a professional organizer! I love storage. I wish I had an Ikea where I live (New Mexico).
ReplyDeleteDoes the consult come with a doing? Cost? I am in need of the studio to be complete. The fairies don't seem to want to work.
ReplyDeletePS: Ikea is coming to Denver soon.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, amy! I'm laughing when I'm reading your post! in a good way, really!
ReplyDeletemy pattern is all shoved into their original envelopes so they're bulging like crazy. I want tp try out that binder version, someday soon...
I've never seen these. I would love to find some.
ReplyDeleteHot Dollar? I had to laugh. We have Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree.
ShirleyC
Dude, you are not alone.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this blog?
http://craftystorage.blogspot.com/
It's like my daily fix.
Great storage idea...and I love the birthday dress in the previous post...beautiful!
ReplyDeleteKristina J.
Amy, they look so clever, i want some!!!!!! But it will take up a lot of space though.... but tidy space indeed, haha....
ReplyDeleteGood for you, i will be looking for something like that in The Netherlands for sure!
Willemijn
Ingenious!
ReplyDeleteI really need these...do you know the name of the manufacturer? I would like to find a source here in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. Do you have the Ikea item number? I'm not finding that size on their website. When you start Organizers Anonymous, let me know. I'd like to join.
ReplyDeleteOMG, I founded the NABS: Not so Anonymous Boxes Samla (while the latter is a pun with "Sammler" which means collector and is pronounced similarly). Just have a look:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nadelspiel.com/?s=samla&x=0&y=0
Kind regards from Austria,
eliZZZa, the Samla addict,
who is travelling IKEA at least once a month >;o))
This is one of the most important reasons why carrera
ReplyDeletesunglasses are worn and you should never compromise on this aspect of wholesale Cocoons Sunglasses .Update your looks and transform your style with extraordinary collection of Wholesale Ray Ban Sunglasses .Black shades are no longer in demand by
fashion enthusiasts as earlier days. Lenses cebe sunglasses these days
acquire the full-colour behavior, from a gradient lens which is actually a blend of more than one color with different effects adidas sunglasses . Mirror-coated lenses also knows as a flash lens, termed
as ghosngeti Sunglasses is of silver is again in demand. These ghose lenses are among best-sellers, one vvsdfswesdfsdfgs can find them in blue,
green, purple and pink as well.