Storage Ideas

This week has been the most relaxing I can remember; no work, no classes, just relaxing and getting my life in order.  It has been the perfect time to work on some projects and really clean and organize everything in my life.  I'm a big believer in every thing having a place to live; no clutter! I either need it, and will find a place to keep it, or get rid of it or give it away. There's nothing worse than little piles of things that gather without a place to go.  So I'm always on the lookout for good storage ideas for my craft materials, especially since I often will buy things I like for "future projects" when I'm not quite sure what I'll do with them. So this week I've been working on getting everything organized and getting rid of those things I won't actually end up using. Yesterday I folded all of my fabrics and organized them by color. I just like to look at it, all stacked a pretty, and think about what I will make with it.  Today I tackled all those little odds and ends that accumulate when you do crafts: buttons, jewelry making stuff, ribbons, cording, elastic, embroidery floss.

And, oh, the embroidery floss! I got a bunch of it at a flea market last summer, and it comes in handy for lots of different projects, but until now I had it all stored in a little drawer, tangled and unkempt.

Oh, the clutter!

So I set about creating a new storage system using, of all things, clothespins (who knew they had a use in this modern age?)! I wanted to add a little character to them (no ordinary clothespins here!) so I used some leftover paint from my recent bathroom remodel to paint the tips.

And let them dry. 

Now I have my lovely clothespins, and with a bit of untangling I wound all the pretty threads around their new clothespin homes. How pretty, now I can display them rather than have them all crammed into a little drawer. And I can find the color I want right when I want it. Sigh of relief.

So pretty. 

Embroidery is not just for old ladies! Check out Sublime Stitching for some fun ideas.

On a side note... the Peonies are blooming in the front yard this week! I couldn't help but cut a few and bring them in. They are so beautiful they look fake - and so fragrant! Peonies are my favorite flowers in the world and it is such a treat to go outside and see them there.

And that was my lovely and oh so relaxing May afternoon! Looking forward to a beautiful Memorial Day weekend!

Leah