Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Thank you Martha Stewart!

Thank you dear readers and friends for all your lovely comments about my scissor display.  I love organizing my stash almost as much as stitching it that's for sure.   I've been keeping all my patterns in 2 file drawers in my office/sewing/stitching room for probably 10 years.  The drawers kept getting more and more tightly packed with stash acquisitions to the point it was getting difficult to pull out patterns let alone squeeze any more in. I couldn't get to any in the back without pulling out a bunch of folders first to get my hands back in there.



Of course I COULD quit buying more patterns but let's face it - that's not going to happen!  I decided it was time to make some room.  I know a lot of stitchers keep their patterns in binders, but although I've got most of my patterns in those see-through page protectors I never had used binders.  I took a look at what I had and decided that I could make more room by (1) putting my 2 bulging file folders of Prairie Schooler charts in binders, and (2) finding a place for all those half-size patterns (the ones that are sized like the LHN ones).  I thought maybe I could find half-size page protectors to fit those patterns and get some of those smaller ring binders to hold them. 

So off I went to check out Staples office supply store.  They do make half-size page protectors I found out and so  got a few bulk packs of those (they were about $5.49 for 25 - Staples own brand).......then I started looking at the vinyl binders to fit that size. WHOA - these binders, even the cheapest ones, were like $7-8 apiece.  This was not going to work out if I had to pay that kind of price.  Just then I noticed a clearance rack.  They had a bunch of Martha Stewart branded office supplies marked way down.  I found out from the cashier later that since Martha has a new line out, they were closing out some of her older stuff.  Well there was a stack of binders - not vinyl but very nice - and also cute adhesive label holders. The binders were 50 cents each!  I grabbed every aqua and brown one they had plus the little label packs for a dollar, and I got 14 binders in all.  What a steal!!   I didn't even need that many binders but I couldn't pass up a deal like this.

I put all the patterns that would fit into these little binders, putting 2 patterns in each page protector.  Martha Stewart also makes various sizes of page protectors so I got a small pack that would fit some of the tiny patterns.   I'm real happy with it all and now I have more room in my file drawers.  As Martha would say, it's a good thing!




I do have some progress to show you on the Humble Servant Sampler.  It's coming along well and I'm enjoying this project a lot.

Shakespeare's Peddler - Jenny Bean Humble Servant Sampler
who doesn't love a purple cow??
My next project is figuring out a better way to store all this DMC floss - it's taking up too much room!

32 comments:

  1. WOW!! What a score at Staples! Love the colors of those binders too. I didn't know they made page protectors in the smaller sizes too.
    I'm making a list right now....

    :o)

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  2. very nice job with the organizing Jeanne and with snooping out a great deal on the binders - it's very "martha" and I'm a martha fan so that is a compliment ! Your JB piece is looking very nice. Too bad you couldn't run across some of those DMC cases in antique shops or on clearance. I picked up two of them at a LQS that was going out of business. I know that's not enough but lots of colors can be grouped in families. I have a lot of room to advise anyone - mine have been sitting there 2 years empty collecting dust LOL ! Organizer??? NOT - I need professional help in more ways than one - did someone say HOARDERS!!!!!!! take care Melody

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  3. Very nice! What a great bargain at Staples! I like that thought -- perhaps that's a way that I can ease the tightness in my file drawers. I think I might have some binders from school supplies......

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  4. That's a great idea about the smaller binders.... I amgoingto check out my local Staples and takes look..... I can't wait to see what you have to say about DMC storage.... Always looking for ways to improve!

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  5. That's a great idea about the smaller binders.... I amgoingto check out my local Staples and takes look..... I can't wait to see what you have to say about DMC storage.... Always looking for ways to improve!

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  6. Fantastic!!!! I agree, playing with stash is just as fun as stitching, sometimes even more fun!! I love what you did, and what a great find at staples! It is fabulous. Great progress on your Jenny Bean too. What about putting your DMC on those cards and into those plastic boxes? They would stack nicely :)

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  7. I'm heading to Staples in the morning and hope to find these bargains. What a neat system! Love the sampler.

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  8. oooooooooooooooooo lovely idea and love those binders .... wonder if our staples over here do them ???
    and can't wait to see what you do with the dmc ... my gast are stored like that as are my vast ribbon collection ... but I hang those on a rail underneath my shelves :) love mouse xxxxxx

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  9. Jeanne, you are so full of great ideas!! Don't you just love a great score like the one you had at Staples? My stash could sure ue your help.















































































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  10. It looks wonderful! I need to do something like this.

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  11. So great that it all came together so well and for a bargain too. Your sampler looks amazing love the cow and all thecolors. CJ in OK

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  12. Your sampler is looking wonderful!! And wow, what a bargain you got on those binders!! I was thinking of telling you to go to Walmart, but you scored something so much better and much prettier. I didn't know about those half protector sheets but now I have to get some. I store my charts in binders also, but didn't know about those!!

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  13. Love your organizing ideas!!!!! And Jenny Bean is so sweet.

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  14. Love the binder idea! Have you thought about an index card file box for your floss? I think it might be the right size. You might need more than one though. It's a thought.

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  15. I love that idea! And what a great deal! I will have to keep an eye out at my local stores.

    Your piece is looking great, keep up the good work!

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  16. How totally cool!!!!! I bow to a great organizer.... and a sale finding queen. You deserve a giant blogland round of applause. :)

    Oh, and your stitching is wonderful too. :)

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  17. Jeanne,

    Here's how I organized my DMC floss - I got the floss away bags and put all the floss I had on bobbins. I didn't want to have to deal with untangling skeins when I want to stitch so on bobbins they went - then I got screw lock rings from USALanyards.com.

    Here is the link:

    http://www.usalanyards.com/extra-large-screw-lock-loose-leaf-binding-ring-RK-95.aspx

    I then divvied up the floss onto the rings 000-400 or so on the one ring, 500-900 on another, and the last ring has the 3000's.

    Of course, I don't have a craft room so the rings are in storage inside the Hammermill paper boxes -I have three of them. I tilt a ring into a box and then put the cover on it. It's not great re: pretty storage box, but it's better than nothing! Until I get my own place, I've been left to my own devices on how to organize my stash better. BTW, I no longer use the floss boxes, unless it's to hold threads for a project I am working on.

    It's not a perfect system, but for now it works - and it saves my sanity. Oh and I have ALL 454 colors of DMC floss! :P

    Hugs and Love,
    Jennifer H

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  18. Organizing stash is so gratifying isn't it?! What a great deal you got on those binders. Your charts look great all organized. Nice to flip through too! Beautiful progress on your sampler as well!

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  19. Great stash organizing...and I do so love this sampler!

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  20. I store my charts like you do, Jeanne, but my binders aren't nearly as pretty!! You got such an amazing deal--I'm sure lots of stitchers will be making their way to Staples very soon :) Love your latest sampler--purple cow and all!!

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  21. Wanted to let you know that I got some of the binders!!!!! Thank you sooo much for your post :) Im soo excited!!!

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  22. OMG...what an awesome organizing idea. I have my patterns in baskets, but they start to bow after a while...this may be the next route I take. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  23. First of all...I have to tell you that I am not even through the first paragraph and my heart is racing!!! This is going to be good!!! Okay....back to reading your post.

    I am so excited!

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  24. I'm back!! Oh my goodness!! That is so cool! I am going to try to talk my husband into a Staples trip today...lucky for me he loves office supplies. Fabulous!!!

    Thanks for sharing. Please let us know what you do with the DMC!!!!

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  25. Genius! Can't wait to see what you're going to do with your fibers!!!Your Humble Servant piece is so beautiful!!!

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  26. This looks like a great idea, will definitely look into the page protectors and love the color of the notebooks.

    Also, love the scissor holder in the previous post - great job!!

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  27. Omgosh how organised you are.. and I loved the scissors too.
    And that Jenny Bean Humble Servant Sampler is beautifully stitched..I shall pop back to see your progress
    Chris

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  28. Great organization!!
    I think the purple cow was one of my favorite things about the Humble Servant sampler!

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  29. Great find at Staples!

    Humble Servant is looking lovely, great progress

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  30. WOW!!! Love the half binders. Didn't know they existed! On the floss, I finally decided to bobinate all mine. $1.99 boxes from Hobby Lobby and $0.99 cents packages of plastic floss bobbins. Sharpie fine point for numbers marking. ANd that 99 cent floss winder was a definate life saver! Just don't let the cat see your threads hanging down. Had to chase mind across 2 rooms to get a skein back.... Lovely WIP!

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  31. Great score on the binders. I didn't know she had page protectors in different size. I have my smaller patterns in a plastic box, this is a much better idea.

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  32. Those binders....to die for~ I am wondering if my local Staples has them clearances although I see your post was in March. I just past a Staples while out and about today. Great...great...great idea!

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