Tool Talk: Storage

Storage is kinda like colour theory - everyone has a theory, some are quite complicated, and it's guaranteed to send some quilters to cower in the nearest corner with a salty/sweet treat and an age-appropriate beverage as they contemplate the overwhelming mess that is the-room-formerly-known-as-the-dining-room.  I'm not a famous quilter, so I don't have an awesome room of coordinated storage to show you.   I would be glad to share what works for me, though.

One - nearly free plastic bins: 

 We eat a lot of greens in my house and are big fans of fresh spinach, arugula and salad mixes, so we have a fairly regular supply of these bins.  The one on the top of the photo above has 1", 1.5", and 2" scraps, the one below has 2" and 2.5" and the one below has 5" scraps.  I forget what the bottom one has now, but I think it was 2.5" and 3.5" pieces.  These are lightweight, relatively sturdy (as fabric is also lightweight), and you can see the contents.  They are easy to write upon with a sharpie so you can label the sizes you have or want to have for each. 

Another nearly-free bin, a clementine box:

Clementine boxes are a good size for sorting 2.5" and 2" scraps, particularly if they are going to be used fairly quickly.  Since it doesn't have a lid, the presence of dust would make it problematic for long-term storage.  These are also good for lining with fabric and displaying cuddlies at craft festivals, or for corralling pet toys, you know if you don't want your fabric in them all the time.

Two - commercial storage:

I do not have terribly much commercial storage, but one of my favourite pieces is the ArtBin Super Satchel latch-top box.  These can get to be a bit pricy, but at 15" x 14" x 3.5" I find they are just right for storing large 12.5" and 10.5" blocks.  Also, you can periodically find seasonal colours (like the glittery magenta - I have no idea what season that was!) at less than half-the regular price if you check the clearance section at your local chain craft store.  If you like your storage to be coordinated and match each other, then you'll need to save up and try to find them on a very good sale!

a little something, long sought after

One of the joys of travelling with my husband is his willingness to wander about thrift, antique and junktique shops with me. On our holiday earlier this month I happend on this gem:

A pin pot!

I've been seeking a pin pot for a while now, although I didn't know that was precisely what I wanted. All I knew was that the little lidded cardstock box I'd been keeping my safety pins in was starting to look more than a little shabby. Also: I didn't want an enamelled metal tin with a tight-fitting lid, as I wanted to get in and out quickly. (I work on some pretty thin deadlines sometimes!)

Earlier in the day before I found this I found an absolutely precious white glass FireKing dish with peaches painted on the side. It was hard to pass up, given that I love peaches in truly all their forms, even painted on glass, apparently. Alas, it had no lid, and given my kitten's penchant for pulling pins out of every receptacle - even quilts - in which she can find them, it's imperative that my pin storage device have a lid.

I'm glad I held out, because this pin pot has a lid with a perfect feature that I hadn't even recognized until I got home and put it to use. Did you notice it's handle is squared, not rounded? It balances just right on itself at about a 35-degree angle, which combines with it's inner lip to hold just enough pins at fingertip readiness!

Honestly, grandma Martha was right - Good things do come to those who wait!