Organizing stash

I spent the whole morning (about 4 hours) sorting and reorganizing all my 12 x 12 scrapbook cases full of cross stitch supplies.  The last 6 months, I have been pulling out patterns/magazines, floss and fabric to make all the ornaments.  Today I sorted and put away all the floss (bobbins and extra floss in floss away bags).  Reorganized each case because sometimes I just throw things inside whatever case is handy.  I found all my FFO (Fully Finished Objects) and put them all together in one case (40 projects).  Then put all my Just Nan kits (20) in one case so they will be easy to find when I am ready to start a new one.  Here are a few photos showing how I sort each scrapbook case of cross stitch supplies/tools.  I didn’t sort the blue ones because they are just my colouring books/Zentangle supplies.

I even dusted off the black shelf that houses the coloured cases.

Adding pages to my blog

Hi everyone,

As you can see I have changed the name of my blog and added a new tab (page) Organization of Hobby Supplies.  I am working on a page for each of my hobbies.  Cross Stitching is still my favourite hobby of all, but I would like to share my other interests here as well.  I hope to inspire others to try new hobbies.

I have also made some changes to the side bars.  I like clicking on labels on other bloggers sites and decided to do the same on mine.  Wow I didn’t realize how many times I have duplicates because I forgot to add an “S”.  Great another thing to try and clean up because those things bother me. 

I haven’t stitched at all this year.  I am job searching and working on my blog.  I hope to stitch tonight or over the weekend.  I will continue to stitch on Spring Mouse in a House.  Last time I left off I had this much stitched on the rug.  

Happy Stitching!

Ann

Organization - Craft Shelf/Floss Cabinet

I know everyone has their own way of storing cross stitch floss.  I only use DMC because I don't like doing a full X each time.  I like to do a half stitch first ///// and then go back and finish the X by doing the other half of the stitch \\\\\.  This is why I don't use hand dyed floss, not because the colours don't look nice, but just because of the way I stitch.

I have one of each DMC colour wrapped on plastic bobbins in a wooden cabinet.  When I first started cross stitching (1995) I belonged to a Miniature club (building Dollhouses and Miniatures), I designed my own cabinet to look similar to the beautiful and expensive DMC wooden cabinets and one of the Miniaturists built the cabinet for me.  I made mine to sit the plastic beading/floss cases inside (without the lids).  I LOVE my wooden cabinet and use it all the time.  I have never finished it with stain or varnish because I didn't want to ruin it by picking a colour.  The wood has changed colour over the years, someday I might treat the wood but for now it is still bare wood.  Here are a few photos.

The cabinet has 4 drawers and the top section full of DMC floss.  Looking back I should have designed it with more drawers to hold extra skeins of floss.

All the extra DMC skeins of floss I keep inside floss bags in a scrapbook 12 X 12 box from Michaels.  I use these cases for all my hobbies, so Dave & I designed a craft shelf to hold scrapbook 12 X 12 cases.  I didn't want all the cases to be the same colour, so I bought 2 of each colour whenever Michael's had them on sale.  I now have enough to fill the shelf.  

On the top of my shelf I have a jewelry holder that spins around, I hang all my Just Nan 3D limited edition ornaments on it.  I also have a glass box with my 3D chair (keeps it dust free).  You will also see the painted box that I won from Angela.

Here is a list of things I keep in the 12 X 12 scrapbook cases.

- Zentangle/drawing supplies

- pencil crayons for my colouring books

- extra DMC floss in floss bags, DMC Variegated

- cross stitch supplies

- finished projects (to be assembled or framed)

- kitted projects

- fabric (28ct/32ct evenweave or linen)

- charts that I want to complete soon

My Stitching Area

I was feeling tired tonight, so I didn't do any stitching.  I thought I'd share a photo of my stitching area. I have a reclining chair but most time it is not reclined.  My ott light with magnifier was a birthday gift a few years ago from my sons.  For Christmas Dave made a black wooden base that is on wheels to put under my lamp, so I can move it closer to my chair while stitching.  I found a chart holder on Amazon (but now my LNS Stitcher's Place has them in stock) and of course my scroll frame floor stand.  As you can see this photo was taken a few weeks ago (Jan 31) while working on Snowman Wisdom.  I like to watch TV shows or movies while I stitch.