"Stockpiling" supplies

[fluttermuffin]

I've recently divorced and have moved from our house with nearly 2400 square ft. living space, plus enormous morton building ... to a small "vintage" home of just barely 1000 sq. ft with no storage....

I've easily downsized my clothes, kitchenware, knicknacks, DVD's and books....

but I'm struggling with my crafting stuff....does anyone else stockpile craft supplies, and how do you store it?

I sew, scrapbook, crochet, embroider, and do other misc. crafting...

[Judi Dial]

Places that I've stored overflow stuff: under the bed, under a shoe platform in a closet, above the shelf in a closet (locker shelf things work great for that), under the bottom shelf of hanging bookcases, behind things on shelves, behind the door of a room, on the inside doorknob of a room (for things like a skein of yarn, rubberbands, etc.), on top of my fridge, at the back of a hanging file cabinet between the frame and the end of the drawer, etc.

Not always storing craft supplies, but...

IHTH!

Judi

[Russ]

Watch the video that is linked in this thread, maybe you can get some ideas from it.

So you think your place is too small?

[fluttermuffin]

Watch the video that is linked in this thread, maybe you can get some ideas from it.

So you think your place is too small?

thanks Russ, for that link.... how cozy that place is... and how she's neatly placed what she needs.... WOW.

[Pemberleyan]

I really like the over-the-door racks. We have them on the backs of several closet doors and also the pantry door. It's amazing how much they hold.

[Contrary Housewife]

If you find out, let me know.

But on a serious note... I use a combination of bookshelves, stacked nearly to the ceiling, (don't mess around with anything less than 6' high it's wasted floorspace) and plastic storage containers. The shelves hold books, bolts of fabric and larger cuts. The shoeboxes hold all the smaller stuff like tools, floss, ribbon, fat quarters, stamps, etc.

I've studied every corner of my sewing room for storage options. The 4" space between bookshelves has rolls of fabric in it. Because I can't open the closet with my sewing machine in place, the door is open all the time and I have a curtain hiding the closet contents, while the door holds a large thread rack. No wasted space here.

Also, when I start to lose interest in something I pack it away into a less accessible space, to allow room for the crafts I am more interested in.

[dcompton]

For the pretty stuff like balls of yarn, instead of storing them, show them off. Put them in a baskets or nice boxes and "decorate" with them.

Could you put up one of those "toy hammocks" for the bulkier things like yarn? Or to hold something else that would then clear shelf space for your craft supplies?

A piece of pegboard in a frame deep enough to allow room for the hooks going through to the back could be hung on the wall like a picture and hold any supplies that would adapt to going on hooks.

When I was quilting, I just used nails to hang rulers and templates on the wall. They were handy, and out of way, helpful since some were too big or awkwardly shaped to store easily on shelves.

Under the bed for sure, but don't forget under the sofa and chairs built low to the floor like a sofa. I kept my big cutting mats under the sofa for a long time.

[frugalfranny]

I can only say thank god for my basement.

But........"stack 'er higher" is my motto.

I think Dcomp had some neat ideas.

Also........if you have a garage, use that for covered storage.
Don't forget any stairwell space.

And I NEVER buy a piece of furniture that doesn't have storage...exception being couch/chairs.

I recently purchased some wire racks for my yarn. I like to be able to SEE what I have......same for the storage bins....only buy the clear ones and NEVER buy the snap/latch hook on the lids ---they break when I 'over stuff' the bins!!

Don't forget the space above your toilet..........put towels, etc. on a shelf in bathroom so you have more room in cupboards for the hobby stuff.

Or...........dump some towels.........we need our hobby stuff!!!

Good luck..........

[fluttermuffin]

Or...........dump some towels.........we need our hobby stuff!!!

LOVE IT!!!!

thanks everyone for some awesome ideas.

[2ndGenGranola]

I have a large metal shelf on wheels that I roll against the wall. On the front side, I have plastic drawers to organize my items (and it looks nicer). I can pull out the shelf to store more items. On each side I have a white peg board to store sewing thread, scissors, photo stickies etc...

[Jenibelle]

I really like the over-the-door racks. We have them on the backs of several closet doors and also the pantry door. It's amazing how much they hold.

Ditto! At one point in a small place I had over the door "shoe holders" over every door holding different items. Dollar tree had some shorter length ones for a while and they worked on the inside of cabinet doors. I've trimmed them to size, cut them in half, nailed them to a wall (like currently in my bathroom) and filled them with everything from shoes, food, cleaning supplies, crafty stuff, HBA stuff...anything really! If you were really cramped and the look didn't bother you, you could even put one on both sides of a door.

There are also wire baskets that slide onto shelves and hang below them. We have them in our laundry room to hold small towels & extra supplies because the shelf is really high and we were able to really use the extra space well that way.

While people have mentioned using space under the bed, my suggestion would be to first put it on risers. That way you can fit one of those "milk crate" size boxes under there. It doesn't take up any bigger of a foot print, just adds vertical space.

[peanut]

I've attached pegboard to the inside of a closet door to use to hold all my ironing hams and quilting rulers. Doors are marvellous! There is a full length mirror on the front of that particular door. The door to the room has hooks on the back of it. Every door should have at least one hook! And when you have a solid wood door like mine, you make the most of them!

I also stack wire bins in the closet. And you might have room above the first shelf in the closet for a second shelf for less used items.

Also don't forget under the table. I have a small dining room table I use in my sewing room as a cutting table. I had DH raise it on 4x4 blocks to make room for a 2 drawer wood filing cabinet, drawer unit, suitcases of quilting fabric, plastic toy bins of yarn and Liquidation World makeup cases full of embroidery projects. It also is better for my back to be cutting fabric at a higher height.

A bulletin board is a good place to tack up pattern instructions when sewing.

We finally buckled on scrapbooking and bought storage units at Michael's 50% off before Christmas. They were my early Christmas present. They are 1'x1' units that stack and attach. They'd fit nicely into a closet. I have them along one wall in my dining room.

HTH
Jean