Organizing my fusibles, interfacing, and stabilizers

I did a little organizing in the sewing room this weekend.  I have this shelf where I had put all my stabilizers, fusible webs, and interfacing.  I used to keep it in a drawer, but the drawer got too full to be functional.  Plus, some of the rolls were too big for a drawer.  So, I temporarily put it on a shelf, knowing then that the solution was no good.  Stuff kept falling off the shelf every time I tried to grab something to use, and I could never find what I needed.

I know a lot of people sew a sleeve-like thing to hang on their walls to store tubes of stabilizer in.  (Like this, or they sew something with sleeves.)  But that woudn't work for me.  First of all, I don't have the wall space to spare.  Second, it just wouldn't hold enough and would take up too much room if I made it big enough to hold all my stash.  Third, some of my stuff isn't in rolls.

So, here is the solution I came up with:

I bought a little black garbage can to put the stuff in that came on square bolts.  The garbage can is a rectangle.  They fit nicely in there.

I put the labeled end on top, so I would know what was what.  I had some other stuff that had to be folded, so that's in there, too.  But this holds things nicely.  (BTW, that $11.99 bolt was on sale at Hancock's going-out-of-business sale way back when, so I got it for like 70% off.  Score!  I bought the whole bolt.  It's almost used up!)

I got aother round garbage can for all the stuff that could be or came rolled up.  Here it is all neatly organized.

I tied ribbon around each to secure them shut, and if there were instructions with it, I tied that around it, too.  I color coordinated the ribbons.  All the pink ribbons are tied around interfacing.  The yellow ribbons are tied around stabilizers.  The green ribbons are tied around fusible webs.  I tied a tag to the label and wrote what it was on the label.  I think this will really help me use up what I have.  Often, I couldn't find what I needed or didn't want to cause an avalanche to get what I needed, so I would just go get some more.  This will be much better for me.

This should make it so much easier to find what I need when I need it.  I found these fit nicely on the floor under my cutting table.  Great!  Unused space anyway.  And now, I have a shelf that is 3/4 empty, so I can get some other stuff cleaned up.  Can't wait.  Hope this helps some of you organize a little bit!

You would think with all the organizing I do, my house would be neat, clean, tidy, and organized.  NOT!  Sigh.

And as a parting shot, this was a pretty cute sight this morning.  When I walked downstairs, I looked on the front step.  There was Belle laying on the front step, with the two cats cuddled up next to her.  Of course, when I went to snap the photo, both cats came over to see what I was doing.  (Pay no mind to the fact that my porch and stoop need to be swept and the rug needs to be shaken!)

By the way, we ended up having TWO litters of kittens.  One litter is now gone (the one that was PJ's, the cat on the right).  You haven't even seen the other litter (Rosa's, the one on the left).  They are pretty cute.  They were born while we were gone, so they're about 5 weeks old.  I'll snap a photo for you and show you sometime.  We will be looking for homes for four more kittens soon, if you need one!  :-)  For not being a cat  person, myself, these two cats sure are nice, and I like cuddling with them when I'm outside.  (And boy, do they want inside!)

Well, gotta run.  More tomorrow!  Hope you're all having a good day!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

P.S.  Weighed in yesterday...down 23.8 pounds altogether.  Yippee!  I updated my ticker but haven't updated anything else on the Health page.  Internet problems again last night.

Comments

[Shelly]

Oh, how I wish I could get more organized. I start to, then I start another project, and everything gets flung again. I'm hopeless, and think I just need to work with that . . .

[Allie]

This is what my friend Cathy does - it works great! Good for you! Cute pic of the furballs, and congrats on the weight loss!

[Doris]

FIRST OF ALL--Congrats on the weight loss!! Yeah for Mama Pea! I'm back on the WW wagon as of last week.

Secondly, I so need to follow your method of organization, this is one area of my sewing studio I have never found a useful or successful solution for.

[Live a Colorful Life]

Wow, Stephanie, I'm super impressed with your organization ideas! Because I don't do much with any of these, I still get confused between stabilizers and fusible interfacing etc. I don't know why--I used to sew my own clothing and even worked in a quilt shop. I must have passed customers with fusible question off to some other employee...

[Jackie]

Okay, and no one commented on the sheer amount of stabilizers, fusings etc that you have! I am so showing my husband this.... i have no where near that amount. I gotta get shopping.

[Deb]

That is a great organization idea! While I don't have any where near the amount of fusings, etc you have--what I have end up mushed and lost. I will add this to my "list" as I work on my sewing room!

Deb from clutteredquilter.blogspot.com

[Brooke]

Great tips - love the mesh trash can idea!!
Congrats on your weight too - you go girl!!

[Deb]

I agree with Jackie - I wish I had such a large variety to organize - not that I would do more quilting - but it would just be nice knowing it's there if I needed it. Or, better yet, if you were my neighbor . . . :) Congrats on the weigh loss!

[Linda in Calif.]

Congrats on losing the weight!!! That is wonderful. And I know you feel better too.
Great way to organize these items. I really like it. I'm not at that point yet, but I'll get it in mind for when I need it. Which we all know it not that far down the road. LOL!!

[Caroll D]

Doesn't it feel good to get organized. I don't have nearly the stash that you do. But it's nice seeing what you have done. Ahaa, those cats are so cute!