This is the same method I use. I have tons of magazines and can't bear to get rid of any of them. They are organized by subscription and placed by year and month in magazine holders and put on a book shelf. I have lots of books also. I went through and placed small colored post-its on the ones I really liked and on the end that sticks out, I wrote on it with a Sharpie what kind of quilt it is. That way I don't have to actually open each magazine to get what I want to find. I have magazines from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and beyond. The 60's, 70's and 80's have more patterns in them than do current magazines. I do not want to get rid of them. I'm afraid if I do, then I'll need something that was in there and not find the info or pattern I want.