Oh, and how do you remember what you liked and where to find it? That's my biggest problem. I go to look for something and spend several hours having fun looking through the books. Not very efficent even though I have a good time. Should I keep some kind of index?

I organize by block type, technique, compendium. Block books are arranged from simple to complex- squares,triangles, diamonds, hex, polygons, stars, compass, mixed & Misc. Techniques are organized by quilting motifs, hand quilting, machine quilting, misc. The last category I sort are books that are compilations like block books or history of "*" books or mixed books with lots of photos of interest.

For finding things, I like to use sticky notes that I place so they stick out beyond the top edge of the book.

Mostly I use my library as a jumping off place for ideas so I'm not too concerned if I can't find something. If I liked something that much I would add it to my list of things I'd like to try when I get the opportunity. Otherwise, my feeling is that if I forgot it, it wasn't memorable enough to think about keeping.

Diana

I try to organize by technique, the author. The exception being quilt history. But usually when I am working on organizing, I find something interesting to look at and get distracted from the task. Then I just go sit down and read through them. Im still not organized.

by subject and then by author's last name. (I can't help it. I was a librarian in my previous life)

I do it by techniques, subjects, interest and author. All my color books are together, hand and machine stitching, applique, etc.

When I'm reading a new book, I keep a pad of multi colored sticky markers and try to use the same color for things of interest. Projects are red, techniques yellow, tips green or what ever. I've also seen others suggest keeping a sheet of paper on the front of magazines with the projects of interest listed or indicated if you copy the table of contents.

Mine are not nearly as organized as I'd like them to be. They are in my bookcases, on top of my dressers and on top of our bed headboard. I keep thinking I need to cull...

I only have 4 books for quilting. They always stay on the floor by my sewing machine.

They're supposed to be organized?

Mine are also organized by subject and category. Plus I have 20+ notebooks for patterns, techniques, quilt history and so forth that I've collected over the internet and magazines with patterns I wanted to keep. I use those plastic covers to keep them in. I am just one of those people that has to be organized or I go nuts. That's not to say I don't spend an unbelieveable amount of time trying to find something I'm looking for as organized as it is. I also use the post its for really special things so at least those are easier to find.

My books are in no order whatsoever, except for Eleanor Burns' books. They are all together. But, my magazines I've got separated by the kind of magazine, such as all the "Quilt" are together, "Love of Quilting", etc., and then I separate them by year and then by month, so if I want a particular one, I can find it. They are all in magazine holders bought at Office Depot. I used to keep a binder that held copies of the index page for each magazine with the ones I really liked highlighted. I had to quit doing that though because the binder got so cumbersome and I didn't want to start a Volume II. Now, I just keep them in the plastic magazine holders and put a small "sticky note" that sticks out above top of the page on the patterns I'm interested in.

Organize????????????????