TanyaL

I am needing a set of heavy bookends to hold some very large heavy books. I plan on repurposing some inexpensive lidded decorative boxes from Hobby Lobby. If I fill these with shells or batteries, etc. they will be heavy enough to hold the books and will store the objects. Also look nice on the bookcase shelves.

CharlotteO

I recently re-organized my sewing room. All yarn ( I am an avid crocheter) in zip locks, take a few seconds after putting in yarn, partially close the bag, compress to get out all the air, finish sealing. You can get more bags in your storage area. The clear plastic containers that you get produce in. Great way to store seldom used sewing notions. You can see everything in the cupboard at a glance. I have a cupboard donated to just this, glue guns, lace, ribbon, bias tape, buttons, and anything else I can think of. All in clear containers. I have a lazy Susan next to my machine. Clear glass containers hold seam rippers, scissors, marking pencils, etc. Easy and quick way to find your most used tools. The large square jars that you can buy peanuts in is a good place to store ribbon reels. You can see what is in there at a glance.

CharlotteO

I recently re-organized my sewing room. All yarn ( I am an avid crocheter) in zip locks, take a few seconds after putting in yarn, partially close the bag, compress to get out all the air, finish sealing. You can get more bags in your storage area. The clear plastic containers that you get produce in. Great way to store seldom used sewing notions. You can see everything in the cupboard at a glance. I have a cupboard donated to just this, glue guns, lace, ribbon, bias tape, buttons, and anything else I can think of. All in clear containers. I have a lazy Susan next to my machine. Clear glass containers hold seam rippers, scissors, marking pencils, etc. Easy and quick way to find your most used tools. The large square jars that you can buy peanuts in is a good place to store ribbon reels. You can see what is in there at a glance.
My fabric is stored folded over hanging folders in file cabinets. All 4 file cabinets are metal, a great place to put hooks and hang rulers. and if you can find magnet hooks/hangers, all the better. Magnetic Clips can also hold your fabric strips.

QuiltE

I have a piggy bank sitting on my sewing table for sharps .... the slot is just big enough to slide in used blades and of course, needles and pins.

I had been using a plastic tub that you buy gum in. The problem was that I had to open the lid every time and close it ... or leave it open and risk spilling.

It'll be a long time til the bank is filled ... and when it is, then I'll just find a new one as I'll just take it as is, to the sharps disposal.

SuzyQ

Awesome thread! Keep the ideas coming ladies :-) Can't think of anything to add other than I use a night stand to the right of my sewing machine and have one of those padded blocking/ironing pads that sits on top with my iron, the drawer holds my steam-a-seam etc. and the bottom shelf has my starch and water for my steam iron and one of those clear plastic 3-drawer sections from the Dollar store that holds my pins, bobbins, machine needles, snips, scissors, etc. right at my fingertips.

Suzy

ncredbird

A few years ago we left the house for the holidays (about 5 weeks) and came home to a big mess in the kitchen. Seems some little mouse monster had found his way into the warm kitchen and run a muck in the pantry chewing holes in every bag and box that I had on the shelves. DH and I had been purchasing PB at Sam's Club for years and saving the large empty jars after removing the labels. After throwing out everything in the pantry and purchasing replacements I transferred contents of bags and boxes into the empty jars. No floppy bags to deal with, they are mouse proof (although this little monster is long gone now), I can see what I need clearly, and they stack. When our granddaughter visited last summer she opened the pantry closet, laughed, and exclaimed, "You two eat entirely too much peanut butter!"
We are still enjoying our peanut butter and have a large box of empty jars in the storage closet for emergencies. Ann in TN

kateyb

We use the coffee containers with the handles for dried beans and other food storage. I have always felt it wasn't necessary to buy matched containers to store things when empties could do the same thing. Most are in a cupboard and not seen anyway.
I use an empty kleenex box for small scraps and threads. Then that goes into my garden for the birds what they don't use gets tilled into the soil. Helps to break up the clay soil here.
Empty shoe boxes are great for storing the leftover squares and HST's. When they are full it will be enough for a scrap
lap quilt.
The boxes that have fold in flaps and round containers (such as oatmeal boxes) covered in fabric and batting scraps make great gift boxes. People will reuse them because they are pretty. They become part of the gift.
I have made cloth gift bags for years. (I hate wrapping packages. All that pretty paper just gets thrown away) My family loves them and they get recycled year after year. This last Christmas I used pretty tins with a ribbon for my gifts. I think those will now be going the rounds.

lillybeck

My husband has changed all his glass jars full of screws etc. into these plastic coffee tubs. No more broken glass.

amandasgramma

Not in the quilt room, but still a handy idea for using the red coffee containers with handles. I put small in one and kept the lid on it. I put this one in the bathroom of our 5er. It's great for putting used feminine products. Any garbage can in the 5er would be visible by everyone. This way I can put the can in the cupboard -- outta sight!

I use 1 in the kitchen in our home and 1 in the 5er. Great for scraps and coffee grounds! The lid keeps the cats from getting into trouble.

I had DH cut a scrap of wood for me. He cut it about 10"x30". I covered it with batting and fabric....duct taped the back. I laid it on the sewing table to the right of the machine. I don't have to get up to go to the ironing board for small projects and it's great for hauling to sewing guild!

delma_paulk

You can use those coffee cans as well as the kleenex box for your binding holder. I also use one for my paint brushes.