The Learning Center - Hosted by Pat Sloan

This week I want to share creative ideas and tips for storage from some of my friends. These gals know it’s important to have a space that works for them. I know they have some ideas that might work for you too! Share your ideas in the comments below.

Reminder: Share your Before photos on last week’s post: A Space of your Own for a chance to win. I’m loving all the submissions so far!

We have two copies of Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter: An Illustrated Guide to the Space of Your Dreams to give away.


Erin Russek – One Piece at a Time

Erin Studio

My favorite and most useful organizing tip is to organize by color.


Monica Solorio-Snow – The Happy Zombie

I plug my iron into a surge protector (seen next to right side of the right lamp in the photo) – plugged in along with the counter-top lamps that flank my ironing board. I use the on-off switch on my surge protector to control my lamps and my iron. If my lamps are off, I know there’s no way my iron could be on should I have accidentally forgotten to unplug it. No lights = no hot iron = restin’ easy.


Heather Jones – Olive & Ollie

Heather Jones thread storage

My top studio organization tip is storing spools of thread on spool holders that are mounted on the wall to save table space. I use wooden holders by June Tailor that are meant to stand on a flat surface, but I attached a couple of d-rings to the back and hang them on the wall. That way, I can easily see what colors of thread that I have, plus it saves precious work space on my sewing table!


Anne Sutton – Bunny Hill Designs

Anne Fabric storage

For me if it’s out of site it’s out of mind so I try and store things where I can see them.

Anne Glass Jar Storage

I use wire baskets, open shelves and glass jars.

Snne Fat Quarter Caddy

My fat quarter caddy is a silverware tray that I use to contain fat quarters I’m working with at the time

Anne Storage Box

Each work area has a cute storage box filled with notions, scissors, pins and needles, pin cushions etc.. I like to be able to grab my scissors, seam ripper etc where I am and not half to walk around looking for them.

Anne Napkin Holder Used for Ruler

A painted wood napkin holder houses everyday rulers.


Victoria Findlay Wolfe – Bumble Beans Inc.

Victoria studio frame

So, where do you store your HAND QUILTING FRAME?

Victoria studio frame

If you are running out of space AND you don’t have a desk lamp, stick your frame up against the windows, and position your LAMP over your desk!

It will remind you everyday, how much you spent on that frame, how many times you’ve tried quilting on a frame and still prefer to have it all piled in your lap and you’ll be able to work all night on projects without lighting up your entire studio and keeping the rest of your home awake while doing so!

Victoria studio frame

A hand quilting rack on your west facing window ledge also becomes a great place to hang special knickknacks, important papers you DO NOT want to lose… (Now, why did I not hang my jury summons up there? where could it be?)

Victoria fabric storage

And if all else fails, you could move it to the north window ledge to block an unwanted 28 story apartment building where tenants will soon be peaking into your windows…. If the open face bookshelves with bright and nicely folded fabrics on them, has not blocked enough of that view!


Valentine Giveaway

Plus, I’m hosting a Valentine Giveaway at my blog today! Click on over and leave a comment and YOU might win this bundle of sweetness!

Pat Sloan valentine giveaway fq bundle


Pat Sloan - The Voice of Quilting

Pat Sloan is owner and founder of the quilting design and publishing company Pat Sloan & Co. She has published over 25 books, more than 100 patterns, nearly 10 fabric lines, and has had her work featured in all the major Quilt magazines. In January 2010, Pat started hosting her weekly Internet Radio show called Creative Talk Radio.

Find Pat here:

Web Site | Blog | Radio Show | Facebook | Twitter
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From our Guests: Creative Ideas and Tips for Storage

6 thoughts on “From our Guests: Creative Ideas and Tips for Storage

  • February 14, 2012 at 12:55 pm
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    This series is such a fun read! Thanks for all your work. I incorporated a fun way to hang ribbons that I found on a scrapbooking site.

    http://tinyurl.com/83tc7je

  • February 14, 2012 at 2:06 pm
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    I’ve been enjoying this series as well and look forward to the next segment…wish they were longer! :) My room is in need of a good sorting but I’m too busy to tackle that now…but I love the ideas I’m seeing and am hoping to incorporate.

  • February 14, 2012 at 2:37 pm
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    Im really enjoying all of the tips for organizing. I keep my room fairly organized, but I am always on the lookout for new ways of organizing. Thanks for all of the great ideas.

  • February 14, 2012 at 11:01 pm
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    I was at work all day, could not leave a comment on my mobile, I’m problably late, just wanted to said love your creativity, if by any chance I win!!! Well YAY !!
    Happy Valantine day .
    Carmen

  • February 15, 2012 at 4:29 pm
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    Thanks for the tips and peeks into other quilters studios!

  • February 17, 2012 at 6:16 am
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    I love this. Keep the ideas coming. I am realizing I have a great space and can improve it and tweak it to make it even better. I love seeing what others do. A picture paints a thousands words so keep them coming. I’ll be taking some too.

Comments are closed.