It’s not the size the size of the stash that counts – it’s whether or not you can find something in it!
As many of you know, I’m a beader. I also teach beading, knit, and weave, and will try anything else that stirs my imagination. I have the stash to prove it. I also live in a one bedroom apartment that isn’t very big and has no built-in storage options.
Recently I needed to find something that I knew I had, but I couldn’t locate it. In my frustration I tossed aside everything I had planned to do and started sorting through the loose tubes of beads so I could put them away. It was amazing what I found! I found a tube of size 8/0 beads in a colour I loved – I loved it so much I found three more tubes of the same colour! I also found lots of size 11/0 seed beads in small bags without any colour information – what do I do with those?
So how can we manage our stashes of creativity? We become emotionally attached to them. We love our beads and findings – the colours, the finishes, the possibilities of what we can do with them.
Everyone’s method of storing beads, findings, tools, metals, stones and so on will be different. It will, of course, depend on the size of the stash, the size of the room it is being stored in and if that room is used for other activities. In spite of these variances, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Storage is not static. As needs change, so should your storage solutions. Storage on the go and Yazzi bags.
Maintaining any storage system requires discipline. And discipline is hard. I can hear my mom say, put your stuff away after you’ve used it. I’m still not good at it.
Think outside of the box for storage ideas. Containers designed for scrapbooking papers are great for storing tubes of beads and these containers can be stacked. Dollar-type stores have excellent containers that can be used for craft storage. Kitchen and sewing storage is great for small items.
Make bead soup. You already have the ingredients! Empty out those tiny partial bags and bits of beads in bottoms of tubes into a larger container, in any colour combination you like. Use the soup for bead embroidery, spiral rope and for other techniques that welcome mixes of colour. How to make Bead Soup.
Combine partial tubes or bags of beads or findings of the same colour into one tube or container. Suddenly you’ll have fewer tubes to store. By the way, I have found that bags eventually develop holes at the creases and I needed to transfer beads from bags into empty tubes. Need some empty tubes?
Go vertical. One of the biggest issues I need to deal with a small space is the lack of floor space. I invested in some shelving units that held larger storage bins. Not overly attractive for a living space, but it was necessary. It got items up off the floor allowing storage almost up to the ceiling. If you really want to hide some of the bins to make it more presentable, velcro or otherwise attach fabric the top shelving edge to create a curtain.
Label, label and label some more. There’s no point putting anything away if you can’t find where you’ve put it. Label boxes and trays so you know what’s inside. If you’ve put multiple storage containers in one box, then list on the outside of the box what is inside.
Put class instructions into binders for safe keeping and easy referral. I use clear page protectors rather than trying to 3-hole punch the instructions.
Gift some of your unneeded stash to a younger family member who has an interest in jewellery-making. Let’s create a new generation of beading enthusiasts!
Donate beads and supplies you know you won’t be using. There are lots of cash-strapped youth organizations and adult centres that would welcome craft supplies for their programing.
You can’t keep everything. Trust me, I’ve tried! At some point, you need to let it go.
I’d love to hear from you about how you store your stash. Who knows – your idea may help someone else! Send me your ideas and photos of how you manage your stash and I’ll share them in an upcoming blog. Email me at pam@beadfx.com.