Henry James wrote a story, The Spoils of Pynton, once about thing people and non-thing people. Thing people like their stuff around them. Non-thing people like it clean and clear.
I am a thing person and proud of it. Looking at my newly cleaned office that’s probably obvious. But the stuff hides many nifty things for making my work asa designer, stitcher, and writer better.
Let’s look at some of them.
Thread Storage
I consolidated lots of threads and was able to get rid of one small set of drawers, empty another and use bins inside my chest of drawers, picture below.
But new threads come out, I have huge piles to put away, and so I know my storage needs here will change. Hence the assorted things at the top of my desk bookshelves. Those bins all had thread in them. They are all empty now. Out of my reach, they aren’t messing up my working life, but they are there ready to be reused.
Around my printer, pictured, below, are the bags and basket I use for sorting threads I’ve used. There are two more bags waiting to come into the room. Sorting the threads is the next big task.
To Do
A continuing problem for me is my desk. It’s always piled with too much stuff. Instead of keeping it all there, we used this metal multi-shelf IKEA unit to corral it. Each shelf has a different type of stuff to do: repairs, stuff to digitize, labels, recipes, and slides. When I’m ready to send the slides off to be scanned I have them all in one place instead of the three where they were.
Desk
By emptying two sets of shelves, I was able to open up the entire extension of my desk as a work surface. I could actually do projects there this morning. I got one needlepoint finished, for pictures framed, and a small nativity made. In the set of wicker drawers are items to color canvas, you’ll see the fruit of these experiments in the next few months.
More of that stuff is in my grandmother’s sewing cabinet in the niche under the printer. We’ll be getting a bin for finishing supplies for there and moving it out to the floor.
Project & Canvas Storage
I’m very happy about this. We consolidated the canvases in two drawers in the chest of drawers into one and have freed three drawers in the tall black cabinet. So that looks neat, although I’ll have to go through it all soon to destash.
All my active WIPs and inactive UFOs are in that big wicker bin. It’s the biggest IKEA makes and is, I think, supposed to hold blankets. I put the inactive projects at the bottom and the active on top. The blanket is for the cats who love it. Now when I need a project to do, they are close at hand. The rule is now no more than one project out per stitching area. Then we put it away. Today while my son was putting stuff away I got another big chunk of the cat tree finished. it will be done next week at last! I love how it’s neat and accessible instead of in overflowing bins and baskets.
Stitching Station
This is completely new and everyone loves it. The chair is a comfy one from IKEA with a pretty feminine cover. A blanket is on the back because I tend to get cold.
The lamp is a gooseneck floor lamp, also from IKEA. It has a full-spectrum LED bulb so the light is very nice. I like floor lamps for stitching because they stay out of the way. Just be careful when you buy and place one that you can get to the switch easily. My original plan was to put the lamp behind the chair, but the switch is at about the middle of the pole, so this won’t work. If you will turn your light on and off from your chair make sure you can reach it.
The two bins next to the chair have my longer stretcher bars. Shorter ones and lightweight square frames are on the shelves.
We don’t think about it but your stitchy station needs some surfaces that are flat. I have the window sill. On this are scissors, my tea, and a small tin that closes for Orts. Other tools live in my took bag in the project bin.
With all these lovely spaces, I’m ready to stitch up a storm!
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Diane says
It’s great to see your organized workspace. My attempts never stay done very long, but I tell myself that would be much worse if I never tried to get it under control.
One questions –on your window sill you keep “scissors, tea and a small tin that closes for Orts.”….what are orts please?
Pam Hatcher says
Hi Janet, Thank you for sharing your organization project! Very helpful! You have a beautiful history in that room of your passion in life…
jill hamacher says
I would love to see how you’ve organized your threads! Do you organize by color? Type? Wrap the hanks around cardboard? etc…
Janet M Perry says
Orts are the name for the little ends of thread you cut off.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
Thanks!
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
I store them by type, sometimes by manufacturer, in the packages they come in. Once the skeins are cut they ar either put in Floss-a-way Bags or bags that size, or knotted.
Here’s a recent post about thread organization: https://nuts-about-needlepoint.com/organizing-thread-stash/
Keep stitching,
Janet
Caty says
Hi. I have DMC number stickers on the plastic bobbin, but I organize them by colors in a plastic case. My stash of extra skeins is in another plastic case, sorta sorted by colors, but skeins are kept with ID #s intact until I’m ready to use. Then I wind them, using the prenumbered bobbin again. I also keep a sharp pointed permanent marking pen handy to write a different mfgr. name & thread # on bobbin;/cross referenced by DMC #/color, which is where it’s filed.
If you like, wind only 1/2 skein on bobbin & file remainder with your stash. Remember to retag these. Have a great day! Cheryl