From: jill@super.org (Amelia J. Scott-Piner)
Subject: Storage Ideas
Organization: Supercomputing Research Center (Bowie, MD)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 14:53:04 GMT

I'm posting this to the world, because some of you folks 
out in other places may have access to the same or similar
Rubbermaid tubs.  Here goes:

A while ago I posted an article about storage boxes that I started 
using to store my extensive yarn collection in.  Thanks to K-Mart's 
after Christmas Rubbermaid sale I managed to get all of the storage
stuff that I needed, so far.  The updated info on this is that the 
clear plastic tub with a blue plastic lid is made by Rubbermaid, the
line of these tubs is called "Keepers", they hold 44 qts. of stuff.
They're usually about $15 each, but K-Mart has occasional Rubbermaid
sales and I picked up all that I needed for $9.97 each.  Of course,
the Ames store in our area then ran a sale on the same item for $8.99
each.  I found out a week too late.  Doesn't it figure?
        So now, my yarn is stored in these neat containers rather than
junky looking copier paper boxes.  Whenever I walk by them in the 
living room I start to dream of what I can do with all that yarn.  
Seeing it all in one place like that has done wonders for curtailing
my yarn buying impulses.  Now I only buy yarn to go *with* another 
yarn :-).  

        Here's the original article (edited a bit) with the replies that
I received via e-mail.

>I now have over 17 boxes of yarn cluttering up the corner 
>of our living room floor in our apartment.  Right now the 
>yarn is stored in these boxes that copier paper arrives in.
>I can't see it, so I never know exactly what I have.  My 
>husband is beginning to growl every time he walks through 
>the living room, so I have to clean up my mess somehow.  
>I can't bear to part with my tra--oops, that's treasures.
>But if I can't see it,I'm never inspired to start that scarf or
>sweater or rug or tapestry. 
>    I just discovered these enormous clear plastic tubs that
>Rubbermaid sells as storage units.  They hold something like 
>12 gallons of stuff inside.  And you can see it!  So I'm
>buying one every pay-check until I house my collection in      
>these instead of the ugly paper boxes.  Christmas is coming,
>so I'm asking everyone that I know who is probably going to 
>get me a gift to think about these.  They're about $15 at 
>K-Mart.  I may end up with one for Christmas. 
>    My cross-stitch stuff can also go into one.  I have 
>those cardboard magazine holders on the bottom of my bookshelf
>for patterns and magazines.  The floss is wound onto bobbins 
>and housed in 5 of those big plastic floss holders since I now
>have every DMC color, half of the Susan Bates Anchor colors, 
>some of the Coats&Clark, some of the DMC flower thread, and 
>most of the Kreinbrik metallic blending filaments.
>    I should have the floor cleaned up by the time we buy a 
>house in 5 years!  
>    Is it time for Yarn-aholics Anonymous yet?

>               jill@super.org
>               Jill Scott-Piner

I'm not into yarn in a big way but I have a lot of other cr.. er, treasures.
Can you describe these tubs a bit - how big are they, are they rectangular
so you can easily shelve them, do they have lids to keep the dust out?
I know what you mean about out of sight out of mind. I like to have all
my things scattered all around me, just for pleasure and to remind me of
what projects I never got round to finishing. Currently I have a number 
of opaque plastic storage boxes, but never enough to hold evrything.
My current problem is my asthma is getting worse and all this ju.. er,
treasures lying about aren't helping. Someone (this board?) recommended
vacuum packing for storing clothes and fabrics. With no air they are sposed
to pack down a lot smaller, and the moths wouldn't get a look in.
I tried magazine boxes but never really got on with them. I've just
splashed out on lots of A4 ring binders and plastic wallets. At least now
with my photocopies alphabatised I don't pull my hair out wondering just
where that article was...I know it's here somewhere...syndrome.

        Alan, yes these tubs are rectangular and they have lids.  I'd say
        that they're about 2 1/2 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and 1 1/2 
        feet deep.  They stack pretty well, I have a stack of eight tall in
        a corner of my living room and a smaller stack next to that.  

**************************************************************************

First off I'd like to let you know that there are ears out there interested
in weaving discussions. In my case I am just an intermediate. I have the 
computer and my wife has the loom. Until I get my computer up and running at 
home I have been monitoring this group from work and copying weaving 
discussions for her. She is a novice weaver She has an old antique
loom that appears to be handmade. It's a project to get running that's 
another story. Anyway we just purchased a LeClerk from some people we know
who are relocating. Well the problem is that the only suitable place for 
this thing is on the landing upstairs because our third bedroom is too small.
well the landing was full of stuff. You know the kind of stuff wool, wool
and more wool in amongst all that other stuff. You know the millions of 
projects which will last a lifetime. This stuff was relocated to the small 
spare room which I thought I might have for my computer, Not likely. In any 
case I have a built some shelves to store these rubbermaid see through 
boxes, Yes they are great even for kids toys etc..  We finally have the 
landing cleared off and the loom in place. She hasn't used it yet because 
she has some other projects that need attending to first, Christmas 
gifts. I see her eyeing it, longing to create a masterpiece. I am
concerned that our house will have more wool than 20 baa baa black sheep. 
When Iasked her last night what she would like for Christmas the answer was 
some wool for her new loom. Well she is 7 months pregnant, I guess we will
again have to relocate that stuff, because the baby will need that room.
I guess the living room will be a good place. If find a place to put my 
computer I will get her on the net. I am sure she has a lot of
stuff to discuss you know the kind of stuff. Maybe I should start raising 
some sheep. Anyway I will continue to monitor for her, and I do have a 
question. Where can I find a place to buy loom parts?  The old loom
has some rusty pieces.

        David, LeClerc looms is still in business.  It's located in 
        Quebec province in your native Canada.  From the sound of the 
        size of the loom, it's probably an old Nilus.  Heddles and reeds
        will be easy to find for it.  Other parts may be a bit more 
        difficult, but LeClerc keeps a stock of replacement pieces on 
        hand.  I don't have the full address on hand, but it can be found
        in the ads in Handwoven magazine.

******************************************************************************

There are clear plastic boxes available (meant to store shoes!) that I
use to store miscellaneous things in.  I find them for $2 a piece at
Target ($1 on sale!!).  I'm not sure if they would be big enough but
they certainly are *less expensive*.  

        Thanks, Ken.  They wouldn't be big enough for the large stuff, 
        but they're fine for my small & lose-able weaving tools, my 
        beading supplies, and the jewelry findings.  We don
        't have a Target nearby, but K-Mart also had Rubbermaid's 
        plastic snap-boxes in clear, tinted plastic on sale for $2.97
        each.  They're only slightly larger than a shoebox.  

*******************************************************************************
 
I enjoyed your note!  I understand what you were saying about
having yarn everywhere.  My mom used to do the same thing.
Instead it was wool fabric--Pendleton, especially if it
had been a 'bargain'!  She filled up a couple of closets
in the house with it.  I'm glad you've found something
with which you can work your situation out.  I might check
into those myself since I have most definately inherited
my mother's genes!

Have a great day!  


        Thanks, Sue!

*********************************************************************************

  

        Well, those were all of the replies that I received to my note about
        storage.  
                        jill@super.org
-- 
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Amelia Jill Scott-Piner   	|  Anything that I say has nothing   
jill@super.org         		|  to do with my company.
Bowie, Maryland  USA 		-----------------------------------