How do you store your books?

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Title: How do you store your books?
Post by: finisher on January 28, 2008, 01:10:47 PM
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I spent a fair amount of time looking for a couple of books last night. I wondered how others store theirs..By subject..or Author.or alphabetically? It seems mine are just a hodge podge with no system of organization. I need to get a better system! On the plus side though..I found books I didn't remember having. ;D


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 28, 2008, 01:14:06 PM
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I do not have many books (yet ;D ) but I have mine by category. Applique, Quilt in a Day, Scrap, etc....

I can't remember titles or authors so alphabetical wouldn't work for me.
(I do group by author within a category though.)


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: gimpy cat on January 28, 2008, 01:51:53 PM
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I only have maybe 10 at most, keep them on the counter in my sewing room


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: breezepines2002 on January 28, 2008, 02:00:29 PM
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finisher I'm afraid mine are like yours just all in a book case hodge podge,, I have over 50 books,, but can look at a glance and see what I have,,maybe I should get organized like the rest of you and catorgize them,, oh someday.. bonnie


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on January 28, 2008, 02:24:06 PM
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I have more trouble with my magazines and patterns I have printed off. I use folders for both. Once I organized all my magazines by season.....then after that by months....then a tornado damaged the garage roof and dumped water on them, and I tossed them out. I still have trouble organizing papers, though. I have so many ringbinders, folders, and stuff....... But the books are in a bookcase and fairly easy to find.

How do you remember where you saw a certain block? ???


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: betweens on January 28, 2008, 07:02:40 PM
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oh now you have given me something else to think about I have my mags pretty well in order by month..and year.. but the books are more or less the most current bought at the front.. but I have quite a nice collection now... Your suggestion of by title might be a good idea.. but I would first make an inventory of all the titles in Excel and then I can carry the list with me.. 2times I have bought books that I had already both times I have been able to sell them at value..
Same goes for the BOM patterns I have collected I will have to catagorize them as well.. have bought a duplicate but someone on QT bought it for me.. whew...

now I am thinking that I better get organized.. Blewbird has a large collection..where is she I bet she is all organized and we can learn from her.. ohhhhhhhhh Blewbird where are you??

Deb


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: finisher on January 29, 2008, 06:48:40 AM
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Well..I've been quilting since 1980. I didn't know anybody else that quilted..or go to classes..so the way I learned was from books. Over the years I have gotten quite a few. I really enjoy books. If I see a good sale..I get them. If a new idea comes out that I want to have a reference for..I buy a book. I don't have enough shelf space so they are two deep on the shelves I have. Mostly they are arranged with no order. I should probably sort them by applique, piecing, Holidays,primitive, block reference, and quilt history? I dunno. It just seems like there should be some order here..and there's not! My magazines are sorted into stacks of magazines with the same name...but not by month. Again..there are YEARs worth. At one time I had a file card system for the blocks in each mag..but it got away from me, so just the older mags are done.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Pawstoquilt on January 29, 2008, 07:31:33 AM
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Finisher--it is hard for me to comprehend that everything in your sewing room is not organized perfectly.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: BearFoot on January 29, 2008, 07:43:22 AM
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I have quite a few books but am now at the point that I don't want to add any more (I don't have enough room to keep adding). The books I have are arranged mostly by catagory...applique, strip piecing, scrappy etc. I also have a 3 ring binder with the book cover photocopied and on the back side of the copy is the index of the book (sometimes this is 2 pages) then I can flip through the 3 ring binder and usually find what I want then I just have to find the right book. I get the indexes that the magazine companies put out annually to keep with my magazines to find projects within my magazines that I have subscriptions to. Magazines that I buy off the newsstand, I use the sticky tabs (like post it notes, but narrower and brighter)to mark the designs I want to try. When I grab one of those magazines and can quickly find the design and know why I kept that magazine.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on January 29, 2008, 08:09:45 AM
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BearFoot, you are on top of your publications! What a good system you have. I put a post-it on the cover of the magazines to say what is in them that I will want to read again, and tab the pages, too.

My sister has begun to scan the articles she wants to keep and toss the publication. She also scans recipes from old recipe books and clippings from food packages with recipes. Then she tosses out the old cook book. (Old bookbooks attract Texas-sized bugs, and she lives in Houston, which is worse.) Cookbooks take up lots of room, and you only refer to a few recipes in each one, anyway, she says, especially now that the dietitians have made us go on diets. Her copies are all neatly filed in colorful loose leaf pocket folders. She got rid of one whole bookcase that way!

I took several hours of Library Science, but do not practice it at home. My quilting books are sorted according to where they fit. ;D ;D I cram them in together according to size and type, tall, short, etc. so they look nice. I am familiar with them all, so no problem finding any certain one of them.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: QBee - Mary Ann on January 29, 2008, 08:27:24 AM
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My books on the shelves are organized by technique or style (more or less) - but then there's a pile here and there on tables or a few in tote bags. . . not nearly as organized as I wish I were. Between being my own quilting teacher and loving books, I've definitely gotten carried away! My sewing room book shelves are full, so I think I have to make some decisions about getting rid of some of the books.

I do periodically go through my periodicals ;) clipping out what I want to keep and storing in sleeves in ring binders. I've now subscribed to the magazines I like best and have resolved to quit buying every quilting magazine I see.

I tell DH I should have some kind of alarm on me that goes off when I get to close to a book store! ;D

QBee


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: tlcquiltnut on January 29, 2008, 04:34:33 PM
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Mainly , there is no real order , however(there is always a however) I have some Leisure Arts Books and I put them all together. Then the rest of the companies sort of follow , or not. Of course there are the ones that are NOT put away because.....I looked at them once and haven't gotten there yet. :o tlc


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: missmommy on January 31, 2008, 08:45:25 AM
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Books? Don't forget magazines! Most of my books, except for the ones that I'm currently using which are in plastic satchels with their respective fabrics, are on a 6' tall book shelf in the corner of my sewing room. Magazines are with their WIPs. Otherwise they are stacked by name in one of my other sewing rooms, along with batts, machines not currently being used, QWTBQ*, etc.


*QWTBQ= Quilts waiting to be quilted.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on January 31, 2008, 09:10:35 AM
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Missmommy, talking about storing the book with the fabric/project, reminded me of one of my pet peeves. I am always losing my favorite snipper, ripper, ruler or something in one of my projects. That is another reason to do a bit on each WIP occasionally, as well as the fact thaat working on them keeps them out of the UFO category

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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: quiltermarynel on February 03, 2008, 02:47:24 PM
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I only own about 15 or 20 books. The others are from the guild collection, so I only borrow them for a short time. When I have an idea for a quilt, I enter it into the computer, where it only takes virtual space. I started with binders, etc. I plan to get rid of them completely.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: missmommy on February 06, 2008, 08:44:04 AM
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Quote from: Merry Bee on January 31, 2008, 09:10:35 AM
Missmommy, talking about storing the book with the fabric/project, reminded me of one of my pet peeves. I am always losing my favorite snipper, ripper, ruler or something in one of my projects.
That's exactly why I have doubles even triples of some things. I'd rather go out and buy a new one than spend what seems like an eternity looking for it. (small $ items of course) ;D


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: charalquilts on April 05, 2008, 01:58:51 AM
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Since I am fairly new to quilting I haven't accumulated enough books to make it a problem. Magazine however had been piling up and when I wanted to go back and find something it seemed I had to just about look through every magazine. Recently I went through my magazines and cut out the quilts patterns, and tips that I wanted. (I finally decided I didn't need all of the advertisements) I then organized then into categories....applique, embroidery, quilting patterns, christmas, children, etc in a three ringed binder using the clear page protecters. I've gotten rid of the stacks of magazines and find that I can now to back in half the time and time the needed pattern.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Pawstoquilt on April 05, 2008, 03:35:44 AM
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Quote from: charalquilts on April 05, 2008, 01:58:51 AM
Recently I went through my magazines and cut out the quilts patterns, and tips that I wanted. (I finally decided I didn't need all of the advertisements) I then organized then into categories....applique, embroidery, quilting patterns, christmas, children, etc in a three ringed binder using the clear page protecters. I've gotten rid of the stacks of magazines and find that I can now to back in half the time and time the needed pattern.


I have done this with my magazines too and I love it!!!! You are right--it is so much easier to find what I want this way.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on April 05, 2008, 12:58:06 PM
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I had to do that, too. The magazines were taking up valuable space. Our house is paid for , and it wasn't intended to be a paper bin. I have a time getting the articals cut out, though, because part of each one is printed on the back of another, and you have to just toss out the one you don't want as much.... This is time consuming, but it gets things cleared out. I put them into folders in the file cabinet. Sometimes when I am filing the clippings into folders, I find things I want to do, and pull those out to ponder, and I find things that I will never do and toss them.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on April 06, 2008, 02:56:21 PM
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When you have two patterns back to back and really want both, just copy one on your copy machine and you can have it all!


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on April 06, 2008, 04:31:42 PM
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I would do that, if it were important, but usually the picture is all I need, just for ideas. Once in a while I want a pattern or detailed instructions.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: abertquiltmom9 AQM9 on April 06, 2008, 07:11:39 PM
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For now all my books and magazines are stored in large rectangular baskets....Magazines are in date order according to magazine name....books are according to craft for now.....cross stitch quilts....Some day will have a bookcase....when that sewing room comes around....for now this works fine.....Other craft project sheets and magazine cutouts are stored in large binders...started categories.....but need to update......It's a work in progress!!!!




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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: betweens on April 08, 2008, 01:15:58 AM
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my storage has changed in the last year.. some are stored with the fabric I bought for a certain quilt.. now they are also taking over in piles in my sewing room!!.. they are also starting to crawl around my living room couch.. the bath there are a few that have dove into there.. and then the bedside there are some calling me to lay my head down and whisper to them while we sleep.. there has been a change in my storage.. :whistling:


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: jessie s on April 08, 2008, 03:22:56 PM
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Wish I was as organized as the rest of you. I have a great system for quilt or craft books. I read them and put on shelf under the coffee table. Then when dust the table take the books to the sewing room and file them in a box under sewing table. I file them under one topic called Haphazard. I just toss them in. Then when looking for something just dump the box, read the mags again, find what I want and toss in box again. But when I read how you all do it I am getting the urge to do something better. But so far just an urge, not an inclination yet. jessie s


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Pawstoquilt on April 08, 2008, 04:08:00 PM
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Quote from: betweens on April 08, 2008, 01:15:58 AM
my storage has changed in the last year.. some are stored with the fabric I bought for a certain quilt.. now they are also taking over in piles in my sewing room!!.. they are also starting to crawl around my living room couch.. the bath there are a few that have dove into there.. and then the bedside there are some calling me to lay my head down and whisper to them while we sleep.. there has been a change in my storage.. :whistling:


Deb--maybe you should avoid swaps for a while and clean up your books and mags :sad:.
There must be a support group for SWAPAHOLICS.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on April 08, 2008, 04:43:48 PM
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Quote from: Pawstoquilt on April 08, 2008, 04:08:00 PM
Quote from: betweens on April 08, 2008, 01:15:58 AM
they are also starting to crawl around my living room couch.. the bath there are a few that have dove into there.. and then the bedside there are some calling me to lay my head down and whisper to them while we sleep..

:2funny:

Deb--maybe you should avoid swaps for a while and clean up your books and mags :sad:.
There must be a support group for SWAPAHOLICS.


Paws, where's the fun in that.
The books are good clean fun-proof? They are in her bath! :2funny:
Although the crawling ones are kinda creepy :shocked: LOL


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Pawstoquilt on April 08, 2008, 05:01:09 PM
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Yeah Mary--I kinda have them scattered too-- I just don't tell it :embarassed:.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on April 08, 2008, 05:20:31 PM
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Don't feel bad Paws. I think we all do.

One of my fav storage places is the end chair at the dining table. The table cloth is kind long on that end cause DH doesn't like it too long on his end and it covers everything I stack there. :2funny:


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on April 08, 2008, 05:22:44 PM
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Ever take off your bra and hide it there? Embarrassing! :embarassed:


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on April 08, 2008, 05:26:29 PM
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Quote from: Merry Bee on April 08, 2008, 05:22:44 PM
Ever take off your bra and hide it there? Embarrassing! :embarassed:


:2funny:

Not yet! :2funny:


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: Merry Bee on April 08, 2008, 05:33:52 PM
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My brother comes over and always sits at that place, but first he knows to look at the chair....usually holds up what he finds there. I still would like to punch that boy and he is over 65 now. We are still squabbling and teasing each other. DH is an only, and does not understand us.


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Title: Re: How do you store your books?
Post by: quiltermarynel on April 30, 2008, 10:33:08 AM
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My DH was the first-born and the only boy. He admits to bullying his sisters, so he never understood the give and take I had with my siblings either. Also, he was raised in an almost lethally serious Quaker family and forbidden any competitive games or sports. It has taken a long time for him to loosen up, but he works at it.

I have 2 places to store quilt books. I have a shelf over the window by my desk and a very small bookcase by the bed. I don't plan to keep quilt mags, although I have a box of them I have not processed yet. If I like a pattern, I either scan it or draw it into QuiltPro. Computer space is cheaper, easier to search and much less cumbersome than bookshelf space. I now have about 1500 patterns that I have entered. I plan to buy the 2 Barbara Brackman pattern encyclopedia. I often use my Judith Baker Montano embroidery books.