I always enjoy having my readers share their ideas about various craft topics, including what projects they’re working on and providing tips that might help others.

Shawnery commented on my post, Organizing Beads and Embellishments, and shared her inexpensive methods of storing these items:

When I first started, we didn’t have a lot of spare money so buying a lot of new containers was out of the question. We were on [a] diet at the time so we ate a lot of eggs. I had a ton of the two dozen egg containers laying around and it turns out to be the perfect containers. I arranged each tray color. They stacked on top of each other easily so it helped out with space.

When I took a class at the college and needed to transport my stuff, I borrowed my sons tackle bag which had 3 lure storage trays. Those worked great also.

We have moved several times and each time I put cotton balls to fill the gaps [in the egg cartons] and then wrap the whole thing with saran wrap. A few beads sneak out but everything is mostly in tact and organized each time we unpack.

Image: sxc.hu

Thanks, Shawnery, for letting us know about these great organizing and storage ideas.

Embellishing quilts, fabric art and mixed media has become very popular.  The artist might use simply a few items or can almost cover the piece in a technique called encrusted embellishing.

Image: sxc.hu

What types of embellishments are there?

1. Beads
2. Buttons
3. Charms
4. Scrapbook stickers
5. Handmade fabric buttons
6. Pieces of wood
7. Decorated CDs
8. Foil
9. Artificial flowers
10. Keys
11. Advertising buttons on pins
12. Postage stamps
13. Rubber stamping

Do you have any other interesting embellishments that you use? How do you use them?  What are your favorites?

How do you organize your beads and buttons for your artwork so you can find them easily?  Do you have great organization?  Or are yours scattered here and there in containers, in drawers, and on shelves?

Image:sxc.hu

What’s a good way to organize?

• By size
• By color
• By color and size
• By design
• By artist
• By era

My daughter has separated the small beads she uses for her embellishing into containers.  They are organized by color, then by size and design.  She puts these into small clear plastic containers she can see through.  Then she stores the smaller ones into a larger clear plastic box.  Thus they’re easy to find and grab.

I purchased some slightly larger beads.  They came in a clear plastic container with dividers.  Within each compartment, the beads were separated according to color and shape.  So they’re easy to see and grab.  However, I do have to be careful they don’t tip over and the cover comes open!

Some artists with many more beads and buttons and embellishments than Beth and I, organize theirs in several drawers or compartments in a rolling organizer.

What method works for you?

 QuiltingAndPatchwork.com

  More quilters are discovering the fascination of art quilts, those you hang on the wall and use for decorative effect.  You might place them on a bed but generally use only for adornment.  Perhaps you’ll use fabric art pieces in clothing, too.

To embellish their art quilts, quilters and fabric artists often choose beads and buttons, some of which they may make themselves.  I ran a poll to determine whether my readers are into this type of embellishment.

Question - Do You Use Beads and Buttons to Embellish Your Quilts?

10%  - Yes, frequently

70% - Yes, occasionally

20% - No, never

It would seem that throughout the quilting world, embellishments are becoming popular.  Some fabric artists, like my daughter, make beads from a variety of materials to add to their work.

How about telling me how you use beads and buttons.  Do you have any pictures of projects on your blog or web site you’d like to share?

(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen