Friday, August 14, 2009

Hip to Be Square

One of the best ideas I ever got from a book about organization was to have a wastebasket in each room of the house. The idea was to encourage their use by simply having them where needed. I have followed this advice, and can tell you it really helps keep rooms clean.

In a book about home crafting, I found a suggestion to use an empty tissue box as a tabletop waste receptacle for bits of thread, fabric scraps and broken pins. It sounded like a good idea, so I started using one. But empty tissue boxes are flimsy, big and often kinda homely.

At one of the home goods stores I found some pretty boxes for a couple of dollars.I bought a couple, and placed one one the bookcase behind my ironing table. Very handy. I keep another one on my sewing table.Then I moved the bookcase to another wall. I didn't have a place to put the box, until I realized I could hang it from the magnetic knife holder with a metal clip.
Then I got a better idea. I hung it from a small picture hook attached to the wall behind the ironing table. This keeps it high and out of the way. It also leaves me more space on the magnetic rack.It's handy, it works, and it's pretty!

7 comments:

Unknown said...

I, too, have a wastebasket everywhere. I have 3 in my studio. There is always one handy.

Mary said...

Thanks for sharing these ideas - I always looking for ways to keep my teensy weensy space clear of quilting fallout - great ideas!

Donna said...

love the shape of the box -- nice large opening so if you toss something that direction it's more liekly to be caught :-)

Quiltdivajulie said...

I have waste baskets EVERYWHERE - but having a designated waste box on my cutting table, my ironing table, and on my sewing machine (even though the trash can is right there, but often under whatever I'm working on) ...WOW!

(I have several things hanging in my studio using binder clips and picture hangers/push pins. Works GREAT!)

Susan R said...

What a great idea. I'm sorry to say I'm still in the Kleenex box stage of my quilting life. But I love ideas like this. And you can be sure that I'm going to adopt yours very soon. I can't stand my ugly plastic trash can next to my cutting/design table and my sad Kleenex box behind my sewing machine. ~Sigh~

Now for a trip to my local "Big Lots" (a discount "you can find anything" store.)

Thanks so much Lynne!

Sarah said...

much prettier than my yogurt containers ; )

Callie Brady said...

Great Idea!