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Quick Project Storage

By on April 8, 2016
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by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

Wire Jewelry Tip for April 8th, 2016

Quick Project Storage

by Sarah Thompson

Today’s quick tip comes to us from Sarah Thompson about creating quick storage for projects in process.

Sarah Says:

sarahcut

I have a tendency to do all my prep work before I begin, this way as I weave and layer, the wires are ready to incorporate into the design. When I am done for the night the small gauged wire is wound around a bobbin and the unfinished work with all the loose wires and beads to the project are put into a Ziploc sandwich or snack size bag to be stored in a designated container. By putting it in a Ziploc bag I can store multiple projects together without them tangling together and the bobbins keep the small gauged wire kink free.

Tip 7

If you are traveling you can throw the bags in your purse and not worry about your weaving wire becoming a mess. Or there are times when you have a design that is not coming together and you need to walk away for a time before finishing. I actually have a separate container of discarded designs. I periodically rummage through with new eyes and see which design peaks my imagination and is finally ready to finish. They come out better from walking away.

This quick tip is fantastic! How do you store your “projects” while you are working on them?

Happy Wrapping!

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5 Comments

  1. avatar

    Sherren Anderson

    April 8, 2016 at 6:03 am

    I use a Mary Kay ” Roll Up ” as it has 4 clear tough plastic , detachable zippered bags , with Velcro ! Its a very
    Thoughtful & smart design ! I’ve used this for all my wire wrapping tools & wire of different gauges !
    Everything is in snack baggies , & my wire wrapping tools are in a seperate , padded make – up bag as well !
    As I was a MK consultant many years ago … If I want to work on jewelry projects when we travel , it works very well
    For me … As I smartly kept a few … Happy creating ! Sherren A. / Sherren’s Glassworks on Whidbey Island , WA.

  2. avatar

    Kat

    April 8, 2016 at 7:44 am

    “The same way, but make sure I take the Air out of the Bag Before I Close It. And using a “Sharpie To Write Something/Type of Wire/Beads that are in the Bag.”

    • avatar

      Judi Morningstar

      April 11, 2016 at 5:48 am

      Good idea Kat. I use zip lock bags for many things from storing my keyboard cords and components in my gig bag to knitting projects and now my Viking weave projects. I usually cut several lengths at a time for the Viking weave, then it’s easier to grab while riding in the car on road trips. I usually have more than one project going at a time and I hadn’t thought of marking the gauge. Very helpful idea.

  3. avatar

    Carol E. Fiorilli

    April 12, 2016 at 6:32 am

    A few years ago I had to go to the local pet store to replace a special florescent light for my pet and waiting on the line, I saw the cashier had a pile of these round plastic things on the counter that were shaped like pancakes and had the name of the store stamped on top. When I got closer to ask her, she told me, “They’re a poor mans’ version of a Frisbee and they’re 64 cents each!”. As I knew the original Frisbees, though a bit larger, sell for more than twenty dollars each, I excitedly bought the whole pile of about 12 or 13 of them for less than ten dollars and hurried all the way home with my purchases. Once there, I inverted them, cutting up into circles all the colorful pieces of thin foam I had acquired when I was working more often with beads and I placed each circle snugly into each disc. Because most of my work is chain maille-oriented, I can have many projects started or at various stages before completion, and because they stack so neatly on top of each other, I can include packages of jump rings, beads, findings, and even a pair of pliers into each disc; then I can come back to them later after a break and go through the pile of them as if going through a pile of dinner plates or vinyl record albums and stop at the project I want to complete. If any of the foam inserts become soiled, I briefly hand wash it with some liquid soap and water, rinse, then squeeze it out and air dry it. One disc fits individually into a gallon size Ziploc bag, which I usually put on the disc that is on the top of the pile, especially if I have metal that is left out in the air where it can slowly begin to tarnish.
    Thank you to all those who shared other great comments. And to Judi M, a special thank you for admitting to having more than one project going on at a time! (I find that this actually helps me to go back and finish a previous project after my mind has been cleared for awhile by doing something different; then, when I return to something done earlier, I return to it feeling anew!)

  4. avatar

    Audrey

    May 13, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    Whenever I come up with an idea for a new project, I gather the beads and findings in a ziploc for pull it together later. If I come up for a name of concept for the item I write in on a index card and put it in the ziploc as well. I also draw diagrams of the placement of the beads, etc. on the index card. I also put the price of the beads on the index card as well. This helps we keep a new idea while working on other projects. And it is an excellent way to just grab something to make while traveling. Thanks for sharing.