Sunday 20 March 2011

Ribbon envy


Go ahead, be envious, I know I have a large selection of ribbon. This photo is actually over a year old....but things don't change much really - because of course, when one uses a piece of ribbon, it has to be replaced, mais non?! So over a long series of discussions with crafting bloggers, noseying around blogs on WOYWWednesdays and generally putting off making a decision, I've spent some time re-organising. And by 'some time', I mean bloomin' ages! It took at least five nights to separate the ribbons into colour groups, decide on how long a length was a real length and not a scrap and then loop them all. Put me off organising I can tell you. Mind you, that's not exactly news. So now the majority of my collection is on book rings, in colour groups, hanging on the door...it does seem a bit precarious at the mo. I need to get a couple more hooks, and of course, they have to be nice ones, so I can't just rush out and make do - that's what the old Julia used to do...the new, organised Julia *cough* doesn't compromise good looks for practicality - oh no, the two must work together. *Still coughing*. BUT..this is the back of the door to the garage and oooh how it swirls about and looks pretty when the door is in use. It has the potential to drive Mr Dunnit mad as he comes in and goes out. I haven't anywhere else to hang it, so we both stay silent about the not-so-good part of this organisation!! Oh and BUT...I somehow still have a jar full on the worktop - now it's lengths of ribbon that are too short to hang and odd pieces of lace and baker's twine in nice packets and so on. So now I'm organised. Oh yeah..now I have two places for ribbon and an extra place to keep tidy. Help me, anybody.

26 comments:

Helen said...

You are priceless! I think your ribbons look great on the door but I did laugh out loud when i read your final comment! I have my ribbons in one of those A4 cardboard boxes (I've WOYWW'd it before) which is kind of tidy at the moment - but definately not colour co-ordinated. The thought - well I can see why it took you so long to get round to - nuff said!

Nicky said...

lol love this post and thought of the organised ribbons driving Mr Dunnit mad - so funny you now have two places to keep tidy love it

Laura Tee said...

I take it you don't have any cats in the house then because to me that just looks like a giant cat toy!
And I do envy your ribbon collection!

Anonymous said...

That's one heck of a pile of tassels!! Can you twirl them in opposite directions? LOL
LL Jan xx

G Peplow said...

They look wonderful, if you saw my untidy ribbon box you would feel even more proud of yourself. I may just share it one day but then maybe not I'm ashamed:{
BUT yours are blowing beautifully in the breeze and they may just drive Mr Dunnit mad, I can see exactly where you're coming from:0) xxx

Unknown said...

I keep wondering what people who hang and wind their ribbons do with all the shorter pieces and now I know...they are in a jar! Yours look like a multicoloured ponytail on the back of your door, glorious.

Annie said...

Gorgeous ribbons Julia.....there are always the ribbon rings over in our shop to store them on :-)
A x

Carmen said...

Yep mine's all stuffed in an RUB - I don't tend to use ribbon much because it means untangling. I love your wafty wafty ribbon.

DottyA Cards & Things said...

Boy you are a brave one! Not only did you dive into your ribbon problem, you concurred it too.... If all the guy and gals that craft haven't come up with an easy way to store ribbon I don't feel so bad. It's just impossible to know what you have and find it when you need. it... Thanks for sharing!

Kirsty.A said...

Well done you. It does look pretty

Claire said...

Thats a lot of ribbon Julia, it all looks very pretty too.
C
xx

Heather said...

Ive just 'sorted' my ribbons too though not in colour order :( Mine are looped onto a couple of plastic coathangers but like you I am still left with the bits! xx

misteejay said...

Only two places...LOL Wow that is organised - you will probably find ribbon anywhere & everywhere in this house.

Toni :o)

Jovita @ Inky Impressions said...

That is a lot of ribbon that you organized, sorry I don't have any great suggestions. I haven't found any kind of ribbon storage that I'm happy with.

Cardarian said...

Mhhmmm....two places for ribbon??? Well look at the bright side - it is color organised! I think it will have to come off the garage door because Mr. Dunnit will soon say something and the words probably won't be nice ha, ha.... honestly I haven't got a clue what to do with ribbon - I haven't found a good solution yet!
Hugs,
Cardarian

Glenda said...

Ribbon has always been a problem for me. I have some handing and some crammed into a drawer...nothing is ever color coded in my house! I long for a great idea for this!

Fiona said...

Looking good Julia - of course you could always do what I did and have to throw them out because a certain new little cat decided my ribbon box made a great toilet - I'm now in the process of having to buy new ribbon - what's a girl to do?

Elizabeth said...

Well, Julia, if it's any consolation I have the ring/hook solution, plus two boxes with the ribbon & lace wound round card, plus the reels of ribbon on a piece of dowling stuck in a circle of wood thingy - so you are not alone in trying to tame the ribbon explosion! I have, as yet, been none to fussy about the hooks though and don't have a garage door to hang them on which, judging by your experience, save a lot of ire from the EM! Surprisingly, it all works quite well and has done nothing to curb my ribbonaholism :) Elizabeth xx

akilli melek said...

i have one box of ribbons arranged by colour on the reel, the other is scraps and offcuts all flung in together. That is my serendipity box - i think it is the fun one. you never know what you might find!

Kyla said...

ooh a lovely ribbony cat toy! Well done for sorting it all out...I have 2 boxes of ribbons separated by colour and bunged in zip lock bags...I have a theory that ribbons can bring out the OCD in anyone!!

Sherry said...

You ARE organised! I still love the ribbon jar the best though! So much fun to rummage through I bet! I try to be organised with my ribbons - they are all in individual packets by colour and stored in a plastic tub - but, they still manage to fall our of their packets and get messy! I also have some larger reels on a wooden dowel in a cupboard(they always unfurl from that), then there's a large box sitting out in my craft room with some more ... shall I go on - LOL

Clare said...

Hi Julia, Great Post, I love the way you tell a story. Envious, Who me? You betcha! I have a large glass fish bowl filled with tangled ribbons. Good looks? Yessir, very pretty. Practicality, not too sure. So I envy the time you had to get your's organised. Thanks for the inspiration,(you could have dished out some time with it :)) and also for dropping by my blog to visit and comment, muchly Appreciated!

Dragon said...

HEY JULIA...I CAN HELP!!!. I will send you my address and you can send it to me, and I will look after it for you (tee hee!!!)It MUST get very dusty there on the door, (right there..) so you ought to send it to me, honest!!!
Frankie
xx

peggy aplSEEDS said...

congratulations, Julia! that is a really good job of organizing. i hope you get to find your pretty hooks!

Neet said...

I know what you mean about this taking 5 nights - once you start ...
Good idea with the jar but in my room there would be nowhere to put it. Don't think I will even start on mine - but on the other hand I might use it a bit more if I did have it on view.
Dilemma!

Mary said...

Hi Julia...in response to your question....The ribbon around the base of my lamp was on a gift, but I love it there. It always looks happy! Speaking of ribbon. I'm cleaning my ribbon drawers and putting everything loose onto boards. Can I tell you I've been at it since about 10:00 AM and I'm not finished yet. It's like Christmas, I'm finding ribbons I'd forgotten about. Have a great week...see you next Wednesday...