In an attempt to solve my storage problems, I have tried several different containers and methods of sorting. I find that the clear plastic “drawers” work very well for jewelry, when coupled with the rubber kitchen-drawer mats available for lining silverware drawers. I use shallow plastic ones; I do know of people who use deeper drawers and layer their jewelry but I am not comfortable with that; I like to be able to see at a glance what is inside.

Of course, the old stand-by vintage jewelry boxes are usually easy to find and inexpensive to buy at garage and estate sales. I think I have about five of these in medium to large sizes in my staging area (unlisted) and another five to six for listed items that I use to sort by bracelets, brooches, etc. and then by flowers, figurals, signed, unsigned and so forth. Funny, it didn’t seem like that much until I started counting………where was I?

Oh yes, storage. The big, breakable pottery or glass that isn’t on display in my curio cabinets is packed into plastic totes, of which I (very proudly) have a Word file listing what is in each tote, able to be updated on a regular basis, (this updating to be announced, of course. I’ll get around to it). This is a giant step up from my handwritten inventory list, with much scratching through and whiting-out of items. I am happy to say that I have not had to unpack every ding-dang-frakking tote to find something that was supposed to be in a certain container in, oh, at least 3 months. Go, me.

I also try to keep a file of sold items, with picture and description, because there have been times when I came across identical items months or years apart. It does help to have this information with a photo to refresh your memory.

My system is not perfect, and not as organized as I’d like. I have heard tell of people who alphabetize, categorize, and label all their items; they know at any given time how many items are on hand, where they are located, and how much they paid. I am happy to be able to find my inventory after looking for only a few minutes……usually in a place I had already searched.

Karla Baugh
Grapenut Glass on Ruby Lane
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/grapenut