OK I'm asking the same perennial question I ask every year or so :)
How do people organise their cross stitch stash collections? I really would like a database that lists:
- all the charts I have, including ones from magazines
- each chart tagged (sampler, monochrome, fantasy etc)
- lists of what floss is needed for each chart
- list of what fabric is needed
- all of this cross-referenced with my inventory of floss and fabric so I can produce reports of what I still need to purchase.
So is there something already out there?
I've looked at CrossMagic, Floss MInder and Stash Can. All of them are very outdated and do *not* do what I want ....
17 comments:
I haven't forgotten, but my server is currently on a boat. Hopefully it hasn't met Ursula's radish...
By coincidence I was thinking about a part of the design last night because a better way of doing it occurred to me out of the blue.
This post was not a go at you. It was frustration that something isn't already available, because damnit I can't be the ONLY person in the world who wants this?
I do howver want to hear the rest of the story of Ursula's Radish. Link here for everyone else: http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/The-Radish-Wore-Goggles-163285699
I saw a couple of sites mentioning various floss & chart filing systems but neither looked much good. As for physical storage, I've seen people use everything from a filing cabinet (my choice) to colour coded folders in archive boxes. IMHO an electronic reference loses the simple tactile joy of leafing through the physical object.
I have the dual issues of having a little more stash than you Jules, and a little less income. The chances of wasting money on duplicate items is quite high especially given the uselessness of my memory right now :(
So unfortunately I need a method that's a little more efficient and far more portable :) :)
And apart from anything else, I really really want to organise this NOW and am feeling quite frustrated that I can't :(
I'm not a good one to ask. I started an excel spreadsheet which is sadly very out of date. My stash is scattered in various places on both levels of my house - I can think of at least 8 different places I have stash at the moment. All my magazines have little post-it notes for projects with potential, but I haven't a clue what any of them are either. Probably a good thing, otherwise the never ending WIP pile would be a mountain...
I'm with Monstermom I'm afraid - I actually need to go through my stash again and list it (but maybe it better be when t'other half is out at work!!)
I have an Excel spreadsheet - I think a copy might actually be loaded up to BAPXS - but I don't have chart requirements tied into it. I do individual spreadsheets per project and put them in when I kit, so I can check off. Not having DMC stash, really, each new chart requires a shopping trip. If a design calls for a specialty fiber, I'll look to my list - and hope I've kept it up :) Every spreadsheet I've ever made has a Comments column :) The trick is knowing what the note means 6 months down the road - I can out-cryptic myself sometimes...
If I was more proficient at Access and could get the tables set up right so they cross reference correctly, it shouldn't be too difficult to do - just time consuming as hell to get an initial load in to work with, and then maintenance. But I suck at Access - I can't ever remember the syntax, because I don't use it often enough....
I'm not much help either I'm afraid. My stuff is scattered everywhere since the move and while I like to be super organized most times, it just seems like a lot of data entry to me. I did start a notebook (hand written) but it fell by the wayside several years ago. Frankly, I don't have a clue what I have exactly, but I have a rough idea....sorry Mel.....if you find something, let us know :)
Thinking about throwing this at my super-hubby as a challenge (just for me) & then donating it to the community at large. No promises..but bribery with chocolate usually works with him. Stay tuned.
Mainly I want to tie my stash to my needs. Do I need this piece of fabric? If so, label it and put it in the stash. If not, then it goes in the give away/sell pile. Ditto with floss. I want to whittle down my stash so I'm not lugging around so much, but I also don;t want to give away something I do have a use for ....
I'm actually quite happy to do all of the data entry required, I just need help getting the bare bones structure of the database created.
You have MSAccess right?
Hubby & I are going to try & put a framework to manage & cross-reference cloth, charts & floss next weekend. There's a good chance if it works for me..it'll work for everyone (They'll just need to put their own specific data in)
I currently use an adaptation of Karen's spreadsheets - to work with how my brain functions.
I could probably come up with something in Access, but I just haven't had the ambition to sit down and play around. The spreadsheets currently serve my purposes quite well, other than the lack of reference back to my floss and fabric inventory. (Of course, there's always the caveat about working as well as the data that's been entered/updated! LOL)
I used to use a grocery shopping program when I had a palm pda. Since upgrading to an iTouch I haven't been able to find anything generic enough.
Oh that's a cute one. Love the goggles, and the story too.
It certainly used to be.
Mel, I can only re-iterate my reply from BAPXS: if you have MSAccess, I can set up something for you - which you can adapt, if needed. in Access you can work with sub-forms. Like you have a table (and form) that starts out for each chart. In a sub-form you can add each related item you might need or have (floss manufacturer, number, you have it, yes/no, and if you have it, where do you store it). That would probably be the easiest form.
Personally I keep all of my floss in two chests of drawers, sorted per manufacturer and by floss number. I do a yearly check on the DMC floss to find out where I'm getting shorter of stash and as soon as I only have one of a colour it goes on a shopping list to be re-purchased at the next opportunity, always a few skeins together.
I'm not storing any floss with my projects, unless they're kits. Has worked well to prevent doubles!!!
I have a database called Cross Magic that is pretty neat. Unfortunately it is quite out of date. I did email the guy who created it and he supposedly is going to try and make a newer more updated version. Who knows when that would be though. I also have Access but have not figured out how to actually create a database as of yet. I think I need a book or something to get me started! lol
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