We don't have enough shelf space to have all of our books close to hand, so, some of them have had to be boxed and stored in cupboards that are not easily accessible. I noted what was contained in each box and had planned to make a spreadhseet so that I could easily put my hands on a particular book, if needed. The likelihood of needing any of the books is low, but OH is a bit of a pack rat and would not part with certain books, so, because I cannot bear to have a bunch of boxes stored without knowing what is in them I decided to catalogue them.

I have scrapped the spreadsheet idea as I found an app called "ibookshelf"
which requires much less typing. I downloaded it to my iPad and I am now on my way to having a fairly user friendly catalogue at the tip of my fingers. It can download details of your books based on the title or author. It populates the app with the book cover, synopsis, reviews etc and you can even state where the book is located. In my case, this is very handy as mine are stored in various locations, throughout the house and in different box numbers.

This got me thinking about my "stash" of yarn. It is located in the loft and is a "PIA" to get to. I checked out some apps to track my stash, but didn't find anything that grabbed me, so I have decided to use the "stash" feature in "Ravelry" and so far I am very happy with it. Once I have finished adding the photos (optional) I will be able to sit by the fire and plan my next project, without having to rummage in the loft.

Again, I have my yarn sorted into numbered boxes and this information can be added to the Ravelry "stash" section. I know I will still have to go up to the loft to get my wool, but at least I will know where everything is and which box I need to pull out.

Does anybody else have any ideas on how technology can help in organizing our stuff?

What a GREAT idea!!!

I laughed when I read about your stash of yarn I have one, too - AND a stash of cross stitch threads AND a stash of fabric lol!

I only recently found Ravelry and Pinterest and now I am addicted!!! Some terrific crochet patterns, too!

At one point, I used Excel and its filters to keep track of all my watercolor paint tubes

Oh, I just remembered - I also used Excel to keep track of all the computer books I have

I have TONS of hobbies! lol

I love my "stash" so much that I brought it home with me. When we were deciding what we would ship, donate, sell or dump, my "stash" was a no go area. That is why I had to keep my lips zipped about some of the books that OH wanted to ship.

isn't there an app that scans the bar code on the book...sure I remember someone talking about it:~

Yes, I think ibookshelf has the bar code scanner, but you need a camera lens in your gadget. My iPad is the first version, no camera and I am sure now considered pre-historic, but I still love it.

Ah another Raveller! Must admit I don't use the stash feature as I have no intention to organise it (then I will have to face it!) but I can recommend knitting groups a a good way to make new friends! Might have to catalogue the books though! I was always more of a database girl than a spreadsheeter!

Quoll, I don't think I that would have used the stash feature if my yarn was easily accessible, like it used to be. However, I am glad that I did, because each yarn is now linked with all of the projects on Ravelry and it will give me some ideas on how to use up the yarn.

Caught myself surfing online yarn shops yesterday. That is scary, considering that I have a fair stash at the moment. At least I wasn't in a real shop as that is where I can do some damage.

Wishing we had a thread to name all the best yarn, sewing and fabric shops in the UK

Just found this one in Edinburgh. I'll be paying a visit on my next trip to Edinburgh.

http://www.k1yarns.co.uk/index.asp

Beautiful!!! Making a note of that one. They have some lovely items on their blog

Oh dear - that way madness lies! Poor old DH is getting quite used to punctuating our trips away with stitching/knitting shops. We've got quite a nice one in Cambridge if anyone fancies coming!

Quoll, I may be seeing you in Cambridge!

I frequently write about the weekend drives in the country we used to do in Scotland. Well, on many occasions those trips were to yarn and fabric stores all over Scotland, in particular to the fantastic fabric mills in the Border area between Scotland and England. Fabric and yarn shops in the Borders, Fife, Stirlingshire and Edinburgh! This is what we did on Saturdays. On Sundays, we went for drives in the country. This is one of the reasons I will be hard pressed to be without a car in the UK. The only time I watched TV was when I was sewing or crocheting. Weekends were great times! When I go back, I would prefer to pick up those countryside outings again - and visits to yarn and fabric stores off the beaten track Back then, everything I wore, I made myself - or my grandmother (maternal) did. She was a tailoress - beautiful designer and dressmaker. She is the one who taught me to sew and crochet. My mother taught me to cross stitch.

These hobbies have kept my mind sane while living in the USA.

Me too!!! I love Ravelry.

I only brought one small suitcase with me when we flew (I wanted my husband to have room for his things and I have a whole wardrobe at home) but this small case was just full of WIP's!
I shipped my entire stash of yarn and beads!
Now that we're here and all the excitement is over, I might actually have a few hours now and again to pick up my needles! But then again, there's so much to be done in the garden!!!!!
Oooooh, I love being home!

Happy to do coffee Windsong! We don't have much by way of stitching in town but we have a new little woolshop http://www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk/ which is very welcoming.

When I came I had no stash at all beyond a cross stitch for my granddaughter which is still unfinished but with a few judicious visits to shows (Olympia in March, Alexandra Palace in October, Unravelled in February, Fibre East in July, etc etc) I have now more wool than I can knit in this lifetime and still I buy when I spot a little gem of a woolshop! Wonderwool is coming up for anyone in Wales in a couple of weeks - this is a fab country for us crafters!!!!

Don't know if you guys have found the British Banter group on Ravelry - lovely group of people with the chattiest forum going! I've met several of the Banterers and they have been very welcoming - good for returning residents to meet new people!