I’ve been working for some time now on organizing my lace, threads and ribbon in a cute & vintage-y way, that also displays my favorite pieces:
Since I’m always on a tight budget (being a single mum and all) I had to consider frugal alternatives. I’ve been coveting the ribbon racks from the Norwegian designer brand Tilda for a while, but I knew o-n-e would not get me very far:
I also considered building my own racks with boards and rods, but I frowned upon the paint job… AND I wanted to be able to hang mine on the wall as well as bringing them with me without the risk of loosing my valued trim in transport. So here is what I came up with:
They are large Corn Flakes boxes, covered in Tilda gift wrap paper, with ticking stripes and the cutest birds :-D. I also used the papers to make my own matching paper tape for the edges. Since the backs and sides will not be showing much, I decided to save on my precious paper and cover those in dark red craft paper.
The hanging system is two large grommets on the back wall, and either hang on 2 wall mounted hooks directly through those, or hang on one wall mounted hook from the rough twine I thread through the grommets.
I used 6mm threaded steel rods from the hardware store, cut to size (27 cm) and secured with wingnuts – just because I like the appearance of those more than the regular nuts. I could have also used acorn nuts, but I enjoy the flexibility of being able to move the rod a little extra to either side. I’m still considering if I should paint the rods and wingnuts to antique them a little.
As usual, one idea lead to another, and the project kept expanding. So there is also A Lace & Thread Album, A Jar Sewing Kit, Vintage Pin Wheels, Vintage Embroidery Floss Cards and finally a sewn Miniature Dress Form in matching Tilda fabric 🙂 I will present each project more closely in this 3 part series, with printables
Please let me know if anyone wants a tutorial on how I did these, and I’ll make another box AND take pictures of the process…lol!
Ya’ll waiting for printables, yes? Well, here is part 1 – printable Vintage Pin Wheels:
Print them out, make sure your printer runs them at 100% scale, and they can be cut out and hot glued directly onto standard size pin wheels – instant vintageness 😀
These files are free for your personal use and enjoyment. Go to the download folder below to grab your high quality copy 🙂
I used elements from these sources for these designs:
Wheeler & Wilson Graphics – Boston Public Library on Flickr
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What a lovely way to display your great collection of ribbons and laces Gunnvor. I really like the wing nuts at the sides too. Thanks so much for the printables – they are very nice. Margie
Thank you very much Dear Margie 🙂
I still have stuff tucked away in boxes, but these display some of my faves, and allow for easy access to those that I use most often…:-) xoxoxo
Love your display boxes. Thanks for the printables too, but haven’t seen pinwheels here, (in Florida) except in plastic. Guess I’ll have to make my own……Thanks again. Nancy
Dear Nancy 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment, I am thrilled that you liked my pinwheels. They are the cheap.ugly.plastic kind! But my printable just covers all that uglyness righ up and make them look real vintage…lol! xoxoxo
This was a great idea! And I love the printables. Thank you!
Thank you so very much Lou Anne 🙂 I’m in love with my new sewing room stash, now I just need to re-organize everything to make it fit…lol!
WAUW these are sooooo so beautiful Gunnvor, I absolutely love your beautiful boxes and your ribbonrolls are also soooooooo awesome too. I can sure imagine how gorgeous your room will look with all these gorgeous vintage rolls of ribbons and all displayed in these beautiful boxes. You sure are such a clever bunny to make such wonderful creations.
Thanks sooo much for the wonderful pinwheelpics as well, they´re just as beautiful as the rest and I really sooo look forward to see the next two steps in this serie too. Have a wonderful day and lots of fun with it too.
Thank you bunches Dear Maryann 🙂 I’ve added your input about my craft room to my basis for making a decission, and I think a new studio is coming…:-D But I have a masters-thesis to complete, due late May, so I’m trying to force myself to wait until then… give myself a little reward to look forward to! Thus it means the clutter will be everywhere for another 2 months…lol
I just love this ribbon storage idea and the wheels. I’ve been working through various ideas for doing a millinery or dressmaker impression at the museum, with ribbons displayed (1850-60). The thought process has made me feel my home ribbon storage is less than pretty. Your box racks are just the thing!
Dear Anna! I’m totally stoked to hear that 🙂 YAY!!
Alternative ideas would be large sturdy shoeboxes, or to use fabric to cover the boxes rather than paper.
The reason I settled for corn flakes boxes, is that I know I can get the same size repeatedly, thus it’s easier for me to make more of these if I wish. And the reason I chose paper rather than fabric is the cost…:-P
For someone with lots of ribbon, and no need to have them on display, you could also store these sideways on a shelf, and just add labels or color-coding to the side 🙂
Good luck, and please send pictures if you decide to make some. I’d love it if my idea would make it into a real Victorian museum!!! 😀
Love&Light
Gunnvor Karita