As you know, my husband and I are planning to travel and be mobile living in Wabi-Sabi Overland this summer. One of the challenges of living in 75 square feet is storing all the things that we need and want in an organized and tidy manner. For us, being organized really helps us feel cozy, and I am very fortunate that my husband and I are so well matched in our organizational habits and desires. We think in such a small space that everything should have its own storage location if possible.
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
My husband has been using Aurifil thread boxes for years in his shop to stay organized. We both really like that we can re-purpose the Aurifil thread boxes. It makes us happy that we are not putting them in the recycling bin and then going out and buying a new tool box. The clear plastic bins help him visually identify what he is looking for quickly and easily.
Like in his workshop, we will be carrying lots of small spare parts with us on our travels. The Aurifil thread boxes are great because the lid closes down on each of the organizing compartments and we know that when the boxes get shaken as we drive down a dirt road in our big truck, everything will stay organized in its own compartment.
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
My husband understands my quilting stash as he also has a lot of tool needs. Having the right tools on hand when needed is just as important for him as it is for me to have fabric and thread options. It is extra important to carry a full array of tools on our upcoming trip because our truck is a refurbished 32-year old vehicle and we will be traveling to remote places. Having a full tool set to tackle any problems gives us a lot of peace of mind. The Aurifil thread boxes work perfectly for keeping his smaller sockets in order and easily accessible. He much prefers storing them this way over a conventional tool box where they all tend to get mixed together over the trials of a long trip.
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
His 3/8 and 1/4 drive sockets fit perfectly in the Aurifil thread boxes. As you can see, he is able to group the 6-point hexagonal sockets and the 12-point double hex sockets in different rows of the box. This allows him to not only quickly find the size that he needs, but it also lets him quickly select what type of socket he wants within a certain size. His Craftsman sockets fit so perfectly in the boxes that you can literally shake them and they all stay in the same order in the bin.
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
As a machinist and mechanical engineer, my husband is very particular about bolts, screws, and general hardware. The Aurifil bins let him keep all the different sizes of hardware grouped together, organized, and grouped with their like sized accessories (aka bolts are near fitting nuts and washers).
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
My husband and I are both really interested in the benefits of simplification. My husband has found that organizing his spare parts and tools has really improved his efficiency of doing any mechanical or shop tasks. An example would be, if he needs to do any electrical work, he simply grabs his electrical kit and his Aurifil box of crimp connectors, and he is ready to tackle the activity. Without careful organization, the same task would require hunting through various storage locations to collect up all the needed components and tools.
I know this has not been a quilting related re-purposing use for the Aurifil thread boxes, but I hope it illustrates how versatile they are for storage.
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
Personally, I will be taking my cut up Kona color card that I had previously magnetized and had on a board behind my sewing machine with me in an Aurifil thread box.
Re-Purposing Aurifil Thread Boxes
The box with my Kona color chips will also be with me while I am teaching at QuiltCon as it is a very handy traveling companion as well!
I also love the idea of repurposing items and thing that reusing rather than recycling of filling up landfill is really the way to go looks like your preparations are really spot on for your up coming journey. What an amazing adventure your going to have xxx
Great ideas, Yvonne! My husband would really like these as you have shown but he’s not going to get his hands on them! They’re all mine!
I love a good re-purposing and I totally see these containers as holding so many possibilities! So fun seeing you and your husband putting them to good use 🙂
I have enjoyed keeping up with you and your husband as you prepare for this summer and your trek with Wabi Sabi. Will you label the containers, or are they stored so that the contents are visible (meaning you see them from the top rather than from the side).
This makes my heart sing – I love organization and am always looking for new uses for organizing things. I will definitely see if my husband would like one or two for his nuts/bolts at the cottage! It is a massive undertaking, but it sounds like you both are enjoying the process.
Good ideas are always welcome. Your new « truck-to-go » is great. I LOVE seeing the pictures, especially of the inside. I think you two are amazing and look forward to following your adventures.
Hugh is very organised, and this smaller garage has been a huge challenge to arrange tools, boxes of nuts,bolts, washers etc. In time it will be as good as the huge shed he had previously. Those thread boxes are wonderful for you both.
I love re-purposing Aurifil boxes too! They’re just the perfect size for little parts like animal eyes, grommets and rivets. I’m going to QuiltCon too, so maybe I’ll see you there!
Love it. I too am an organization buff. Everything has a place.
I like keeping my spools of thread in the storage boxes where they can remain dust free and tangle free. I’ve even sorted my thread by color (I bought several collections when I found them at a good clearance price). I have been thinking that I need more Aurifil thread storage boxes but I’m not particularly interested in paying the price they want for them. Years ago I bought storage boxes that were originally marketed for hot wheel cars (before video games) and used them to store thread in (still in use). I probably paid a couple of dollars a box for those. Now they are $12 – $15. I think I will keep looking to see if I can find something in a non-craft department that will be equally efficient and not so expensive. And I know if I every want to get rid of a box, my husband would nab it fast for all of his tool storage needs….though he’s not as organized as your husband.
Most of my old Aurifil boxes look just like this! Crimp connectors and stainless steel hardware…we use them a lot on our boat. The boxes are better than most because the snap catch is very secure. There’s nothing worse than a box that pops open at the wrong time 🙂
Those Aurifil boxes are the best. My kids also like the for storing little lego parts.
Knowing where all your supplies are is definitely one way to make anything go faster. A very practical idea.
such a great idea of repurposing items.
thank you for sharing
That’s a great use for these boxes. I’ve had one that’s been in my fabric closet since I didn’t have the heart to throw it in the recycling bin. Still looking for the right things to put in it.
And I hadn’t thought more creatively than using mine for buttons! My husband is tidy, but not anything like this organised. He has several drawers of mystery useful stuff about the house. I simply don’t open them.