Sometimes the pillow stuffing I buy has wooden chopstick-like instruments packed inside to help poke the fluffy stuff into tight corners. I’ve been collecting them in my desk drawer knowing that someday a light bulb would go on and I’d think of a creative way to use them. It did! 🙂 I wrapped embroidery floss around each grooved end to create a “stop,” slipped my thread over the sticks, and stood them up in a parfait bowl to display on a shelf. Now, instead of hiding away in a tote bag, the colorful spools are an easily-accessible part of my sewing room decor. I love it! ♥
PILLOWS A-LA-MODE 
That’s really cool! I’ll bet that would work with ribbon spools, too. You could even screw small hooks onto a piece of plywood (or wall) and slip the ends onto it so that they can hang up. I can see much potential, here! 🙂
I love how you take an idea and run with it . . . synergy at its best! 🙂
awesome! i also imagine placing a few in some old french flower frogs! too cool!
I LOVE that idea! Flower pots would be great, too . . . don’t you just love all types of containers???! 🙂
LOve this idea! Beautiful and functional! They look great in that cup love a bouquet! I’d love to feature this on my blog!
That would be lovely! Thank you! 🙂
Grey idea and I’m sure you will use them more now that you can see them!
I will! I never knew how much of any color I had left. Now the only ones still in the bag are white, beige, and black. I feel much more organized! 🙂
Very pretty. I’ve also seen something like this with a bobbin along with the thread to keep them together. If it’s anything like me, I can never find the bobbin (and I hate to wind new ones). Ummm, one question … what do you do when you want to actually use one … my luck it would be in the middle. Do you have thread spool stops on both ends?
It just takes a second to dump them off the appropriate stick, get the one I want, and put the rest back on. I think that will work! 🙂 And I LOVE your idea of putting the bobbins with them! I must try that! 🙂
Love that… very clever!! 😀
Thank you! They certainly are colorful, which makes me happy! 🙂
You are a true possibilitarian as I discussed in blg “In search of possibilities”. We all collect things that will one day have a possible use and sure enough they do. The sign of a true craftsperson. I just want to know what you used as a bottom stopper. I love them. 🙂
All I did was wrap some colorful embroidery floss around several times and seal it with a dab of glue. Easy . . . and one more shot of color! 🙂 And thank you for the compliment! I think it comes from (1) never being rich (in $ I mean!) and (2) being a mommy and an elementary teacher. And could you send me a link to the post you mention? I’d love to read it! 🙂
just go to insearchofitall.com and scroll down to in search of possibilities.
I love this idea!
Thank you so much! It’s just one of those ideas I woke up with one morning! 🙂 I DIDN’T post about my experiment with putting one of those sticky magnets on the ends of the spools and attaching them to the magnet board over my desk . . . they kept falling on my computer . . . and they were REALLY loud . . . 🙂
That is super nifty and oh so colorful. It’s great putting items back to work.
Thank you! I love the extra shot of color in my sewing room, too! 🙂
I’ll bet! It will be especially appreciated on the darker days. I love splashes of color.
Thank you for sharing this thrifty idea. I love it!
Also I shared this on my blog her is the link 🙂 http://forgetmenotcb.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/spool-kabobs/
That is so sweet of you! Thank you! 🙂
Yay! Have fun making yours! 🙂
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Pretty and functional as well as frugal and homemade….nothing could be better. They look lovely.
Thank you! And they inspired me to reorganize my whole office/sewing room last night . . . even better! 🙂
So great when ordinary objects become art! So cool. I love this!
Beth
Thank you, Beth! It’s definitely colorful! 🙂
I like that you can use thes as art in your sewing room. Andy Worhal made a tidy living photographing and painting everyday objects.
They do look so cheerful and colorful! I never thought of Andy Worhal, but you’re right! 🙂
what a clever idea. My Mom has like a million spools and she is always having a hard time finding the one she wants. I think its time i helped her organize her sewing items! thanks!
Thank you! It only took a few minutes, and I love how it looks in my sewing room. I hope your mom enjoys it, too! 🙂
That is so cool, I love it.
Thank you! I’ve already loved being able to easily find the color I need . . . plus it looks so inviting on my sewing shelf! 🙂
Love this idea, but was a bit sad that I don’t have those sticks. Later I remembered hardware and craft stores sell dowels… bingo! Now I can make them, too! Thanks so much for all your gorgeous ideas!
You’re so welcome! You could probably find some really inexpensive wooden chopsticks in a housewares department, too . . . but skinny dowels should work great! 🙂
Love this!!
Thank you! I’m enjoying them SO much! So easy to spot and grab the color I need, and they look so colorful on my shelf! Don’t you just love it when an idea pops into your head and it works??? 🙂
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