Imp Herding

[feldman]

This is the system I've been using for a few weeks now, which has really helped me corral a burgeoning collection and keep them 1. organized 2. in good condition 3. from stinking up the place in a riotous perfusion of every damned thing I own.  I have a big box where I keep my imps in rows, and a re-purposed cigarette case I use to take a selection with me day to day.  Because I have quotidian perfume needs now. 




This used to hold an airbrush set, long since defunct, that was used to paint miniature armies.  Because when you've been with someone for over twenty years, your individual hobbies start to cross-pollinate.  It's a few inches deep, and sturdy.




Open to reveal rows of imps in all their alphabetized glory, with a few empty bottles from recent decant circles.  Imps for trade have been quarantined in bubble wrap packets to sequester their Not For Me charms.





A close up reveals the structure holding the rows in place: a tray I crocheted from cheap thick acrylic yarn.  I started with a flat piece that fit in the bottom, added a rim edge to make a shallow basket shape, then put in rows of crochet perpendicular to the flat piece.  The rows act like mushroom gills, holding the imps between them like spores.  I used a smaller hook than warranted, which stiffens the fabric nicely for this application.  Also, I can keep the flags flat and the imps mainly upright.






My travel case needs polishing.  One day I will be the kind of adult who owns silver polish.  This is not that day.  Also, I'm too lazy to take it to a sink and use either toothpaste or Bon Ami like I usually do with silver that gets funky.






The case holds 18 imps, which offers a good selection along a few different lines.  I tend to change them out weekly, and stow the case in such a way that it rides upright in my bag.

Yay!

Comments

[synecdochic]

Ooooh, awesome!

(I see my labels!)

[feldman]

Hee!

[white_aster]

Oooh! The crocheted dividers is such a neat idea! :D I've used cardboard dividers stolen from my old lab, but haven't seen a yarn solution. :D

[feldman]

I've been making afghans and sweaters lately, so it was a case of "when you have yarn, every problem has a pattern solution".

[lunabee34]

You are a clever you. Thanks for sharing!

[feldman]

Thank you!

[umadoshi]

Oh, neat storage! I keep my imps in bullet cases, which is very tidy in terms of sheer storage, but not so attractive (and it's harder to see what's what without pulling each imp mostly or totally out to see the label).

[feldman]

Having to roll labels and pull them up to read has been keeping me from going with the ammo cases; I want a card catalog for imps, something I can flip through!

I do have to pull them up a bit to find where I'm at in the alphabet, basically tilt them to flip the flag up and down, but they tuck right down.

[deneba]

I admire the ingenuity of it all!

[feldman]

I am unabashedly clever in finding ways not to write ; )

[tasyfa]

Oooh! I have a cigarette case somewhere, I should see if imps fit in it! For the in-house storage, I have been looking at tea boxes. They are usually divided into nine sections, which should do a reasonable job corralling imps.

Re silver polishing - apparently submerging the item in Coke for about ten minutes, giving it a good wipe to brush off the loosened tarnish, then rinsing in clean water, will work to clean it. I have yet to try it but my flatmate's grandmother did all her silver jewellery that way.

[feldman]

Oh, a tea selection box sounds like it would work well.

I hadn't heard that about Coke before, but it sounds plausible--I'm just terrible at not drinking it when it's in the house.

[vicki_rae]

What a neat idea! I especially like the insert you crocheted, and then alphabetizing them.

I have a rapidly growing collection of decants so I roamed around Amazon for a while and ended up getting four MTM 41/44 blue plastic ammo cases that each have 50 spaces. I have the vials sorted into one tested and three untested boxes, and then in groups in each box. Still took a couple of minutes this morning to find Bow & Crown of Conquest to wear. Must label boxes.