Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials

by Judy Larson
Before I retired, I was a high school teacher, continually writing new material and updating old lessons through the years. I kept all my lessons in three-ring binders, labeled by class, content, year, etc. Since retiring 12 years ago, I have purchased some books but never stopped writing and/or documenting what I make. We learn in several different ways: Seeing something done, reading about how it is done, or by being told how to do it. That is why when I write a tutorial, I try to use lots of photos, add more steps than you think you need, and include lots of tips, hints, and explanations
My need for organization has never gone away and neither have the three-ring binders.

Everyone has a different system for staying organized. We all pick and choose what we think will work best, and what works for one person might not work for another.

I document nearly everything I make with at least a few notes.

Even though all my tutorials are stored on my computer, I don't want my computer anywhere near where I use fire.

So I print every tutorial for desktop use when needed.

My most recently written tutorials and newest projects are printed and stored in plastic sleeves inside three-ring binders, along with books by other artists, all on a 36" shelf.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , I document nearly everything I make with at least a few notes.
When a binder fills up with tutorials, I sort them and have them spiral-bound at an office supply store.

These are two of my oldest spiral-bound books. I may not reference them often, but I always know where to find the information.

The Wire Magic book contains all the tutorials I wrote for the Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced wirework classes I taught.

Just a few more earring tutorials to go, and the three-ring binder on the shelf above will be empty again everything spiral-bound and neatly stored.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , I sort them and have them spiral-bound
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , all the tutorials I wrote for the Beginning
Spiral-bound books do have a few drawbacks. The spirals can get tangled with those on other books, and there's no printed spine to show what's inside when they're sitting on a shelf.

To solve this, I bought some unfinished wood magazine storage boxes at a hobby store and finished them myself.

I store two or three spiral-bound books in each box yes, I still need to find more boxes and keep them on a 20" shelf.

The labels are currently missing from the holders because I'm in the middle of rearranging which tutorials should be bound, and in what order, as my three-ring binders are getting too full.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , Spiral-bound books do have a few drawbacks
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , I store two or three spiral-bound books
When I have a book spiral-bound, I always request the largest spiral available.

That way, I can easily slide in new pages where they belong.

Once a year or so or whenever a lot of pages have been added I have the book re-bound.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , I always request the largest spiral available.
My desk measures 52" (132.1 cm) wide and 30" (76.2 cm) deep, but much of that space is taken up by tools I use regularly.

I work on a 24" x 36" (61 cm x 91.5 cm) cutting mat designed for crafts and fabrics.

After adding supplies and pulling out the tools I need, my effective work area shrinks to about 24" (61 cm) wide and 18" (46.7 cm) deep if I'm lucky.

Adding a tutorial to follow on the desktop can be challenging in this limited space.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , Adding a tutorial to follow on the desktop
A three-ring binder opens flat but takes up too much space on my work surface.

Because I keep all tutorial pages for one project in a single sleeve, I have to remove them to find specific information.

This isn't ideal.

If the pages get mixed up after removal, it can be a hassle to read through the steps and put them back in order.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , organizing tutorials
Personally, I find the benefits of a spiral-bound book outweigh the drawbacks.

It opens flat but can also be folded in half, taking up much less space.

Plus, it's easy to flip through the pages of a project to quickly find and use the page you need.
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , I find the benefits of a spiral-bound book outweigh the drawbacks
Judy Larson's Saving, Storing, Using Tutorials - , General Education, , it's easy to flip through the pages

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WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education