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Angel
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 7:03am | IP Logged
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I'm working on our learning spaces right now and am trying to decide how much of the basic "stuff" -- like baskets, bowls, trays, etc -- I need to have on hand. Much of my stuff seems to have been repurposed in the last year, so I think that I need to acquire a few things... I'm just not sure how much.
-- Angela
Three Plus Two
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 7:17am | IP Logged
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I couldn't tell ya' Angela...I have a huge pile of trays and baskets I keep in the rotation closet.
Baskets...
I....um....  probably have about 20-30 baskets in varying sizes (all from the thrift store). But, I set out books in baskets too. I absolutely love, love, love the basket. I have little themes and centers set up in baskets throughout the house. They are used a good bit on my Montessori shelves as well. Of particular favorite are the tiny little baskets I find.
Trays...
I bought about 3 wooden trays with handles from Michael's last year when they were on sale, but the rest are from the thrift store. There always seem to be some nice bamboo, wooden, or silver trays set out. I found a lovely circular brass tray that we use with our Mini Mass Kit. Again, I just keep a stack of them in the rotation closet. I think I have about 15 altogether. I find them indispensable. I'm keeping my eyes open now for a nice deviled egg tray. 
Bowls, pitchers, scoops...
Also from the thrift store. I'm more particular here. I've been known to take a pitcher into the bathroom or over to the water fountain to check out its water pouring prowess highly embarassing, but I need to see if it drips. Once, I *wanted* a pitcher that dripped to show my 7yo how to handle the drips, and then of course, I couldn't find one. Anyway, I have a variety of sizes and shapes and colors stacked on the rotation shelves for use. I prefer glass. I like finding silver ladels and spoons for scooping as well.
Hope you have a nice thrift store up there!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Angel
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Hope you have a nice thrift store up there! |
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Sigh... No, not really. Or at least not one that is open at any convenient time. The Methodist church in town runs a children's thrift shop, open only from 10-2 on Fridays, and Catholic Charities runs one for everything that is not related to children, open only on... Thursdays, maybe? And we're nearing the end of garage sale season, with me having gone to no garage sales because I couldn't make it out of the house on Saturday mornings. Target and Michael's are over an hour away...
Ok, enough complaining! But that is the reason why I find myself in need of sort of a round estimate of the number of basic materials. It isn't possible for me to just pick stuff up here and there, but I don't want to overspend either, KWIM?
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 8:08pm | IP Logged
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Bummer Angela!!! Ok - lemme think here....
I'm off to count - this is slightly embarrasing Lori? Anyone else care to count their baskets???
I have:
**8 smallish baskets (size of a baked potato to a large bowl of soup)
**15 medium size baskets (would hold paperback books, a few binoculars, a basket of classical music cds, set of spindles, etc)
**10 large baskets (hold large collections of books, the geometric solids, large collection of dinosaurs, sewing baskets, etc.
**3 extra large baskets (mostly these are reading baskets - themed picture books, our devotional morning reading, nature study picture books, etc.)
and...
**15 trays of various sizes, shapes and materials.
I have a few suggestions, Angela if thrift stores aren't really an option...
1. Plan for a day in town to Michael's - save for it so there's money in your budget for the day, wait til they run a good sale and take the 40% off coupon. They put baskets on sale a good bit at 40% off - it isn't thrift store prices, but the baskets are nice and most are lined with a cotton muslim which I love for displaying book collections. I did buy 2 sets (a total of 4) baskets there over the summer. They were on sale, and I used my coupon - so I didn't pay much. While you're there, my Michaels carries my favorite Montessori tray, a plain wooden tray with side handles. Again, not thrift store prices, but they weren't expensive either. I have found the tiny baskets to be very, very valuable and since I have trouble finding them at thrift stores, I'm going to purchase a few more in the future - either from Michaels or Montessori Services.
2. I am not a fan of shopping at Michaels with the children. Sometimes, it's just worth my while to buy online. My absolute favorite source online for baskets and trays is Montessori Services. I know you know them well, but for the benefit of anyone else reading behind us that doesn't... I did splurge and order their tiny little potato basket and I love them. I plan on ordering more. Also, a size and shape I find indispensable is the cracker basket. I wouldn't mind having a few more of those. (For anyone else interested...Montessori Services - all of their classroom set-up categories.) They have a really nice selection of trays to choose from as well.
3. My final suggestion is to ask around at church and elsewhere. Aside from the thrift store, and my aforementioned weaknesses bought from Montessori Services, I asked my mother in law if she'd give me any baskets she had lying around that she wasn't interested in. She receives a number of gifts - fruit baskets and the like - and was happy to hand the baskets off. If you ask around to some of the ladies at church, you might find that they are eager to clear some baskets.
Hope this gives you a decent idea for your basket/tray purchase! I will say that the Michael's and Montessori Services baskets have a sturdy feel to them and can support more weight (books) leaning on the sides whereas thrift store baskets seem flimsier to me, but hey - it's 50cents - I can't complain. 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: Sept 08 2008 at 11:42pm | IP Logged
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Angela, I live in a town similar to what you describe. I have scoped out some finds at rummages...always watch for wooden bowls and trays, sturdy baskets, and tins.
Last year I had to make due with what I had. I used everything from the plastic containers from microwave meals (we don't use these anymore, but when I was pregnant I couldn't eat anything I cooked for some reason), the foam trays you get produce on occasionally, the cardboard tray things that are under canned goods at the grocer (work great for trays), plastic storage baskets, and various things I had in the kitchen. I just made do. You can to until you come across something or until next summer's rummages. I really like having the pretty and natural bowls and baskets I have now. I think the kids treat them more special, but I think it is more about what's inside. So, don't wait on what you want to do until you have the wrappings....just give them the present.
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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Kristin
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| Posted: Sept 10 2008 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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Some great ideas for you here.  A couple of other thoughts that come to my mind are dollar stores and Walmart there are any nearby.
I won't venture into my storage room to count trays and baskets (it's too much of a mess in there right now  ) but I would have to say that I have approximately the same number (and assortment of sizes/styles) as Jennifer does. I have found that it is just about the right amount, meaning that I can almost always find a basket for a given activity or purpose. They do take up a fair amount of space and are challenging to keep organized, though! 
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Bunch 'o Honey to my Honey Bunch and Mama to five - Noah 10y  , Rose 8y  , Dominic 2.5 y  , Oliver 16m 
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: How many baskets, bowls, trays?
