7.06.2016

Pleasedta meetcha, Cora!


Bright 'n shiny this morning, I was playing a round of email catchup after a glorious couple of weeks of musical rehearsals. I came across an old invite to beta test Cora, a new stash organizing app. The testing period well over, I sent my apologies, clicked on the link, tried the free version, and plunked down $3.99 for the unlimited version within, oh, about 54 seconds. It's the best cappuccino I've ever bought.

(What? I equate non-fabric purchases to the cost of a specialty coffee. Don't you?)

Basically, Cora is your stash at your fingertips. I've tried other apps for this purpose, I do like to organize, I do, but none are as simple and elegant as this one. I mean, look how pretty. And functional! It was designed by a sewist, for sewists. You snap a pic of your fabric, add a host of information (as little or as much as you want), lather, rinse, repeat. (Speaking of lather, there's a toggle button for "pre-washed." LOVE IT.)

At the moment, I have a whopping 4 fabrics uploaded. But that screen will soon be a grid full of my teeny stash! Even my teeny stash can benefit from a little scrollabilty, yo! Every time I go hunting on my open ikea shelving unit, I have to refold the whole shebang. NO MORE. People, this is life changing stuff here. And I'll let you in on a dirty secret: I also have a small enclosed shelf, hidden behind a hobbit sized door, for out-of-season fabric. AND I NEVER KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE. I'M ABOUT TO CORA THAT SHIZZ LIKE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT.

I don't normally shout about new loves so quickly, but I'm just so pleased with the little amount of time I've spent playing with it! The free version lets you upload 5 fabrics, so you can test it out. You'll easily find out if it's your bag after 5 fabrics, lemme tell you. It took me one upload. In a nutshell: scrollable, sortable, searchable, portable stash. You can get it here!

(Full disclosure: I paid for Cora, and I don't get any kickbacks or whatnot. You might notice that last link includes "kalkatroona" in the address, but that's just so that the creator can keep track of where clicks are coming from. An organizer in everything, our Hélène! In our flurry of emails this morning, she also wanted to let everyone know that she's very open to suggestions, feature requests, complaints, etc...lastly, the sale price of the unlimited version ends July 15, so snap it up before then if you want it for the cost of a mocha latte! ;)

79 comments:

  1. Ooh, this looks fun. Does it have a thread section? (Or could you use the fabric section for thread, too?) I keep accidentally rebuying the same colors because I don't realize I already have them (or close enough).

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    1. No thread section although notions cataloging is one of the things I'd like to add as the app evolves! I wouldn't recommend using the fabric section for them because the fields are very specialized.

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  2. Why is there no option for Android users? WHYYY. :(

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    1. I'm so sorry! I use an iPhone myself and unfortunately native apps for iOS and Android are completely different so I had to start with one or the other and was selfish. BOO! But if there's enough interest, I'd love to do an Android version at some point.

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    2. PLEASE do an Android app... it is outselling new I-versions the last time I checked, so maybe someday we'll approach their numbers. Craftsy finally came on board, so I hope you will, too! And maybe OonaBalloona can announce that version, too??

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    3. Yes! I immediately jumped over to Google play to buy it. Disappointing but I think you'll have lots of interest in an Android app

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    4. I will try! And will definitely keep y'all posted. I have added you both to the "there's interest" list. :D

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    5. Please please do an Android App!! It would save me so much time and mental strain trying to figure out what I have and where...I need this in my life Q-Q

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    6. Yes, Android app please!!

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    7. I would also be very keen to see an Android version.

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    8. Me too, pretty pretty please!

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    9. Android app please! I will never buy an i-phone (I'm a klutz but never shattered an android screen).

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    10. WOW. and IG is full of android requests, too! this is like political parties, yo. who knew.

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    11. Ok, but if/when I get to the Android version, you all have to be testers! ;) And please share with your iFriends so I can afford the time to work on Android!! 💞

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    12. Just wanted to chime in that I would love an android version, too!

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    13. Another name here for an android version!

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    14. Also requesting Android!! This app sounds amazing!

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    15. Could I be added to the "there's interest" list? I'd love to hear if yoy make an Android version!

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    16. Yes! Android version please! I need this app in my life!!

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    17. another vote for the android version, please!

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  3. I'm also an Android user. I think I read a stat that more people use Androids. But, more people in higher income brackets use iPhones. So... :-D It might end of being a business decision in the end!

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    1. I did look around and see what my favorite bloggers use and I was bummed this first release wouldn't work for you, Renee! Really, it came down to wanting this for myself. At least then I'm guaranteed at least one user. :D

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    2. LOL! Do you girl. Do. You.

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    3. HAHA. i am one of the filthy rich!!!! you do know that iphone users think that it is the only phone in the world, right?

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  4. Looks great - and I would love to be able to scroll through my massive stash like this - but when I clicked through, it's only available for through iTunes, so I'll have to give it a miss.

    I use Android and Windows / Linux, as do many of my colleagues and friends - and judging by my acquaintances here in Sydney I would guess the split between Android and Apple correlates with how techie people are, and whether they want the flexibility of Android. Anyway, it looks terrific so good luck with the product Helene.

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    1. Just realized how stupid that sounds when addressed to an app developer who uses an iPhone! Sorry Helene! I'm really talking about my data warehousing/ programming friends, many of whom prefer Android.

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    2. Haha, I get it! I was a Linux user for a long time myself and did a short stint on Android and even a little Android development. Buuuuut, I love my iPhone. ;)

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  5. Well that was a hard sell. Didn't even finish reading Oona's post and I bought it already. A new sewing toy to play with, oh goody.

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  6. I was thinking the other day as I dragged boxes out from under beds and pulled stash fabrics out of various drawers that I need to do this, but at the time it seemed too hard and any apps I'd looked at previously felt clunky to me. This one had me hooked straight away - I really like the look and feel. I'm halfway through cataloging all the fabrics hiding in my bedroom - yay! i love the pre washed toggle button, and with my limited use so far would only suggest the inclusion of a print/solid toggle - it would be good to be able to filter by prints/solids. Happy to buy this and catalog the stash rather than go out for a coffee today ��

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    1. Yay! I've got something in the works for print/solid and hope to have it ready soon. Great idea!

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    2. I am an android user but just peeped the app out. I can't wait to see you make one for us, because one of the best features- for those with a huge stash (guilty :) is the location. Thanks again for developing it. Also, I would love to be a tester for your android app if possible. But if not, I will definitely be purchasing it, once it's on the market.

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  7. Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! For the first time in my life I'm seriously reconsidering not having a phone.
    I have a little book where I put swatches with prices and fibre content, but I keep forgetting to update it, and it doesn't have my older stash stuff. If I do end up with a phone someday I will buy this immediately!

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    1. you are now one of two people i know of without a phone ;). i am somewhat jealous...

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  8. Cool- just downloaded and playing around with it. Now to get someone to go through my stash and measure and catalog it all!

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  9. Another android uservice here, looks just right and if oonaballona recommends it...

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  10. Android please, I REALLY need this!

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  11. Well, that's today's coffee budget spent :)
    Thanks for the heads up on this - it's awesome!!

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  12. Would be cool if we can sync it using a number of devices, like from the phone and ipad and desktop.
    Desktop for typing the entry, and phone/ipad for checking while in the fabric stores ...

    And yes, android please ....

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    1. I'm starting to design the sync feature so stay tuned! I'd also love to add pattern cataloging at some point.

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  13. Sorry, forgot to say, also please an app for patterns ... I have so many pdf patterns I don't remember most of them ...

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    1. i really would like to be able to catalog patterns, too! taking a separate snap of those burda magazine line drawings would make life SO much easier.

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  14. Android please! I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

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  15. Only a fellow sewist could have come up with this brilliant idea!

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  16. Yes! Android please. Pretty please.

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  17. Sounds cool, but if there isn't an Android version, there's most certainly not a Windows universal version that I could put on my phone. Oh well, serves me right for not being an iSheeple. ;-)

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  18. Another for the Android interest list! PLEEEEAAASSSE???

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  19. Chalk up one more plea for android version, please.

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  20. You can't buy a cappachino in NY for 3.99! You can't buy a mochalatte for 3.99 either. Where are you buying these coffees? I live in coffee land (State of Washington) and it isn't that cheap here.

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    1. HAHAHA CONNIE!!!! you are correct. i probably should have gone with a one shot macchiato. which means the sale price is even MOAR of a bargain.

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  21. Another for Android please. I desperately need this. Have started just throwing the new stuff in the room, shut the door and run!!!. Who knows what'she in there?
    Karen in Illinois

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  22. I bought the app and started to fill it in with my fabrics, I'm up to 87 and feel so tired lol ... maybe I have too much fabrics ... and I realised almost all my fabrics are either black, grey, white, chambray denim or olive green ...

    I do have a few questions/observations for the developer (Helene?), when I have one fabric in two cuts, like 2m+1m of the same fabrics, the app won't allow me to put the amount together in one entry. So I have to duplicate the fabric one with 1m and one with 2m.

    Also, I cannot delete the fabric. I tried clicking on "delete fabric" and nothing happened. I keep clicking and the app crashed. Opened the app again, and still it's not deleted. I tried this a few times with the same results.

    Also, the color section, what about beige, or any other color which I can't think of right now lol ... and what if it's multicolor? Or red/blue stripes? That would mean putting red/blue as the color but it only allows one color from the list.

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    1. I used my ipad because I have an android phone :)

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    2. haha jess--in terms of color options, i have the same problem! all of my fabrics are multicolored! maybe a "multi" choice would do the trick?

      you might also want to let Helene know about your issues & suggestions by using the "talk with us" function in the Cora app (i think it's in the gear section)--only because i'm not sure how long/often she'll poke her head in here!

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    3. Hi Jess! Wow, you might be my first power user!! It sounds like you have the absolute perfect stash for a capsule wardrobe.

      I didn't think about the two cuts situation at all as I've never ended up with that before, it's always one cut and scraps. Oops! I like your duplication solution but I'll keep thinking about potential better ways to do it. I hear you about color. In the next version I'm changing the existing field to be called 'Sort Color' since that's mainly what it's useful for and why it's only broad categories. I'm also coming up with a better way to let you add more color information.

      I'm really sorry about the delete crash! I haven't seen that before so I'm going to have to look at crash logs to try to troubleshoot it. Would you mind contacting me directly so I can ask you some questions about what you're experiencing? I want to get this one fixed quick! You can choose your favorite mode of contact at https://meetcora.com/

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    4. The delete bug is fixed! It was a special iPad issue so thanks for mentioning that's the device you were using. The update should go out early next week with a couple other things. Thanks for reporting, Jess! Do get in touch if you want to discuss multiple cuts or multiple colors in more detail. I have to get the color thing in soon for Marcy!! 😁

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  23. mme balloona, do you use any other sites to stay organized? textillia, for example, which promises a stash option? cora looks amazing but i hesitate to keep things in too many places...

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    1. i've looked at other sites, but nothing has been such immediate gratification. i love having such a simple app-- i'm a little ridiculous in my app/website irritation factor-- if i don't get the hang of it pretty quickly, i'm out!

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  24. Android party people, I hear you!!! 💞

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  25. Ahhhh yaaaaas!!!! I use Pinterest for my pattern stash so I'm all over this!!!!

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  26. You should be in sales! I have no interest in this sort of thing but I'm compelled to check it out. After all, my current sewing stash inventory system is, um, basic.

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  27. okay, it's either wait for the android version (when my head is shouting, WANT IT NOW), learn how to write Apps...oh yes,that might be fun...or persuade my sister to let me have her iPad...sis, you know I love you!

    Can I put in a bid for adding yarn to the mix, please, as I split my stash fairly evenly between fabric, yarn and fleece from my sheep just waiting to be spun into lovely yarn.

    Looks like you have a winner on your hands, Helene

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    1. If you want to learn Android development, you are welcome on the team with open arms. 😀 I hesitate to add knitting-related things since Ravelry already does such a great job with it but I can also see the advantage of a unified stash. Thanks for the idea, I'll be thinking about it!

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  28. Android version? Yes, please! My scalp would appreciate it greatly!

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  29. Android version? Yes, please! My scalp would appreciate it greatly!

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  30. Just downloaded. Love it so much!Genius!!

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  31. I second, third, fourth- kazillion the android user comments.
    Please see about developing the app for us also.

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  32. ah, but no ones fabric stash can compete with the magic and beauty of yours! going to try it!
    maybe they should add a function for organizing sewing patterns?

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  33. Joining the Android users! It would be awesome to have this app!

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  34. A bit late to the party, but thanks for the recommendation! Love it already, hitting the upgrade button now.
    I would like the fabric type 'woven with stretch' added, but I'll send that feedback separately.
    And I don't think patterns should be added, I like the simplicity of the app as it is. Having made my own database for Burda and Knipmode patterns, I think it's probably quite complicated to make a good app for that, at least for the patterns I would like to see there.

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  35. Couldn't get that little sucker uploaded fast enough. Thank you, thank you. Also, followed the link on pattern organization and now I'm going to "borrow" my husband's comic book storage bags. He'll be a better man for it.

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  36. Yep, another fabric hoarder with a short term memory here! Android user too 🤖

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  37. 15th, last day for sale price on upgrade. Thank you Oona for not ignoring that email when you were so busy & for sharing your critique. Like you, with just a glance my eyes boggled with enthusiasm & I bought unlimited. Stash growing since 1970's. No, not a hoarder. I live in country & work in city so need several wardrobes, and before I get them sewn something changes so that I need just a little different. Retiring soon and looking forward to catching up. I had planned to give much away until past few months when I started reading sewing blogs & found out those fabrics aren't made any more & are rare. Thx Oona for sharing your enthusiasm: whether you're annoyed or pleased the way you voice it with enthusiasm that we share vicariously is a lot of fun.

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  38. Well, I was late to the party, but I happily contributed the mocha latte to this genius happy little app. I was sold with the prewashed toggle, but then really delighted when I saw all the (perfect) info categories you could include! Very clear that this was designed by a sewist.

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  39. For anyone finding their way here again (hi!) and feeling disappointed that I don't have an Android version, I'm trying to be more rigorous about figuring out how many people want it so I can prioritize thoughtfully. Consider filling out http://meetcora.com/android to be counted!

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!