A Passion For Home

Eye-catching packaging...

Ever since Jo Malone came into my life over 10 years ago, I have been influenced by the packaging & design of her product line.  Cream & black, clean & crisp, classic & understated. 

It's what influenced the color scheme of my closet.

 
Even down to the decor of this little space I like to think of as my 2nd home.

   This explains why I admire Barbara Barry's new Wedgwood china pattern, Curtain Call.  It has similar characteristics: clean & crisp, classic & understated.

And her tea is packaged just as elegantly.  The silhouette of a tea cup is a simplistic way of identifying the type of contents on the package.

I was never much of a silhouette person until I came across Barbara Barry's designs.  Searching eBay one day, I discovered a wall hanging with a silhouette of a classy pump that I've hung just outside my closet door. 

My favorite is Barbara Barry's silhouette chairs wallpapered in a powder room decorated by interior designer, Caroline DeCesare.  (Her sister, Allison Tyler Jones, is an incredibly talented photographer.  She shot the photos for Western Interiors magazine, now Luxe Interiors & Design.)

Great design has a positive impact on my decorating soul and this is one way I reflect it in our home.  I try not to get carried away though.  If I begin to post photos of black & cream-colored garage, you know I've gone too far.  ;-)

Where Women Create, the blog...

When I discovered Jo Packham's books, Organizing Your Craft Space and Where Women Create, several years ago, I was delighted to see books dedicated to three of my favorite pastimes:  crafting, decorating and organizing. 

Sometimes I believe I spend more time attempting to create and refine a dedicated space for crafting than actually doing the craft itself.  Quite frankly, I sit in my craft room thinking about crafting. Thoughts of making a mini album for family or a journal of my favorite things, even a photo cube for my niece which is half finished. 

It takes inspiration to motivate me.  And friends who influence me.  I do try to think for myself but I can't help but be inspired by others. 

The introduction of the magazine version of Where Women Create guarantees me continued inspiration on how artists surround themselves with objects and supplies that give them the desire and passion for their craft.  It is almost like taking a peek into one's handbag.  These are the things that are a part of their daily existence. 

And now Jo Packham hosts a blog entitled appropriately, Where Women Create.  A great gathering place with a plethora of information to keep the inspiration circulating. 

Speaking of continued inspiration, in searching for Ms. Packham's books on Amazon I discovered there's a book she has co-authored with Jenny Doh due for release in April 2010 - Where Women Create: Book of Inspiration: In the Studio and Behind the Scenes with Extraordinary Women. 

All I had to see was the title and immediately pre-ordered it.

This entry is my way of keeping the inspiration circulating.  See it all for yourself and enjoy.

Medicine chest...

Cleaning the countertop of my bathroom vanity is a tedious task as I have to remove all the pretty little jars that hold cotton swabs & balls as well as the knick knacks before wiping it down. 

Then I must dust & clean those jars & knick knacks before returning them to their original spots.

I want to simplify these steps because burning an extra 10 calories might endanger my girlish figure.  ;-)

Taking inventory of the product in my medicine cabinet was the first step. Nearly half the product have not been used in at least 6 months.  I prioritized what I use daily and purged or stored the rest in the closet.

In my search for medicine cabinet organizers, I found great acrylic 2-tier storage containers to store cotton swabs and balls that fit snugly in the cabinet. 

I love the concept so much that I added a smaller side-by-side cotton ball/swab container for our guest bathrooms.

 

I also found organizers that stick to the door of the medicine cabinet and a divided organizer & shelf set.

My goal is to keep the vanity counter free of clutter but that goal lasted only a few days.  You see, I discovered a quaint clock at The Nest Egg recently and thought how lovely it would look on the vanity.  It helps me not to lose track of time in the morning as I'm preparing to face the day.

And this is what I call my world of logic.  It only makes sense to me.  ;-)

Organized surroundings...

The past couple weeks I have dedicated time to organize and pare-down what surrounds me in everyday life. 

I started by participating in a neighborhood yard sale and managed to rid ourselves of a few items that we no longer use. 

Ideally, it would have been nice to have sold everything but I think we are all in a state of mind where buying less means more to us than ever before.  The magazines I displayed for free went very quickly (I do not like to throw away magazines, if at all possible).

I finally found success with Craigslist after a few attempts by alleged shady buyers trying to take advantage of a newbie like me.  This is definitely a venue you must proceed with caution.  Gladly, a number of furniture items found new homes and I can now walk into our storage room without stepping over anything.

There's a collection of books I discovered when I regained access to our storage closet, so I've listed them for sale on Amazon.  It's another great venue to purge reading material and make a few dollars to re-invest in new reading material.  ;-)

The USPS has come in handy with the number of packages I've sent my sister lately with items her family will put to good use.  If you send at least one of your packages via Priority Mail, the mail carrier will pick-up everything from your doorstep for free, including parcel post.  So I always make sure I have a lightweight package to send via Priority Mail to combine with parcel post packages.  It saves time from standing in line at the Post Office.

While I was away with my girlfriends scrapbooking last weekend, I included time to file-off almost every photo on the hard drive of my laptop, although I have a back-up external hard drive.  I stayed up until 3:00am to accomplish this task, and boy, do I feel good about it.  I had 3 years-worth of photos on my hard drive.

The tools I included in my gear for the crop were a label maker and my entire collection of patterned paper.  Every sheet of paper was separated and alphabetized by manufacturer into Cropper Hopper paper pouches.  It took me an hour to sort through everything and label the dividers. 

The good news is I managed to make a set of 20 holiday cards and a layout while I organized what I could at my fingertips.  Regardless of what I was doing, I accomplished a bit of crafting as well as organizing. 

On my iPhone, I added the Flickr application where I can now upload photos from my phone as a back-up with the push of a button. 

Organizing and maximizing my time is an ongoing ordeal in our household.  There are days I feel wonderful about achieving a flawless day without chaos and there are days I do not know if I'm coming or going.  And I hope to have more flawless days as I continually try to gain control over the chaos.   

This & That - Tuesday Edition...

As I turned the page in the recent Tracy Porter catalog, I discovered a mirror that I am taking quite a fancy to.

Quite gorgeous in all it's gold glory.  It's quite inspiring and is making me have all sorts of thoughts about where to place it in our home.  I better move on.

Anyone seeking organization for their craft space?  Did you know that Overstock.com carries the Scrap Box Armoire?  There's a smaller version too called the Craftbox.  All the nooks & crannies and cubbies are enough to make my organizational heart go thump thump pretty quickly.

I was going to start this sentence with 'If I had the space, I'd love to add this piece to my craft room' but I won't go there, if you know what I mean.  Consider this a shared fantasy with all my scrapbooking & crafting friends.

Lastly, these John Derian paperweights are classic and stunning.  An ideal accessory for the sophisticated workspace.  Or any workspace.  Truthfully, a paperweight like this on top of a 'to-be-paid' bill pile would look good.

I hope you are enjoying your Tuesday, folks. 

Aquis Hair Towel...

For the last few years, I have been using a hair towel by Aquis that absorbs excess water and is not heavy on my head like typical bath towels.  Sometimes it feels like I have 5 pounds of towel sitting on the top of my head.

That is why I love my Aquis hair towel.  It is not a turban-style hair towel.  It is a simple rectangular hair towel that is easy to wrap around your head, if you wish.  And it is very lightweight.

With family coming for a visit in a couple weeks, I decided to order more hair towels for the guest bathrooms.  And I ordered a pink microfiber Aquis hair towel for my travel bag. 

This is a great staple for one's linen closet, travel bag, swim gear, dorm and/or spa.

It's weightless towel is hair-drying at it's best!  And my neck thanks Aquis for that very reason.

A polished mailbox...

Have you ever waxed and polished your mailbox?

It never occurred to me to even try it but when we had the misfortune of our mailbox falling victim to teens experimenting with household chemicals, the pieces had to be put together again.

 

First, we were happy no one was hurt.  And second, our metal mailbox remain in tact. 

The wood pieces belonging to the newspaper box were shattered at the seams so my guy was able to put it back together.

After scrubbing and cleaning the post and mailbox, he decided to grab his car wax and give the metal a nice polish & shine.  What a difference it makes.

 

The sun had caused the paint to fade. 

It took an attempted act of vandalism to give this mailbox the attention it needed.

So if you are looking for a quick summertime household project, take out the car wax, apply it to your mailbox and give it a nice shine.

Charleston Forge bakers rack...

Since my last post, I have made time to tend to items that have been filling my head with great anxiety lately. 

One of my ongoing tasks is to purge items that we have not used and/or no longer a good fit for our home.  Which brings me to our bakers rack.

We've owned this piece by Charleston Forge for over 10 years.  When we moved into our current home 4 years ago, we could not find the ideal spot for it.  So it has sat in our guest room, hosting a spot to a hodge podge of items.  Items that I need to pare down but have not made the time to do so till now.

Bottom line - this bakers rack needs a new home.

So I'm sharing this piece here for my local friends in the DC metro area who may be interested in a bakers rack.  I'm selling it for $200, for pick-up only. 

The metal finish is 'Natural Linen'.

And the wood shelves are in a light finish.

The smaller shelves have a groove for tilting plates for display.

And the style is from the Shaker Collection.

It is in like-new condition.  In our previous home it held cookbooks and a microwave.  I love this bakers rack.  And if I could make it fit in our current kitchen, I would keep it.

Click here for measurements.

And click here for price points on pieces on clearance at Carolina Rustica, just to give you an idea.

If you are interested, please email me at [email protected].

Decompressing...

Have you ever had a moment where you felt unmotivated to do anything?

Your mind is filled with things you want to do and goals you'd like to accomplish yet you are having a tough time moving one leg in front of the other to get things started?

I've thought about cleaning out the basement storage area.

Pondered whether we should add a built-in bookcase in the family room.

Looked at the stack of papers that need filing on the kitchen desk.

Thinking about getting back into the routine of using the treadmill.  Hmmm...or maybe not.

I'd like to replace the carpet runner on the stairs. 

The Time Machine on my MacBook Pro is not backing up onto my hard drive.  Maybe a wire has come unplugged?  (How hard is it to crawl underneath the desk to look?  Apparently pretty hard since this thought has been with me for over a week now.)

There remains a pile of paint supplies in our bedroom.  The painting project is over and has been for several weeks now. 

And the lovely mirror we just hung over our bed has fallen down and remains behind the headboard. 

There is a lot going this head of mine.  I just wish my body would keep up.  :-)

Preparing to be Inspired...

I am preparing for a big event this week, Inspired '09, in Charlotte, NC for a few days of creativity and girlfriendship.  And as I gather my supplies for each of the 6 classes we will be taking, I decided to separate the supplies and tools by each class into Ziploc baggies.

I'm relieved that I have duplicates of certain items as I do not want to have to carry everything with me at once.  On Day 1, I will carry 3 classes-worth of supplies and tools and the same on Day 2.  And if I do not have what I need, thank goodness I will be with my friends.  We play well together and always share.

My past experience with craft / scrapbooking events is to dress comfortably and bring an apron.  And in my effort to pack light, I decided not to bring my Canon 20D, rather I will carry a portable Canon point & shoot to try and catch some memorable moments with our long distance friends.

I hope to find an opportunity to visit a furniture shop or two along the way. How can we visit North Carolina and not partake in some window shopping of casegoods and accessories for the home?

And the crafter in us must visit places not available in our neck of the woods like Hobby Lobby and Sonic. 

It's the little things that mean a lot.  I'm happy to have my best friend along who enjoys it as much as I do. 

We are ready to be Inspired.

Dazzling scrapbooking products...

I'm spending a little time tonight catching up on all things scrapbooking-related and see that the new VersaMark Dazzle Watermark Stamp Pads (in Frost and Champagne) and are now available at Scrapbook.com. 

I've seen ads in some of the craft magazines and am happy I can finally order them online.

There is an organizational sale going on at Two Peas in a Bucket.  The Unmounted Stamp Books by Cropper Hopper are my new favorite.  They remain nice and secure and are sealed so if any stamps come loose, they do not fall out of your binder.

The Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher is another new favorite of mine.  I'm having lots of fun with it in my layouts.

And ScrapbookPal.com has some new Cricut cartridges available for pre-order.  My favorites are the Bath Decor and European Decor. 

I've got a number of scrapbooking opportunities next month and do look forward to playing with some new toys. 

Office closet...

The reason I chose the room I utilize as my studio / craft room is because it has 2 closets.  Ideal for storage, particularly when it comes to craft supplies. 

I designated one closet as "Papier" for all things paper related, including my laptop and printer.  The other closet is "Embellissez-Moi" for Embellish Me that contains embellishments and craft supplies.  The photos of this space are a bit out-dated but you can get a sense of what I was trying to achieve with the closet space.  (Promise to update photos of the studio VERY soon.)

I have also viewed incredible use of closet space as a home office as well as craft space in Flickr, on Two Peas in a Bucket and various blogs including Crafty Storage.

In Lowe's September / October 2007 edition of Creative Ideas (I have saved just about every issue) they featured small space solutions, including a home office within a closet.

See the bulldog clips on the wall?  They are up there thanks to magnetic primer that was painted on the wall.  A very clever idea.

Using a curtain instead of a door has a very nice effect on the space.  I am contemplating doing the same as the doors have a tendency to get in the way.  My one and only reason for keeping them is that I have various types of storage on the insides of each door.  I haven't ruled it out though. 

The first time I laid eyes on a home office within a closet is in a magazine some-years-ago featuring Interior Designer Chris Madden's very own that included decorative mirrors and storage on the doors of the closet (my inspiration). 
A Room of Her Own

If there is a closet you wish to convert into a home office and/or craft area, be sure to check out Lowes Creative Ideas as well as other online resources such as The Container Store, Organize.com, Stacks and Stacks and Target, to name a few.

I like the idea of taking a space and creating an entirely different environment with it.  It brings a little of the unexpected to your home along with great efficiency. 

And there you have it....a closet of your own.

Get a grip with Grip-it...

A product you can find in the grocery store is helping me in the craft room.

Grip-it Twister Grips are just enough in size to help keep my drawer organizers from shifting when I open the drawer.

Can you see the Twister Grip in between the two drawer organizers? 

When I would open the drawer, the organizer would shift and I was having to move them back into place. 

I also used some shelf liners made with the same material to hold these organizers in place in their respective cubbies.  (I also use them in our kitchen drawers.)

The drawers can now open without much shifting and moving around.

I also used the shelf liners in the drawer that houses a collection of punches.

Every time I open the drawer, there is no movement of punches and everything remains in order.

And they work great with seat cushions so your tuckus doesn't go sliding off the chair.

If you have any other ideas where to use Grip-it, please do share!

Packet organizer...

$8.99 x 2 = organization happiness.

Our packets of oatmeal and seasonings are happy in their new home (resource:  Organize.com).

Life is good when my surroundings are in proper order.

Friday night...

Tonight is spent delighting in the little things...

...like shopping at Target for my Father-in-law (including a beverage for myself)

...and finding girly Viva paper towels for the craft room

...grocery shopping at Costco and sampling a bottle of their own champagne (it's quite tasteful)

...listening to the washing machine beep several times before I finally get off my bum and tend to it

...listening to iTunes and trying to drown out the beeping sound of the washing machine

...amongst all the chaos, taking time out to peruse the latest issue of Decor magazine (found at Costco), absorbing every inspiring photograph.

The most exciting thing about Friday night is the opportunity to sleep-in tomorrow morning.  How heavenly.  

Have a lovely weekend and may you enjoy doing what you are doing.  :)

We strive for an organized life...

I'm glad to know I am in good company when it comes to organizing and reorganizing.  And I know when it comes to our creative space, we seek proper placement of supplies and workspace along with a bit of good karma to help us along. 

My very first creative space was in the basement / laundry area of our previous home.  And the only photos I could come up with were of ones when my guy cleared out a section of the basement before we moved the furniture in.  Not impressive for a scrapbooker to not have photos of their haven, but hey, I was brand new to the hobby at the time.

Quite shiny, don't ya say.  To be surrounded by insulation is such a design statement.

I recall how excited I was to have dedicated space for my new-found hobby, circa 2002.

And I have been organizing, re-organizing, re-tooling and just plain puttering around in my craft space ever since. 

Without further ado, I'd like to announce that JulieP is now the owner of the organizational product I mentioned yesterday. 

Your comments and suggestions were much appreciated.  May we continue to strive for an organized life together. 

Organizational product...

Can you ever get enough when it comes to organization?  I will organize a closet or a kitchen drawer and contentment will remain with me for a short period of time before I discover a new method to organize that closet and the kitchen drawer. 

Re-tooling, re-doing, re-organizing.   

It's periodicals like Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens among many others that help provide the ideas that inspire us.  Motivate us.  Constantly yearning for better ways to simplify our home and everyday life. 

It's the websites and online resources such as The Container Store, Organized.com, Stacks and Stacks, and Simplify 101 that showcase ideas, products and tools to assist with our organization tasks. 

Tonight, I have decided to share a few of my favorite organizing accessories with fellow organizing fiends by giving away what you see below. 

 

They are a part of my latest obsessions in an attempt to keep the craft room organized.

 

I do like Stampin' Up! storage accessories.  Their embellishment carousel is a favorite of mine.

 

Snapware is one of my latest obsessions, helping to keep my Copic markers in order and other various craft supplies tote-able.  

And ArtBin's Super Satchel Slim compartment box is what I like to store stickers and rub-ons by topic, such as "travel". 

 

The hanging project cases, found at Target, are a wonderful way to keep thick and loose items organized and have the ability to hang it in a file organizer.

I've also included a handy and foldable tote from Target.  I like to carry magazines in the car with me when we have a lengthy road trip or when visiting the hair dresser, doctor's office, etc.

The ammo box has been in my collection of storage paraphernalia for some time now.  They keep alpha pixie stamps organized so neatly and easily retrievable when seeking a letter or two.

The Cropper Hopper paper organizer is something I like to keep ongoing projects filed in.  When attending a crop, you can just grab it and go.

So, fellow organizing fiends, I plan to select a winner from those who leave a comment by tomorrow (Monday) night.  And if you have any tips, suggestions or product recommendations, please feel free to share them.  I am always open to new ideas and new product. 

May your Monday be a productive one.

Marker storage & Diet Dr. Pepper...

I started with this Snapware Craft Box...

to organize this growing collection of Copic Ciao Markers.

I yearned for trays that were not as deep, allowing me to separate the markers by color family without creating a tower the size of the Empire State Building of Snapware to transport to classes and crops.

Thankfully, one of my favorite organizing resources, Organize.com, offers extra trays with less depth (1.25 x 6 x 9 medium rectangles) for the Snapware system.

I am so happy.  It's the ideal home for these wonderful coloring instruments.

Let's toast to wonderful storage containers with a coupon for a free Diet Dr. Pepper.  Cheers!

A bird & a mirror and a cookbook...

Thank you for the kind feedback on the placement of a mirror in our guest room closet.  I was drawn to the mirror the moment I saw it on PB Teen's website in the clearance section (where I hang out most when I'm feeling an urge to gift our home with a bit of flashy decor at incredible prices). 

This purchase was made a couple years ago and is no longer available on their website.  I'm sorry to those who expressed an interest in this mirror.  I did check eBay and was unable to find it.  My suggestion is to keep checking eBay as new items are popping up every second on that site.

On a completely different subject, look who has a new cookbook:

Yes, Giada.  I understand the recipes are simple, light and flavorful.  I may have finally found the ideal cookbook that does not overwhelm me with ingredients and steps.   (My ideal method of cooking is opening the Lean Cuisine box and pushing the buttons on the microwave.)

I'm just looking for simple ways to make my tummy happy & healthy. 

Writing instruments...

An observation I made tonight in my craft room is that I do not lack for writing instruments.

At every turn, there is something to write with within an arm's reach. 

Can you tell that I have a penchant for pencils?  There's nothing like a No. 2 lead moving smoothly across a good sheet of paper.

In the above photo, I like to keep my favorite journaling pen (American Crafts Precision Point pens) in a vase all on it's own.  So when I'm ready to journal in my scrapbooks, I know where to find it.

And below, keeping a couple of White Signo's available comes in handy while working on projects at the table.

I could stand to go through and test some of the pens in this turnabout as I have not used them in a long while and are probably dried-up at this point.

And I do love Stampin' Up! markers.  Oh yes. 

Pens & markers are even hidden in drawers. 

It is beyond ridiculous.  Do you have a fetish for writing tools?

There are also ballpoint pens.  It's a staple, whether you are at home, at work, in your car or keep them in your handbag or your shirt pocket. 

There's a few I keep in a repurposed gift box from Jo Malone (honestly, I will not throw those boxes away). 

Keeping ballpoint pens in my handbag is quite challenging.  I seem to lose them as easily as losing my lip gloss.  Somehow I manage to do that quite often.

The pencil drawer in the desk of where my laptop sits is full of good writing paraphernalia. 

Last, but not least in every sense of the word (my bank book can prove it), the world of Copic markers that I have been living and breathing the last couple months.

Snapware does wonders for organizing markers and tools. 

So, this brings me to the question:  What do you like to write with?  Perhaps there's some great writing instrument I am missing out on.  Inquiring minds want to know...

Something borrowed...

Taking a home decor item you already own and moving into another room is sometimes just what you need to refresh a space.  For example, I removed the bird mirror from my craft room...

...and moved it to the newly organized guest room closet.

My original thought was to hang hooks for robes and misc. items on the wall of this closet.  I then realized that I could move the bird mirror, which has 2 hooks, to this closet where it serves 2 purposes:  a mirror for primping and hooks to hang items.

Now I have an empty spot on the wall of my craft room to fill.  To be continued in a future post.  ;)

Linen Storage & Care...

Today, I read with great interest an article on How to Organize Your Linens in The Washington Post's Home section.  It reaffirmed my feelings toward an organized closet, in particular, the linen closet.

I do need to make a couple adjustments.  One, is I need to remove the duster I currently store in our linen closet (I think the storage drawer containing the duster refills are OK to remain in the closet though).

And I should store our hand-held vacuum elsewhere too. 

I've already reduced the number of "rags" I keep and I see an opportunity to utilize space bags in this closet for linens we do not use very often.

The next section of the article pertains to the proper care of linens where I learned white vinegar is the ideal "detergent" when washing your linens for the first time.  And do not use fabric softener and dryer sheets when when laundering your linens.  The chemicals will cause build up on them and shorten their lifespan. 

The article also shares "white sale" resources in case you want to fill-up your linen closet with 300+ thread count sheets and Egyptian cotton towels.  Let me add that Macy's is also hosting a white sale too.  And I know this because I am dreaming of pearls, thanks to Barbara Barry.

Let's give 3 cheers to clean & crisp linens, organized closets and great white sales.  Let's not forget the Terri Sapienza and the Washington Post too for the inspiring article.

Just because...

My mission today was to purchase socks for my guy at Target.  And I know it's hardly ever a one-item visit to that retail haven.

While there, I discovered this lovely serving tray and decided to bring one home...

...just because I liked the shape (it reminds me of this bracket stamp).

And I brought home a lovely hat box...

...just because I liked the graphic design.

And I liked it so much, I brought 2 home. 

I almost forgot the socks because I was distracted by Target's new Home Design Event with home decor galore.  I wanted so badly to go hog-wild attempting to accessorizing our home with a wonderful selection of goods they are now offering.

I couldn't though....just because our bank account said not today. 

Don't you hate it when that happens?!  I'll be back, Target.

Space Bags...

A friend in need is a friend indeed.  Is that how the saying goes? 

Remember this?  {before shot of much-talked-about guest closet of late}

And do you see this?  Stacks of comforters taking up valuable space.

Based on these photos, my friend pointed out that I needed Space Bags and the suggestion was seconded by another friend. 

I took their advice and purchased a variety of Space Bags today and placed our comforters, each into extra large size Space Bags and sucked the air right out of them with our vacuum.

They fit so much more nicely now than they did before.

I had so much fun I decided to store old concert and souvenir t-shirts into medium Space Bags.

I am finding this method of storage extremely gratifying. 

This can turn into an obsession as I go around the house seeking anything that can be stored in these bags, anxious to suffocate every last bit of oxygen from the bag with the vacuum as my weapon. 

See what you started Tammy!?

As for the guest closet, I am still tinkering with all the contents, attempting to place them in proper order.  And I'm trying to leave some space for our guests to hang their hat.

There is wall space in this closet where I am debating whether to install hooks to hang bags or whatever our house guests desire.
 

Please do not be surprised to see more on this saga down the road.  Because when I begin to obsess over a project, it is all I talk about.

:=)

In with the new...

I am happy to report the new closet has been installed. 

I took my time with this project today and began by applying spackling to the holes from the previous closet shelves. 

Can you believe it, the spackling is pink.  What I like about this joint compound is the indication of when it's dry when it goes from pink to white. 

The next step involved smoothing out the spackling with a wet cloth.  I decided to go in this direction vs. sanding as there is less mess aka drywall dust.  That is why I attempted to keep the spackling to a minimum in order to easily blend it into the wall with a wet cloth.

I touched up the areas with paint using the existing wall color. 

Once the walls were dry, I measured and penciled-in where the metal tracks will be placed.  This is where the closet's vertical panels will hang.  This step also involves the use of a hacksaw to cut the metal track to size.  It's very easy to do but I called upon my guy to give me some assistance.

The track is hung using drywall screws (hence the need to locate studs) and E-Z Toggles.  I love E-Z Toggles.  They are so easy to work with.

Below you can see where I have marked with a pencil where the E-Z Toggles will go.  I grabbed my drill and began drilling it into the drywall ever-so-slowly. 

Here's the end result.

Next, I hung the metal track and secured them with the accompanying E-Z Toggle screws.

It is a good idea to add drywall screws into studs you've located.  This step is always after the metal track has been hung.

One thing to keep in mind when securing your metal track is to take note where the vertical panels will be hung because they will not hang on top of a screw.

Now it is time to add the vertical panels to the metal track.  And once they are in place, cam shelves are added to square-off and secure the vertical panels. 

Below is a shelf that accommodates cam fittings, which you must add using a rubber mallet. 

I love using a rubber mallet.

Before hanging the cam shelves, cam screws need to be added to the vertical panels.  In the photo below, you can see that single cam screws were needed as the vertical panel is against the wall. 

On a vertical panel that requires cam screws on both sides, a double cam screw is required.

I added the cam shelves into their designated locations as shown in the diagram that accompanies your order.

Once the cam shelf is in place (installed one at a time), screw the cam fitting so that it grabs the head of the cam screw.

Once all the cam shelves are in place, you can add the remaining shelves which sit on shelf pins and are adjustable.  The cam shelves are not adjustable.

The final touches include adding the hanging rods and valet pole.  And by-golly, we've got a new closet.

Once I have the contents organized, I will gladly share more on this project.

My body is now screaming for 2 ibuprofen and a hot bath.  :=)

Out with the old...

The packages from Easy Closets arrived today.  And to give you a sample of what to expect if you were to place an order, see our foyer below:

Easy Closets does a wonderful job marking the contents of each box and dedicating one of the boxes to the instructions and hardware. 

It's now time to remove the existing shelving.  It took a screwdriver and the claw-end of a hammer to extract those nails from the wall.

The next task is to patch the holes, do some touch-up painting and mark where the studs are located.

In addition to using a stud finder, I intend to mark stud locations based on where screws held the previous shelf.

You can see where there is a nail-pop just below the holes....another strong piece of evidence where a stud is located.  Where there is a nail-pop (in most cases), there is a stud.

So before I patch these holes, I will make a pencil mark here to indicate the location of a stud.

Tomorrow I will finish the walls and begin all the necessary steps to hang the closet organizer. 

If I work real hard and break into a sweat, perhaps I'll burn a few calories too. 

And if everything goes according to plan, this post will be continued tomorrow evening.

A New Year...

The first day of 2009 and I happily hung my new home decor themed calendar. 

It's a lovely calendar by Kimberly Applegate whose artwork I admire tremendously. 

And when January has ended, I am going to have the artwork framed (minus the calendar) as the chair is by one of my favorite interior designers, Barbara Barry. I also plan to create some journals with my handy-dandy Bind-it All and incorporate the remaining artwork into those journals. 

If you wish to own one of these calendars, they are still available here on eBay.

How was your New Year's?  Did you celebrate?  Watching the ball drop at midnight is always a tradition of ours, except I broke that tradition last night.  I was fast asleep before midnight.  My body was craving sleep and I gave into that craving.  

Oh how I wish I could say I was tired because of all the hard labor I put into installing a closet organizer but that was not the case.  Our order has not arrived yet and I now have my fingers crossed that it arrives tomorrow. 

On Day 2 of 2009, I intend to purge, clean & organize.  The New Year always brings out that urge to re-evaluate and re-organize.  And I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one organizing in the New Year.  Korie can organize her way through a Franklin-Covey planner like no one's business. 

May all you set out to accomplish in 2009 come to fruition.  And here's to a happy & healthy New Year!

Guest room closet...

Have you made any plans to celebrate the New Year?  Family gatherings?  A night among adults?  Stocking up on celebratory beverages and watching New Year's Rockin Eve?  Or how about dinner at a nice restaurant?

For me, I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to spend our downtime installing a closet organizer ala Easy Closets in our guest bedroom.  And believe me, this closet needs some attention.

 

In between glimpses of Dick Clark on TV and drilling holes and hanging shelves, I hope to obtain a little order in a little closet.  It is nearly the last closet in our home in need of organizing.

If I can only convince my guy to allow me to organize his closet but he seems content with the function of his space.  Just think of the possibilities...t-shirts stacked by color on a shelf, socks and unmentionables folded and in full view in a drawer that fully extends.  I'm still working on him.

A sense of order can be gratifying.  It's a never-ending goal of mine.  And I enjoy chasing that goal. 

Drawer storage...

For months now I have been searching for drawer storage that is bookshelf-friendly.  And that is no easy task. 

It took me some time to find drawer storage for the Ikea Markor bookcase in my craft room.
 

Last year, I had discovered Stockholm Paper Drawers on the Container Store website, in addition to the Lisa & Becky storage (which are hard to find now) at Scrapbook.com, that are the perfect size for this bookcase and have been happy since the day I set them in their designated spots.

I recently found myself seeking drawer storage again, this time for jewelry that would fit onto a shelf in my closet.  This required finding a jewelry box that does not open from the top, which is next to impossible.  That is until I returned to the Container Store website and discovered Portofino Jewelry Boxes. 

Because there is a shelf above where the jewelry box would sit (as you can see below), this would not allow for any type of box to be opened from the top. 

I purchased 3 Portofino Jewelry boxes that stack beautifully on top of one another.  And it is so easy to open each drawer and have full view and access to my little trinkets.

The most satisfying aspect of this task is seeing everything in order.

And it keeps me sane. 

Cheers to sanity. 

Post Holidays...

I have not had much of an opportunity to partake in the post-holiday sales but I am attempting to get my surroundings in order.  It seems to be the tradition with the new year approaching.  And that seems to be the theme of many home decor magazines....organize!

So I will share a little snipet of what I've done in my closet (with The Container Store as my resource) that is making me happy right now.  Stay tuned....will share more on Sunday. 

China...

My goodness, check out this "china room" from House Beautiful's website:

I'd love to have a closet like this but not for china.  Couldn't you see bottles of stickles in various colors lined up on a shelf here.  And the mounds of cardstock that could be stored behind those glass doors.  How about your wardrobe and accessories stored in a space like this.  I'd never leave this breath-taking room.

My collection of china would only fill up one shelf in a room like this.  Our pattern is circa 1988 and has only been used twice.  Such a shame the little use it gets in our home.  I should try to use it more often. 

And those who have china handed down to them from previous generations are fortunate to possess a piece of their family's past to share with future generations. 

Do you bring out the good china for the holidays?  Do you have a favorite pattern you use only for the holidays?  I have been tempted by nice patterns reminiscent of fall colors to add to our collection for use at Thanksgiving.  Then the reality-check is we do not host a Thanksgiving meal in our home every year.  I think it would be nice though to have a few accessory pieces, including the above platter I linked to.

It is china we use to enhance our dining experience, attempting to create an environment that is pleasing to the hosts as well as the guests.  And it's the sentimental moments we enjoy with family and friends.  That is what creates the fond memories and turns our china into cherished heirlooms. 

Being a scrapbooker, memories are what it's all about.

Calendar entries...

Recently, I mentioned how I was seeking a wall calendar for 2009.  I opted to go the rock 'n roll route with the lead vocalist of my favorite band and received the calendar last week. 

First, I want to say, yes, I think Jon is gorgeous.  He represents a time in my life when I was young and loved his music.  Slippery When Wet was our very first CD purchase.  And I'd blast my stereo to the sound of You Give Love a Bad Name over and over again.

When I removed the wrap from my new calendar the other day, I anxiously opened it up anticipating the photos of each month that lay ahead of me.  What I wasn't prepared for was the style of each month's calendar.  Take a look:

Where am I suppose to write little reminders of upcoming trips, dates with the gals, family gatherings and concerts????

There is no room to write.

Seriously.

I now realize the intent of this calendar is to enjoy the visual delight and the dates are just for background.  I visualize my guy rolling his eyes at this very moment.

My little haven now consists of visual delight with nowhere to write.  Ha!

Did I mention that I have a Palm Treo with a calendar feature that syncs with iCal on my MacBook Pro?  Technology sometimes makes it too easy for me.  I need to see the writing on the wall, so-to-speak. 

OK, I'm off to browse at wall calendars. 

Get Organized and Be Inspired 2009...

If you are in need of gift ideas for yourself that you'd like to share with family and friends, I'd like to make a recommendation, particularly if you are a scrapbooker.  My suggestion is enrollment into Wendy Smedley's class with Big Picture Scrapbooking titled Get Organized and Be Inspired 2009. 

I took this class earlier this year and it inspired me to revamp and organize my craft room.  (I share my experiences with Big Picture Scrapbooking here.) 

It is where I got the idea to create a box specifically for journaling supplies.

And to have a catch-all for new supply purchases.

It is where I was inspired to categorize and label drawers filled with supplies using stamps by Technique Tuesday that were made specifically for this class.

And using Wendy Smedley and Aby Garvey's book, The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, as my guide.

I am thrilled to see that Wendy will be teaching this class again in '09.  Her approach to helping folks like us get organized was at a steady pace without feeling too overwhelmed.  It kept me motivated for the duration of the class. 

I haven't changed a thing in my craft room since I participated in the class.  My space has function and supplies are very easy to find.  I do not spend a lot of time searching for things. 

And now my space is conducive to crafting and being creative.  I have made peace with my little haven. 

ArtBin sale...

Anyone who wishes to organize their craft supplies using ArtBin products, please note that Joann.com has them on sale, TODAY ONLY at 40% off MOST ArtBin items.  I love their Super Satchel boxes, although they are not 40% off but it is still a great price.

I'm going to stock up and continue organizing.

Decorative bottle in Evian form...

Have you ever made a purchase simply because the packaging appealed to you?  If you have, perhaps you can relate to the purchase I made last night at Target.

I love Target for their unique finds and Evian & Christian Lacroix for convincing me to purchase this adorable bottle, frilly packaging and all.

My guy took one look at this bottle and asked what I intend to do with it.  And I replied, I will drink the water and use the empty bottle as a decorative dispenser of some sort.  Just add a bottle pourer or spout and you've instantly got a soap dispenser (love that idea from Martha Stewart).

Or I can turn it into a candelabra.

And that, my friends, is a great way to re-purpose a frivolous purchase.

Candle storage...

Here's a tip for candle-users, particularly tapered candles:

Recycling and organizing with Martha Stewart's practical ideas is what motivated me to save paper towel cardboard tubes the last several months.  Tonight, I finally put them to good use by storing candle tapers in them.

Past practice was setting them in a drawer, unwrapped and unprotected thereby leaving candle wax stains on the bottom of the drawer.  Now they are wrapped in tissue by the pair and inserted into the paper towel tubes.  For ID purposes, I plan to tie corresponding colored ribbon around each respective tube.

There is no more rolling around of the candle tapers when the drawer is opened and closed.  And there are no more wax stains.

Every dollar I sink into my Martha Stewart Living subscription is well worth it for tips like this.  And it's the little things that can make a difference that gives me a complete sense of accomplishment.

I hope your weekend was what you wanted it to be.  Good night, folks.

2009 Calendar...

The year has not ended yet but I've already begun searching for my '09 calendar.  In addition to the blotter calendar for our kitchen desk I recently purchased, I enjoy having a calendar hanging in my little haven. 

The last 2 years, I've enjoyed calendars from Ali Edwards and Donna Downey via Cafe' Press.  For 2009, I decided to go a different route but I am not sure which way I want to go.  I've spent quite a bit of time between Calendars.com and Amazon trying to find the ideal calendar. 

I'm torn between Better Homes & Gardens (they also have an adorable perpetual calendar that is great for tracking birthdays and special occasions as well as a wall calendar dedicated to Scrapbooking) and Jon Bon Jovi.  I know, the two calendars do not even belong in the same sentence.  It's between flower arrangements and rock 'n roll. 

As I continue to shop around and ponder such tough choices here, I thought I'd share these calendars as they are the type of gift that is useful to almost everyone. 

And if you are aware of any interior design-type calendars for 2009, please let me know.

Photo triage...

I am a BIG BIG fan of the Library of Memories system that Stacy Julian has introduced to us scrapbookers, either through Big Picture or her books (The Big Picture and Photo Freedom). 

Earlier this year, I organized various photos using the Library of Memories photo triage method.  Tonight, I decided I want to begin working on a special album about my guy and me.  It took me 2 seconds to gather the photos for this project simply by referring to the little box that houses this triage of photos and looking under the tab labeled 'US'. 

Some time ago I knew I wanted to work on an 'US' album, so that is when I began sorting photos into the triage of photos box.  It's such a timesaver.  I don't have to spend hours flipping through albums and photo images on CDs. 

While on the subject of Big Picture, A Life Well Crafted year-long project with Jason & Kolette Hall begins in January and I just learned that you can sign-up month-to-month.  I've just signed up for January and am ready for more creative inspiration from Kolette.  I plan to begin working on projects from her recent class, The Art of Giving Well, over the Thanksgiving holiday.  She included some very creative gift ideas and I've managed to find all the supplies needed for the projects.

And I am up-to-speed on printing assignments from Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life class.  That's a big step for me.  I usually do not keep up with the week-to-week assignments but do print each handout with the intention of working on them when I am able to do so.  My goal is to work on these assignments over the Christmas holiday.

I've got some BIG plans over the holidays.

Copper frame + Burlap = Bulletin Board...

With the inspiration and influence from friends, I finally got around to turning an ornate frame (purchased in Phoenix this year) and converting it into a bulletin board. 

All it took was corkboard (found at Target), burlap fabric (from Fabric.com) and the ideal frame.  I adhered the burlap to the corkboard using fabric glue.  Applying the fabric glue with a foam brush onto the corkboard worked best vs. applying it directly to the fabric.  There was less mess and using a brayer to even-out the fabric helped. 

Just make sure the grain of the fabric is going in the direction you wish it to go to as I didn't do that and it looks a little crooked.

At the last minute, I decided to accent the board with ribbon (from Stampin' Up!) and hung it above our kitchen desk.

It was a quick and easy project (completed in about 15 minutes). 

Apologies on the poor quality of the photos.  It seems the only time I take photos around our home is when it's dark out. 

Happy Sunday night!

Songbird...

On a typical day, I have jewelry scattered throughout our home.  My earrings are laying on the kitchen desk from when I took them off the night before when I got home from work.  There's a necklace laying on the bathroom sink and a bracelet next to the laptop in the craft room. 

It's like I slowly take off each piece of jewelry as I walk through our home after a long day at work.  My shoes are usually at the bottom of the stairs, but I won't go into that right now.  It's a pet-peeve of my guy's when he sees my shoes scattered all over our home.

A couple Christmases ago, a very dear friend of mine helped me get my hands on a beautiful decorative tree to hang my jewelry from none other than Brighton and oh how I love it.  (I just learned that the Songbird Jewelry Tree is available online at Exposures.)

Each morning and every evening, this is my destination - the jewelry tree.  I do not wear a lot of jewelry but I try to wear a little something most of the time.  Truthfully, I've always admired how the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy would dress stylishly classy yet not have a single piece of jewelry on except her wedding ring.  I do like the simplified look but feel naked without at least a pair of earrings on. 

And I wonder if the jewelry looks better on this tree than on me. 

More on black & white...

As I was flipping through the latest Sur La Table catalog last night, I landed on a page that reminded me how much I admire classic and elegant patterns.  The ageless, timeless and seems to be everywhere lately, damask pattern.  And the page I'm referring to in the catalog is Black Damask Martini Collection.  How incredibly chic.

The collection can also be paired with a sexy and chic hostess apron.  Drinks anyone?

  I also came across another interesting household item decorated oh-so elegantly in black and white.  Check out this bowl brush by Casabella.  They also offer a broom, squeeze mop and floor duster in this pattern with a hint of lime.

While I'm on the subject of household items, I discovered this Bungalow Bin in a black & white pattern that I'd love to have for my closet.

Canisters never looked so elegant until I fell upon this set.

During the holiday season, catalogs fill our mailbox by the pound.  It's a convenient way to window shop, so I hope you enjoy my version of window-shopping today.

 

Blog organizing...

Spending the last 2 days reorganizing this site has me very distracted, thus no blog posts lately.  I am attempting to clean-up links that no longer work and sharing information in a more orderly fashion. 

At the top of this blog, underneath my banner, I have created links to topics I frequently "talk" about.  I've also included those same links on the right side of this blog under "A Passion For". 

So please pardon the dust while I continue to make this site a bit more functional. 

And tomorrow, I intend to share a gift idea of the political kind.  Stay tuned.

Stampington & Co.'s Where Women Create...

The premier issue of Where Women Create arrived last night and I didn't waste a moment perusing the magazine. 

Admiring the creative spaces of such inspiring women is a true delight.  From what I read in the magazine, there will be opportunities for women to be a part of this incredibly creative niche Jo Packham has created. 

Shamefully, I admit that my little space is messy tonight.  And I can't blame it on being creative.  It's simply messy, to put it simply.

It has become the catch-all for anything that happens to be in my hands when I walk into the room. 

Messiness aside, it's my little piece of heaven. 

As for the aforementioned magazine, I understand it hits newsstands on November 1.  Or you can order a copy directly from Stampington & Co.

Wherever you create, may your little piece of heaven keep you happy and inspired.

I leave with a photo of a quote from the magazine...

An armoire for gift-giving...

When I'm away from home, I can think of many things I should be doing if I were home.  I then become anxious and get overwhelmed by those thoughts because I am not at home doing those things.

My solution to help calm my nerves and feel productive is to write those ideas and 'things to do' inside my little notebook.  If I can't be at home executing ideas I have in my head, I find it gratifying to jot them down.

So, my latest 'idea' was to move the armoire I originally had in my craft room down to the basement and designate it as a gift-giving work center.

This idea has been in the works for several months now and I finally got a chance to execute most of my plans today.

Here the armoire sits in the basement, still looking a little lonely but it's a work-in-progress.  Next to the armoire is a floor vase I purchased from Crate and Barrel several years ago where it is now a home to rolls of gift wrap.

Open the doors and you see where I am slowly organizing gift bags into plastic containers and identified each one by labeling them with Thickers felt alphabet stamps.  You just gotta love scrapbooking supplies, particularly ones that are multi-purpose like alphabet stickers.

I also added a Making Memories magnetic board to the door where I keep a list of special gift-giving dates of loved ones and a pencil cup for markers and pens.  There's also a decorative box/bag for cards and a little Jo Malone gift box I am using to house gift tags.

I have a jar (leftover from last Christmas) filled with pre-made bows, a box to store holiday cards and a cup for scissors.

In the first drawer, I filled it with various size boxes to organize tissue, bag fillers and ribbon.

I've designated the bottom drawer for gifts.  I'd share the contents but I can't reveal any secrets.  It's not a big drawer but it's enough to help me set aside some small items I've been saving for last minute gifts. 

I'm happy that the gift center is up-and-running in time for the holidays.  The nicest thing about this project was that I did not have to go out and buy a single thing.  I used items from around-the-house and re-purposed photo boxes, gift boxes and scrapbooking supplies.

As for my notebook of 'things to do'....well, it's growing every day.  What I find to be fulfilling is to open that notebook and take a red pencil and cross off 'to-do' items from my list as I complete each one. 

And tonight, I will sleep well.

Sharing Your Story...

When I'm in need of instant gratification concerning scrapbooking, I turn to mini-albums and/or mini-books.  So when Ali Edwards published a book, Sharing Your Story, specifically on this topic, I decided to purchase a copy.

I'm inspired by the various themes of mini-books in this book.  One of my favorites is the Photo Log.  Since I'm trying to learn more about the abilities of my camera, a photo log is a great way to create a cheat sheet of shots along with the particulars (ISO, aperture, etc.).

Some time ago, Ali shared how she displays mini-books in her home and boy, was I inspired.  I sought out a basket similar to Ali's and have begun showcasing my mini-albums.

And one day I hope to find a console to place the basket of mini-albums onto but for now it sits on the floor of our living room.

Now my family & friends can enjoy sharing in my stories.

Anna Griffin @ Neiman's...

It's true.  As I was browsing the site, I came upon the incredibly awesome tote/laptop bag and pencil case by Anna Griffin I purchased from our LSS a few months ago on Neiman Marcus' website.  It is available for the same price as most retailers are selling it for. 

And what do you know, Neiman Marcus even carries some of the coordinating office accessories from Anna Griffin's Dorothy line.

While at Creative Escape earlier this month, I used this bag as my camera bag because it's nicely padded (for a laptop) and sat comfortably on my shoulder.

The pencil case is a perfect complement to the bag.  I actually store mine in the craft tool bag I carry to classes and crops.  It's filled with my favorite writing tools, like the Precision Pen, Uniball white Signo pen and a good sharpened pencil.

If you are interested and act quickly, you can get free shipping on Neiman's website through October 1.

I hope your Wednesday is a fabulous one. 

Powder room accessories...

It's all about architecture and gates when it comes to the artwork in our powder room.  I finally made time to hang the 2 pieces I purchased from Etsy (see previous post on this artwork for more info) and am happy with the outcome.  You can click on the photo below for a close-up of the artwork.

And while spending time accessorizing this space, I took a silver urn (purchased long ago from Bombay Company), originally in our living room, and set it on the tank after testing other pieces from around the house. 

Then I realized it was the perfect storage piece for an extra roll of bath tissue. 

I love it when the unexpected happens.  Particularly when it's something you already own.

I'm a bit undecided on the rug.  I'd like something a little more elegant than an outdoor rug (from Ballard Designs, who by the way, is offering 15% off everything thru Sept. 15).  I just haven't found what I like in the appropriate size.  And what I like does not come in the size I need. 

And I'm seeking a hand towel to tie into the color scheme as well as some type of floor vase or plant to hide the plumbing behind the bowl. 

I'm enjoying all things home-related this weekend.  And the highlight is it's Sunday night and I don't have to get up early tomorrow.  Sleeping-in can do wonders for my mind, body & soul. 

Enjoy your Labor Day!

A new subscription...

If you share in my obsession with magazines, this post is for you.  If you share in all things craft-related, this post is for you.  And if you share in my admiration of studios and organization, this post is definitely for you. 

Next set of questions:

Are you familiar with this book, Where Women Create by Jo Packham?  And are you familiar with her first book Organizing your Craft Space?

Finally, what this post is all about:

Well I learned there will be a magazine based on the book, Where Women Create (you can read all about it here) and am very excited to hear this. 

The debut issue is available November 1st.  If you are interested in a subscription, go to the Stampington & Co. website.

There are a number of well-known women in the industry who will be featured in this issue.  Not only do I believe it serves as wonderful inspiration to us crafters when it comes to studio spaces, it takes me back to the book I read some years ago by Chris Madden, A Room of Her Own. 

We can be great spouses, friends, parents, relatives...you name it, and yet we need our space.  And what better way to make your space your own by being creative in it.

Jars...

It's all about these lovely jars from, you guessed it, Target.

Some small and some large...

And some even larger...

...and with some labels makes for a happy kitchen.

With Fall almost here, cookie-baking-season is almost upon us.  And with my handy-dandy step stool, I can now reach the flour (as well as see it) and bake my heart out. 

Shorty & step stools...

Does your home require use of step stools?  In my case, I require them in numerous areas of our home.

I can't reach the drinking glasses on the 2nd shelf (and above) of our cabinet.

I've decided in my lack of height, I would place step stools around our home. 

Our pantry...

Our bathroom closet...

My bedroom closet...

I have a tall step stool at my disposal in the basement...

And in our kitchen...

Are you known as 'shorty' in your household?  I am too.