garden clean up

Since I garden all year long,

I get out of the habit

of spring cleaning my gardening messes.

I've shared my ideas for upcycling

flea market finds into useful

garden organizing ideas.

These are my favorites...

 

wooden divider

 

organize my small jars

and new succulents



 



 

metal jars and glass frogs

 

small pencils, paint brushes

and root plants in water

 

 

tool box insert

 

 

perfect catchall

for garden stuff

 

recipe box

for saving seed packets

 

 

muffin tin

for starting new seeds

 

 

glass jars

for storing seeds

 

 

I've been soaking and planting

my new bulbs and onions.

I can't wait to see them grow!

 

 

Happy Spring from

my garden bench to yours...

 



staying on track

Getting on track is one thing,

but staying on track is quite another.

One way to do this is to create a basic chore chart.

 

 

It goes back to those childhood memories of lists on the refrigerator or chore charts in the laundry room.

 

 

Good memories and a good idea as well.

Everyone is different and every list will be different too. I thought I would share my schedule in case it inspires you.

 

 

I try to work my favorite projects every other day

so I have things to look forward to.

 

CHORE CHART

 

Monday: clean the floors, shake out mats

Tuesday: water plants, clean the kitchen

Wednesday: clean the bathrooms

Thursday: laundry and pay the bills

Friday: dust the house and pick up clutter

Saturday: household or garden projects

Sunday: launder bedclothes, clothing overflow

 

 

I try to find ways to make may chores a bit more fun. For example, when I sit down to pay my bills I will take an extra few minutes to send a sweet note or card to someone special.

 

Although I like to keep to the chore chart, it's also important to have some duties that are preformed on a daily basis...

 

DAILY CHORES

 

*make the bed in the morning

*wipe down the bathroom counters

after getting ready

*sweep entry, mudroom or high

traffic areas after work

*disinfect kitchen counters after dinner

*de-clutter at the end of the day

 

 

Try to keep your Saturdays or Sundays open for household projects you enjoy. Whether it's cooking for the week ahead, crafting, sewing, remodeling or gardening (my all time favorite). We all need time to smile and decompress!

Housework can become overwhelming if it gets too far ahead of you. The key is to get on track and do your best to stay on track!

All it takes is a simple chore schedule.

Enjoy!

 

 



garden bench upcycle

Garden season is in full bloom!

It is also the right time to make sure you are organized. A good way to stay organized is to tidy up the potting bench. Of course I use upcycled vintage items. My bench needs to be as pretty as it is functional!

 

 

This is an insert out of an old metal tool box. I made the tool box into a planter and I kept the insert (I can never get rid of anything). I'm glad I did! It makes a perfect garden caddy.

 

Old recipe boxes are always on my radar when I'm out picking. I use them for so many things. My favorite use is to organize my seed packets. I like to keep them and include a 3x5 notecard with helpful hints: when I planted, how they grew, how long they lasted, etc. It's nice to look back and have references for years to come!

 

It's not too early to be preparing for next year's garden. I like to keep a journal of notes about the weather, temperatures, rainfall, pests as well as important information such as what was happy and what withered. I covered my journal with an old weathered yet beautiful book binding.

 

 

Gardens are forever...if you insure their future. Stay organized now and it will help you for years to come!

 

 



the quest continues

As you know...

I'm on a quest for organization!

I shared my desk redo using industrial elements.

Then I posted my bedroom tips using vintage oddities.

Now it's time to share my crafting clutter.

As usual I refuse to use new containers for my corralling of stuff.

So this desk gets a functional facelift by organizing with my collection of pottery.

 

 

I find a use for every shape and size of vase.

I placed a heavy metal frog in the bottom of this shell vase

which provides enough weight for the vase to become a bookend. 

 

Tall bud vases are perfect for holding fabric measuring tapes.

 

Extra large vases are just the right height for old rulers.

 

Small bowls showcase paint swatches from current projects.

 

The tiniest vases hold business cards and paint brushes.

 

A paint brush suspended across a shallow dish,

creates a wonderful ribbon dispenser.

 

Rectangular planters hold everything from paint palettes to miscellaneous craft supplies.

 

My absolute favorite desktop pottery organizer is this vintage strawberry pot. It is as beautiful as it is functional.

I love it!

 

Voila! An organized crafting station.

My prediction...

it will be a mess by day's end.

 

Creativity is born in clutter and chaos.

Or at least that's what I tell myself!

A messy crafter is a happy crafter...

Thanks as always for taking the time to visit.

 



better late than never

In case you have been following my monthly musings, you might have noticed that I started my yearly organizational kick back in January. Well, it sort of fizzled out as quickly as it began. I do love it when everything is in its rightful place and I also love using vintage wares in upcycled ways. So here is the next phase of my journey on the road to an organized life...

starting with that dreaded under-the-bed black hole.

 

 

I always knew my hoard of random stuff would come in handy! I line up mix and match vintage drawers under my bed with the pretty handled side facing out. Then they can be filled with everything from books and magazines to belts and purses.

 

This old wooden hanger with clothes pins is transformed into a wonderful place to store and display delicate scarves.

I don't know what it was originally, but it works perfectly for scarves and jewelry. Making one would be as easy as can be...

 

I am in love with this metal tackle box!

The colors are a dream...

 

I cleaned it and coated it inside and out with mat polyurethane. Now it is ideal for a vanity makeup case.

 

Here is yet another use for my vast collection

of rusty old cheese graters...

 

A fun way to organize my earrings and bracelets. Be sure to clean them and coat with clear mat polyurethane to protect your counter tops and jewelry!

 

It feels great to get organized and I really love the way it looks. I have written numerous articles sharing upcycling and organizing ideas. These are some of my favorites! I hope you are inspired and are ready to get organizing too!



getting organized

Every January I set out to get things organized.

The one place that is always in need of a little extra help is my desk. I actually have multiple desks from home to shop so the daunting task just continues to mount. I try to beautify my surroundings as I go. It seems to help me feel like I'm decorating instead of actually "working". When it comes to organizing my desk and work areas, I like to repurpose old items I have in my collections. I can't seem to bring myself to purchase plastic bins and containers from office supple stores. Here are a few of my favorite upcycled wares I go-to for my organization...

 

 

It may seem like and unlikely pile of stuff to use for organizing.

But the vintage yumminess is hard to resist!

An old iron child-size shoe makers form is a perfect paper weight. Clean an rust off the metal and seal with a light coat of matte polyurethane to protect your desk surface and paperwork.

 

 

Small metal tins, like this old drill bit case, are just the right size for pen and pencil storage. 

 

 

Metal frogs can hold small paint brushes...

 

...and glass frogs can help sort colored pencils.

 

Decorative vases can also do the trick!

 

Keep tiny objects like paper clips, tacks and mini cloths pins in old glass bottles.

 

Corral these items in vintage wooden cheese boxes.

 

An old wood and metal brush can be great to hold mail and important business cards.

 

Never throw away old muffin tins! I use them to organize my desk, work stations and my potting tables too! They are small enough to tuck into a drawer.

 

It all comes together quite well!

 

Old baskets make ideal storage for larger items like my piles of architectural drawings.

 

I never pass up old suitcases when I'm out junking. I store everything from files to magazines to CD's. They are pretty stacked up as end tables too.

 

I might not love the process of organizing all of my stuff but I adore the finished look. Believe it or not, I can even get the organizing bug. It's contagious...

 

I hope you found a bit of inspiration. Just look around your house for things you can upcycle for your organizing projects! It's time for me to tackle the closets next...