Heather K Powers

Wednesday’s Word…Giving

May 4, 2016 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

“The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away.” -David Viscott

How often are you asked to Give? Of your time, your expertise, advice, wisdom or money? When I left my corporate career and started my work as an organizer I discovered the gift of giving to others through the services that I offered. With each project I work on I am rewarded abundantly by seeing the joy that is created by sharing my gifts!

On Giving…

My grandparents greatly influenced me in their gifts of service and taught me the value of giving back to others. I give back to my community with regularity and frequency and have established what I think will be a lifelong dedication to giving back to my community. Yesterday here in the Lowcountry there was a huge “campaign” that many local non-profit organizations participated in to ask their supporters to give generously and have their funds matched.

Several weeks ago I decided, in the spirit of Lowcountry Giving day, to select one non-profit organization to give a gift of my services to. After speaking with individuals at several worthy non-profit’s I selected the one that I felt was not only appreciative but also really needed my services and was willing to work with me over the coming months to implement some (hopefully) positive changes!

I’m thrilled to share that the organization I have selected to work with is The Charleston Preservation Society!

The Preservation Society of Charleston is dedicated to recognizing, protecting and advocating for the Lowcountry’s historic places. I am excited to begin work with them this month and over the next several. It will be an opportunity for me to share my gift and to learn about the gift that they give back to our community.

I’d love to hear about how you give back to your community. Do you share your gifts and passions with groups and individuals that you feel personally connected with?

All hangers are NOT equal

April 26, 2016 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

How to create an orderly closet

This can be next to impossible with a mish-mash of hangers. When working to create an orderly closet, having only a few types of hangers will save space and time keep as well as keep your clothes more neat. I admit it, I’m a hanger snob! When I start a closet organizing project the first thing I do is try to eliminate broken or flimsy hangers (wire, warped plastic etc). All hangers are not created equally, some do a fine job for certain tasks.

Below are my six favorite types of hangers, with a little explanation of what I recommend each for and why.

Wood Hangers these are sturdy and easy to find, not to expensive and great for suits, jackets and outerwear. If you are using these you might want to get a few with clips for skirts and pants (if you prefer to hang them long).

Velvet Shirt Hangers you either love them or hate them! They’re great for keeping lightweight, loose garments on the hangers and they are super space saving! They can break easily (brittle) and some people with shoulder/arm disabilities find them difficult to work with. I don’t recommend them for pants, unless they are ultra light weight and I also don’t recommend the “gadgets” they sell to convert these into multi hangers or clip hangers, they tend to make them break more easily.

Hangers

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Non Slip U-Slide Hangers are a great alternative to the velvet hangers. These are more sturdy than velvet (see above) and have grippy sections to keep clothes in place. These are an upgrade to the standard “plastic tube” hangers that deform easily and stuff slides off. The U-shape opening on one side make them easy to put clothes on and take them off.

Space saving pants hangers these are a new favorite, slimline, sturdy metal coated with non-slip rubber and easy to use. Everything you need in a pants hanger unless you like to hang them lengthwise in which case you will want a clip style (either wood above or basic plastic below).

There are a couple other hangers worth mentioning (and loads more to choose from) but there’s a reason most retail stores use these basic plastic skirt hangers. They save space, are inexpensive and do a great job holding onto your skirts and pants. Not everyone loves them but they are study, slim and keep things in place. Finally the padded satin hanger, not just for your grandmom! Although I recommend folding knits, if you must hang some of them these lovely hangers keep the shoulders from looking funny!

The closet above has a jumble of different hangers making it difficult to get clothes in and out and hard to see what’s what. Below hangers and clothes have been streamlined into 2 basic types (wood and U-Slide) to save space and make clothes easier to find and hang back up!

Do you need more tips to create an orderly closet? Sign up for my newsletter and get a free guide to Spring Closet Clean Out.

ABC Eye Candy

April 8, 2016 by Heather Filed Under: Art & Design, Home, Inspiration & Education, Textiles & Pattern Leave a Comment

I wanted to share just a bit more inspiration from my March trip to NYC…I spent at least two hours in one of my favorite places, ABC Carpet & Home. This store almost feels like a museum to me, with two buildings (near Union Square) and 5 floors of home furnishings, accessories and more to explore. When I went they had a whole theme of “In Pursuit of Magic“, from their displays to product selection, to the message on their bags…it did feel pretty magical.

What I loved most…the color combinations! I have been really anti neon (having lived it the first go round in the 80’s!) but no more! I saw such amazing unexpected color combinations using neon’s, pastels and earth tones. I couldn’t help but fall a little in love with Neon all over again!I always went to ABC when I was a textile designer because I knew they would be leading trends and showcasing textiles and carpets of exquisite design and quality. I still love to go for that very reason, to be inspired in what I might design or create. Just take a look through this slide show of some of the beautiful textiles include handmade lace, net-like structures, traditional woven overshot, totally modern digital prints and woven structures that enhance color through the use of texture.

ABC Carpet-Textiles

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Finally I want to share some of the products I found for organizing and keeping your home beautiful. There was such a wonderful collection of kitchen and household items including wire baskets (both vintage and new), hand crochet baskets, hand thrown/built pottery, glassware in a rainbow of colors and the combinations of textures, colors and patterns invites us to play with combining our old and new together in a fresh way. Throw out the rule book and use what you love, in any combination!

ABC

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Wednesday’s Word::Authentic

April 6, 2016 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word authentic lately. It seems to have become a trendy business marketing term which makes me want to shun the use in that context. On the one hand I love the idea that we might be entering a period in business and society that accepts more diversity and wants people to truly be uniquely themselves…on the other hand I look at some of the businesses, coaches and organizations who throw this term around and I just want to roll my eyes because all I really see them doing is the same thing as the next guy/gal in their category of business. Am I being a total skeptic?

The dictionary definition of Authentic is a bit contrary!

worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact
conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features
made or done the same way as an original
not false or imitation (real or genuine)
true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character-My Favorite!

We have one definition that says to be authentic you are in some way imitating “the original”-but who is that in the context of your authenticity?

What does authenticity mean in terms of business, in terms of spiritual practice, in terms of self?

Can we use authenticity to check in with ourselves and not as a basis for comparing ourselves to “others” in our personal, spiritual or business practices?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this as I’ve been facilitating a weekly gathering with artists reading Walking in This World by Julia Cameron. So many triggers have been discussed, jealousy, comparison, guilt, fears etc…None of them directly (so far) identify with or dive into the topic of authenticity but it’s been a buzz word flying around my head that I’ve been swatting away at until I read my friend Carrie’s latest post on this topic (here).

“Some people’s version of “authentic” may not seem very nice and may miss the boat when it comes to being self aware and open to change. And even if people do honestly feel they are being their 100% authentic self—you still may not line up with it.” -Carrie Jolie Dale

Carrie brings up the issue of being “triggered” by other peoples version of authenticity and that made me realize I am kind of missing the whole point of being authentic! Being authentic means you can accept when others ideas, visions, words and ideals don’t align with your own. You get triggered when something they say brings up a little resistance in you, perhaps a subject or topic that you need to do some personal deep investigation of. I have long been guilty of identifying myself in comparison to others. For some years now I have worked to undo this tangled web. I find this spider a mighty quick weaver, often before I realize it she has re-spun the web and I am caught up once again!

We do not become authentic by imitating others. We do not become authentic by imitating others best qualities! None of us can authentically imitate anyone else. When we can reflect who we know our best selves to be, then we become the authentic version of ourselves. (Click to Tweet!)

Maybe it’s just a word I am hung up on (are you?) and that’s okay because it’s really made me examine my reaction to how it’s used. Our awareness of exactly what triggers our reactions is the real gift. Someone else’s authentic isn’t your authentic! (Click to Tweet) Worry about your own authenticity but please, don’t go throwing this word around lightly! One of the fundamental principals of my organizing business is to help people find successful results on their own terms, not by trying to recreate what “organized” looks like for someone else. In every aspect of our lives we can look for authenticity and try to better understand what we can do to break the comparison/imitation habits that are instilled in many of us from an early age.

Spun from my roots

March 29, 2016 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Inspiration & Education, Museums & Galleries 1 Comment

What do textiles have to do with Organizing? Well nothing really on the surface but textiles are a part of the tapestry of who I am both creatively and professionally. I’m also fascinated by how many recycled textiles, other “found objects” and collections of “stuff” are making their way into the fine art world. I’m not sure if this is merely a trend or a theme that is communicating something about our relationship with “our stuff” as a culture. On my recent trip to NYC I found a tremendous amount of inspiration and specifically sought out exhibits that included textiles in one way or another.

My first stop was at Museum of Art and Design aka MAD where in the main stairwell a site specific installation of woven fabric had been threaded through the architectural elements of the building. It kind of reminded me of yarn bombing but on a more sophisticated interior scale…like huge dramatic drapes.

In addition to Museum, MAD is an educational resource for children and adults. They have an artist residency program including open studio times for artists and workshops all overlooking their location on Columbus Circle. Boy would I love to sit at that loom and weave while overlooking the hustle and bustle of the city!

Closing this Saturday is the exhibit Ebony G. Patterson: Dead Treez which was rich in layers of textures, found objects, recycled textiles and meaning. I’m a little obsessed with how textiles and recycled materials are making their way into fine art these days and this is one of the reason’s I really wanted to see this exhibit.

My next stop was the National Academy Museum, nestled between the Guggenheim and Cooper Hewitt. This was my first visit to this museum and school. I found myself drawn to exhibits at locations that favored the promotion of art through education, a coincidence perhaps but my mind is nothing if not curious to continue learning! I sought out this specific exhibit of Miriam Shapiro after her recent passing last year. She’s an epic, visionary artist who happened to work with textiles-once thread of her multi faceted life’s work. Below is one of my favorite pieces in the show, one of her “femmage” works that includes scraps of fabric.

And finally, the exhibit Beauty-Cooper Hewitt Triennial. I almost skipped this museum (although it’s one of my favorites) because I didn’t think I would have time. I’m so glad I didn’t since they recently re-opened after a major remodel. This expansive exhibit explores various themes of Beauty in multi- disciplinary works of art and design. One of my favorite aspects of the renovation is their use of technology. Along with each ticket sold, visitors are given a large stylist pen to “collect” images and text from throughout the exhibit. When they return home they can log into their specific user account (save your ticket!) and learn more about each piece of interest. I love that you feel like you are bringing home a little piece of the exhibit and there’s less pressure try to read all the exhibit info while visiting.

Over the weekend I hung out in Brooklyn and took a trip to see the Textile Arts Center. I’ve been wanting to visit this “maker-space” for several years now and am envious of such a wonderful resource for learning about all things textiles! This is the place to go if you live in NY and want to learn about textiles in your spare time…a great way to find out if you really like something before investing too fully into a lot of expensive equipment (space is a premium and having a floor loom in NY would be a luxury for some!).