Organize Archives

Follow this Friday::Reuse and Organize

September 30, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 2 Comments

Here are a few favorite things I found this week that fall into the categories of reuse and organizing. You can’t beat that combo!Suitcase Side tables from Cupcakes and Cashmere

Crate’s are popping up everywhere and here are a few ideas for their use.

Crate Side table from Neet Magazine

Crate Shelves from Design sponge

Reuse and Organize

Various shelves and organization by way of re-purposed crates, suitcases etc from Recreate

To see more ideas for re-using everyday stuff check out my Pinterest Re-Use It board. If you would like to follow my boards click Here.

There is a lot of discussion these days about how images collected on Pinterest are attributed, in my case I always try to link back to the original makers. In some cases, these items are for sale but may not be available. In other cases, they are simple ideas that no one would mind you reusing in your own way. In any case, I hope you will give credit to the creative makers who inspire us with their DIY inventions!

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Moving Magement Countdown

September 12, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Move Management, Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 6 Comments

It’s official: we found out today that we can leave the DC metro area by the end of October. This is about a month sooner than anticipated, but it’s PERFECT! It seems like things are falling into place, that this move is meant to be. I can’t wait to move forward, but right now, I’m looking at all OUR STUFF, thinking, “I hate moving.” That is not going to be the case this time. I’m embracing it, and I’m going to love it! I’ll check in each Monday here on the blog to tell you about the move management process. So, this week is the first week. Here is what we are doing to plan and organize our move, and maybe it will be helpful to some of you at some point.

Start a “Moving” binder or expandable file folder to keep all the information in one location. Include everything related here (e.g., the moving information, donations, sales and giveaways, storage, lodging, and other information for the destination location).
Use food, cleaning supplies, and other perishables or consumables you don’t want to move.
Check pricing on moving companies, trucks, and storage facilities and be ready to book in 1-2 weeks. There are several options: DIY, hire a service or a hybrid (you pack, they move).
Make decisions about large items to sell, donate, or give away. Collect items to get rid of (for donation, sale, or throw away) throughout daily routines; keep an empty box and bags in one location and place items to get rid of.
Research hotels or other temporary housing and book as needed.
Enlist or hire help for the day of the move and unpacking the following days.

Moving Boxes Packing Supplies:

Locate and purchase boxes and other packing supplies. Determining the number of boxes needed is a bit tricky, but a moving supply company can help you calculate this based on how many household members you have and how large your home is. Supplies will include the following:
- Boxes in various sizes, specialized wardrobe boxes, china and silverware boxes, flat boxes, and cardboard for artwork.
- Equipment such as dollies and hand carts will make moving large items much easier and safer.
- Packing tape (and guns), markers, labels, box cutters (or other such knives), bubble wrap/packing peanuts, and newspaper (or unprinted newsprint, which is much less messy).
- Packing pads, blankets, sheets (the old ones you don’t need anymore), and plastic shrink wrap (which is not very eco-friendly but sometimes is very helpful!).

Lists and Inventory:

Number each box and add it to the list
A short description of the contents of each box, making special notes of valuable (sentimental or monetary) items or general contents by Category ex. Lampshades, pillows, linens, china, clothes, etc.
Label the box with the DESTINATION room location
Work alongside packers (if you’ve hired a moving company) to be sure boxes are labeled accurately (even if they don’t have a description, you can add a number and room)

Packing-Where to start:

Pictures and artwork, especially personal photos
Next, remove all the small artwork from the walls. Pack smaller photos and artwork in medium-sized boxes, with newsprint wrapped around each and bubble wrap or cardboard between them.
Small decorative non-function items. Otherwise known as Nicknacks:)
Formal china, stemware, crystal, and serving pieces.
Books of anything you won’t need to refer to.

Since the move is going to take up a lot of my time, I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to commit to blogging, but I’ll be popping in to share our progress and any other helpful or interesting things that come up. I am SO excited!! Can you tell?

Clutter Free Friday

March 11, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Organize 2 Comments

“Living Empty means we release the things that are no longer in alignment with who we are becoming. The release itself tells us who that is. The emptiness shows us the way.”~Christine Kane

If you have been following my blog this year you may remember my word of intention for 2011 is Clarity! As I clear away some of the physical (and emotional) baggage I’ve been dragging around I’ve recently realized that I want to help people find clarity in their own lives. I will be working towards becoming a Professional Organizer, so this will be a subject you will be seeing more of here. I’m actually surprised I didn’t include de-cluttering in my Wednesday Wellness series! Living organized is living well!

My mission is to help my clients Cultivate creative solutions for a more joyful home.

Do you hang onto stuff because you think you might use it again one day, because it’s sentimental or you just can’t part with it because you love it? There is no right or wrong answer but there are those of us that have a very hard time parting with things. I am not a hoarder by any means and I also don’t consider myself a minimalist (and I certainly don’t think everyone needs to be) I fall somewhere in the middle, which I suspect is where most people fall. I think we all have areas in our homes and our lives that get cluttered and overwhelming and sometimes we need a push to get started. I think it’s a very healthy process to get rid of things that you no longer need.

Making small changes in your home can create big changes in your life!

Every Spring and Fall I go through a period of purging that usually lasts a month or two. I get rid of things that I no longer need, things that are broken, things I just don’t love anymore and things that I know someone else could use more than me. I have a rule that I picked up somewhere, whenever I get something new I have to get rid of something. For example last week I got a new pair of PJ’s but I got rid of a pair (actually like 3) that were worn out and I didn’t really use any more. I also have a rule that I rarely buy books. I’m an avid Library user so I get tons of books from them and I consider all the late fee’s I get my contribution towards the library system. If I can’t find what I want at the library I usually ask around and try to borrow it and if that doesn’t work I may end up buying it myself. I love books but my house would be filled to the roof if I owned every book I read or wanted to read.

So, what are you doing this weekend? Why not get started on that Spring cleaning if you haven’t already. Maybe start with some books and some of those winter clothes you haven’t worn once this winter. Go ahead, give yourself permission to live a little lighter and find a little more joy in your new found space!

Wednesday Wellness::Natural and non-toxic

February 23, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset 4 Comments

Image via Wikipedia

Use natural and non-toxic cleaning products in your home.

I do this and I think you should too. Maybe you don’t care what I think but if your reading this, maybe you do, just a little.

Nasty Stuff-Chlorine, Formaldehyde, Chloroform, Lye, Hydrochloric Acid, Ammonia , Phthalates, Parabens, Petroleum Distillates, VOC’s…these are the worst offenders causing a whole spectrum of health problems that you probably don’t want to know about but should. I don’t have kids but I care deeply about how and what I surround myself with and if I had children I’d probably be even more fanatical about this topic (I’ve been known to buy bleach on occasion and use products that may contain Lye and maybe a hint of Ammonia-I’m not perfect, I confess!).

Now that I listed the Nasty why the HECK would you want to use toxic products? Hello?

From my experience there are 2 reasons people haven’t already made the switch to non-toxic:

1.) They think that toxic means cleaner…!*@#???=healthier (please refer to the Nasty above, does that seem healthy to you?).

2.) They think natural means more $$

Seriously, do you want to have anything with a skull and crossbones in your house (and I’m not talking about your sense of fashion or your funky taste in art)?

I don’t and sense I’m not paid to endorse any products here (or anywhere) I’m not going to. I’m sure you know how to use a search engine of your liking to find the ton of websites, books and blogs out there that already give you the specifics about what to look for and how to make your own-it’s easy and cheap (so you can eliminate #2 from your excuses now).

As for #1, there are a lot of germaphobes out there and I’m not one of them. I’m very healthy, I don’t get sick often (neither does my husband) and I spend a lot of time in my home (I work from home) so something must be working for us. If this is your excuse for not using natural cleaners than I urge you to do a little research and give some products a try, you just might find that they smell better, don’t require using heavy duty plastic gloves to apply and work just as well as the toxic avengers!

One note of warning, so-called “green” cleaners are a big area of revenue for business but not all products are created equally. Some “green” products are nothing more than the same old toxic cleaners diluted and with “essential oils” added. Beware, read up and be a smart consumer (read the ingredients). Seriously, it’s not that much work and you and your family are worth it.

Your life is worth living well so don’t pollute it when all your trying to do is clean it up a little!

PS. For those of you who are lucky enough to hire cleaning help, supply them with the cleaners you want them to use in your home and make sure they are using them:)

Wednesday::Wellness (hkpowerstudio.wordpress.com)
How To Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaning Products (huffingtonpost.com)
The Toxic Tradeoff: What Happens When Some Products Go Green (greenbiz.com)

Victorian Inspired Textile Commission

January 11, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Art & Design, Handmade, Inspiration & Education, Organizing Projects 4 Comments

I’m excited to share the latest completed textile commission I delivered to clients on Sunday. This piece was commissioned to fit into a 2 story entrance area in a home that’s design is influenced by Victorian era elements. I discussed the colors, size and overall feel that the client wanted. The chandelier and fabric below are a couple of the main elements of design influence. I wanted to use the peacock feather motif and the colors from the fabric.

I initially did these sketches to get ideas down and then choose materials. Over the last 6 months or so I’ve worked at the piece at times knowing clearly what I wanted to do an at other times I let the piece sit while I figured out technical or creative challenges I needed to solve.

A project like this is so rewarding because it challenges you to step into someone else design aesthetic while remaining true to your personal design style. I knew that this client liked my weaving’s but without my loom set up currently, I was left to find another medium to work with.

I choose to work elements of weaving into this piece by using the long hand dyed fringe as a major design component. I also used a subtle toile fabric as the background and selectively painted motifs that were inspired by a collection of hand colored etchings the client has. I used layers of sheer fabric bringing in both color and metallic sheen. Layers of texture are a common theme in my work and this piece ended up having 3 layers of fabric, 1 layer of fringe, feathers and embellishments including stitching and beading. They were thrilled, I was thrilled and I was thrilled that they were thrilled! My husband was thrilled to have our dining room table back available for use!