Over the Door Storage, #2

 

Some of you have emailed, asking for me to show ALL of the shoe organizers I have around the house, none of which, by the way, have shoes in them.  So, this morning, I took my camera around to photograph these things.  I won't spend much time on them, as you already know the story and get the drift.   This one is on the other side of the one you saw last.  You know, lace, etc.  This closet is right inside my bathroom door, on the left.  It is a large closet.  I will show you a peek.  And, this is actually the first shoe organizer I put up. 

 

 I have had my thread in drawers, boxes and thread racks...all of which make me nuts.  So, the day I thought of this...I thought maybe it would work better for me.  I do have to say, I love it.  However, it may not be for you.  I have sorted thread into colors and I can see it all fairly easily.  Then, it's all hidden away.  Like I said, it may not be for you, but I like it.  

 

 This is the inside of the closet.  I knew when I moved in here just what would go in this closet.  I'll show it in detail in some other post on some other day.

 

 This closet is also in my bathroom....back in the little room with the toilet.  Well, there should be something to look at in that little space, so there is this closet....vintage clothing, to begin with, but when you open it up....well, 

fabric!

 

 

 There are four closets in my bathroom.....yes, four.  Two, you just saw,  there is also one for my clothes, and one with a secret collection.  You will see that when I show you the great storage this house has. 

 For those of you who haven't read my blog that long....well, at my other house, I had a studio in the backyard which housed ALL my STUFF!  It was 500 square feet, with lots of shelving.  Wonderful space.  I miss it, of course, but thanks to the storage in this house, I have found a home for most of my stuff....and what I can't store...well, it's right in plain sight.  And, that's ok with me.

 

Now, this closet is in the garage.  And, it's one of my favorites.  Why?  Well, I call it the Tool Closet.

Here, you see more fabric is stored on the outside of the door....

 

 But when you open it....well, there is the vacuum cleaner, mops, brooms, etc.  (Another door, which houses the hot water heater), shelves for cleaning supplies, etc., and on the inside of the door....YES,

 TOOLS!

 

 I love it when I need the hammer, a screwdriver, wire cutters, or whatever, I just walk out in the garage, open the door and there they all are. 

 

 So convenient!

 

 A peek inside.

Now, what do you think?  Shoe organizers.  Well worth the $5, I do believe!

 Well, ok.  So, not many want all that stuff so 'out there.'  But, me, I'm fine with it.  I do love to pretty much know where everything is and be able to put my hands on something when I need it.  

(Of course, that only works on days when I remember where the storage things are!!!)

And, next time...something completely different! 

 Take care. ❤️

from 

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

♥♥♥

Over the Door Storage for My Treasures

 

Today, for some reason, I thought I'd show you "some" of what I call my "over the door storage."  When you have filled your house with stuff...well, sometimes you have to be creative with ways to hold ALL your treasures.  Sometimes meaning ALWAYS.  One day, I just happened to think I had reached the max this place could hold, then I began to notice DOORS!  So, I drove to WallyWorld to see what I could find that would help.  By WallyWorld, I mean, as you know...Walmart.  Now, right down the street from me is a Walmart Neighborhood Market.  It's good when you need a couple things.  My daughter and I call it "Smallmart."  I prefer, really, to go to our local Walmart....on the other side of town, which we call it "Largemart."   So, that's where I went.

I was searching for something to store things in which might work with a door.  Boy, there's not much.  But, for $5 and change, I found these things we've always known about for the closet -

yes, shoe organizers, twenty-four pockets.  Naturally, I bought more than one.  I was sure I'd need them.

Later, when I set out to see just what I could do with them, well, I went a little crazy.  Without getting up out of this chair I'm sitting in so as to get an accurate count  - I believe I am now up to four doors holding stuff, sometimes on BOTH sides.  In my house, and also in the garage.

Handiest things EVER!

 

 

 So, here we are.....there are linens, lace, buttons, embroidery, baby bonnets, doll clothes, a lovely pillow holding Lavender, a special gift I received.  Tatting, crochet, bits and pieces, filled to the brim.

(By the way, this closet is in my bathroom.)

 

 A piece of beaded fabric given to me by a young neighbor...left from the making of her wedding dress...she was having a garage sale.  

 

 All kinds of fun stuff!

 

 One can never have enough embroidered baskets!

 

 The only thing I have tried and couldn't do was tatting.  I love finding it at the flea!!

  

 I've always loved doll clothes....probably more than the dolls....so when I find some like these and the price is just right...well, they come home with me.  I don't actually have a lot of them, but some.  

Some is good.

 

 So, okay.  I know this would turn off a lot of folks.  Fortunately, I don't worry about it....life is too short.  I cannot even tell you how handy these shoe organizers have become.  I almost hate to make this confession, but there is another one on the other side of this door.  You might NEVER guess what is in it....so if you want to know....maybe I'll show you in my next post.  I might even show you the others too.  So, come visit again if you can stand it.

Wishing you all the best!

from

BIRD NEST COTTAGE

until next time

♥♥♥

Some Quilts, Some 'New' Old Shelves and What They Hold, Some Morning Flowers

 

Thinking of what to post about on my blog is sometimes difficult.  I tend to think I just ramble on about one thing or another, often wondering afterward why I did what I did.  Other times, I'm semi-pleased.  I've never been totally satisfied though.   I really needed to post today and tried to come up with one I'd be satisfied with and maybe you would be too.  Also, it's one of the rather long ones, so since I won't be posting until the last week or so in October,  I hope the content makes up for the lack of posts over the next couple of weeks.

I will be spending some time with my two brothers and sister this month.  We don't get to see each other very often...and we are getting older, so a visit is a good thing!  I said "we" are getting older, but actually, it seems like I am the one getting older.  I am the oldest of the four...by far.  I am sixteen months older than my brother, Mike.  Ten years older than my sister, Debbie.  Thirteen years older than my brother Robert.  So...yeah...it's me that's older.  So, thinking about those things I decided to give them something from the quilt closet.  Something that I have made in the past and preserved for just this kind of thing.  A quilt giveaway.

BYW, I have shown all these quilts on the blog before...but it's been a long time.  And, I'm not telling here who is getting what.  There is also a giveaway for a friend....one that is very nearly a relative!

 

This quilt began with a center block and just grew.  While making it, I received good advice from the old navy man....for that reason it is special.  And, I loved doing the drawing and writing on it.  Here is what it says: 

"May flowers of love around you be twined,

And the sunshine of peace shed its joy o're thy mind."

    from an antique Valentine

 

One day maybe I will actually do an embroidered version of this inked center.  That would be fun.

 

Applique has always been my favorite.

Here is an embroidered basket quilt.  It's going to a new home where the color red is much loved. 

A good place for it to be.

Redwork is a very relaxing kind of work to do.  You don't have to remember where you left off or what colors to use next.  Loved making it!

  

Is it hard to give these up?  Nah.  I'm at the point where I need to do this so that after I am gone, my kids won't have to wonder what I intended to do with all my work.  Of course, they will keep my favorites.  Well, up until now, they have all been my favorites but you have to draw the line somewhere and I do like sharing.

 

This is a smaller quilt.  Applique and Embroidery.  It's many years old now, but you can't tell.  I have taken very good care of my quilts.  I love the little church and that embroidered tree....

And, oh my stars!  "Jane Doe and the Star-Spangled Banner"  Adorned with lots of buttons and star sequins.

Yes, these are moving on to other homes.  A natural progression.

 

 And, now for a little break.

This photo was taken just a couple of days ago.....I walked into the kitchen that morning and the light was hitting those flowers in just the right place at the right time.  Loved it!

NEXT:

 

 So, okay...here's where we come to "things I would do, but you probably wouldn't."  I found these wire shelves at my friend, Kathy's, and a picture liked this popped right into my head, so I bought the shelves, took them home and started right away to create this 'scene.'  What fun!  Now, I have to say that you probably wouldn't put this in your dining room, but I would....because in my 'bird nest cottage' I have had to use all the space in just about every room to incorporate as much of my five hundred square foot studio as I could when I moved and had to find a place for my little treasures.  Since I live alone, I feel pretty comfortable putting things wherever I want...actually, it's pretty much turned into a form of entertainment for me and truth be told, I don't mind not being 'normal.'

 

 So, just take a look around.  I'm never bored.  There is so much to do....so little time.

 

 My favorite old door from the old Van Atkins building.  I actually do sometimes put real MAIL in that mailbox!

 

Sometimes when things are put away, I have trouble remembering what I have to choose from when I want to make something new.  I actually love having things 'out' where I can see them.  I know it's not for everyone, but it works for me.

 

 I am going to look forward to using things from these shelves....or sometimes just looking at them, getting inspired.

 

 Hope you enjoy looking too!!

 

 I have already planned for some good posts coming up after my visits with the siblings.  Look for more toward the last week of October.  And, take care, please.

from

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

❤️❤️❤️