Gatherings

 

Other than the actual stitching of quilting, embroidery, beading and so forth...there is nothing more fun to me than finding all the things required to make them, then gathering them together in a basket, a box or a bowl, or on a platter, well, just any decorative item that would hold them, then display them around the house.

I find them to be beautiful and I look at them over and over.  Eventually, some of them are used to create my various projects and when they are...I enjoy them again in the stitching.

 

I've taken to wrapping DMC embroidery floss in pieces of fabrics...pre-selected for an as yet designed project.  It's FUN!

 

Just pick a color scheme and shop your house for any and all items calling your name that day.

 

You can tell from these photos exactly what kind of things I like to collect.  In the upper right square of this box, you can see a piece of knitting rolled up.  I knitted that with crochet cotton in one of my favorite colors....I don't really remember, but I think I used a size 1 or 2 knitting needle.  So tiny.

I've no idea what I will do with it, but it will tell me what it's supposed to be one of these days!

 

I've tons of buttons, just took a few from my collections to add to this cute little divided box made from yardsticks.  I love that blue one with a star.

 

 I loved these glass leaves....and clear glass buttons too.

 

 Here there are two crowns.  Hard to tell here.  I like to find them...reminds me that my daughter calls me 'the queen of everything."

 

 Here are two very old bodkins, given to me long ago, by my friend Jim.  I treasure them, of course.

And, who finds rayon seam binding labeled with their own last name?  

 

 A little pincushion made by my friend, Deb,  another treasure from the past.

 

 One roll of embroidery floss wrapped in fabric, one in a vintage dinner napkin.  And, an odd cotton thread wrapped in lace.

 

 Just seeing them makes me want to stitch something.  I'm trying very hard to get back to doing more of that....but the vision issues get keep getting in my way.  As it goes now, no stitching until afternoon and I've turned into a real 'night person.'  Isn't it always something?

 

 I've never been able to tat.  I have tried.  Over and over.  One instructor once told me to stick with what I know and quilt.   So, I buy tatting whenever I see it at the flea.

You can use it for a thousand things.

 

There's that piece of knitting again.  I just love it...not to even mention how much I LOVE Perle Cotton.  I once quilted two quilts with Size 12 Perle Cotton in black...Seriously, what fun that was!

 

 And, this house I call a 'cottage' is loaded with the kind of stuff shown here.

There are buttons and threads, fabrics and beads to make flowers and trees.  Really, whatever I please.

My cup does runneth over.

until next time,

BE WELL

from 

Bird Nest Cottage

 

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

♥♥♥