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Ribbon Shelves! You can
find these at Michaels
for 19.99 (but I used the sale
of 40% off -- 11.99!) |
Organize an office you say? on a budget? NOOO! Well, yes sir-e-bob I did it. It took a few months, and a lot of collecting and storing items waiting to do the whole thing... and here is my favorite part: ribbon shelves:
I collected enough of these shelves (19.99 ea Michaels; you can use a coupon!!). I know this sounds crazy -- but this makes my life so much easier!!! I even color coordinated the ribbon. The spindles are easy to come off too. The only "downside" is that some ribbon manufacturers "holes" in the side of the ribbon rolls is too small. All you have to do is cut slits in the sides and they work great on these. It took me about an hour to put the shelves together, and hang them, and another hour to sort and put the ribbon on the spindles.
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| Fabric!!! |
Ok, next up? The closet. Don't think i'm crazy -- yet. It's a fabulous system. I collected these pressboard shoe stacker's randomly ... and once I had enough, I put it all together. It's cheaper to buy them at target (9.99); wal-mart has them for 12.99. They are super easy to put together and i LOVE them. The one thing I did do, however, was I have a template to fold the fabric -- so that the fabric is the same size when folding. I know that sounds a little OCD, but it makes finding the fabric easier when they are neatly placed on the shelves. My theory is why go so far as to buy the organizer, but not use them to their fullest potential. the drawer portion (to the right of the photo) has scraps in the drawer, and contains holiday fabrics (Halloween, Christmas, etc.).
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Cutting Station ... and Ironing station...
and desk...and.... |
The next part is probably my LIFE SAVER. I originally bought this 1920's drop leave table at an antique mall in Sheffield while Matt was in Iraq. I was so excited to have a dining table -- low and behold it was too small for Matt -- haha, sometimes I forget he's 6'4''! So it sat in the dining room of our Woodbridge home (the "formal dining") and wasn't used, and then put into storage. When we moved here I had no where for it, and then it dawned on me! I needed a cutting table! I pulled this into the room and BAM instant cutting table. I can also open up one, or both leaves to cut bigger projects. I bought a table top ironing board at Joanns on clearance for 4.97! So I have that hanging on the back of the door to this room. I was tired of tripping over our huge ironing board -- which is now in the laundry room. I store (in my 31 huge tote!) t-shirts and turtlenecks for my "supply" of shirts for my business. Side note -- see that "pencil cup" holding the scissors? -- made that out of a pickle jar, felt (for the inside of the bottom -- so scissors won't break the glass), and ribbon!
The next series of pictures shows (if you look closely) Annabeth's drawings on the tri-screen (which masks larger mailing boxes), my "mailing station basket" with smaller supplies, and my POSTAL SCALE (whoohoo). Under the brown sheet is two sets of four wire drawers (ikea), and my ribbon organizers :). The second picture is a close up of my main sewing workstation. Lighting is key (I have two tasks lights on this area alone), and I both lights on clearance! The third picture is a close up of my embroidery thread. My sewing thread is on the shelf above the embroidery machine (not covered). I thank my mom, Matt, and my mother in law - Liz - for giving me these for Christmas. What a blessing!
The last picture (below) is my favorite. Look at that workspace! I'm so blessed. It is comprised of the Ikea shelves (with tops) an Ikea desk, and a foldable table. I took a twin size sheet (b/c it's cheaper for the fabric) to make the chocolate brown skirts. I wanted them to be similar to the color of the table by the window... so that it anchored the room, while the shelves made it look bigger.
Well I hope you have enjoyed my OCD-ness with my craft room.
Cyndie :)
tip of the day: dishes. Do the dishes before you go to bed. While I don't always follow this rule, it is at least a heck of a lot easier to wake up in the morning and have nothing to do in the kitchen. My grandmother gave me this advice, and I try to abide by it as much as I can. Also, (tip #2) make your bed! even if you pull the covers up, at least it looks more kept than sheets everywhere! :)
