Ghosts of organizations past

Sorry I have been silent for awhile.  I had more things going on than I could keep up with.  I was browsing through my old Pinterest boards and I stumbled on some of my old organization projects.  

In my old house I made this inside my spice cupboard. It was so handy to always know where my cups and spoons were. It was just made from a couple cheap boards and some teacup hooks.  I used the same teacup hooks and dowels to store my ribbon on this shelf. 

I have always enjoyed crafting and design so IKEA has had many tools of organization that I have loved to utilize.  Here is some of their kitchen storage in my craft room. 

My paper punches sit nicely on the bars while my markers, pens and tools dangle below.  I have a busy, hectic life at times and my little girls love getting into my things.  So as much as I love organization it doesn't always stay as clean as I want. My big goal is to de-clutter now that they are getting older and to teach them how to care for nice things. 

In my old place I had removed my lazy Susan and installed more IKEA rods and hooks. I didn't like things falling behind the Susan and getting trapped.  This was a halfway done photo, I installed a second set in front of these and I LOVED it.  I just wish I had taken a photo before we moved. 

This is on the wall in my kitchen right now. 

Yes, this is how we eat, very fancy! I love great and easy solutions to everyday needs and I am determined to get my house more clean and organized in the future. 

I would show you my little fashionista's room -a soon to be remake- but the mess is embarrassing right now.  Please let me know your favorite tips and tools to clean and organize, I could sure use them. 

Have a great day! 

Love Lori

Dedicated to my oldest child Bernie who passed away about two weeks ago.  We had him 12 years but in our hearts forever. 

This little light of mine

I found this pretty light at Lowe's hardware the other day on clearance and I knew I had to get it. 

With tax it came to $24.01 and I thought the flower shape would be perfect for my little girls room.  I haven't done a lot to make their room very interesting.  I have one dresser I painted that they share. 

These are the drawers of the dresser in their room.  Here is the before & after picture. 

I did go back with the silver guilders paste and lighten the hardware.

Here is the light installed, I think it's beautiful!  We saved the original flush mount light to re-instal when we move since we are renters. This was my Mother's Day gift to me.  I would love to buy my girls "Beddy's" zipper bedding to make their bunk beds easier to make.  (It's on my wish-list.)

These are the type of bedding I would like to buy for them.  They are a local Utah company that I am not affiliated with but I drool over their designs.  The best part is they have zippers on both sides of the bedding so kids can zip it up like a sleeping bag. 

They even do grown-up sizes! They have Queen ones and soon they are launching King sized bedding.  I have a King sized bed and I might actually make my bed everyday if it only involved zipping.  They have an online website and they are starting to sell them at RC Willey stores so I am watching/waiting for a great sale. I am thinking Christmas would be cozy with these.  Other than getting a new light, I have been taking it easy. I just had another operation (low back nerve ablation) and although it's helping, I am not quite ready for work in the shop. 

I hope you enjoy something beautiful today!

Love Lori

North Star

I have worked on this old nightstand for awhile now.  It's still not all the way done but it's getting close.  

Here it is today.  Here is the old girl when I began a few months ago. 

I think it looks a little neater now, what do you think? 

I started by cutting out a vinyl design on my Silhouette Studio.  I then wood burned the image onto the wood table top. 

I then colored all of the compass and  I did an overall dark stain with Americsn Finishes Java Gel stain.  I liked it but I wanted to fade it out just a bit.  

The top is the more faded out look.  I did go back in later and apply more stain. 

When I had that big primer day, this was one of those pieces I primed with several other pieces. 

Then I went in and I sprayed it all "old white" color.  I used the Annie Sloan color and I had Home Depot match it in Behr paint because spraying chalk paint doesn't work well but I wanted the same color.  When requested I do use Original Annie Sloan but it's one I paint on without a sprayer. 

I sprayed the handles in Rustoleum in Oil Rubbed Bronze finish.  It still needs another day or two of work. (and a few more screws for the handles)  once I spray one more finish coat on the sides and clear coat the top it will be done but I just wanted to show it to you today. 

Have a great day, 

Lori