Clever Tricks: Repurposing to {Organize}

I love to repurpose.  If I think it could store something, decorate something, or double as something, there's no way it's going in the trash.  It may take me awhile to get around to actually using it again, but I eventually get there.  Here are a few of my favorite repurposed items that have made organizing around the house so much simpler.  

Coat Rack as Jewelry Holder

Even a jewelry box won't keep your necklaces as untangled as this will.  Only costume jewelry here, though.  No pearls or diamonds please!!

Tissue Box as Bag Holder

Decorate your box and you'll be proud to have this helpful item sit just about anywhere in your home. 

Binder Clips as Linen Organizer

Make sure your clips don't clamp down to tightly or they will leave creases.  Believe me!

Dryer Sheet as Drawer Sachet

One of my ultimate favorites!!  Dryer sheets help keep my clothes smelling fresh even after my clothes have been sitting in my drawers for an entire season.  Also, try placing them in shoes or between folded sweaters inside the closet.  Fresh, fresh, fresh!

Eyeglasses Case as Manicure Kit

Great for someone like me who does not where glasses but loves those cute cases.

Jewelry Boxes as Drawer Organizer

I NEVER throw away jewelry boxes.  Ever, Ever! My bathroom drawers are full of these boxes.

Zipper Bed-linen Bag as Art Supply Carrier

Don't stop at art supplies.  Be creative and use these for just about anything.

Photo Album as Business Card File

I haven't tried this method yet but what I love about this idea is that you have all of the adorable photo albums in the world to choose from : )

Plastic Bags as Wet Umbrella Holders

 Okay, all of my rained-on Washington friends, this one's for you.  What a fabulous idea!

Shoe Box as Ribbon Organizer

Poke holes through the front of the box and use the extra space for supplies.

Business Card Holder as Gift Card Organizer

Love this idea but don't have enough gift cards on a regular basis to use it.  Hope it can help someone out there.  

Shoe Box as File Storage

Since my shoe boxes don't come in these wonderfully brilliant and solid colors, I cover mine with wrapping paper.  I use the thick cardboard wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree. These boxes are incredibly useful.

Suitcase as Linen Storage

If using old suitcases like these (which I loooove), make sure they are clean and free from odor.  Otherwise, your linen will also smell. 

Hanger as Ribbon Organizer

After applying a little elbow grease to untwist the hanger, slide on the ribbon and twist the hanger back, you will enjoy an inexpensive and very efficient way to organize your ribbon.  

Zippered Plastic Bags as Soup Saver

My sister-in-law uses these whenever she freezes soup.

Zippered bags as Packing Material

No more paying for expensive bubbler wrap.

I get most of my repurposing ideas from REAL SIMPLE.  I love their magazines because of their practicality and variety.  If you've never read an issue, you should. Anyone out there have any other great ideas for repurposing to organize?

Quicky Post: License Plate Purse

My student came into piano lessons with this purse.  Loved it! Thought I'd share.

Our Own Freewill {Devo}

If anyone else out there is reading their Bible through in a year, you probably started at the same spot I did...Genesis.  Yup, January 1st = Genesis 1.  If you've kept up with it {which should be the case. Come on, people, it's only Feb}, then you are somewhere between Leviticus and Numbers.  {BTW: for those of you who don't read the Bible, try it! It will change your life!!!} If you are anything like me, you struggled a bit through Leviticus.  It if full of detailed commandments that the Lord gave the children of Israel. {Side note: Aren't you glad we have a detail-oriented God? How would you like it if God forgot to give you fingerprints on your fingers and toes or eyelashes on your eyelids???} I cringe when I hear people say, "I just skim through those Old Testament books. They were written to the Jews not us Gentiles."  Yikes!! There is a REASON God included those books in His complete and utterly perfect Word.  Don't you think He might have put them there to help teach and guide us?
So there I was, reading about the physical condition in which an animal must be in order to be sacrificed, what food the Jews could or could not eat, and the qualifications of a priest, none of which literally apply to me.  Then I came across this verse, "And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will." {Lev 19:5} Leviticus explains in full detail the offering up of sacrifices to the Lord.  There were several types of sacrifices:

• Burnt offering: an atonement for sin in general, enabling an unholy people to approach a holy God 
• Meat {Grain} offering: an expression of thanksgiving and dedication to God; 
• Sin offering: an atonement for unintentional sins of weakness or carelessness;
• Trespass {Guilt} offering: an atonement for specific sins, injured persons compensated for their losses; 
• and lastly Peace {Fellowship} offering: an expression of gratitude and desire for fellowship with God. 

That last offering is the type that is mentioned in this Leviticus 19:5.  God said to His children that if anyone would offer a peace offering to Him symbolizing a desire for fellowship, it must be of their own free will.  Many of the other offerings offered to the Lord were for forgiveness of sins and were commanded to be given.  But for this "fellowship" offering, the Lord was essentially saying, "You must WANT to fellowship with me or your offering is of no use."
Example: Imagine that you are looking forward to spending time with a certain loved one, but you soon find out that they don't really WANT to spend time with you.  They feel forced to out of obligation or are being "made" to by some third party.  What would the fellowship time with that loved one mean to you?  Not much! In fact, you would probably come to the point where it saddened you to spend time with that person.  This must be the way God feels when we come to Him out of obligation or guilt. He desires our fellowship more than we'll ever know, yet He also desires that WE desire the fellowship.
Just as important as a desire to fellowship is the way in which we fellowship.  Following Leviticus 19:5 are three verses dealing with the way in which a peace offering must be presented.  There is a practical application here.  God does not want us to go find ourselves a living animal and offer it up. NO! We are to "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable..." When we fellowship with the Lord, we should take great care to do so in a holy and acceptable manner.  Not what "feels good" to us but what is pleasing to the Lord.
Fellowship with the Lord is such a precious and sacred aspect of being a child of God.  If we would only take Him up on His offer and desire that fellowship, we would find that little this world has to offer can compare to a close walk with Him.

{Wise} As an Owl

The love affair began last fall on a clear, sunny Saturday while crafting (cards, that is).  Who would have thought that one could find love in such an unassuming object as a stamp.  But it happened.  It was love at first stamp.  This stamp to be exact: 

Hampton Art Wood-Mounted Stamp by The Each

At that moment, I knew that owls and I would never be separated again.  Okay, a little dramatic, but I really do LOOOOOOVE these little guys.  I would have one as a pet if it weren't illegal. My family feeds my addiction by giving me the most adorable little owl items on earth.  Here are a few that were Christmas gifts from my Aunt Sydni (Thanks, Aunt Syd!):

Wide-Eyed Dishtowel from Anthropologie

Creature Kingdom Hook from Anthropologie

Hoot, Hoot Switchplate from Anthropologie

Wooden Owl Charm by Fossil

The love affair continues.....

One Fish Two Fish: Little Shop of Beauty

I've already written all about out short weekend trip to Savannah, but what I didn't get to do is tell you about an amazing shop we visited in the Design District.  Name: One Fish Two Fish.  Already love it?  I did too, even before I walked in! Location ~ 0401 Whitaker Street (Whitaker Street between Charlton lane and Gaston). You'll walk into this little shop of beauty and fall in love with the some-new and some-antique treasures collected by owner, Jennifer Beaufait Grayson.

I wanted EVERYTHING in this store.  Luckily (or perhaps unluckily) my husband was with me, and he's always my sane side while shopping. I did happen to snatch up the name of the wall color in the rear room ~ "Sterling" by Benjamin Moore.  I've been looking for the perfect shade of gray for my craft room and perhaps I've found it : ) 

I couldn't step out of that store without scoring at least ONE treasure.  My excuse for the purchase: It's for my husband's birthday.  Really!! I'm serious!!  Well, let me show you what I bought and then I'll explain.

I loved it! We actually both picked it up and thumbed through it, thinking it was a novel concept.  It has no years printed inside, so you can choose to begin or end anywhere you want and in any year you want.  Each entry space has just enough room for a one-liner.  Just a thought or a comment.  Not as much commitment as a journal.  Anyway, he loved it....I loved it....SOLD! And now I have this adorable bag as a souvenir. 

Jonathan Adler: The Design Minimalist

While staying in our hotel on our anniversary getaway, my husband and I came across an artist whose work I had not seen before.  I first spotted this owl in a window display of the hotel's gift shop and drooled over it for a good hour or so while we made trips back and forth between our room, the restaurant, and the shop trying to decide if we wanted to take the little guy home with us or not. Jonathan Adler, an artist and designer, is this adorable owl's creator. His designs are minimalistic yet have so much personality, you almost don't know what to think of them at first!

What I love most about his pottery is its perfectly smooth finish and minimal details - simple lines, clean shapes, clear patterns.  My owl makes me feel like a kid and an adult all at the same time, and I need that sometimes.  But Jonathan's designs don't stop at pottery.  Visit his site and check out all of his amazing creations ~ www.jonathanadler.com

Tamarind Vase/Belly Vase

       Owl Sculpture 

Seahorse Sculpture 

Beaded

Snail Box

Pinched Vase

Large Anemone Bowl

Banana Bud Vase

Pop Menagerie Piggy Bank

Fox

Capuchine Small Gourd

Capuchine Water Tower 

(Couldn't you just eat this! It looks like a dessert.)

Peacock Lollipop Holder

(Yum and fun all in one)

Lantern Bird House

Turtle Box

Penguin

Salvador Vase

Shoe Butter Dish