Donate Local: Women Centered Art Co-Op

Recently I found out about a local organization in Charlotte that promotes a community for women artists. (Thanks for the info mom!) Being a designer myself, I was very interested! The organization is called Women Centered Art. The organization is new (just founded in 2010), but from what I've read, they have a passion for their purpose and a mission to grow the connections between women creatives. I'm looking forward to attending an event soon, learning more and hopefully getting involved.

As I looked through their website, I came across their wish list, which listed items of need for the organization. When I saw art supplies on the list - I knew that was going to be my first order of business - cleaning out my baskets and bins of old art supplies at home to donate. 

When I pulled out all of my old supplies at home, I hit the jackpot! I had a little bit of everything: spray mount, stickers, paper, paint, pens, tape, bookbinding supplies and more. Most of the items were things that I thought I would use at some point, but I had not used ANY of it since we moved to Charlotte a year and a half ago. I figured that if I hadn't used it yet, I wasn't going to use it. I also figured that since it was for a good cause, what better reason to gain some storage space by purging all of my old supplies? I like the slogan of Goodwill: Don't Dump. Donate!

Since I work with a team of graphic designers and we are right next to the industrial design department, I spread the word here at our office. I put a clear tote outside my cube wall for anyone to drop in their old supplies. I'm hoping to get at least one full bin - if not more!

 

In an interview, Brooke, one of the co-founders of Women Centered Art, talked about the inspiration for the organization: 

"Honestly, WCAC evolved from a place of evaluating whether or not to make this city my home after living between Charlotte and NYC for the past three years. For me, this is about a commitment to building what you want for your life, rather than leaving town for a city with more to offer. Shane and I have had many long talks about the fact that, as women, we “want it all”- great careers, chances to exhibit our work, inspiring workshops to attend, and a supportive community of friends and family to share it all with at the end of the day. It goes beyond the idea of becoming a professional artist, into the realm of living an art-full life...How can we stay inspired in the day to day grind? How do we reconnect with our natural, inherent creativity? Those questions intrigue me and I plan to continue that work through WCAC."

(Does that make you want to learn more or what? Count me in!!)

Build Your Own Organization

Has anyone ever seen the site Ikea Hacker ?

This shoe closet is PRETTY sweet. We've been talking about doing a shoe closet forever now (my lovely husband's idea), so imagine my shock and jealousy that not only has someone else THOUGHT about it.. but they've done it! I'm totally going to snag some of his ideas: lighting, belt rack, and bag rack. Thanks for the inspiration, Phillip!
 
One of my co-workers, Jamie, is a big fan of this blog. After getting inspired (not by the shoe closet) from the whole idea of customizing your organization solution, he took some Rubbermaid shelves bolted them together to make a work table, with storage underneath. (Kinda like a dude's version of a craft table). 


 

He's a crazy-creative type that in his spare time does original screenprints. Notice all the screenprinting paraphernalia around his custom creation. Check out the his work (that was made on this Rubbermaid DIY table) here, at Human Shaped Robot.

Pretty crafty!
If you are handy, consider DIY-ing a custom organization solution for yourself. Sometimes the best organizational solutions are something you create yourself.Has anyone else not been able to find or afford a solution, and has built one themselves?
   

Wrapping Paper Roundup

When I set out to organize our coat/game closet, it ended up [practically] forcing me into another organization project. In the coat closet, I found a couple roles of wrapping paper, leaning in the corner against my poor attempt at organizing my shoes...

I set them aside as I went through the rest of the stuff in the closet. I went upstairs to find a few various items in closets up there, and I found more roles of wrapping paper in two different closets. I also found a Rubbermaid gift wrap organizer, still in the package (I meant to get it out during the holidays, but obviously that never happened.). I thought, "Might as well!" so I grabbed all of my gift bags from another closet, and I was on my way to a detour: organizing my wrapping and gift supplies.  

Previously, my gift bags were housed in bigger bags with handles. I did have quite a lot of gift bags, but they were all mixed up. I had a variety of wrapping paper: christmas, happy birthday, baby, generic...and I managed to find a handful of bows leftover from the holidays as well.

I know our product of the gift wrap organizer is hard to find these days. When looking online for similar products, I found this one from the Container Store and this one on another site, which are both portable with handles. Another blog post I found had some other good ideas and links too. There were various options for bins and boxes that helped organize gift wrapping supplies from Walmart and Target, but they were not as customized. 

All of my wrapping paper (probably 8 rolls or so) fit just fine, and all of the compartments worked great. I put markers, tape and scissors in one pocket, scrap pieces of paper in another, bows in another, and all of gift bags fit in the pockets. Everything fit with room to spare! I even folded up my extra tissue paper and gift boxes (not bags, flattened boxes) and put them above the rolls of wrapping paper. After rounding up all of my gift wrap supplies that were strewn all over the house (unbeknown-st to me before starting my coat/game closet org project), I now have them in one, organized place!

 

 
 
 
 
 

Bracelets and Earrings: from travel case to their own space

A short while ago, I reorganized my necklaces, and it has made choosing a necklace and also putting necklaces back after I wear them so much easier. My earrings and bracelets were still not organized, and I kept them in my travel jewelry case. Before I moved to Charlotte, I traveled a lot, and I always kept my jewelry in the travel cases and never took them out. My earrings were in every little compartment of this jewelry role:

 

My bracelets and necklaces were crammed together in this other travel jewelry case:

I love the travel cases, and they are great when I'm TRAVELING, but since I don't travel as much as I used to, it was time to make a permanent home for my earrings and bracelets. I had read the tip to use ice cube trays for your earrings, along with some other really clever ideas on this site. Another idea that I found on another blog uses a picture frame, which I really love, but I just don't have a good space to utilize this method. It is almost like your own piece of art!

My solution came about because I'm always open for a bargain....and free stuff. One day at work I saw a pile of random items marked "free." (I think it was from several people clearing out their desk and cube areas.) In this pile I came across a drawer organizer with several compartments. It had a small tray that sat on top of a larger tray, and it slid along the two "ledges" on the sides of the bottom tray. I had been thinking about how to sort my earrings, so I thought I would give it a try!

I took my earrings and bracelets out of the travel case, sorted them by color (bracelets) and by type/length (earrings), and put them into my newfound jewelry organizer. It works like a charm!!

This is a view looking down on it.

 

The top tray (you can see above) holds my earrings. It has six compartments, which are not too big where things slide around, but the earrings can be spread out enough for me to see them all. I have a compartment for hoops/circular earrings, one for silver danglies, one for medium-length jewel/colored danglies, one for short-medium danglies, one for studs and one compartment for crazy-long-danglies.

 

Below is a shot of my bracelets, which are in the larger, bottom tray. Each compartment is a different color: gold, silver, black/dark grey, brown/tan/natural and "all others."

 

The tray sits in my linen closet on a shelf just below eye level. This way I can open my linen closet and pick out my jewelry with ease, thanks to my necklaces, earrings and bracelets being visible and easy to access!

 

 
 

 
 

Organizing for a Scrapbook Retreat

I love to scrapbook. I have not done much of it since moving to Charlotte and have A LOT of pages to complete.

Thankfully, my mom and I and a few of our friends (picture Mother, Daughter trip) decided to go to a scrapbooking retreat. It was a WHOLE weekend of scrapbooking all weekend and late into the night (it's sad when your mom stays up longer than you do but my mom totally did).

Getting ready for a retreat is hard work. Passionate scrapbookers have A LOT of stuff: paper, tools, embellishments, stickers, etc. It was interesting to see how everyone organized there stuff to bring what they need but not bring EVERYTHING (which it seemed like some people did...). Here are the pointers I found most helpful:

• Decide the week before what album/albums you will work on. Layout each page with the pictures, paper, embellishments, letters, etc. that you will need. This way you know what tools you will need also to limit bringing too many.

• Have a scraping partner (this is what my mom and I did). Get with one other person and between the two of you divide up your tools. One bring half of the tools and the other bring the other half. Share when you get there. This cuts what you are bringing by half.

• Have a snack/drink queen. Us scrapbookers need energy which means we bring snacks and caffeine to retreats (or at least I do). Four or five of you get together and chose one person to bring a cooler filled with drinks and snacks. Divide up the cost and pay the queen. This is great if one person has a larger car than everyone else. As someone with a two door, it was nice not to have to try to fit in my own cooler and food!

  

(a snack queen carrying out a cooler with some help!)

• To make transporting easier, fill up a couple of Rubbermaid totes with all your tools. Many people had one smaller storage container that had all their paper in it divided with special folders based on colors or paper packs. As someone who was not smart enough to do this and carried a lot of smaller things individually - this is a smart idea. Even limit yourself to two or three totes; this will help you bring only what you need.

• Find out what supplies the retreat is providing. Our retreat had a few Cricket machines and TONS of punches. My mom and I did not bring these but saved this room for more paper. We had to wait a few times to use these tools but most times it was a much needed break and an opportunity to see what other people were working on.

• This picture just amused me. Someone was mixing Crystal Light or Kool Aide in one of our jugs as an alternative to all the soft drinks that were there! Way to be healthy!!! (and please ignore the horrible picture of me - part of me can't believe I am putting this on the web!!!)

Hopefully, a little organizing can make scrapbooking retreats easier and more fun!

Using a Old Shutter to Organize

One of my favorite organization tools that I use in my home office would have to be my shutters.  I found them at the Metrolina Antique Show in Charlotte.  They were 2 for $5, and were originally navy until I spray painted them white to match my office.

They are great for keeping important references close-by my desk without creating holes in my wall.   Additinally, they allow me to maximize 6 feet of vertical space and are easily moveable around the room.

On one, I have:
-frequently used coupons for restaurants / activities that I need to remind myself I have (or I will forget to use them)
-inspiration - things to be grateful for, favorite quotes/inspirational photos
-upcoming events clipped from Charlotte Observer and other magazines

On the other, I have used Stick and Store baskets to hang on the grooves in the shutter and I organize plans for upcoming travel.

What other uses do you have for old things?

 

Jewelry Organization System

As I mentioned in my post last week, my hobbies, while relaxing sometimes result in organizational mayhem!!!   Not only do the supplies need to be stored (see last weeks post on Craft Room), but also the end-products.   Anyhow, I wanted to share a low-cost jewelry organization system I had to create the year I learned how to make the necklaces & earrings so that they could be easily seen every morning…... 

To organize earrings:  Take metal strands (can be found at a home improvement store in the hardware section), bent the ends and inserted them into the drywall;  hang earrings

To organize necklaces: Hammer nails into drywall or wood surface; hang necklaces

If you have any tips or suggestions for how to store your jewelry I'd love to hear them.

Organizing my craft room

I have always been interested in crafts and projects from painting, to scrapbooking to jewelry-making.   Over the years, I have struggled with what to do with all the "stuff" that amassed out of my hobbies.   In my first small apartment, I kept it in rolling underbed boxes (Rubbermaid of course), but it still required a bit of effort to pull all of my supplies out to get started.  In turn, I found I worked on my paintings and crafts less because I didn’t want the hassle of pulling all the supplies out.

One of the big selling points in my new home was an extra bedroom that was an ideal space for a "project room". How exciting to  finally have a space where I could work on things bit-by-bit and have a home for my stuff!!

The first step was a large project table.  My stepfather built a simple table out of an old door that works beautifully.   Next, I built custom bookshelves to keep my day to day items close to the project table.

Another idea I saw in a magazine was to take an old shutter to organize paperwork.  It has been easy to keep up with wedding invitations, tickets for upcoming show, etc. in a quick and easy place.

Because the room had a larger walk-in clothes closet, I converted the space once used for hanging clothes to a supply room.

Clear drawers became a dresser to organize larger "projects" .  Painting simple designs on foam board created a more fun feel and the labels made everything easier to find.

In the remaining part of the closet, I used Rubbermaid Homefree Closet system to create rows of shelving to house my favorite size Rubbermaid totes – the mini 3 gallon.   Homefree is really easy to install and change based on your needs so I was pleased with how I could customize the spacing for my totes.  Also, when I am selling the house, it will be easy to convert it back to a clothes closet (not sure if the new homeowners will be wild about art as I am).

All in all, it has been great to have everything in once place and I have found myself more inspired to pull out projects on a random Saturday or to finish things quickly!  If anyone has any idea for other ways I can organize, just let me know!