Redecorating - AGAIN!!

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm at it again! BUT I saw the most wonderfully organized and beautiful office in a magazine recently and while my office could probably never look like that, at least I can make it look less cluttered (which I've been thinking and thinking on for months now) and a bit more efficient. Of course, I'm not done but I'm recording my progress here. I do have to say it is definitely less crowded and I can actually walk through the room from the doorway to the window without fear of stepping around things or on things and breaking a leg! This is true!! Now, this room isn't large - maybe 10 x 11 ft. or so. The office in the magazine wasn't much bigger but even a couple of feet each way makes a huge difference. But ya work with what ya got! So read on, chickadees...............

This is the cottage style desk. It is very big and VERY VERY heavy so we can't move it around very much. It's pretty much stuck where it is because of all the things I have hooked up to it for my computer "fluff" and access to filing cabinet, printer, etc. In the very lower left hand corner you can start to see the "CLUTTER" that was in that room. Ooooh my, it was ridiculous. Couldn't even see the carpet.

This little bookshelf holds unnecessary items and my much needed computer books and a few other items, but that's pretty much where it's going to sty..............I think. No, I'm pretty sure it'll stay there. It almost has to.

Okay, this is most of the stuff out of that office/computer room. I've "re-put" it in the sewing room. There are 6 sets of shelving in here and all are pretty much full, but I'll be working on de-cluttering in here also soon. It's just a jumbled up mess in here at the moment. I'll have to "think on it" about how to do this room.

Some of the stuff from the other room is on these shelves and I like them because they are steel and are able to hold much more being 5 instead of 4 like the plastic ones that sag.

I took some old quilts and fabric that I don't use much (which are on the floor now waiting for Jack to put them in a box and up in the attic space over the garage) and put more craft supplies on 2 of the shelves, but I'm going to have to free up more space o those shelves also. Will this never end?!?! If the fire dept. ever saw our attic garage they'd probably fine us for "bringing the neighborhood down"!!

This was the room at one point in all this rearranging. Taking shape but still not done.

Now we're getting closer. In the corner is a little melamine shelf I found in my neighbor's garbage pile when she sold her house and was moving out. Daughter and I made a "midnight run" out to the curb in the stealth of night with black clothes on and our faces smudged with black ash...........no, not really true about the clothes and faces, but it really was done late at night stealthily! LOL

Anyway, we got the little shelf and I just had it sitting in the room until I put it in the corner. I stole, oh excuse me, I mean confiscated, a piece of plywood that Jack had in the garage from working on his "model train room" and laid it on top and covered it with a vintage lace cloth. I've tacked the cloth to the wall as the backdrop for my photo shoot for selling my items on ebay or wherever I put them. I still haven't found just the "right" items to use for that space for the photo shoot. I like roses and will use them but I think it needs a bit of greenery also or maybe a teacup? Hmmmm, have to think on it. But more items will be added to the wall. I just love walls with lots of "eye candy" on them!

As you can see it's still not completely decluttered of some items, but I've got to find space in the sewing room. I love my little window seat in this room. It faces the street and I can see my front yard and the rose bushes. It's not especially comfortable to sit in that window seat but it adds so much to the room visually that I truly love it.

Enough about the room now..........I'm tired already. But this is a little antique cake cover/server I found at a garage sale. It's kind of unique in that the bottom has a lever that you move to release the top from the bottom. I'm putting this on to show you the "before" picture because I'm sending it to a friend, Rhea, to paint for me. I just took it down from the soffit in my kitchen and didn't even dust it for this picture. Yep, that is truly dust on it. Rhea, I will dust it before I send it, honey!!

See the little release lever on it? Plus the top looks like copper and the bottom is aluminum. I've never seen one like it but it is in great shape with only one little dent in the cover.

I made this little bird nest about 20 years ago and decided to give you a bit of "eye candy" today. It is adorable! The little teapot in back I got at Macy's probably 20 years ago also and is one of my favorite things.

I'm giving you a preview of a little shelf in my bedroom that will be redone soon also. Will I never stop working on this house?!?! Anyway, there is a little doll that I've had since I was a baby. It's a little indian doll that my parents bought when we were traveling across country and is over 60 years old for sure but I just love displaying things like that. The little basket was made by my son in scout camp so it's over 35 years old because he's 45 tomorrow. I may put this in the office is why I'm showing it to you. But then I'll have to find something else to put on this wall.

My Chick and Roses Plate

I gave away one of these plates recently but had one for myself. I just finished it and hung it in my kitchen on the soffit. It is sooooo pretty in person.

New Chandelier Shades

I got a new chandelier last year and hubby didn't think it would go in our little humble home (or cottage as I affectionately call it) when I bought it. Little do men know!! Anyway, after putting it up and adding my decorations he finally said it looked beautiful in there - without me even asking what he thought! So I've been trying to find just he right shades for them. I finally did on Bertie's website. They just arrived this morning and I put them on and WOW do they make a difference in the room. They have little roses, lace and beads, but what makes them truly unique is that they are made from vintage wedding gowns. Oh, my are they stunning!! It is very difficult to get good pictures in this room at this time of day (morning) but you get the idea. Thank you so much, Bertie!! I truly do love them.

A Puttering Kind of Day

Ever had a day when you just wanted to "putter" around the house? I have them frequently and today was one of those. I started in my office/craft room.

I've started by re-doing the wall. I have sooooo many things to hang in this house that there is barely a wall without something on it. But since I spend a great deal of time in this room I put a lot of treasures I've gotten from friends in here. Do not notice the pillows on the floor! Aaaaacckkk!!! I spent the last 2 days taking pix of pillows to put on my store on ebay - over 150 photos to take edit, put up on Photobucket, put into template and post - haven't posted anything yet so that's within the next week or so. But this room is definitely not done.

Here is my little feather tree that I've put some of the tags I've received from the most talented women on ebay. Aren't they just stunning? I'm so lucky to know these women.

Just a close up look at them.

Another side of the tree. That one is handpainted by Lorena so check out her stuff on etsy.

Another view of the tree.

And this?? Well, this is a trellis I've had for about 10 years or so but kept trying to "hide" it in rooms other than "public" rooms. I decided that if I like it then who cares if it is in a public room instead of a "private" room in my house? I like it and that's all that matters. So I've put it in the back of an etagère in my living room to sort of hide the back. Plus I can hang more stuff on it! Hah. Okay, I've started with lovely and beautiful things that have been sent to me or I've purchased from my friends. Rhea made that adorable little ballerina box or diorama. And as my day goes on I've just been putting things up there out of my way till I find where I want them to go. But I may just keep everything there so I can see it as I eat in the dining area, which is just this side of it. I like having beautiful roses and lace and hearts to view. And aren't they gorgeous?!?!

A Sweet Collection

I collect a lot of "things" - especially if it is "eye candy"! Hmmm, I've never collected husbands though - still on the first after 47 years. Anyway, no matter. I do have several collections. My sweet hubby, Jack, would tell you that my fabric collection tops the list, but truthfully, I've seen women with far more fabric than I have! Mine is just a drop in the hat compared by my sister-in-law's stash.

But I love beautiful pitchers. I have more than these below but these are the prettiest ones. So I thought I'd show you some of them. I decided to group them together as collections should be. I don't always follow my own advice but in this instance it does present quite a show.

This is a burgundy lacquered sofa table in my small "entry way" and that term I use loosely because you're right in my living room when you enter - the effects of downsizing, but much, much easier to clean this house than the last one which was about 3 times as large. So I put them on there as a group.

The one on the left is a MacKenzie-Childs look-alike and that's why I bought it. I love their pitchers but this one was a fraction of the cost. The little blue one, 2nd from left, is a darling blue raised fruit pitcher. The 3rd from left is a majolica one I purchased on ebay several years ago and when I received it and opened the box I actually gasped at the beauty of it. So did Jack! It is stunning in real life. The 4th from left is covered with roses; therefore, I had to have it! The 3rd from the right is just an adorable one with a polka dot bow and a rose but very unusual looking. The 2nd from right is again roses but the colors are a bit unusual but it has a graceful feminine line and so it had to be in my home! The 2nd from the right is also a very unusual one because of the top part which is flowers but the bottom almost looks like a basket weave and the handle reminds me of a twisted rope. The vase on the right is an unusual color of green - almost lime - but it is also lovely and had to be in my home also.

So enjoy the close ups below that I've put on here for you to see.

The little "boxes" are another thing I love to collect. Those I got at Macy's, which is my favorite store in the world.

The little bowl on the left matches the pitcher so I just filled it with faux grass and added roses to it. I'm a rosy kinda chick!! Hah......