Saturday, March 28, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009

Apartment Therapy Spring Cure 2009 - Week 1

So, the first week of the AT Spring Cure is almost over, and it has done me a bit of good already - the theme for the week is Creating Your Vision.

1. Take a good look at your home and make a list of stuff that bothers you.

This was easy - I look around here every day and see all the things that bother me. Every time I turn around something is bothering me, as a matter of fact!

- Everything is cluttered.

- Everything needs cleaned.

- There is too much stuff that has no home.

2. What's your ideal vision for your home?

This was pretty easy too, as it directly ties into my answers from #1.

- Less clutter: If we don't need it, use it, or truly love it, it shouldn't be here!

- Clean: Not only would I like everything to be clean, I would like everything to be EASIER to clean, so that maybe we'll actually clean more often!

- Organized: Things that are staying need a home, a space where they belong, where they can be put away when we are aren't using them.

3. Inspiration photos

I didn't spend a ton of time on finding photos - my Cure is more about cleaning and organizing rather than re-decorating. But I did find a couple things that illustrate my point:

Office View from 314Creations on Flickr

I would love to have a bunch of labeled containers. I used to think of that as extreme organizing - taking the personality right out of a room. Now that I have spent the last few years surrounded by STUFF, the idea of neatly compartmentalizing things is much more appealing. It feels serene to me, rather than boring.

Plus, knowing where everything is all the time would just really rock.

Bedroom from TheSmartestFish on Flickr

This was the best photo I could find to represent the feel I want to achieve as much as possible - simple and calm. See how the only thing on the table is the lamp? I'm craving that!

I wish I had a more exciting plan to report on - like remodeling a bathroom or redecorating a living room or bedroom... maybe next year, I've got to get a handle on things as they are first! ;)

New on Etsy - Vintage Suncatchers!

I found an amazing lot of vintage suncatchers - these aren't the little Makit & Bakit kind I had when I was a kid, they are large and much more heavy duty - check them out:

Vintage Butterfly Suncatcher

Vintage Strawberries Suncatcher

Vintage Girl With Kite Suncatcher

There are several more - grapes, a bluebird, a boat, a girl with an umbrella, a boy with a fishing pole, balloons... click on over and have a look!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Apartment Therapy Spring Cure 2009 - I'm In!!

I've been planning on doing a hardcore spring cleaning/de-cluttering of my entire house this year, because frankly it is driving me insane. I've got way too much stuff crammed into way too little space, and something's gotta give!

Luckily, today I got my email from Apartment Therapy, and they are launching their Spring Cure 2009 program. I've heard about their Cure program in the past, and I decided to go ahead and jump on in and see if it helps me meet me spring cleaning goals!

I'll be posting my progress here, as embarrassing as it will probably be. Anyone else participating this time?

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Some of the newness at auction this week...

I was pretty wrapped up in BooksFYI work this week, but I did manage to list a few new things at auction - some pretty good stuff, if I do say so myself! ;)

Vintage Green and White Ice Bucket with Matching Tumblers - I've never seen a set like this before, I mean seriously, it doesn't get much better!

Vintage Burlap Raffia Ware Melmac Ice Lip Pitcher - Here's another piece I had never seen before - if you have a set of these mugs or tumblers this pitcher is a must have!

Vintage Pyrex Sunflower Divided Casserole Dish - This one almost found a new home in my cupboard, snatch it up now before I change my mind! ;)

Set of 6 Vintage Thermo-Serv Tumblers - These are soooo 70's cool, and they would make a great set paired with the Burlap pitcher, now that I think about it...

Fire-King Milk Glass Casserole Dish with Leaf Design Lid - Here's another one I've never seen before, the lid has a really pretty raised leaves design!

Vintage Made In Japan Metal Canister Set - These canisters are really unique, they are aluminum with black wheat and trees designs, and they are big - the largest one is a whopping 12" tall!

Vintage Corning Ware Cornflower Blue Toy Dish Set - Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen? A little plastic set just like Mommy's!

There's more up for auction than just these few things of course, if you want to see everything just click on over and check it out! :)

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Missing Country Home? Get your fix on Flickr - Part 1 - Interior Decorating

When I got the news about my Country Home subscription being replaced, I decided to poke around and see what is out there online that might give me a similar fix.

Of course the first place I thought to look was Flickr - and I was not disappointed. I found so much cool stuff I will have to spread it out over a couple of posts!

This one focuses on interior decorating - here are some great groups I found that are definitely worth checking out at least once a month: