Fine Craft Guild .com » Organize Craft Storage

Fun Junk Antiques in Rome

Fine Craft Guild — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:37:00 +0000

Last week, we stopped by this fun and funky antique store in Trastevere, a favorite downtown area in Rome. This antique shop is a rare breed. It reminds of American lifestyle fashion furniture stores which also sell (vintage) Oriental furniture. Such shop is a rare find in Rome.

What makes this shop more special is its pairing of stylish recycled furniture with refined Roman antiques, like these gorgeous lamps.

Etched glass lantern

Vintage Italian colored glass lantern in kitchen

When you look at the scrap wooden furniture pieces, I know you are all thinking: “I can so make this myself.” And this is true. The question is which one to make, it’s a toss. These driftwood chairs are winners: functional & foldable, frivolous and fun.

The favorite however is the recycled wood cabinet. These recycled wood furniture pieces were expensive, but I know you all can whip up your own recycled boat wood cabinet at a budget. Salvage some old painted wood. Leave it completely distressed and just hammer it onto an existing cabinet whose front is blah..

Recycled Wooden Cabinet.

Recycled Can Flowers.

Mixed-matched painted wooden panel makes for perfect backdrop.

Antique hobby horse, tucked away at the back

Hope you enjoyed this Italian home decorating eye-candy, aka starry-night iPhone photography (smile).

Decorate with Recycled Ladders

Fine Craft Guild — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Ladders add a rustic country atmosphere to a home, and can be used indoor or outdoor for decoration. This project goes into my ‘one day’ pile of things to do, but my step one was to collect ‘best of’ recycled ladder decoration ideas. Ladders offer great interim storage solutions: quick and easy places to put things before they are stored away permanently.

Have a look at these great home decorating ideas, which make simple DIY projects you can do in a weekend, or less.

Recycled Ladder Decorating Idea #1: Kitchen Rack

This is my favorite: An airy open rack for pots, pans, and kitchen odds and ends.

Easy to implement. Lowers the ceiling to a cozier level, and offers a great storage solution.

source: http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2009/1/30/dairy-house-dreaming-and-the-perfect-stranger.html

Recycled Ladder Decorating Idea #2: Bedroom Decor

This is my second favorite: An equally airy open rack for cloths ‘n’ things in the bedroom.

When painted white, it blends in. Can be easily moved into a bathroom as a towel rack,

or into a dressing room to quickly put up your cloths when going to bed at night.

Again, easy to implement.

source: http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2009/11/bedroom-makeover-part-3-reveal.html

Recycled Ladder Decorating Idea #3: Side Table / Nightstand

This little ladder is a perfect lamp stand, picture frame holder and plant stand and spot to place your coffee and knitting project. It holds all.

The construction of it is identical to ladder book shelves, as the extended planks allow you to hold quite a lot of items. An alternative to a bookshelving unit or cabinet, depending on its size. Problem I see is that it can easily get messy.

DIY difficulty level:

You must have some tools and don’t shy away from doing some wood cutting, hammering, gluing wood, etc.

Still easy, but not as easy as the above ‘recycled ladder decorating ideas’.

source: www.hgtv.com/decorating/ladder-shelving-unit/index.html

(includes DIY tutorial)

Recycled Ladder Decorating Idea #4: Bookshelves

source: SouthernLiving (found via dudecraft.com)

Use the tutorial for 3 to make 4. Choose a longer ladder.

Recycled Ladder Decorating Idea #5: Shoe rack

source: Trine Thorsen (via dudecraft.com)

What exactly is not too love? Seeing your shoes being un-polished, I suppose. For the rest. I love it.

Difficulty level: put the ladder upright against wall and voila. Done.

Recycled Ladder Decorating Idea #6: Bar Stools

When you have a lot of identical ladders to recycle, making ladder bar stools can be a stunning idea.

I like the general idea of using ladders as bar stools, not too sure that the stools featured are yet ‘finished’ as a project. But then again, life is a work in progress.

Ladder stools do fold nicely, so they are particularly suitable as extra seats for smaller homes.

These are a bit more rustic than your average bar stool, so they’ll suit a particular kind of interior.

Difficulty level: Easy – moderate, but it’s a bit of work to get the details right. Involves some sawing, gluing / nailing on tops planks, using a woodworkers machine to smoothen edges, and painting.

source: Confessionsofacurbshopaholic.blogspot.com

(includes DIY tutorial)

Over to YOU / Craft Parties

That’s probably enough ideas to get your creative juices going. Show me what you have made, and link it up here: Your DIY Tutorial (linky party). I’d love to feature your work!!!

I’ve entered this craft tutorial into a number of craft parties. Check them out by clicking the link.
Copyright , Fine Craft Guild .com. All Rights Reserved. Amazing/Eco Home Decorating & Craft ideas and tutorials, for you.

Organizing with Baskets: 10 Styles You Can Make Own

Fine Craft Guild — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:52:00 +0000

How to use baskets when organizing your home?

Organizing with Baskets & Bins Howto

My first tip is that baskets are best used in sets, I believe, grouped rather than stand alone. This gives them that orderly, organizing effect that we’re after, to create a comfortable, yet functional, clutter-free home style.

My second tip is to ‘right-size’ your baskets. Things can remain messy if the baskets are too small or too big. There will either be piles around the basket if it’s too small, or it’s a mess in the basket if it’s the wrong size.

My third tip is to give the basket a clearly defined purpose. This basket is for ‘all the things in my pocket when I first get home’, that basket is for ‘white laundry’, that basket is for ‘firewood’.

My last tip is to choose the right strength of the basket for its purpose. That basket for firewood has to be strong.

Design Your Style: 10 Ideas To Organize Your Life with Baskets

1. Bathroom Towel Hamper and Matching Laundry & Toiletries Baskets

For the bathroom, this one wins on functionality…..

Household Essentials ML-6445 Woven-Sea grass Triple Laundry Sorter with Casters and 3 Removable Bags

But, for the bathroom, this basket set wins on style…..

JJ Cole Hamper	JJ Cole Storage Box 1
JJ Cole Storage Box 2	JJ Cole Storage Units and Hamper – the set

Pssst….If you want to use this set to organize a baby room, consider that this set comes also in pale pink, powder blue or pastel mint… Lovely.

Or, If you want to use them for your office instead, you can. I would. However, for a more basketry-look for your office, have a look at #2.

2. Home or Home Office Supplies Baskets with Matching Waste Paper Basket

Matching Baskets all around.

Hamper	Paper Rope Large Storage Basket
DVD Storage Box	CD Storage Box
Milk Crate Storage	Beautiful hand-woven rope storage Some include a machine-washable canvas liner Durable yet soft and flexible Equally ideal for home office as for laundry or other furnishing storage needs: pillows, blankets, but also consider paper rolls, and other bulky/hard to store items: all will fit.

3. Car to Kitchen Grocery Basket

Jumbo Folding Cart with Double Basket (BLACK)-can carry 150 lbs-Cart Size: 41.75"h x 24"w x 21"d

You might not be conscious of it, but the most you’ll carry your groceries will probably be from the car to the kitchen, as well as from the shop to your car. Make it easy for yourself with this FOLDABLE basket. It holds loads of groceries (or other stuff) and it spares your back kindly while you are transporting it.

The big, big plus of this basket is that you get to fold it when not in use. I’m not a fan of the look of metal baskets, so it can be nicely put out of sight.

Look at this basket for example, it looks like really good one: see that bottle rack and sense its stability. Of course there is a limit to how much these baskets can actually carry, so don’t go too bezerk on overloading it. Just take the weight of your bag. If you never have owned a basket like this, try one. You’ll see it not just for granny’s!!

4. Fire Log Basket with Matching Newspaper Basket

Great quality, good sized baskets such as this basket (17 x 11 x 7 inches) are wonderful to store stuff.

Fire Log Basket (Lambs & Ivy)

Newspaper & Everything Else Basket

The classic log fire basket is always handy. Why not get too of them and put them side by side? They tend to fit better into cabinets when the sides are straight, so this set is to stay next to the fire place. The basket on the left has no handles while the other one has handles.

5. Outdoor Furniture & Furnishing Baskets

Beautiful your patio or garden with these two baskets: one for trash and one for easy storage in the garden. And when you need it, it becomes a seat too. Actually, there even are lounge chairs and an outdoor coffee table in this series. So elegant and classy, yet utterly practical.

Strathwood Camano All-Weather Wicker Storage Box

Matching outdoor trash can:

Strathwood Camano All-Weather Wicker Trash Can

6. Toy Bins & Baskets

Winsome Wood Leo Storage Baskets
Set of 3, Espresso

Matching Basket Shelving Unit
Winsome Wood Shelf, Espresso

This set of 3 storage baskets is ideal. Why???

1. The set comes with different size baskets: It has a 23 x 10 x 9-1/4-inch basket and two 11-by-10-by-9-1/4-inch baskets.

2. All three fit snug into this wonderful foldable shelving unit below, for a neat and tidy look.

3. These wicker baskets are made on a metal frame with makes them extra strong.

4. Last but not least, see those handles?? Perfect. You & your offspring get to pick up the toys within minutes from the living room floor and carry the basket simply into the toy room or bedroom and voila. Tidy house and tidy toy room in no time.

7. Foot Stool Basket

Seville Classics PAT70160 Rush Cube Storage Ottoman, Mocha

It’s called a food stool, it’s called an ottoman, it’s called a sturdy basket with a lid. Whatever you do, be broadminded as to where you place it. It could be that necessary extra seat in the bathroom. It could be a storage tool in the bedroom. Of course, it indeed IS also that extra seat in the living room for that extra large group of guests.

Personally, I Imagine 4 on the deck, and 3 in the hall. In short, the most versatile, stylish cube around. Neat and tidy storage, where and when you want it.

8. Garden Hose Basket

Once you have your garden totally neat & tidy, and elegantly dressed with the baskets at #5, all of a sudden that garden hose that’s always laying around becomes an eye sore.

Not to worry, here is the solution: a resin wicker garden hose pot. It looks like wicker, but it can handle water like resin. Is this beautiful or what?? Tidy up those hoses, baby…. With this gadget, there are no more excuses.

Suncast WHP80 Resin Wicker Garden Hose Pot with 80-Foot Hose Capacity (Hose Not Included)

9. Give-Aways / Goodwill Collection Basket

If you are, like us, constantly looking for ways to ‘clear the clutter’, you will also constantly look for ways to reduce your collection of objects you own. Do it in an organizing way! And what better way than to create a (large) give-away bin? It makes it easy to give things away on the spot. As well, you can easily pop the entire bin into your car and drive it over to Goodwill and make someone else happy with your excess.

You’ll enjoy this storage opportunity.

10. Upstairs/Downstairs Slepper Basket

For those of us with kids, a couple of these are mandatory. At least 2: one for the top of the stairs, one for at the bottom. Particularly young children with upstairs bedrooms make these baskets a God sent item to your household belongings!

Stair Basket

There you go: top 10 organizing ideas with baskets.

BONUS BASKET IDEA

11. Moses Basket

Organize your babe!

Honey Hooded Baby Moses Basket with Sage Gingham

This has to be the most ideal way to move your new baby with you from room to room, to the balcony to the kitchen and back: a little Moses basket to keep that little one sleep safe and sound.

I have seen many of these around, but this one with the sun roof is adorable and most functional.

Organizing Crafts

Want more ways to organize? OK. Click the title link and you’ll find a range of ‘Get Yourself Organized’ projects.

An Upcycler’s Take on Kitchen Storage

Rose — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:47:00 +0000

“matching redefined”

Embarking on a project to make or find some unusual upcycled kitchen storage?

Introducing Rupert Blanchard, woodworker in London. Really,
he is a designer and craftsman with internationally inspiring taste,
and here’s an example of (unfinished but already great) work by him: a completely recycled kitchen.

Unusual Upcycled Kitchen Storage

You can probably order a custom furniture piece from him, or ….

Be liberal and make your own, free form.

If you are inspired to DIY, here are my words for you:

Dare to go where none thread before.

‘Matching’ is merely a pattern recognition.

U can make your own.

Your tools will tell you,

your heart will guide you,

your head will calculate

which measurements are going to work.

~ Michael,

FineCraftGuild.com

Here is another example of Rupert Blanchard’s unusual kitchen (or livingroom) storage ideas using recycled materials:

If you want even more unusual recycled storage ideas, come back next week Friday and I’ll show you the work of some Dutch designers….

This craft is featured in various wonderful craft parties. Click here to check them out!

Re-Usable Shopping Bags

Fine Craft Guild — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Using reusable shopping bags should be ‘normal’ now, and yes, I know a good tutorial for a basic shopping bag is truly overdue on FineCraftGuild.com. We all need a whole bundle of them.

Good and sturdy reusable shopping bags were always normal in the European family where I come from. However in my North American, Japanese, and Australian years, they were hard to find and not really used in the community.

Well, thank goodness, we can now again go shop in style, as environmentalism and individualism is in fashion. And *** I *** (says Rose) am going to be queen of the style because ….

I just won the blog prize at http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/. Darling Jeanne is giving us these lovely 2 Large and 2 Small reusable shopping bags.

Aren’t they nice? I can’t wait to get them.

Thank you Jeanne!

(this is the kind giver)

Let’s Pass On The Goodness

Given the good feeling one gets from both giving and receiving, let’s make that the spirit of today. Let’s now all send out some generosity to someone today. What a wonderful world it will be. Leave us a comment about what you have done, and I’ll share mine too.

My Organizing Craft Tip for the Day

consider using a set of matching reusable shopping bags as temporary craft storage for ‘on the go’ projects.

Storage for a Craft Business

Fine Craft Guild — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:03:23 +0000

Storage is another consideration for all your crafts and creations.

If you create a lot of crafts that are the same size, this makes life easier!, but if you are like me, and they are all different sizes, then storage becomes a big problem!

I started off with crafts in boxes… BIG MISTAKE!.. they get dusty and musty! The best purchase I made, was the large plastic tubs with lids, similar the ones in the picture below. They quite often go on sale, so when they do, buy a bunch!

Try shopping online for storage and ideas, there are usually great pictures and setups that will inspire you to get creative with your storage. *

Sort your crafts and creations, as to which items you will need to get out again soon, and which items need to be stored for time between shows or displays. Make sure to label the tubs on the outside, and then stack them! this is where, making sure to get the same brand of tubs comes in handy, as they usually stack better.

You need to have some tubs that you must get at all the time, so they should be on top, or the most accessible. Either use clear tubs so you can see what is inside, or make sure to label them CLEARLY.

One way around this, if you can swing it, is to create a table or layout table that is counter height, or whatever height works best for you, and then store your tubs underneath.

It could be as simple as a finished piece of wood on top of purchases legs from home improvement stores, or a purchases table, or have a handy person, build you one.. if you can manage the room.

This is great in a basement or garage or spare room, and also gives you great counter top space for working on your projects.

You need to organize this storage very early in your business venture, so that you do not waste precious time, trying to find one of your creations!

By Diane Palmer, who has over 15 years in the crafts business.

* Fine Craft Guild Storage Tip

Mobile General Storage Cabinet

Once you have been crafting for a while, you might want to invest in a real, professional storage unit, that allows you to be efficient and that can indeed hold all your materials (and projects in process). The one shown here is of excellent quality. Click the image to learn more about it.

This article has been featured in various craft parties. Check the link to check them out.!