From Crap-tastic to Craft-tastic (Closet makeover #1)

With the exception of Martha Stewart and professional organizers, I am willing to bet everybody has a junk drawer, an accumulated stuff pile, or if you are like me, a shameful-on-the verge- of hoarding closet. Or 2...Or 3...Don't judge me...

The first closet I am tackling is the closet in the spare aka "girly" room. This isn't the worst closet in the house but it was just enough messy to make me kind of crazy.

It began as this (eek!) waayyyy back in 2012. Then I proceeded to ignore it for a very, very long time. Out of sight, out of mind.

 Um ... it got a little better (kinda) in 2014, as I purged some of the stuff . 

 Then I tried to organize it a bit more  but it still wasn't working for me

Poor Billy the Snowman. I would leave him out in the room but he freaks out my dogs and
I am afraid I would come home to twigs and fluff!

I re-used various pieces from around the house. The closet organizer pieces were at one time used in  my kitchen for storage, now they are actually being used in a closet, ha!

 The white cubbies were once part of my creative corner makeover. Honestly- it was so cramped I gave up on using it. But now THIS is more along the lines of what I had envisioned. The worktop (the sewing machine is sitting on) came from Ikea for $0.75. It was a piece of something it has holes from screws/ pegs but I don't care. I attached it to the repurposed laminate shelf with L brackets. It is a super-snug fit. I don't think even if I had measured it, would the fit be as perfect, haha. The foot stool slides in when not in use, but there is room to sit as well.

And when the curtains are closed, my cat Sam-Sam curls up on the footstool.
He has claimed his perfect napping spot!

The worklight is from Ikea (which I purchased maybe  4 yrs ago?)  I ran out of cable cord tacks, was too lazy/ cold to run out buy any so I made my own use cable ties and nail brads. The trick is to take a lighter, heat the tip of the nail and press it into the cable tie. I snipped them into 1 1/2 inch pieces and they worked like a charm to secure the cord.  The power strip mounted on the inside corner of the closet. Plenty of outlets for the sewing machine or a glue gun.

There is plenty of room for fabrics, notions and what-nots. For larger sewing or  craft projects I have a folding table can be easily retrieved for use. It isn't over the top or magazine worthy, but this  demonstrates creative solutions when faced with limited space and budget constraints.  

Sew Helpful

I was repairing a seam on some dress slacks

 When I was joined by a furry helper (Tovah)

 Don't mind me

 Sewing is hard work

 Sleeping on the job

Happy Sunday y'all

I am a Home Ec reject...

  Unfortunately I don't recall her name, however, I can clearly recall  how my 6th grade home ec teacher looked. She had this impossible helmet hair lacquered with so much hair spray, I was positive not hair would be out of place during a category 4 hurricane. She always wore a crisp button oxford and there was a swish to her skirt when she walked. She wore her glasses on a chain around her neck. In my arrogance of youth I thought her terribly old fashioned.

She would constantly chastise me to pay attention. To try harder. How would I learn these skills to serve my home? In my impudence I would scoff and say, "Oh, I won't need to know these things! I am going to be a modern woman! I am going to have a career!"  Had I not been so self absorbed I would have seen the look of hurt and disappointment as I dismissed her.

We girls would giggle, chat and gossip during the home budget session. I would yawn and barely contain my disdain during the sewing lessons. I simply could NOT be bothered with such antiquated concepts. The only area I seemed to excel was cooking and baking. (Foreshadow of a future fatty, haha!)

Mrs. Home Ec  told me on many occasions I was such a smart girl. And creative. I just needed to apply myself. Yeah, yeah, blah, blah..... So it should have been no big surprise...I FAILED  Home Ec! I had never failed anything before!!!!  When I went to Mrs. Home Ec, she just smiled sweetly and said " Miss Tonya--you just didn't put forth any effort". I would have had to repeat the class in 7th grade  but my family moved.

In my new school instead of taking Home Ec, I decided to be one of the rebel girls and take WOOD SHOP!!  The truth be told I was boy crazy and wood shop was where all the cute boys were!! Besides I never really had to do anything because the boys did the work for me. I was blonde. I was cute. And I was giggly. Enough said!

Years pass, life goes on. I have a family, a house, and an interest in taking care of my home. To fix things. To create. To craft. To sew. I know right?! I am in my mid 40's and there is a nostalgia,a comfort in doing the very tasks my Aunts, Grandma's, and Great Grandma's did on a daily basis.  The old adage is- "with age comes wisdom." Truer words were never spoken.

I am planning on taking sewing lessons starting in January. I want to learn how to quilt. And most of all I want Mrs. Home Ec to know, while it may be 30+ years  late, I am sorry I dismissed her. I am sorry rejected her gift of knowledge. And I am finally paying attention to those lessons.