SHOW & TELL...studio organization

Welcome to my SHOW and TELL about ways I organize my stuff! Today's Show and tell has been organized by Cerri at Little Pink Studio. Head over to her blog for a complete listing of others who are playing today! Should be lots of fun to see all the great ideas. Thanks, Cerri for organizing this event!

Last Saturday I completed a post on this same topic. If you want to peek, it is listed on my sidebar as Show and Tell Saturday: Studio Organization. Today's offerings are different from that posting. In fact, this is a topic right up my alley as I am in the midst of moving into my new space above my garage. I have more ideas than I have time to implement...duh...story of everyone's life!

But first I'll show you one I've been working on this week.
This shelving unit was created from using an old picture frame I had stored in the basement. It measures a whopping 44" x 34". I have it hanging above a sideboard I use as a work station for all my tools. In addition to housing some of my stuff, I mostly wanted it to be another "inspiration" point in my room.The color of the frame before I went to town on it.....It had a lot of gold in it that doesn't show up in this picture so well. The lighting isn't that great in my basement...

I worked on this display piece down in my basement. Just me and all the cobwebs...I gave the Mr. several chances to come and help but he declined every single offer. He'll be the first to admit, he and power tools have nothing in common. They are all mine. Every last one of them. After finishing it up, I had the bright idea to wrap the shelves in some wallpaper I recently added to my collection. It added a little more visual interest.

I used beadboard for the backing again...Home Depot carries it already painted. Gotta love that...Notice that I also drilled holes along each side at 1 inch intervals in order to allow for moving the shelves around if I so desired. I think a little lace edging might look nice...maybe later.

Like most of my projects, these are not complicated or difficult. A power saw,a drill, and measure twice and cut once is all that's required.

I know lots of you gals use these old suitcases for storing some of your stash. I do too! But this one was a piece I found already "collaged" at an antique show up in the Midwest a few years back. I looked "so cute" carrying it on the plane! But the look on the Mr.'s face as he waited in the terminal for me was worth the slight discomfort of carrying it on board in the first place. Priceless.

Both sides of the suitcase were collaged. With the piece measuring 21" x 14" someone went to a lot of work. It appears as if before they began adhereing the artwork, they painted the background black. Once finished, the panels were given several coats of satin varnish.

Another fun way to show off your baubles is in the old salt and pepper shakers. I'm just starting to fill mine and just love the look.

I really hit pay dirt on a couple of auctions. All in, including shipping, I don't think I paid much over a $1 a piece for these. Many had sterling tops. Some a little dinged...buy hey...just adds to the charm. (A lot like some people I know and love dearly. Smile.)

WARNING: For my next photo, if you are a Longaberger "die hard" and would faint, or have any other adverse reaction to someone "altering" a Longaberger basket, you best leave now....

This is an old Longaberger picnic basket I've had forever. I've used it for a multitude of different purposes through the years. But on our last move six years ago to the Atlanta area, it never made it out of the basement storage area.

This picture gives you a pretty good idea of how beat up and ratty the poor thing had become...it also shows you that it was made in 1990! I told you it was old. In fact, if you look closely, you can still see some cobwebs. See...I told you there are cobwebs in my basement...

Anyway, I took a can of spray paint and gave the old basket a facelift. I sprayed it inside and out. It is going to be the home for about 50+ letter size file folders stuffed with lots of vintage paper items. All organized, of course, according to topic.

Last, is an art portfolio that I just love. It measures 16" x 14" and is made with archival materials. I store vintage papers and such in this gem. Did I mention that it zips and is quite sturdy. I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby but most art supply stores carry these in a variety of different sizes. They are a little more pricey, but I always use the 40% off one item coupon that is offered every other week in Hobby Lobby's weekly add for these kinds of purchases. It will store a lot of materials and keep them safe.

Here's just a quick peek at some of the types of stash I store in this binder.

Thanks for stopping by!