Studio Desk

My new flash cards from The Red Door Antiques!

My best Etsy score to date! A German spice rack turned office organizer and Tasha McKelvey gnome!

Tasha McKelvey bird bowl loaded up with my new labels. The Klimpt mug was the first present I ever bought my hubby!!

Hoop by Linwood Avenue

Bundle of lace collars that belonged my hubbies Grandmothers.

I found this cube shelf for $1.50 and I've spent over $50 bucks filling it up with Pyrex!

I love the plan ahead post card! Another great Etsy Find!! 

The red record clock was made by my dear friend Dawn!!

I am so going to make that Mollie Makes coin purse!! I promise, someday...

Studio Makeover: Week One

I emptied out half the studio and said good bye to yellow walls this week. I must say that I love-love-love the color, it's so bright and happy!

I built the a Galant table for the sewing machines... 

... and another one for the computer! It even has a key board drawer, so very ergonomic!

Aidan and I built these cool shelves that attach to the table top. We left the back off the second one so the printers could stack up. LOVE THAT! But what really rocks is having a desk with a work surface for the first time every! I'm not sure what to do with that, but I'll work it out. ; )

I'm also digging the old peg board that I painted turquoise. I reconfigured the board, it's amazing how much stuff you can get a 2'x4' sheet of pegboard. 

 Maddie helped me hang this pegboard today. I am so happy to replace all those 3M hooks, now I can move everything as needed. Easy-peasy!

 

Friday afternoon, the kids and I sat on the studio floor and watched The Voice while I put these together. They are for the new cutting table that I'll be making next weekend. For now the old folding cutting table top will have to do. We've got tablecloths to make this week so no more playing decorator until they are completed. 

I replaced the old white bookcase with these two wire shelves that I stacked. I like them for several reasons: it's wider and deeper so I get more bang for my buck and it's open on the sides so that area feels more open now.

As you can clearly see, I have a lot of work left to do but I am pleased as punch to be back in the room. Next weekend I'll tackle the cutting table, hang wall shelves and finish painting the doors and trim. Then it's back to IKEA to get the right bases for the new chairs (I messed up) and a few more of these great drawers! (Aidan and I had a blast building this, they're a wild puzzle.) Then it'll be time to make and hang some new roman shades. Wait till you see the great fabric I'm getting for those!!!

I figure it'll be 100% complete in about 2-3 more weeks!! I can't wait!! Yay!!!

I'll be back with a full room shot tomorrow, the sun fills the room with pretty light and the turquoise blue looks so wonderful. 

Studio Supplies!

Check out this super sweet German spice rack that I got from Davies Vintage Etsy shop! I've been searching and searching for a perfect little something to organize our office supplies and boy did I find a gem!

 How amazing are the labels??? Don't you want to know the story behind how this ended up in the States?

Do any of you have a clue to what Lorbeenlaub is?  I can't wait to get this little cutie up on the wall!!!

Inspiration-Gift Wrap Centers!

I want a permeant and functional gift wrapping center!  Here is some inspiration that I have recently found...

I really love this, it's totally doable, check out the great tutorial from Centsational Girl!

Here's a  lovely Gift Wrapping Area found at Country Living. Wouldn't this be a great shipping center? Someday, when Modern June rents a space we will have room for this!

This one is the ultimate Gift Wrap Center.  Wow, it's dreamy, I mean super dreamy!! Real Simple also give you 3 low budget solutions!

So, I ask you, where do you keep your wrapping loot?  Are you all organized or are you like me with a broken wrapping paper box under the bed, over-flowing with wrinkled paper?  Share with us your solutions, we want to see it!

I found something else that I love, Paper+Cup Designs used the wider Grundtal shelves from Ikea.  She has left out several of the bars making room of rolls of ribbon and tissue.  Now that is totally doable and would work with my new look in the Modern June Studio! Check out more studio shots from Paper+Cup at Brooklyn Bride!

kid stuff

kid stuff, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Already tired of a yard full of useful junk, I knew we needed a system, a home everything. Now everyone (not me) can put all that fun stuff away!

Since I know my kids well, I know that if this stuff is going to get used, it needs to be out for them to see.  So, what to do with all that brightly colored plastic? Use all that left over garden pots and baskets of course!

I placed the pretty pile right out side the kitchen, now I can easily see if the kids have put it all back.  Plus, with it on the covered porch it will stay out of the weather and last longer.

Think it will work? Wish me luck!

Let the Pantry Madness begin!

Shame be mine...


Even though I had a really wonderful day I am a big cranky butt tonight. I am really tired but wide awake. I am ready for a big project but not willing to get started yet. I know the what the project is, my pantry from hell. What a complete mess. Junk, tea towels, aprons galore, household cleaners and a bunch of Costco bulk shopping is just thrown in. It's a "Quick shut that door before something falls out!" kind of pantry.

I have a ton of great DYI projects for this pantry so stick around this week while I get that pantry in order. I will be blogging about it daily and linking to my OILCLOTH ADDICT blog where you will be able to check out tutorials for each project.

For now, while I am impatiently waiting for bedtime, I am cruising the internet for inspiration. Below there is a link list for my favorite kitchens, pantries and products!

Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn:
Orange Kitchen
Great vintage stove and cool tile counter!
Best kind of Kitchen sink ever made!!!
My dream house and a cool Kalamako oven!

Country Living slide show.
I love the chalk paint on the door, now I like that a lot.

Better Homes and Garden:
message board?
Check lists for stocking the pantry!

Really?
ubber organized!
how to video
not a cardboard box to be seen
A 1945 pantry
Dreamy picture
book on the subject

Wish I had...
blue bins
soda can rack
crusher!

Stuff I need to find:
Lazy Susan
Wire Baskets
lots of oilcloth
a bit of chalk cloth
lots of jars

Just a few of the totally ridiculous items currentlyin this pantry:
Fish Food, we have no fish!
Turkey roasting bags, 8 years old?
Wax for canning, why?
Easter Grass, from last year!
Halloween chocolate kit.
Christmas Gingerbread House kit.
Rock tumbler that doesn't work!
Science project from 3 years ago.
5 lunch boxes, we homeschool!
A tin full of VERY out dates herbal remedies.
Empty tin cans, WTH?
Empty sea monkey house, oh yeah, my favorite!

ten to do's

Dawn, Lark Studio, posted this on to the RCM blog Off the Record last week...

It's that time of the year when most of us with art/craft businesses are wound down - taking a break from a (hopefully) busy holiday season. Here is a great, short, motivational podcast from Alyson B. Stanfield, author of the Art Biz Blog, on how best to utilize this down time and prepare for success in the new year.

If you have a Crafty Biz you too have to check it out. Here is my check off list for the top ten list for clearing out the old and setting up the new!

__Done!!!__ TASK LIST

• Completed:
• new State tax number for LLC
• new EIN for LLC
• Gathered up everything I need for completing new LLC Business License with the city.
• new business license taken care of! Yah!!!

__NEVER DONE!__ STUDIO (working on that now! )
Changes---

• Switched out my inventory rack for a handed down rack that has a top shelf.
• Booked and labeled all my bulk bias and rick rack that just came in before the holidays.
• Throughly cleaned out the ironing room!
• Found the floor in front of the sewing machines.
  
• Packed up all holiday fabrics for attic storage.
  
• Cleaned out all those drawers and caddies.

__DONE__ FILING

• I have started making a central pile for filing
• get files into system FAST
• I filed my little heart out!
  

____ MAILING LIST

• listen to her class
• add more to the list!

____ Art Work

• list all those ONE OF'S on to etsy
• Create SALE section!
  

__Done__ CORRESPONDENCE

• Wrote letter for wholesale clients about CPSIA.

____ COMPUTER (fix laptop or buy new one)

• Don backed up both computers
• finish on line clean up of all those dang photos
• tidy up this dang blogety blog!
  

____ SUPPLIES
Bought:

• two galvanized trash cans for all those oilcloth bolts
• Wrist support to use at the computer
• calendar/day planner, there is a post coming on that!
• Tape
• label tape refill
• Cotton fabric
• needles
• bobbins
• tailors chalk
• Oilcloth re-order

Still need...
Shredder, accordion files and clear show boxs..

VISTA PRINT ORDER

1. biz cards for MJ and OCA
2. post cards for MJ and OCA

Hang tags and labels

1. New tags for tablecloths
   
2. hang tags
3. sew in labels MUST ORDER ASAP
4. Size labels?
5. Care, labels or tags?
   

____ PERSONAL SPACE

• working on it!
• Main Floor complete
• My Bedroom
  

__DONE!!!!__ ERRANDS

• City Hall
• Girl Doctor
• New scripts for the new year
• Made Dentist appointments for the entire family
• DMV, finally renewed my drivers license

Ok, I am motivated!!! Care to join me?

UPDATE 1-5-09
I am still crossing things off this list. I hope to be done soon! Dawn, how you doin?

Free E Book!

We all need as much help as we can get when it comes to staying organized and this is sure to help. My e-buddy Suzanne just sent me a free E book, 100 Surefire ways to Organize your busy life. Now don't go getting all jealous, you can get one too! All you need to do is sign up for Let's talk Organizing newsletter Organize Me, Please!

Update: Homeschool pinky swear!

I am determined to keep my homeschool pinky swear that I made last June. I have been really at keeping everything in the files. There are times when I get lost in a sea of school work. When this happens I just collect all my piles and file it all away. Each child has a accordion file and a big art portfolio. I made portfolios out of a sheet of poster board and some tape. Easy peasy! I needed to do this today. I needed to prove to myself that we do accomplish a lot over time even if we didn't get much done today.

I tell you those kids are making me insane. Home school has been fight school. This morning they were so snippy with each other that we ended up doing school in two different rooms. That was not fun for me. I spent the day saying no, and be quite and please be nice to your sibling. URG. I know that it is winter and all that but I am dying over here.


Maddie had a great idea at lunch she suggested that we played a game. So after 15 minute of me time on the sunny front porch we all played The Kansas City Monopoly. We actually made it through an hour long game with out tears, even though I won. Don you were wrong the game is not evil : )

I have had this game for years and years and haven't played it until today. I believe that my Mom sent it to me on my first Christmas away from home. It is nearly 17 years. I guess it is about time somebody plays with it. I wonder how many of the businesses are closed or under different names. For example I know the Jones Store Co. is now Macy's.

Funny how even with all the trouble we had a really great day. Who would have figured?

Studio Makeover: shipping and handling REVISIT!

I am not feeling so hot today and I need to get some work done today no time for playing organizer! So for now I am going to redirect to my post about the shipping cabinet that I created a while back! I can not tell you how much time this saves me! And yes I know that I misspelled business! No need to remind me of my inability to spell! ; )

If you are selling and shipping I highly recommend doing this for yourself. My Friend Beth has a shipping drawer. I was thinking the other day you could take vintage suitcase and make a shipping center out of that. You may need to hot glue in some added pockets but that would store nicely and look good anywhere. I like it! I want to make one just for fun!

media center, show stuff, and shipping supplies, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

Studio Makeover: Paper work

When you are running your own little shop you are surrounded by paper. What do you do with all those orders, the shopping lists and the endless to do list? Well you head over to Suzanne's site Let's talk organizing and see what your organizational solution is. Personally I am a visual person through and through, if I put a list in a notebook you can bet I will NEVER EVER look at it again. So dry erase board and 4 clip boards to the rescue.

I use the magnetic dry erase board for notes to self and what I need to do right away! It is my in-my-face-can-not-forget spot.

As for the clip boards I got that idea from Ace of Cakes, they have an entire wall of clip boards that they use for orders. I had to do this. I rounded up the stray clip boards that we already had, yes we actually have 5, who knew? We used to have them for the kids to color with in the car. Any who, I took them out back and spray painted them all one color so make them pretty.

What are they for you ask? Etsy orders, shopping list, Weekly To Do list, and Craft show info.
The shopping list has 3 columns one for local fabric stores, one for oilcloth orders, and the other for I wish I had items. I am constantly forgetting what I am running low on so I use this sheet to right it down right away. The craft show clip board is for the applications and for the show details, no more looking through piles of paper looking for where I am supposed to park or what size my booth is.

Thanks so much to all those that have been so nice in the comments. You all are right, I don't have a big budget in fact I have no budget. I like using what I have. It just makes sense. Plus my stuff is cuter that the typical org stuff. I love going to the attic or shed and looking around to find something that could be used for a new purpose. So come back soon there is much more to come!

Later that night.... Hi again I am down in the cave tonight trying to focus on getting this clutter off my sewing table. I just had the best thought what if I had a budget. Sweet Dreaming! Here is the fantasy workroom that I wrote for my RCM profile.

Now I have given my fantasy space a whole lot of thought! I would fill the room with 1950's metal cabinets painted lipstick red. There would be so many drawers that I would have empty ones for at least a year. I would have Boomerang Formica surfaces with the chrome edges.

There would be French doors looking out onto a garden patio. On the patio there would be electrical outlets and a great big table so I could sew out there on nice days. There would be a wall of shelves for fabric and a wall of windows for light. Instead of ironing boards I would have a pressing table, just like they had in the costume shop at Theatre Virginia. I would have a cutting table with the same metal cabinet underneath. Yep lots of drawer there too. I would have place set up just for wrapping, tagging and shipping, all the supplies on hand. A perminate place to take photos would be totally dreamy. It would save so much time to be able to just have it all set up, organized ready to go.

Studio makeover: hang ups

hanging space in the ironing room!, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

I have been storing my patterns in the shower for awhile now but this weekend I added a much needed second bar to store my extra hangers. This is so much better that then all tangled up in a plastic ice bin from target. That was always a fight and an eyesore. That shower rod was worth the 5 bucks!

Well there is one corner left in this room and I am not sure that I will show you that corner. It is not pretty but I will see what I can do! A little plumbing is in order if you know what I mean! Scared yet Don?

I have PBSDS

and it is a nearly fatal condition. In layman's terms it called Post Busy Season Disaster Studio Disorder. Here is the ugly truth behind this debilitating disorder. Please, those with small children present and those with heart problems take caution.

Yikes, no wonder I was not making stuff, I mean who can sew on a table like this.

On Friday after school I just had to put an end to this madness, in 4 hours I had cleaned it all up with the exception of the orange bin. I still need to sort that out. Not too bad really!

Here is the plan for the studio and the bloggy goodness that is this silly little place you have come to read at, now that the ruble has been cleared I am going to spend the week fine tuning the room. I would love to move the furniture around but I am stumped on how I can do that.

So stay tuned every day I will have some new ideas to share and I will show you what I am up to down there in the cave, I mean studio that is as dark at a cave. Did I mention that I hate January, the lack of light drives me mad.

Oh look! That is the treadmill that I forgot I had, oh yeah it was covered with UFP's. I will have to start using that again no that I found it again.

See ya soon, Kelly

REDUX...retro home office!

I like this retro home-office ides from BHG.com! Fun and Funky!
It is so bright, shiny and fresh. Makes me jealous! Posie Gets Cozy has a nice bright space!
My studio is a cave! One day I shall have some french doors done there and over look the back yard, won' that be nice!

Please check out the entire retro home office slide show for more FABU ideas.
Truly inspiring! I like this crafty project (below) wrapping paper and red fabric cover canvases for artwork on the cheap. Speaking of wrapping paper has anyone checked out the Martha Stewart line of craft supplies at Michael's. Truly great stuff. Yesterday I was looking at the wrapping paper in that line, it is stunning!

My sticky note system!

What I really love about my week-on-a-door is that when life changes, it changes easily. Last week it became all-too-clear that our co-ops had to end. My sweet little boy is just too challenged with life to handle that much "group learning" with grace. My children both have a sensory integration issues that can make participating in large groups a challenge. This is why we really homeschool.

I write all this because I have received kudos from Suzanne over at Let's Talk Organizing. Wow, such nice words from someone that I really respect! I love that! The internet is really making the world a small town!

So, what IS going one here? I'm sure that this looks like complete chaos. But, there really is a good system at work here. For me it is fantastic, and I will tell you why.

First, I broke it all down to the "5 work/school days" per week. I hope one day to be so organized that I will figure out a good rhythm for our weekends, but that time is just not now (besides, that is Don's job). My goal, is that I can get enough done during the week that I do not have to work on Sunday, and we can have a family day. One step at a time... right?

Second, I broke down the day into "jobs." I need to know what hat am I wearing, and when. I have 3 jobs: School teacher, housewife, and craft diva. And, within all of that I need to love on myself and date my hubby! That's a tall order!

To manage ALL of this, I am using the beloved invention known as the post it note! (I hope the two guys that thought this up are living on easy street!) For these "jobs" I am using different colors.

Here's the low down...

• Light Pink is for me time! Workouts, Weight Watchers ( I start tomorrow!), and personal time! Every morning I do something for me!
• Orange is for meals. I don't get too crazy here, all I have done is make a theme for each night. Monday, Italian; Tuesday, breakfast for dinner; Wednesday, Asian; Thursday Mexican; Friday, pizza. This just gives me a little bit of structure. I used to try and do a meal plan but that was just not something that I would follow for more that a day or two. If that!
• Light Yellow is for chores. Home blessing if you are in the Fly Lady court. Call it what you want but this is really important when you school, work and live in your house 24/7. Nothing makes it harder to get creative than a really dirty house. But don't get me wrong I am NO neat freak! Right Don?
  
• Bright Yellow is for homeschool email. This can be a lot of emailing so I really needed to separate it from Modern June. I also answer my baby sitting co-op email and personal email here too. These two are not significant at all so it works well along side the school stuff.
• Bright Pink is for "at home" homeschool. The work that we do with in our home, just the three of us. On these lined post its I have written out what I want to accomplish on each given day. I also have set times for projects.
  
• Coral Pink is for "away from home" homeschool. This color post it shows all the classes, coops and clubs. I also want to fit in some of the organized park days that Richmond Area Homeschoolers hosts about town.
• Lavender and Light Blue post it's are for the kids individual classes. Maddie is Lavender so she has a note for her serious drawing class. And Aidan has a blue note for his pottery class.
  
• Teal is for Modern June stitching and cutting time. I found the lined notes in the Target clearance bins. I love to shop for office and school stuff mid September when it is all marked way down! Any how, these are great of list making. I write down what orders I need to fill and what things I need to make here. This is so much better than the hidden list in the notebook! I used to waste loads of time making these lists and never looking at them.
  
• Bright Neon Green tells me when to do my Modern June computer stuff. This is when I need to blog, attend to Modern June email and to do add to my Etsy site.
• Medium Green is when I work on Modern June away from home. I have two days when I can go shopping. I have been wasting a lot of my best work day Saturday running errands, picking up thread, fabric and such. I really needed to add this in! This should really help me out a lot! I also have two days when I can do hand work while I wait on kids to get out of classes!
  
• Dark Yellow tells me when to go grocery shopping. No more excuses for running out of food because I am just to darn busy to run to the GROC. I think this should help our budget too. It costs a lot to be unprepared!
  

I am gazing at my new week-on-a-door and I love it. This is the ideal HS (homeschooling) schedule, we don't leave the house before 12:00 and we are not doing anything at all in the evenings. Dreamy. If I can just do the Modern June schedule this way it is I will be rockin'!!!

So do you think I am psycho? I know for some folks this is over the top. But hey, it works for me! I am proud to finally be getting it together! I think that this time I really have some tools that will work for me! I think this system will be one I can stick to! (I could not resist the pun)

E is for EVERYTHING

Talk to every man, woman and some children and you will hear the same thing, "I just can not do everything!" Man, we do try don't we?

For me EVERYTHING is caring for my children, my husband and my home while getting Modern June going strong. A few weeks ago I had my annual "I don't want to homeschool any more pity party". Don was funny his first response was if you still feel this way in 2 weeks we will see what we can do about it. Damn that man knows me so well!

I sat around the picnic table at the playground telling the other moms that I just don't know how to do it all. And do it all well. I really have this ideal that it ALL can be done, some how.

So after my annual fall pity party I pick myself up off the bed and get to organizing our lives. This year I have to say I have had some professional help, Suzanne from Let's talk organizing has some great tips on her podcast and her blog!

Suzanne has taught me that I am a visual organizer. For example that palm pilot that I purchased a few months ago is useless to me! I can't use a palm pilot because it is out of sight out of mind. Also I can not write stuff down in a notebook and ever expect to look at it ever again, I need it all in my face. And that is exactly what I have done.

What is working well for me is "The door". I love the door. And I love my post it notes! The door does all my thinking for me! I know what to do and when to do it, I am loving the door. Except on little thing I can not take it with me.

Check out Suzanne's podcast dedicated to the post it note and it's many uses!

Ode to the magazine holder

Oh magazine holder how many ways do I love thee? How many ways do I use thee?

Ok that is too much! But I must tell you what a rock star this little ikea box is! I have so many of them that I had some up in the attic in a trash bag. I knew better than to throw them away.
Currently my favorite podcast is the Let's Talk Organizing podcast a few weeks ago Suzanne told us about the beauty of the magazine holder! I thought I knew how useful they could be but little did I know just how useful.

Beyond holding magazines, some assorted paper and one for stickers last year I used some for the children's weekly work. Here I placed 5 folders that were labeled with each child's name and the day of the week. It was amazed with myself.

Well I have now taken all this new information and made an even better use of these great boxes. Up I went to the attic to get my stash of magazine holders. I am now using them to hold now tons of stuff. I have some that hold different types of paper. One for construction paper, one for lined paper, and one for white paper. I have some that contain different types of folders, notebooks and art supplies.

Suzanne said that you could use them for projects, any old project. And that is what I have done. I have started one for our ongoing science project that we are doing as we study the human body. I have one also for our ongoing study of the James Town settlers.

I am truly ga-ga for any and all organizational tools! I must not be stopped! For more information check this out...my personal office supply outlet.

NO WAY

Yes way! Check out the fabric stash organizer that I found! I would never ever do this but I could not pass sharing it!

Ok so I could use a bit of fabric organization. But come on life it short!

A little chaos is good right?