Saturday, February 6, 2010

February Book Winner & Weekend Chit Chat

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Hi everyone! The winner of  Country Living’s Storage Style is Katy @ The Country Blossom.  Please email me a shipping address and I’ll put it in the mail next week. Thank you to everyone that entered – you know there will be another book giveaway next month!
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Speaking of storage…I put away most of my tablecloths etc in the black bureau as Step 1 of my closet re-organization. A major part of this project is finding a place for all those things that are in my closet that need to be else where!
Paper

I lined the bottom of the drawers with some wrapping paper I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby after Christmas.

Lineddrawer

They really have the best selection of wrapping paper at Christmas. They always carry some great non-traditional patterns that you can use year round.

linenshelf 

This is where most of my table lines were kept – stuffed on a shelf in my clothes closet! I also had some in my hall linen closet.

Here’s where they are now!

Placemats

The top drawer is placemats and napkins since that’s what we use the most.

Mnapkins

I don’t think I’ve shown you these napkins before. I made them over three years ago and used iron on letters to monogram them. They’ve held up surprisingly well - M=mom, D=dad, s=Savanna, G=guest. Very easy and you don’t need a steady hand to paint on the monogram or a machine to embroider them. I don’t normally iron my napkins (usually they’re rumpled) but since I was ironing tablecloths I thought might as well!

Runners

Table runners. I realized I don’t have very many of those! I’ve been wanting to make some.

Tablecloths

Tablecloths. The tablecloths for the screened porch table will have to stay in the linen closet as well as seasonal tablecloths and napkins.

Vintage

Vintage tablecloths and tea towels in the bottom drawer.


So that part is done. I did set a few aside to donate that I don’t like anymore. Next I need to get all the magazines and books out of my closet! To be honest, I will never have a closet that just has clothes in it. I have too much stuff and not enough places to put that stuff! Plus, I’m not ready to get rid of my stuff at this point in my life. Maybe one day!
tray
A lot of people want to know how I hang those trays. I just use plate hangers from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. The largest size they have. The trays aren’t heavy.

Hanger

I did buy this one off of ebay recently because I have a transferware platter that I want to hang. So you can also look there.


Thanks for the feedback on the blog loading issue. Seems like only a handful of people are having an issue. Personally, I like large photos and that was my main reason for switching to Windows Live Writer,  but I’ll try to be more sensitive about the size and number. I must say that when I use Firefox I don’t have problems with pages loading like I do on AOL or even IE. So you might want to give that a try.

44 comments:

Ally's Corner said...

I need to get to Hobby Lobby have not been a long time but right now I'm staying home getting ready for the consignment sale.

Have a great day!

PCovi said...

Oooo your linens are wonderful :) Especially ironed and folded in a drawer lined with harlequin paper! LOL. I'd like to borrow a few and throw a party...You wouldn't mind, right? Those monogrammed napkins are very happy little things.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Congrats to the book winner! I love your linens, Manuela! The patterns are so pretty. Great idea with the iron-on initials for napkins. I just bought a few iron-on initials {just our last name initial}. These would make a lovely gift, too. And, you know, I love that harlequin wrapping paper!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

What a great project! I love to get things reorganized - I have several project that need to be done!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Girl I wished we had a HL here...but not in Calif.yet...I just did my buffet drawers last month and girl I had stuff I didn't even know why I kept ha ha!! why is it every Jan we want to clean out our nest?? Hope you have a great weekend my friend...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

1 Funky Woman said...

I love the paper what a great idea! How nice and organized, so much easier to use your pretty linens!

Anonymous said...

Thank You for the suggestion about FireFox and I've also been told that Chrome is helpful for loading pictures faster as well as less worry about viruses and such. I'm using IE and I am getting pretty fed-up with it so i'll have to try the other two and see how that helps. Plus, I do live in a very rural area of Michigan and we just got cable net connection this year-its better than dial-up thats for sure but i'd be much happier with DSL or wireless-however not available at this time. Thank you for the help as I appreciate it. I can't afford magazines, so I read blogs instead. Yours happens to be one of my favorites! Kim

Melissa Miller said...

Oh thank you for sharing how you hung them up! I have seen those before and wondered how they worked. I'm thinking of hanging some plates in our dining room soon.

Everything is really beautiful! You have some of the prettiest fabrics ever.

Julie said...

Everything looks SO organized. When I get organized, I feel SO good. And your organizing efforts are just plain beautiful ...to boot. What inspiration. Lovin all your doing and sharing. I am going to check out that book from our library it looks so good. Thanks again for your generosity! LOVE THAT TOILE!! I hang my tole trays the same way (unless they came with wire already attached to the back by the previous owner. Have a great weekend.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

That is the best wrapping paper!! I love opening drawers and seeing a beautiful liner. You are getting very organized....want to come over and help me?
Hugs,
Penny

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Love your bureau! Mine is black, too, but I never thought of lining the drawers so prettily- makes such a great look! The monogrammed napkins are simple, elegant, and creative- and I love all the wonderful tablecloths as well!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

I don't have a blog loading issue here! And I myself love to use Stretch Minima template, in order to post big pics.

Please don't abandon your big pics!

.♥.♥.♥.♥.♥.♥.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great job! Really like the paper you lined the drawers with.

Adrienne said...

Congratulations to Katy for winning your give-away! You have such gorgeous tablecloths and runners and placemats and napkins. Why don't you come on over here and help me organize a few things? Oh, I don't know how much work we would get done - we might be having too much just being together and chatting!
~Adrienne~

Anonymous said...

Love all your linens and that paper liner is awesome. I have "stuff" all over my home also.

Katy said...

Oh my goodness...I am THRILLED!!! THANK YOU!!!! I will email you my address! :)

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

This is a pretty, colorful post, Manuela. I especially love those vintage tableclothes. I can't believe how pretty the iron-on monogrammed napkins are. I think I'll give that a try. I agree about the wrapping paper at HobLob - is't so pretty! Linda

Julie Harward said...

I love firefox too. Yea for the cute gal who won. Love the paper, perfect for the drawers and I love all your linins and they look so pretty all ironed and folded and laid in there so sweetly. It's the little thing s isn't it..makes everything so nice!
Come say hi :D

Crystal said...

Oh there you went and said those magic words "Hobby Lobby", now I want to go. Sad thing is I could not go anywhere if I wanted to. We have more than 24" of snow and wind.
I have my linens in my grandmother's antique side board. I have a hard time keeping them all folded and organized in it though. Then again, my kid's get in there too.


Have a blessed weekend.

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

The monogrammed napkins are darling! And I really love the initials you used (mom, dad, etc). Adorable!!

:)
ButterYum

Nadine said...

What wonderful linens!
Thank you for the hanging idea for the trays. I have an old rose one that I want to hang and I have been trying to figure out how to hang it!

Blessings!
~Nadine

Angie said...

I have a roll of that same harlequin paper, but haven't done anything with it yet. Great idea to line your drawers with it so they are pretty when you open them. Oh, you have some gorgeous linens and you know I am envious of all the toile!

Kelley said...

I just love your "linen cabinet". I have table linens in about 4 different places and as a result forget what I have. I'll just have to put this on "the list". Thanks.

Terri Steffes said...

Love the drawer liner!

I should have told you that I use Firefox. That may have made a difference.

Your linens are lovely.

Kathleen Grace said...

Mmmm, your linen drawer is so intriguing, it makes me want to paw through and get a good look! LOL. Love those vintage tablecloths:>)

Jeanette said...

I love linens that are all ironed and pretty!

Vee said...

What an immense sense of satisfaction it must give you to have your table linens all organized that way. I'm going to pretend that I've done the same thing. :D

It's a fine balance between having what we enjoy on our blogs and being sensitive to the needs of others. I've run into that issue head on over the past two days.

trish said...

Congratulations to the winner!! :o)
Your dresser drawers look stunning, lined. I adore all your pretty table clothes. :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

Brenda Pruitt said...

I agree with you about Mozilla Firefox. In fact some things won't work for me on Blogger on Firefox; other won't work on IE. So I keep both browsers and switch from one to another. Anyway, I almost bought that same paper. It's so beautiful! I love what you've done. I've vowed to not buy anymore cloth napkins and such. I can sew them myself for much cheaper!
Brenda

Heathahlee said...

I am sooooo jealous over all that toile! You have given me an idea, though, on how to use some scraps of red toile I have...I'm going to use that to make napkins for our Women's Christmas party I decorate a table for each year. They will be beautiful with my white plates and red chargers!

And I love all your storage space! All your linens look so lovely!

Amy Kinser said...

Your drawers look super great all organized and pretty.

I tried the iron on monograms for a towel and really like them. (especially since I can't sew)

Anonymous said...

So neat and orderly you are!

My closet also contains lots of things that can't be worn ... hehe! Destiny

Moore Minutes said...

Ohh I think I want ALL of your placemats, lol. It looks fabulous.

Simple Home said...

I love seeing organizing ideas. Your closet looks like mine does. Our problem is more people than space :-)
Of course, one day they'll all move out, I'll have the space and miss having the people. I love those monograms too.
Blessings,
Marcia

Paula@SweetPea said...

Doesn't it feel good to get organized? I loved getting a peak at your beautiful linens.

Julie said...

Congrats to Katy! She is lucky to get such a wonderful book!

I know Hobby Lobby has such wonderful wraping paper. I got my Christmas paper there but I forgot to go back and look for more after Christmas!

Denise Marie said...

terrific storage spot. I have an antique desk and armoir that I use but need to re-vamp.

Megan said...

Your linens are so beautiful and colorful.(and now ironed and organized!) You even make organizing beautiful. I wish I had a HL here but the closest one is about 75 miles away. My daughter in GA is always shopping at HL--she finds the most wonderful things there.

EMBELLISH said...

Oh my, your linens are beautiful. I truly enjoy your blog thanks for sharing!!

Unknown said...

I just found your blog today and I enjoyed my visit so much! Love the linens!

Melanie said...

I love cleaning out and organizing. It just makes me happy. Your linens look so nice and neat.

Pretty too:)

Leave a Legacy said...

Love the shelf liner/wrapping paper. Such a good idea. Your drawers look so pretty and neat. I love organization. You inspire me.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Love that harlequin paper in your drawers. What a great idea! Everything looks so nice and neat. laurie

Auntie Cake said...

Love the idea of using wrapping paper to line drawers/shelves with. I am going to have to try that as I have a new cabinet that is huge and needs some pretty shelf liners. All your new finds in the last post are great too. I love finding new to me treasures also. Recycling at its best!
Kate