Monday, March 25, 2013

Organizing a Hoarder's Garage!

Hello
My name is Claire
I am a hoarder

I'm embarrassed to show you these pictures
but you really can accumulate alot when you like to thrift shop!
so, please don't judge me for being a pack rat





A combo of too many Goodwill trips,
dumpster dives and road side treats-

What's a thrifty gal to do-
stockpile!

and boy, did I ever!!

Then there was a leak in the garage,
and
we had to move everything to the middle of the garage-

Turned out, we had a busted pipe,
so after repairs were made, and new drywall put up-
we had a big 'ole mess-

Finally, after the HUGE snowstorm in February-
I realized that something needed to be done
and I guess I was the guilty party-

So, two days later, it looked soooo much better.....







There are still piles, but they are "organized" piles!
A GW pile, a garbage pile, furniture for future apartments, etc

But, I can finally breathe a little bit easier
and for the next snowstorm, we will finally be able to park a car inside!

Don't hate me because I'm a hoarder!

I'm now on a 12 step program and I will need constant monitoring-

Gotta fly-

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Neighborly Love

My sister lives in a fab neighborhood about a mile from me-
I have to say, she has the best neighbors!

Earlier last year, she gave me a quick call early Easter morn,
 that her neighbor had put some furniture out to be tossed-
"Was I interested?"

No one who loves to paint furniture is ever not interested!

I zipped down and lucky me, I found a great table and 6 chairs-
all of the Pottery Barn variety!

It is still in my garage but that's not for me to makeover-
my daughter is claiming this for her apartment-lucky gal!

But, a few weeks back, the same lovely neighbor called my sis
 to see if I was interested in a desk she was getting rid of?

Sight unseen, I said, "YES"!!

It was a beauty with just a couple of repairs I couldn't wait to tackle!
 
 
a little putty here and there


 
a drawer needed some glue





So, after some glue and wood putty
and my fave Annie Sloan chalk paint and Martha Stewart's
 metallic silver paint for the hardware-





 
 
 






I even added some dollar store shelf paper inside the drawers!
I've gotta say-
this is just what the front hall needed-
light - bright- and storage to boot!

Take care, gotta fly

 
PS: Thanks again Megan- I'm always here to catch your throw aways!!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Be My Valentine

As I've been lovingly going through boxes at my mom's house,
I've come across so many vintage cards, notes and pictures-

My grandmother lived with my family for 30+ years
so many of the items belonged to her as well-

She was so in love with my grandfather-
even after he passed away 20, 30, 35 years later,
she would speak of him with such love-
they were truly sweethearts


(my Nannie and Pop Pop

As I was going through these things,
I happened upon an accordion file filled to the brim with
greeting cards-
The cards themselves are so special-
what is it they say about things made long ago,
craftsmanship is key-
The cards are mostly small in size, but the fronts have layers of pictures and paper on them-  They are thicker than the cards nowadays











As you can see, each is dated,
going back to 1927 all the way up to 1972,
the year he passed away.

I even found notes he sent to my mom and
a letter she wrote to him when she was 8 years old- so sweet-




I love how these cards were signed and
the symbol "Kiss/love", on the card above
was also on most of them too!

Although I've gone through 1000's of cards
that my mom and nannie saved,
these are so especially sentimental for me-


(Pop as a young ballplayer, around the time he met Nannie)


(My mom with my grandmother)

(Pop-pop)

Wonderful memories to last a lifetime

Take care, gotta fly-