Reorganize, recycle, reuse, reinvent

Did you have time to do any shopping over the weekend?  Did you buy your bins and you stored your papers and pens or are you waiting for a few ideas?

We’re on to the next step.  Simplicity is the key.  Avoid the confusion and chaos of taking everything you have out into the open and storing it there. Although you are keeping essential items (closest) in frequent use close at hand, keep in mind that accessibility is as important as the visual effect.   Don’t limit yourself to conventional solutions.  Today we are talking pens, pencils, desk drawer items, and boxes.

Clear square flower vases

Start small so you can start putting some of your supplies in containers and up and off the floor.  This will also help you visually evaluate the amount of shelving you may need.  Consider your recycling bin.  What cool containers may be in there beckoning for a new home?  Recycle jelly jars and mason jars in different sizes. They are great for multiple uses, i.e. store pencils, pens, letter openers, bone folders, palette knives, droppers, paper clips, rubber bands, beads, etc.   With or without lids.  Screw tops are now available for mason jars.  Square flower vases are also an attractive solution.

Black boxes

Inexpensive terra cotta pots work well with many styles of décor.  They are versatile and are attractive plain or glazed and come in an array of colors.  Simple white china, black boxes, and metal are also great options.

Are you competing with your local UPS store and hoarding favorite boxes?  Put them to good use to house your supplies.  Cover them with fabric or decorative papers.

Fabric covered boxes

boxes for storage

Pastel pencil artist, Fran, shares her tip, not only in how she stores her pencils, but how she organizes them for easy use.  Everything in its' place and a place for everything. 

 Fran J. tip:

Color Sheets

This is one of the pages where I colored 3 segments for every pencil I have-light touch, medium and hard.  The colors are in order that Prismacolor numbers them.  Then I have the picture of the pencil pouch where I keep them. 

 

I have two-one giant one that keeps all my pencils and they're in the same order as my color sheets.  The second is smaller and keeps my pencils for a project.

Pencil Pouch

Quote:

"Arrange whatever comes your way."

                   -Virginia Woolfe-          

Meet me here Thursday.  We're going dumpster diving.