spring cleaning

I spent the weekend spring cleaning. This time of year I don't even mind cleaning. I dust, wash, and scrub away. I plow through cupboards, and closets. And I rearrange and reorganize too.

Here's what I came up with for my problem corner in my kitchen: It's a small counter area by the fridge; I've always kept my cookbooks there, and that works well, but the corner always seems to be a mess-- kids school papers, things that need to be filed, etc. land there and sit.

So last week when I went into my friend Brenda's shop, Just a Bed of Roses, I spotted this rusty old red dishdrainer. I thought it just might work in my kitchen corner, with the butterfly file folders I found in Carmel a couple summers ago. The folders have been sitting around, just waiting for the right spot and purpose.

And so the dishdrainer/kitchen filing system was born. The folders fit perfectly. I still need to label them, but no more corner clutter (hopefully). Nice and kitschy-cute too.

The silverware area is perfect for recipe cards, and my cell phone. I hope that cuts down on my cellphone cellphone hunting time!

While I was rearranging, I added my kid-made Mother's Day flowers and a flower drawing in a $1.00 thrift store frame.

 

I put the kids' art markers  in some English baked bean cans, I bought a few cans awhile ago at a British foods store. I love those cans. And BTW if you have a British foods store around your area, I highly recommend the Heinz baked beans. They are so much better than any of our American versions, I think anyway. When we lived in England, I adopted the English custom of eating eggs, sausage, baked beans, and sliced tomatoes for dinner. We still eat that quite often for dinner.

The counter drops off and next to it is my computer area. I pulled out my wellie boot planter, and filled it with new (matching!) pens and pencils. So much better than the jumbled mess that was there before.

I feel so organized today :-) 

Just thought I'd pass the drainer/file idea along; it's yard sale season now and you never know how many rusty old dishdrainers you might just find waiting for a new purpose in life ;) 

What did you do over the weekend? xoKelly
  

Comments

[cindy geilmann]

Hi there cutie! I love this, it's so exciting. What a darling idea, you are so cleaver.

Hugs
cindy@stitches

[Mimi Sue]

Great idea. Looks so cute and practical too. Mimi

[Traci]

that is an awesome idea kelly. i have one of those areas too. drives me crazy.

[Brenda Justabedofroses.blogspot.com]

Hey that works neat in your area, love the file folders with the butterflies and love that you put your cell phone in there, that's the best!

Kelly can't go wrong with RED!
By the way...the pink, aqua and brown handmades you brought in Saturday are super fabulous!!!

[Julie]

You are one clever chickie, Kelly! I love your repurposing ideas! That rack filing system is brilliant, I tell ya!! (I have those same Cavellini files! Aren't they great?!)

Love all your vignette treasures! :)

xx Julie

[Deb]

LOVE this idea!!

[Maria]

What a cool idea, Kelly! You can come and organize my big disaster of beads now...

[Jeni Carlson]

Love your unique ideas and all that organizing.

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Your pretty pink pillow sold the last time I worked.

[Corie Drane]

WOW! I hope I can organize my desk like this. One of my problems every week is unorganized desk caused by cluttered papers, pens, stapler, and other important work files. That's why yesterday, I've decided to buy 2 binders for filing my papers and book ends. I hope these would lessen my problem.