Thursday, October 18, 2012

Turned Another Corner


I have managed to turn another corner in my fight against the craft supply clutter that has oozed out into the rest of the house.  I am getting the hang of this "if you want to keep it, it must have a proper place"  idea.  I just need to stick to it.  I have thrown bits and pieces of paper out I was saving for that elusive future project.  I may regret throwing out all of the German newspapers, but I kept two pages neatly folded so that will have to do.  I have to remind myself I have a copier!

Read about the first clean corner here.

This is another corner in our dining room which is only used about four times a year so most of the time I use it for my guillotines (paper cutters).

Somehow when I was not looking, the ribbons, paper scraps, torn cottons, crates, and stamping supplies crept into this space.

I am whipping them back into storage bins neatly organized.   I will admit that a stack of cloth was not placed in a proper place, but was dumped  was stacked in a living room chair.  I promise I will get to that this weekend.  I need to wind it on some cardboard bolts.  


What do you mean where will I get bolts?  They are in the craft room.  I always have cardboard!



 Yes, this is the same corner.  No magic tricks - no sleight of hand.  This is the corner naked.  Just one of my favorite pieces of furniture.  He was hiding in shame under all that clutter.  He is the Monseigneur - an oak bar.  

The Monseigneur was an anniversary present from Chucks who almost ruined it.  The present part, not the bar.

We had gone to a preview of an estate sale in the eighties - mainly just to see what a "cottage" with 30 rooms looks like - the furniture was great and overwhelming.  It was the home of a Monseigneur (hence the name!).  The only thing small enough to fit in the house we lived in then was this small bar.

Also, we could afford it.
I had school the next day so the plan was for Chucks to get in line early and buy that bar for our anniversary.

He overslept.

He had to walk half a mile to the house.

Some man was carrying the bar out of the house.

He knew trouble when he saw it.

He offered the guy more than the price and explained it was my present.  That guy must have had either a soft heart or a hard-hearted wife because not only did he accept the money, he helped Chucks carry the thing all the way to the car.

I know I am way off the cleaning story, but I like this one better.  


Remember he has been covered up since spring.  It is like discovering him all over again.

The Monseigneur, not Chucks.


 As you can see the doors open after turning a tiny key in a tiny lock.  The top lifts to reveal a milk glass surface for preparing drinks.  The glaring white thing above is the zinc ice box.

How many times has it been used as a bar?  Twice, then someone spilled a drink on him so I did not use him again. 

He keeps my collection of twenty-four The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans Scotch bottles safe!


We do not drink any more because of medications.  

There is a bottle of rum in there, but it is used to clean my paint brushes.

So if you ever stop by, don't drink any rum drinks!


I know, I know, I am not talking about the cleaning.

Just look at that darling ice box!




 Each door can hold glasses of several sizes.

I hang my little individual Scotch bottles here.


Okay, okay, here are some shots of how my corner looks now.

Cleaned of all clutter.

How much of that stuff is hidden in the Monseigneur?

NONE!!!

Just the rum and the Scotch bottles.

Nothing else.

I respect him too, too much for junk, er, craft supplies.




 Yes, I am still putting out my Fall decor.

This is when I usually decorate.

Whatever goes up, stays until the weekend after Thanksgiving.




I know some of you are dying to get your hands on the Monseigneur and PAINT him.

Keep your hands off.

You will see that as much furniture as I paint, I have numerous pieces that are left wood.  Real wood. I have a soft spot in my heart for oak.

Yes, even the floor is made of thin red oak slats from the late forties.  I crawled on my hands and knees for three weeks refinishing these after pulling up yards of carpet. 

 Forty year-old carpet.  

Should have worn a Haz-mat suit.



Protective gear may be in order for the next section I will be working on.  

Oh, and I have changed my mind again about the official craft room furniture.  I may be using some color instead of all creamy white.  We will have to see.




As I was writing this post at midnight, Willie decided not to wait for me to put him in his bed.  He found a better, bigger bed and a better pillow.  Goodnight to all of you who will not read this until tomorrow.  Enjoy it while I sleep late.  Dreaming of that perfect craft room that is somewhere in this house!  I am determined to find it so please come back.

See y'all!


October Overhauling


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16 comments:

  1. You continue to go, girl! Love that bar...so unusual! I'm with Willie: good night!

    Nancy

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  2. Well that is one fabulous piece of furniture!! I showed it to Sam and we agreed...we are envious! I wouldn't paint it either. You are making great headway on your cleaning girl! Good luck today, thinking of you.

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  3. I've found the perfect motivator to organize and clean...I watch a show called "The Amandas" on the weekend. Have you seen it? You can't watch an episode and not be compelled to put things in baskets, straighten your closets, and perform a white glove test~

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  4. What a cool find:) Love this! I love things that organize and hide all in room especially if it comes in such an awesome package. Just dropping in from Happy Hour Projects to check this out.

    PS I would also love to invite you to share this or any of your other posts at Freedom Fridays Blog Hop (no rules) So hoping to see you there!

    PSS On my way to follow via linky

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  5. Your so funny Donna! Monseigneur is cool piece of furniture to own. Willie is so cute sleeping on the bed.

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  6. Your off stories, wherever they take you, are pure joy. However, I'm hanging on your every craft room cleanup tale because I really, really need some inspiration. I need to know it can be done. You can help me...I know you can. This bar is AMAZING, yes, we too delighted in seeing that fridge as well as hearing the tale of Chucks undying love (or was it sheer panic) in securing that purchase. By the way, I'm so glad you know when NOT to paint furniture. I saw the other day that someone had painted something that clearly was fabulous as is. I wanted to reach through the world wide web and whack her once with her own paint brush for good measure. Well, something like that.

    Good work! Every clean corner is a job well done!
    Liz

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  7. This piece reminds me so much of an old radio cabinet I had for a few years back when I first married - it was something I had to have and used it as a bar also. But unlike you, we used it a lot. Wonder where that piece went?

    Don't paint it - I agree it looks great as is.

    And pats on the back for tackling the craft clutter - you're inspiring me to get at mine.

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  8. What a cool piece of furniture, love that little ice box!!! and Willie is sooooo cute!
    Have an awesome weekend xox

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  9. De-cluttering can be such a freeing thing to do. I always feel so good when I clean a closet, cupboards, shelves, etc. When the craft room is in order it just calls me to make a new mess, but that is the fun of having a room that I can shut the door on :)
    Have a wonderful weekend, and bravo on your de-cluttering project.
    You're an inspiration.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  10. In regard to the comment you left on my french market blog:
    I have know idea what Restoration is . . . I just throw them in the washer on hand wash cycle. Normal laundry soap, and downy :)
    If they don't hold up, then I guess I won't have them to sell. Truth is I have not had anything that hasn't come out in great condition. I think that a lot of the older fabrics are actually better quality than what we buy today.
    Have a lovely autumn day, your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  11. Progress! Good job :) Thanks for sharing this at Rustic Restorations Weekend!

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  12. What a beautiful piece of tiger oak with a history to match its beauty.Personally, I am sick of seeing so many lovely and truly antique pieces ruined with faux distressed antiquing. There's a place for that, but not on everything.CTD

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  13. WOW this is awesome over the top FABULOUS!!!! You rock my friend!!!! Your restoration is AMAZING!!!! hugs...

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  14. Love your cute little corner! That piece is soo pretty the way it is! :) Visiting from The Cottage Market linky party. xx Holly

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  15. Fantastic little corner and Willie is way too cute! Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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I enjoy reading all of your comments and will always answer with email. I will try to track you down if you show up as a "no reply" commenter to let you know. Friends are like that!