My 2011 Wish List

2010 has come and gone...we had good times and bad....gained a couple new members in our extended family and lost some others.  We laughed, we cried, we made memories that we will treasure.  I nosedived on home improvements and crafting in 2010, but it's all good as I now have a whole new year to make those To Do Lists. 

Here is my Wish List for 2011....I'm hoping for a great success rate at the end of the year, but I'm extremely flexible if it doesn't happen as I would like.  I've got all my extentions crossed, just to give me an extra edge and if I can find a rabbits foot, I'll rub it as well.

2011 WishList
Total kitchen renovation/family room buildout

Renovate downstairs bathroom

Pantry buildout

New full glass entry door with sidelights

New Desktop

Canon Rebel EOS

Rhino

What's on your 2011 Wish List??

Playing With Pattern Tablescape

I'd like to share a tip with you for keeping your plates and bowls from being scratched as you are storing them.  It's simple, easy and cheap. 

Old fashioned paper plates.  Just insert a paper plate between your dinner plate, salad plate, salad bowl or charger to ensure there is no contact between the bottom ridge of your plate and the top of the next plate.  I've used bubble wrap and fun foam in the past, and while they are adequate, it takes quite a bit of time to cut them to fit.  You can purchase the paper plates in two sizes, so they are perfect for larger and smaller plates.  You can use the foam plates, but they are not as flexible as the paper and will not flatten out, taking up more space and causing your dish stacks to be a bit woobly.

Chargers - Hobby Lobby
Dinner Plates - Royal Stafford - Red and White Checker
Salad Plates - Royal Stafford in two patterns - Harvest Village and Hayride
Flatware - Reed and Barton Queen's Garden

I'm joining the Tablescape Thursday meme at Between Naps on the Porch.  Please be sure and drop by for a visit.

Noggin Notions

Re-purposing a letter file for extra dishtowel storage.

All The Best,

mill57@charter.net
http://www.theycallmejammi.blogspot.com/

Extra Dish Storage - Sunday Favorites

I'm joining Chari at Happy To Design, who is celebrating her one year birthday with the 52nd Sunday Favorites.  Please join Chari's party by clicking here to see various participant updates from all over blogland.  Chari is also having a great giveaway, so be sure and visit her and check it out.  I'm adding a repost from January 25, 2010 with an alternative to traditional dish storage.

If you have 'dish' love, you probably also have dish storage issues. I have a hall closet full of display items - candleholders, glassware, flatware, etc - and my China Cabinet and buffet server are crammed full so I needed some other options. While I ponder what other closet I can take over, I am using hat boxes to store some of my chargers, plates and salad plates.

I purchase my boxes from Hobby Lobby when they are 50%, which is about every other week. The differant size boxes range in price for 4.99 to 7.49, so at 50% off this is a very reasonable storage alternative. These boxes are just the right sizes for my chargers and plates...the salad plates are a litte small in diameter based upon the smallest box size, so I just stuff empty plastic bags around them so they do not shift as I am moving the boxes around. Use sheets of bubble wrap or tissue between the dishes and stack them inside the containers. Just measure your charger and plates and when you get to HL, pick up the corresponding size....I will probably keep my items stored in these boxes even when I move them to a closet, as this gives the dishes extra protection.

This 14 inch box gives me plenty of room to store ten 9 inch plates...I could use the smaller 10 inch box, but I like having more room around the edges which makes getting the plates out a lot easier.

Just stack the boxes in an empty corner and they provide storage and look good.

You can even use the boxes as a display pedestal.

I keep an inventory list on my computer of all my tabletop display items, plates, flatware, etc along with the date and place I bought the item and any branding or other descriptors (ex. if I buy a silver piece from an Antique shop and it provides the name of the item or a date, I keep that on my list since it is not marked directly on the item). I also add a picture of the item and the quantity. When I need something, I know exactly where it is and how many I have etc. You could also label each of the boxes by using a tag on a string and just tape the string to the inside of the box and let the tag show underneath the lid...you could turn the box so the tag is in the corner and not showing, if using as a display in your room.

I hope this idea helps with some of your storage needs, it has certainly helped me with some much needed clean-up and organization.
All The Best

mill57@charter.net
http://www.theycallmejammi.blogspot.com/

Met Monday - Dishware Storage

If you have 'dish' love, you probably also have dish storage issues.  I have a hall closet full of display items - candleholders, glassware, flatware, etc - and my China Cabinet and buffet server are crammed full so I needed some other options.  While I ponder what other closet I can take over, I am using hat boxes to store some of my chargers, plates and salad plates. 

I purchase my boxes from Hobby Lobby when they are 50%, which is about every other week.  The differant size boxes range in price for 4.99 to 7.49, so at 50% off this is a very reasonable storage alternative.  These boxes are just the right sizes for my chargers and plates...the salad plates are a litte small in diameter based upon the smallest box size, so I just stuff empty plastic bags around them so they do not shift as I am moving the boxes around.  Use sheets of bubble wrap or tissue between the dishes and stack them inside the containers.  Just measure your charger and plates and when you get to HL, pick up the corresponding size....I will probably keep my items stored in these boxes even when I move them to a closet, as this gives the dishes extra protection. 

This 14 inch box gives me plenty of room to store ten 9 inch plates...I could use the smaller 10 inch box, but I like having more room around the edges which makes getting the plates out a lot easier. 

Just stack the boxes in an empty corner and they provide storage and look good.

You can even use the boxes as a display pedestal. 

I keep an inventory list on my computer of all my tabletop display items, plates, flatware, etc along with the date and place I bought the item and any branding or other descriptors (ex. if I buy a silver piece from an Antique shop and it provides the name of the item or a date, I keep that on my list since it is not marked directly on the item).  I also add a picture of the item and the quantity.  When I need something, I know exactly where it is and how many I have etc.  You could also label each of the boxes by using a tag on a string and just tape the string to the inside of the box and let the tag show underneath the lid...you could turn the box so the tag is in the corner and not showing, if using as a display in your room. 

I hope this idea helps with some of your storage needs, it has certainly helped me with some much needed clean-up and organization. 

I have a Rooster-licious Blogaversary giveaway going on, so please click here to get the details and sign up. 

Please click here to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch as she hosts another Metamorphosis Monday, and shows us all the great changes going on around Blogland.
All The Best,

mill57@charter.net
http://www.theycallmejammi.blogspot.com/