baskets . . . and a few new finds

I begin pulling out my baskets in late Spring, as I enjoy using them in my decor and entertaining throughout the Spring and Summer months.

You've probably noticed these petite baskets in many of my Spring photos. I have several of them. They're all different shapes and hues . . . and they're very special to me!

They were my grandma Monie's . . . and I have the sweetest memories of her filling them with fresh breads for family dinners. I loved family dinners at her house. She cooked simple dishes and served them with love. We would gather around her large table, pass these very baskets to one another, enjoy good old-fashioned food, and visit for hours.

My mom gave them to me shortly after my grandma passed away. I use them now . . . and fill them with cookies, muffins, napkins, flatware . . . just about anything.

I filled them with hand-blown eggs and displayed them in my kitchen and dining room this Spring . . . and have enjoyed them so much!

We all have collections . . . and one of mine are baskets. I love them! I find that their differing textures, hues, and weaves add so much charm and character to entertaining and home decor.

Have you seen the Nantucket Bicycle Basket Collection? I love how people use them in their homes and gardens, as well as on their bicycles!

source

I was happily surprised to come across this darling basket caddy at IKEA last month. Isn't she pretty!?

I've used it to display white roses and long vines from my garden . . . as well as napkins and flatware when we've entertained friends.

 

Early Summer entertaining comes to mind when I pair it with this charming beige ticking stripe fabric at a local fabric shop. I'm planning on making napkins with it for late Spring and Summer entertaining.

Oh! Let me introduce you to my new favorite basket find this season (so far!) . . . oblong seagrass baskets!

I'm in LOVE! The large one is the size of a serving tray!

I'm sure you'll see it in many future 'entertaining' and dining al fresco posts!

Since bringing them home, the smaller basket has found itself filled with fresh fruits & vegetables from weekday visits to our local Farmer's Market, flowers, napkins & flatware . . . and even a few of my favorite, current magazines. 

My LOVE of baskets stems back to my sweet, loving grandma . . . and our family dinners together.

I hope that my daughters grow up appreciating them as much as I do; and that they, too, will have many memories of happy family dinners together, where we're passing these same baskets to one another and enjoying a home-cooked meal - and - one another.

Do you love baskets, too?

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Thoughts from Alice, DIY Showoff, Stephanie Lynn, It's Overflowing, Twelve O Eight, Carrie This Home, Baking in Pajamas, Huckleberry Love, Dwellings, Smart Party Planning,  The Dedicated House, Mod Vintage Life, Lori's Culinary Creations, Home Stories, StoneGable, An Extraordinary Day, I'm Not a Trophy Wife, Karen's Up on the Hill, Three Kids and a Fish, Between Naps on the Front Porch, Tumbleweed Contessa, A Stroll Thru Life,, Life With Garnish. Elizabeth & Co, Home Remedies,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, Just a Girl and Her Blog, The Recipe Critic, Janine Huldie, Carolyn's Homework,  Fluster Buster   Designs by Miss Mandee,  Craftie Allie,  Wednesday morning The Blissful Bee,  The Newlywed Pilgrimage,  View from the Fridge, Chic California, Lamberts Lately, Live Laugh Rowe, The Charm of Home, From My Front Porch to ours, Delightsome Life., Posed Perfection, Katherine's Corner,Imparting Grace, Nancherrow, The Freshman Cook,  Jann Olson, Home  Maid Simple, Anderson + Grant,  Rooted in Thyme, Shabby Nest Sunflower Supper Club, Blooming Homestead, The Girl Creative, Reasons to Skip the Housework, 3 Little Greenwoods

my "catch-all" corner make-over

We all have a nook, desk, or corner in our home that we call "ours" . . .  

that corner we're not always proud to show off!

You know, that place we throw our keys . . . let mail pile up . . . a collector of all things small and tiny and odd.

I would tidy up my catch-all shelf about once a month, and was always surprised at what I found among the mail, cards, papers, receipts, hair bows, bottles of nail polish, nails & screws, and "lost" gift cards.  

It was always a task that I dreaded, because I knew that it would take at least an hour out of my day to put every thing back where it belonged. And the worst part was always finding a place for the "new thing(s)." Sometimes it required making a new file, or squeezing it into an already cramped place/cupboard. Argh.

I probably wouldn't have contemplated a make-over for my "catch-all" shelf, BUT it's a space that's visible from almost any angle in the kitchen, dining and family living area . . . and I was often embarrassed by it when we had visitors. 

I always hoped no one would look "over there." Ugh.

And then one day I found a beautiful, small braided basket  . . . and thought it would be the perfect size for my catch-all shelf. A basket to hold all the small and tiny and odd things that were always falling off the shelf and on to the floor. 

And so it was the small basket that inspired re-creating and making anew my hopeless corner. 

My little corner and catch-all shelf hasn't always looked like this . . . peaceful . . . organized . . . pretty.

I wish I could find the BEFORE shot I took of it, so that you see the before and AFTER transformation. *I will add it to this post when I find it!

I chose to cover this small wall with a framed chalkboard because I wanted to create a backdrop for changing art. 

I love the idea of writing personal messages to my husband, loving introductions to family and friends who will be joining us for dinner, or to stay as house guests; creatively sharing menus for dinner parties; and drawing colorful pictures for my kids around the holidays, or just because.

And so a vision for my "catch-all" shelf and corner began to take shape.

I had fun designing the "prettiness" of it, but had to put quite a bit of thought into the organization part of it.  

All that stuff that was on the shelf needed a new home . . . a new way of being organized; but most importantly, I had to create a system that would work for me, and one that I could stick to.

I love baskets. They're not only beautiful, but they're a great way to store items that you don't want to look at!

I think every room in our home has at least 1, if not 2 baskets!

I also LOVE natural fibers like jute, and canvas, especially canvas bags! 

So I was quite happy when I found these small, zipper totes/clutches at Michael's.  

Their size attracted me to them, but when I read what was printed on them ~ I had to have them! 

 

   

These little totes/clutches help keep me organized now!

No 1 clutch  holds all my coupons.  I clip coupons every Sunday, and organize them in this canvas clutch; and on Monday mornings I throw it in my purse, and use it throughout the week. It's working great!

Being Yourself is the Key is my largest clutch, and IT holds all our daughters' hair bows! It's great ~ now they're not falling off my shelf and onto the floor. Problem solved.

The Le Fleur clutch holds our gift cards and receipts! It's great to have them all in one place! 

And the beautiful DAMASK print bag holds my baseball cap and magazines! It sure makes for a quick get away when I know I have a doctor appointment, or trip to the park with the kids.

And that BIG, GORGEOUS basket on the floor . . . well, it holds bags of items that need to be returned! I used to hang the bags on the hooks, but they took up alot of room ~ and were quite bulky. Now I place them in the basket.  So now when I need to make a return, I reach into the basket for the bag that I need, and then grab the clutch that holds receipts. No endless searching or frustration any more. Happiness!

The pièce de résistance of the corner is the framed chalkboard!

I'm in love! 

Instead of scowling when I see that corner, I smile, and smile, and smile. It's pretty now, and I actually like looking in that direction. 

Since there are quite a few framed chalkboard "production" photos, I thought I would share a "how to" post instead of cramming all the details into THIS post.

Stay tuned! 

~ my pretty little corner ~

 

Small clutches from Michael's 

DAMASK Canvas bag from Hobby Lobby

Baskets from Home Goods

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