Dianne's Creative Table

I am inspired by light, all things natural, reusing previously loved items, and bargains!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Too Much Stuff!

The Tablescaper is hosting another "Where do you keep it all?" party to celebrate her blogaversary so I pulled out, opened, looked over, under, around, inside and outside, and behind and discovered that I have W - A - Y too much stuff!  I really need to get a grip!
My sweet accommodating husband has been very busy lately turning closets into dish storage.  
He turned a linen closet into this dish closet a few months ago.  We are still working on trying to find the best way to light it.
The wire racks make storage and retrieval so much easier.  
Since the top shelf goes all the way to the ceiling, it is perfect for those extra tall candle sticks.
On to the dining room storage.  I have three, count em, three china cabinets in my dining room.  I realized in the process of preparing this blog that I might also have a problem collecting china cabinets!   
This one is a Broyhill, solid cherry that I found at Big Lots for $288.  I KNOW, I couldn't believe it either and I had to have it.  
 This mismatched piece was my husband's Grandmother's. It along with my dining table and chairs sat in her dining room in Memphis feeding family and farmhands for years and years.  I feel fortunate to have anything that belonged to MaMa.   You will see many pieces from her home and my MIL's Mother's home along the way today. 
The Early American cabinet came from my favorite Nashville consignment shop, Estella's. 

Lenox Maywood behind my cake plate collection.
 More of the Lenox Maywood.  I have full place settings for 19.  So you don't think I am totally crazy, they were next to nothing when the Lenox outlet went out of business! 
The no-name set I carried home from Colorado on the airplane.  
Underneath my Lenox vegetable plates, French Lamandinoise  soup bowls with a vegetable pattern and some Home Goods appetizer plates. 
 On the other side, is the set of cream dishes I purchased for next to nothing at Old Time Pottery.  I find myself using them all time. 

Strawberry dishes, Mikasa Antique White and assorted appetizer plates. 
More Mikasa Antique White and appetizer plates.
Vintage salt cellars.
All my chargers are stacked in this cabinet that just fits in the nook in the dining room.
On to the kitchen cabinets
 Everyday Noritake Warm Sands.
 Vintage refrigerator dishes, glassware and kitchen towels.

Most of my everyday, or at least every weekend glassware.

Of course, since I no longer have a linen closet, most of my linens are stored where ever they fit!
 These wide drawers are perfect for the round place mats.
 Part of my napkin collection.
 More place mats
 Followed by even more place mats and table runners.
And even more napkins.
My Grandmother-in-law's radio cabinet holds the overflow round place mats and votive candle holders.
My Grandmother's chest of drawers,  One handle is broken and I am on the hunt for a replacement.
 It holds candles,
 more napkins and linens,
 And more linens and birds. 

Table flatware in the china cabinet drawers makes setting the table so easy.
 Silverplate; some my husband's Grandmother's and some from a client that was throwing it away!
Vintage crystal coasters and salt & peppers. 

In the unassuming closet in the guest room lurks......

All my table decor and platters on another set of shelves my husband recently built.

All my extra glassware is stored in boxes.  I can carry the box I need to the dining table.  
This large storage cabinet is also in the guest closet. 
It hold cloches, vases and cups and saucers.  
Another Grandmother-in-Law's chest of drawers holds extra linens and wrapping supplies. 
My husband's Grandfather's desk
Napkins rings, extra candles, etc, etc, etc....
A small part of my cookbook collection and lest you think that table decor is all I collect.....

Welcome to my office/craft room.  This was the designated dining room for our house.  I couldn't even imagine using it for dining.
Ribbon and
  Stamps and inks are stored in these great displays from Bath and Body Works.  It's so great that they sell their floor displays at the end of the season.  
Embellishments
Prismacolor pencils
Copic markers and colored ink pens
Punches and dies
12 x 12 papers
 8 1/2 x 11 papers
Glues, adhesives, chalks, paints, and other random, but totally necessary crafting supplies. 
Templates and instruction books
Cutters and scoreboards

Flowers
Sewing supplies
Jewelry making supplies
Gemstones and pearls
I am hoping that I am going feel much better about my addictions when I see everybody else's stuff at the The Tablescaper's celebration!  

22 comments:

  1. OMG!, this was so much fun to toured! I really enjoyed it so much! Somehow you're very organized! I'm a little overwhelmed by my things, I can even bring myself to take any pics...maybe next time! Love it!! Thanks for sharing. FABBY

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  2. Uh oh... someone besides me carries dishes cross country on an airplane? ...Gotta love a husband who'll let his "extra bag" be dishes (so we could get BOTH bags on the plane!) Looks like we both have great husbands who will convert closets for us, too. And to think we only live a few hours apart; too bad it's not close enough to combine our collections and throw a BIG party!

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  3. Wow! That is quite a bit of beautiful loot. I love the way you have found so many creative storage solutions. I think you have things very organized. I especially love that you included your office too, that's another area I need to get creative storage in too. Joining you from The Tablescapers party today!

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  4. My goodness, you sure have things organized. You are fortunate to have so many storage options. Thank you for sharing them with us!

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  5. Great ideas! I used to have dish closets, but we sold that house, and now I am pinched for space. I am really impressed with your craft room. That is going to be my next project when I get the kitchen mess finished.

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  6. Bath and Body Works sells their floor display pieces??? How did you ever find that out?

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  7. Yes, you do have alot of treasures but we do too! Isn't fun to collect things you love? This was so much fun! Thank you for sharing....
    Blessings My Friend,

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  8. I didn't know Bath and Body Works sold their floor displays either. Great use of space. I love your craft room and how you have everything so well organized. Lucky for you to have all of those china cabinets.

    Thanks so much for coming to my party! It's been so much fun having everyone share.

    - The Tablescaper

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  9. I had so much fun seeing ll your storage areas. I love all your china cabinets. Just like you, I have a weakness for them too but I am running out of walls now. I think I already have 7 pr 8 cabinets, lol. You look very organized....Christine

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  10. Everything looks wonderful. Lots of great storage usage. I love your craft room. so many fun and great organization ideas. Thanks for taking us on a tour!

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  11. I love china cabinets, too. What a deal you got on the Broyhill piece! Everything you have is so well organized. I'm getting some great ideas for organizing my own collections; something that needs to be done and soon. Hopefully, I can join next year's party.

    I have resisted jewelry making as I knew I would become addicted to the collecting part. It still has a huge draw for me...but so far, I have resisted.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Tammy

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  12. Thanks for sharing! I'd never guess all those pieces of furniture and closets were storing so much! It's all so neat and lovely! Thanks for sharing your craft room too and how you've organized all your crafting supplies; I do lots of crafts and can always use some good ideas on how to set up my craft room when we re-do our office (it will be changed from a shared office for me and the hubby to a craft room/office for just me!)

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  13. I've been a mad crafter, clay artist, trompe l'oeil artist for years, but I've just about decided to give away most of my stuff other than my really neat tools. I can always go buy 25 pounds of clay or packets of cardstock or paper, etc. when I next decide to do a project. Your storage solutions are very well conceived and executed. Great job and lovely collections. Cherry Kay

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  14. Love your craft room.. It's nice to see your addictions. I didn't even get to the fabric, patterns, stamps, scrapbook supplies, die cutting machines and dies, sewing machines, nor the cabinets that are built into the garage... yours all looks so neat and tidy. Love seeing all your goodies. be blessed, marlis

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  15. Oooohhhh.....sooooo many wonderful "pretties" all stored so nicely! I understand why you had to have that extra china cabinet! ;)
    And your craft room/office is superb, too.
    Just wonderful!!!!
    Hugs,
    Lana In Italy

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  16. Thank you for visiting my girls and for the lovely comments! Love. FABBY

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  17. What a wonderful collection and great storage too.
    I covet your craft room. My things are scattered!
    Loved this post!

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  18. I LOVED looking at all of your great stuff. Oh, how I envy people with storage space! I wanted to participate in this, but, embarrassingly, much of what I have is stored under furniture (couches, chairs, sideboards, etc. because we live in a house that is 119 years old and closets are at a premium. It doesn't keep me from acquiring things, mind you, I just have to get very creative.

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  19. Wow just found this post and I am overwhelmed at your storage solutions. How do you remember what is where? I am so in awe of it and think my one little closet can't compare. I bow down to the queen! I'm your newest follower cause anyone with this many dishes is a gal I have to be friends with. hugs, Linda

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  20. I also loved your ideas..I collect dishes & linens etc for my table scapes..I am currently at 45 sets of dishes and silver & flatware. I adore antique linens and dishes. i find many of mine at yard sales and pay hardly nothing for them.I recently found mexican dishes adorable at good will which a friend turned me on too..and I make many of my own linens & napkin rings. And custom make for anone who wants a set..I plan on starting classes teaching others how too make these simple things. I am running out of space. I hope to design my next home and will design it for my collections!! Thanks for sharing your ideas!!

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  21. I also loved your ideas..I collect dishes & linens etc for my table scapes..I am currently at 45 sets of dishes and silver & flatware. I adore antique linens and dishes. i find many of mine at yard sales and pay hardly nothing for them.I recently found mexican dishes adorable at good will which a friend turned me on too..and I make many of my own linens & napkin rings. And custom make for anone who wants a set..I plan on starting classes teaching others how too make these simple things. I am running out of space. I hope to design my next home and will design it for my collections!! Thanks for sharing your ideas!!

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  22. Great organization!! I hope I can figure out how to get a B&BW display sometime..great tip. As soon as I saw your pic of that tall dark cabinet tucked in the shadow of the nice cabinet, I realized my pc. I just painted could be used similarly. Blessings, DeniseMarie

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