Getting it Together 2013: The Closet Evolution and a Wardrobe Purge

For years I've been forced any and all closets in my apartments for art project or merchandise storage. I worked hard at it to clear out and get my closet back at the start of this year and got rid of as much clothing as possible. Now everything I own to hear is hanging in one closet and easy to access. I can see it all at a glance and appreciate how less is more. It's easier to put outfits together when you own only your best.

I used this thought process to separate feelings and purge my wardrobe. I was brutal and effective  don't let emotion get in the way of a good clothing purge!

Doesn't fit? Donate it! (Don't wait until you "lose weight" again, to the thrifts with it!)
Don't "feel right" in it? Donate!
Don't like that color on me? DONATE!
Don't wear it anymore? DONATE!
Doesn't make me feel AWESOME when I wear it? DONATE!
I liked this in high school but don't wear it anymore... DONATE! 
Doesn't fit quite right...DONATE!
Not clothing or bedding related? Get it out of the bedroom closet!
Work clothes I no longer need or wear? DONATE!
But it was a gift! BITCH, DONATE IT!

And so the thrift stores received a huge donate or pretty clothes I just don't wear anymore and in return I have a normal closet and I can see the floor! This has been my theme with  my home purge this year, keeping only what I use, and only the best. There's no room for anything else.

What thought process do you go through for a purge? There may be a level one or two Hoarder lurking within us, let's defeat it and reclaim our closets this year!

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Thrifty DIY Idea: Cheap and Easy Wall Art From Magazines

I'm on a purging/organizing kick. It's been exciting to streamline the household and make "stations" for each activity. The next necessary step was adding artwork, I can't thrive without it! Other than local art, my favorite thing to frame and display are pages from book and magazines.

I immediately swooped in on this issue of Hi Fructose at the flea market featuring one of my favorite artists, Junko Mizuno. Her weird, dark style is perfect for adding art to the kitchen, bedroom, and office area with their bright colors, intricate graphic design, and food and crafting themes- what's not to love?!

I start by...this is the heart breaking part...ripping the magazine in half at the seams right at the first page I want to take. This way I can rip out all the pages I want to use without fearing of damaging them.

Next I frame them in matching frames. It would fun to make a Junko gallery wall , but I need these pieces to add color throughout the house.

Three are now living in the kitchen. One by the new "blending station." I love the artichokes and bunnies in this piece, gorgeous!

The next two add color and life to the "tea station," I love the piece with the girl and the blender, so kitchen appropriate.

Next my office area got some love, I adore how the muted colors in the two Junko knitting pieces match my Cuttlefish anatomy poster.

Any finally two pieces are perfectly at home in my bedroom. I thought these were perfect to hang above the dresser with their feminine themes.

Ah, it's the little details that make a house a home. If there's any blank corners in your home that need warming up,  look to the thrifts for old magazines and books for art to fill the walls. I love displaying unconventional masterpieces and thrifted objects in my home.

What do you like to frame and/or display on the walls? It feels good to change things up for the new year. Look out for some home organization posts next week!

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Thrifty DIY: Office Area + Desk Quick and Easy $1.00 Make-Over

Just thought I'd share a quick make over that's made working around these parts more pleasant. With a roomie I try to be kind and isolate my work mess to one area by the end of the day, this time my desk was the victim:

I quickly cleared it up and then decided to address the actual desktop. I've had it since early high school and it's very worn from frequent use. Not inspiring to look at. I snagged my thrifted woodgrain contact paper to give the desk an easy make-over.

It was as easy as measuring the surface, cutting the right shape, cleaning the surface, then sticking on the contact paper. I left some of the original and less damaged wood showing in the back for contrast.

If I get dark wood furniture pieces in the future I may cover it with contact paper early on to help prevent it from damage, it's an attractive way to protect your furniture. I love being able to set down a cup without looking for trivet to protect the wood.

The result is a cleaner feeling work space, quite refreshing! I'll hang more on the walls because visual stimulation helps me thrive, but the clean look is a nice change for now!

And it matches the contact paper chessboard table I made that sits right behind the desk.

A New Desk for $1.00! Not Bad!  What does your work area need to keep you motivated? I need a nice clean flat surface to work on and LOTS of stimulation on the walls. A big calendar for notes and planning is a must, too.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Quick and Thrifty Bedroom/Bathroom Colorful Art Remix

It's been eight months since I shared the first peek at my huge, sunny new 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment in Riverside, Jacksonville. I finally got the reseller mess (oh the boxes, they were everywhere!) under control but I'm still setting in and making the space a home. 

Today I'm sharing a look into a space you haven't seen, the master bathroom, and showing how hanging a few thrifted things I had around made a space more cozy and inspiring:

After I cleared out the final boxes to be organized (any other apartment dwelling resellers forced to use your poor bedrooms as storage?) I had to tackle the bedroom and attached bathroom which felt empty, imbalanced, and soulless.

Left: My nightstand, Right: A Wall in the Master Bathroom

Displaying art I've collected from thrifting, local art shows, and comic book conventions that were languishing (!) in the closet gave the spaces the personable, cozy, relaxing vibe they needed.

The bathroom feels much more comfortable with eclectic art pieces displayed on the walls, too. The Italian Little Mermaid Poster is a childhood relic...

And pieces like the Audrey II on the left and small fish paintings on Canvas on the right are from artist friends. Thrifted Plaques and art from sandy beach artists around the world are on display, too.

This is the biggest apartment I've occupied and I don't have enough furniture to make it feel cozy, but filling the tall walls with eclectic collections is helping to fill the gaps. I hope I'll encounter some chairs and couches while thrifitng to fill some voids as well!

In the past I'd have been tempted to hit retail stores to fill unattractive white space in my home, as many people do. After two years of buying nothing but essentials new, I'm patient. I wait for the right pieces to come to me and use what I have on hand to create a space that's uniquely me!

What do you use to decorate your home? I like to use record cases (I have Prince, Michael Jackson, and Jackson 5 ones on the walls!), and thrifted collections... 

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty Vintage Violet Planter Ideas: Great Gifts or Merchandise

I'm about to give you even more excuses to scoop up vintage planters and potter you encounter at the thrift store. Who wouldn't want to have fun filling it with kitschy creatures and lovely violets?

My guy gave me a pretty (and huge!) baskets of violets for the project. Transplanting them was easy. I used a little black aquarium gravel on the bottom for drainage and more on top as mulch to help keep the soil moist and provide a glossy, professional finish.

Violets are excellent houseplants. It's not hard to keep the soil the proper level of moist (not soaking!) and although they need a lot of sunlight they don't like hot direct sunlight, so a sunny windowsill is fine. They also thrive on artificial houselights and I've seen people keep them happy far from windows in an office. I'm going to put these three planters in my Treasure House antique store booth today, I wonder how they'll do!

I still have dozens of vintage planters to plant-up, stage, and play with. They're my weakness! What do you have trouble resisting at the thrift stores?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty Bedroom "Vanity" Before and After: Local Art and Pop Culture

Ever been tempted to buy furniture you already have? It's easy when you're a thrifter. I've been tempted by mid century modern vanities lately, and resisted temptation by using what I have around the house to spruce-up my existing "vanity area" in my bedroom. And after letting my bedroom turn into a merchandise storage space, I needed it!

In the before picture you can even see all the dust on the dresser! Mostly from shaking out an ancient rug, but still! Shame, this before photo is filled with shame.

I cleaned things up, hung my mirror and favorite bits of art by local artists and friends, and added a rug to make this corner of the bedroom so much more homey. Next I want to create some robot drawer pulls to go with this dresser since I lost two of the drawer pulls ages ago. All make-up fits inside the red ornate Japanese bento box.

It's the little splashes of color from the art that make the biggest difference for me. I've hung artwork by my friend Ed, my friends at Old Skool Junk, and Robert Land. All accessories and toiletries are displayed for easy access.

It's been fun getting my home pedantically organized and clean despite living amid dozens of pieces of vintage merchandise I'm selling. I'm settling in and making crafts for the home, so be prepared for some fun thrifty home DIYs, ideas, and tours.

How do you like to spruce up the home with thrifted finds? What helps you make your space a home? I need dinosaurs, robots, art...

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

House Tour: Goodbye My Quirky, Thrifty, Vintage Apartment

One bedroom, one bathroom. A cozy 700 square feet. Five closets, 14 (!) huge windows, black and white checkered kitchen tile, green and aqua walls, french doors, and all the quirks that come with historic apartments. This was my charming Riverside, Jacksonville apartment. It was filled with local art, toys, and vintage treasures and furnished entirely second-hand.

A new space kick-starts creative juices. When I moved in I knew Thrift Core and my business efforts would take off. I've grown here. My craft, photography, and blogging skills improved. I began to work here. This home has seen tears and drama, but more importantly, tears from laughing so hard with my friends.

I'm  in the middle of a chaotic move to a new space. It's time for another inspiring clean slate. I'll show you my new apartment when I'm settled in, but first I wanted to give the former Thrift Core Headquarters a proper Goodbye.

Goodbye Quirky kitchen. You had no counter space and a frustrating old sink, but the vintage built-in China cabinet and messy cooking adventures will be missed.

Goodbye never-finished bedroom. The "curtains" were thumb-tacked fabric and your plaster walls were impenetrable, but you were always dark and cozy like a proper bear's den should be.

What are the special qualities that make your proprietary shelter of wood and plaster a home? Of course, expect photos of the apartment and thrifty DIY as I settle in :)

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.