Accessory is the Mother of Invention

In my never-ending quest for organization, the present focus is Accessories.  I HAVE to find a creative solution to house and display this collection so that it stays neat (untangled!) and is easily accessible so that I can wear this stuff that's been hiding for years!  If I can't see it, I won't wear it.  It's as simple as that.  However, I have some challenges with both Cats and available area to work with.  One of the best ideas I've come across yet is using a tree branch which is secured in a pot or vase (it would have to be a large branch in a pot in my case) with sand or rocks in the pot to hold it there - to hang necklaces, bracelets and hook style earrings on.  That would last about 2 minutes with my cats.  So, I am at the drawing board to find something that will work with the multitudes of accessories that I have.

Yes, I can admit it, I am a true girly-girl in this sense.  I think I've been in denial for a bit about it - only wearing a few select (very meaningful) pieces of jewelry.  But as I am in my 40's, I feel the need to return to that creative aspect of my appearance. 

As I am assessing the damage - I realize that I have quite an impressive (bordering on excessive) collection of accessories.  I am not a shop-o-holic for this stuff, either.  I do like to buy jewelry, but it's not all my doing.  It helps when you have friends who make jewelry!  And it certainly doesn't hurt that I have started weaving - adding 5 scarves to my collection by my own design in the last year!  Really, though, many of these accessories have been in my collection for YEARS!  Some dating back to my teens and even childhood!  I'm looking at this stuff, and a jewelry box just ain't gonna cut it.  Nor would a jewelry armoire.  I need something with some substance here.

Aside from the enormous amount of 'general' jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings), I also have a plethera of scarves, hats, belts, headbands and a market basket full of hair clips, ties, barrettes and ponytail holders.  I would LOVE to have ALL of that in one central location.  In a perfect world (where I had the space for one) I am thinking that an antique armoire would serve this purpose nicely.

Antique armoire

(the kind with a large, open space behind the doors for hanging clothes)
The insides of the doors could be fashioned with hooks or even antique thread spools attached with glue to hold necklaces and bracelets.
Double strips of foam (long and narrow) could be glued to the insides of the doors too, with the space between the two foam strips used as slots for rings.
An old picture frame hung inside the door or alternately, you could construct a lightweight frame from 1 inch strips of lumber, and attach fine wire mesh across and around it (stapling to the back of the frame) to hang hook-style earrings.
Another solid piece of foam or cork could be hung (with or without a frame) to stick post-style earrings in.
Inside the armoire, pegs could be hung along the sides and back for shawls, scarves and belts.
A small wooden (or even plastic) set of drawers in the center (if the armoire doesn't have interior drawers) could be used for hats, headbands, clips and other hair accessories as well as jewelry cleaning cloths and supplies.  A series of baskets would work too.
If the armoire has large drawers in the bottom, those could be used for larger hats, larger shawls, capes or ruanas.

Since I don't currently own an armoire of this type - and really don't have the space for it anyway - here are some other ideas I have tossing around in my head.

Basket Tree

I have an old wooden Basket Tree that I used to display Longaberger Baskets when I was a consultant.  It is the type that is over 6 ft tall and has about 12 wooden dowels stuck out from the center post.  The dowels range in length from 10" to 24".  This is currently in my craft room where the door stays shut to keep the cats out.  Right now, it has several baskets hanging from it (which all contain this or that) as well as many of my scarves and shawls.  Here's what I am thinking...
Remove the baskets and see if some of the items which are being stored in them could be stored elsewhere - repurposing the baskets for accessories.
Get a bunch of small to medium sized "S" hooks to hang from the dowels - to hang necklaces and bracelets (and maybe rings too).  I could just hang them from the dowels, but everytime I wanted one that was close to the post, I'd have to take all of them off.
Using med to large "S" hooks, I could hang scarves, shawls, headbands and hats
I can use some of the really small baskets to hold earrings (hook style hanging around the edge of the baskets), slides, pendants and bangle bracelets.  I have 4 of these small baskets, so I can get quite a lot stored that way.
A medium sized basket could hold my jewelry cleaning supplies.

The Tree (as you can see) sits in a cubby right inside the door.  Behind the door, I could:
Hang pegs on a board, hooks, etc to hang larger shawls, belts and hats
Over the peg/hook board, I could create additional earring storage with a frame, wire mesh and some foam (for post earrings and rings).
I could also use the back of the door for additional storage with an Over The Door system of some sort...

Another idea I had was to create a case that hung on the wall.  It would be made of piece of wood for the back (maybe 2ft x 2ft square), with hinges and side doors (1ft wide x 2ft tall) on either side.  The side doors would swing on top of the back piece to contain all of the jewelry inside the 'closed doors'.
On the inside panels of the back and doors, drawer knobs or hooks could be used for necklaces and bracelets.
Foam inserts could be used for earrings. 
Cup hooks could be used for slides and pendants
All of it could be lined with silver cloth - keeping all of the silver inside from tarnishing
This scenario seems like a lot of work to hold a very small amount of stuff.  Not to mention the weight of the case and engineering a way to hang it on the wall....

Special items could still be put in my nice jewelry box with anti-tarnish papers and such.

These ideas all (for the most part) meet the criteria I have for organizing these things.
1.  Things are organized.
2.  Necklaces and bracelet chains are separated so they will not tangle.
3.  I can see all of my accessories at one time to decide what to wear
4.  Budget friendly
5.  Reuse/Repurpose things I already have if possible
6.  Fun and creative
7.  Looks good while organizing my stuff

I'm still in the R & D phase of this process - so if you have another idea - throw it at me!  I'd love to hear it!!  I'd also love to hear your thoughts on my ideas! 

Back to Blogging.... again....

So...Thank you, Kim.  You have reinspired me to get back to blogging!

The year of Eleven...  lots of transformation to come, me thinks.  But along with that is a feeling that what is already in place - and truly important in my life - is going to get stronger and hold a greater priority.  Although I know that there are many tests and lessons to come in this year (a triple whammy of Arianrhod Moons in 12 months will do that), I feel like the work I've done to get this far will be of great support to the work that is yet to come.  And with that notion, I begin to work on my goals and priorities for the coming calendar year.
#1 - Health.  Notice there is a period after the word "Health".  I'm tired of piece mealing this out for myself.  Focusing only on diet or exercise... or only on my emotional needs or meditation and spiritual needs.  My health is dependant upon me realizing that it's all or nothing.  True health doesn't come from diet or meditation alone.  Yoga can't make me healthy if I continue to eat a bunch of crap.  Meditating won't bring me health if I never get my ass off the floor and have some physical activity.  So yeah.  Health.  Period.
#2 - Time for Family and Friends
#3 - Manifesting my dreams, creating a vocation that is in line with my higher self - Living My Bliss.

There are obviously many, many components that will go into these 3 priorities.  I've already put some things in place and have been working towards them.  The elliptical machine will be delivered tomorrow.  I went to the store and purchased whole foods for our meals this week and am planning those out in advance.  I have scheduled time for spiritual work, exercise, work, family and friends in the next few days.  And tonight I will work a bit on manifesting #3.  Why wait on the calendar - seize the day!