Antique Finds

Antique shopping can be lots of fun. Crafted Spaces visited the Roadshow's 400 Antiques Mall, just outside of Barrie, Ontario. This 32,000 sq. ft. showroom is a great venue and has over 200 dealer shops and showcases with an amazing selection of antique finds, from delicate linen handkerchiefs to ornate furniture pieces.

Antique malls are a great source for finding items that can enhance any creative space. You can find great storage solutions or small decorative items that are cost effective and can add unique touches to your creative space. Here are a few of my milk glass dish, which has come in very handy for keeping business cards and hangtags within reach.

Alternate Storage Solutions

Keeping things organized includes designating a place for everything. At the studio we are always looking for ways to improve how we manage things, while being mindful of our impact on the environment. Finding creative ways of reusing materials and using beautiful vintage containers as storage solutions are some of our eco friendly strategies.

A favourite milk glass vase is used to display some silk flowers

and serves as home to some dual brush pens.

An assortment of glass jars are reused to store a variety of items;

including, paint brushes, pencils, pens, scissors and some more dual brush.

If you find it difficult to keep things organized, perhaps these time tested tips will help you.

Tips for staying organized:

1. As you organize your items create a "keep" and "toss" pile.
2. Label files and boxes so you can easily identify the contents.
3. Group items together for a specific task or function.
4. Look for containers that will store items that suite your needs, but are also eco friendly.
5. Create a space to review and sort incoming mail and paperwork.