OLD JARS/ NEW LIDS= NEW LOOK and organized!

In my last post I had started on my New Year's  resolution to organize my homestead kitchen.My latest strategy is to reuse a mix of old jars that were hidden in the cupboards and make them pretty to be on the kitchen counter.

 

The canning jars are a bit different as are the lids and tops.

I bought these lids after Christmas,  on sale. 

 They came in a  set with other designs.  

Using the jars to hold different tea bags, handy! Love the way they look with my red appliances. A simple red and white check cloth napkin pull it all together and easy to clean up. I painted the brick in a creamy white paint and aged them with a tan glaze. Very easy two paint colors and brush.

When not being used, the jars line up on the top of the toaster oven.  I really do not use that appliance much, except to reheat pizza. It keeps it from getting soggy.

I  would love to find the perfect tray to bring the teabags to the table for serving..

Working on other easy and inexpensive ways to organize my kitchen and make it look great as well. Looking for ways to store my dry spices that looks good and takes up less cupboard space.

thanks for visiting the Homestead,

Karen

New jar labels-2104- Organizing my Kitchen!

Do you love my new chalkboard tags on my vintage jars?

The shelves above my fridge have always been a handy place to hold odds and ends. Know it is even better. I bought these vintage jars a few years ago at Brimfield antiques and I love them. 

When I was preparing muffin batter about a year ago,  I thought I had added sugar to the batter but it was salt. Listen, I have a salt addition but even I could not eat those salty muffins!

I have been careful since then.  I think these labels will help! I found them at Target while Christmas shopping. Similar ones can be found online but for me the red border around the black label, meant for Christmas, are perfect for my kitchen where red abounds! 

Now I am looking  for  places to put  labels, think it is addicting.I used actual chalk to write on the labels and I love the effect but there is also a pen that writes like chalk and is permanent. 

 Humpty Dumpty, the stuffed guy I made, sits on the middle shelf. It was made by first sewing a egg from cloth and then drawing on it with black marker. Kind of a an egg thing going on in my kitchen. 

Come back for my more organizing ideas from my homestead. 

I love my labels and no more mistaking ingredients!

Thank you for visiting the Homestead,

Karen

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 A New Year with many thanks and a few wishes..

Ok ,really more than a few wishes. My family and I have had more than a few challenges this year. The economy has effected jobs, health issues and relationships have ended. But 2013 brought many reasons to smile!

My loved ones are still happy and for the most part healthy. That is the most important thing to me. Material things seem so meaningless sometimes do/t they? We had  lovely gatherings this year with family and friends,. Favorite times often are just sharing a pot of tea. Did not want to add a review of my blog but did add my favorite blog pic of a my post  featuring a tea gathering  of friends and family.

 This picture is from one of my favorite posts from 2013.

The little pic that is tucked in a much loved jewelry box that used to be my Mom's hold a picture of my twin brother Kevin and I. Mom is still around, she is 91. She resides at a nearby nursing home and is still a beautiful, brilliant gem.  My dad dies when I was 13, he was 52 so the fact that Mom is even more incredible to me everyday... 

A most fantastic event occurred when the one and only, Fifi O/Neil contacted me and then visited my house to photograph the homestead! What a treat. I am still a bit shocked about that. I am crazy for mu house and love living in it. Decorating is so easy here. Will have more news to share about that soon.  

pic is from the Paris Flea Market- I could just live there, my ode to Fifi...

I wish for continued happiness and health for all and a trip to Paris for me! Been years now!  I have gotten back to making my  one of a kind recycled jewelry pieces, mostly necklaces and started making  recycled  

upscaled skirts as well, so fun too make...

Will be adding new pieces to my shop, Brayton Cottage soon, thanks...

Hoping you had a lovely Hoilday season. Christmas time is always a favorite time at the homestead. 

Seems the perfect place to celebrate the holidays.

Have a list of things I want to try this year. Skating, making sushi, get more organized,

more photography and drawing and as mentioned traveling. 

What is on your list for 2014?

Make it great and may it be magical!

Karen

*All photos -Brayton Homestead Interiors