Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Repurposed Wine Rack Is DIY Fabric Organizer


Let me set the stage:

I don't have a fancy schmancy craft room. What I have is the unfinished side of our basement where, for the original owner of our 50-year-old quasi cottage-style home, the wood and metal shop resided.

After we became empty nesters, I was determined to take up creative endeavors that I had abandoned more than 25 years ago, when the kids were young.

I know my way around a sewing machine and other artsy crafty tools, but neither hubby nor I are handy around the home. So, I made do with a simple facelift to the workshop. I pulled the doors off the cabinetry above the workbench, painted the cabinetry and bench and have called this crude space crafting home ever since.

I have an overabundance of fabric. The bigger pieces are stacked by color inside those cabinets I painted, visible at a glance without the cabinet doors. Organizing the remnants after I cut into the yardage has been more of a challenge.

Enter this odd-looking and probably homemade wine rack.



Standing more than four feet high, it's probably no surprise that it hadn't been snatched up by the second day of the rummage sale where I found it. For me, it was repurpose love at first sight. I knew instantly it would be the answer to my snarl of fabric remnants.

Even though it looks as if it were made of Tinker Toys, it is rock-solid sturdy.

Gave it a nice wash of Annie Sloan chalk paint. I liked the dark wood peeking through, so I only gave it a light coat, not worrying if it covered completely. And, frankly, the design of the piece made painting tedious.  Now it just looks distressed--without the extra effort to distress.



At first, I set the rack up vertically, which is the way it was designed.


After moving it around the workshop, I decided to place it horizontally on an old steamer trunk, which made it more accessible. No stooping all the way to the floor to reach the low rows.




So nice not to have to dig through piles to find just the perfect scrap.

Make it a great day!

8 comments:

  1. What a smart solution to your fabric problem! I don't know if I my mind would have allowed me to see the potential of that old wine rack. 

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  2. Great idea! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams starts on Fridays :D Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.

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  3. Well now, this is brilliant! Great idea!
    Jenna

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  4. Brilliant idea!! Thank you for sharing your sweet blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. Your participation helps to make it extra special ♥

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  5. Well that works...what a great idea! Thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!

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  6. Great idea - slapping my forehead here. It's nice to be able to see what you have.

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  7. What a great idea Ann! How clever of you. Not only is it functional, but very pretty to look at too! Thanks for sharing with SYC. Pinning.
    hugs,
    Jann

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