This Week's (Big) Small Find: Magnetic Message Boards

I kind of love these.

Fabric Covered Magnet Board by LivyLouDesigns, $26.50 on Etsy
This designer makes fabulous (and even customized) magnetic message boards that include vintage button mega-magnets.  Ribbons and fabric mean it would look right at home in a bedroom.

When I was in college, I collected the corks from the bottles of wine we drank at parties and get-togethers, and when the year was up I used them all to make a homemade pushpin cork board.  I loved it.

Of course, after a couple of years the cork stopped healing and became riddled with holes.  My board ended up looking more dingy-funky than vintage-eclectic.  Not to mention that every photo/memento/message I posted up there was tattered with pinholes.  So, although I am a big fan of DIY and would recommend that project to anyone who drinks enough wine to make it happen, I think it may be time for something a little more grown up.

This Week's (Big) Small Find: Folding Chairs

Clockwise, starting from top left: vintage folding chair from MsMichiganRoux on Etsy; spindle back folding chair from Target; folding chair from World Market; Bollo folding chair from IKEA.

I recently read an article on Apartment Therapy on how to entertain in a small space.  There were notes on decor (mix and match), style (relaxed) and attitude (be flexible).  But one thing the article didn't mention is something you can't avoid: eventually, people are going to want to sit down.

Now, unless you have the kind of crowd that likes to picnic on the floor, you're going to have to find a way to provide enough chairs for everyone.  Personally, our apartment consists of four chairs around a table, and a couch that seats three if necessary.  Not quite enough for your typical dinner party.

Enter the fabulous folding chair.

I always thought that folding chairs were limited to those ugly metal things you see in offices and school auditoriums.  Luckily they've evolved.  There are traditional, rustic or mid-century modern folding chairs to suit everyone's taste.  If you search hard enough, you can find a chair that suits your home's style and budget.  And, since they fold, you can stick a couple at the back of your closet (or, if you're lucky enough, in your basement storage area) and you won't be crowded day to day by an overabundance of chairs.

So relax, quit worrying, and let the dining begin!

What's your holiday entertaining look like?  Any tricks for having people over in your small space?  Let me know how you do it!

This Week's (Big) Small Find: The Mason Jar Shelf

Photos from Etsy shops-- from top left moving clockwise: (1) Twigs2Whirligigs; (2) LuckyMargo; (3) OldAndNewShoppe; and (4) Woodandmorestore.

As summer starts to wind down, I'm even more obsessed with bringing some of those beautiful summer blooms indoors.  I stick blossoms in everything from empty salt shakers to sweet bud vases and tuck them on the bathroom vanity, my nightstand and even on the mantle.  And almost always there is some sort of happy arrangement in a vase on our kitchen/dining table.

Imagine my delight, then, when I discovered these adorable vase-shelves?  Etsy has a whole assortment of them, using mason jars to charming effect, and it's only a matter of time before I choose my favorite and break down.

I've been trolling around Etsy for years now.  I call it crack for the virtual shopper.  It's amazing what Etsy has done to revitalize cottage industry crafts.  You can find anything there.  If you have some free time (and have already read all my blog posts of course!) you should really check it out.

The genius of these shelves is that they really maximize the use of your wall space-- which even we apartment dwellers have in some measure of abundance.  You can hang a scarf, store your keys, keep a book and display some flowers all at the same time... without taking up one square foot of your apartment!  Brilliant!

Do you have a (big) small find that you think small space dwellers would love to have?  Comment below and let me know!