Wine Cork Jewelry Organizer / DIY

The other day as I was getting ready to leave the house, I was hurriedly trying to untangle a necklace from my collection. Admittedly, I was frustrated and thought surely there has to be an easier way to organize these suckers. It occurred to me that a simple wine cork could be the solution to my problem.

Here's an easy DIY I came up with...

Things You Need:  

Wine Corks
2 1/2" Trim Screws
Electric Drill
Drill Press (optional)
Drill Bits

Fortunately, my son owns a drill press that I was lucky enough to borrow.  If you don't have a drill press, a handheld drill will get the job done.  I eyeballed the center of the cork and pre-drilled through each cork.

Next, I attached the corks to the wall (there was no rhyme or reason to positioning the corks; I simply arranged them randomly).  Tip:  It helps to sink the trim screw most of the way through the cork prior to attaching to the wall.  I used my cordless drill for this process and completed the project in no time.

I could have easily lined the corks up on a piece of wood trim and hung it as one unit. However, I opted to let each cork stand alone and in the process something artistic developed.  These days, I'm all about simplicity and I think this DIY project nailed it on the head! :)

I hope your day is going well.  I would love for you to come visit my feed over on Instagram.

:) Dana

Wine Cork Dimmer Control

I'm up to my eyeballs in vintage wonderfulness this week at the Dallas Market Vintage FINDS show.  In lieu of a lengthier post, I'm sharing a photo of how I've remedied a little problem with a very simple solution.  I used a wine cork as a stand-in dimmer control button.  The stem on the dimmer control is ancient and I couldn't find a replacement button anywhere to fit.  Using a kitchen knife, I cut a wine cork down to the desired size and drilled a hole into the end of the cork.   I then simply pushed it onto the stem.  I've had more people comment on it when they come over ~ and several suggested I share it on Tattered Style.  I hope you find it helpful.  

Thanks for understanding about my time limitations this week.  I hope to be posting pics in a few days of the event.  I think you will like what you see.  Hoping you come back soon!

Rake Wine Glass Holder

I received an interesting voicemail the other day.  It was from my brother-in-law, Terry, who was in a shop and saw how the proprietor had cleverly used an old rake head as a wine glass holder ~ how smart!  Over the years, I've incorporated old rake heads into many different design scenarios ~ jewelry holders, art, etc. (I'll share more uses in future posts). But honestly ~ I've never thought of them as a wine holder ~ sheer genius! 

I've accumulated a collection of these rusted wonders over time.  They had been discarded and long forgotten by their owners ~ I'm sure since the rake heads had broken off of their handles and they were no longer useful tools.  When I happened across them, I scooped them up ~ with permission of course ~ knowing their future was bright.  They've lived all over my home ~ inside and out.  Such a humble, utilitarian object yet so much potential.

I had to try this idea out for myself ~ here's what the rake looks like without its handle. 

I attached it to the wall using two wood screws ~ making sure to hit studs for added security.  If you are unable to hit studs, I would use anchors so the holder is safely secured to the wall.

To me, it far surpasses any wine holder I've seen in retail markets ~ and I think it gets an A+ for ingenuity and creativity.

The exquisite crystal etched monogram wine stopper was a gift from a dear friend of ours ~ Sydney.  It's quite lovely!

I have a quirky affection for the unexpected, unusual and not so perfect.  Kudos to my brother-in-law for spotting this creative idea.  Maybe you have a clever idea for a rusty old rake head.  I'd love to hear about it.

P.S.  Thanks for the Cab Kym!

Collections

Belgium Dominoes ~ Nat brought these to me from a Brussels flea market. The scale and bowl are a local flea market find.

I like things; different things, unusual things ~ and I collect them. I guess that makes me a collector. Although, even the word can make me shudder, (have you seen the show Hoarders?). The challenge is to collect just the right amount of things without it being imposing or taking over. I like order and am a minimalist so when I collect something, I'm selective in the items I choose. A collection is defined as ~ a gathering of objects, as works of art; a quantity of anything collected together into a mass; an assemblage. Collections are art to me and I use them to accessorize a space. Here are a few of my current collections.

Bingo Cards ~ I simply can't get away from black and cream anything!

Folding Measuring Sticks ~ are functional as well as artful.

Letterpress ~ Letters ~ I love all lettering!

Letterpress ~ Numbers 0-9 ~ I love any kind of numbers!

Wine Corks ~ I label and date them so I can recall the event.

Vintage Clothes Pins ~ the yellow ware bowl was Nana's when she was a young girl.

As much as I enjoy collecting, it's not unusual for me to pass a collection on as my likes and tastes change. That leaves me with the question then, "Am I really a collector?" Maybe I'm a transitioning collector...hmmm. What are some things you are drawn to? What are some of you favorite collections?

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