My weekend is for big home projects and weekdays are for obsessing over the little things. I’ve seen this quote just about all my adult life and always think “Yes, that’s how I feel”. It has helped me to not keep every little thing just because I have it.  If it’s not useful or beautiful or sometimes both then I’ll have to try something else.

My little pea brain just cant understand why some of the things we use and are surrounded by everyday have to be so damn ugly. (don’t get me started on telephone book covers!) Don’t companies hire people to come up with beautiful and create ways to present their products? Apparently not.  I realize it’s about making money and advertising, but I think it can still be pretty.  Thankfully more and more independent, creative artists and designers are showing that it can be different. (I recommend the book “A New Mind” by Daniel Pink )

So my beef this week revolves around a note pad (yes, I said note pad) and the sad little table that sits in my dining room because I have to have something to put the phone on.  We haven’t found or built anything so this little table was brought in from an estate sale before I could refinish it. There’s no tag but Richie and I think it could be vintage Aalto.
(I didn’t have a “before” picture)

Next to the phone is always an ugly blue note pad and some pens and pencils rolling around (usually falling on the floor) and various tools, wood screws, and anything that gets dropped there.  I’m greeted by this mess every time I enter through that door.  It bugs me.  So this week my goal was to ask myself .. is it useful?  Yes, I need the table to hold the phone and I need to have paper and pencil to write messages, notes, and grocery lists, etc., etc.  Is it beautiful?  NO!!!  So with about 20 minutes to spare I changed things up!  

First I decide to put my Marimekko tray on top of the little table to hide the damaged laminate.  It almost fit perfectly.  The cord from the phone fit right through the cut out.
The BIG UGLY SCRATCH PAD cover that mocks me every day got a face lift.  I just took the cover off, cut a new one from some left-over papers I had from other projects, created a new binding with some double sided tape and black paper and it was done in less than 5 minutes (I’m sure you wish this post was that short!)
The small upgrade made me instantly happy.  I should be embarrassed but I’m not.  It’s the little details for me.

Next up was to make something to hold a few pens and pencils.  I had made these little pots before to hold all my crap so I decided to make another one for my table.  After eating one can of Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch this week, I had my supplies ready.

Triangles appear to be the “hot” thing lately so I might as well jump in.  Some craft paper, cardstock cutouts, hemp twine and glue and it’s done.  A nice little holder for my pens and a lovely little notepad.  Now it’s useful and beautiful (at least for me and that’s what counts)

So I guess if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… but if it is… YOU CAN always fix it yourself with little or no money at all. The small details matter to me.  It’s a blessing and a curse.  :-)