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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Small Space Organizing Review and Giveaway


Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit and relax with a cup of tea.  I am delighted to share a book review with you of my friend Kathryn Bechen's fabulous new book - SMALL SPACE ORGANIZING and combine it with something special just for YOU - a GIVEAWAY to help you use some of Kathryn's great organizational tips. .. details after the review.

By now you have probably read that the month of January is National Organizational Month  and the perfect time for releasing Small Space Organizing. Kathryn Bechen is an award winning journalist in the San Diego. California area,  She specializes in lifestyle feature articles and has published several organizing and decorating ebooks. She blogs about timely lifestyle topics at http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/ .  I met Kathryn in 2008 through her blog and am delighted to call her my friend.  She introduced me to blogging and  encouraged me to start my blog.

When I met Kahryn I was working ten hour days  as a busy Human Resources executive in the Aerospace Industry and trying to find time to pursue my passion and hobby - Impressionist painting.  I started following her blog and using her tips on small space organizing.   I learned that by rethinking and organizing my small art studio space it would free up lots of  time that I normally spent trying to  find things and that I could use that time to paint.  I thought  - WOW - Kathryn is really on to something - she should write a book and share all of the information I was learning with more people.  Well- thankfully she wrote a book.

Relax - have a cup of tea  and I will share with you a few things in my art studio that I learned from Kathryn and that you can learn from her book. My art studio is half of my garage.  Kathryn says that "we don't have to live in rambling estates - but we can enjoy an organized, beauty-filled life no matter what the size of our space." That is what I set out to do in creating my little studio in half of my garage.  I previously faux painted the floor so I had something beautiful to work with.





I purchased wooden storage bins from Joanne's Fabric to store my art books, supplies, etc. in so it would be easy to find them.  I also purchased some baskets from Target to use to organize my paints and stored them according to colors. Kathryn said to "make the most of existing storage space and find clever ways to add more."  I was able to go up with the storage bins and make the most of my small space.

Kathryn said "find creative ways to arrange furnishings and accessories to bring harmony and style to the home."  Since I am a gardener I decided to use  garden containers and totes to store my paint brushes, supplies, etc. in keeping with my "Painted Garden" art studio.







Have another cup of tea - I am so excited about sharing things that I learned from Kathryn and that you can learn from reading her book - I want to share one more  thing  I learned!!!  I love books and for years stacked them up on the floor in my living room.  I refer to the room as "the reading room" as I do not have a TV in the room and everyone loves to sit in the room and curl up by the fire and read and listen to music. 


I had the floor refinished and the carpet removed .After reading a section in Kathryn's book about using wicker baskets  for storage a light went off.  I collect vintage wicker picnic baskets and store them in the living room - why not store some of the books in the vintage baskets!!!!! After all - Kathryn teaches us to live in an organized, beauty-filled home and from the looks of the photo of my living room it  could use a little organization.


My newly  organized living room using tips from Small Space Organizing






Whether you are an empty nester who's downsizing, a newlywed setting up your first nest, or someone who just needs some creative new ideas, you'll love Kathryn's book and the strategies, tips and solutions to maximize space and enhance your quality of space.  I can personally recommend how helpful her tips have been to me in helping me organize my small space since 2008.

 Her book  can be purchased on Amazon.com or by visiting her website at
http://www.kathrynbechenink.com/ to learn about all of the ways to purchase her book. 
You will love her FREE e-newsletter where she posts excerpts from her book the first of every month.

THANK YOU GIVEAWAY FOR MY READERS

As a special thank you to all of my readers and to celebrate Kathryns' new book  and National organization Month -  The Painted Garden is giving away a $50.00 Target Gift card and a copy of Small Space Organizing.  To enter to win - simply leave me a comment that you want to learn more about small space organizing,  A drawing will be held and
the winner announced on Friday - January 20, 2012



Thank you for stopping by.  I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those who follow my blog.  Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see me paint something special.

Have a lovely week.  Blessings. Erin

"I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go."  Psalm 32:8

28 comments:

Michle said...

I would love to know more about organizing in small spaces. I use an extra bedroom for my craft room and truly need organizing tips.

Tracy said...

Oh, I definitely need to learn more tips for organizing a smallish home - particularly when there is so little storage!

Your home is always so lovely, as are your paintings! They are both so bright and cheerful. I always leave with a smile when I visit your blog. :)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Happy New Year Erin! What a wonderful way to start the New Year. I have purchased one of Kathryn's ebooks in the past and she is a wonderful writer.

Please enter me in this lovely giveaway!
Hugs,
Penny

Laurie said...

I'd love to be more organised and love the studio tips!

Annie Joy said...

Thank you, Erin! I have just purchased "Small Space Organizing" for my Kindle, so I am ready to start reading! One thing that I am really focusing on is "nesting" items, or using space inside space. I discovered that I could cut down storage of Christmas items, for example, by putting smaller things into larger things. This doesn't just apply to large items, but you'll find it amazing how the little bits of space add up if you tuck things inside others. I have some Christmas cookie jars and soup tureens that are now put away with Santas inside. They are safely wrapped and will be stored until next year with no problem! Best, Annie

Gale said...

I am interested in anything that will help me organize my spaces! I love finding nifty organizational ideas....cause my house needs a lot of it!

ecarian at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Great giveaway, I would love to have that book. We have a big house but no closets to speak of. I could use some help. Thanks for the chance to win.

LindaSonia said...

This sounds like an awesome book, especially since I live in a small space and am always trying to maximize the storage space... count me in. Thanks for the heads up on this book.

ShirleyC said...

I love seeing tips on organizing for sure. It's something I have to work on constantly. Great pics!

Rhondi said...

Hi Erin
That looks like a good book and I could certainly use some help in geting more organized!

Sonia said...

Oh I love your giveaway...on my last blog post I shared the small space under my stairs that I have recently bought a new chest to organize some of my holiday linen. I am determined to organize all the little places in my home throughout the year. Would love of copy of her book to get even more great ideas! Thanks!
Miss Bloomers

Susan said...

Your "new" room is so bright and cheerful. Great job.

And yes, I would like to learn more about small space organizing! Susan

Junebug said...

Boy do I need that book! I am working on organizing and de-cluttering, but I can use all the help I can find. I love the painted floor in your studio!

Faythe said...

I can use all the help I can get organizing and beautifying my small space...and the Target gift card would be just the icing on the cake..Please enter me in the drawing ..thank you

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Well, since things are pretty tiny here at the cottage......this would be a book for me, for sure. :-)

I use old picnic baskets to store things here too....and use every single little smidge of space as best I can.... but always up for a tip or two.

Love your room done ala Small Space ideas...

Blessings to you!
Spencer

Cathy said...

Please count me in .I would so love to learn more about organizing and any fun tips, I'm using a small corner of my bedroom to craft.I need help .I love your blog ,paintings and colorful home. Thanks !!❤

Anonymous said...

Having a tiny studio myself I would love to learn how to organize this small place.
It is always a pleasure to stop by your place. You always makes my day.

Paula said...

I love organizing books and tips (although you would never know it from looking at my house)! I am a new follower. Please enter me in the giveaway, and come by and visit me at Home in Douglas!

Tammy said...

Thanks for coming by my blog and commenting! I too loved this book with all its great ideas. I'd love to be able to get a few more 'boxes' and cubes from Target to help organize some more from Kathryn's tips. I'd 'gift' the extra book to my parents who downsized from a huge house to a 2 bedroom apartment!

nov231973 at gmail dot com

Sunny Simple Life said...

I love organizing books and collecting them is one of my passions. Sounds like a wonderful read. Thanks for the opportunity.

Jennifer @ Town and Country Living said...

Since I don't live in a mansion, I would love to learn more about small space organizing. Your home is pretty and I'm now a follower.

Jean Tuthill said...

I certainly need that book....I am not too organized at the moment. I love your painting style and I used your bicycle painting as an inspiration to create my own, just to see if I could do it. I have it here in my workroom and I love it! Thanks for sharing your talent!

Ruffles and Relics said...

I would love to learm more about small space organizing..Please enter me in your wonderful giveaway..
Thanks so much,
Tina

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a great book! So many wonderful ideas! ♥

Art and Sand said...

Living in a small cottage means I must be organized ALL the time. I find my lack of space freeing. I keep only what I truly love or need.

Creating a studio out of an armoire and an Ikea Expedit were my secrets to keeping my art supplies organized and still at hand.

Happy creating!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for reviewing my book Erin and I hope it helps your blog readers!

I love your sweet organized cottage home!

Kathryn :)

Adina said...

So i've been seeking out some help to try and get some semblance of organization into my art domain and this site has been most helpful. I'm pretty decent at staying organized at first and then it explodes again because I buy more supplies and they don't have an exact home. I'd really love to win this because I am on a budget and I'm trying to start up a business for myself (difficult to do when my space is cluttered) My apartment is small and it seems like I have too many things because nothing really has a home inside of my home. Please help me because this stinks.

Thank you

Adina said...

So i've been seeking out some help to try and get some semblance of organization into my art domain and this site has been most helpful. I'm pretty decent at staying organized at first and then it explodes again because I buy more supplies and they don't have an exact home. I'd really love to win this because I am on a budget and I'm trying to start up a business for myself (difficult to do when my space is cluttered) My apartment is small and it seems like I have too many things because nothing really has a home inside of my home. Please help me because this stinks.

Thank you