NOLA Clutter Busters Products:

Chalkboard in the shape of the State of Louisiana

Approximate size: 20" x 16"

This chalkboard is custom-made by NOLA Clutter Busters in New Orleans, La.

The heart cut out is painted red on the inside edge. Hooks are added in the back for hanging.

This chalk board is a great addition to any kitchen to stay organized, or kids rooms.

Price: TBA

Cork board cut into the shape of the United States.

Approximate size: 33" wide x 20" tall

This cork board is a fun addition to any space, add pins to where you have lived, or where you have vacationed- it's a great learning tool for children.

Hooks are on the back for hanging.


Price: TBA



Peace sign

Made with MDF and Roofing nails.

Size: 15" a crossed.

Board color is yellow, and roofing nails are orange. Ready to hang in any room.

Price: TBA

Art-ing up my neighborhood

My neighborhood is very challenged- it has a lot of crime and a bad reputation for it.

I want to change that. But I'm not sure how.

So I started with something that I do know - Creating art from junk.

The wood was from The Green Project and the round trays are from the donate pile from a clients pile.

Since I didn't want to "get in trouble" for damaging property - I researched how to install the art with out actually nailing into the pole.

I applied the signs to a 2 x 4 and wrapped metal strapping around the pole and secured it to it's self.

The Art has been up now for a few months- most of the neighbors love it- one young neighbor said : it shows people we care about our neighborhood! Perfect- More to come in the future!

If you live in New Orleans and would like to see this for yourself- it's located at 7th and South Saratoga st.

How to create a HAPPY space !

With the New Year right around the corner, I thought this would be a good time to address the topic of Happiness. As a Professional Organizer I see many different homes. This is what I have learned over the years: that we hang on to "things" that we no longer need- and that stuff becomes a burden.

Here's a quick list of how to create a Happy Space:

1. Get rid of the "clutter". Let go of the past and think about your future.

2. Art is important to creating happiness- look at your walls- what are they saying to you? Create Art, buy art, find art that makes you smile or inspires you.

3. Create a space where you can take care of your finances- a small desk in the corner of a room, with a nice lamp. Or turn that "Junk room" into a home office. Whatever it is big or small create a space where you can focus and take care of your paperwork in a healthy way.

4. Your bedroom is a very important place- it's where you recharge your battery. Simplify the space, de-clutter, get the clothing off the floor. Create a space that is inviting and cozy. Honor yourself.

5. Buy a plant or cut flowers for your dining table.

6. Perfect and improve on your space: clean it. If you don't have time, hire a cleaning service. There's nothing like a clean space.

Challenge yourself to the list- take a weekend and focus on YOU.

Go through the closet and get rid off everything you don't wear, or need- Simplify.

And if all else fails- Hire a Professional Organizer!

Cool house needs cool mailbox

My House didn't come with a Mailbox.
So after moving in I went to Home Depot to purchase one. I quickly learned that there is definitely a need for cool mailboxes. All of them are traditional in style, ugly, and quite frankly,
none of them were unique enough to go on my house.
So I did a little searching on line..... and learned that contemporary/modern/or anything unique in design was a little out of my league price-wise.
My Friend Mike (artist extraordinaire) was inspired to create a unique mailbox for my unique house- using all recycled materials (which I love!)
He made it out of PVC pipe (keeping it's original color)
The "face" of it is a recycled vent panel from the Green Project (Thanks Guys!)
Mike inlaid plexi-glass in the center- to make it solid.
The Numbers he hand cut out of plexi-glass and inlaid wire ( ya, I know, he's so meticulous- it's crazy!-but awesome!)
The flag is also recycled plexi-glass from his supplies of scrap, which he decoratively wrapped wire around- and added the cute flag in orange ( fun choice in color- I must say!)

I think Mike did a great job in not only designing a mailbox that fit the personality of my house- but also capturing my creative, adventurous spirit as well.

Thanks Mike for all of your hard work-

I love my New Mail box!

And If anyone is interested in having Mike Design a Custom Mailbox for your unique home, send me a comment- and I would be happy to pass the word on-
You won't be disappointed!

What to do when the spray paint chips off?

Over the years I have experimented with spray paint- Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately these little plastic outdoor tables took a beating.

Solution? I power washed them, goo-be gon-ed them and scrubbed as much paint off as I could.

Next step: Prime them, Ya I know I have tried over the years to skip this step, but it always comes back to haunt me.

My Back deck seems to be evolving as the months settle in: here is my most resent purchase from the Green Project!

Suggestion: before purchasing a very over sized item, such as this, take a measurement of it- go home and tape it off. You really need to think about how the space is going to be used, in this case, having extra seating is always a good thing.

I have had a few items on my "want list" :

a vintage stove- did it.

a barber chair- did it.

and a church pew- didn't do it because of size.

This Beauty is 14 feet 3 inches long. WOW! now that is a commitment.

I painted the little tables green, added a glass top (also purchased from the Green Project).

Now I know many of you are hard-core believes in wood should not be painted. I do not follow that belief. So, soon to come: Photo of paint job.

Any guesses as to what color I will paint it?

cleaning up the neighborhood one block at a time-

Blight.....What is Blight, blight is when something gets forgotten about, neglected.
And in my new Neighborhood there is a lot of it. Waiting for the city to take care of it....
well lets face it they have their hands full taking car of bigger issues. My theory is this if you can do it yourself- Do it.
Glenn and I started to work on my yard, we planted some of the plants that were in pots-
picked up some trash, and turned a big pile of rubble into a rock garden.


This Photo is the house a crossed the street from me- it obviously hasn't been lived since Katrina. We trimmed up the weeds- pulled out the trash- just gave it a quick once over, not a whole lot of effort on our part- we call it sweat equity. Now when I go out side I don't have to look at so much ugly.

I'm sure this debris was left from building my house- the children that live a cross the street play ball here- not real "Kid friendly" if you fall.

So we got creative- be didn't have enough boxes to throw it out- and we searched for a dumpster- nope.

So we lined up all of the "rocks" and made a rock garden. Urban Style.

We also dug out all of the street basins- took all the debris out, so our streets won't flood during, well you know- Hurricane season.

With a little bit of effort we managed to get quite a lot done in a day- the neighbors noticed- and commented on it-

Now if we can just get them to help!

I'll keep ya posted on that- next week is clean up day!

Taking something OLD- and making it NEW!

I have been in my new house for three months now. Now that I am unpacked, somewhat organized I took a look around and realized that something was missing.

Pillows.

So I went shopping- What is going on in world of Pillows- they are either terribly ugly-
or terribly expensive.

Solution: Go to the thrift store, purchase sweaters, and make my own.

This Sweater was cute, I actually felt bad cutting it up- but here goes:

I turned it into a pillow.

When I cost factored out the sweater to pillow option:

Here it is in a nut shell: you actually can get several pillows from

one sweater: front/back sleeves/and even the turtle neck.

Bottom line: each pillow cost around $3.00.

Several of the sweaters that I purchased I would never wear myself-

But when you put your sweater brain on:

Here's what you look for: Nubby weave/ stripes/ bulky knits-

and I my case I wanted color!

The Blue was actually a cardigan with a cute hand embroidered

floral design on it ( again- I would never be caught dead in it)

I pre-measured all of my furniture so I knew what sizes I needed and what colors-

Time for project: One afternoon shopping- sweaters at the thrift store, and fabric store

for stuffing, and I used fleece for the back side.

Day two: I was able to make 17 pillows in an afternoon.

I know it may sound like a lot- but when you add one or two to each chair, then the sofa, and I added a few on the chairs on my deck for pops of color-

Total cost for project: $70.00- and I got 17 pillows!

If I were to purchase 17 pillows retail- well, do the math.

Cuz- I can't.