Time to DECLUTTER! (& restore this apothecary cabinet)

Who's been putting off organizing all my craft stuff for years???? Definitely not me.
But as a pure coincidence, let's do some decluttering! I purchased this apothecary cabinet on Marketplace (for a little too much money oop), and she was looking a little too 'Shabby Chic' for my tastes. I got to work restoring her, and then tackling ALL of my craft supplies that have been haunting me.
I hope you have a nice relaxing time watching! Not my usual brand of chaos, but every tornado needs a cleanup crew.
LOVE YA!

TikTok: @rachelmaksy

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & The Dilemma
03:07 Paint Strippin'
07:15 Finishing up the Cabinet
10:30 Chaotic Basement
11:49 Organizing!
15:30 CABINET TIME
18:42 Unnecessarily Aesthetic Labels
20:06 The Grand Tour
22:00 Wrap-Up & Bloops

#declutter #organization #crafting

[KittyCatThang]

Hi, cobbler's daughter here! Those "shoehorn things" in your basement clutter boxes are shoe stretchers! You can use them to make leather shoes that are too tight more comfortable. Simply put them in the shoes, crank them until the shoe is stretching out, and leave 'em for a day or two. Should make tight shoes permanently easier to wear. My dad used to have HUNDREDS in his little shoe shop and it was my job as his "assistant" (read: annoying child he kindly brought to work with him when my mother needed a break) to put shoes on the stretchers and shine them as necessary. :)

[annesways]

Hi! I’m a furniture conservator 🤓. First of all, thank you for your service 🫡!

You did a great job! The reason you want to use a plastic scraper is that metal might have a chemical reaction with the paint stripper, but it seemed to be fine. Wearing gloves helps prevent you developing a contact allergy, wearing goggles prevents an ER trip if it gets in your eye.

Solvents like acetone or ethanol are great to remove any leftovers! We use it too, usually on cotton swabs. The wood can handle it, just be careful if its veneer (not in this case I think, seems solid oak), that you don’t harm the glue. If you want to reduce elbow grease, you couldv’e tried a second coat of paint stripper and cover it with cling film, to allow it to penetrate a little deeper. But you might have still needed to do some finishing touches with a solvent.

The furniture wax made it so stunning! For most waxes, you can heat it up to have it penetrate deeper and give a richer colour. Use a hair dryer, or heat by friction, and then buff out as it cools for a shiny finish.

You had absolutely great results, and it always warms my heart to see another whitewash gone 🥰

[belindaburgiss]

I think decluttering is a great way to re focus your creativity. You find all your hidden treasures and remember all the stuff you wanted to do.

[brittanyg]

As someone who just went to the emergency room for a chemical burn in my eye, WEAR YOUR PPE!!! The hospital that I went to is one of the top in the state and I waited 6 hours to have them flush it and treat it. Took 2 weeks to get my vision back fully. WEAR YOUR Love ya!

[azraelsraven]

Bird nerd here! :D

Unsalted peanuts for crows are GREAT, but if the crows are not already just hanging about your yard, you'll want to make your yard bird friendly to begin with.

I recommend a large tube feeder (perhaps with a squirrel-deterrent gravity cage) and fill it with black oil sunflower seeds. (Not a mix, most birds don't eat the millet filler and it just leaves a mess while everyone picks out their favorite thing, the sunflower seeds). Alternatively, you can get suet feeders and suet. Either way, the presence of other dumber birds hanging around partying tells the crows that no predators are around, and they'll come get some sunflower seed scraps.

At that point, can toss them some unsalted peanuts now that the crows are likely actually hanging out in the yard ;D

Another tip is that ALL birds and critters like a water source. A fountain or bubbler or something brings everyone to the yard, and they're like, it's fresher than yours.

[ilanacharnelle]

As someone who came for the vintage content and stayed for your personality, I actually prefer the more 'basic' (organising, home decorating, wardrobe clean outs) videos than your making content. I'll watch you do whatever Rachel - go easy on yourself!

[margaretkaraba]

Many years of crafting have taught me one thing -- if you can afford to spend the money, get the storage furniture you need and want (truly want). There's no glory in saying "if only" and crying a little inside every time you think about what you missed. Better to sigh about the money when you see one cheaper. At least the prize is yours and you can admire and happily use it.

[Littlerose]

If you are still planning on making a room in your house a library, I would love to see all the steps, such as designing the space, buying/showing off your books, making/decorating book cases, decorating the room, etc. Whenever you decide to start that project. I also love decluttering/organizing and any home reno videos. Something else that would be fun is just showing us your inspo folder or talking about all the projects on your dream list (if you're comfortable with that)

[laurelsamuelson]

Would legit watch a whole videos of just:

1. Befriending crows (unsuccessful attempts as welcome as marked progress)
2. Sitting and sorting piles with occasional commentary
3. Compilation of Frodo’s responses to everyday joy (I know we already got a Frodo edit, but there’s a black hole of demand for pet content in my heart)
3.5. Compilation of Binx sightings
4. I love the cozy chats. You could talk through step by step your favorite film quotes and it would be the best

To make or not to make, it’s okay to just post what you have

[CH-skjr]

“It feels so weird to not have a grand reveal” GIRL don’t sell yourself short, that cabinet tour was a thing of beauty

[wiitchweaver]

My husband befriended all the crows in our neighbourhood by giving them unsalted peanuts (in the shell) whenever he goes out on walks. They will likely start to recognize you pretty quickly and now they even come by our house and peek into the windows when the blinds are up.

[Lutehammer]

Non-outfit-making ideas: Befriend the Crows Series, making yourself comfy floor-pillows for all your floor-time, more organization! Fabric-dyeing experiments (not project, just experiments), Wig styling /care, painting an additional mug for yourself. Fun mug storage! Stained glass something to give you fun pretty light. Making a windchime! Making cute garden friends for your outside world. And when you do get back to stuff, maybe a collab with The Stitchery for fun chaos times.

Also, it's just fun to watch you do stuff - whatever that stuff may be - especially if it brings you joy, like your felting projects often have done. Anything that brings you joy and enriches your environment is a great idea - but we'll also be patient if you need a break for springtime dreariness <3

[bookscorpion]

highly recommend leaving one big basket right by the cabinet as the "put-away bin" so you can chuck stuff into it as you finish a project. should help keep the clutter sprawl contained until you have a moment to organize :)

[deirenne]

Not Rachel saying "So get comfy, get cozy" and my cat immediately stretching herself on my lap to lay down and purr like nobody's businesses. <3

[ilnoediavolon]

I *~LOVE~* the idea of doing clean up videos in between craft videos. Not only because it gives you a break between craft projects, but also because it is very satisfying to watch.
And it's good motivation to clean up our own messes. You don't realize how much a project generates mess, until all your surfaces are covered in fabric, glue and other things...

[seanthebluesheep]

Seeing the mouse knight from a year ago in that cupboard gave me the same reaction as if I'd suddenly seen a celebrity.
I thought "Lil guy?!" with the same energy as if I'd turned a corner in the supermarket and blurted out "Ryan Gosling?!"

[spinzz]

I would love to see a part 2 of cleaning your studio! Like organizing the confused cabinet, removing the unused stuff from the floor? Haha so therapeutic!

[emilyflavell]

That paint job is TRAGIC, I'm so glad you've rescued this

[Bo-kqtn]

SUGGESTION:
put a short closet rod into that cabinet with the really tall empty space, then you can hang up your backdrops and not have to fold them in a pile!

I really enjoyed this video, I've been finally organizing my stuff too and it's SO GOOD to finally have the things I need easily accessible when I'm doing projects. Good luck with your organizing! :D

[raetona]

I deeply love this type of content. You do NOT need to make things each and every video to keep your audience engaged. I also found this inspiring as someone who just celebrated a year in their house and has not organized the craft room at all....