New Uses for Old Things: Serving Dishes in the Jewellery Box

While in Thunder Bay last week (I only just revealed that tidbit yesterday), I made a mess of my parents' house while setting up shop with my Mom.  Their living room is now home to 70+ vintage finds and handmade goods (although that number is declining), all boxed and ready for new homes.  I had promised to help de-clutter, but mostly I just made a mess.  I forgot my Mom hates the smell of cardboard.  Ugh, I feel terrible.

To my credit, I did help my Mom organize a little.  Without invitation, I rummaged through the contents of her costume jewellery drawer and reorganized to make everything more accessible. 

Here's what she was working with:  lots of things were in their original, non-descript boxes, which made accessorizing a real shell game of trying to figure out what was where.

A closer view:

My plan was to buy something that would fit in the drawer and help create at-hand storage.  But, I like a job done quickly (sometimes at the expense of doing it well, but that's another story) and this time my ants-in-the-pants paid off.  I scooted to the kitchen and started rummaging through the cupboards, where I found two, rarely used divided glass dishes.  One was the perfect fit!

We kept a few rarely worn items in boxes in the back, then put a few larger pieces in the "new" dish.  Her existing silver lidded dishes house smaller pieces.

Now everything is easy to see, easy to access and easy to wear!

Full disclosure: not everything went back in.  The empty boxes found a new home, yes, as did some of her never worn jewellery.  Coincidentally, my jewellery box now has a few additions, like a sweet coral brooch and a couple other goodies.  I'm horrible.