Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

My Pandora ME Collection & How I Organize It All!

The latest release of new Pandora ME jewelry really got me back into this line. In the video above, I share my entire collection, from the very first bracelets and charms to the brand new 14K Gold-plated Link Chain Bracelet. The STACKERS jewelry box system works perfectly to organize and protect all the styling links, dangles, medallions, and other design accents available for this versatile and customizable Pandora ME range.

I LOVE PACKING CUBES!!!

My daughter is a big champion of packing cubes and has been using them for a couple of years. I was pretty satisfied with my jumbo ziplock bag method and didn't feel the need to change things up. The ziplock bags are great because they are protective and it's so easy to squeeze all the air out. I can fit so much into my suitcase and there is a barrier if anything should leak. They also make it convenient to bring home the dirty laundry and are super for wet bathing suits or other liquid souvenirs (perfume, wine, etc.).

You know how it is to buy gifts for the men in your life and this year I caved and bought hubby two sets of packing cubes. He travels so much for work, doesn't use the ziplocks, and is generally quite fussy about his clothes. I also threw in an electronics organizer, perfect for taming those charging cords and headphones. I found some reusable twist ties that attach directly onto the cables so they don't get lost and they are amazing for keeping the long wires from getting tangled.

Of course, I also ordered a set for myself to give packing cubes a try. I found the Bagail Packing Cubes on Amazon and they were highly rated and recommended by my daughter. I purchased a pretty teal set containing 4 sizes, from small to extra large. Also included was a drawstring laundry bag. The brand features extra durable cubes made of high quality nylon fabric. Two way easy-pull zippers are a nice bonus and the open mesh design makes it easy to see what's inside.

For our recent trip to Vegas I found I didn't need to use the extra large cube, a 17.5" x 12.75" rectangle that basically covers the entire bottom of a large suitcase. The small, medium, and large were perfect and obviously allow for compartmentalizing similar size items for optimum use of luggage space. Since I already do the Marie Kondo way of folding my clothes in drawers, it's very fast to select items to pack and add them to the cubes. If they aren't already rolled, this is the preferred method of putting your clothes within each cube. It was actually fun to pack! I also picked up a second set of lesser quality, smaller cubes at the discount store to handle any overflow of tiny items. These were less sturdy and the zippers were not as durable but they were good enough for light items I wanted to contain.

Once we checked into our hotel I discovered a lovely benefit of the packing cubes is being able to slip the entire set right into the dresser drawers. I was surprised that my cubes all fit into the bedside table. It was great to be able to have everything right there and easy to find. This system kept everything organized, tidy, and clean (and separate from husband's!!).

Also, another great feature is when it's time to pack up to go home. The cubes are ready to go, the laundry bag is full, and there's extra room for souvenirs. I've never been able to pack up faster from a trip! Usually it is a big ordeal the night before we have to check out but this time it was amazingly easy. It was much less stressful and hubby was able to quickly take care of his own packing. No more missing socks at the back of the drawer or under the bed!

Finally, if you ever find your luggage is overweight at the airport bag-drop, no more exposing your 'dirty laundry' to every other traveler while trying to lighten things up. Simply pull out one appropriately sized cube to pop into your carry-on and the lighter suitcase is good to go! Packing cubes are also excellent for carry on luggage and fit perfectly. I even used a couple small extra ones in my backpack to keep my Pandora jewelry and makeup bag easy to access.

Yes, I am a convert and I love packing cubes! They are so light, efficient, and convenient and I have to admit, better than all my ziplock bags. I found I packed more sensibly (and didn't overpack) and my suitcase wasn't nearly as heavy. I like to be organized and have things simple to deal with before, during, and after the trip. I still put my toiletry bag into a medium ziplock for a little extra insurance against any leaking and I always make sure to add an empty extra one for wet bathing suits. It is now my perfect packing system!!! Daughter was right, smart girl!

KonMari Method/Tidying Up

January is usually a time of year where I deep clean, organize, and purge. I think the chaos of the holidays, with the footprint of the Christmas tree and addition of extra furniture in our smaller spaces, stresses me out. I always start the new year with an urge to clear the clutter and downsize the stuff.

I had seen Marie Kondo on the Today Show long ago but never adopted her method of tidying and folding. Now that she has a new Netflix series and book, and the world seems to be taking notice of her organizational skills, the KonMari Method has entered our home. My daughter started watching the show with my son's girlfriend and I am noticing big results. Both have completely tidied up their clothes and closets, removed bags of items for donation, and allowed the peace of less clutter to wash over them. This has also trickled into general cleaning as well and I have never seen my son's room look so tidy! The bed is made, the carpet gets vacuumed more often and I noticed the bathroom towels on the shelves are neatly rolled into a lovely display! How could I not applaud these changes!?!?!

Of course, I realized I had some tidying of my own to do and began with a simple start: the t-shirt drawer. Pulling everything out of a space is the first step. Each item in the resulting pile needs to be picked up, assessed, (thanked) and sorted. Those that make the cut get folded into stand-up thirds and placed upright back in the drawer (or on the shelf, in a basket, etc.). It felt great to get rid of some ratty workout shirts and really decide which pieces 'spark joy'. If something no longer serves its purpose or really doesn't enhance my life, out it goes. After t-shirts came socks, the linen closet, the laundry room, the storage closet..........

Even husband got on board (as each person should be responsible for their own belongings) and we spent a family-together weekend afternoon doing this exercise. It was fun...and it feels so rewarding afterwards. I am slowly working my way around the house and am pleased with the results so far. Things that weren't working (vacuum, dog food, and large winter jackets in the same small closet, for example) are being evaluated and a solution implemented. It takes time but it is worth it. Whether or not the system is sustained in the long term has yet to be determined but I've had a couple laundry days where t-shirts and socks have been put away in the same organized way. At the very least, we have a great starting point of tidiness...AND...now hubby puts away his own laundry!!!

Happy Memory Keeping

I am so excited for September when I will start my new Happy Memory Keeping planner from me & my BIG ideas. Because I purchased the hp sprocket and can now instantly print photos of the day, I knew I wanted to pair it with a planner for quick memory keeping. The large, 8.5 x 11in planner has slightly larger rectangles than the Classic planner I am currently using every day to keep me organized and on track with my to-do lists. The sprocket prints fit perfectly into those spaces and that makes everything so fast and easy when it comes to this kind of scrapbooking.

The specially designed memory keeper album is spiral bound using the Happy Planner discs and the pages are removable. It is a 12 month undated planner so you can begin any time and has both monthly and weekly calendar pages. There are laminated dividers and 23 additional themed pages. There are so many beautiful cover designs and styles to choose from, as well as metal or plastic discs, and even jumbo starter kits that include washi tape and sticker sheets.

I chose the slightly less expensive plastic discs version and since I have plenty of stickers and washi, I bought the stand-alone album. I think the cover is really pretty and the matching water colour artwork inside is too. I also picked up a large punch (I already have the classic size punch) to make decorating with paper and cropping standard size photos super quick and easy.

There are included 'month' stickers to label the divider tabs and I got a couple of sticker books for embellishing the pages with fun seasonal themes & holidays, as well as everyday titles, prompts, and boxes. There are always great deals and coupons at Michaels so it was a pretty affordable system. Unlike traditional scrapbooking, I intend to keep this upstairs where I can access it any time I have a minute. At the end of the day I can jot down any memories and notes (no need to make this complicated or perfect), add a quick photo or two, and adorn with a few relevant stickers. I love the idea of the monthly calendar pages too since I have made a few proper scrapbooks that way in the past. It's quite fun to look back on a typical month-in-our-lives, but this way it stays current and fresh without having to "back-scrap".

I will absolutely still be using my Creative Memories products and albums for my major scrapbooking (I am in the middle of a Disney vacation and my photos and papers are spread out all over my workshop table!), but I think this Happy Memory Keeping planner is going to be a fun way to record our regular days. I'm excited to get started!

Pandora Travel Jewelry Cases

I love collecting the gift-with-purchase travel jewelry cases from Pandora almost as much as the charms! They are beautifully made with lovely details and are great for storing and (traveling with) bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces and extra charms. Each offers different configurations of compartments, pouches, straps and clips, depending on the size of one's collection and the needs of the occasion. It's always a good idea to keep jewelry organized and protected to avoid scratches, tangling, and misplacement!

I filmed a short overview of the Pandora travel jewelry boxes I have been able to get my hands on and the benefits (or limitations) of each. If one is buying on-line from an auction or private seller it may help to be able to see the different options - that was definitely something I was looking for while researching older gift-with-purchase cases. While there are obviously other brands of jewelry boxes, cases, and rolls available that will work with charm bracelets, for an avid Pandora fan and collector, there is something special about having a genuine logo-ed item.

Here is the video!

Stackers Charm Box

I love my Stackers jewelry boxes for storing my Pandora jewelry, bracelets, and charms. While I was choosing the system that worked for my collection I also had to add a Charm Box.  This is a wonderful little storage box which is perfect to hold one bracelet and extra charms. I bought the 'stand-alone' lid rather than the two-layered set because while I have enough charm storage in my larger boxes, I loved the idea of being able to style my bracelets using this top lid.

The box I selected is a beautiful blush pink with a soft, padded grey interior. There is a sunken form to hold a bracelet and 18 indentations for beads. This is the perfect design to hold charms in place while deciding how to arrange them on a bracelet. It's easy to switch out different choices, seeing roughly where they will sit, and plan the perfect layout for the theme of the day!

Of course, the Stackers Charm Box can simply be used to safely store a smaller Pandora collection and could also work as a travel box. I think these are beautifully made and so well suited to charm bracelets. They mimic the design trays in-store and are a wonderful addition to a Pandora collectors storage system.

Here is my video detailing the Stackers Charm Box...

Stackers Jewelry Boxes

More than a few years ago Pandora offered a gorgeous set of jewelry boxes as a gift with purchase. This was a tiered bonus in that the more you spent, the more layers of the set you could earn. The lovely cases were embossed with the Pandora logo and/or name and had little rods to hold charms, as well as compartments and forms for bracelets and extra beads. A few lucky people were able to buy them in one configuration or another after the promotion period ended. I was not one of them....

Since I only recently renewed my interest in Pandora I never paid any attention to promotions or sales. Now that I AM paying attention, and taking advantage of new offers, I realize that it was a sad thing to miss out on the beautiful jewelry boxes. There are only a few floating around the auction sites but the prices are astronomical, the locations are typically Australia or England, and purchase from an unknown source could be highly risky. I needed a more easily obtainable solution to my storage problem!

I heard about Stackers from a Pandora expert but sadly, the company based in England doesn't ship to Canada. After searching US sites and being unable to find a way to access the product I ended up emailing Stackers directly for guidance. A wonderful customer service rep sent me a link for a UK stockist who does indeed accept international orders. While I don't think the choice for components is as broad as availability with the actual Stackers company proper, I was able to customize a jewelry box simply ideal for my needs.

I chose the size, colour & lining, lid, and then trays to stack underneath. It took me a few days to play around with the configuration but in the end I settled on a white Classic lid with 3 charm trays and one 3-section deeper box. Why those items? I chose the Classic size because there was more selection and it was adequate for my collection, and also easier to display and handle.  While I love the blush pink exterior it was not available at the stockist with a neutral interior. I absolutely did not want a lining with a pattern (e.g. polka dots) because I wanted to keep the look clean and plain to showcase the silver jewelry. White was my choice and it came with a grey lining. I was worried it would be bright white but it is actually perfect and stunningly classy. I picked the charm trays so that I could have the long rods for charm storage and styling. I wanted a section for my bracelet and rationalized I could have a tray for each and keep the relevant charms together. The little square sections could be for holding charms while I plan and/or overflow.

The lid can be accessorized with shorter charm bars and will hold up to 4. I added them in because I wanted to make sure I had room to grow without having to reorder and pay all the costs that go with international delivery. They are perfect for specialty charms or items that can work with any of the bracelets (like clips, spacers, or Muranos). The lid also has room for rings and other items like earrings and necklaces.

The deeper 3 section tray is perfect for holding less often worn jewelry or differently shaped bracelets like leather and bangles which don't have a home in the trays. There is also a longer section in each level to hold an unclipped charm bracelet stretched out. I love that there are many storage options!

As the name suggests, each tray stacks upon the next with the lid at the top sealing up the set. I was giddy with anticipation waiting for the box to arrive and couldn't wait to see how it all would work with my jewelry. I was beyond delighted with the look and quality of the Stackers and what I picked works perfectly for what I have. I had a lot of fun organizing and figuring out exactly how I wanted to set things up.

So I can highly recommend Stackers as a jewelry storage and display option. It is wonderful for Pandora or charms/beads specifically but obviously you could select different components (earring tray, watch form, etc.) based on your own jewelry collection. The quality and construction seems excellent, with beautiful stitching (of course I would notice that!!), nice hardware clasp, padded lining and charm rods that fit securely in the notches. I am very, very pleased!

Each piece of Stackers is well priced (imho) and I found shipping to be really reasonable considering how far it had to come! The overall cost can add up if you purchase additional layers or accessories but I feel it's a worthwhile investment to protect the other worthwhile investment, one's lovely jewelry!

Pandora Silver Travel Jewelry Case

I'm waiting for a delivery of a beautiful jewelry box to organize and store my Pandora charms and bracelets but in the meantime I thought I'd share this travel case with you. It is an authentic Pandora 'gift with purchase' item and I am thrilled to have it. It is the perfect size for taking one or two favourite pieces along for a holiday with room for extra charms, rings, and other items.

The silver finish is quite lovely and the Pandora name is in rose gold. Inside, the velvety black lining is a stunning backdrop for shiny silver bracelets. There is a snap-on strap in the lid with holes for earrings (LOVE that idea to keep them safe and together!), and a raised slotted area for dangles. Next to those are two snap loops to keep necklaces in place with a pouch at the bottom for the pendants to stay protected and tangle-free.

In the main section of the case there is a padded circle form to house a bracelet or two, with 2 snaps to keep it/them in place. To the left are a couple of little cinched pockets for extra charms or other jewelry. There is a zipper at the top but I'm not exactly sure what the intention of that space is - it could be a hidden area for a small item but it's very snug and difficult to get your fingers in. Any suggestions or guesses???

The cutest feature of this versatile travel jewelry box has to be the ring holder! It is a wee matching zippered case that holds several rings. It stays nestled in the vacant area above the bracelet form. I think it is a sweet addition and great for keeping rings secure. It's just the right size for me since I tend to only swap out one or two of my rings.

I really think this Pandora box is ideal for a getaway because it not only holds bracelets and charms, but also other pieces like rings, earrings, and necklaces. While I'm away I always take my earrings off at night and usually just stick them in my toiletry bag. It's not particularly suited for small studs and I often forget to put the earrings back on in the morning! I'm excited to pack up my new jewelry box for its first excursion and be able to take several options of bracelet styling components with me to play with.

I'd be very interested to hear how you travel with your jewelry and what you like to take on holiday...  When my new jewelry box for at-home storage arrives I will be sure to review it for you! I can't wait to get it!!!

'Sew It' Blue Q Bag

***UPDATE!!!*** I found the video! lol! It took a lot of scrolling in my YouTube history but I found it! I have included it at the bottom of this post...

I recently got back from a short getaway where I picked up this adorable Blue Q bag. I had seen this exact one, with a vintage sewing machine on it, in an Instagram post or YouTube video and loved it. I couldn't find the video again but I never forgot about this bag design since I collect old machine models and in fact, have one that looks very similar to the one on the bag.

I was familiar with the company that makes it because I bought my girls and myself small, pencil case sized Blue Q pouches around Christmas time.  They are incredibly durable and handy zip bags to have, and come in beautiful designs, but sadly I couldn't find the sewing machine one. The store where I purchased them only had the 3 I bought and it was a fluke to even find those as they aren't regular stock. I keep my mini bag in my English Paper Piecing kit to hold my hexie-sewing supplies. It's funky and useful and I never have to worry about it tearing!

While I was away I spotted a small display rack of Blue Qs through a shop window (husband is amazed and incredulous at this weird skill of 'shopping radar' I have), and while there was no sewing machine one showing, I went in to check anyway. And obviously, guess what I found!!!!???? I was soooo excited and snatched it up. This pouch is much larger and will be so perfect in my sewing room. I can't wait to load it up with tools and notions and will certainly have to display it somewhere prominently.

Our trip was short and sweet but also included a visit to Pandora so I was super, super excited. I found so many older charms that I've had on my wishlist so discovering those, AND this fantastic sewing machine bag, satisfied my ISO (in search of) mission. Of course, as soon as one shopping hunting excursion is over there are plenty of other items to keep an eye open for while away. The new Spring 2018 Pandora release is coming up in a couple of weeks so that is also definitely on my list for March.

In the meantime, I'm still working away on the Color Crystals quilt units and am almost ready to start assembling Block A...

Have a great day!! 

PANDORA 12 Days of Christmas Design Center Jewelry Box

I love the presentation trays that the PANDORA stores have to showcase charms to customers. The velvety-lined main section holds the bracelet(s) and there are small oval sections where the beads can be displayed and/or arranged in order of preference for adding to the snake chain or bangles. While I would absolutely adore having one myself, I can't find any for sale and my options for sourcing an authentic tray are pretty limited.

However, I did find this very desirable substitute on-line for purchase. It is actually the Design Center Jewelry Box that was sold with the limited edition Twelve Days of Christmas charms and clips from the Holiday 2013 collection. Originally it housed twelve gorgeous beads which came as a set for about US$500. As you can see, the box has 3 sections to hold, and store if desired, bracelets, a larger middle section with removable pillow to contain charms as you design or store bangles, and the spongey section to securely keep the chosen beads in order of preference.

The box is heavy and quite beautifully made, with a hinged lid, non-skid base, and leather covering in a soft white. There is the PANDORA crest on the outer lid and the PANDORA name printed in rose gold on the velvet interior.  The magnetic clasp keeps the box closed when not in use. It is so lovely and I am delighted!

I have become quite entranced with my bracelets and growing charm collection. I read somewhere that they call PANDORA jewelry "Legos for ladies"...and I think that's a fairly accurate description when it comes to the many passionate devotees of the brand.