Hasta La Ideas

On these shores, the fall/winter issue of Garage comes in two varieties: one features urban cowgirl Andriana Lima photographed by Inez & Vinoodh (and styled to the gold-and-denim hilt by Carolyne Cerf de Dudzeele), while another features that same image as interpreted by John Baldessari, the subject of a solo exhibition that opened last week at Garage editor-in-chief Dasha Zhukova‘s Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow. Baldessari’s work also makes the cover of the Russian edition of Garage, for which the artist collaborated with Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte. The cover image (pictured) is reproduced from a collage featuring a trippy blue, black, and pink tie-dye pattern developed for Rodarte’s fall 2013 collection. “We were really honored to collaborate with John Baldessari, as he is our favorite artist and we admire his work greatly,” said the Mulleavy sisters, who have previously collaborated with the likes of Catherine Opie, Alec Soth, Stephen Shore, and Frank Gehry.

Meanwhile, back in the American edition, Baldessari chats with Zhukova in an extended Q&A that weaves among images of his work. The artist reveals that one of his goals “is to be to known for something besides [putting dots over people’s faces]. It’s going to be hard.” And did you know he loves magazines? “I’m a junkie,” he tells Zhukova of his predilection for periodicals. Art magazines? Fashion magazines? “Sure,” he answers. As for his relationship to the fashion world, Baldessari takes a more personal approach. “When I get up in the morning, I have a mirror. I think about whether this color might look good with that color. I’m not obsessed with it, but that’s certainly about fashion,” he says. “On the other hand, a former studio manager said that she doesn’t even look in the mirror in the morning.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Spring has arrived here in the northern hemisphere (at least on the calendar) and that means yard work is about to begin in earnest. Here are a few simple steps that you can perform now so that you’ll be ready when the weather really warms.

The Lawn Mower

Hopefully you didn’t let the mower sit all winter with gas in the tank. Right? If you did, remember to let it run until it’s empty this autumn (or add a stabilizer), and hope it will start this year.

You’ll also want to change the spark plug and put in a new air filter, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s also a good idea to keep the blade sharp, so remove it and sharpen it. Again, the manufacturer likely supplied instructions for this, too. If not, hop online and search for digital copies of those instructions from the manufacturer. Finally, make sure the wheels are on securely and moving freely, and inspect the rope pull (if it has one). Eventually, it will wear and snap in your hand. That’s not fun.

The Gas Trimmer

Again, hopefully you added gas stabilizer or ran it until empty last year if you have a gas-powered one. During your inspection, replace the spark plug and ensure that you’ve got enough trim cable on the trimmer, as well as an extra. Getting part way through the yard only to run out is a hassle (it always happens to me after the hardware store has closed).

As you did with the mower, make sure the moving parts are operating as expected. Adjust the handle, for example, to see that it moves smoothly. If there’s dried grass and who-knows-what caked underneath the guard from last season, clean it off per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Other Tools

Many other lawn tools don’t require much maintenance, but now is the time to check on them anyway. Things like shovels, trowels, and rakes require only a quick once-over. I also confirm that my extension cords are working and not torn, as well as the garden hose. Finally, move tools that you won’t be using, like snow shovels, out of the way and store them for the warmer months. I move mine from the shed to the basement for the spring and summer.

Last year my wheelbarrow had a flat tire, so I filled it with air. It was flat again within a week, so I simply replaced it with a solid tire, much like this one from True Temper. Now a flat tire is no longer an issue. Speaking of the wheelbarrow, this is the time to hit it with some rust-proof paint if you find it needs it.

Outdoor Furniture

I don’t know about you, but my outdoor furniture takes a beating. Between the blazing sun, occasional rain and — worst of all — my children, those cushions start showing their age after just a few seasons. A discount big box store is a good place to find replacements if yours are in need of an updating. Also, keep that can of rust-proof paint and/or a scrub brush handy.

The Lawn

So much has been written about spring lawn prep. This tutorial from Lowe’s is similar to what I do. I think the most important take-aways are to clean up any debris that was deposited during the winter, cut everything nice and short, and then note any problem areas like bald spots. Next, aerate it. You can likely rent one of these for a day or even a few hours from a local hardware or home improvement store or a garden nursery. This breaks up the soil and lets water and beneficial nutrients get down in there. Plus, lawn aerators are just fun to use.

Those are the basics. If you have something like an outdoor shower or in-ground irrigation system, wait for it to warm up a bit before turning them on. Then test each zone to ensure proper working order. With as cold as it has been so far this spring in the northeast, I’m also waiting to turn on my outdoor water spigots.

Do you have any springtime yard rituals? Share your routines in the comments.

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The summer months are a good time to tackle many projects, including organizing your garage and closets. Today, we’re sharing tips on how to shape up your car. Though some may walk, ride a bike or scooter, or take public transportation to get about town, many people (raising my hand) travel by car. For some, it’s a second home or main “office.” When you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, keeping it organized is a necessity as you’ll need to not only feel comfortable, but also find what you need with relative ease.

To begin a car uncluttering and organizing project, take everything that doesn’t belong in your car out of the car (check under your seats), looking for things that are obviously trash (empty water bottles, food wrappers). Next, categorize the remaining items (chargers with chargers, first aid supplies with first aid supplies). Then …

Be selective about what you need to keep

Depending on your lifestyle, you could have a variety of things you need to regularly keep in your car. If you’re a mobile entrepreneur, you may need office supplies, brochures, or client forms. If you’re a parent, toys, books, or hand sanitizer may be more important things to keep in the car. For people who do a fair amount of long-distance driving, street maps, money for tolls, or audio books are the likely must-have items. Think through all the things you need to have with you on a regular basis so that you can …

Decide what will live inside your car and trunk

You will want to store some things inside your car (e.g. in the glove compartment, center console, pockets on the backs of each seat, side door pockets) and other items inside your trunk. Use frequency of use as a benchmark along with size and volume of specific items. For things you use often, store them inside your car and think of your trunk as archival or large item storage. And, if you live in an area where there are seasonal extremes, you may also want weather appropriate items (ice melt, gloves, sun shades).

Based on the size and features of your car (or truck or SUV or minivan), place things in the locations that make sense to you — like in a kitchen, store things where you use them. And, consider keeping a container inside your car to collect garbage. Here are suggestions on where to keep some things:

Glove compartment

• Registration, insurance card, and emergency numbers
• Car manuals
• Collision kit
• First aid kit
• Cell phone charger (this can also be kept in the center console along with a tire gauge)

Door pockets

• Maps
• Container or resealable bag of coins (for tolls or parking)
• Coupons and gift cards
• Trash bags

Trunk

• Emergency car kit (read more about emergency supplies)
• Spare tire
• Mylar blankets
• Extra change of clothes

Choose your containers

Containers help you keep everything in its place and easily accessible. They also can help keep loose items from shifting and flying about if you have to stop suddenly or in the event of an accident.

Here are a few to consider:

• Milk crate. A crate is great for keeping sports equipment, toys, and things that you need to do something with (packages to mail, things to return). Consider putting a milk crate (or laundry basket) in your trunk.
• Trunk organizer. The compartments in a trunk organizer make it easy to keep similar items together and separate them from others. They can hold many things (like groceries and car care supplies) and have outer pockets for papers or maps.
• Mobile office organizer. Use this mobile unit on the passenger seat to hold hanging file folders and to keep pens and note pads close by if you often work from your car. Some organizers have lids to keep items from slipping out and others forgo file storage and give you enough space for keeping CD’s, tissues, and other items.
• Plastic envelope. Plastic envelopes are great for keeping coupons and receipts and can easily be stored in door pockets or behind-the-seat pockets. Or, put your registration and insurance card in an envelope in your glove compartment.

Create a maintenance routine

Once everything is arranged in the way that works for you, make a plan to keep your vehicle organized and road-trip ready. A simple way to stop the build up of trash is to empty your garbage container each time you fill up your tank. Because you refuel on a regular basis, combining these tasks will almost guarantee that your ride will be clutter free. What about all those supplies that you need to have all the time? To be sure you don’t run out, check your stash once a week (or once every two weeks) to make sure you have all you need and can restock if you don’t.

As with any maintenance routine, keep it simple. The more complex the steps, the more difficult it will be to maintain. Don’t wait until you get your car detailed to focus on keeping it clean and orderly. Do a little bit each week and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much easier it is to keep everything in its place.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.

Découverte de « Modern Live-In Garage », un projet de l’architecte brésilienne Brunete Fraccaroli pensé pour la 15ème édition du Casa Cor Show. Un concept de garage de 120m² est ici réinventé pour proposer un lieu à vivre exceptionnel. Le rendu réussi est à découvrir en images dans la suite de l’article.

While the chilly winds blow (at least on those of us in the northern hemisphere), now is a great time to go through your home and see what winter-related items you haven’t used this year and donate the excess to charity. You’ll free up space in your home, and possibly help someone in need make it through the winter more comfortably.

Check out your:

• Blankets. Are there heavy blankets lingering in your closet that you haven’t used this year or last year or the year before that?
• Sweaters. If you haven’t worn the sweater by now, are you ever going to wear it again?
• Hats, gloves, scarves. If you have children, do all the hats and gloves in your closet still fit someone in your home?
• Coats. Similar to your sweaters, if any of your winter coats haven’t been worn this season, are you ever going to wear them?
• Boots. If they’re in good condition, someone in need could really benefit from any boots you’re not wearing.
• Outdoor recreation items. Sleds, toboggans, and skis won’t help someone in need, but if you’re no longer using them, they still shouldn’t be taking up space in your garage.
• Outdoor care items. Snow shovels, snow blowers, and other outdoor care items should be replaced if they’re broken or unsafe to use. Don’t donate unusable items to charity, but recycle and/or trash pieces as appropriate.
• Decorations. Any holiday or winter decorations you didn’t put out this year could easily be sold on eBay, Craigslist, or given away through Freecycle. Check with local doctors’ offices, day care centers, and schools to see if they have any interest in the items you didn’t use this year.

Those of you basking in the summer sun in the southern hemisphere, consider doing a similar sweep for unused warm-weather items. If you haven’t used something yet, it’s likely just taking up space in your home unnecessarily.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.