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The Hindsight/Foresight Project: using this (old) project for a new project.

Indie Rawk Jeffro: black and brown ink on wood.

by Phillip Retuta

DIY Hanging Containers.

So I’ve been recycling tin cans and using them as containers for my art and writing supplies. Now in order to save more space on my new work area, I decided to hang them on my wall. Of course, I wanted each container to be completely detachable and portable; for instance, if I wanted to use only Micron pens in the living room, I can just remove that can and take it with me.

At first I was going to use magnets or one of those magnetic knife racks, but after prototyping with some heavy duty magnets lying around my apartment, I realized stuff like that couldn’t support the weight of, say, 20 Sharpies or the rounded surface area of the can.

Instead, I figured a system of hooks and loops would work.

Using small nuts and bolts, I attached D-Ring Strap Hangers (you know, the ones drilled in the back of wooden picture frames) to the cans. The D-Ring would latch onto a screw on the wall. In order to keep the cans balanced and not topple over if the weight shifted, I hammered two nails below each screw. Again, this keeps the can from shifting and its contents falling (a can full of X-acto blades would be the worst thing to fall on you).

DIY Balanced Living.

I got rid of/donated/gave away a lot of stuff, rearranged furniture in both my room and my apartment, and added shelves to my bedroom (when living in NYC, space is a hard commodity to find). I also bought a long, 78-inch Ikea tabletop to replace my clunky desk, so now I have a dual work space for my computers and drawings.

And let’s not forget a new dog bed for my huskador, Nico.

Essentially, with the new year and my current health, I felt I needed change. This total revamp of my living situation feels like a total cleanse (#keepingitreal2013) of my life — I’m like a phoenix of sorts. Let me tell ya, I feel good.

All in all, I spent maybe about $200 in new furniture/building materials. Old or new, here’s a list of the stuff featured in these photos:

1. Large Brown & Tan Orthopedic Lounger Dog Bed ($69.99 in store, Petco)
2. White Vika Amon 78-inch table top ($45.00, Ikea)
3. Fartech Flip Clock in orange ($108.00, Homeloo)
4. The Art of Storage Leonardo Bike Wall Mount ($40.00, Home Depot)
5. Limited edition Steve Rude X-Men lithograph ($60.00, St. Marks Comics)
6. 4’x10” wood planks (x6) and 8”x10” shelf brackets (x18) ($60.00, Lowes & Home Depot).
7. Polaroid Film, Polaroid Cameras, Polaroid Land Camera Printer (eBay, The Impossible Project: NYC/SoHo location, thrift stores)