Make the most of the space you have, including the wall. In this one-car garage, rubber-coated hooks hold a coiled hose and ladder; bungee cords stretched between studs create still more storage. A shovel is kept on a wall shelf. Another idea: Hang bikes by their frames on ladder hooks on the wall, and use the space behind the door for storing flat items, like folding chairs.
When using daffodils in mixed bouquets, place them in separate bud vases. The stems contain a poisonous sap that causes other flowers to wilt quickly.
Here's a convenient way to transport flats of blooms you've purchased and recycle a shopping bag at the same time. Start with a large paper bag that has handles. Cut the bag along both long sides of a side panel. Repeat on other side. Fold cut panels in to create more support at the base of the carrier; trim excess paper. Store carrier in the trunk of your car to reuse as necessary.
Sometimes the perfect thread for a sewing project comes on a spool that's imperfectly sized for your sewing machine. The solution: Place the spool in a heavy mug, and position it on your work surface directly underneath the spool pin. Take hold of the thread end, and hook it over the spool pin before threading it into the machine as usual (the thread should form a 90-degree angle); the thread will unravel smoothly as you work.
Use a grapefruit knife to hull strawberries. The curved blade will cut away the stems smoothly while leaving most of the fruit intact.
A refreshing spritz of fragrant water is a great way to keep cool in summer. To create sprays, simply fill mist bottles with water and a few strips of julienned cucumber or sprigs of lavender and mint. Label bottles (labels from chroniclebooks.com), and set them on a tray at your next backyard barbecue.
Bonus: Cucumber is known for its hydrating properties, and lavender and mint are reputed insect repellents.
