Interview - Hangio

Professional Organizers deal with clothes and closets on a daily basis. We encourage clients to recycle their wire hangers and opt for durable hangers that clothes will actually stay put on. Of course, we are always interested in new products. Hangio caught our eye on the NAPO website. Instead of using traditional hard plastic or wood, Hangio hangers are made from moldable foam that can be configured in six ways to adapt to each garment. The hangers are a bit more pricey than traditional hangers (29.99 - 32.99 for a 3 pack) but well worth it when you think of your clothes not having bumps in all the wrong places.

We reached out to Ayodele Aigbe the CEO and founder of Hangio for information on her bendable hanger. She was more than happy to speak with us and we wish Ayo all the best as she moves forward with these promising hangers!

What inspired you to develop Hangio?

My freshman year of college, I remember vividly walking into my closet to bring out my favorite sweater. As I took off the sweater from the hanger, I noticed that it had shoulder bumps on each end. I was flustered and searched Google for options on how to remove the shoulder bumps. I tried many things from putting hot water on each end and drying it to ironing out the shoulder. None of it worked! I was curious to see if anyone had gone through the same thing. As such, I began asking more of my friends and people on campus if they had similar issues via a survey and I found a common narrative- the traditional hanger design did not work well. The current design gave way to stretching, slippage, shoulder bumps, and wrinkling. Further, I knew it was a problem worth solving when I saw that these problems created a negative social impact on people. Inspired by the idea to create better hangers came Hangio

What makes them unique?

The world's 1st premium bendable hanger that alleviates the issues of shoulder bumps, clothes slippage, and collar stretching has arrived. Hangio Hangers are unique in their quality and design aesthetic.

Will they save any space in the closet?

Hangio Hangers #1 goal is to maintain clothes in our client's closet. Our Hangers are larger than others (i.e. plastic or felt) which enables the hanger to have a bendable design to accomplish its goal. As such, we recommend reserving a "special space" in our client's closets for where they can put their special/delicate garments on Hangio Hangers.

Where are the hangers made?

Hangio hangers are made in the USA.

What is the best way for someone to purchase the hangers? Is it all online or in stores?

All of our hangers can be purchased on our website at www.shophangio.com.

Interview - Lavivi Love Quilts

Many of our clients have a difficult time parting with their items, this is especially true when it comes to keepsakes. We spoke with Harlan Sexton of Lavivi Love Quilts about some new options.

For the busy person, what is Lavivi Love Quilts?

Photo credit: Ray Singh

Lavivi Love Quilts is a studio that makes memory quilts on commission. These are quilts made for a client using clothes - and sometimes household textiles - from a loved one who has died. So each quilt is unique and has deep meaning. These quilts help the family tell their story of love.

A quilt is basically three layers: the top, the back, and the batting in-between. The quilts are made traditionally, even though the top “fabric” is composed of shirts, dresses, ties, table linens, etc. At Lavivi Love Quilts, we are inspired by the best of historic American quilt patterns. Our quilts have a classic look… like they’ve always been in the family. You can expect an heirloom quality quilt, but without the fragility of an antique. Please - wrap up on the couch, layer it on your bed, display it on the wall.

That said, sometimes a client will want a quilt that is more of a tribute or mile-marker quilt - the toddler who is now in kindergarten, an important year or season, a special trip that yielded memories of colors, sights, images that the client wants expressed in fabric. Then we work with outgrown clothes, uniforms, or other mementos. But even these mile-marker quilts have the same mission as the memory quilts: to tell someone’s story. 

What is your background, how did you start the company?

Photo credit: Carmen Salaberrios

Quilt-making and I discovered each other about 10 years ago. At first I made quilts for my family. Once I knew what I was doing, I added making quilts for the Quilts of Valor Foundation. At a certain point, I knew I could design a quilt myself and work with non-traditional fabrics. There is a joy in creating something new, based on classic patterns, for someone else.

The business began as many artisan businesses do… making gifts for family and friends, passing along to them various experiments that turned out successfully. Then it grew organically into paying clients. I decided this year that the business needed a website and an Instagram page. I have exhibited at two conferences for professional organizers affiliated with NAPO.

Sometimes people want to know how I learned to sew. When I was in high school, my best friend and I took garment sewing lessons. This was one of several plots concocted by our mothers for us to learn basic life skills. I hated garment sewing - so many tears! - but I’m glad I learned my way around a sewing machine. It’s a great power tool for creativity.

What is the process for someone who would like a quilt?

Call me or send a message via the Lavivi Love Quilts website. We’ll start by talking about the person you are remembering. We’ll talk about the garments and textiles you have from her or him. We’ll take a look at the quilt tops on the website (more patterns will be added this spring!) to see which ones speak to you. And we’ll talk about who the quilt is for, which garments have the most significance, which can best be used to make a sturdy quilt or wall-hanging - it’s a pretty wide-ranging  and sensitive conversation about something that can be difficult for the prospective client.

Once the client is ready - and this can take anywhere from a few weeks to months - the client sends me the selected garments, and I get to work. Completion generally takes 8 - 10 weeks. During this time I stay in touch with the client.

What is the Quilts of Valor Foundation & Quilters by the Sea QOV?

Photo credit: Carmen Salaberrios

QOVF is a nation-wide organization of volunteer quiltmakers. Since 2003, the Quilts of Valor Foundation mission has been to award Quilts of Valor to service members and veterans touched by war. These quilts are entirely made by volunteers to honor, comfort, and give thanks to our Armed Forces. We are part of a long proud American tradition of civilian-made quilts for those who fight and serve. Over 240,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded in military hospitals, in Iraq and Afghanistan, in all 50 states, to veterans of all wars and conflicts. I have been a QOVF member since 2016.

In 2017, I joined the American Legion Auxiliary in my community. My unit has been hugely encouraging of the Quilts of Valor project. After I explained at one meeting about the quilts I had made (one to a WWII veteran living in Iowa and another to a VA patient in New York), women came up to me to tell me they really wanted to help, but they didn’t know how to sew. At first I was stymied because I couldn’t see how to make a quilt if you didn’t know how to operate a sewing machine. Then I told myself to snap out of it… how often do you get volunteers begging you to show them how to help? I had to figure this out.

Fast forward two years. We have a wonderful group now, an official local QOVF group called Quilters by the Sea QOV because we are a nautical community. We get together four times a year in a modern version of the old-fashioned quilting bee: some members prepare the fabric, some sew, some iron, some do the layout. We have awarded eight Quilts of Valor to local veterans. I’m so proud of our group! And the veterans and their families are deeply honored.

Can you discuss some of the most interesting quilts you have created?

Photo credit: Harlan Sexton

Recently an extended family commissioned me to make a quilt in memory of the matriarch. She had died before the next grandchild was born. They gave me some of her dresses to make into a baby blanket for this one who would never know her. One of them is a scrapbooker - so she made an album to tell the grandmother’s story to that grandchild - she even found some photos of the grandmother wearing the clothes that went into the quilt. The memory quilt will be part of the family’s story-telling when they talk about their matriarch and how her love even now surrounds this last grandchild. 

Interview - SpaceLift

When we visit a client for the first time they usually ask us to start in the garage or attic. Whether it is a desire to finally get the cars in or simply to create systems for sports, gardening or Costco overflow the garage can make a great place for storage solutions. However, many people have tight garages or low attics with limited space, so we spoke with Ruth Berliner from SpaceLift to discuss possible options.

For the busy person, what is SpaceLift?

Spacelift attic lift is an elevator that transports cargo/storage or seasonal items for the home/garage loft/loft or business from one level to another.

Is the lift only for attics?

No, it can be used for an attic or storage area (up to 200 pounds) to the main level, a loft space, anywhere that requires cargo to be moved from 1 level to another. Also, there is no vertical height restriction (you can stack boxes, etc. as high as your attic height allows)

What are the differences in sizes?

There are 2 sizes:

Model 5222-S: 22 W x 57.5 L x 7 H inches fits in between standard floor joists

Model 5228-S: 28 W x 57.5 L x 7 H inches will require cutting a joist and extra headers for support.

Both sizes can fit in a hallway and the low profile design allows the motor housing to fit in between a 7 inch floor joist.

How does the installation work?

There is some assembly required as well as carpentry work for the site. The lift works in tandem with your attic/loft stairs and requires an extra opening. We have downloadable manuals on our website as well as 7 part, DIY youtube videos on our youtube site (@spaceliftproducts). We have a list of installers on our website. If you don’t find one in your area, any handyperson or garage installer should be able to install it for you. The installation fee is separate and depends on your installer.

What types of clients benefit from the lift?

Anyone who doesn’t like to carry cargo, boxes or anything heavy from their attic, loft or storage area up and down stairs. It is also a much safer idea. Or, anyone that has to drive their items to a storage facility.  We tell all our clients “Claim Your Attic.”

Interview - Vertical Spice

One of our most requested services is kitchen organizing. There are some tried and true strategies when dealing with a kitchen. However, for people that love to cook and bake volume can be an issue. Structures are important when organizing especially in the kitchen and pantry. We spoke with Scott Miedtke from Vertical Spice about possible solutions.

For the busy person, what is Vertical Spice?

Vertical Spice is Cabinet Organization Simplified.  We offer a line of patented Spice Rack and Storage Drawers in a variety of sizes to allow the end user to custom create their own organization answer.  Our full extension ball-bearing drawers with clear fronts and elastic sides enable the user to quickly find and access any container to the full depth of their cabinet.  We combine 5 drawer widths, 5 base widths, 3 depths and 2 material finishes to create over 60 products.  The different units can either stand alone or be placed side-by-side to create a single shelf or whole cabinet organization.  With our units, you no longer have to remove or tip-over the containers at the front to get to the hidden flavors in the back.  All our units are individual drawers bringing the whole cabinet out to you.

What are some of you most popular products and why?

The 222x2x11 Spice Racks are our largest sellers, about 40% of our 80,000 total units shipped to date.  The single unit has three 2” wide drawers, two tiers tall and holds 30 standard 2” diameter spice containers in just a 7” wide x 12” tall x 10.6” deep space.  The unit is a great way to conveniently store many spices in a small area.  The 33x1x11 unit is our second most popular unit.  It has two 3.25” wide drawers and is great for organizing over-sized spice containers or oils and vinegars.  We have drawer units up to 6.7” wide that give flexibility to storing and accessing the ever-changing containers in the users collection.

Is there anything someone needs to know before ordering?

We have a very good tool on our site to aid in selecting the units for your custom solution.  Visit the “Self Help Product Selector” and enter your space’s dimensions. The Cabinet Designer shows the units that will fit in your space. You select one unit at a time, the list of units remaining are the only ones able to fit in your remaining space, keep selecting until the space is filled, or remove units and start again. Remember, you are measuring to find the largest "Box" you could slide in and out of your cabinet space without catching on a door hinge or cabinet frame.

How does installation work?

Installation is very simple.  All you need is a Philips screwdriver and you can mount the units to your cabinet or shelf.  Align the units in the cabinet as desired, then pull the drawer out to see the base.  Screw the supplied self-taping screws into place and you are done.  All drawers are easily removed and reattached to aid in install and cleaning.

What is you favorite spice?

Cayenne pepper is a go to for me.  It adds a little heat, but I also like the way it enhances flavors.