Category Archives: repurposed stuff

Scrap wood picture frame

  February 18, 2014 - 5:00 am | , ,
6 Comments

Picture frame making wasn’t really on my agenda for the day. I was minding my own business mopping floors, when I noticed how dusty my piano looked…naturally, the picture above the piano then caught my attention…and it’s horrid frame which has been bugging me for weeks…and well, you know, you can’t walk on floors when they are wet anyway. It only makes sense to step outside and make a picture frame while they are drying. Wouldn’t you agree? This was the frame that was bothering me tremendously. Ever since I preformed mod-podge magic on it to make it look like a painting, I’ve been itching to do something about the frame. Hanging on to every ratty piece of scrap wood I can get my hands on does have it’s advantages sometimes…namely when random desires for decor I can’t afford strikes. (Just in case you wondering, I’m not in the habit … Continue reading →

Shopping in unexpected places

  November 20, 2013 - 4:32 am | , , ,
5 Comments

Not everything in life always falls neatly into the land of normal. Mostly, I think “normal” changes by the day. If you have kids for instance, saying things like “Keep your fingers out of sister’s ears” and “Don’t lick the floor” becomes pretty normal. (Really?? Did I ever think that would ever even be something I needed to clarify? No, I did not.) And then there’s the whole matter of curtain rod shopping. Because, obviously, one can’t simply do the easy thing, and run out to Walmart for one. That would be entirely too normal. I prefer stellar looking establishments such as this, where death by a stair parts avalanche is a distinct possibility. If you happen to be so foolish as to bring your overly energetic offspring with you, be prepared to keep a death grip on them, and endure gracefully any odd glances you might receive. Apparently mothers … Continue reading →

Signs of the times with old cabinet doors

  November 19, 2013 - 4:30 am | , , , ,
32 Comments

Oh dear. We are back at it again with a cabinet door project. What is it with old doors, I just can not leave them alone. Solid wood planks with interesting details, pretty old hardware, and price tags cheaper than a salted caramel mocha frappuccina without the salt…sigh…just dreamy. Such possibilities. Perhaps even more possibilities than the amount of leaves currently laying in my yard waiting to be raked. Which is saying a great deal about these doors… …never mind my yard keeping skills. I just figured I had better make sure that all those leaves were completely off the trees before I bothered with them. Because, you know, I hate to waste labor and all that. If my house disappears from view, at least I’ll know it was all worth it to have some decent cabinet door decor going on for Christmas. Know what I mean? Priorities people. it’s … Continue reading →

Color outside the lines – Cabinet doors to wall shelves

  October 31, 2013 - 4:30 am | , , , , , ,
19 Comments

I can give you three good reasons why you should never throw away wood cabinet doors. Here they are…one, two and three… Are you convinced?  What if I said I only spent a total of $8 for the entire art nook pictured here? Wood is wood, whether it starts out pretty or not! I hung on to every bit of the stuff we pulled out of the kitchen, knowing I would find something to do with it eventually. As it turns out, these cabinet doors were just exactly perfect for the art corner I’ve been working to finish in the guest room. I took off the hardware, filled in the holes, sanded, spray painted, screwed on brackets, and called it done! Not too shabby for old doors growing mold in the scrap pile! This little art spot for the girls, is coming along just nicely. It’s exactly what I pictured, simple, … Continue reading →

2 Ways to make a bunting banner from vintage crochet doilies

  October 14, 2013 - 9:18 am | , , ,
2 Comments

One of the funnest things about using vintage or “pre-loved” items in my home, is trying to imagine how to use the items in new, fresh, and modern ways. You might have already seen my past post about painted crochet jewelry…and today we’re talking crochet stuff again…hmm yes, this might end up being a reoccurring theme here. I can’t help it, vintage crochet is art work on a textile, what’s not to love? Bunting number one was made for my little girls’ room makeover. I used four mis-matched large crochet doilies that I found a thrift store, and random colors of spray paint I had on hand. ( I switched out the orange for pink later, as the orange looked too red.) I spray painted them thoroughly on both sides and strung them with jute. The paint makes them stiff, which I like. They hold their shape hanging, and can … Continue reading →

How to make wood bookends from salvaged materials

  October 8, 2013 - 4:30 am | ,
9 Comments

I have a thing about books….like the actual paper page, hard back, colorful binder, musty smell, non-virtual kind. You might have guessed I had a thing for them from the name of this blog. Books and shoes…you can never have too many. Our collection of books is rather enormous, and I’m constantly picking up new ones at thrift stores. I just can’t resist when they usually only cost a few cents. Naturally, I rather adore bookends and interesting things to prop up my books. I made this set of wood bookends from some architectural salvage I found at my local salvage shop. The “L” shape of the bookend is two blocks of wood, 6″ x 5″. I used a 1 x 6 and sliced it up with a miter saw. (Miter saws are weirdly addicting…you should try it.) I used wood glue at the bases to put them together. Leave … Continue reading →

How to make painted crochet jewelry

  October 2, 2013 - 4:00 am | ,
5 Comments

You might have noticed the lack of a Tuesday post…I just completed a 22 hr road trip driving solo with two small children over the weekend, and I’m not sure I was qualified to construct a coherent sentence yesterday worth reading… unless of course you’d want to read all 15 verses of  The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round which will be stuck in my head for the next year at least. We arrived home all in one piece and still fairly good friends, so I consider the trip a success. Last week, we knocked about some ideas for organizing jewelry….well, suppose your cute new jewelry organizer looks a tad sparse? We can’t have that, now can we?! Of course, if you’ve gotten groceries or filled your car with gas in the last week, your wallet might look equally as sparse. Here’s a simple way to make yourself some … Continue reading →

The little crates that could

  September 30, 2013 - 4:00 am | , , , ,
15 Comments

This is the very first project I did for this house. Before a single bit of paint was on the walls, when red carpet was still a horrifying reality, when the musty stench of dust and rot hung in the air and clung to your clothes. While plumbers, electricians, AC guys, and various other pickup truck owning individuals were crawling all over the house running wire, installing things, and shouting good natured insults at one another, the little girls and I sat safely out of way in the sunshine, staining crates. While boots pounded up and down the stairs, and the grind of saws and drills shrieked through the air, I was having a fine time splashing stain on my jeans, and day dreaming about white walls, painted brick, pretty counter tops, and a work room full of delightful things with a pretty spot to sit, read and plan. I … Continue reading →

A barrel of fun – two unconventional side tables

  September 23, 2013 - 4:00 am | , ,
10 Comments

I think every room of my house needs some element of surprise…just a quirky little something that says, “Hey! I’m not a just any old room, I’m special!” In my unprofessional opinion, staying out of generic world is the kindest thing you can do to a room.  I found just the perfect touch of whimsy for my guest room with these. Aren’t they adorable? I’m guessing they were part of a store display or some such thing. I found them months ago in a local thrift store and was immediately transported into a Robert Louis Stevenson world of “Ahoy matey!” and “Avast ye land lubbers!” right there in the store. ( Why yes, my imagination does tend to wander, why do you ask?) I had them in the back of my truck before you could say “pieces of eight”! Naturally, my inclination was to paint them as I would imagine … Continue reading →

4 jewelry organizers you can make for FREE

  September 16, 2013 - 3:30 am | , , ,
5 Comments

Today is Monday. I understand that deep thinking on a Monday is highly non-advisable, even dangerous maybe. (For some of us, that’s pretty much every day! Ha!) So, in the interest of soothing you into a new work week with as little mental anguish as possible, here are four easy ways to organize your bangles, beads and baubles. Exhibit A. Find a frame, insert lace, hang earrings.  Exhibit B. Find a paper towel holder. Paint it orange. Slide bangles onto rod. (Orange is optional, although highly advisable.) Exhibit C. Find a glass flower vase. Fill with bracelets. Somehow shiny things look nicer behind clear glass, odd eh? (No, I’m not Canadian.) Exhibit D. Send your children into the yard to gather sticks. Spray paint sticks gold. Lodge them securely into a flower pot after you’ve killed the flowers it previously held by forgetting to water them. Hang necklaces. (Rejoice! It’s … Continue reading →