Chippy Old Decor Project

 This is a project I did about 12 years ago. I recently dug it out of the garden shed and plan to clean it up a bit and hang it on the wall in one of my guest rooms.

It's an old cabinet door that I drilled some holes into and attached antique glass flasks with wire.

I don't want to clean it too well, because I love all the chippy white paint.

When this was hanging years ago, I filled the flasks with water and live, cut flowers, but that was a pain when I had to change the water.

I'm hoping to find some pretty paper flowers on Etsy to use this time.

Don't you just love the look of all that old, chipped paint?

Thanks for dropping in!

If you decorate with old, chippy things, I'd love to see them.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Eco-Friendly Crafting

 Windchimes made from old flatware.

I didn't actually make this set of wind chimes, but they look relatively easy to do.

 The spoons are hammered flat and holes are drilled at the top of each handle.

There is a hole drilled at the end of the fork handle and another one centered above the prongs.

The prongs of the forks are bent and the spoons attached with string.

I think this is such a cool idea.

 Turn an ugly garment into pretty mixed media supplies.

 This ugly jacket had some really nice embroidery work, so I cut it apart and made some supplies for a mixed media sewing project.

 Some cheery polka dot sheets that I am going to recycle to make some kitchen curtains for summer.

I'm really having fun making new things from old things.

Do you have any ideas for using recycled materials  in your art projects or home decor.

I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks for stopping in to see what I've been up to.

I so appreciate your visit.

Frilly Friday

 Oh, the frill of it all! More thrifted lace goodies to use in my projects. This is an 80's jacket and skirt. Beautiful buttons, lace and fabric. I can use the entire thing for something pretty.

 I found this cute bag at the local antique mall. The hardware comes apart easily, so I was able to launder it without any trouble.

 And these are the coolest, ugliest, prettiest, pair of longjohns I've ever seen. I was thinking of cutting off the bottom and making a shirt, but they're just so wonderful and different, I hate to cut them up.



Heaven Scent

Yesterday, I worked on some lavender sachets for me, my Etsy shop and for gifts. I found some lovely old garments on one of my recent thrifting adventures, so I laundered them, cut them apart, and recycled the fabric. I purchased the cute little brass "hand made" charms from Etsy. The blue ribbon is from the Martha Stewart collection at Michael's and the brown ribbon is seam binding (love that stuff).

Today I plan to finish some recycled wool hearts that have a bit of embroidery and a bit of crochet added to them.

The fragrance from the lavender is just HEAVENLY!



Wintery Wednesday

It finally snowed again. Not that I'm complaining...I could live without it after Christmas. It's been very cold here this year, but we haven't had much snow until now. I had to put away my clogs and break out the winter boots to feed the birds this morning.

I feel kind of snowed in (not really...my husband plowed us out on his lunch hour). It always makes me feel like creating when I'm snowed in, so I'm working on some lavender sachets that I will post later.

Stay warm everybody!

A big hug to anyone who stops in to read my blog today : )

Recycled Fashion

I believe I've been using recycled materials to make things since I was a child. I remember a friend telling me a few years ago "Nobody understands the stuff you make". Hearing that remark stunted my creativity for years. I was afraid people would laugh at my work, so I quit creating and sat around feeling sorry for myself. Then one day I decided, who cares what anyone thinks. As long as it makes me happy, I'm going to create whatever I like.

This ensemble is one of those things that people probably aren't going to understand, but it's okay. I may never wear these pieces together as you see them here, but I will wear them.

In these photos there is a doilie used as a scarf, a burlap coffee sak made into a gathering bag, an old pair of curtains made into a skirt, a wonderful inen jacket with shell buttons that was a thrifted find, and my favorite old pair of boots.

I'm interested to know if anyone else would wear any of these items.

Maybe my friend was right.

Maybe nobody does understand my stuff.

Either way, it's all good!

I'm having fun!

The Love Letter

I was playing around with some of the jewelry parts and pieces I've been collecting, and I came up with this necklace that I call "The Love Letter".

It features a tiny antique brass love letter, that opens and closes, and has a great patina.

Aqua glass flower beads.

A Victorian ladies hand.

A vintage brass heart.

All on an antique brass chain.

I think it makes a lovely wearable Valentine and it has everything but the box of chocolates