Upcycled Inspiration

I just bought the newest issue of GreenCraft by Stampington and Company.  You can buy it here, or at your favorite bookstore. Every time I get one it makes me want to sift through the trash, go to the thrift store and dig through drawers.  I am not near my sewing room this week, so instead of creating my own fun creations out of discards, I decided to see what others have made.  Enter Etsy search. . .

Look at what fun things I've found.

 {ZiBagz}

{hippiekingdom}

{hytedesign}

{saratops}

{DynagirlVintage}

{ladylotus}

{cleverscene}

{littlebluebirdstudios}

Hardware project

I'm working on a repurposing project. I have been trying to decide what to hang above our desk. There have been too many ideas, actually. The latest one I've landed on is a grouping of paintings/drawings from our travels. Along with those I have some fun hardware I'd like to incorporate. This first frame was used with another picture that has been reframed. It's a beautiful frame and I was considering mounting this beautiful toile velvet to use as a pin board. The velvet was purchased to make a pillow that never materialized. I could still do that, actually.

While at the frame shop to reframe a sketch of The Coliseum, I ran across these two beautiful papers from The Paper Company at 30% off. They are very large pieces of paper and are for covering matte board or any other creative use.

Below is a clever idea from BHG that I really loved. They don't tell you how to do it and it's not as simple as it looks. When I bought my drawer pulls, I discovered that there is no easy way to hang these straight on a wall. They have to be in a frame. If you'd like to know the difficulty, let me know. Otherwise, I won't go into the details. As you can see I used one of the papers in this thrift store frame that I spray painted black. I mounted two drawer pulls. I think it's really cute. You can't really tell, but this paper is flocked. So fun! It's not in my office at the moment and mounting it to the wall will be tricky. For now, I think I like it here. Click on the photo for an up close and personal look at it.

Kitchen Corners

I thought I'd show you my kitchen counters. Woo hoo, you say? Well, I'll have you know I like my kitchen counters! Some people need to have empty counters to feel okay. NOT ME! I don't want any appliances on my counters, thank you very much. My counters need to be utilitarian, but pretty at the same time. By the way, I do cook. My youngest may not agree with that since I don't cook much on the weekends and that's when she comes around. But, when DH is home, I cook. Here is part of my ironstone collection doing it's job. The little can is a reproduction label on an empty can, purchased at the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, Illinois. That's a great flea market, by the way. The little salt cellar is from Sur La Table.

These jars are from Target. I can't spell it like I say it, but you know what I mean. Buddy especially loves the one in the front. The biggest one is full of cookie cutters, some old, some new. And yes, that's a stirrup holding napkins. My Mom had one for years so, of course, I needed one. Doesn't everyone? I really do hate those obnoxious outlets, though.

Here is a flower frog holding an old family recipe. Also, herbs are being stored on a stamp caddy. Dishsoap, balsamic vinegar and olive oil sit on a silver tray by the sink.

I found this silverplate wine cooler at the thrift store. It's perfect for utensils. I especially love old rolling pins. This one came from the Rose Bowl Flea Market, which is also very awesome. In the background is a plate by Emma Bridgewater. I LOVE her pottery. I bought a sugar and creamer when we went to London last Fall. Oh, by the way, she's British. The paper towels are being held by an old paper cutter I bought on ebay. A fun use for an old gadget. There is actually a little more, but it's a mess at the moment so I'm not showing pictures. How do you like your counters?