January 2010 | the ReFab Diaries
Half-Globe Centerpiece / Kitchen Tool Recipe Holders


These are just two of many fun recycling ideas from good old Better Homes and Gardens.  I really love old globes  but there are only so many that you can display "as is" without becoming a hoarder.  So I think this is a great idea: using a handsaw, carefully cut a globe in half, then set each half on a footed cup and fill as desired.  I can imagine painting the inside a fun contrasting color too.

 

Thrift and "Antique" stores always have heaps of old kitchen utensils.  And again, they're appealing but I cannot justify buying them for "display" only - they need to be useful for something!  So I really like the idea of keeping recipes handy with a holder made from an old potato masher or meat tenderizer (because really - who tenderizes meat???). Simply attach a clothespin or metal clip to the handle with epoxy.






As a child, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in sailboats.  Now, I still associate them with summer ... there's nothing like looking out over Lake Michigan and seeing it teeming with craft of all shapes and sizes.






Until then (she gazes out at the snow), make some of your own and hang them from the ceiling! Using only upcycled materials, this wonderful tutorial and downloadable pattern is care of Ann Wood.  As she says, the instructions are epic, but the end product is quite unreal.



You can never have too much jewelery.  Or perhaps I should just speak for myself.  And if you're me, you're always on the lookout for ways to make the bling rather than buy it!  So first - create these lovely necklaces from washers (care of a wonderful Little Birdie Secrets tutorial).  This looks super easy.  For less easy but with some serious wow factor, check out Bromeliad's tutorial on how to create a bib necklace from vintage pins.





I find almost any book "art" entrancing but these booklights (Pile of Lights) from In Every Tree would win the prize - if I had a prize to give away.  Sadly, they retail in Stockholm only ... perhaps they ship?


Book sculpture continues to fascinate and is quite do-able.  Check out my handiwork here and a super-simple tutorial here.  In essence,  grab a book you might otherwise donate and start folding.  You'll quickly see patterns emerge.  Or, you could use the following image as inspiration and stack them in some wonderful way.


Finally, you could take a stab (literally) at some serious book sculpting.  You need to work with a really sharp craft knife!  There are amazing "altered books" artists out there.  For example, the appropriately named  "King's Garden" below by Karen ..... of Karen's Whimsy.


Christine's beautiful blog, Jane Avion, is a treasure trove.  Find her tutorial for the Moth Closet Sachets here.  The hedgehog's name is Igel.  And while Christine deems him "not terribly original", I think he's wonderful.  Find a pattern for the little guy here.


First, some inspiration. Thanks to my lovely friends and family, I had gift cards to burn at Anthropologie on my birthday. As always, the store styling was a distraction - I feel like I've tumbled down the rabbit hole the minute I walk through the doors! 


These amazing peacocks warranted pictures.  They're recycled-book sculptures - hard to see the print on the pages, but I assure you it's there. 


And now for a fabulous tutorial! When Kate and I were in serious "rebooked" mode (turning old books into clocks and wall sculptures) we tried this... the elusive "book purse". We failed miserably - they were neither attractive nor functional.  But how cool are these???  


  

Thanks to Chris at Curbly.com, not only can you follow an online video how-to, but they're also really good looking end products!  Now if only I could get my hands on a hard copy of "Nurse in Danger" ....  (first spotted at Crafting a Green World).




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