June 2013 | the ReFab Diaries


This post is mostly quirk. But old sewing machines - well, what can you do with them? Their little engines do burn out. And what about those that are old but work great ... but are really, truly ugly?! Who wants to create beautiful things on an ugly old machine? So, ideas ....

1. Cover a stained, plastic cover with mod podge and old book or magazine pages. Full tutorial at Cynthia Shaffer

2. The machine is vintage and you actually love the body. But how to make it useful? Turn it into a lamp! Via Fab.com

3. The whole thing is trashed. Perhaps you can salvage the parts but otherwise, it's a gonner. Grow something in it! Machine planter tutorial at Trash N2 Tees










My grandmother loved the word "tizzy" ... so do I! And there's something wonderful about having it on a clock. Tick, tock tizzy!  Last week I turned a couple of '45s into clocks and posted a complete tutorial (Click through to see lots more images).  And for more fun ways to repurpose old LPs/records/vinyl, take a look at this post.

Today, I'm giving the Tizzy away. :)  It's a purple '45. The cover has been hand-painted ... seriously. Those polka dots were done one at a time! And I'll send it along with the clock because they belong together. 

Giveaway details:  Giveaway opens 12:01am EST Tuesday, 6/25 and ends Sat, 6/29 at midnight. Winner announced Mon 7/1. It's easy to score multiple entries and increase your chances of winning - see below for details... (Open to US residents, 18 and older.)  

Note: the clock mechanism requires one AA battery, not included







a Rafflecopter giveaway












When the whisk flies away with the spoon ... you get this! No actual instructions for this little whisk fly, but head to Cuartoderecha for more detailed images that give you a pretty good idea of how to start. 






A while ago I compiled a post dedicated to repurposing vinyl and, ever since, I wanted to find some '45s in great colors to play with myself. And here they are! Since I'm drowning in clock-making hardware (all those book-clocks I once made to sell!) I turned them into clocks. Here's the tutorial ... giveaway to come! 




Ah ... the little Danon yoghurts. One dose a day, means lots of little bottles collecting quickly. Which means you'll soon collect enough to make this lamp! Construction is much simpler than you'd imagine; no special materials required. The completely tutorial at Reciclantes is really inspiring, as is the whole blog - please click through and take a look.








Love this summertime, fish-tale inspired upcycle. Complete instruction at DS* ... be sure to skim the comments - some helpful extra info there about the where to source the paper etc.










It's summer in my hemisphere. That means (amongst other things) that I'm suddenly driving over a lot of empty plastic bottles! I've started giving myself points every time I hear the loud crunch. But really? Do they need to be rolling around in the street? I think we should let our kids bowl with them instead. Then recycle them please Chicago!


1.  Monster bowling

2. Sumo bowling

3. Bowling "toss"

4. Rainbow bowling









A little more aluminum / soda-can bling for you!  This simple, geometric piece was easy and quick to make. Here's how:





I grew up in South Africa in the 80s. It's possible things have changed now but, when I was a kid, gold seemed somehow more affordable than books (only one of many very screwed up things about SA in the '80s, but I'll spare you the history lesson). So, we used libraries ... populated, and run by, lots of "ladies" wearing a lot of gold jewelry. I didn't own a whole lot of books until I hit England in my mid 20's and discovered publisher's clearance warehouses. And used bookstores. Books for a buck!!  I went a bit crazy. 

Perhaps my values are skewed care of my gold-plated upbringing? But I think this is a great way to treat a less-than-glittering bowl! Get the complete tutorial at Liz Marie Blog










If you live on a certain continent, you recognize the red bullseye a mile away. And the bags ... my, how they collect. There are, of course, other plastic grocery bags in the world ... and they all collect! So here are some fun ways to upcycle and repurpose them:


1. A lampshade

2. A leaf or heart/valentine mobile

3. A cuff bracelet

4. A clutch bag

5. A sturdy (fused plastic) reusable bag (where'd the spots go you ask?)

6. A wreath

7. A sturdy ("plarn" or knit) market bag


PS: I think the majority of grocery and departments stores in the US now collect their own bags for recycling. Some even turn their used bags into the sturdy, reusable versions.






How many trends have collided here? Lets see ... neon + yarn bombing/balls + macrame + suspended plants. Yes, really. And you know what? I'm won over by the simplicity. I love this particular use of brights. I love hanging plants. I love yarn and crochet bombing! And I'm secretly thrilled that one of my parents' favorite '70s past-time (macrame!) is back.
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