the ReFab Diaries

Most of Ms Ro's clothes are hand-me-downs or consignment/thrift store buys. Because Ms K is thrifty. And because Ro grows out of everything so fast, what's the point?  One BIG issue is the shift from season to season. Example: I bought a 4-pack of beautiful long-sleeved onesies (babygrows) from a Carter's outlet ($5 for 4!) ... that Ro hardly wore because they were too big. Since most of them were in good condition, I didn't want to just pass them on! So, I combined them and turned them into summer swing tops. I want them to last a while, so just cutting off the bottom and sleeves was not enough. My goal was to make them wider too. That way, when they start getting a little short, it won't matter as much.  This is not a great tutorial I'm afraid.  My "demo" onesie ended up a mess because I got distracted mid-project.  But here's what I can show you.  

Balloons are a cheap way to bring a lot of color to a party space ... so we use too many of them and don't think much about it.  Then we dump them in the garbage or, even worse, happily release hundreds of helium-filled orbs into the air.  Eventually, they come down and cause havoc.  

So, since we don't generally think of balloons as reusable, we need to see them as the single-use plastic items that they are and stop using them.  If you love decorating with them, buy a bag and make yourself a reusable set, like the ones picture below.  

If you want some ideas for how to reuse balloons once they've performed their party duty, read on ....

I think that burlap is something you either love or loathe. Either way, it's a much more interesting fiber than you'd think. And it can contemporary... not just country! It's "green" because it's made from jute, a very low-impact plant to grow. So it's renewable. Even compostable! Also, it’s pretty easy to get second-hand/used burlap, if you know where to look. Local coffee shops, especially ones that roast their own beans, tend to be rich with big, empty burlap sacks.  For other ideas on how to find the stuff (and to read more about why burlap is awesome) visit Crafting a Green World.  Once you get your hands on some, make these pretty things (25+ projects for you):

Let's talk about bread boxes. Or not, since there's not a whole lot to say about them, right? So what to do old bread boxes, because they're still around and need a new purpose in life. 

Saw the  top left breadbox upcycle on Apt Therapy (via BHG) and went in search of others .... I know one corner of my kitchen is a mess of cords so this project will happen as soon as I can find an old breadbox 

I love Anthropologie - the store designs and overall aesthetic of the buyers.  I don't love the non-sale prices.  And I don't love the political leanings of the man atop the brand (which includes Free People and Urban Outfitters). I own clearance items purchased with gift cards.  More than anything, I get a kick out of "athro-hacking" or "anthro-morphing", if you will.  If I can be inspired by (i.e. steal) their ideas and make it myself (or anthro-morph something thrifted), I will.

I have no idea what this lamp is worth, but I found it in a barn in Michigan.  The place was crammed with dusty, rustic antiques.  We were about to leave when this incredible green thing leapt out at me.  I knew it would go with the frog prince chair ... so it had to come home with me.  I paid less than the asking price, but more than I wanted to.  Now that I've owned it for several years, I know I'd pay pretty much anything for it.