the ReFab Diaries

Upcycling: Beautiful waste

in , , by Candice



I see treasure in trash. I thinks there's joy in junk, wonder in waste. I've been showing you my upcycles, alley grabs, refabs, roadkill rescues and refashions for 6 years. As I contemplate the next step in trimming my waste (so to speak), here's a round up of some of my favorites tutorials.

1 and 2. Aluminum Cans 
Specifically, local (Chicago) craft beer cans. I love good beer and supporting local brewers. And I'm often distracted by the beautiful design featured on the cans. So much so, I thought they were worthy of jewelry. Save a few cans from your recycling and make your own geometric necklace or flower pin. 

3. Book Folding (if you're a book lover, please know that I am too. Here's my argument for why I think crafting with books is acceptable)
By far the most popular post on the blog, folded books make beautiful wall decor. It's a great way to repurpose a book that no one (and I mean no one) will ever read again. For example, old reference books, recipe books and city guides.

4. Negatives 
If you're keeping old negatives, ask yourself why? If you've lost the pictures, go get them printed! Then turn the negatives into something beautiful. Earrings, a necklace or create something decorative for your home. 

5. Pages of old books
There are so many ways to use book pages! Make your own paper beads then use them to make a bookmark. Or...
6. Big reference books 
Huge old encyclopedias are too big for bookfolds. So I made a book vase and won a Womens' Day Challenge for my trouble. I've also turned books into clocks and purses. 

7. Guitar strings
I played guitar regularly for 12+ years. I threw out so many broken strings in that time. What a waste! I could have made bunches of these beautiful flowers. And if you have an old, broken guitar lying around, here's a round of ways you could repurpose it.

8. Postage stamps (or any other pretty paper)
Betsy Siber makes beautiful jewelry out of stamps from around the world. This earring tutorial she created for me a few years ago is still a favorite. And here are other ideas for things you can do with old stamps.

Looking for more ideas? There's a long list of repurposing ideas in the sidebar. Lots of tutorials here and big roundups here. 




VIEW the POST
0 comments

Zero waste - Trash4Teaching

in , by Candice


Minimizing waste, maximizing education. That's the goal of California based T4T (Trash for Teaching). T4T inspires, students, educators, businesses and communities to rethink what others overlook. They rescue manufacturing overruns, discards and castoffs, originally headed for landfill, and re-imagine these items. Just look at what they collect - dumping it would be a horrible waste!
VIEW the POST
0 comments

ReFab: West Elm inspired dresser

in , by Candice



There's a furniture makeover. There's even a rescue. Then, there's what Retropolitan did with this dresser - more like a resuscitation, or resurrection! I don't shy away from a challenge (see this) but this transformation blows me away. I can't wait for my next alley rescue ... wood veneer here I come! Visit Retropolitan for the complete refab.





VIEW the POST
0 comments

Fab: I Didn't Throw it Away

in , by Candice


I happily admit to being sentimental at heart. But we moved a lot when I was a kid and I've lived on four different continents in the last 25 years. You don't move that much without leaving a LOT behind along the way. Nevertheless, when Agy invited me to contribute to the "I didn't throw it away" blog train, it was easy to say yes. Because somehow, in spite of all the moving, I'm surrounded by things I've had for 20+ years. I'm Capricorn. I once read that Capricorns "love to fill their homes with association." This seems to be true for me! So what are these things I've hung on to and why?



Things I still use


 Today is my 39th birthday (hence the Capricorn reference!). On my 19th birthday, I asked my mom to take me shopping at the local (Durban, South Africa) flea market. That day she bought me the leather purse/handbag and silver bracelet pictured above. They're not only things I still have but things I use often. Especially the purse. Why have I kept them? Because I still love them and they're in great shape considering their age. I think I can get away with wearing such old things because leather and silver aren't really vulnerable to trends. And considering my age, I think they still suit me - thanks mom!




Things I've inherited


These are the very few things I inherited from grandparents. I definitely love them as "things" but I know I keep them because they act like Time-Turner's for me. When I look at the glass jars, I'm transported back to my mom's parents' home. I can smell the mothballs, Jeyes Fluid, my grandmother's 4711 fragrance and my grandfather's Old Spice. And I remember playing with the sprung metal shirt-sleeve holders my Grampy stored in that bigger glass jar. He worked for the post office on the railway - I guess it was crucial that his sleeves stay up?

My great grandmother's sewing kit was a treasure I found when my Nanny moved from a small flat into assisted living. I never knew my great grandmother, but I was always told I have her hands. And I'm deeply attached to the tools she once used to create!

Finally, the little silver pill box belonged to my father's mom. After growing up in a Catholic orphanage on the east coast of South Africa, she got married and had SEVEN children. This woman was somehow the warmest, wittiest person (in spite of my very difficult grandfather) and was adored by her many grandkids. She didn't have a lot to leave, so this little box (and the pair of tiny ruby earrings that live in it) are beyond precious to me.




Things I've repurposed


One of my best friends gave me a hand-painted tea towel and oven glove for my 21st birthday. I always loved them but never used them because bright white cotton in my kitchen ... well, I knew I'd wreck it. So I carried them around for years then, one day, decided to repurpose them as a sewing machine cover. I've never regretted the decision because now I see the cover every day and think of Lyndi. 




Words ...


When I decided to tie a ribbon around these letters and keep them, I was being romantic. Now, 20+ years later, they represent a way of life mostly gone. And I don't just mean letter writing and the use of snail mail. I also mean the kind of delayed gratification we were once capable of. And the amazing quiet and intimacy of communicating this way. And the permanence of the words. One day I will actually re-read the letters. For now, I'm grateful to my younger self for hanging on to them.

Note: As I contemplated what to share in this post, it struck me that most of what I haven't thrown away I actually use, or look at, daily. They're mostly things that are very much part of my life and they all have stories. I have one small box for hoarding - I call it a memory box. It's the place that holds things like the letters and other sentimental bits and pieces I will never get rid of. If I ever overflow the box, I know I'll probably get rid of some things. Until then, I cherish what it holds.



This post is part of a blog train hosted by Agatha from Green Issues by Agy (now Agy Textile Artist) on "I Didn't Throw It Away". We have become such a throw-away society, but there are some things in our households that we still keep. Why is that so? Perhaps this blog train (that began Dec 1, 2014) can unlock the reasons behind it! Follow the daily posts and read about the stories behind the things we have kept for many years and why we didn't throw them away.





VIEW the POST
0 comments

Fab: New Year!

by Candice


From one of my favorite authors (and people) ... wishing you all the best for 2015!



VIEW the POST
0 comments

Peace, love and upcycling to you all...

by Candice


Best wishes to all of you ReFabbers out there ... whatever you celebrate, may it be brimming with the things that are most important to you. Thanks for all the support this year. I'll be opening 2015 with my contribution to the "I didn't throw it away" blog train. See you then!




VIEW the POST
0 comments

Upcycle: Breadbox doll house

in , by Candice
What to do with an old bread box? 


In October I took Ms Ro to Fat Blossom Farm's Forest Fairy Festival (in Michigan). I know I was motivated, in part, by my love of miniature worlds ... especially ones made out of repurposed materials!

You won't be surprised to know that I was in love with The Borrowers growing up. And The Wombles! I always loved the idea that in some other world, there are creatures "making good use of the things that (they) find, things that the everyday folk leave behind." And have you seen The Boxtrolls? You must! 

Anyway, I recently stumbled upon this amazing breadbox dollhouse created by Dan Borg, a former employee of The Rebuilding Center and an amazing mosaic artist. I was, of course, entranced!
The tub is the brass housing from a broken music box. The faucets are cup hooks!

The window boxes are drawer pulls with shredded carpet for vegetation. For many more images, visit the Flickr page.




VIEW the POST
0 comments

Upcycle: Copper wire candle holder

in , , by Candice




You may have seen the recent post dedicated to my scrappy tree and handmade ornaments (copper himmeli and twig-and-wire trees). This copper candle holder was made at the same time. I was inspired by the metal taper holders I've seen here and here. I liked being able to find a new use for a mason jar. And upcycle a little plastic sample bottle at the same time! Read on for the instructions...
VIEW the POST
0 comments
© the ReFab Diaries · THEME BY WATDESIGNEXPRESS
–>