the ReFab Diaries

Waste? Not! - Groovy Green Glass Giveaway

in , by Candice



I'm thrilled to introduce you to Groovy Green Glass! Based in Myrtle Beach, SC, this small, family owned company works with restaurants to reclaim used bottles. Then they turn them into useful, and artistic, eco-friendly products. Their entirely post-consumer line includes everything from glassware to jewelry. And today, they're offering one of you a chance to win the beautiful pendant pictured above. Read on... 
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Upcycle: Old frame and found prints

in , by Candice


A little Sunday morning fun. Which only barely compensates for the internet being down. Building a blog post from my phone is NOT fun.

Anyway, this is probably my 4th reuse of this frame. I found it under the back deck of my apartment building in 2010 and it's earned its keep!

Today, it's part mood board, part decor. I have a large collection of random prints, postcards, calendar pages etc. Too large. But I go into it on occasion and group things. Like a visual free-association exercise. It helps when I'm trying to see a pallette in the mess. In this case, my living room.

I'm not quite there (my mess is still a mess) but I like this little junky result right now!




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Upcycle: DIY bird mobile from plastic lids

in , , by Candice



Last year, I ate a lot of nuts. And since I wasn't buying them in bulk, I made myself keep the packaging. As evidence of my nut habit. But also as a reminder to myself to stop buying pre-packaged nuts! 

I knew I'd find a way to use the containers (did you see my nutty lamp?) but I had no idea what I'd do with the lids... until Ms Ro asked for a mobile. And then the wheels started turning!


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Waste? Not!: Week 2 - Bras, booze and burials

in , by Candice


Bras are hard to upcycle. I've been trying to create a "bra roundup" for years... and have failed. Because really, outside of the dog ball, these upcycles are funny, but not terribly realistic right? Having said that, bras aren't really thrift-store material either. So what on earth do you do with them when they're worn out??

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Upcycle: Finding your marbles

in , by Candice


It's only been a week since I moved but what a week! Chicago was hit by a massive blizzard last Sunday - meaning we were pretty much housebound. So the final part of moving my stuff out of the old place has dragged on, finally wrapping up this morning. The snow too has clung on. And on...

So. It feels appropriate to be posting a collection of marble upcycles. Because I've felt like I was losing mine this week. But I think they're regrouping.

Starting at the top...

1. The colors in these marble topped tables - the one at the top is perfectly sweet shop, don't you think? The one at the bottom is little more grown up, with it's earth tones.

2. A little sensory marble massage? Not just for kids I think!

3. This marble toothbrush storage idea is simple and proper old marbles would work just as well and look better I think! I also like the idea for paintbrushes, pens, flowers...

4. And finally, the marble fence idea. Not at all new, but there's a reason bloggers keep talking about it. It's a LOVELY idea! See examples and tutorials here, here and here.





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Waste? Not!: Week 1 - The no-waste move in 5 steps

in , by Candice



Ok - I'm sorta cheating. Because I don't think it's that challenging to make a move "zero waste". But I'm moving in three days so I get to start with an easy one! 

When I talk about waste around moving, I'm not just talking about the packing materials. I'm talking money. A move is expensive. Especially if you're paying people to put your stuff in a van and take it out on the other side (which I am). So if you can avoid wasting money on packing materials, you should! 

1. Pack it yourself: Yes, moving companies will pack things for you. But they charge by the hour so...

2. Free Boxes: If your friends/colleagues can't help you, our online sharing culture makes this easy. Freecycle and Craigslist are good sources. I scored oodles of boxes through a local Facebook trading post. They've been used at least 3 times before and this won't be their last rodeo.

3. Pay if forward/Reuse: I already know who I'm giving them to when I'm done!

4. Recyclable/reusable padding: I've been raiding the recycling in the basement of my office building for non-plastic packaging materials (pictured above). While I will use some plastic, it's almost entirely the recyclable pillows rather than bubble wrap. Having said that, did you know you can turn bubble wrap into beads? 

5. Upcycle the cardboard: Finally, to give myself something to look forward to in the world-beyond-the-move, I have a great cardboard upcycling project planned. Watch this space :)

What am I forgetting? If you have advice to share on this topic, please leave a comment!



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Winner! Trashy Crafter bracelet

by Candice

Amanda B. wins!


Time to send this Trashy Crafter bracelet to a new home! As always, I used a randomizer to pick the winner and it chose entry #158 - that's Amanda B. Amanda, congrats! Expect an email from me later today to get your shipping details.  :)  

Thanks to everyone who entered for your interest and for sharing all the ways you've built recycling and repurposing into your lives. Here's to wasting less :) 


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Fab: "Tree Change" dolls

in , by Candice



I rarely post over the weekend, but a friend sent me a link to this today and I had to share it! Artist Sonia Singh is getting attention for her Bratz "makeunders". She's not just refabbing thrifted dolls. She's bringing them back to nature, so to speak. She calls them Tree Change Dolls, a perfect summary of the process! More in her own words:

"These dolls have been rescued and rehabilitated from op-shops and tip shops around Tasmania. These lil fashion dolls have opted for a "tree change", swapping high-maintenance glitz 'n' glamour for down-to-earth style. I hand repaint the dolls faces, mold new shoes, and my Mum sews and knits their clothing.

My sisters and I grew up playing with second-hand dolls and home-made toys in the beautiful Tasmanian natural environment. I love the satisfaction of repairing and reusing discarded items to give them a new lease on life."

The whole concept is delightful. And sends a message that goes far beyond the dolls!

Sonia's planning an Etsy store. For now, visit her Tumblr for more makeunders and follow her on Facebook. 

UPDATE: Less than a month after I posted this, Sonia's story is everywhere! She has almost 100,000 Facebook followers and her first batch of dolls sold out the day she listed them on Etsy. How's she handling all this success? By encouraging others to try this themselves. Follow her on YouTube - she'll be posting how-to tutorials. And her FB thread is full of pictures of people around the world creating their own tree-change dolls!  :)



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