Happy 2019 to all of you! I'm getting this blogging year off to a generous start thanks to the lovely family running Stencil Revolution. One of you lucky refabbers will be receiving $50 to spend on the stencils of your choice from their shop. I've also rounded up some inspiring stencil makeovers for you, with links to the original projects.
Happy 2019 to all of you! I'm getting this blogging year off to a generous start thanks to the lovely family running Stencil Revolution. One of you lucky refabbers will be receiving $50 to spend on the stencils of your choice from their shop. I've also rounded up some inspiring stencil makeovers for you, with links to the original projects.
2018 Holidays by the Book
in upcycled holidays, by ReFab Diaries
Hi everyone! Yes, I'm still alive even though my blog has been very quiet - a new job and life-in-general will do that. Anyway, it feels like fall in Chicago and my daughter's mind is already on Halloween and holidays in general. So I was inspired to pull together a thoroughly bookish holiday post.
The goal: Everything holiday, by the book! Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving decor, and all December decorating and giving... using old books and book pages.
Doable? Yes! Ready? Here we go.
The goal: Everything holiday, by the book! Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving decor, and all December decorating and giving... using old books and book pages.
Doable? Yes! Ready? Here we go.
Six ways to relove your old furniture
in upcycled decor, by ReFab Diaries
If you live in the northern hemisphere, then it's the time of year when you're aching to throw open windows, pack away blankets and refresh, well, everything! You've been stuck indoors with your stuff for months and you're tired of it. Maybe you're even ready to donate half of it and throw the other half into a dumpster somewhere. Today's message is... don't. There are other, less wasteful ways to refresh tired old spaces. Here are six great tips from today's guest blogger Kacey Bradley, of The Drifter Collective!
14 Unexpected Benefits of Hand Sewing
in refashion, by ReFab Diaries
Every now and again I'll go on a mending or refashioning spree, and I'll share it with you guys. What I don't share are the many times I thread a needle to stitch on a button or repair a small hole in a shirt I love ... or put small darts in a dress otherwise too wide for my daughter; by hand. I was raised by a tribe of woman who sewed - not in some precious, artistic way... it was simply a survival skill for them, like being able to boil an egg. I realize that this mindset has shifted, and our generation is more likely to replace than repair. So I recently gave the 7.5 year old Ms R her first lesson in sewing on a button. And as we worked together, I realized again how valuable it is for her to learn things like this. Why?
Making things Bright.
in upcycled holidays, by ReFab Diaries
Confession: I loathe the forward and backward movement of the clocks. It messes with my body's rhythms, my appetite, my energy levels etc. And right now, the sun starts going down around 3:45pm in Chicago. So, I'm literally looking for light, and always grateful for the merry and the bright. Here are some ideas for making your life a little lighter, if you're needing it as much as I am!
Sustainable pet care: 5 ways to get started
in zero-waste lifestyle, by ReFab Diaries
![]() |
Written by Nat Smith, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers. |
If you're a dog owner and also trying to find ways to reduce packaging and plastic waste, this post is for you! As Nat Smith (from Rover) points out, do-it-yourself treats and toys are not only a great way to cut down on packaging: sustainable pet care can also save your money and improve the quality of your pet’s life. What could be better? Here are five ideas from Nat:
SproutingStories: succulent, upcycled book planters.
in upcycled books, by ReFab Diaries
"Everything deserves a second chance, especially old books." - SproutingStories.
If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I have a board dedicated to upcycled books, which is how I found SproutingStories, my new favorite book upcycler!
Get 20% off your own handmade, succulent book planter.
Grab the code at the bottom of the post.
An upcycler responds to a refugee crisis: meet Andrea Boyko.
in upcycling, by ReFab Diaries
Once in a while, a fellow upcycler sends me a story that blows me away (thank you Feltwerker). This inspiring story starts with a shoemaker who tried to imagine walking miles in no shoes. Not just walking, fleeing. Leaving everything you have and doing it barefoot. Having to make your children do it barefoot.