May 20, 2013

Good Monday morning.  I hope you all had a restful (or productive,
as the case may be) weekend.  You know the drill - we always kick
off the week with inspirational repurposing so let's get started.



There's definitely some repurposing going on here as the base of the
coffee table is a vintage warehouse cart.  But what I'm drooling over is
the overhead light - it was constructed out of old lattice wood strips.



And while we're on the subject of old wood, take a
look at this charming 'mural' of stained scrap wood.

 
This piece of weathered art is composed
of 36 blocks of barn wood.




And how darling are these stenciled wood coasters?!


The next two wine racks were made from scrap wood:

Cute, aren't they?



Ever considered making your own wine crate?




Distressed barn wood makes a great mounting
for this reproductive vintage clock.




Boards from an old picket fence were
reused to create this shelving unit.


If you're going for a cabin look, think about replacing the
bathroom medicine cabinet with one made from old wood.




A weathered wood tile makes this coat
hook more interesting, doesn't it?




A simple weathered board makes a
charming rustic table runner.




Addicted 2 Decorating
It's a patio seat; it's a coffee table; it's a
storage bin - it's completely versatile!




We've all seen versions of this "We do" saying
but it's even more appealing on wood, isn't it?


Nordstrom sells a version of the same quote:
Something tells me you can make it a lot cheaper than Nordstrom!

We're having our deck disassembled and reconfigured today.
I hope there's lots of scrap wood left for some of these projects.

May 17, 2013



Weekend Project Ideas!

 
This is a first for fleaChic - a post devoted entirely to fashion repurposing:

J's Everyday Fashion
Do you have an older dress that you no longer wear?
Consider cutting it off and making a blouse out of it.


J's Everday Fashion
How about making a work skirt out of a party dress?  Darling!

 

Believe it or not, this Anthropologie-inspired skirt was
made from an old sweater.  Click here for the tutorial.


Need a cute idea for a bathing suit cover-up or maxi-skirt?
This one was made from the fabric of two different dresses.


 
Ever find a shirt you like but it's too large?
Shorten the sleeves and add a belt:

Every one of these darling scarfs were made from old t-shirts.
YouTube has tons of tutorials on how to do this in just minutes.

 
Instructables
Turn a man's tie into an ascot!  Thrift shops are full of vintage
ties at ridiculously cheap prices.  Isn't this a precious idea?
Click here for the easy step-by-step tutorial.




 Shelley Smith Sinclair
Dress up a vest with a ruffle made from another piece of clothing.

 
Do you have an old sweater or cardigan that could
use a boost?  Cover the pockets with lace doilies:


Here's a beautiful idea for an old skirt:
Source
Cover it with a lace tablecloth!

 
Thrift shop lace + a pair of old shorts = a beautiful new look!
Source
Maybe you or a young lady in your life
would like this romantic, yet sporty, idea.


Clever Girl
Giving a pair of shorts a scalloped hem completely changes the look.



 
Let's take a look at some upcycled accessories:


The next time you visit a flea market or thrift shop look for vintage
necklaces you can add charms to.  These pendants were enhanced
with charms just idling in a jewelry box.
 
Create an entirely new necklace out of parts of old necklaces.



Recycled Fashion
Cover an old bangle bracelet in fabric and pieces of vintage jewelry.




Retail lines are starting to incorporate recycling programs.  Poketo has
created a line of accessories recycled from discarded leather sofas:
This tote was made from recycled fire hose.

I hope these fashion-forward upcycling ideas will inspire you to take a
look at your older clothing in a new way.  And, before heading to the
thrift store, shop in your own closet first.  Have a great weekend!

May 16, 2013

Here we go again with the centuries old question - 

Is it Art ?

Graffiti-esque angst?


Books with the same painting of a tree mounted on the wall?



Source
 Really?  Art is suppose to disturb the comfortable?




Source
Untitled, 2009, Digital c-print : By Nick Cave



No, they're not.




Source



Gaks Design
Repurposing used pencils into a piece is art is actually quite clever.



Museum of Bad Art, Somerville, Massachusetts



Source
You want time?  You've got time.  It's called Life.




NY Times
Regular clowns give me the creeps.
I couldn't live with this one.




Source
Um . . .  what?



Bacchus by Peter Paul Reubens, 1640
Do you think that the art critics of the 17th
century thought Reubens was a flake?


Our standard of art is like our standard of beauty - completely subjective.

Frankly Esoteric