Help pick the ornament design...

Sitting on the front porch with my Sweetie, enjoying a glass of wine after work, is one of my favorite ways to relax.  Looking at the large pile of wine corks that we’ve collected over the years, you would think we must be very relaxed by now…  Not with that pile of corks just begging to be turned into something cool!

Ornaments by Donna Patton

Inspiration for repurposing the corks came by looking at cork projects on pinterest and Etsy. There were many cute ideas, but I was most captivated by the Christmas ornaments. Donna Patton (not a relative for those who know my maiden name) has a great way to display the ornaments on her Etsy site: an ornament tree.  

Here is how I need your help: If you were picking out a tree decoration for yourself or for a gift, which design would you choose from the following designs…



Garland - $25.00





Simple Button Ornament - $8.00





Holiday Ribbon Ornament - $10.00





Fancy Ornament - $14.00



Thanks in advance for your help and input. Cheers!

Rust, dust and an aging crust!

I've mentioned before that I'm a big supporter of buying local and an even bigger enthusiast of buying handmade merchandise.  I also make an effort to upcycle odds and ends around the house giving them a second life as it were.  

I was recently introduced to an Atlanta artist named Rodger Thomas of Benclif Designs. Rodger’s creations are right up my alley (literally, in Atlanta) and his use of up-cycled materials is refreshing.  Relics that would otherwise collect dust are repurposed into useful household lighting, giving them a new life, function, and keeping the original designs nearly intact.

From Rodgers Website…

"Rust, dust and an aging crust! That's what I look for when I am out there hunting for my lighting inspiration."

 “My art creations are all about upcycling. I take vintage and antique relics from the past and give them a new purpose.  Chrome percolators, plastic rotary telephones, metal sprayers, lunchboxes, Thermos bottles, vintage tin cans, jars, adding machines, projectors and a myriad of others, all make for some pretty interesting and exciting lighting creations.  Those are things I search for when junking.”

 “Obviously, my percolator lamps are my favorite! But I am always on the hunt for that vintage relic in a basement or closet…that certain thing in which or on which a light bulb will shine new life.  Sometimes, I don’t have a vision for it initially but just a sense it can become a light or lamp. I’m the upcycling guy (or at least one of the upcyclers)!  My passion is lights and lighting, but repurposing and upcycling speak to my sense of efficiency and practicality.”

I love this local artist’s work, you can view his recent designs in his Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BenclifDesigns

Cheers!

Lori in Atlanta

Cleaning the closet - It should be easy...

Summer is almost over (yippee). I love all things fall, but this means that it’s time to rearrange the closet… summer clothes squashed in the back, autumn and winter clothes up front.  A recent quote from Martha: “What better time than now to clean out the closet?” Honestly, I can think of a dozen reasons why this isn’t the right time to clean out the closet(s), but alas…it needs to be done.



 I realize that almost no one enjoys cleaning the closet, except maybe my husband. His closet looks like it is ready for the ClosetMaid fall catalog shoot. Every hanger evenly spaced, clothes grouped by color and style, shelves filled with flawlessly folded items. We can never ever share a closet; just peeking in my closet makes my sweetie twitchy. A top priority for this and all future homes: “His and Hers” closets.

"Keep, Donate, or Toss Sorting Bags" This came from Costco, found on Pinterest.

Having watched countless organization segments on HGTV, I know what to do and efficient ways to do it. You know the routine: keep, donate, and toss bins; matching hangers; proper shelving; a place for everything and everything in its...blah, blah, blah….. we get it! I just don’t love doing it.

 



The Perfect Coat, Pantry, and Linen Closets, Found on Pinterest

 It should be easy, but it’s not – it’s an ordeal. Too many difficult decisions!

While cleaning, my brain talks to me, it says things like: “You should lose weight”; “this was so expensive, you can’t just give it away”; “all you need to do is cut off the remaining buttons and sew on a new set”; and the most challenging to ignore: “you wore that on your first date, (rehearsal dinner, weekend in the mountains, breakfast in Ireland) with your sweetie; how can you let that go”. And so it goes. Amazingly, I can’t remember where I left my keys, but I can remember and associate EVERY piece with an event or justified reason to keep it.

 

Love this Jewelry Organizer by Black Forest Cottage on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/95846375/jewelry-dipslay-with-glass-doors-and

That is why I hate to clean out my closet . . . it’s a difficult struggle with myself! I’m usually known for my ability to organize things, so this should be easy... Well, would you look at the time; I think I’ve escape cleaning the closet today. I did spent a few minutes hours researching organizers today, a step in the right direction, don’t you agree.  
The pictures above are treasures found on Etsy and Pinterest. ;)

Oh for the Love of Birds...

I love birdhouses! I find that watching the birds in the garden is very relaxing and enjoyable.  I think I inherited my love of birdhouses from my father.  His property in Indiana is a mini ecosystem not far from the city of Chicago. His property attracts all kinds of wild life. The back deck of the house, overlooking the wetlands, is a perfect place to sit and watch the many birds that visit his property. He has a wonderful collection of birdhouses and feeders on every tree and post.

 I love the idea of re-purposing!  Re-purposing is taking an object and using it for something entirely different than its original purpose. You probably already have some re-purposed items around your home without even realizing it. The mug on your desk used to hold pencils, the old water pitcher used to hold cut flowers, or the red wagon used as a garden cart now that the kids have grown. All good examples of re-purposed items.

 So, combining birdhouses and re-purposing is just about perfect in my book. Let me show you a few examples of re-purposed birdhouses from around the blogosphere ....

http://fowlplaces.com/bobbin.html

This birdhouse was created by incorporating a re-purposed 80+ year old wooden bobbin from the Pendleton woolen mills. The Pendleton Bobbin Birdhouse is a unique blend of previously used wood, metal and glass utility pole insulators. 

http://www.grandiflora.pro/cool-pics/bird-houses-and-bottle-trees

 I loved Charles Chips as a kid; they came in a large metal canister that sat on the counter.  Once a week the Charles Chips delivery truck would pull up to refill our canister, I couldn’t wait for that delivery day!  This bird house is made out of one of the chip canisters. Love it!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83747525/coffee-can-birdhouse-whimsical-birdhouse?ref=v1_other_1

This little birdhouse is completely made with re-purposed items from the kitchen. Cute! This website has many interesting birdhouses and feeders.

http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/36287/yellow-porcelain-enamel-pitcher-birdhouse

The re-purposed yellow pitcher birdhouse as described by the designer:  “It's just a little bit of sunshine”.  I’m sure the birds at my dad’s place would love this!

http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/09/sweet-tweet-retreat.html#comment-form

The Brambleberry Cottage really went "sky-high" on this one-of-a-kind re-purposed birdhouse. They’ve got a barn full of found items and decided to put something together for the birds. I adore the perch which is made out of an old coffee grinder handle and the chicken feeder top that became part of the post decoration.

So you’re ready to give it a try and you’re wondering where to scavenge for materials? Stop at construction sites to ask for whatever scraps and leftover materials they won't be using. Check out the local flea market or farm sale. If a building is being torn down, ask if you can scavenge old hinges or discarded bits and bobs.  And without plundering protected wildernesses, consider nature: use a particularly gorgeous stone as a decoration, or make a birdhouse hanger by sanding down a sturdy branch and nailing a few (scavenged/found) hooks into it.  Take a walk on the wild side and have fun!

Upcycled Crystal Beads

Up cycling brings hope as a solid concept and solution for the many environmental dilemmas the earth currently faces. The idea of taking would-be garbage and reimagining, reusing and reinventing it is really quite a novel idea: the materials are free and in frightening abundance, there are (hypothetically) no unhealthy aftereffects for the earth, and consumers gain the satisfaction of reusing something potentially wasteful in a new and exciting context again.

In the photo above are two examples of necklaces that have up cycled beads.  The round clear crystal beads where originally part of a salvaged crystal chandelier.  They made a striking addition to my designs.

I'm anxiously waiting for a box of old broken jewelry from a friends plantation house attic.  Who knows what treasures can be up cycled from the discarded items.  I'll keep you posted!

UPDATE: the necklace on the left was just sold from my Etsy shop.  Yippeee!