repurposed

from a pin into a ring:

go fly a kite

at the end of last summer I bought a kite on clearance at target for a couple bucks with the idea to use it as a template & skeleton for a patchwork kite...almost a year later I finally got around to doing it:


I used a damaged vintage quilt top I had thrifted & already cut into:


I just cut out the shape with a little extra to fold over, stitched that up then cut off the tabs from the original kite, attached them to the patchwork & reinserted the original plastic support rods:


for the tail I used some solder wire since it's so light but it was silver so I painted it white then tied on some little scrap bits for the bows:


to attach it to the kite I just shaped a little hook at the one end & slipped it into the tab at the bottom...so easy, I don't know why I put the whole project off for so long!

a couple more necklaces

this time I'm going to share two examples of necklaces that I made/repurposed:


this was super easy - all I did was glue an accordion onto a round bail plate I bought at the craft store.


I think the plates are a great way to highlight little buttons or other vintage findings you might collect that you love but aren't sure how to use.

another little project I recently worked on started with a pair of screw back earrings I thrifted because I liked the look of the metal knots:


because I prefer shorter dangle earrings I separated one of the knots from each earring & added a lever back. then I took one of the remaining two knot pieces & turned it into a necklace:


quick & easy...my favorite kind of project!

repurposed tv trays

awhile back I found a bunch of patterned metal tv trays:


and got the idea to repurpose them into frames:


I used an air nibbler {air compressor required} to do basic cutting & then I went in with metal shears to refine the lines.


I really love the way they look!

I even used the center pieces that were cut out to make some little critters:



I've still got some good sized pieces left that I could work with...I think I'll cut out some letters next :)

recently thrifted

and repurposed for danielle's master bedroom redo:

made for baby - day 2

to create this alphabet wall-hanging I wrapped a previously thrifted quilt onto a wooden stretcher frame then just attached the hand embroidered letters. the felt icons at the bottom are from a thrifted felt board toy.


tomorrow a rainbow of softies...

a platter & a plan

the house warming gift platter:


{used the porcelain pen from michaels and carbon paper to transfer the lettering - the platter came from the thrift store}

the plan - I was going through photos the other day looking for something when I realized I have a lot of images I took to share on the blog but for one reason or another they never actually made it here. so for the next couple weeks I'm going to post those...I kind of need a break but at the same time I didn't want to just stop posting all together. I think this is a great way to do both & I hope you enjoy what I think is going to be an odd mix of images :)

p.s. thursday's embroidery post will resume after the break

fabric wrapped pendant

I have so many little scraps of fabric that are too pretty to throw away, which recently gave me this idea for a quick & easy necklace:


I started with this pendant from hobby lobby:


took it apart, & used the smaller teardrop shaped piece to wrap a thin strip of fabric that I had pressed one edge of. at the end I just cut the fabric to stop on the backside & used a bit of glue to keep it from unraveling.

speaking of using fabric scraps, this book looks like it might be interesting:


{available for preorder here}

thursday = embroidery

I don't have any of my own embroidery work to show today, but instead I'd like to share a recent stitched purchase:


when I saw this beautiful necklace by septemberhouse on flickr I had to have it!


I made the holder using a xmas ornament I recently thrifted, here's what it use to look like:


a little paint, a wooden plaque from michael's & some scrapbooking paper...my kind of easy project.

and of course I haven't forgotten this week's vintage embroidery design, which is yet another of the stamped linen girls:

happy stitching :)

earring necklace

I recently repurposed a pair of clip-on earrings into a necklace & took photos of the process to share...


in addition to the earrings I bought a chain & jump rings at michaels


remove the clip-on component using a pair of needle nose pliers


sand down any raised or rough area that is exposed when the clip-on is removed


for the long piece to connect the two earrings I used part of a pin back


I cut off the pin & catch at either end


then sanded down the edges so they were nice & smooth


next I used e-6000 glue {be warned its stinky & toxic} to secure the pin back to the earrings


after it was dry I used more glue to add the jump rings - a stretched out paper clip provided support while it dried


finally I removed one link from the chain so I had two ends to attach to the jump rings & there you go...a necklace!

**edit to add: soldering the pin back & jump rings onto the earrings would be a more secure way to construct this but I don't know how yet. if you use glue, double check you've used enough on the jump rings especially & just keep in mind when you wear it that it is more delicate than soldered type jewelry.

xmas earrings

at an estate sale awhile ago I bought this very cute dish:


at the same estate sale I also bought a pair of vintage glass buttons which I turned into xmas earrings:


{I love how they look together}

I was very proud of myself when I figured out how to get around the the issue of that bump on the back of the buttons & thought I would share it with you:


{half of a toggle clasp from the jewelry making section of the craft store}

I tried to take a photo of me wearing them...this was the best I could do:


have a wonderful weekend!

repurposed necklaces

{I've added necklaces using repurposed earrings to the shop.}

thursday = embroidery

I thrifted a pair of wood earrings awhile ago thinking that they would make nice pendants for necklaces. the other day I decided to work on repurposing one of them & realized it was going to look kind of boring if I didn't add another element...so I added an embroidered flower from a vintage thrifted pillowcase:


I just cut out the flower, ironed on some fusible webbing to stiffen the fabric & stitched on some jump rings. it came out exactly as I hoped it would & I'm very happy with it.

moving on...I picked today's embroidery transfer up at rummage sale last weekend. it was the tiniest little sale...




p.s. julie over at janesapron is having a giveaway for a very sweet craft apron that incorporates a brilliant idea involving a tape measure…you must go look!

stag party

every evening this week I have sat in front of the tv with fabric, scissors, glue & a ceramic stag having a fun 'ole time making this:


I bought the stag this summer at an estate sale for 50 cents. he had two broken antlers but I liked the size & shape.

when I glued the antlers on it didn't look very good...I thought maybe if I painted him it would be less noticeable but it still looked pathetic. then last weekend it occurred to me that if I just covered him in fabric the issue would be totally hidden.


the best part? peeling the semi dried glue off my fingers...what is it that is so satisfying about that?!

also, I have been very bad lately & not thanked some very sweet bloggers:

one pretty thing for featuring the animal clock

la chapina huipil crafts for bestowing a brillante weblog award on doe-c-doe

patty @ pip stitch for the I heart your blog award

{I'm sorry guys...I am very flattered, just not very quick, thank you so much!}

have a lovely weekend...cover something with glue & fabric if you get a chance, its fun!

repurposed ring

the other day I was looking for a ring to wear & I rediscovered one I had repurposed this spring, so I thought I’d share it today:


I bought the original ring at one of those evil big box stores on clearance – sorry no before photo.

first I popped out the existing plastic “stone” & cut a piece of fabric to fit around it. then I just used glue…I think it was modge podge…to secure it to the “stone”. here’s a photo of the inside that kind of shows how haphazardly I did it:


I used epoxy to attach the fabric covered piece into the ring setting.

wearing it, I realized I didn’t know what would happen if it got wet…probably nothing good. so you could be lazy like me & just leave it as is {and always try to remember to take it off when you wash your hands!} or figure out a way to add a protective coating of something-or-other.

have a great weekend - hope its full of lots of stitching & thrifting...or whatever floats your personal boat!

friday = misc.

back a couple weeks ago I shared a photo of a charm I had thrifted with a promise that I had a plan for re-purposing it:


I glued brown paper onto the charm, cut along the edge {totally forgetting to get that little section around the pony tail - darn it!} then used diamond glaze to seal it.

the blue is paper glued to thin cardboard which is set into a pendant I painted white. then I just added some brown felt cut with scalloped scissors & a scrap of vintage fabric. slap a pin on the back and you're good to go.

have a wonderful weekend!

friday = misc.

wow - thanks for all the sweet comments on the pattern collage! I'm so flattered & encouraged...I can't tell you how much it means to me.

today I wanted to share one of the repurposed projects I hinted to on monday that I was actually able to finish:


I'm still working on the project that will incorporate the charm...maybe next friday I'll have something to share on that.

hope you have a lovely weekend!