Finding A New Home For My Old Leather Boots

Live Learn and Improve

 

I was rummaging in the closet the other day and found my old riding boots. Well... my second back-ups. When you ride every day in whatever weather, you have second back-ups. I don't ride anymore but there are a ton of miles on these and they are still very close to my heart. I really wanted to find an excuse to keep them around.

Photo By Carly & Art

Inspired by this picture I decided to transplant the Orange-Mint Plant that I knocked over in the dark the other night. The pot was broken to smithereens! 

Muti-Tasking as a door stopper for the shed door. 

I like this addition to the property.

Vintage plates upcycled to colorful candle holders

Live Learn and Improve

One of my most memorable dining experiences was in a small resturant in Souderton, Pennsylvania. The establishment was located in the town's old train station and it succeeded in maintaining a very vintage look. The one thing that impressed me the most about this place was that their plates, mugs, and utensils did not match. Each piece had a unique and historical characteristic to it which lent to the old time feeling of the restaurant.

Dinner tables are a place where family memories are made. I can still remember the plates my grandmother would serve Christmas Dinner on. From time to time I find that same print at second hand shops and it always takes me back. 

loglike of North East Wales showcases vintage plates that "serve" another purpose....

 

A Green Minded attitude allows them to boast the fact that their products utilize "natural and upcycled, vintage materials"

loglike caters to different tastes by using a variety of saucers (color, shape, design). These are just a few of my favorites...

The saucers are all genuine antique, (or vintage) originals, dating from Victorian times through to the 1960’s. All wooden components are hand-turned by loglike, from reclaimed wood. 

loglike's unique saucer creations can be found on their website or artisan shop folksy.com which also includes a tutorial on the project.

Reclaimed Oak and Railroad Pin Towel Rack in 4 Short Steps

Live Learn and Improve

Reclaimed wood in the home creates a warm and mature setting.

 This is a fairly simple project I've done composed of an oak barn wood board and old railroad pins.

 1.  Brush the barn wood with a wire brush to clean off spiderwebs and dirt. 

2.  Brush up the steel pins with steel wool to remove any rust and give a shine. 

3. Drill holes to match your pins (all the way through the board).  Two things to remember with this step... Drill bit size used should be as close as you can get to your pins (slightly smaller is better than slightly bigger)
Also, be mindful to drill into the board at a consistant angle. The holes I have drilled are perpendicular to the board.

4. Pound the pins into your holes with a ball-pine hammer until their points are flush with the back and the board. Your barn wood should sit flat against the wall. If your holes are drilled correctly your pins should be secure.

This is a very heavy project make sure it is hung securely. Your end result will be a sturdy hanger for winter coats, towels, etc..

 

Another creative t-shirt upcycler!!

Live Learn and Improve

Recyling artist Emily Kircher of ekra creates and array of beautiful rugs that display more than just a shade of Green. Try every color in the rainbow.

Since dyes are not used, Emily of ekra says that one of her biggest obsticals can be finding certain colors. 

I think that one thing that makes these upcycling projects so challenging is the fact that you are at the mercy of what you have. Without a doubt Emily has a strong-hold on how to make her rugs stand out with the colors available to her.

I love making rugs. I love just about everything about it, shopping for fabric, designing, combining fabrics to create effects. - ekra

  My motivation for making rugs from recycled fabrics is two-fold. First, to take a tiny bit of fabric waste out of the waste stream and remake it into something useful. Second, to educate people that unwanted fabrics can have a second life as something else and that if they don't want them, to please donate them to a thrift store so they can be used again. -ekra

Emily began selling her rugs in 2004 after years of perfecting her technique. 

These are available for purchase in her etsy shop, and consignsment shops which she has listed on her blog.