OldIntoNew

The Right Way to Reverse Applique

2010-10-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

I was going to demonstrate the reverse applique I did on my garage-sale hoodie this time around but a couple of minor emergencies set me back a bit. So, that particular post will have to wait for at least a couple of days.
Meanwhile, if you're looking to do a reverse applique project, you will get the right (and super) instructions at the Craftzine site

A Hoodie Make Over Plan

2010-10-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

I got a nice hoodie for Christmas last year ... but it's plain. I thought I'd like to spice it up with a reverse applique but ... since I've never done this kind of thing before, I decided to experiment.

My neighbor was holding a garage sale and she had an old, faded hoodie on the line. At a quarter it was the perfect bargain for my trial run, so I bought it.

Now, as I said, I never did this kind of thing before but I jumped in and tried. (It's finished and in a later post I'll show how I did it but for now ...) The whole process was a mess. I made mistakes from the get-go but with luckily I was able to work around them and get the job done. (Next time I'll know how to do it right.)

I bought some bonding material and some contrasting thread. I already had the applique material that I picked up at another garage sale so I was ready to dig into it.
Next post I'll demonstrate the "wrong way" and how I worked around it.

Mo' Better Stuff on Paper Mache

2010-08-29T18:06:00.000-07:00

My last post that showed that pitiful paper mache fish makes me cringe. I tried but in the end, the fish looked like something out of a really bad horror movie.
So off I went on a search for help.

There are a lot of places on the web that cover paper mache. A quick google search brings up a zillion or so sites. I've visited a lot of them, believe me, and I found one that's really nice.

It's called Gourmet Paper Mache.
If you want to know a better way to get started in this craft, check it out!

When Live is Too Busy

2010-07-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Blogging takes a back seat ... and that's okay if blogging is simply a diary to be shared and not to be monetized. This one is the former.

Surprisingly, even retirement has its busy times... The usual day -to-day activities such as household chores, bill paying, shopping, etc. all steal away blogging minutes ... add the appearance of out-of-town company and requests for help from friends and even creating and crafting have to settle for "later."

So if anyone is reading this for new entries, be patient. They will come as interference abates.

Finished Fish: Papier Mache

2010-07-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

I gotta get some more paints. The ones I have are old and drying out, but they were salvaged from thrifts shops and garage sales so I didn't expect them to last forever. Still, having crappy paint makes a good excuse for how this project turned out.

Remember that little Aleve bottle from the previous post? This is what it looked like after I slathered my home made papier mache all over it. Of course it has some bumps and stuff, partly because the shreded paper I used had some plastic in it, from envelopes, I guess. But, it works.

Here's where the paints come into the picture. I don't have many colors anymore so I went with what I had and here's the (more or less) finished project.

Now, I'm not an artist and I don't expect this is going to win any prizes. But it's a good way to show how you can take salvage some things from the land fil and make something playful out of them. I was going to use a big shampoo bottle but luckily I started small. It gave me plenty of latitude for mistakes and saved me from messing up a better final product. I'll eventually get back to this kind of craft but right now I'm working on what to do with all the empty soda cans in my garage. I have a really clever idea but I think it's going to take a very long time to finish.

(I gotta do something about that eye... it's kind of frightening.)

Making Papier Mache

2010-07-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

You can buy premixed papier mache or you can make your own. Of course, the thrifty crafter chooses the latter. There are a lot of recipes for mixing your own gooey mess and you can find some really good books on the subject.(One of my favorites is Craft Workshop: Papier Mache.)

I know how to make a mixture according to the instructions but this time around I decided to give my own method a try. I started out with the strips of paper from my shredder. Until now, this waste went into my compost pile but since it's the heat of the summer and temperatures are so high even the desert dwellers are hiding under rocks, I don't do much yard and garden work.

The picture at the end of this post shows how few materials I needed.

I gathered a handful of paper, put it in the bowl and slowly added water, enough to soak the paper completely. Don't worry if you get too much water in the bowl, just make sure the paper is completely wet.

Next I squeezed out the excess water and poured it into a container and tossed it out on the grass. (Waste not the water.) Now the damp paper needed to be decreased in size so I just started rolling it around in my hands, the way you might do if you're mixing up a meat loaf. This will crumble the paper and make it more manageable.

Once the paper was the proper consistency, I added two tablespoons of glue. (I use Aileen's Tacky Glue because there was a big sale on it so I have plenty around.)

Now it gets a little messy because you've got to use your hands to get that glue into your wet paper. More rolling and pulling and compacting and rolling. Add a little water if it gets too dry. You want it to stick together like a meat ball.

And that's it! You're ready to use your papier mache. (I don't know how it stores. I used it immediately, on that little empty Aleve bottle. But that's for the next post.

Another Snake Project

2010-07-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

I don’t remember where I got this little beauty but like the blacksnake that was getting dumpy looking, this one had seen better days.

Some of my craft paints were not completely dried up so I decided to spiff this little fellow up and transform him with his own coat of many colors (or at least three colors).

The steps were the same as the ones in my previous post except I didn’t use the white paint as a base.

The one thing I neglected to mention before is that eventually I will put a protective coat of polyurethane on both snakes, as soon as I find a cheap source.

Now another thing I neglected to mention is that I haven't put these snakes out in the open air as yet. See, I have this neighbor who is terrified of snakes and I've got to warn her that she'll be seeing these before I scare the daylights out of her.

Black Snake to Rattlesnake

2010-07-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

So a few years back I picked up this rubber black snake at a garage sale for a mere twenty-five sense. (Unlike most people, I’m not afraid of snakes, and this beauty was a steal for just a quarter.) I knew just where I was going to put this beauty – coiled up behind my statue of Buddha in the serenity spot that greets me every time I pull into my carport. You see, the snake (naga) has always been a friend and protector to Buddha so naturally he should have one close by in my little plot of tribute.

Now sadly, over the years, having sat in the desert sun for far too long, the snake began to look shabby. His once shiny black coating became dull and he looked far too sad to be on display. My solution was to give him a new wardrobe. But this is the desert after all and as far as I know, we don’t have black snakes among us. We do have rattlesnakes, however, so I decided to transform the little gem by painting him a coat of many colors – well, at least four colors, using half-empty, almost-dry indoor One Stroke craft paints I picked up at one of my local thrift stores for a mere pittance.

First I coated his entire body with a coat of white enamel paint that has been sitting in my garage since I bought my place. (That’s almost seven years ago.) I opted for this because it was the only white I could find at the time.

Next, I began slathering on the different colors on hand. At first I was cautions, trying to get the patterns exactly as they would be on a rattlesnake but I soon realized I wasn’t up to the task of total duplication so I just winged it – and here is what it looks like now. (Okay, so my rattlesnake is missing his rattle but this is arts and crafts, not reality.)

The nice thing about the whole project is that it took just two days to complete.

Ta-da It's A Bench, Sort Of

2010-04-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

What incredible luck. I didn't have to leave the yard to find the final piece for my garden bench. I found a piece right in my own workshop ... and trust me, it must have been cosmic karma because so much stuff got tossed in there over the winter that it's hard to wade through it. (I sometimes think my workshop is the dumping grounds for all the stuff the Hoarders TV show tosses out.)

I also found these hand-painted flower pots in there. I did these about six years ago and used them for a couple of years. They look kind of sad, don't they? That's okay though because I'll spruce them up sometime soon.

Meanwhile, I'm heading off to Lowes to see what kind of desert friendly potted plants will look good on my mistresspiece (That's the female version of masterpiece, in case you missed it.)

The Garden Bench Takes Shape

2010-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

Remember what it looked like? That old art board? And those bits and pieces from a discarded garden bench found waiting for trash pickup?

Well, they are kind of pathetic looking still but any day now, they'll be recycled and reused in the garden areas outside my home.

After removing as much of the grit and grime and pieces of wallpaper covering as possible, I used some left-over Christmas project red paint to cover the drawing board another friend was discarding.

Unfortunately, the screws and bolts didn't quite fit in all the right places, probably because the original bench was made with slats of wood and the way the armatures are set up, they didn't like one big piece of flat board. But I worked around it, using wood screws in places where the original bolt-type screws didn't work.

They are refurbishing a place just a short block away from me so I'm off to see if I can find a piece of wood to use as a back for my new garden bench. As soon as I do, I will attach it and put the project to use.

Wish me luck.

Close to the Finish Line

2010-04-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Most people panic when their job ends. That's not unreasonable. Not only do people identify themselves with their jobs (I'm a bookkeeper; I'm a teacher) and losing that causes an identity crises, but also, most people need jobs to keep food on the table. Plenty of reason to get anxious!

I'm happy to say, being unemployed on my part, is a totally welcome situation. It's not like I have a ton of money but I do have enough to pay the bills, eat, and occasionally do something special for myself.

However, the best part of being without a job (some people call this being "retired" but that sounds too much like you're getting tired again...) is finally, finally having enough time to finish a half-dozen projects.

First up will be using those bits and pieces of the old garden bench salvaged from the landfill by my former co-worker and friend, Mike.

Look for a photo of the progress later today.

Promises unkept ... but ...

2010-03-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I thought I'd be making more progress on this bench I'm creating but work got in the way ... or rather work got OUT of the way as I retired from the 9 to 5 and had to take some time to reorient myself to life.

I'm temporarily suspending all woodworking and other craft projects in favor of some spring cleaning. That should take about a week. I've got a ton of stuff to take to the local Goodwill store, some things to put up for auction, lots to give away and an equal amount to think about.

I have a huge list of projects in my notebook that I've been hoping to find time to do and now I'll be able to do them!

Anyhow, I'm opting to get more active here as in a week or so ...

Good New Pending

2010-03-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Checked the board for the bench project this a.m. Looks like the wallpaper removal stuff worked its magic. Will scrape off the excess tonight after work. Next comes sanding and staining and a first coat of poly.

That's just part of the good news. If all things happen as I'm hoping the universe has in store, I should have more free time to work on fun stuff. Most people fear losing their jobs or retiring. Not me.

Stay tuned or ... gee, I don't have any "or" to put here.

Progress upended spells project suspended -- sort of

2010-03-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

My sister called to complain. I haven't posted any reports on the latest project. I defended myself the best I could. After all, I work full time, volunteer to help friends who can't quite get their lives together, worry a lot, try to write at least an hour a day (although sometimes I'm still up at three in the morning because I can't stop), read a magazine or two and pick up some new audio books, and do some eating, sleeping and housework in my spare time.

No excuse, she says, and then she laughs because she knows my problem all too well.

So this message is just to report in that even though there's no post, there is progress.

I discovered I would have to forage around for a couple of longer screws because of the way I'm constructiong this bench (that's what I'm calling it for now--a bench). Found some at a garage sale and actually got them for free!

Also, the former drawing board I'm using for the seat part of the bench was covered with wallpaper and that stuff is a bear to remove. I don't know what kind of paste was used to put it down but I think maybe it was Gorilla Glue!

Anyhow, I'm about ready to sand and stain the board in anticipation of finishing up within a week.

My sister says she's not holding her breath.

Found Part Two of the New Old Bench Parts

2010-02-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

Phase two of the bench pieces is taking shape.

The picture here is fairly scarey, I know, but it is what it is, and that's an old portable drafting board. This was part of a friend's artist equipment. It had a bunch of tools attached to it and he used it forever ... until he discovered things like Photoshop and Illustrator and CAD programs.

He set this aside and one day one of his kids broke some of the attachments and cut himself ... not badly but enough to send him crying for half an hour. His mama soothed the boo-boo, gave him some ice cream and gave him instructions on how to avoid his daddy's disorganized studio.

The board went into a closet for a while until mama came up with an idea for it. She covered it with some leftover wallpaper and used it as part of her rubber stamp workshop but eventually she lost interest in this hobby and the littel board once again was relegated to a closet.

Recently, the couple moved out of state. I was hired (more or less) to clean up the house so it could be sold and one of the things I found was this board.

It's in awful shape. I'm having trouble getting all the wallpaper off of it and it is scratched, dented, and generally a mess. But that makes it perfect for my project.

I'll start working on it this week and post the next phase soon.

Getting Ready to Start Something New

2010-02-13T16:01:00.001-08:00

Have a couple of pieces my esteemed co-worker Mike found on the sidewalk on trash day. They're part of one of those outdoor benches you can buy at home improvement stores. Except, the bench part was missing and only the odds and ends were outside.

Most of the screws and nuts and bolts were still attached to the wood which was under these two items, and being the thorough individual he is, Mike took the time to remove all of them and put them in a baggie!

(I'm not sure I know anyone else who carries extra baggies in his van.)

I'm going to scrounge around for a couple of other items in the house to help with the idea about how to recycle these great parts. Next post, if I haven't started, I'll post pictures of those items.

Wish me luck!

Don't Trash Your Useless Electronics

2010-02-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

Got an old PC gathering dust? One that has maybe 512k memory? A CRT? A first-released IPhone you traded in for something snazzier?

I heard about this outfit on my local National Public Radio station ... maybe you heard it on yours. If not, take a look at yourenew.com.

This little company has as its mission, " ... to make it easier to renew your old electronic devices than to throw them in the trash."

They pay for some stuff and just accept other stuff that has no real value but can be reused somehow.

I personally don't have any used electronics that I want to part with but when I do decide to buy a new camera or phone, I'll be sending the old one to these guys.

Visit This Site, Please

2010-01-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

No, I don't mean this site, the one you're already looking at. I mean my favorite place, the Habitat for Humanity Restores. This is the epitome of recycling because everything you find there is donated and every donation goes toward helping mankind.

When you visit the site, you'll get two links, one to Restores in the U.S. and another to Restores in Canada.

Most of what you find at the Restore is in the home improvement category but ... oh, the possibilities for the crafter and, of course, the recycler. I introduced the place to a friend who creates original artwork on porcelain tiles. At Restore, she can get new tiles for a huge fraction of the retail price. I've purchased a lot of paint that I used to spruce up some of the decorative borders in my yard. My buddy, Kat, bought all her kitchen cabinets there. She's a teacher and needs to save whenever she can and boy, did she ever save a ton on those cabinets.

You never know what you will find there. One time I went in looking for a lamp; I found one. But I also found a drop-dead storage bench, a pallet of patio bricks and a new security screen door that I saw at my local improvement store for $149. (It was a mere $29 at Restore)

Everybody knows the the work Habitat for Humanity does; few people, however, are aware of these Restores. Let's spread the word!

Plugging A Better Way

2010-01-11T18:47:00.001-08:00

Nothing new on the recycling, reusing, creating new from old ... too much holiday, workload and now a touch of winter malaise, otherwise known as a head cold!

But if you do nothing else, get over to Refused Reused and see what REAL recycling people do to help save this planet.

They got their hands on a couple of tons (yes, tons) of usable leather. See if you can help them with it!

This year's Cat Present

2009-12-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

As usual, I'm making a crazy cat of some kind for my friend, Lynne, who has a huge collection. Most of her stuff is stunningly beautiful; some of it is whimsical; some of it is cute. I think I'm the only one who ever makes a gift. (But to be on the safe side, in case the gift turns out to be totally disappointing, I buy something nice as well.)

If you're read this last year, you know the cat I made was worse than crazy; it was downright scary.

This year I decided to try some kind of painting/collage. I started with a canvas and sketched in a silhouette of a cat staring at a full moon. I used a coffee saucer to make the circle (and as you see, I didn't stay in the lines precisely when I painted the moon.)

Next, I tried something different. I used some grout I had left over and filled in the cat sketch with the grout. When the grout dried, I painted it black, then used some of last year's leftover cat material to glue something I thought would resemble bamboo. (It didn't). Since that didn't please me (and it was too much trouble to try to remove it, I gathered some twigs and glued them down.

I'm thinking this is close to ready. Maybe, after I sleep on it, I'll add something more. I don't know. Meanwhile, I'm going shopping to find a "nice kitty" to wrap.

Can't Sleep So Sharing Stuff

2009-12-11T05:12:00.000-08:00

When sleep decides it wants to play games with me, I usually pick up the laptop and start surfing around the blogs and sites looking for spiffy recycling artists and crafters. Since it is the Christmas season, I thought I'd try to focus on some of the things I found tonight that focus on handmade gifts created with found or left-over items.

At RecycleCindy's site, there's a nifty plam snowman. (Don't worry. If you don't know what plam is; I didn't either but there's a link on the site that explains how to create it. It's merely "yarn" made from those notorious plastic grocery bags.)

For the last minute decorations, Becky Striepe's blog features a video that shows step by step how to make super starts out of recycled cardboard -- that's the kind you get from cereal boxes and shirt stuffers and the like. It's a quick tutorial and should take not time to master. Beware, though. She introduces this blog post with a beautiful photo that will have you shivering.

Recycling Crafts for Kids

2009-11-29T09:18:00.001-08:00

I don't have any, kids that is. But I once taught the little future adults and one common trait I noticed is that creativity runs rampant in their little heads. But, without some kind of direction, some basic tools, and a smidgen of tutoring, these little ones can come up with stuff that surpasses our expectations.

I found a nice site that supplies at least one part of the equation -- direction. If you provide the tools and that little bit of help, and let them have their way, the kids will come up with their own interpretation of crafting.

The site's called AllFreeCrafts.com. Check it out. You might even find something that sets your own inner child free.

I blogged about recycling crafts for children before and I'll probably do it again because in addition to remembering my teaching days, I also remember all the fun (and sometimes weird) things I used to make out of leftover scraps of useless material. (I once built a rather clumsy log cabin out of corn cobs.)

Nurture creativity!

Ninety-nine percent

2009-11-17T22:06:00.000-08:00

Seem to be stuck on the mosaic. Thought I would attach a frame to it but it appears the borders aren't exactly straight. The found pieces of molding just looked weird (as if the project isn't in itself a bit weird) so I scrapped that idea.

A new problem arises, however, in that my neighbor expressed interest in buying it! I won't mention the price she offered but ... I'm planning to take a seven day vacation and her number is a only a few dollars less than it would cost to board my pup for that time frame ... Soooooo

We'll see. Meanwhile, I broke down and bought some scrap black glass from someone on ebay. As soon as it arrives, I'll use it to frame the piece. I'll have to fill in the grout (I already grouted in anticipation of framing) but I think it will be okay.

Who knows. I might even sign it on the back ...

The home stretch ...

2009-10-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Never thought it would take this long but the mosaic table top made from scrap pieces of stuff found at garage sales, thrift shops, and in my brother's backyard -- and a couple of purchased pieces -- is finally seeing the end of its journey. This has been therapy for me of sorts because I have problems focusing my attention on any project for too long. If something takes more than a half a day, I get frustrated and often just abandon the project. Life's too short to spend too much time on one topic (unless it's a good book.)

But this is the second big task I started in the last couple of years (the other was painting my kitchen cupboards) and I'm pretty pleased with the fact that it's a work in progress that is progressing.

I really started it because of the coal fossils. It seemed a shame not to do something with them. What I did might not be conventional; however, it's a work of art to me.

Next comes the frame and the grout. I think I have enough scrap 1 x 1 strips I found when my neighbors were remodeling their kitchen so the frame will be made from salvaged material. I'll have to buy the grout, though because I don't have a clue what goes into that product.

Probably there will be some odds and ends and finishing touches but I'm thinking I'll be finished with this baby by the end of November.

Table Top Progress

2009-10-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Had to break down and buy some glass tiles. I couldn't find enough blue stuff to make a "sky" so I went to Michaels and bought a package of tiles. Grrrr. Hate to buy new ... prefer pre-owned and/or toss off and/or leftovers. But, good news. The blue tiles helped me finish! Well, not completed. I haven't grouted or framed but just getting the pieces of tesserae down is a big task.

I was planning to use this as a table top but my neighbor saw it and she wants me to sell it to her for her daughter's new house. I don't have the heart to sell it, though because it's mostly cast-off stuff. Maybe I'll just give it to her for the cost of the blue glass ($6.00) and grout (don't know that price), the table (I'll have to go back and check on the cost of that; I think I blogged it, and the framing. I will get the latter at Restore: the resale arm of Habitat for Humanity. Maybe $25? What do you guys think?

Pictures coming ... as soon as I find my camera ...

Remember those old floppies?

2009-09-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

You can't buy a computer WITH a floppy disk drive anymore. Some companies will provide one in a new box - for a price - and you can buy external floppy drives (but they are getting harder to get). But I bet everyone who had had a computer either at work or at home not too long ago, has some floppy disks lying around somewhere. Heck, I bet some people still have boxes of them!

Well, there's an artist in New Jersey (so sorry) who has created some uber cool artwork from those old floppies. Her images are protected so I can't show any of them here so you'll have to surf on over to her site ... but I tell you, it's worth the trek.

Next time you get the urge to toss those disks in the trash (you know you will), don't do it! Send them to her.(Contact info is on the page with a picture of a really cute dog.) She says she will send you something special for helping keep these indestructible little critters (the disks, not the dogs, silly folks) out of the landfills.

Great Trash to Treasure Stuff

2009-09-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't figured out how to insert an image from another website and it's not something I would do often but, there's a group over on facebook, called Trash to Treasure Creative Reuse Center and those folks really know how to recycle. (You've got to see what one of these crafty people did with those nasty flip tops from pop cans!)

I'd like to showcase some of their stuff but I'm not sure I wouldn't be messing with the etiquette of blogging if I do that. I can, however, show the link to the site.

Check it out ... you will be surprised! I promise.

Recycle your old CDs and related items

2009-09-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

Did you ever think about how much junk you add to the landfill when you toss that damaged or no-longer-needed disk? Maybe not,(say it isn't so) but if you care about the planet and the legacy you're leaving for future generations, you might want to take one small step away from the trash can and one giant step toward the recycling box when you're ready to dispose of your disks.

Okay, so maybe you have just one disk and you figure it's not going to make the teeniest difference if you toss it. But remember, you are not alone. You have lots of friends, relatives and/or co-workers in your life circle and when you add them to your efforts, well, that's pretty much all there is to say.

I've set up a recycle box at home and told all my friends to hand over their used and damaged disks. When the box is filled, I'm sending its contents off to the CD Recycling Center of America. (Check it out, pleeeeeeezzzzz.)

Before I send the box of CDs packing (oooohhh bad pun, I know), I'll snap a picture so you can see how one little person and one little disk can make one big difference.

Oh, and no, I don't make any money from this suggestion and maybe it sounds a tad pretentious or preachy, or sappy, or serious or whatever negative vibes the post elicits, but get over it, dude and dudette.

Recycling, to pinch a Martha Stewart phrase, "It's a good thing."

Yet another progress report

2009-09-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Work on the table top made of recycled and second-hand stuff came to a standstill, first because of vacation and then because I ran of of stuff! I've been haunting thrift shops and garage sales trying to find colored glass or pottery to fill in the background but nothing's turned up. Then I realized I had these porous stone tiles that, if I recall, I bought on a closeout price at Michaels. I discovered that these tiles took paint really well, so I've been applying color in the evenings, giving them some different shades. I think they are just what I need. I was planning to add them to the project this weekend, but it's inventory time at work so yet again, fun takes a back seat to work. However, I think things will move more quickly now that I have more stuff!

Out to lunch ... and dinner and supper and snack and ...

2009-08-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

Left home Sunday to help celebrate what I thought was my mother's 95th birthday ... She wasn't too happy about that thought, as she vehemently pointed out that she was just 94 ... No matter, we're enjoying each others company but boy are we overeating... I'm thinking I'll have to get some bigger jeans when I get back home, either that or find a recycling hobby that requires more physical activity. (Back in a few minutes ... somebody's serving a fruit plate.)

A quick email message on my Blackberry was from an email list I subscribe to. It announced a site my readers might be interested in. Take a look at this neat woodworking blog. It's fairly new but I suspect it's going to get a lot of followers. I haven't scrolled through the entire blog because guess what ... it's time to eat again. I believe this is my fifth food session today and it's only six thirty. (To be continued in a few minutes.)

Back. Been to a lot of craft shops, stopped at a few yard sales, enjoyed one heavy rainfall, and sampled some things like deep fried cheesecake, Arooga potatoes, Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels, red beet eggs, and a few things I don't want to sample again.

Be back blogging next week with an update on the table top. Meanwhile, it's snack time ... again.

What a Find!

2009-08-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

My buddy Kat (Kathleen to her mom and dad) found this great set of tile samples at a teacher's resource exchange. That's where outgoing teachers buy/sell supplies they won't need next year for sale to teachers who might need them the next year. Sometimes they bring stuff that belongs hubbies or wives that aren't resources ...

She bought these miniature tiles - samples I guess - and gave them to me. I think I will try to see how they can fit into the used-materials mosaic table top (previous post) I'm working on.

Progress and then... Pow!

2009-08-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

The mosaic fossil flower table top is starting to take shape. In fact, it's almost designing itself. I found a bunch of extra green glass pieces that look so much like grass that it's scary.

All was going well and progress was, well, progressing ... that is until the tip of my glass cutter just disappeared. Poof. One minute it was gliding across a piece of glass and the next minute it wasn't. I didn't know these things broke. I guess this project is just meant to be, though because on my way to the grocery store I pulled over at a garage sale to look at some scrap material and guess what was there ... a glass cutter.

See what I mean?

Now that the project is taking shape,I'm rethinking some of the finishing. I'm leaving a border of about an inch and I intend to put a frame there but I'm not so sure I'll be pouring liquid acrylic to smooth it out. I was thinking about going to the home improvement store to get some thicker tile adhesive but I changed my mind. I have a half a container of Weldbond (boy does that stuff hold!) that seems to be doing the job. We'll see how it plays out.

Also, I was going to put a coat of white paint on the fiber board but I changed my mind on that as well. I like the tint the beige brings to some of the light weight glass.
Frank T Ross & Sons #1395 Gallon Weldbond Adhesive

Would The Buddha Recycle?

2009-07-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

While this blog was never intended to be one of personal disclosure, I don't think it does any damage to reveal some information that helps the written word move on. So, I will tell you that I am a Buddhist.

Now why is that important? It's not ... except, as I said in my last post, I've been scouring the web for (early) Christmas gifts and I came across a title that just floored me.

Now, I can't think of any of my list of friends or relatives who would read this book -- maybe my older brother, Paul -- so I'm posting information about it here in hopes one of them will notice and maybe surprise me with it on my birthday ... or on Christmas ... or on any day when we traditionally give gifts. It almost fits the under-ten-dollar rule.

Hint, hint.

I bet the Buddha did recycle.

Looking to Learn

2009-07-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

Progress on the fossil table top is slow mainly because life happens between crafting. I live in the desert and it's hell-like hot right now so outside of work and chores, which require movement, it's hard to focus on doing much more than staying cool.

Decided to use some kick-back-stay-cool time and start searching for bargains for Christmas gifts. (Just the thought of Christmas helps.) Of course my first choice is to make things but some folks I know, well, let's just say they aren't into the homemade gift getting scenario.

So I clicked over to Amazon and surfed around. (Books make super gifts) And of course I found something I probably can't live without. It's a book called Tiles Gone Wild. (Cute, huh?)

The description says the book has 20 projects. I'm not as much interested in copying the designs as I am in the fact that I'll be getting inspiration and information about methods of working with different kinds of "stuff" .... which is what recycling is all about. After all, it's not every day you get the perfect elements for that dream design.

Found a couple of good titles for the gift season ... can't say what they are,though because, you know, it's a secret Santa thing.

Felted Beads for Christmas Decor?

2009-07-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of littlehouseinthesuburbs.com)

While I'm working on the "big project," (that fossil-embedded mosaid table top) I'll be blogging on other recycling fun you can have.

If you're a knitter and you have left-over odds and ends yarn from various projects, why not make some felted beads? I found this set of instructions that teaches you how to make these cute little furry balls of felt.

Here's the link to felting instructions

Can't you just see these strung together and used on your Christmas tree instead of the traditional store-bought strings of decoration?

As an additional note, my local thrift shops (Goodwill, Opportunity Village, Salvation Army and Catholic Charities) almost always have yarn for sale at super low prices. Check them out because every penny you spend at these places goes to help those folks who are less fortunate than you and I.

No Progress is Not Good Progress

2009-07-09T21:55:00.001-07:00

One of the people who saw my last post was confused by it all. I guess that's because I forgot to say that the overall mosaic will be a flower. The fossil at the end of the tiles is the center of the flower. I'll be building the petals around that. And eventually it will all look like it's suspended in a landscape.

Now that I look at the task in front of me, I realize people would have seen the flower image better if I turned the big fossil around. That's going to be the center and as such would work better if it's rotated.

The more I think about it and look at it, the more I realize I will have to put the fossils in place first then build up the background as I put in the little stones then build it up with additional backing (I'll probably have to use thin set ... I'll know more when I research it on the web.) for the tiles because they are the thinnest of all the material here.

I'm going to do a rough layout sometime in the next few days and I'll post a photo of that.

Of Found Objects and Fossils - A New Project Begins

2009-07-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

This is the start of my latest project. Two things I should state at the onset: Only part of the stuff used for this ambitious effort will be from recycled materials ... and this might take all summer. The time frame is okay, though, because in the desert here, it's way too hot to do much outside fun.

I bought the table sans top from a charity sale where neighbors from across town were hosting garage sales to help raise money for a friend who needed medical attention. Ordinarily I would have paid about five bucks for this but it came with a coffee table (my next project -- maybe), also without its glass top, and it seemed like an okay deal to pay $25 for the pair. (After I paid for them one of the women said she was about to put them out for trash collection.) I knew what I wanted to do with the coffee table and I saw the end table (this one) version as a good starting point. Practice does make perfect, doesn't it? (She said with fingers crossed.)

I also had to pay for the MDF at the local Home Depot. Not too much of that out there on curbs and thrift shops.

My brother lives and messes around the coal fields and he picks up these fossils. (This is a close up of the opening picture, showing the fossils a bit sharper.) They are all over the mountains near his house so he has a nice collection. He gave these to me because I told him I'd like to use them in a mosaic. So the fossils are recycled, sort of.

About half the glass and tiles I plan to use come from garage sales and thrift shops. (It's amazing what you can find in these places. I found a big brick of Sculpy for 50-cents last week.) Some of it is left over from my first mosaic project and a bit came from ebay.

I'm not sure how this is going to work out since my education in mosaic work is pretty much grade school level. (I believe I'll have to use something other than glue to fasten these to the MDF). I think when it's all finished I might put some kind of acrylic coating over it. That should bring out some of the brilliance of the coal and make the table top level. Much nicer for setting glasses and cups on.

Wish me luck, gang. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

And so it ends ... almost

2009-06-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

Finally, here's the end result of the egg carton Christmas decoration. It's not actually the end; there's more for me to do to make it classy. I'm just showing the next step so those of you who are wondering where the heck this thing is going will have a clue. Creative types will take it from here; I will move on.

Speaking of moving on, I don't know how bloggers do it. My co-worker Mike, who has this super blog, has a full-time job, is a musician, an artist, a (very, very) close friend to Michelle, is able to socialize (see movies, dine out, do the wii thing) and STILL manages to blog almost daily!

Me, I have a full time job, am not a musician or artist, don't have a close friend, hardly ever socialize, and I can barely make a meal and do the dishes without running out of time.

I remind myself of an old Seinfeld routine.

Even sleeping a mere six hours a night doesn't help. Sheeesh!

But when I started this blog, I wasn't thinking of it as a diary. I was just hoping to get some different web experience and to get my sister (the amateur photographer with a great eye) to put some of her work on display.

I sort of accomplished both but now I realize I have to develop some discipline. I have to either continue to post -- frequently -- or drop the whole thing.

Tune in next week to see which way my wind is blowing.

The Project is Almost Finished

2009-05-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've asked a few people how they find time between the coming and going of things to do and done, how do they slip in time to blog daily. I say that as an apology for not getting the next step in the Christmas decoration up sooner. It's been ready. The photo is cropped. The words are written. So, I guess I'm a hopeless procrastinator. Well, maybe not hopeless -- I'm more or less a pseudo-procrastinator. :)

So let's get on to this step of the project we've been working on ... If we're careful, we might get it finished so readers will be able to make a few of these before it's time to decorate the tree.

Notice the picture? It's the same one as the last post displayed except this one has been spray painted with some left-over stuff I got at my local Restore (Habitat for Humanity). I also put a "hook" on the top just by pushing some string through the paper and adding a drop of hot glue inside to hold it in place. I did this before spray painting.

From here on, the choices to really shine with these depends on your creative bent. I'll work on this one for a while until I'm happy and then I'll post the final product.

Have you tried to make this yet? Remember, Christmas comes around before you've regifted all the nice but unneeded and unwanted items you received last year. Time's a-wasting.

Beginning to Take Shape

2009-05-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

I don't think I need to explain how we got to this part of the egg carton experiment. The previous post shows the two halves; this one shows them glued together. I use a good quality white glue because I get better coverage but hot glue will work as well. Just make sure every point of contact has glue on it.

Once the glue dries (and it doesn't take long), test the strength by tugging lightly from each end. See, sometimes the glue soaks into the paper and isn't strong enough. If you see gaps, fill them with glue. If the pieces come apart, glue again.

Now the the glue is sturdy enough, use a nail file to get rid of any loose shards of paper. Then dampen your fingers with water and rub them along all the open edges. This will help smooth out the paper completely.

Eggsactly: Step Two

2009-05-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you read the previous post and easily knew the photo was half an egg carton. You know, those gray, cushy cartons you get at the store when you buy a dozen (in this case a half-dozen since I don't eat a lot of eggs). I think these cartons decompose fairly easily in the landfill but why not reuse them for something different and lasting? (By the way, it takes a little bit of dusting and filing to get the cut pieces to look even this good.)

Our first step then is to get a sharp craft knife. These suckers tear up your blades so be ready to change them frequently. (On the other hand, if you can figure out a better way to cut egg cartons, let me know.)
You can see from this photo how to cut the carton. If you're really, really good at the cutting phase you can get eight good segments that will make four final items.
Next post, I'll show how the pieces look as the come closer to the final phase.

Eggsactly

2009-05-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what the picture is? If the title of this post doesn't give you a clue, well you will have to go deep into the recesses of your creative mind to figure out what this will look like eventually. I'll give you a clue ... Next Christmas, your tree will have a totally new "do."

I can't believe it's been almost two months since I last posted but since life is a target and there are so many people and events taking aim at it, I'm not surprised that blogging had to take a back seat for a while. At any rate (I love that phrase), I'll be updating this mystery in a day or two. But please post a comment if you think you know where this is going.

Creating (Copying) a Masterpiece

2009-03-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Starting this project with enthusiasm served to reinforce my understanding of why the original floral arrangement cost $175.

My first mistake was my choice of container. I chose a cast off plastic pot that came with something I bought at the nursery last year. (The tapered shape with the lip on top made gluing a minor mess.) I cleaned it with TSP and let it dry thoroughly.

Instead of twigs from whatever kind of tree the original artist used, I walked to the corner lot and picked up a bunch of bamboo stalks. (The owner of the lot has been trying to destroy this growth of bamboo for years but it just keeps coming back.)

Items needed
1. Used pot (flower pot, coffee can, anthing the size you want our finished product to be.
2 hot glue and gun ... (or any kind of sticky stuff, maybe even that two sided tape ... experiment)
3. aquarium stones (or any clean stones or other stuff to give weight to the item)
4. scrap felt (I used this on the bottom so it can sit on good furniture and not scar it
5. skinny bamboo (from local Home Depot or Lowes or if you're lucky like me, from a plant in an otherwise empty field) or you can use twigs from your forest ... best use stuff that doesn't have sap ... birch, maple, for example.
6 styrophoam or floral foam. I used bits and pieces that were used for packing my laptop.
7 silk flowers or home made paper flowers.

Part One: The Container
1. If you pot has holes on the bottom, cover them up by gluing a piece of cardboard on the inside.
2. Attach (glue) the felt to the bottom.
3. Cut or break twigs or bamboo different heights but at least the height of the pot. Keep a couple of shorter twigs for filler.
4. Glue about four twigs together at the bottom. This is so you can make sure you will get them straight (level) when you start your project.

(You don't want to do what I did and get a half dozen shoots of bamboo glued only to discover they were on a slant. I had to start over.)
5. Glue these four to the pot, make sure they are about 1/16 of inch from the bottom. You don't want them to touch the surfacen the final product will sit on.
6. Continue to glue twigs all around, keeping them touching.

Once the bamboo or twigs are attached all around, fill in any openings. (If you have really straight twigs, you probably won't need these.

Part Two: The Inside
1. Pour the aquarium rocks on the bottom. About two inches should work okay.
2. Stuff the container with styrofoam or floral foam nearly to the top.
3. Pour in the rest of the rocks.
4. Arrange your flowers inside.

Part Three: Enjoy

Christmas Inspiration for Spring

2009-03-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve, 2009, a horde of people arrived in Las Vegas, all ages, from Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia (I think), Vermont and, well, I just don't know. They were relatives of my friend Kat who asked if I would enjoy spending the holiday with this crew. Why not, I asked myself. Not only would I get to meet a lot of people, but also, I'd be treated to two fantastic Christmas dinners. The planned itinerary was simple. Kat and her folks, who also live in Las Vegas, decided it would be a good idea to take everyone to the Bellagio to see the fantastic indoor garden especially decorated for the holiday (what a site), visit the chocolate waterfalls, ohh and ahh over the Dale Chihuly glass flower ceiling in the hotel lobby and, of course, meander through the shops.

In one of the gift boutiques a particular work of art caught my eye and it had a price tag of $175. (Sadly, there was no artist listed for this piece.) Christmas, remember? Who had $175 (plus tax) left over to buy anything for herself? Not this blogger. So, I took this picture.

Well, the digital picture doesn't look that great lying flat on a side table in my living room so I decided I'd try to duplicate this lovely piece. Okay, not duplicate because first, I didn't have the same supplies and second, I wanted to use found materials and third, while they say imitation is the highest form of flattery, I cannot presume to create anything as good as the artist's original.

I'm nearly finished with my version of this decorative item. I'll be posting it shortly. Meanwhile, what do you think of the original?

On the Road to Self Sufficiency

2009-02-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

My mind is a bit addled at the moment. Lots of things happening to interfer with the ability to focus. Starting at the top with an economy that's threatening my workplace and flowing down through bad weather, unhappy friends, and dealing with loss, blogging is kind of taking a back seat. However, keeping the mind settled by any means (short of breaking laws) always helps so I gathered some of the notes I saved while looking for information on building my own indoor gardening system (see previous post for an example) and decided to see if I can create a post without too much rambling or too many grammatical errors.

I think I spent about ten hours looking for information on the Aerogarden. That contraption doesn't appeal to me because of the initial cost and the extended cost, i.e. the seed packets. I know I throw a lot of fresh herbs away when I buy a bunch at the store and need only a smidgen for a recipe but I still can't spend as much as the Aerogarden product will cost. Not that I'm cheap (well, maybe just a little); I am a believer in getting more than one use out of a product and in being as self sufficient as possible.

Now my brother Paul, who lives in the east, is truly a person who has won my heart with his lifestyle. Each year he plants a huge outdoor garden, beets, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, eggplant (ugh), and a ton of other vegetables. At harvest time he and his wife, Dottie, can and jar stuff but they also distribute quite a bit of their crops to the rest of the family. Paul also rents a small place not far from town where he keeps a few chickens and is able to supply fresh eggs daily to four branches of family and some extended family.

He's one of my heros.

But, I live in the desert and five years of attempts have left my outdoor garden pitifully lacking. In fact, the only thing that has grown for me are four turnips!

I remember looking into hydroponic growing many years ago but never let it enter my life. Maybe that's the route I should take. Don't know, actually, but I will read up on it and see where it takes me. I've heard the book link here is a very good source for getting your hydroponic act together. I'm going after it. We'll see where it leads.

Who knows, it might be time to leave the desert behind and head to places where gardening is a way of life.

Recycling for Children

2009-02-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Crafting and recycling has taken a temporary back seat to other important tasks right now. Because those 24-hour days just aren't enough at the present moment, I've squeezed a few minutes out to remind everyone that the best way to ensure that as many products as possible find a second or third use is to teach the children.
I found a couple of books at a local used bookshop that do just that. I found used copies of this book available online as well so I'm putting the link here.

The first title is Awesome Things to Make with Recycled Stuff, a book that has some, as the title suggests, awesome projects a kid can be proud to show off. It's written by Joe Rhatigan and Heather Smith. I haven't reviewed the entire book yet but I will be doing that in the near future. (It's that "time thing" again.) Meanwhile, if you have read this title, please leave a comment so others can benefit from your input.

Thanks a bunch and remember to turn OldIntoNew.

A True Recyler

2009-01-15T19:33:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about buying one of those Aerogardens that are so popular around gift-giving season. I thought I might get a leg up on the upcoming spring planting by starting some seeds indoors -- a project that has failed every time when I've attempted the traditional methods. But I didn't want to shell out the money on something that might not work the way I wanted it to. (Besides, I'm still paying for this most recent gift-giving season.) You can find the original Aerogarden online (including ebay where some successful knockoffs exist as well) and in stores. I first saw one advertised in an in-flight magazine a couple of years ago.

Wanted it!

Still, I'm not sure it will work for seedlings so I figured I might want to experiment with a recycling version first ... except I don't know what the ingredients are. Google it, silly!

There it was, an immediate hit ... someone who thinks of gardening not as a hobby but as an obsession ... on how to create your own air and water garden for about ten bucks. (A thorough guide, well written, with a sense of humor, no less. What a treat!)

Not as pretty as the patented item but as an experiment, it's worth a try. When I decide to do this I'll post pictures of the final product and I'll let you know if the final product can be transplanted outdoors in real soil. I think I might be on the trail of a success story at last! Come on Spring! (Now, how my plants will survive in the desert is another question altogether.)

A Quick Note

2009-01-15T06:43:00.000-08:00

One of the people who reads these ramblings (I don't make him read it.) and checks my cyber skills asked me why I post just the amateurish craft projects I've done ... and why I post the old ones. (And this is a friend?) He knows the answer but I guess a little repetition won't hurt.

This blog has a number of purposes, so let me count some ways. It serves as a feet-wetting experience verifying the ability to think it, do it, and make it part of a routine. And that's a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say, for someone who kind of falls down when it comes to true discipline. (Hmmm, perhaps this is the diary and writer's journal I never kept.)

Also, I figured, if I do this, I can convince my sister to give it a try. She's the one with real talent in the family. While she insists she's electronically unskilled, I know better. (Check out her blog: http://pennaphotos.blogspot.com/ ... you'll see.)

And, I wanted to contribute just a little bit of positive (I'm using that as a noun here, even though I know better) to the world. Take out the paper and the trash, yes, but instead of letting it sit somewhere trying desperately to decompose waiting for your grandchildren to deal with, reuse as much of it as you can. Repurpose (Is that a word? Spell check doesn't like it.) it So what if your friends (You know who I mean.) think you're missing a few important brain cells. Do it anyway!

See, good stuff all, don't you think? Light, positive, fun, whimsical, and never, never too serious.

The real deal ...

2009-01-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

So the pictures of the homemade bench -- which is actually a foot stool kind of thing -- weren't that great. I know. But tonight I was organizing files on my desktop, (I use for storage mostly, opting for the laptop most of the time) and I can across this photo. It shows the finished product being used as it was intended.

That's a wild grapevine in the background. It sprouts every year then gets burned by too much direct sunlight. The plant outgrew the pot so it was transplanted. It was one of those cheap plastic pots anyway so it didn't have any aesthetic appeal. I think the plant is a lot happier in its new home. The stool isn't talking.

Falling in Love ... Sort of ...

2009-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

I never heard of (author) Simona Hill, wasn't aware of a company called Lorenz Books, but someone at work gave me a catalog of upcoming titles, and that gift gave me a totally new craft to enjoy.

Let me begin by saying I never had much interest in the mosaic arts. In fact, having cut myself way too many times on broken glass in childhood, I considered myself wise to stay away from this kind of product. (I am very good at breaking things, by the say. My friends won't go to gift and china shops with me.)

But then I found The Practical Guide to Crafting With Mosaics, Ceramics & Glassware and I was hooked -- without even seeing the book. I had my local bookstore order it for me, and when it arrived, I discovered way more than I thought existed on this subject. Okay, let's be truthful. I never gave it a thought at all before I saw the cover of this tome.)

Of course, I'm not one to start with the basics so I jumped right into the whole of mosaics. I discovered a we had a glass shop in town, well hidden and not exactly teeming with foot traffic, but I paid them a visit. I didn't really want to buy glass but ... There in the corner, for about $12, were some nice size plastic containers of broken glass, bits and pieces left over from projects, from whole pieces specially cut for customers and shards of glass that accidentally met its maker.

Hey, this is about recycling, isn't it?

I bought a container and carried it home.

It took weeks before I found a dented old copper bird bath that had seen better days. Instead of aging gracefully with patina, this sucker was growing new life! (I won't say exactly where I found it; it's kind of embarassing.)

I took it home, soaked it in a tub of bleach, scrubbed it with an abrasive pad, and immediately knew what I was going to do with it.

I have no skills here, although I am fairly good at primitive drawing so designed this abstract sunflower (There seemed to be enough glass for the leaves.) and plunged right in.
There you have it ... a project of recycled copper birdbaths and recycled glass.

I found a certain Zen when doing this project. I was absorbed enough to realize--later of course--that I hadn't given thought to any of the bad traffic driving through my life. It was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle without a clue what it was going to look like.

I think this birdbath turned out quite well based on community opinion. At least two people have asked me to make one for them. We'll see what the next attempt looks like. And there will be a next project.

You should try mosaics. They are as calming as meditation.

More fun with the jigsaw...

2009-01-01T15:19:00.000-08:00

I sent my blog url to a friend whose first response was, "Why don't you put up some of your really nice projects?" Ha. Good, bad, ugly or close to perfect, I love all my work because I'm doing it for personal entertainment. Besides, those toy soldiers weren't half bad, I don't think. And it might be scary but it's not horrid.

Can't wait to see what the response will be when I post this, my second project.

My bench started out of what I think was a cutting board of some sort. It was a nice piece of hardwood with some some kind of fasteners that are pretty much unobtrusive. It measured 17" by 10. I had one of the old shipping pallet left that was two feet long and almost 6 inches high. I cut into two pieces (with the trusty jigsaw, of course). I used a paper plate to use as a guide for the arch in these two pieces... so what if it didn't turn out round. Oval is better anyhow.

With two more pieces of scrap 1 by 2 strips six inches each, I had all the pieces I needed to make the bench.

Everything is screwed together except for the 1x2 crossbars on the bottom. I used wood glue and I was going to finish off with some screws but I forgot. (Hey, this isnt' a sitting or standing bench. It's just something to hold a flower pot on the porch. Can't you see the water mark on the top?)

I tried to get as much of a uniform color as possible from an opened and half-full quart of stain I picked up at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. (If my photographic skills were better you'd see that the bench is actually a deep reddish color and not that faded milky looking picture.)

I like it. And it looks nice with a big pot of mums sitting on top of it.

My favorite projects seem to start with wood or tiles or glass. (Wait till you see my mosaic birdbath!) But if I see anything that looks like it could be recycled, I'll be busy doing figuring out how to turn something old into new.

Beginning a new year ...

2008-12-31T23:33:00.000-08:00

This year I plan to do a lot of junk crafting, starting tomorrow, the first day of 2009. (That's just 51 minutes from now, by the way. What a dedicated blogger I am. Staying home on New Year's Eve in the Entertainment Capitol of the World just to keep my faithful readerup to date--yeah, I know at least one person reads this.)

Here are a few of the projects I have planned.

A mosaic birdbath for my neighbor who talks to my dog, tends my flowers and gives me grief because I can't seem to keep any of my plants alive.

A plastic bag dog leash. I'm not sure of this one but I think if I cut those grocery bags into long strips, I should be able to weave or crochet them into a pretty sturdy leash. It's not like I'm trying to keep a Great Dane in tow, just a terrier but man or boy, he just wants to go, go, go. I want to give him his head for a while because he eventually stops, sniffs, wets, and runs again so an extra long leash should be a big help to me and my slower pace.

More toy soldiers for next Christmas. I have a a wide latice-work fence on the east side of my abode and I'd like to have a dozen of these guys standing guard there.

Some kind of lightweight but sturdy carry-all for too many electronic devices. There's the I-pod, the cell phone, the digital camera, the ear buds, the USB connections, a mini tape recorder and sometimes this great Toshiba laptop. I don't usually tote the computer with me but the rest of the stuff is close at hand at all times. I know. It's overkill. My car is like an oversized purse but the rest of my life is fairly sparse.

A secret project involving soda cans. (I don't want to give out too much information because if the project flops, nobody can make fun of my effort ...(she says with lower lip hanging out.)

Egg carton Christmas ornaments. I remember doing this a bunch of years ago. They were pretty nifty. If I start now, I might get a few finished by the end of 2009. First things first, though. Gotta tell my friends to save those paper cartons for me.)

A miniature garden bench. Mike, who works with me (when we're actually working, that is) found some hardware where he usually puts his trash for pick up and he brought it to the dungeon (aka office). That will be a fun project, I think. (As soon as I figure out how, I'll share his blog here.)

Lots of angels of all kinds. I'll hide them in the trees, under lawn chairs, behind doors. I'll hang them from fences. I like angels.

A secret project involving bamboo and paper flowers. I saw this really cool Asian-style beauty at Bellagio on Christmas Eve. At $179 (plus tax) it was about $175 more than I was willing to spend. I'm not cheap, just practical. I know I can do something similar. When I'm working on it, I'll post a photo of the original and a photo of my masterpiece.

This list is just for starters. I have a few more wrestling around in the recesses of my brain just waiting to get out but it's getting close to fireworks time and ringing in the New Year. I hear my neighbors calling for me to come out and toast goodbye to the old.

Thanks for reading in 2008 and come on back in 2009. I'll be providing instructions for some of my projects and yes, there might be a test.

Happy, happy, happy.

The Newest ...

2008-12-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

It's been six years since I made that toy soldier from an old pallet. Since then I've tried all sorts of recycling. A few months ago I found picked up a couple of scraps of quilting fabric at my local Goodwill store. No, I had no intention of making a quilt. I'm not the "cottage decor" type and I have seen too many super quilts to even attempt any project of that magnitude.

My plan was to use the material to recover the seat cushions in a couple of wicker chairs and a love seat; however, without a pattern and ... oh heck, let me be honest here ... my heart wasn't in the whole thing.

Now, I have a very good friend who collects cats and I recalled seeing a free cat doll pattern on a website when I'd been searching for something. (No, I don't recall what the search involved.) It took a couple of days to "refind" the pattern. (It's at http://dollmakersjourney.com/carnabycat.html if you want to compare -- and note I said compare and not judge.) It certainly looked like a simple enough project. I should be able to do this sucker in a couple of hours.

Wrong!

Remember, I had enough green fabric to cover four pillows. By the time I mastered this crazy cat, I had to go looking for some kind of related fabric. (You might notice that the legs of my cat are a different color from the body.)

My seams were too loose; I couldn't turn the ears right side out; I cut one of the legs by accident when I was clipping the sewn edge. Those goofs are just for starters. I mistakenly created the face on the back side of the head; I made two left feet--twice!

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm NOT a seamstress and that blasted Brother sewing machine is going up for sale real soon ... I think.

So here's what my cat looks like.

Pretty pathetic, isn't she?

I tried; I really tried. And nobody, not a single person who saw this when I was working on it (only two people, though), none had the courage to admit the cat was scary or that it didn't look like a cat. In fact, it wasn't until after I presented it to my friend as half a Christmas present (I included a cat pin because in my heart I knew this present STUNK), did my two so-called reviewers let me know what they really thought of my sewing skills.

Oh well. Since the creator of the real doll is the owner of the pattern that I mutilated and since I have some very original stuff I've done on my own, I won't be offering any hints on how to create this baby.

May I Begin Again, Please ...

2008-12-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

This is the photo I should have posted with my second post but it was buried deep in the recesses of my desktop and I was on my laptop and, well, I just plain forgot to look for it on my home network. (If it sounds like I know computer speak, you've made me smile.)

Since this is the end of the year, later tonight I'll show one more project given as a Christmas gift. I think you'll find this one a hoot -- or not!

Humble Beginnings... The First Project

2008-12-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

One of the best tools I every bought was a jigsaw. It's not a conventional girly apparatus and my then man friend wondered why I hadn't bought a new handbag instead. But he's gone now and the saw isn't.

I had picked up an old pallet by a dumpster because I just knew I would find some use for it. (It was in worse shape than the photo here; this pallet was delivered to me last week by someone who wants me to recreate the wooden soldier my discarded piece of junk became.)

I had a heck of a time separating the wood. I wanted as much length as possible and didn't care if the nail holes showed so I painstakingly (and painfully--you don't want to know how many splinters I removed from my fingers.) pried the nails out and managed to get one solid length of wood.

Next I drew a quick pattern for a toy soldier, being careful to use as many straight lines as possible. (I figured that would make sawing easier.) Then I freehanded the drawing onto the wood with a piece of chalk (which I made last year and will make again this summer.)

The cutting was simple and fast. And yes, I wore safety glasses. (Love that saw.)

A quick smoothing with a piece of sandpaper glued to a block of wood removed the rough spots, then it was a coat of primer (that stuff dries fast) and then the acrylic red, white, yellow and black paint. I added some gold for the epaulets but it doesn't show up well. When the whole thing was dry I covered it with a coat of poly from a half-used can of the stuff I bought from the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Done.

I wired the finished product to my screen door for Christmas one year and gave it away the next. Afterward I made three more. Here they are. (And I cheated on one of them. The pallet for these had only two good slats and since I wanted to finish these quickly, I bought a piece of castoff, slightly warped pine for a buck ninety.)

And so it begins ...

2008-12-25T20:47:00.001-08:00

This wasn't going to happen. I was not going to blog. I have plenty of activity on my plate of life without adding another thing that can possibly go unfinished. But dang, everybody in my small but meaningful circle of friends wants to know why I don't have a forum of some sort--.

I work. I play. I eat. I watch documentaries. I enjoy arts and crafts. I read. I listen. I play poker. I walk my dog. (That's him in the photo, not me. Honest. I am not a dog.) Isn't that enough activity for one person to handle on a day-to-day basis?

But, I cave easily. And so it begins ...

To keep the updates germane, I've decided to write about my long habit of recycling ... turning Old Into New (thus the name of the blog, in case you were wondering). For now I plan to post photos and tales of some of the old stuff from my closet, the thrift shop, the side of the road and some that came from nobody knows ... If a project is under construction you will see a before and after. If it's already finished and on display, well, I guess I don't have to explain that....

Now that I started this venture, I think I'm going to like it ... I hope my buddies do too.