Your daily affirmation: A few sheets of the daily news dug from your neighbor’s recycling, some string, glue and scissors. Use them to make your personal catalyst for mood elevation (aside from that kite-flying scene in Mary Poppins). I recommend giving this sign a try. Think of it as a domestic mind hack, or a happiness [...]
March 9, 2010
A piece of found carpeting and a roll of twine makes for a custom doormat for spring boots. This is a Tossed and Found project I originally made for Time Out Chicago in August. Now that we’re in the season of mud, particularly in the midwest, it’s a good way to upcycle a bit of [...]
March 7, 2010
Friend and reader Jill asks for your help on a makeover. She writes: Around a year ago I acquired a beautiful retro Carson’s of Highpoint chair for a whopping $20.00. I had it reupholstered and am no longer in love with it. For some reason my usually creative mind is drawing a blank. I am in [...]
March 4, 2010
This week’s makeover transforms a cotton flour sack into a reusable grocery tote. I found the economy size sack for $1 at a rummage sale and thought the graphics would make a fun bag for hauling food from the checkout belt to cupboard. There was a small debate in the kitchen that a better use [...]
March 3, 2010
This is Rent a Crowd, a wall graphic by Elly Nelly, one in a million cool things you can find on Supermarket. It’s an online marketplace like Etsy designed to hook up buyers with sellers, but products here have a sleek industrial arts edge. This lampshade made by printing a photo on duratrans, a material usually [...]
February 28, 2010
My name isn’t Whole Foods, and yours isn’t Trader (though, actually, it could be Joe). Yet, much as we hate to be labeled we use their reusable bags when we check out at the grocery store. Paper or Plastic? That’s so last decade. I’m going out on a limb here to predict that BYOB* is [...]
February 25, 2010
Design and sustainability are growing closer together in our modern world. Thank heavens. The idea of recycling wasn’t on the horizon when Whirlpool or Ford planned the lifespan of their products back in the 50’s. Back then, the landfills were wide open spaces. Now, if you picture two big piles in front of you – virgin [...]
February 23, 2010
Food and Vintage – a winning combination in my book. Before the week gets away from us, here’s a reminder about the pop-up Vintage Bazaar this Saturday, February 27. When: noon to 5 pm Where: 4740 N. Western. You can’t miss it, it’s the building on the west side of the street labeled Dank Haus. The event will [...]
February 21, 2010
Loads of times, I’ll see something online or at a market and wonder– how did somebody make this, and how did they arrive at such an original idea? Other times, I’ll start a project and wish I could compare methods with someone else. Maybe they have a shortcut or a good tip I’d never think [...]
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March 10, 2010
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