This tray looks so much cheerier here than lying in a landfill. Much more useful, too. I found the tray in an alley in my neighborhood, tried to give back to the bistro by putting it on the restaurant’s outdoor patio, but somehow it made its way back to the alley. It was in good [...]
April 18, 2010
Perhaps you saw my latest Time Out Chicago project for this month. For this Tossed and Found, I took an ottoman from a construction dumpster and covered it with materials I also found there. This one’s a cousin to the Spring ottomans I gave a graphic makeover earlier in March. The bubble wrap and packing material [...]
March 10, 2010
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 [...]
January 13, 2010
Good uses for a cigar box when you’re eight years old: Home for a caterpillar—just add grass fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line Place for your used stamp collection fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line fill line [...]
December 2, 2009
What’s green and white and red all over? A: A gecko sandwich with ketchup B: Candy canes wrapped in dollar bills C. You try thinking one of these up D. A holiday without origami What’s a holiday without paper crafts? December is a time to make things. And to me, baking cookies is synonymous with using scissors and paper to [...]
October 18, 2009
A clever purse made from paper receipts, a bit of fabric and sequins. Over the weekend, I picked up a can of silver spray paint to use on this week’s before and after. This was after shopping a few thrift stores on Milwaukee Ave with Thriftaholic blogger, Leilani. We scored some finds (post of our purchases [...]
September 27, 2009
This dog is Mel, steadfast friend of Katrina at Roots & Wings Co, a crafty blog that’s a group effort with her trio of sisters-in-law, Erika, Rebecca and Anjeanette. Mel is expertly modeling the reversible coat Katrina sewed for her, based on my pattern which she found via Craftzine. I don’t think I’ve seen a cuter dog [...]
September 10, 2009
Happy Friday, All! I like this revised version of the small cabinet much better, don’t you? The original condition of this piece was rough when I found it lying halfway between the el tracks and a boarded up bungalow on the north side. I worked into respectable condition last March, but wanted to try my hand [...]
June 29, 2009
Tired of pushing down the lever each morning? Just say no. What started as a kitchen conversation….those who like toast vs those who prefer their bread au naturale…morphed into a firm face off…and the international meeting for the Anti-Toast. Missed it this year? No worries, take benign action in your own kitchen. No more toast.
June 28, 2009
Thank heaven for the neighborhood Ace. When my latest redo needed drawer liners, I dashed around the corner for a roll of contact paper. The faux bois paper looked fine, but its thin stick-to-itselfness left lots to be desired. Scouting around Sprout Home in Wicker Park, I spotted these sturdy sheets of wood grain patterned paper [...]
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April 22, 2010
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