Inspiring upcycle: glass bottle diy projects

Have you ever looked at your recycle bin full of glass bottles (don't judge) and thought: "What a waste!". I had this revelation the other day as I passed all the neighborhood bins on my morning walk... "We can do better", I thought to myself. So I grabbed a couple bottles when no one was looking, and I committed to figuring out a new way to upcycle this amazing resource. Here's what I learned, and some tips if want to give this a try ;D

Inspiring upcycle: rustic wooden crate furniture

Vintage advertising is something that will always catch my eye. There's so much to learn about history from the colors and fonts, to the materials and language they used. You can almost imagine what it would've been like to live in that time. This is why I get so excited at the opportunity to take something like an old shipping crate, restore and upcycle it, and ensure that story can continue. Here's the story on my project... and maybe some inspiration for your next upcycle project!

Boxed corner cushion sewing project

Beautiful fabrics deserve to be made into beautiful products... so when I find something like this vintage velvet remnant, it's project time! And the perfect choice for this vintage fabric, is a vintage style pillow. Piping, zippers, and boxed corners are all part of today's DIY.

Making a cottage style woven reed footstool

I love the french country look, and I know I'm not the only one... Pick up any decorator magazine and you can find those rustic natural elements accenting even the sleekest of modern designer rooms. So today I'm going to show you how I created one of the most versatile pieces of furniture; the cottage footstool.

Wood + cement = modern farmhouse cake stand

I love finding inspiration in unusual places... especially when it means avoiding a large retail price tag! This project was inspired by a beautiful slate topped walnut pedestal dining table from a high end retailer.  I loved the shape and presence of the table, but (1) I don't need a new table, and (2) not looking to spend a few thousand today. And voila, the design for this stylish little cake stand was conceived. From casting the cement top, to turning the wooden base, to sealing a food-ready surface, I'll show you how it's done ;D

Upcycled ottoman from vintage parts

How many times have you seen that worn out table, chair, or bookshelf, and thought "with a little paint, new hardware, it could be so awesome"... But what do you do when you have an amazing piece that's simply beyond repair? Why not re-purpose those salvaged parts for something completely new!

When I found this jenny lind chair it had already been mostly dismantled, but I fell in love with the classic curves immediately! So I gathered what I could in a box knowing that one day I would have the perfect project... and here's how it all came together ;D

Making picture frames from reclaimed barn wood

Reclaimed wood is such a great resource for so many of us; from old fences, to industrial palettes, and in my case old barns! But what can we do that really makes the best of this upcycling gold? Well today, I'm turning some of my favorite barn wood slats into gorgeous picture frames!