Posts tagged upcycled
Reclaimed Lumber Shipped Nationwide
We usually try to stick to local reclaimed wood resources but new advertiser Reclaimed Lumber (see link on the sidebar) has a warehouse in Pennsylvania. That’s local enough. Plus, they do ship nationwide.
The wide plank pine shown in the above photo is $5.95 per square foot. That’s not bad! The website says that shipping should cost less than $250.
One can get lost on the site. There’s all sorts of reclaimed flooring, including pine and oak from barns and wine barrels. But flooring is just the start. There’s paneling that’s not your grandma’s 1970’s wall paneling. Ceiling panels, reclaimed wood furniture, beams, frames and slabs. It’s the go-to source for reclaimed wood in any form.
You can buy and sell barns on the site. No sh*t! And old log cabins!
Kind of makes me wish I was restoring an old country home.
Reclaimed Space
Blogs I’ve Just Discovered
Better After is a blog that asks readers to send their before and after shots of furniture and renovations. There some ab fab pieces on there that make me miss my furniture upcycling days. The room redos are ta die for too! Most are not even full renovations, just some paint and good taste. Love it!
DIY Showoff similarly posts before and after shots sent in from readers. It’s, dare I say, more mainstream, less precious-crafty. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! The site was started by Roeshel who has been restoring her own 1927 farmhouse. She has frigawesome taste. I was salivating at her marble subway tile backsplash.
Shabby Blogs is another blog that relies on reader participation. Actually, it’s more than that. It’s like a prettier version of Houseblogs. No, it’s more than that. You can create your own blog with their design templates. All for free! And they’re quite purdy too.
DIY Insanity asks “Is it nuts to design, permit and build an addition to your house by yourself?”. I saw the header and thought “No biggie” but when I started reading the posts I realized this was a huge job they undertook. Like big cranes and shit. Yikes! I like the “Gardening with a Sawzall” post. Good idea!
Craigslist Building Materials
Never underestimate the value of Craigslist when it comes to renovating your home. You can find anything from free studs to $1 Italian ceramic tile to reclaimed flooring at half the cost of outlets.
People often have leftover material from projects or they recycle the stuff they rip out. A short list of things I found on Craigs include…
1. Claw foot tub. Free
2. Glass mosaic tile counter and backsplash. $50
3. Finished walnut flooring for BR and hallway. $400
4. Like new cherry kitchen cabinets for entire kitchen. $500
How much does a marble kitchen countertop cost? $2000-$3000? $125 bucks for that 18×48 slab above. Yeah, you still have to cut it, but if you want a marble counter and it’s beyond your budget, this is one way to do it. I may actually give them a call as I’m looking for marble to use as window sills.
Reclaimed 1700’s pine wide plank flooring. No price and it looks to be a factory or lumber yard, so don’t know if it’s a bargain. Retailers charge $6 and up (way up) per square foot for this stuff. I think we paid around $10 many years ago, plus shipping.
This antique sink top includes the faucets and undermount sink for $200. Is that a fabulous bargain? Eh. But it’s one stop shopping since you don’t have to go out and find the fittings for the counter. You can sit it on top of an old dresser or antique wrought iron sewing machine base, as I’ve done in the past.
Retailers will charge something like $.65-$2.00 per used brick, but you can always find someone giving ’em up for nothing. This pile of used bricks is located in Poughkeepsie, NY. There are 250-300 of them. Sometimes you have to travel a bit to get something for nothing, so make sure it’s a whole bunch of something!
Upcycle Magazine
Did you know there is an Upcycle Magazine? I do now. The site goes over how-to’s, products and ideas. It is a tad heavy on the Etsy crafty stuff, but there are some great ideas for the home and garden. “Bigger projects” as I like to call them.
Looks as if the site launched in 2009 but the content in the archives isn’t too overwhelming. In fact, I wish there was more.
Well, since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll shut up now and show you. As always, click on the image link to learn more.
Via Best Green Blogs.
Finally. Some New Etsy Listings
Between the house renovations and the sprained ankle, I did manage to bang out a few new pieces for the online shop and upcoming craft shows.
Booby Hooks is my favorite. The hooks are strong enough for hats, leashes and light jackets. Or bras. They’re real wood and they’re spectacular. $45
Ok, I kind of like this sweet boy too. He’s seen better days, but who needs arms when you can have scissor wings? That’s a note clip on the bottom there, in case ya didn’t realize. $35
When I told my mom I was working with dolls, she said “You hated dolls when you were a kid!” Well, there’s something to that. I used to pull them apart and abuse them. I must say, I took great pleasure out of ripping off Barbie’s head for this piece. Hang earrings or rings from her “arms”. $30
A little cherub love. This antique sewing machine drawer can be hung as art or can be used as an earring holder. Just hook the earrings through the chicken wire. The kissy blower sitting on the edge can hold some necklaces too. $60
Some Scrappy Robots
You know I loves me some upcycled robots! Here’s my latest find. Ottawa based Dan Ausin is the guy behind Rivethead Robotics. He started tinkering a couple of years ago with all the junk he was bringing home from thrift stores and dumpsters and the robots started to take shape.
They’re usually made from completely recycled/salvaged parts. He’s been in a couple art shows and a local (to him) boutique, but no online store just yet. If you’re interested in purchasing one , you can contact Dan through his Flickr site.
Via Neatorama.
Lights Made From Recycled Stuff
Soda Can Pull Tabs. Mauricio Affonso
No wire hangers! They’re plastic. $ 425 from Aaron Brand Design
Chair legs on fiberglass. Dana Depew
Tupperware Jello Mold. $35 from Boots n Guss
Tricycle Wheel. $35 from Washburn Art
NYC Snaps Photos and Furniture
What happens when a photographer/design consultant teams up with a furniture designer and reclaimed timber expert? “Made of New York” furniture happens.
John-Michael Ekeblad is the photographer. He builds the frames around the images as well. His work is snippets of NYC life. The cockroach is kind of our mascot, isn’t it?
The reclaimed wood furniture is pretty awesome. Prices aren’t crazy for the quality of work and materials. Just check out some of the stuff for yourself!
Black armchair: $1150.
Dining O-Stool: $290
Dresser: $990.
Via Cool Hunting.
More Upcycled Stuff
No small feet! Antique shoemaker’s wooden child foot model. It’s mounted to a base and has a hole in the top. What is it? A pen holder!
Smiles, everyone, smiles! Vintage doll face mounted to a fan blade. Kind of cute for a kid’s room, no?
That’s so hot! Yeah, it’s a scarf, leash or hat hook.
I’m turning Japanese, I really think so! This was a fugly 1970’s cedar jewelry box with decoupage flowers. Trust me, it was dated and tacky.
These pieces will be uploaded to the store only if they don’t sell this weekend at the craft show. Tha’s why no prices.
Upcycled Etsy Gift Guide
Ho f*in’ ho. Thanksgiving is over and it’s time to shop for gifts! Before I start posting my own recycled creations, I figured I’ll give you a look at my competition.
O.M.G. I love the platform shoe planter!! I don’t know where Giddy Spinster gets all the shoes from, but I’m jealous! Apart from the fabulous planters ($55 for the one in the photo), there are bookends and a vintage hair dryer planter.
Look closely at this bird feeder. I didn’t see what it was the first time. Green? Yellow? It’s repurposed traffic signals! $60 from Red Yellow and Blue Ink.
This vintage cookbook clock comes to us from the Welsh Tick Tocklers. $40
Mitchell Glassworks melts wine, beer and soda bottles to make cheese plates and spoon rests. This Cabernet cheese plate is $34.
Flea Find: TMRnyc Metalwork
I actually hauled my tuchus back to the Brooklyn Flea to hawk my wares last Saturday. I did get a chance to wander away from my own booth for a few minutes to check out some other vendors.
My “Wow, that’s impressive!” award this week goes to Scott Behr of TMRnyc. TMR is a metal work company. They do design, welding, machining, laser cutting….everything metal. And yes, much of it is recycled!
The “Swarf” tables above are re-purposed industrial scrap. At $2360 they are out of my price range, but if you have the bucks to spare, consider this: An elephant could sit on those tables and not break them (maybe).
New Stuff (From Old Stuff)
Trying to get back to work after the whole moving meshugas. I won’t lie. It’s been tough getting motivated. It took me all week to make a few pieces for Crafts in Chelsea on Saturday. In November, it’s holiday season at the Brooklyn Flea.
Recycled Etsy Pet Beds
Computer Monitor by AlpineButterfly. $200
Suitcase by LoveNostalgicWhimsy. $65
Soda Crate by Sleepurrz. $55