Reuse & Repurpose: Paper Trail

I feel the sensation of traveling back through time when I flip through the tattered pages of an old book filled with engraved images, romantic type or frilly, foreign words. Even though I love spending time with a treasured tome, it's most often placed back on the bookshelf (or in my instance, I'd have to include the back of the closet, the bottom of a drawer, the stacks on the windowsill or the pile in the floor!) where it will probably collect dust for days, or years, to come.

That's why I'm so attracted to the elegant creations of Honeysuckle Lane's Simple Joy's Lana Manis, which lucky for us, are for sale at her Etsy shop, SimpleJoysPaperie. By refashioning vintage books into wreaths for all occasions, Lana has not only saved them the recycling bin, butshe's also charged them with a novel decorative sensibility and a whimsical sense of humor.

Those of you who have followed me know that I love anything that reminds me of my favorite place on earth -- Paris. The foreign phrases in her "French Text," wreath remind me of my beloved high school French classes and my days as a flâneur roaming the streets of Paris and Bordeaux.

And then, of course, you know that I adore anything tinged with even the faintest whiff of Dolly Parton. Hence, my choice of the "9-to-5" wreath harvested from an old short-hand text

For a look at what collage artist John Derian and Coastal Living's Heather Chadduck have done with the pages of various books, pick up The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or Powell's.

Imagining what my book might look like if turned into a wreath....

The Elegant Thrifter

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

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Fabulous & Frugal Fun: By The Book

I can never pass up an old craft book. But Don't Throw it Away! by Vivian Abell, published in 1973, was way ahead of the times with it's popular-today theme of reuse and repurpose. This was the 10-cent part of the $5.25 take from my sister's and my three-hour garage sale spree back in June.

Before we start into the magnificent creations featured on the cover (There are hundreds more inside, all with easy-to-follow instructions!), a word about Vivian Abell. In 1973, she was a 25-year devotee of crafting and the owner of Craft Town in Verona, N.J. where 20 different craft classes were taught each week. She co-hosted a TV show called "All About Crafts," and in 1972 judged the national decoupage and egg decorating contests. Repurposing Goddess!

Just what did Vivian create? Let's start with the tall-backed chair in the middle of the page. Why that's a hall coat rack and bench, made out of two washboards, a wooden ironing board and scrap lumber. And then just to its left is a an old military boot turned into a dainty pink lamp that she suggests as a whimsical accent to a child's room

And what to do with that old meat grinder? For some reason, meat grinders must have been a prevalent find back in 1973 since Vivian demonstrates several ideas to spruce them up, one being the bright yellow confection of a lamp just below the pink boot. Don't you love the pink ball fringe for a touch of added oomph!?! Let your eye wonder on down to a jaunty pink pin cushion fashioned out of a tin can, peruse over to a bleach bottle snowman and then head right up to the left-hand corner of the book where there's a delightful bird feeder fashioned out of two salad bowls.

The ideas go on and on for using things like kitchen graters, peach and olive pits, panty hose, or even flashlight lens! I'll leave you with a few words from Vivian: "People are doubly pleased when they can make an exciting new possession from what would have been a discard," she wrote from her home in Upper Montclair, N.J. " There's a special satisfaction from almost nothing or turning an old eyesore into a useful, attractive object."

I couldn't agree more!

For more current ideas on breathing new life into old objects, pick up The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or Powell's.

The Elegant Thrifter

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

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Fabulous & Frugal Fun: Hot Lava Part 2

My task was to bring down the sizzle on what my pal Jonona Amor of Jonamor Decor called a "bacony" paint job that I applied to my papier mache volcano. It's just one of the dozon or more that I'm making for her and Senor's tablescape for their tiki inspired wedding celebration.

She wisely suggested a burnt umber coat of acrylic paint sponged over all of the siennas I had originally applied. Eventually, these little masses will drip red glitter lava and spew red and orange flowers from their mouths.

Back to the volcano factory in my dining room!

The Elegant Thrifter -- Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!!

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Sublime Sundays: My Sweet Mother!

Here is a cute picture of my Mom with a creation she helped me make last year for a Dolly Parton themed party, Dolly-Rama.

We took themes from Dolly's songs to create the party decor, and I decided to create a "Tablecloth of Many Colors," based on Dolly's tribute to her own mother, Avie Lee Parton. The songs talks about growing up poor in the Appalachian Mountains and her not having a coat when the weather tuned cold, so her mother took scraps of fabric and sewed them all together to create a "Coat of Many Colors," that she wore so proudly. It's a love song to her Mama, who did her best to help her family, and counts as one of Dolly's favorite songs she's ever written

Now my childhood was not a poverty stricken as Dolly's, but Mom was always thrifty when it came to providing and used to make our clothes when we were small. For fun, she always had craft projects for us to do at home -- from pouring handmade candles to making glittery Christmas ornaments. In fact, when I had a preview for my book, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects and Vintage Details, she and Dad made a box of Rice Krispie Treats and sent it to the party. I love my mom very much.

Happy Mother's Day!

For your copy of The Find, go to Borders, Barnes & Noble,Amazon or Powell's

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous -- The Elegant Thrifter.

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