Thrift stores, yard sales, and even your own closets are filled with any number of fabric sources. From old clothes to table linens and everything in between, these secondhand materials are absolutely perfect for any number of easy sewing projects. Not only are they inexpensive fabrics, but if they’re blemished in some way, then they’re ripe for repurposing with a little bit of sewing magic. Here are some great sewing projects that are simple, approachable, and perfect for a beginner.Read more ›
Wellness and Relaxation Through Quilting: Unraveling Stress With Every Stitch
September 10, 2023 · By · Leave a Comment
More than half of all Americans admit to being concerned for their mental health. If you fall into that half, you might be seeking better ways to deal with stress and anxiety. A therapeutic hobby like quilting can take your mind off mental health issues. Learn how you can try quilt-making to increase your emotional and physical wellness and well-being.Read more ›
Refashioning with Vintage Patches
May 13, 2023 · By · 17 Comments
I’ve had a love affair with vintage patches for as long as I can remember. It probably goes back to my days of Brownies or Girl Scouts and earning all those badges! But even in college, I’d spend my mad money on patches from the Army-Navy Surplus Store to decorate my beloved denim jacket.Read more ›
Blue Fall Decor with a Pumpkin Throw Pillow
September 8, 2021 · By · 30 Comments
Back when I was writing my book, “Crafting with Flannel”, I thrifted several shirts that were pretty enough to photograph as-is for the book. One of them sported an assemblage of colors that made me think of Fall in a funky and alternative way. So, I set it aside for a year, mulling over several ideas, including a pumpkin throw pillow.Read more ›
Boho Pillow Covers from Upcycled Sweaters
May 13, 2021 · By · 19 Comments
If you read my book, “Crafting with Flannel”, then you know that I recommend thrifting for flannels during the warmer weather months. Well, the same goes for other cozy clothing, including sweaters! And after finding some colorful, patterned sweaters at Goodwill, I decided to make some Boho pillow covers with them.Read more ›
Repurposing Ideas for Face Masks
April 22, 2021 · By · 19 Comments
While we’re not there yet, my hope is that in the near-ish future, we won’t need to wear face masks constantly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to wear them until we’re at comfortably safe place! But, if you’re anything like me, you’ll ultimately be left with a pile of masks and unsure what to do with them. So, I thought it might be fun to come up with a few repurposing ideas for a fabric face mask (which is the kind of I’ve been wearing for the past year).Read more ›
DIY Coin Purse from Crocheted Potholders
February 10, 2021 · By · 20 Comments
Several years ago, I upcycled a pair of crocheted potholders into a DIY coin purse. It was SO cute (the potholders were clock faces), but I can’t find it anywhere. So, I decided to make myself a new one and re-share it here on my blog.Read more ›
Nail Apron as a Brush Organizer
February 18, 2020 · By · 16 Comments
Even though I already upcycled something into a paint brush holder, I had an idea that I wanted to try out. And it involved a nail apron, or one of those canvas aprons that workers used to wear (or maybe still wear?) at hardware stores.Read more ›
Acorn Decorations from Tweed Jackets
November 8, 2018 · By · 40 Comments
While putting together a collection of Upcycled Fall Decor projects for a blog post, I ran across this oversized acorn decor project that I just fell in love with. It’s not my originally idea (important for me to point out), BUT I wanted to create my own version of acorn decorations. Of course, not just any fabric would do, though. I wanted to make them with a tweed sport coat.Read more ›
Refashioning with Ribbon Belts
August 12, 2018 · By · 9 Comments
When I was a teenager, I had grand plans that involved collecting snippets of vintage jacquard ribbon (and non-vintage, if pretty enough) to decorate “all the things”, such as handbags, headbands, and t-shirts. But I quickly found out that the gorgeous ribbon I coveted so much was expensive…and my plans fizzled out. Fast forward a couple of decades, and I’m back at it with an alternative (and thrifty) plan: What if I used some ribbon belts from the thrift store to embellish different accessories?Read more ›
