In my neck of the woods (the Carolinas), relics of old industrial textile mills are common at vintage stores and thrift shops. So, it’s no surprise that I run across these types of thread cones at one secondhand store after another. I’ve already repurposed some for a Christmas project, but this time, I decided to upcycle a few into candy corn decorations for some cute Halloween decor.Read more ›
Candy Corn Decorations from Thread Cones for Cute Halloween Decor
October 18, 2018 · By · 25 Comments
How to Make a Wall Mounted Coat Rack by Upcycling a Wall Gun Rack
November 8, 2017 · By · 8 Comments
Ok, I know what you’re going to say- “But Sadie, you’ve already repurposed a gun rack before!”. And you’re right, I have…but what can I say? Another wall gun rack crossed my path and I couldn’t resist! It was dusty and cheap, and all I could think was that it would be PERFECT as a wall mounted coat rack or coat tree for entryway storage.Read more ›
Tablecloth Weights / Tablecloth Clips from Horse Brass
September 7, 2017 · By · 38 Comments
I don’t exactly know why, but when I think of anything horse-related, I imagine it in an autumn setting. I can’t really explain why this is, and maybe it makes no sense…but when I think of horses, I think of plaid blankets, leather accessories, and crisp Fall air. So, when I spotted these horse brass at a thrift store, I decided they were destined to be used in an autumn project. Read more ›
Creating a Brochure Holder as Mountain Cabin Decor
August 10, 2017 · By · 63 Comments
This magazine rack was a thrift store find that came home with me, even though I had no plan in mind. But it was heavy and sturdy (i.e., good quality) and seemed like it was a blank canvas for a future project. It finally dawned on me that it would be PERFECT as a brochure holder / brochure stand in my in-laws’ cabin in North Georgia. Not only would it be functional for their rental property, but I could transform it into mountain cabin decor / lodge decor at the same time. Read more ›
Upcycling an Old Washboard into a Chicken Wire Frame as Primitive Decor
June 29, 2017 · By · 56 Comments
Whenever I stumble upon an antiques mall that has a “Clearance Section” I am like a heat-seeking missile with one goal in mind: to find a broken vintage treasure (on the cheap!) to become my next repurposing project. And so, when my eyes fell upon this old washboard that was missing the actual washboard, I knew it was a moment of crafting kismet. It seemed destined for upcycling and would be perfect as primitive decor.Read more ›
Decorative Bookends for Summer Decor with Berry Baskets
June 22, 2017 · By · 38 Comments
To tell you the truth, I’m not entirely sure why I picked up these berry baskets while thrifting a while back. I didn’t have a project idea in mind and the thrift store had written the price on the side of one of the baskets (the horror!). BUT, I decided they were worth the risk and eventually an upcycling idea came to me. I’d transform them into decorative bookends that would double as summer decor.Read more ›
Making a DIY Birdhouse from a Vintage Bank that Looks Like a Log Cabin
March 2, 2017 · By · 56 Comments
It’s been a while since I created a bird project for our yard…so I decided to combine this year’s Log Cabin theme with an outdoors project. Since we always have nesting wrens and chickadees at our house, I had a birdhouse idea that I just couldn’t shake.Read more ›
Get Out the Vote – Upcycling Campaign Buttons and Vintage Ribbons into a Patriotic Wreath
June 23, 2016 · By · 48 Comments
If you live in the States, then you may have noticed that it’s an election year. There’s an awful lot of anger and ugliness associated with it, so here’s my attempt to diffuse the bitter divide with a bi-partisan upcycling project. Washington may not be able to cross the aisle, but Sadie can! And I’ll be doing it with vintage pins / campaign buttons from old elections into a patriotic wreath for Get Out the Vote!Read more ›
Garden Art with a Garden Trellis Made from Farm Tools
November 17, 2015 · By · 106 Comments
This project started out when I thrifted several old garden shovels for a Halloween project. Well, try as I might, the spooky project was a failure. I let the dust of my frustration settle before going back to the drawing board- I had the farm tools after all- I just needed a new idea! Eventually, I settled on the idea of building a garden trellis that would serve as garden art and primitive decor for my yard.
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Fall Table Runner with Flannel Shirts and Lace Ribbon
October 13, 2015 · By · 149 Comments
Back in early Spring when I created my Dyed Doily Table Runner, I was already envisioning an autumn version- with doilies dyed to look like chrysanthemums. AND, I even bought some vintage doilies that had orange and gold hues for the Fall table runner. I was *convinced* that that was the plan. But as time marched on, I started envisioning a cozier version – one that used flannel shirts and lace ribbon.Read more ›
