Business Junk Turns Into My Treasure

So you all probably know I work for a group of optometrists. Well, the sales floor ,at times, gets a little facelift with new showcases and displays. So what happens to the old, used or scratched items? You know it! I nab ‘em and take them home to recycle into something useful. I just can’t stand to see something get thrown away that could be put to good use.

So here is my take on what was once a plexiglass clip-on sunglasses drawer/case……

Plexiglass clip-on case.

The drawer part was full of slots and crossbars which I had a blast ripping out. Then I dug in my fabric stash and found a piece of quilters cotton that I know I’ll never use (not really a fan of this one) and ironed it into the right dimensions to fit on the bottom of the drawer. The drawer is pulled half-way out in the pic. Hope that makes sense.

And this week, the UPS dude brought that fantastic box full of 100 colors of embroidery thread. And guess what?

TA DA!!!!!!

With a little squishing and squeezing, all 100 spools fit right into that drawer. I am SO happy to have been able to pick this old drawer up and put it to great use. PLUS side of this is that you can see every single color without opening it up. There is one more smaller case that will hold the bigger embroidery spools I have.

I call that one HUGE SCORE for the team!

What have you upcycled or re-used lately? Tell me about it!

Jan 16 2012

Professional Duo Complete from Repurposed Ladies Jacket

The recycling and redesigning the women’s tapestry jacket was rather difficult, if I were to tell the truth. Even though things look one way in your head, accomplishing that goal can be a whole different chore. But the jacket has now been completely disassembled and reassembled into two useful items. Here is the tapestry jacket’s photo history…….

Sleeves cut away from jacket and splayed for cutting (in previous post)

The completed iPad cover made completely from the sleeves of jacket (in previous post)

Jacket body formed into a tote - items to complete are only laying on body. Handles, magnetic closure, black belting....

Professional tote/iPad cover set - not sure how to set this up to photograph decent.

Complete tote from tapestry jacket showing off its true color outdoors.

I lined it with a gray embroidered satin lining and couldn’t resist to put a final little touch to its closure – a silver leaf. As soon as that went on, it truly had my name on it. Not sure what will happen with this yet as Bill thinks I should be the one to enjoy this one. He’s one of my biggest supporters, but if this could sell and make a couple of bucks, then that’s what we have to do.

Thank you for stopping by and giving this a final look over! One day it may make it into the Etsy store, but until then I’ll enjoy looking at it and thinking of ways to improve on the upcycling and repurposing of the great thrift store finds we have in our possession. Yep, there is a whole tote full of beautiful sweaters, jackets and suit coats to re-fashion.

Happy Monday and happy crafting everyone!

Jan 2 2012

Just For Fun And I Didn’t Break the Bank!

With a new year comes new challenges and projects – is there any other way? Didn’t think so. Of course there’s always going to be the hand knitted handbags happening around here, but the sewing room needed something a little different going on. I have had an idea or three rolling around my head for a long time and yesterday, out of the blue, came an opportunity to stock up on items that can be upcycled in to new, useful and fun things to offer.

Those of you who follow me on Facebook probably saw all my excitement over thrift store finds yesterday. Yes, I purchased 7, yes SEVEN men’s suit coats. Bill was honestly intrigued by the idea mulling around in my head, but had to try on each suit coat, just to make sure HE couldn’t use them! Bill and I are both short people, and finding a coat that doesn’t have arms down to our knees is always a challenge. Hence, none of them fit him, all were too long. But for TygerLily and Journal Junction, it was a relief! Suiting fabrics are beautiful and professional. It is just a perfect fit for the organizational side of our creations.

We challenged ourselves to come up with a professional type combo item, such as a matched set of something. I found a perfect women’s tapestry jacket to upcycle for this project. So Bill could wrap his own mind around how it would work with only a small women’s jacket, I showed him how to get more bang for our buck and started cutting it apart – just to show how much fabric is really IN a jacket! You’d be surprised!!!

So before I go off and start getting some stuff done (like laundry), I wanted to share the photo of all the goodies purchased at two of our local thrift stores yesterday. For the price of a movie for two and a large popcorn, this is what we ended up with…..

Future Handbags, Totes, iPad covers and Journal covers.......

There are hundreds of key chain rings in that little bag and under that is a box of FIVE vintage broaches that I found, which got polished up last night. The stores obviously wanted to clear their racks, and I was more than happy to help them out. I did sneak one summer sweater out of the group and put it aside for myself to actually wear. tee hee

It’s time to write up an application to a crafting throwdown and enjoy one more cup of joe. May you all have a wickedly fantastic day, and please keep checking in now that we’re back up and in the swing.

Blessings, my friends.

Feb 26 2011

Gearing Up for MARCH MADNESS!!!

I believe that March will be my month for hunkering down and getting serious about recycling, upcycling, designing, and generally getting some product done.

So in getting ready for my BIG month coming, Goodwill advertised a HUGE sale ending today. Got in the boo-boo-bug and slushed my way over to the neighborhood store and ended up bringing home a garbage bag full of sweaters, jumpers, ugly dress suits and ties. Why you ask? Because they wanted stuff out of their store and some of this stuff will make perfect bag linings, photo backdrops and yes, the bags themselves! I can’t wait to dig in as the ideas to make these boring sweaters into something fun and useful are swirling around in my head. Just look at this pile……..

Sweaters to Recyle into Bags

See the ugly purple jacket under the sweater pile? Don’t think I’d even wear this as a joke, but the embroidery on it is out of this world. And texture? This baby has got it going on. The picture in my head of this bag finished is outstanding. And yes, there are two Christmas sweaters in there, but don’t gals like to sometimes carry a seasonal bag? hmmmm But wait, it gets better……

Golf Vest

You got it! It’s a never before worn knitted golf vest. See the price tag still attached? You are reading it right. It says $84.00 and it’s a Pendleton. What a fun spring bag this will make. My dear husband said when he saw it, “Why don’t you just wear that one?” Um, well honey, number one… I don’t golf. Number two, it’s stinking ugly! :) But that’s just me.

Yesterday’s errands found me at Joann’s and Staples. Weird combo, but it works for me. Staples discount bins were out of this world. And Joann’s was Joann’s, it’s always fun there. But I did find fat quarter bundles for 25% off, so these are going to make some fun little stuff to put IN your bags or totes.

Tools and just plain good stuff....

As I write this, my dear one is still rummaging through the pile of sweaters wondering why I don’t just wear them! I spent some big bucks, too, and found a Husker tie I thought just maybe he’d like to wear to work on Fridays. But if he doesn’t wear it, it’s going to get recycled into something else if he doesn’t watch it. tee hee

So bring it on March! I’m ready for you. Let the ‘madness’ begin………….

And happy creating, everyone!!!! Thanks for stopping by.

Oct 10 2010

Goal Setting

A new week is here which means new goals for the TL (me). There may not be a lot of designing going on, but then again, who knows what will happen.

Goals for week of 10.10.10

1. Cut and sew at least one apron

a. track exact yardage as patterns ALWAYS call for too much to save money

b. track time spent on project to calculate charge for possibly making aprons for others

2. Figure out how to UpCycle THIS! It is screaming some sort of fun tote and it’s another thing I cannot seem to throw or give away as it’s a hand-me-up from my daughter. It does not fit me anymore. Go figure.