croquet mallet heads repurposed as candlesticks

We're all about wood crafts these days.  Those of you who have been following along know that I have amassed quite a stash of vintage wooden croquet sets from flea markets, auctions and tag sales. 

There's an expression "nose to tail" in cooking that refers to using the whole animal, and that's what we plan to do with the croquet sets.  But for now....mallet heads.  Gorgeous, fading paint-covered mallet heads.  After a quick brainstorm with liz from sticks & bricks, we decided the heads wanted to become candle holders.  So, with the addition of some reclaimed wood as a base, that is exactly what they have become.

candlestick holder resting on repurposed yardstick side table

cool, gigantic drill bit to tuck the candles into the mallet heads

We are envisioning a two-part candlestick holder workshop....stay tuned!

decoupage class at Arts & Industry

What a great class!  It was a gorgeous day, with bright sun streaming through the floor to ceiling windows, inspiring creativity and productivity.  Check out the gorgeous decoupage projects!

metal tray with nice decoupaging detail:

Ikea mirrors scored at a garage sale:

so Key West!

love.  those.  maps.

amazing decoupage detail

stunning fully wrapped metal tray

action shots (funky retro tray in foreground)

Join us on December 4th for our coaster class.  Repurposed ceramic bathroom tile + decoupage paper and vintage maps, magazines, books and fabric = gorgeous, useful drink coasters.  Makes a great gift, or keep them for your own entertaining!  Email jendieringer@gmail.com for more details and to sign up!

final class, check out this amazing stuff!

The second Reclaimed Crafts workshop is officially over, and we can't believe all of the beautiful projects this time around.  Thanks so much for joining us Mimi, Kathleen, Judy and Paula - hope to see you again!

impromptu mini key holder from leftover bead board

array of gorgeous vintage fabric awaits 

transformation into napkin rings

mid-creation napkin rings

reclaimed glass tile + vintage book = serving platter

gorgeous retro napkin rings

coasters and platters, oh my

class #3 was a whirlwind of project completion.  oh boy I sound like a lawyer, don't I?  check out these gorgeous coasters and platters made from upcycled glass and ceramic tiles, vintage maps, books and fabric.  everyone is leaving the daily grind behind and doing amazing work!  stay tuned for our upcoming roster of weekend classes at a beautiful studio space at the Arts and Industry Building in Florence.  get a jump start on holiday shopping, and best yet, create your presents instead of buying them!

here's a preview of the next project:  vintage round clothespins on reclaimed bead board from an 1800's house in downtown get upcycled as a dishtowel holder.

olive feet for....

 

an olive themed serving platter

a set of four coasters made using reclaimed ceramic tiles and vintage fabric, all wrapped up and ready to give as a present

more gorgeous coasters:  decoupage paper as background,

vintage maps as an overlay

Can't. Stop. Decoupaging.

I want to decoupage everything that moves (cats and baby Gus emit sighs of relief).  This project was inspired by a beautiful decoupaged plate I got at Twist several years ago. 

It began by scoring a bunch of large square glass tiles from FreeCycle.  I then sat down with a bunch of magazines, some old books and my alphabet stamps and started decoupaging.  It looked a little high school (you know, when you cut out a bunch of pictures and words from Seventeen and Glamour Magazines and put them all together and gave them to your friends...or maybe it was just a Long Island thing?).  So with Laurie's help, I changed some stuff and came up with this summer-themed square with a very preppy paper background:

While I loved the design, it kind of still felt like a glass tile with decoupage on it.  Pretty, not practical, and we at Reclaimed Crafts are all about pretty AND practical.  And lots of Mod Podge.  Then Laurie, thinker of big, creative thoughts, remembered the vintage glass stoppers we got at Brimfield even though we had no idea what we'd do with them:

Feet!  Of course.  They were meant to be feet, so that Decoupaged Glass Tile would become Pretty Summer Cheese Plate.  And so, with a touch of Gorilla Glue, it did.

My map obsession grew when I found a maritime map at Goodwill.  It wasn't just any maritime map, it was a maritime map of Long Island, where my stepdad has his boat.  His boat clearly needed a tray for cocktail service, and it needed to be decoupaged with the maps of where the boat was going.

And then there are all of those vintage road maps from gas companies long gone.  Perfect little present for my mom, the compulsive organizer, to clip her papers neatly together.