reclaimed crafts

Tuesday, January 1

me and the plumbing supply store guy

I thought that might get your attention.

I got this awesome book called Home from the Hardware Store for Christmas. It's all about repurposing hardware and plumbing parts, and it's super cool. Like Brooklyn hipsterish cool, with lots of references to French flea markets.

I was especially attracted to what the authors describe as "machine-age candlesticks," made from plumbing parts. John and Gus waited outside the plumbing supply store (no way was John subjecting himself to this), while I bravely tucked my craft book under my arm and headed inside, muttering "hex bushing" under my breath.

these are hex bushings.
who knew?

After scanning the aisles for about 30 seconds, I gave in. In my most confident voice, I asked where I could find hex bushings and unions. And then I blew my cover, blathering on about candlesticks and repurposing and crafting. But then, when I showed the nice plumbing supply store guy the pictures, he brightened at the picture of the candleabra, suggesting a menorah. A kindered spirit, right there in the degreaser aisle!

The project could not be easier, but it also couldn't be more expensive. I'm reminded of the other cool thing about using salvaged and reclaimed items: they are generally cheap (except when I get carried away at an auction for the coolest. croquet set. ever.). The whole shebang was so expensive, I didn't buy the unions, which came in at a whopping $18/per. Hopefully this spring I'll hit the tag sale of a retired plumber with lots of hex bushings and unions to get rid of.

The sudden disappearance of the unions allowed me to add my own twist/new obsession:

giant washers
and check out that awesome tag sale scale!

sweet

home

So here they are, all dolled up for a housewarming present (sweet home, home sweet, get it?). Thanks, Brooklyn hipsters. If the trend continues into 2013, you'll be moving to Northampton any day now, and we will welcome you with open, crafty arms.

Sunday, December 30

I'd call it easy peasy if I didn't hate that expression

This seems to be a big thing on blogs, calling things easy peasy. I hate this expression. So let's call pennants super simple and fun. Because they are. And they are also a great use of leftover paper scraps. Here's one I made for our open house tomorrow. Happy New Year!

nice reuse of the star cutouts
for a different project (stay tuned)

awesome hole punch

Thursday, November 29

New Knack inventory!

We're selling out at the Knack Holiday Pop Up Store, so it was time to make more inventory! On tap: trays, trays, trays! Trays with vintage yardsticks! Trays with vintage maps! Trays with vintage cookbooks! And more of the perennial favorites: yardstick business card holders and decoupaged clipboards.

I have acquired my own personal shopper for reclaimed crafts goods, for which I am so grateful! You'll remember her as the scorer of the original inspiration for reclaimed crafts: chippy wooden balusters at the curb of an old farmhouse by the Connecticut River. She's been a huge supporter ever since, and besides religiously hitting the Salvation Army on half-price Wednesdays for us, she recently took a trip to her dad's basement, and oh my, what she found. Hasko Haskelite trays from the 1950's! Can you think of a better way to display recipes and drawings from the 1958 Good Housekeeping Cookbook series? No, you cannot. I had such a good time making these!

sweet potato volcanoes!

authentic Hasko Haskelite!

check out those beautiful hand-painted
glasses by Tonya Dixon - for sale at
Knack Pop Up!

when those unexpected guests drop in
(cue Jaws music)

cheese dreams and company potato bowls!

Springfield, Northampton, Stamford

all-important hand signals (by state)

check out that rare clip!

dancing food: always a crowd pleaser

look at those gorgeous colors

Sunday, November 18

finally, a home for those tiny blue bottles

For all of you faithful reclaimed crafts blog readers (and we know you are out there), you will recall some posts about a bunch of tiny blue bottles I scored from Free Cycle, when reclaimed crafts was still a baby.

We'd revisit them every so often, but nothing really stuck (except dust, which had settled nicely on the tops of them while they hung out in my basement).

Well, we never fail to come up with super creative ideas when we are hanging out in my kitchen, having a glass of wine (or 2), and this time around it came together so nicely, we couldn't believe it hadn't occurred to us before.

We paired the bottles with our beautiful salvaged wood from our friends at Berkshire Barns, vintage clear bottles for the shames, some industrial hardware to lend some edge and to secure the candles, and voila!