I've got a couple pairs of shutters that I've been hanging onto for a while now, waiting for the perfect application. I still don't know what I'm going to do with them but my mind-wheels are turning and inspiration is everywhere.
Go into any antique mall or thrift shop and you're bound to find a variety of sewing notions ready for repurposing. Here's just a few quick projects to get you inspired and thinking outside the box.
I don't have the heart to cut an old sewing machine in half but I really love this idea. So cute!
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What a great idea. You'll find jars and jars full of spools here at #TheFrog.
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Thimbles are one of my favorite finds. So many jewelry options with them.
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Measuring tapes also have so many applications. Cute as a bracelet, shorter lengths for charms or pendants.
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Never would of thought to use flower frogs to store scissors. How cute is that?
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Sewing baskets always have a variety of bobbins perfect for jewelry making.
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Such a cute idea for a teapot... pin cushion in the lid and storage for supplies and notions in the pot. Love it!
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| sadieseasongoods |
People are so creative. I never would of thought to use a butter dish for a sewing kit. How cute is that? Might have to make me one of these, you know, for all the sewing I do.
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Found on pinterest
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Great travel sewing kit from an eyeglass case. I've got quite a few of these. Great repurpose idea. |
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One more creative pincushion idea. So many beautiful teacups that'd make gorgeous pincushions. Recently found more Pinterest posts using jello molds and the like. Such cute ideas. |
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I'm a big fan of mosaic tile work and am always on the lookout for furniture pieces that will work for my purposes. A quick Pinterest search revealed many more applications. Take a look at ten fabulous projects I found that use a variety of base materials.
1. Wood furniture pieces are ideal and top my list of things to look for. You could mosaic the top, drawer fronts or go for the gusto and cover the whole piece. A great way to update a piece of furniture and give it new life.
12 Creative Crafts that Take Broken China from Trash to Treasure
2. I love beautiful metal trays and have bought quite a few over the years but never thought to mosaic them. What a cute project.
From Reclaimed Designs on Etsy
3. Chairs make wonderful mosaic projects. I've seen them covered in marbles, buttons, paper mosaic and the like. All are fabulous.
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from mosaicodelsole
Check out her site, lots of great glass mosaic project ideas.
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| from Pinterest |
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| Adorable Mosaic Teapot found on Pinterest |
7. This is fabulous. Take a wood or metal box, drawer, trough... whatever and give it a mosaic treatment with teacups added for extra storage. What a cute idea!
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| From Pinterest |
8. Doors and windows make great mediums for mosaic. You can get as creative as you'd like and personalize a piece in a variety of ways. Just beautiful.
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9. I bought a guitar (a couple years ago mind you... it's a sickness) for this purpose and have yet to get started. It's on my "someday" list. Right next to about 100 other things that I may or may not get to "someday".
Isn't that adorable?
From ehow.com with a tutorial
10. Lots of glass bottles and jars are just waiting to become unique works of art... what are you waiting for?
From Inspiration Sandwich
Mosaic is an easy project anyone can do that'll transform simple, everyday items into unique, creative art pieces for your home. With a quick "how to" search using google or Pinterest you'll find everything you ever wanted to know, and then some, about mosaic work.
I've got plans for a variety of projects here at the shop.... "someday"! Here's a peek at a couple of the things I'd like to do here at #TheFrog:
I bought a wicker couch and chair at Goodwill years ago that I would like to turn into concrete sculpture. Big plans, now I just need the time to work on a new project.
I'm hoping to work on the landscaping out front this fall and am planning to add a little personality and funk with the yard art.
Have you done any mosaic work? I have dabbled a bit and love it. Would love to see some of your work, feel free to share.
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| cool things to do with sewing patterns |
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| Decoupaged Suitcases |
Such a cute idea!
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| Joyworks Decoupaged Mannequin... isn't she cute! |
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| Found on Instagram |
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| Altered Book Project by Sandra Pearce |
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| Flower Embellishments on Etsy |
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| You-Tube Video with directions. |
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| Sewing Pattern Magnets on Etsy |
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| Pattern Mixed Media Project |
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| from Burlap and Denim |
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Have you done anything interesting with patterns?
Would love to see what you've done.
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I don't know about you but I've never given a second thought to where pencils come from. Who really cares, right? I'm finding as I grow older (becoming a bit of history myself) that history is becoming more interesting with each passing day and I'm starting to care... who'd of thunk!  |
| The oldest known pencil in the world, from the early 17th century, on display at the Faber-Castell castle near Nuremberg, Germany. History of the Pencil |
We have a great group of dealers here at #TheFrog but one of my favorites (I know, favorites are bad) is a gentleman with cases who comes in every couple weeks to change things around and add new goodies. He's 90 years young and always has interesting items with lots of History to share. It's thru this dealer that my love affair with pencils... well, pencil boxes really, began.
