Adventures in Repurposing and Upcycling

When my old birdfeeder fell apart I enlisted a weathered old candle lantern that was originally a roadside rescue and had done its duty in the garden for a year.

 Table Lamp Cake Stand

I try very hard to observe the principles of the 100 Mile Diet – and bananas don’t grow within 1,000 miles of the West Coast of Canada, so I think I need to make one of these for myself

I have wanted a trumpet planter for some time, but it had to be an instrument that was beyond repair – and didn’t cost a fortune. I had all but given up when I found this little sweetie in my local thrift shop – just $20 bucks.

About 17 years ago I went to a local antique auction to deliver some papers for my uncle. As I walked in the door a pair of these lovely cottage kitchen chairs were going up for bid. 10 minutes later I was paying for them. The family friend I delivered the papers to later told my uncle “there were only 2 real antiques at the auction and she bought them.” They were solid black – not from paint, but most likely from soot from sitting in front of the wood stove or fireplace. Sadly, this one was broken by horrible movers a couple of years ago, so it’s new home is in the garden.

This old lawn sprinkler was in a garbage pile at a local construction site when I rescued it. It holds a tapered candle beautifully

This wonderfully rusty iron wall planter adds a rich dimension in the bathroom where it holds extra hand towels for guests

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See the step by step directions on the page https://adventuresinjunking.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/bundt-pan-window-box/

Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away and I am already thinking of fun, pretty ways to mark the occasion

See how pretty junk can be! a couple of candy tins and an antique collander filled with masses of flowers…

Repurposed antique dessert forks suggestive of arrow feathers

the frame for the heart-shaped wreath came from the base of a stripped lampshade. Strips of torn white cotton were knotted onto that, and a white silk tassle that I bought at a sidewalk sale for $1.75 finishes it off

This is a gift for friends who have a sheep farm and have hospitably welcomed my friends and I every lambing season for the past several years. I used a transfer image from the Graphics Fairy and I used the same image on both sides of the rock

This white candle holder was an ugly gold iron lampbase. Painted white, it served as a beautiful centerpiece for my staircase container garden in summer

a mailbox rescued from a nearby teardown makes a pretty and whimsical planter. A bricklayer’s tool added to the front for texture and a vintage rolling pin for signage.

There were a number of crates behind the barn, many had broken and/or rotted over the years.

I painted the shelves a dusty rose but left the crate with a natural finish (a 50/50 mixture of shellac and turpentine, applied in several thin coats with a rag, allowed to dry completely and between coats sanded with 000 steel wool.)

 Clock Case Hanging Planter

 Christmas Time: alarm clock Christmas ornament