There are so many recyclable materials out there and so little time. I don't have to go out searching for stuff - it just appears somehow. I'm not a hoarder - really! But I have acquired a lot of nice old stuff. So my project box is overflowing. That's the fabric and vintage linens box. There's a headboard for a single bed out in the barn; I want to make a bench. There are a few old single wooden chairs out there too. A chair is always a chair it can't really be repurposed into something else. But I love to rescue old wooden chairs. They seem so lonely when they're by themselves. Oh yeah, I guess I feel the need to rescue old upholstered chairs too. I have a great memory of rescuing an old upholstered chair one Thanksgiving day. The whole extended family got involved, we had a blast! And spent the whole day planning what would become of this chair. Well, it got covered with an old quilt that I got at an auction for one dollar!There is also a box of old trophies in the barn too - something wonderful could be done with them - but what? Maybe a hood ornament for the car? Top my bed posts with four little bowlers!
And speaking of bowling, I don't bowl, but I love vintage bowling paraphernalia. I have bowling balls in my yard as lawn ornaments. They look like gazing balls and add a little color to a winter garden; and the dogs love to play with them. I have a really cool pair of yellow and green Japanese bowling shoes. I don't wear them often; I don't want to ruin them; they are sooo cool! I carry my ice skates in a vintage bowling bag. This causes a lot of stares at the ice skating rink!
I'm making purses right now, I have been commissioned to make some special ones for the holidays. As I work on them, my mind is full of ideas for new ones. I've been really thinking about these awful velour rug/wall hangings I somehow acquired. I think they would make funky, sturdy totes for the winter season. I have made really cute bags and purses out of vintage tablecloths, vinyl tablecloths, table runners, and old pillow covers. I made a really cool bag out of a souvenir Niagara Falls pillow. My sister claimed that one! My go-to most reliable material for handbags is upholstery fabric. It is sturdy and comes in a lot of real fun patterns. I picked up rolls of it at a local fabric outlet.
