Wood-burned Driftwood Wall Art

A great project for anyone with a large amount of wall space to fill and not a lot of cash to spend (or maybe that you want to spend on other items!)  Check out the full how to at Dream Book Design

Too Cute for TP

We can totally see this one in a summer cabin out in the woods, or by the lake. But it is such a fun idea we might just have to try it at home as well!

DIY Pattern Weights

 

Being in the design biz and all, we were in need of pattern weights but couldn't seem to find ones that we liked…and then we found this post by Sugar Tart Crafts. Love love love it and will update with pics of our own as soon as we get to making some.  For anyone who ever worked with patterns or great gift ideas for any designer on your gift list.  

Check out the full how to here

Tricks for Everyday Problems

We got this by way of a forwarded email a while back and so don't know where it originated - but if we find out we'll give credit where credit is due...

...Why didn’t I think of that?!  We guarantee you’ll
be uttering those words more than once at these
ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve
everyday problems....

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture
will disguise dings and scrapes.  

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or
computer screen with WD40.

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets
inside one of their own pillowcases and there will
be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod
 in a bowl.  The concave shape amplifies the music.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a
stocking over the vacuum hose.

Forever losing your bathroom essentials?  Use
magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers
and clippers, behind a vanity door

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper
bag.  Much healthier and cheaper than the packet
stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough
over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit
or ice-cream.


Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing
sunburn relief.

Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

Use egg cartons to separate and store your
Christmas decorations.

Eco Friendly Happy Cloud Coasters

These eco friendly coasters are great for the sustainable shopper on your gift list.  Created by Barefoot Dynasty, not only are these coasters super cute, but they're made from Portuguese cork, one of the world's most sustainable materials.  

…cork bark is harvested by shaving it from the trees. The shaving of a cork oak tree takes place once every nine years, without the need to cut it down…The agricultural workers who harvest cork, a peaceful, non-polluting, small-scale commercial culture that has been practiced almost the same way for centuries, are among the highest paid agricultural field workers in the world…  Check out more info on the sustainability of cork

For more info on the company or to pick up a pack of coasters for yourself visit barefootdynasty.com

Pallet Potting Station

We love shipping pallets, and have been using them for quite a while now to make everything from planter boxes, to compost bins, and furniture.  So when we happened upon this post on DesignSponge about repurposing pallets we couldn't wait to share it!  

This particular post is from Deborah Hanamura who's husband Bruce has been working on ways in which to re-purpose shipping pallets, turning them into potting stations.  

Check out this and other projects by Bruce and Hanna at www.villagecarpentrysd.com

Protect and Conserve

 

We found this great interview with Adam Hills and Maria Speak, a pair of salvage entrepreneurs, as they spoke recently with Dwell.  

...Driven by “an evangelical zeal to save things,” Adam and Maria artfully repurpose landfill-bound materials at their London architectural salvage and design business...  Check out the full article here

Standard Pipework Functional Decor

 

No matter how many hooks and hangers we have it seems like it's never enough.  One of  the problems that we have found with store bought hooks is that they tend to always look the same, or be made out of some cheap plastic material…enter Nick Fraser.  Nick has made an art out of creating everything from coat racks to candle holders using standard pipe components.  Inspirational designs that are sure to brighten up any wall turning storage into an artform!  

Aside from being artful and fairly easy to piece together, another great thing  about these pieces is that you can use recycled or reclaimed parts that might otherwise end up in the landfill!

For more on the artist and his designs, check out Nick's page here

DIY Parasol Light Fixture

We've seen these around in Asian restaurants and friends homes - we've seen them installed well and not  so much.  Check out this easy how to from My Chic Life to make sure that yours is one of the professional looking installations!  

Check out the full tutorial here