Dear readers,

It has been gorgeous outside these last few days.  As I prepare to plant my leeks, peas, kale, and chard this weekend, I thought it was an excellent time to share some of the thrifty gardening projects I have been reading the last few months.  I have been reading a LOT, so look for more gardening posts in the upcoming months.  Today’s post features some ideas for creative garden stakes.

Turn Vinyl Blinds into Plant Markers!

Do you have a set of old blinds hanging around?  Don’t throw them away!  Crafting a Green World shared this great idea: cut them up and they make fantastic, durable garden markers.  Easy as pie!

Chalk it up!

Design*Sponge featured a great project on how to make chalk garden stakes – they might not be practical for your outdoor garden (hi rain!), but they are great for indoor container gardens and a great project for kids.

Fancy Garden Markers

If you are looking for a gift for a gardening friend, these ceramic markers are very sweet and would work well for container gardens or potted herbs.

I am excited to announce that Goodwill and the Portsmouth Public Library are co-hosting a free screening of Handmade Nation, the hit documentary by Faythe Levine, on the rise of DIY art, craft, and design.

According to the press release, “Faythe Levine traveled 19,000 miles to document what has emerged as a marriage between historical technique, punk culture, and the D.I.Y. ethos. For HANDMADE NATION  she and Cortney Heimerl have selected 24 makers and 5 essayists who work within different media and have different methodologies to provide a microcosm of the crafting community. Participants in this community share ideas and encouragement through websites, blogs, boutiques, galleries, and craft fairs. Together they have forged a new economy and lifestyle based on creativity, determination, and networking.”

The screening is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, at 2 pm at the Portsmouth Public Library.  There will also be a curated display of local crafts and vintage and new art/craft/design books from the library collection.  Many thanks to Paige Maxim and Julie Bailey who have loaned us some of their crafts and art for display.

Stay for the after party and enjoy coffee and delicious cupcakes donated by Ceres Bakery in Portsmouth.  The Button Factory is also hosting their open studios this weekend, so get ready to get your craft on in Portsmouth that weekend!

Questions?  Please email me at or Jennifer Moore at the Portsmouth Public Library.

How can I turn this:

Into this:

Or this?

This is a question I received awhile ago and since then, I have been trying to think of/ find ways to reuse old fleece jackets.  Fleece is very handy – it is really warm, but after some time, it starts to not look all that great – but never fear, I have found some great ideas on how to prolong the life of a fleece and help with your cleaning and crafting creations, to boot.

- How can I Recycle This?, a great site based in the UK posed a similar question awhile ago and several people responded with pretty interesting ideas, including : using fleece as an insulator for frost-sensitive plants, as hot water bottle covers, rag rugs, dog blankets, bean bags, and cleaning cloths!

- If you are crafty with sewing, this site lists a couple of dozen suggestions (note that some of the links they list no longer exist)

- Homemade dust mops!

- Baby Toys! (no sewing required!)

- Polar Fleece Hats (thanks, Martha!)

- Crafty Fringe Scarf

Do you have ideas on how to use old fleece jackets?  I know there are hundreds of ideas out there.  Please leave us a comment!

I have been hanging on to some gems the last few weeks!  From soap dispensers to citronella candles, here are the latest repurposing projects circulating on the web:

DIY Soap Dispenser

This project really struck me, because I have SO MANY bottles lying around my house, stored away for future…something.  Anyways, now I have some inspiration!  And, this is super cheap to do!

All you need is an old bottle, plastic bottle pourers (if you use an olive oil dispenser, you don’t even need one), and soap. 

Visit Design*Sponge for more pictures and directions.

The T-Shirt Shopping Bag

I’ve seen this done before, but I’m highlighting this certain post, because it has clear and concise video instructions…and it’s Martha Stewart!  Is she cool these days?  You have to fast forward through a gourd tutorial (which i admittedly watched) but stop around 5:30 for the t-shirt-bag instructions.  Thank you to Crafting a Green World for the link…check out their site for some other ideas, too.

Ceramic Bowl Planter

This project is a little trickier, but only because you need a drill, which I don’t own, but it’s probably a good excuse to go out and buy one.  If you are looking to get away from plastic planters, but cannot afford the expensive ceramic ones, head out to Goodwill or a local thrift store and search for a ceramic bowl.  You are now a few steps away from having our own homemade planter.  Visit the Thrifty Chick’s site for detailed directions.

AND last but certainly not least…Homemade Citronella Candles

We all know these are desperately needed during our New England summers.  Investing in those candles can be expensive, but not when you make them yourself!  Once you have the supplies, you can make dozens of these at once.  Visit Design*Sponge for detailed instructions.

Do you have repurposing projects you would like to share?  Leave us a comment!

We have busy at work the last few weeks preparing for our second bi-annual Art for Everyone sale (this Friday, June 5!).  As we were picking out pieces and hanging them, I noticed that many of the paintings have really beautiful frames – some are in perfect condition, some need a little work, and in some cases, the frame is worth more than the painting!  This reminded me of a post on the How Can I Recycle This? blog I read awhile ago.  Someone asked how to repair picture frames when the glass is broken – they pointed out that it is perfect for displaying 3-D art or to even use as a revolving art display!

I also found some other sites that have great suggestions on how to transform broken frames into useful and decorative items.  Seven Things you can do with a Broken Picture Frame points out you can make an earring holder, mini-shelf, or shadow box.  Why not take an old frame and make a memo or chalkboard out it (like the one pictured to right featured on Etsy)?  Do you need to repair a frame?  Check out this site for some great step-by-step instructions.

Framing a favorite painting or print can be an expensive commitment–why not look for used frames at Goodwill, salvage shops, or yard sales?  With a little clean-up and repair, vintage frames can give your favorite piece of art the perfect border.

Do you have other sites you can recommend for DIY picture frame repair?  Have you repaired an old frame?  Share you story with us!