July 19, 2009
As a vintage lover and treasure seeker, there's nothing more exhilarating than rescuing a piece of history from certain doom in a landfill. While I love to use and display the many objects that I collect (skulls, doll heads, quilts), there are inevitable leftovers that leave me scratching my head. What should I do with my beautiful-but-torn vintage lace doilies? How can I best reuse the antique drawer from an abandoned vanity? I inherited ten Mason jars, but what should I do with them?!
Today's Vintage Finds are dedicated to the thoughtful and resourceful reinvention of vintage objects. This collection is a virtual treasure trove of potential projects, so put on your thinking cap and get creative! Check out Etsy's How-Tuesday series for more inspiring how-to's and projects.
Vintage Fabric and Crochet
Vintage fabric sends shivers down my spine! I love the colors, textures and designs of old quilts, feed sacks, lace and doilies. There are a wealth of embellishment projects that can be achieved with these materials. theblackapple made a scarf out of vintage doilies, and DIY Life has a great how-to on making a crazy quilt pillow with scraps. Decorating on a budget? Spice up your celebration with a pennant banner made with vintage fabrics, courtesy of Sew 4 Home. Here are some vintage treasures to get you started.
Vintage Drawers and Boxes
Storage receptacles are rife with reinvention possibilities. An old drawer can be reused as a planter, a makeshift bookshelf, or simply break apart the wood for a salvaged wooden frame. (Check out this crafty frame how-to from Bayou Salvage!) Why not use the exteriors of old drawers as clothing hangers? Check out the full how-to on Design*Sponge.
Vintage Letters, Numbers and Signage
Get creative with vintage letterpress pieces, children's alphabet blocks, and miscellaneous signage to spell out anything your heart desires.
Vintage Jars and Baskets
Vintage housewares are easy to acquire and work with, so if you're a beginning crafter, these projects are for you! Design*Sponge has a snazzy how-to for making a pendant light with an old wire basket, and Craft Zine has easy-to-follow instructions for making a DIY terrarium using a Mason jar. Find all the materials you'll need to start below!
Vintage Toolboxes and Luggage
Old lunch boxes and tackle boxes make the perfect jewelry boxes, and bright suitcases are a great solution for bedside storage, a deluxe kitty bed or a Tetris-style installation. Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club has compiled a master list of suitcase projects that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.
Unorthodox Display
Who says artwork needs to be in a frame? These vintage components will take any stray prints to the heights of display genius. Looking for more ideas on how to arrange your art collection? Check out Abbey of How Now Designs' helpful tips on the art of arrangement.
You Tell Me!
Here's a wide assortment of vintage odds and ends that still have plenty of life in them. Their potential for DIY projects is off the charts! Perhaps the old garden implements could be used as a jewelry rack, the plastic doily as a stencil for screenprinting, or the balusters as the basis for a new chess set... What would you make? Leave it in the comments!
What's your favorite project that resulted from vintage components? Leave it in the comments!
Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:
Vintage Category | How-Tuesday Projects | Search for Handmade Items with Vintage Components
Know of any other great finds that fit today's theme? Then comment on Etsy's Blog and let us know.
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