If you're a crafty DIY type, you should know about the amazing team and HomeMade Modern. They regularly post easy, well documented, and industrially styled DIY projects for you to add to that list of "I'd like to make that!" Fond of simple materials--concrete, plywood--they come up with some really interesting and modern shapes and provide enough detail for you to modify the projects for you own needs. In this case, easy instructions to size the cubby to fit your own particular size dog. Currently on their site they have several projects using faceted shapes, but I wanted to share this fantastic dog house.
I don't have a dog, but if I did, I would be so tempted to make this charming pet bed for him.
*Before the pronunciation police get onto me, I know the traditional phrase is dog-eat-dog, but this is one of my favorite mis-stated cliches.
Images from HomeMade Modern. Via NOTCOT.
This stunning Brazilian garden is further evidence that you can make beautiful modern design out of almost anything (even plastic soda bottles), provided you are willing to use enough of them.
Images from This is Colossal. Via NOTCOT.
Tricia has been doing some very cool weaving projects (details and photos to come very soon), and I've been succumbing to my weakness for chairs in need of love. I started to mash the two together and have been exploring weaving and chairs and reclaimed materials. In my website wanderings, I found some really lovely examples.
I'm headed in a more modern direction with my project, but there's something about these vintage chairs and woven necktie seats that warms my little Alabama heart. And when the color palette is restrained, the result can be sophisticated.
Enjoy!
Update: After writing this post, I kept coming back to Alabama Chanin, who I blogged about a couple of years ago. Apparently I've fallen for necktie chairs before. At that time, there was something sentimental about it. This time around, I'm inspired by the pattern and texture.
Images from
1. ToolGirl Mag Ruffman
2. Etsy shop preserved
3. Peter Russo Design
There's a lot of jewelry made from reclaimed vintage silverware. Most of it is nice, and often looks like this (rings from Doctor Gus--super affordable at under $10 each!).
But every so often, someone sees the materials differently. Kristin Freiha at BohoElegance (on Etsy) decided to pull the tines off the forks and rework them into some surprisingly modern pieces. I like how relaxed they are, especially since they originated with grandma's formal silverware.
Images from Doctor Gus (center) and BohoElegance (top, bottom).
As you may know, I go all weak at the knees for repurposed vintage drawers. This version by Kara Paslay just sends me. I like the white enclosures for the drawers and the little bits of mirror and color mixed with the aged wood surfaces.
Kara was kind enough to provide a tutorial for Design Sponge. Make your own!
Images from Kara Paslay. Via Design Sponge.
I discovered the lovely work of Amira Mednick (top photo), and got to thinking about modern macrame, and how it might be used with recycled and found materials. The challenge is to do it in a contemporary way, without the hemp rope and owls of the 1970s version.
Berenice of Lunatic Arts uses reclaimed silver and waxed cotton thread to make her hybrid rings and bracelets.
Take this as just a little inspiration for your toolbox. Enjoy!
Images from Amira Mednick and Lunatic Arts's Etsy shop
I don't know if birds really would nest in this, but it looks amazing. I had no idea that Lowe's had such awesomeness in their idea library.
The Lowe's website has a whole series of modern (and possibly impractical) DIY birdhouses, complete with tutorials and material lists.
Images from Lowe's. Via Craft & Craftgawker.
Make Magazine is sponsoring a DIY contest. Win your own 3D printer and a chance at a Nissan Leaf, plus fame and fortune and a chance to show off your skills. Details here.
If you're more of a voyeur than a competitor, you can just lurk in the gallery here. There are some great ideas already up, and more coming. I've pulled a couple of teaser photos for you. Good luck!
Images from Make. From the top,
Sprout vases from old wooden buoys,
Alley Cat kinetic art from found wood, and
recycled phone book desk organizer.
Tricia and I have been working on a new project with the great folks at PulpWorks, and I've been researching paper pulp designs. This bulletin board from Umbra is a different kind of product than the molded fiber we've been working on, but it's still pretty interesting. It would be perfect for a DIY, especially if you can get the paper shop to cut the sheets for you.
Images from Apartment Therapy.
I'm not super materialistic, but I love the holidays. I love wrapping presents and giving gifts and all the shiny, glittery chaos of the season. Advent calendars are one of my favorite traditions. I like to make my own. The best one I did was a new book for each day (all used books, collected over a few months from our best local thrift store), wrapped and with a single bold, graphic number on the front of each package.
If you want to have your own Advent fun, Martha Stewart has several different DIY versions, so you can pick your preferred level of green-ness and difficulty. I know DIY isn't for everyone. If I were to buy an advent calendar, there's something about this one that's completely charming. Or if you're less traditional, these monsters might be a big hit. They would rule at our house, and I love that they can be finger puppets after the holidays are over.
This year, inspired by the baby sock version
I saw in a magazine, I'm feeling more ambitious. We have a decent
supply of outgrown baby socks in our house, too, but they aren't quite
as charming as the magazine version. Instead, I raided my stash of
"things that want to be other things" and found some very small felt
stockings (nabbed on holiday clearance somewhere), and will number,
hang, and fill them for the boys. If it turns out love
Now, to the best part, finding 24 little surprises to go inside...
Images from Martha Stewart, BODIE and FOU, and DaWanda. List of great advent calendars via Paul et Paula.
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