The designers at Union Eighteen piece together manufacturing scraps from the carpet industry to make works of art. Simple and modern, with a nod back to the rag rugs from my grandmother's era.
Image from Union Eighteen. Thanks to Re-Nest for the tip.
For Valentine's day, I was thinking of doing a post on recycled jewelry as a hint hint to my guy, but then I remembered Alabama Chanin. As Tricia observed, their aesthetic is more crafty gal-meets-Anthropologie than we usually feature here. But I grew up in Alabama, my grandmother had several of these primitive* chairs. The nicer ones lived in the house. When the seats wore out, they moved to the porch, then to the old kitchen behind the main house. Grandma was eco-chic in her own old-school way--braiding rugs from fabric scraps, filling the deep freezer with all the summer fruits and veggies for winter eating (and the best strawberry preserves on the planet). These chairs resonate with me in a way that makes my heart ache for warm summer nights and fireflies and the smell of Southern cooking.
Ms. Chanin is rescuing the things from our grandmother's porches and attics and giving them new life, and this makes me happy. She also has some lovely quilts and found-object chandeliers. All this on top of her original career as a fashion designer. 
Happy Valentine's Day, Grandma. I imagine you would have thrilled to see me weave fabric scraps or neckties to restore one of those porch chairs, earning it a place back in the house.
*Now they're called "primitive," but back then, we just called them "old."
Images from Alabama Chanin
Caitlin Holcomb makes stunning lampshades using vintage and found needlework (doilies, vintage lace, etc.). The daisy chain shade is nicely refined, and the bouquet shade has a dizzying, crazy, organic aesthetic that is completely charming. What a wonderful use for all those homeless scraps of needlework crowding thrift stores and grandma's cedar chest! If only I had seen this before I went the White Elephant Sale, I might have a pile of doilies at home right now destined for a project.
However, you don't have to DIY. Caitlin's work is lovely and affordable and for sale in her Etsy shop.
Thanks to Apartment Therapy for the tip. Images from nice.etsy.com
The designers at Union Eighteen piece together manufacturing scraps from the carpet industry to make works of art. Simple and modern, with a nod back to the rag rugs from my grandmother's era. 
For Valentine's day, I was thinking of doing a post on recycled jewelry as a hint hint to my guy, but then I remembered Alabama Chanin. As Tricia observed, their aesthetic is more crafty gal-meets-Anthropologie than we usually feature here. But I grew up in Alabama, my grandmother had several of these primitive* chairs. The nicer ones lived in the house. When the seats wore out, they moved to the porch, then to the old kitchen behind the main house. Grandma was eco-chic in her own old-school way--braiding rugs from fabric scraps, filling the deep freezer with all the summer fruits and veggies for winter eating (and the best strawberry preserves on the planet). These chairs resonate with me in a way that makes my heart ache for warm summer nights and fireflies and the smell of Southern cooking.
Happy Valentine's Day, Grandma. I imagine you would have thrilled to see me weave fabric scraps or neckties to restore one of those porch chairs, earning it a place back in the house.
Caitlin Holcomb makes stunning lampshades using vintage and found needlework (doilies, vintage lace, etc.). The daisy chain shade is nicely refined, and the bouquet shade has a dizzying, crazy, organic aesthetic that is completely charming. What a wonderful use for all those homeless scraps of needlework crowding thrift stores and grandma's cedar chest! If only I had seen this before I went the White Elephant Sale, I might have a pile of doilies at home right now destined for a project.
Thanks to Apartment Therapy for the tip. Images from nice.etsy.com
