Book Review: 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson

Book Review:

by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono
of The Original Beadscarf

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson
pub. date: Nov 2009 / 320 pages

'Inspirations' might be a better word than 'Ideas' for the title of this book. I would imagine that most crafters, myself included, have experienced what would be akin to writer's block. One flip through Garth Johnson's '1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse' could inspire at least several weekends of creative energy.

Inside this beautifully curated and photographed book are images of items whose parts would have likely found their way to a landfill. Instead, they have been fished out of a junk drawer of extra castaways and recycled/ repurposed into jewelry, objects d' art, bags, couture dresses, clocks and even furniture.

Amazingly, no parts or refuse are rejected!

The impressive collection includes playing cards transformed into butterflies and attached to pearl necklaces; single bud flower vases created from empty toothpaste tubes and Full scale art installations. Fabric, glass, even ice is recycled! Postcards in place of wallpaper; Tea carton wallpaper and furniture; Bottlecap mosaics to mimic famous paintings; a sugar packet table cloth in a pretty flower motif; money chandelier made of US $1; and most striking, if not downright gruesome-, jewelry made entirely of dismembered Barbie doll parts- again, no part spared!

As I thumb through 1000 Ideas, I couldn't help but notice the works of many crafty colleagues I know featured from TheNewNew and beyond.

Although the works included in this book are mostly from USA, there are also adaptations from Canada, New Zealand Germany, Finland, UK, Spain, Australia, Israel and Sweden to name a few.
So next time you are feeling crafty but can’t seem to get going, pick up this book, grab that remnant you’ve been saving for ‘making something someday’, and get inspired.

Be warned though: I have a feeling this book may just spawn a new generation of crafters!

Philadelphia's Magic Garden

Quick! What do CheeseSteaks, Rocky and Eagles Football all have in common?

They each call Philadelphia, PA "home".

Last month I agreed to watch my coworker's 3 year old son while he and his wife ran the Philly Distance Run, a Half Marathon. Although Philly is a mere 2 hour ride away from NYC, I don't manage to visit all that often. And so I jumped at the opportunity not just to help out a friend, but also to take in some of the flavors (cheasesteaks!) and sights of Philadelphia during that weekend.

Located in the Neighborhood of South Philly, The Philadelphia Magic Gardens is a real spectacle!

The grounds are a winding garden of a collage of broken plates, bottles, mirrors and tiles. Sparkling with every step of the winding paths, you will find mosaics at every turn, the floor, all around you.

Artist Isaiah Zagar began tiling South Street in the 1960's and in order to preserve his dedication to this massive project, a nonprofit organization was formed by artists and community members in order to promote it and keep it alive. On some weekends there are also live music performances.

I highly recommend a visit to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens, you'll never look at a broken piece of glass or tile or bicycle spoke the same way again!

Washington Square West, 1022 South St., Philadelphia, PA 19176
http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/

by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of The Original Beadscarf

Craft in Bermuda

This summer, I decided to do something for vacation that I've never done before. Ok, so it's not terribly uncommon on the whole, but for me, it is absolutely uncommon. You see I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal - don't like being cooped up in any one place on a trip. I'd rather explore on land, and see and meet the locals, than be on an invisible leash. But not this time. This time I went on a cruise.

4 days out to sea, and 3 days in Bermuda. I won't bore you with the details because all I really want you to know about is this:

A little shop called Dockyard Glassworks. The shop is conveniently located within walking distance of where the cruise ships dock (I know what you're thinking: "tourist trap"!)

Ten years ago, the owners of Dockyard Glassworks decided to collaborate in order to open their art glass business. Since then, they have been producing art glass for sale locally and to export.

Perhaps the best thing about Dockyard Glassworks is not only the unique items for sale, but rather that you can watch the glass artisans at work! For more info, visit http://www.dockglass.com/



by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of The Original Beadscarf and beadscarf.etsy.com

How-To: Re-Purposed Pants -- The Yoga Sling Bag with 2 Pockets

I’ve yet to find a yoga sling bag to tote my yoga mat around that will suit my needs at a reasonable price! I want one with pockets for a MetroCard, some cash, and keys. It should be comfortable to carry, have a little extra room for a small towel, and not cost 50 bucks!

So I have these cargo pants that I haven’t worn in a while and decided that they will make a GREAT bag to carry and store my yoga mat. AND I can incorporate the pants' pockets in the redesign! You can make one too, and here’s how…

You’ll Need:

An old pair of pants or jeans
A good pair of scissors
Sewing machine (preferably)
Webbing (for the sling strap)
Shoe lace or other means to close the bag

How To:

1. Fish out an old pair of jeans, preferably boot-cut and big enough to fit your rolled up mat. It should have a little wiggle room, but not be too roomy.

2. Cut the pants/jeans in half so that the two legs are separated. Turn the half you will use inside out.3. This is how to cut up the pants if you want to use the button fly as the opening for the yoga mat sling bag.4. Sew the button fly back onto the pant leg.

5. Next, put the yoga mat into the pant leg to measure how long the bag should be. The top of the yoga mat should sit where the waistband meets the pant leg. Cut off the bottom portion of the leg. You can use this remnant for the base of the bag.


6. Measure the diameter of the pant leg bottom. Using the leftover pant leg fabric from Step 5, cut out a circle with the same diameter plus a 2 inch seam allowance. This will become the base for the sling bag. I traced a circle around a cordless electric kettle for a perfectly shaped base.

7. With left sides facing out, pin the circle to the bottom of the pant leg. Decide where you want the strap to run across the bag and position one end of the webbing between the base and the pant leg.

To recap, the pant leg should be turned inside out with the left side facing out and the webbing should be inside (touching the right side) of the pant leg with one end positioned between the circle base and the pant leg.

Sew the base to the pant leg with 2 or 3 seams to attach the strap and the base securely to the sling bag.
8. Turn the bag right-side out. Secure the loose end of the webbing by sewing it to the opposite end of the bag with an “X-shaped” seam.9. To create a drawstring closure at the top of the bag, carefully cut two slits in the exterior part of the pants' waistband. Do not cut all the way through the waistband! Pull a shoelace or other heavy string through the waistband "tunnel." Pull the ends of the drawstring tight to tie the bag closed.10. If you are so inclined, go ahead and embellish the pocket with an “ohm” for extra credit :)
You’re ready to go!By Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of The Original Beadscarf and beadscarf.etsy.com