Playing the same tune

I was just visiting family for the holidays and my 11 year old niece game me my own mini-concert showing off her flute playing skills. To me the most noteable thing about the flute was that it's the same flute that I had in middle school X number of years ago, and it's still perfectly fine. It always makes me happy to see good quality products having a chance to replay again.

I think the only new addition is the rainbow colored smiley face stickers on the keypads. :)

You've got upcycled mail!

The latest upcycling project at TerraCycle has been turning these super sweet, super vintage mail bags into products. We created them in partnership with the USPS. You can choose from a tote bag, ipad case, or coin pouch. Or get one of each! You're certain to have a first class look when you're carrying one of these items. Buy them online at Uncommon Goods.


images courtesy Uncommon Goods

New Uses for an Old Cigar Box

Last week we made a Cigar Box Desk Organizer which is featured in the Father's Day edition of Craft Magazine blog! Check out our DIY tutorial to make your dad an upcycled gift he'll be sure to reuse!

For more recycling craft ideas, check out these upcycled cigar box projects:

Cigar Box Turned Washi Paper Dispenser

by: Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made

view step-by-step instructions here!

3D Valentines and Gifts

by: The BBB Craft Sisters

view instructions on Design Sponge

Cigar Box Guitar

by: Ivan Sucharski

See instructions at Cigar Box Nation

These smokin' cigar box ideas are sure to be crafty fun!

Another "Junked" item Rescue Story!

A few weeks ago we asked for stories of ways you rediscovered or reused a "junked" or thrift store item. This week we're featuring Garbage of Eden founder and fellow trash-lover, Stephanie Huffaker's lost and found story:

A couple years ago, I bought a cute vintage necklace for $7 from a thrift shop. It was one of those large wooden-beaded necklaces from the 70's. It was a fun shape and it was black so it went with everything. I loved it and wore it all the time.

It fell off a lot because the clasp was loose, but since it was kind of big I usually noticed when it fell off and just put it right back on. I kept telling myself that I should restring the whole thing and replace the clasp but I just kept putting it off.

One day, I was running errands around my neighborhood when I noticed that my necklace was missing. I retraced my steps for a few blocks, but it was nowhere to be found. My favorite necklace was gone for good. :(

About a month later I invited a friend of mine to go shopping at the Salvation Army near my apartment. We got in line with the spoils of our thrifting adventures and...what to my wondering eyes?!

A black, 1970's wooden-beaded necklace was hanging by the checkout! I looked closer....it had a nick on one of the beads where I had stepped on it by mistake- it was my favorite necklace!

And this time it only cost me $1.00. :)

If you have a story you'd like to share, let us know! Email us at kathy (at) replayground (dot) com

Wally's MuMu

This Monster dude from a previous post got a new skirt yesterday. I got inspired to cut up a mumu I found thrift store shopping and made a skirt both for him and me. At first I wasn't sure it was his color, but then determined that green should be everyone's color! So he's stickin' with it. Ultimately it might be for my niece to decide cuz I think he'll be headed to Michigan soon to keep her company.

Make and thrift weekend

The lovely Make Workshop hosted a Craft Magazine release party this past weekend. Every party should have a craft table! True to the cover of their latest issue, they let everyone make these easy monsters. That's mine up there. He's nameless right now, so any good ideas, let me know.


I also went thrifting with my nice friend Lesley. Look at those rockin' pink moon boots! It's so great what other people give away. I found a really cool bright green flowered mumu that's gonna be a skirt someday soon. I'll keep you posted.

as if I needed an excuse not to throw things away

I've had a pair of jeans for the past 9 years (and they still fit!). And I'm happy to say that they've already gone out of style and are now back in style.

There have been a few times where I've cleaned my closet and donated my clothes and have considered adding this particular pair of jeans to the pile. But it's so hard to find good, comfy pair of jeans that when I do you have to pry them away from me with a crowbar. And now that I'm living in hipster Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I see all the hipster kids with the tight ankle jeans again. I can tell that my almost decade old Calvin Kleins are happy that I still have have them and that they've made their comeback. Now, what to do with all my flaired jeans?

have you walked your office furniture lately?

I moved into my new design studio almost 2 months ago and it's mostly settled now. I'm trying to incoporate green living into my everyday life and anything "new" that I need for the studio I'm trying to get either used, vintage, eco-friendly, or make it myself. Which is sometimes easier said than done. I'm also trying not to shop at big, corporate giants and get everything as local as possible.
I've been desperately needing a good office chair, so when I discovered Two Jakes right around the corner from my apartment I was very excited. They have piles of old vintage office furniture and the people there are really nice and actually know some history about furniture. The other challenge with living in NY is not having a car. So while the walk to Two Jakes from my studio seemed quite short, on the way home, with the new/used office chair in tow, it seemed so much longer. Good thing vintage chairs are made with good, sturdy wheels. We had a nice walk home.