Repurposing Wooden Ladders

     As the weather begins to warm and spring makes its appearance, many of us head outside to clean out garden sheds and garages.  One item you should never throw out is an old wooden ladder.  Ladders can be repurposed into a number of useful and eye catching projects.  Some require refinishing the ladder or cutting it down, but many utilize the ladder just as it is after a good cleaning.  Here are some ideas you might try, keeping in mind that ladder size and shape will dictate its uses:

• Lean a ladder against a bedroom or closet wall and hang jewelry or scarves on the rungs.  You should sand and varnish the ladder so scarf fabric doesn't snag on the wood.  You could also use this ladder against a living room or bedroom wall as a quilt holder.
  
• Hang a ladder horizontally over a kitchen island and use S hooks to make it into a pot rack.
  
   
• Stand it against a garage or in the garden, and the ladder can be used as a trellis.  Attach three of them, two on each side and one across the top, to make a garden arbor.  You could incorporate the arbor into a vintage wedding or use it inside over the head of a bed to hold flowing fabric or bunting for a focal point in the bedroom.
  
  
  
  
• Using eye hooks to secure the frames, attach family photos to the rungs.  The display could be placed in almost any room against a wall.  You could also hang the ladder flat against a wall at eye level and attach the frames to the sides of the ladder for a horizontal display.
  
• Use a ladder in a closet to store your high heeled shoes on the rungs.

• Place a ladder in a bathroom to hold guest towels.  You could also attach baskets to the rungs to hold rolled towels, toilet paper, or blow dryers.  A small step ladder next to the tub can hold a pretty tray with candles or bath salts.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Modify the ladder so the rungs can be detached and use it as a ribbon rack in your craft room.
  
• Screw small boxes to the rungs and make the ladder into a planter that can be leaned against a porch wall.  If you use a two-sided ladder, the planter becomes mobile.  You can place it anywhere in the yard or garden.  Paint the ladder for a cheerful zing of color.
  
  
  
  
• If you have a business, ladders can be useful as displays.  Hang magazines on the rungs in a waiting room.  A pair of two-sided ladders the same size can hold long boards attached to the rungs, forming shelves.  Ladders can also be hung from ceilings or attached to the top of corner wall partitions to hold displays.  Baskets, bunting, seasonal florals, and crates all look great on ladders.
  
  
  
  
• Lay a one sided ladder flat on the ground in the garden to form natural partitions for herb plants.
  
• Hang a ladder flat against a wall and use as a book or display shelf.  If hung on a fence, a ladder makes a fun receptacle for potted plants.
  
• Attach S hooks to a ladder in the potting shed, and it makes a great way to store hand tools.  Hang it from the ceiling, and you can dry herbs and flowers tied to its rungs.

Old ladders are endlessly useful and inexpensive to acquire if you don’t happen to have any available to repurpose.  With a little imagination, you may find multiple ways to give new life to a worn out piece that might have otherwise been thrown away.

Caring for Old Books

   

   
     Antique and vintage books are fun to collect.  In order to retain the value of your volumes once you get them home, it is important to store your books correctly.  Stress and weight on books affects the bindings, particularly at the spine.  Here are some tips for storing your books effectively:

• Books should be kept in cool, dry rooms away from direct sunlight.  Avoid basements or attics where water and humidity can mold pages and dry areas that can cause brittleness and disintegration of glue.  65-70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for book storage.                                                                                
• Place books on smooth, sturdy shelving to keep covers and jackets from tearing or chipping, and avoid painted shelves as covers can adhere to the paint.
• Store books by size.  Large books can become stressed or indented when stored next to a smaller book.
  
• Always place books upright, even in boxes.  Storing volumes flat loosens bindings and stresses spines.
• Do not allow books to lean on the shelf.  Books must be kept upright to avoid weakened bindings or distorted shapes.  Use bookends to support partially full shelves of books.
• Do not store books too tightly on the shelf.  Books pushed together suffer damaged spines and rubbing.  You should be able to easily slip a piece of paper between stored books.
• Clean books with a feather duster.  Do not use chemicals or household cleaners around books.

Proper care of your treasured collection will ensure lasting value and enjoyment for years to come.

Sweater Savvy

     As winter slowly winds down and you transition your closets into spring clothing selections, don’t be too hasty to weed out those old, tired sweaters.  They can be upcycled into crafty, cute, and practical projects.  Most are easy to accomplish, but you will have to do a little work to secure the seams when you cut the sweater.  Reuse the existing seams as much as possible.  When you have to cut across the stitches, either roll the rough edge over and hot glue it, or sew one or two straight seams along the cut to keep the sweater from unraveling.  You can also felt the material to keep it stable.  You can often get two to three projects out of one old sweater.  Here are some ideas:

• Sleeves can become boot socks or boot cuffs.  Stitch lace or buttons on the cuff as embellishments.

                                           

• Sleeves can also double as coffee or tea mug cozies.  Button decorations look great on these as well.  Make the cozy a little longer, and it becomes a wine bottle cover.

• Using your hands as size guides, cut out mitten shapes from the body of the sweater.  Stitch, embellish, and piece different fabrics together for custom looks.

• Create custom sweater pants for your baby or toddler.  Sweater booties are also a great way to keep little feet warm.
• Customize your cuts to make dog sweaters for your furry friends.
• Cut off the arms and neck and use just the body of the sweater from chest down to create an infinity or neck scarf.

• Glue sweater fabric onto a wood bangle for a new look on your wrist.  Fabric glue or Krylon Spray Adhesive works well for this project.
• Fashion a new lampshade cover using adhesive on the old lampshade to hold the sweater fabric in place.

• Design a sweater pillow, using stuffing or a pillow form on the inside.

• Make a cute stuffed animal.  There are numerous patterns available on-line.
• Create holiday decorations such as pumpkins or stockings, or cover round ornaments with the sweater fabric.

• Upcycle a belt for the handle and stitch the sweater for the base, and you have a purse or laptop cover.
• Make a hot water bottle cozy out of the sweater body.
• Attach strips of the sweater to gift wrap for a custom design.
• Reupholster chair seats with sweater fabric.
• Make an ottoman or pouf cover.

• Cut and stitch a strip that fits around your head for an ear warmer.  Add flower embellishments.
• Cover a boring vase, lamp base, candle holder, or flower pot with sweater material for a fresh look.
• Create a new piece of clothing or a quilt by stitching together sweater squares.  Mix and match colors and designs for a funky, fun look.

No matter what level your DIY ability is, there is a sweater project you can accomplish. Now you don’t have to throw out those old favorites—you can enjoy them in a variety of new, unexpected places.

The Fenton Art Glass Company

 

   
     The Fenton Art Glass Company was the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States.  Founded in 1905 by brothers Frank and John Fenton, the company started out in Martins Ferry, Ohio in an old glass factory building.  The brothers launched the company with $284.86.  Early Fenton pieces were made using glass blanks from other companies, but the brothers soon decided to produce their own glass.  The company moved to a new building in Williamstown, WV in 1907.

     Frank Fenton desired to produce new and unusual colors, and from 1905 to 1920, the Fenton Company reflected influences from Tiffany and Steuben artists.  In 1907, Fenton introduced "Iridescent" glass, known today as "Carnival" glass.

     During the Depression, Fenton produced practical items such as mixing bowls and tableware, but after WWII, the company returned to making beautiful hand blown and hand painted glassware.  In 1952, milk glass "Hobnail" became Fenton's flagship pattern.

     Fenton ceased "traditional" glassmaking at the Williamstown factory in July of 2011.

Today, the factory produces jewelry specializing in glass beads and teardrop earrings.  Visitors can observe jewelry making and view the large glass inventory still in the factory.

  Fenton may be purchased at the factory gift shop or in antique shops around the world.  Collectors may display one or two fine pieces, or they may focus on Fenton specialties such as shoes, baskets, hand painted pieces, cats or other animals, lamps, or specific colors or styles of glass.  Fenton values vary depending on age, rarity, and condition.

Teddy Bear Tales

 

    The teddy bear owes its name to our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, and a a border dispute between two states.  On November 14, 1902, Roosevelt was in the south working with Mississippi and Louisiana to solve the states' land issues.  When he had spare time, he liked to be outdoors and was invited to attend a bear hunt in Mississippi.  During the hunt, the party found a wounded young bear that had just killed a hunting dog, and Roosevelt ordered the bear to be put down to end its suffering.  The media caught wind of the incident, and The Washington Post ran an editorial cartoon created by Clifford K. Berryman that illustrated the event.  The cartoon was captioned "Drawing the Line in Mississippi" and depicted both the state dispute and the bear hunt.  The first cartoon showed the bear as a fierce animal, but Berryman later redrew the cartoon showing the animal as a cuddly cub.  The cartoon and news story was widely read and popular, and within a year, the cartoon bear was transformed into a child's toy and called the teddy bear.

     No one knows who the first true maker of the teddy bear was, but a man named Morris Michtom, who owned a small novelty and candy store in Brooklyn, New York, officially made a bear to sell in his store.  Michtom sent President Roosevelt a bear and asked his permission to use the teddy bear name.  Roosevelt said yes, and Michtom and a company named Butler Brothers began mass-producing the teddy bear.

Within a year, Michtom was able to expand the ideal Novelty and Toy Company, and the rest is history.

     Today there are many styles and sizes of teddy bears available, and many, like Gund and Steiff bears, are popular collectibles.

Information source:  About.com

Trimming the Mantel

     Decorating the fireplace mantel for the holidays almost always includes evergreens, stockings, and ornaments.  This year, why not add some fun touches that will liven up your display?  Here are some ideas for pieces to add to the fireplace to make your mantels look fresh.

 *Bring the outdoors in and add a sled, some old wooden skis, or snowshoes to the greenery.  You could attach a hand printed sign to the sled that reads “Let it Snow”.

*Group your silver and mercury glass onto the mantel and add a string of white lights.  Hang a mirror behind to reflect the bling.

*Arrange buildings, trees, and faux snow from Lennox or Dept. 56 across the mantel to form a Christmas village scene.  Add street lights, people, and animals to make the scene come to life.

*Make an arrangement with lanterns or LED candles for a soft glow.

 *Display collections like Santas or tree toppers.  You can utilize small crates or faux wrapped boxes to vary the heights of your pieces.

 *Instead of hanging stockings, try hanging snowflakes, ice skates, or bunting from the edge of the mantel.

 *Hang an ornate framed blackboard over the mantel that can display seasonal quotes like “Baby, it’s cold outside”.  You can also hang Christmas/winter paintings to add color behind whatever vignette you place on the mantel itself.

 *For a more primitive look, add rustic stars, crates, grapevine wreaths, and berries to the scene.  Put evergreens in crocks or baskets.

 *Make big, colorful, wooden blocks with one letter on each that spell out seasonal words like “Believe”, “Joy”, or “Merry Christmas”.

*Hang red or green shutters over the mantel and display your children’s seasonal art on them.  You could also string bunting across the shutters or hang a collection of stars or snowflakes against the slats.

 *Gather a group of “Elves on a Shelf” and make different scenarios like one taking a “bubble bath” made of ornaments or another riding a reindeer.

*Drape a plaid throw under the decorations to add warmth and color.

*Make the centerpiece a large, vintage, child’s rocking horse.

 *Have several family winter pictures made into various sizes of canvas art and display with greenery.

Be sure to keep safety in mind no matter which new look you go for.  Real candles should never be left unattended, and if you use your fireplace, make sure that no decorations hang too close to the heat or fire.  Have some fun and decorate with imagination this holiday season.  Your mantel will soon look merry and bright!

Creating a Cozy Retreat

           As the winter winds start to howl, we automatically turn inward to home and hearth.  It’s time to warm up the interior of your house and get cozy.  Here are some suggestions for making your home a welcoming retreat from the weather.

            Pile on the pillows everywhere, including the floor.  Accent chairs, couches, beds, and ottomans with comfy throws.  Pay attention to different textures and colors for visual variety, and use quilts, nubby wool, and soft knit fabrics.

            Introduce new color tones into your decorating.  Accent tans, oatmeals, and creams with warm reds and oranges.  If you are feeling especially daring, paint an entire wall a dark red.  

It will make the room feel welcoming and cheerful.  Even just adding red accents will warm the space.

            Dress your rooms in layers.  Place area rugs over carpet or in twos and threes for a splash of color and plushness on the floor.  

Take down your sheer summer curtains or valances and add lined drapes on your windows.  Allow them to flow all the way to the floor.

            Light your fireplace for ambiance and warmth.  If you don’t have a built-in fireplace, there are many lovely electric models that can just be plugged in.  You can find mantels in a variety of styles at an antique store for a built-in look.  

Add candles around the room, and use table lamps instead of the harsher overhead room light.  You could also install a dimmer switch for overhead lights if table lamps aren’t an option.

            Strategically group your furniture to foster conversation.  Move your couches and chairs out from the walls into the center of the room or in front of the fireplace.  Keep traffic flow in mind as you arrange; placing a throw rug on the floor in the middle of the furniture will help set a visual boundary for the new setting.

            Don’t forget to pay attention to the scent of your home.  Baking makes us all want to settle in and nest, but you could also place potpourri in bowls around the house, or simmer potpourri on your stove top.  Scented candles will have the same effect. 

            Leave a basket of slippers by the front door for guests.  If you have a variety of sizes on hand, they will be more apt to slip out of wet, messy shoes and sink into comfort as they enter your home.

            Create a nook to curl up in.  A chair placed by a window with a throw, or pillows on a window seat invite your family to stop and daydream.

            In the bedrooms, switch the bedding to winter colors and add down comforters to dream under.  Layer throws and pillows here as well, and keep plush robes handy for chilly mornings. 

            Lastly, for a space to feel cozy, it needs to feel lived in.  Stack books on tables and by chairs.  Display family photos, unique collections, and children’s art.  Keep a sweater or two handy for the coldest days.  A welcoming home doesn’t have to look “magazine perfect”; the idea is to create a space where family and guests will want to linger.  It will only take an hour or two and a few simple changes to convert your home into a cozy nest where you can retreat during the winter months.