Maya Donenfeld of Maya*Made is well know in the craft community for her simple and beautiful projects celebrate sustainable resources. Her new book, Reinvention from Wiley, is not just about making cute and useful projects, but also about creating with purpose and attention to meaningful materials.
Advancements in technology have increased the pace of our lives. As a response, a vibrant Do It Yourself movement has risen to reclaim age old traditions that reconnect us to slower and simpler times. A sewing renaissance has been set in motion at a time in history when economic instability and an awareness of the importance of using sustainable resources is peaking.
With this in mind, I created a guide to working with my favorite recycled materials. You’ll find linen, burlap, wool and more with details on their history, deconstruction techniques, sewing tips, and information about their environmental impact.
Reinventing everyday materials into items of beauty and utility for the modern home and family will excite new and experienced sewers alike. To add an element of personalization, I drew upon my experience leading print workshops to share easy methods for transforming gently-used fabric with paint and ink. Stenciling templates and thorough instructions are provided, as well as encouragement to invent your own designs. Stories, a favorite recipe, and nature activity are tucked between and around the projects to offer you, the reader and maker, an invitation to slow down, and create with intention.
We’re thrilled to be part of Maya’s Reinvention book blog tour, and are excited to share a great project from the book. To make your own awesome envelope portfolio, just download the project PDF below.
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Download the Instructions for making a portfolio, by Maya Donenfeld (excerpted from Reinvention) Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs. |
Giveaway time! One lucky Craft reader will win a copy of Reinvention. Just leave a comment below, telling us what your favorite kinds of materials to reuse are. Please be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch. US Residents only. Comments will close at 4PM PST on Sunday, May 6th. Good luck!
Follow along with the rest of the Reinvention tour below!
Week One
5/1- sew liberated
5/2- Craft
5/3- Resurrection Fern
5/4- Apartment Therapy
Week Two
5/7 Whip Up
5/8 elsie marley
5/9 Poppytalk
5/10 Annekata
5/11 Pink Coyote
Week Three
5/14 Betz White
5/15 Etsy
5/16 Sew, Mama, Sew!
5/17 Made
5/18 Wiley Craft
400 thoughts on “How-To: Portfolio, a Project Excerpt From Reinvention by Maya Donenfeld, Plus a Book Giveaway”
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I love reusing and refashioning old clothes. In particular, old dresses of my moms make great skirts!
Favorite reusable is cardboard from various products including my boxes of can food cans. Also plastic hotel key cards make great notebook covers.
My favorite materials to reuse would have to be clothes and any kind of string. Also cardboard. I LOVE cardboard.
I love to re-use felted wool (winter) and linen (summer).
i love making things out of recycled materials. i make large tote bags out of capri sun pouches, bracelets out of bicycle innertubes, bags out of old men’s suits and the list can go on and on!
Looks like a wonderful book. Will check out Maya’s blog.
Men’s cashmere sweaters for the yarn.
Paint sample cards for book marks, love all the colors.
I am constantly making patches for my boys’ pants out of old pants too ripped up to patch. And when I needed something just right to back some embroidery, I used an old, soft shirt that I’d cut into pieces already. I love the gift boxes I made for Christmas presents, using cereal boxes turned outside in–I have a bin of cardboard boxes in my studio area. And that’s all I can think of right now. :)
Looks like a wonderful book. Will check out Maya’s blog.
Men’s cashmere sweaters for the yarn.
Paint sample cards for book marks, love all the colors.
I love the look of reused coffee, flour, or feed bags.
The fabric I most often reuse is wool from wool sweaters/skirts/blazers/etc. The most often used craft item is wire… we’ve been remodeling our house and can’t reuse the old wiring because of codes so it sneaks into all sorts of craft projects.
Looks like a wonderful book. Will check out Maya’s blog.
Men’s cashmere sweaters for the yarn.
Paint sample cards for book marks, love all the colors.
I love reusing thrift store finds: sweaters, old curtains, etc. I am so excited for Maya’s book!
I love reusing thrift store finds: sweaters, old curtains, etc. I am so excited for Maya’s book!
I love using rescued wool…sweaters and blankets that I felt – or not – and turn into diaper covers, baby toys, tea cozies…I also do lots of things with old t-shirts. Dye them, cut them into strips and make rugs, baby clothes etc. I am crossing my fingers, I would love to win this book!
I love reusing paper and old books. I do handmade journals using old hardcovers and collages using magazines, catalogs, book pages, and other scraps.
i love reusing wool and linen pants and skirts.. as well as burlap coffee sacks, and vintage doilies and trims. i make messenger bags and other fun little things.
I love to weave and knit with material that has cultural meaning for me. Audio tape from cassettes is great for this, especially if the artist is relevant to my experience and I can incorporate the case. I made a series of baskets out of discarded microfilm about 15 years ago that have aged in a really interesting way. As many have said, old garments are a good source of both material and content. And…I’m always on the lookout for cashmere sweaters at the thrift store for yarn. The yarn usually dyes beautifully and is a great bargain.
I like to reuse old clothes and jewelry to make new things out of. I also reuse paper bags to make sewing patterns.
I re-use so many things. Some are sweaters for yarn or to felt and make blankets, t-shirts to cut down for my grandsons, old jeans for patches or other items. I also “re-use” thrifted sewing machines. I have gotten five and given one to each of my daughters.
I always save cardboard boxes and bits of ribbon whenever I find it. Sooner or later I get around to using it. :D
i love thrift store reusing: old sweaters, curtains, etc. And I am so excited for Maya’s book!!!
Sorry mine posted so many times. :/ I’m unsure of how to delete them
Those portfolios look lovely. I would love to see more of this book!
I am constantly re-using my husbands old t-shirts. They are such a versatile source of fabric! My daughter needed to wear white to school on Tuesday for May Day and I took two of my husbands old undershirts and made her a skirt with ruffles. It was so quick and easy even with both of my kids running around trying to distract me.
I use all sorts of recycled fabrics… today I picked up a coffee bean bag while we were on tour at the Kansas City Roasterie ( GREAT tour BTW!) I think I will make a bag from that! I look for old mohair lap rugs to turn into artist bears. I look for wool garments to wetfelt and turn into bags, hats and bear clothing!
When we lived on Kaua’i, my DH & I would use the vines of invasive species to make baskets! Also the bark of invasive species to make more baskets! We also used pruned palm vines to make ornaments & necklaces. And my DH used everything from dryer lint to the comics to make handmade paper! Now that we’ve moved back to the mainland, we use anything & everything. Clothing for fabric, RAAKs from pals, chicken wire for mixed media art, leftover yarn scraps for rug hooking & looming, cardboard boxes for patterns, old buttons & laces gifted to us & used in projects, leftover used & torn Christmas paper for cards or stuffing in packaging, and……whatever we find that will fit a purpose. Altoid tins, leftover candle wax to make new ones, old credit cards to spread glue, seeds for necklaces & bracelets…just looking at this, I’m beginning to think we may be hoarders! ☺ But everyone loves our handmade gifts. Now we just need to find out about the invasive species here so we can make more things! LOL! Hope this wasn’t too long!
I love to reclaim, reuse, and reinvent fabrics, clothing, any textile really that I might be able to cut, mark with a sharpie pen, and quickly sew.
I would LOVE to read Maya’s book. It looks so inspiring.
And just in time for long summer days!
Thank you!
I would love to read this book!
Thanks so much for the give away!
I love using sharpies on fabric, old clothing and wool… anything with texture and color inspiration!
I would love to read this book!
Thanks so much for the give away!
I love using sharpies on fabric, old clothing and wool… anything with texture and color inspiration!
My favorite fabric to reuse is linen and cotton drapery fabric from the 70’s with big, bright, bold prints.
Hello, thanks for this wonderful giveaway! My favorite things to reuse are items from the thrift store, more often extra large mens wool sweaters (all that fabric!) and vintage sheets (I love all the different sometimes funky fabrics).
Thanks again!
I love to use fabric from thrifted clothing. I reuse t-shirts, wool pants and cotton blouses. I then make them into anything really – hats, little pouches, clothes, slippers, just to name a few.
I love to re-use Tyvek race numbers and bicycle tubes!
I love to re-use Tyvek race numbers and bicycle tubes!
Linen is my favorite. I took Maya’s class at SQUAM last year and it made me fall in love with sewing with linen.
My favorite thing to reuse is old bed sheets from thrift stores. You can get lots of fabric for very little money, and I love to find the ones that have really bold and graphic prints on them.
We reuse all kinds of stuff around here, my boys are really into it. Right now my favorites are old sheets, (great for laundry bags, pj pants and dresses for my girlie) and t-shirts into kids and doll clothes and even clothes for me. This book looks great!
We reuse all kinds of stuff around here, my boys are really into it. Right now my favorites are old sheets, (great for laundry bags, pj pants and dresses for my girlie) and t-shirts into kids and doll clothes and even clothes for me. This book looks great!
I am a huge fan of recycling fabric from common household things (clothing, sheets, etc) by cutting them to crochet new decor items, but recently my recycling has been much more focused on organization. I’ve been using coffee containers with holes poked in the top to keep my yarn off the floor while making, old jam jars make the perfect containers to hold my crochet hooks and colored pencils, and secondhand suitcases now hold a large portion of my supplies. It’s hard to make things when you can’t find your supplies, and using recycled objects from around the home makes the process of organization that much easier.
Thanks for this phenomenal give away. Best of luck everyone!
Love the portfolio pattern. Thanks!! I rescue old clothing fabric of all kinds for sewing and crocheting. I also like to use tea bag paper sleeves for paper crafts– because I drink A lot of tea.. and recycled cardboard boxes for weaving and packaging. Great stuff!
I am a huge fan of recycling fabric from common household things (clothing, sheets, etc) by cutting them to crochet new decor items, but recently my recycling has been much more focused on organization. I’ve been using coffee containers with holes poked in the top to keep my yarn off the floor while making, old jam jars make the perfect containers to hold my crochet hooks and colored pencils, and secondhand suitcases now hold a large portion of my supplies. It’s hard to make things when you can’t find your supplies, and using recycled objects from around the home makes the process of organization that much easier.
Thanks for this phenomenal give away. Best of luck everyone!
I am a huge fan of recycling fabric from common household things (clothing, sheets, etc) by cutting them to crochet new decor items, but recently my recycling has been much more focused on organization. I’ve been using coffee containers with holes poked in the top to keep my yarn off the floor while making, old jam jars make the perfect containers to hold my crochet hooks and colored pencils, and secondhand suitcases now hold a large portion of my supplies. It’s hard to make things when you can’t find your supplies, and using recycled objects from around the home makes the process of organization that much easier.
Thanks for this phenomenal give away. Best of luck everyone!
Love the portfolio pattern. Thanks!! I rescue old clothing fabric of all kinds for sewing and crocheting. I also like to use tea bag paper sleeves for paper crafts– because I drink A lot of tea.. and recycled cardboard boxes for weaving and packaging. Great stuff!
I love finding buttery soft knits to remake into clothes for my kids.
This book looks great! We reuse all kinds of cardboard things around our house to make into projects…we just made a little octopus from a toilet paper tube!
Thanks for the giveaway. I love to reuse wool sweaters to felt and make into flowers. I also reuse old junk in interesting ways – to decorate – to plant etc.
I LOVE to use recycled tea bags in my collages.
I LOVE to use recycled tea bags in my collages!
I LOVE to use recycled tea bags in my collages!
I love Goodwill, thrift stores and garage sales in general, for craft supplies. I’ve found all sorts of fabric in both clothing and fabric panels (usually found in a separate section on pants or clip hangers), sewing notions, embroidery floss and Aida cloth, notebooks, all sorts of wacky stuff. One of my favorite finds is a couple of mesh metal desk accessories – a paperclip box and a letter sorter – that I wired up to my fence and use for feeding peanuts to the squirrels and jays in the yard.
I love reusing clothing for sewing projects. I especially love wool and linen.
I love reusing clothing for sewing projects, I especially love wool and clothing.
I love Goodwill, thrift stores and garage sales in general, for craft supplies. I’ve found all sorts of fabric in both clothing and fabric panels (usually found in a separate section on pants or clip hangers), sewing notions, embroidery floss and Aida cloth, notebooks, all sorts of wacky stuff. One of my favorite finds is a couple of mesh metal desk accessories – a paperclip box and a letter sorter – that I wired up to my fence and use for feeding peanuts to the squirrels and jays in the yard.
I love to reuse tyvek race numbers and bicycle tubes!
I love Goodwill, thrift stores and garage sales in general, for craft supplies. I’ve found all sorts of fabric in both clothing and fabric panels (usually found in a separate section on pants or clip hangers), sewing notions, embroidery floss and Aida cloth, notebooks, all sorts of wacky stuff. One of my favorite finds is a couple of mesh metal desk accessories – a paperclip box and a letter sorter – that I wired up to my fence and use for feeding peanuts to the squirrels and jays in the yard.
I don’t know what my favorite material is yet! I’ve just started looking into using found materials. I use all sorts of found objects in my collages. I love maya’s blog, and this book is beautiful.
Mt favorite fabrics to repurpose are clothes. Mostly linen and cotton in natural colors, or flowery bright prints.
Thank you for sharing this pattern! I love to use old paper products in cards and artwork.
My favorite fabrics to repurpose are clothes. Mostly linen and cotton in natural colors, or flowery bright prints.
I love collecting security envelopes with their beautiful patterns in blues, grays and sometimes greens. I collage them into paper quilts or make mini patterned envelopes.
My second favorite thing to collect and craft with is packaging/shipping material, especially the paper with lots of tiny slits often used to wrapped around dishes. It can be sewn together and holds lovely forms.
I like bottle caps and plastic bags with interesting prints on them.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
I’ve been reusing for 40 years. I use everything, but worn out jeans are my favorite material.
I love repurposing old jeans. Have made things such as purses, bedspreads, shower curtains (with pockets to store shampoo etc) The ideas are endless!
I love repurposing old jeans. Have made things such as purses, bedspreads, shower curtains (with pockets to store shampoo etc) The ideas are endless!
I love repurposing old jeans. Have made purses, beadspreads, shower curtains ( pockets make wonderful places for shampoo etc)
I would love to wi this book! I am way into reuse/repurpose/recycle and love the thought of more inspiration on it! I would love to have/win this book!
I would love to wi this book! I am way into reuse/repurpose/recycle and love the thought of more inspiration on it! I would love to have/win this book!
I use old clothes and sheets to make quilted things, and I find that shoeboxes have endless possibilities!
I love using clothing, old furniture, glass and cd’s. I am new to your blog, so I am really looking forward to see what you make.
I’m so excited about this book and the chance to win! I love repurposing beautiful wrapping paper and fabric scraps.
I love to repurpose fabric. It’s already so soft and you can clearly see the drape.
I rug hook and I shop thrift stores for wool
Shirts, pants, skirts and then tear them into strips and use for rug hooking projects.
I’ve been felting and recycling old wool sweaters into purses, afghans, etc. I would love to win this – thanks for the chance!
I rug hook and I shop thrift stores for wool
Shirts, pants, skirts and then tear them into strips and use for rug hooking projects.
My favorite material to use is old army blankets. I love the heavy wool fabric and the colors they come in: navy, olive green, and grey. I’ve made ponchos, pillows, even a “tent” for my dog’s crate! It’s a wonderful material that is very easy to come by at Army Navy stores!
I love repurposing old sweaters! I have a huge pile of them.
My favorite material to use is old army blankets. I love the heavy wool fabric and the colors they come in: navy, olive green, and grey. I’ve made ponchos, pillows, even a “tent” for my dog’s crate! It’s a wonderful material that is very easy to come by at Army Navy stores!
I love using old sheets for making picnic blankets.
I love using used canvas sofa slipcovers. I’ve reupholstered chairs, pillow covers, etc. The ties are awesome to use for ties and straps for bags, napkin rings, curtains, etc. I love reusing and repurposing things. It’s storage space issue that I struggle with… :)
I love making something new out of something old!
I love to visit the resale shops. I head straight for anything wool…clothing, sweaters, blankets. Lately I have found some lovely linen which is wonderful to stitch on. I also like finding neat things to use as shelves, or for storage of craft items. Thx for the chance to win.
I love to reuse denim, wool skirts, wool sweaters, t-shirts, men’s dress shirts, etc. I plan to try to reuse an old leather skirt very soon. I would love a copy of this book!
Nothing is safe from repurposing in my house.
I try to find a re-use for most things I come across (my husband now asks if I can use things before getting rid of anything!). Wool sweaters or clothing, blankets, sheets, t-shirts, buttons, zippers, bottles, jars, corks, paper, cardboard–you name it, I love it! It’s an obsession. My favorite thing to re-use would be whatever I happen to be working with at the moment.
One word: bravo!
My fav material to rework are old holey cashmere sweaters, so soft!
I try to find a re-use for most things I come across (my husband now asks if I can use things before getting rid of anything!). Wool sweaters or clothing, blankets, sheets, t-shirts, buttons, zippers, bottles, jars, corks, paper, cardboard–you name it, I love it! It’s an obsession. My favorite thing to re-use would be whatever I happen to be working with at the moment.
I love using old linens and hankies to create new items with a vintage flair!
Old clothing probably. Linen being my fave but really anything I can get my hands on. lol. I love a project that is almost free!
My absolute favorite thing to do is go to resell stores–Goodwill, Salvation Army places like. I walk around and think of other things I can make out of whats there. A long blue jean dress into 4 or 5 purses, end table into wall shelf. I haven’t bought anything “new” in 10 years. OH PLEASE, it looks like this book would be AWESOME to learn even more uses for reuses!!
I like to use older clothes I’ve either outgrown or worn out. Sometimes I fashion patches for repair, sometimes use them to line other creations (flannel lining a bag). I also like to use pretty glass jars to store beads and ribbons. They make a decorative accent, as well as storage.
My absolute favorite thing to do is go to resell stores–Goodwill, Salvation Army places like. I walk around and think of other things I can make out of whats there. A long blue jean dress into 4 or 5 purses, end table into wall shelf. I haven’t bought anything “new” in 10 years. OH PLEASE, it looks like this book would be AWESOME to learn even more uses for reuses!!
I reuse any and every container that is available to me!
I repurpose coke bottles, jars, lotion bottles…etc!
Love to reuse old bottles and cloth napkins!
why only US residents??
I am an amateur at this, I have made a tote bag out of old khaki pants with mixed results. I would love this book!
I love all types of fabric…well, maybe not the really slippery ones. lol
I love to use linen………..at all times for any reason……
I love all different kinds of fabric…unless it’s slippery.
I tend to repurpose anything that can be stitched down on a crazy quilt or alter art piece…fabrics of all sorts, lengths of trim or cording, lace, beads, buttons, charms, ribbons from dresses to candy boxes, plastic/acrylic washers/rings, dominoes, wooden tiles from Scrabble sets, porcelin cabs from jewelry, etc. I really appreciate the chance to win this book.
I have been creatively reUsing and recycling since the late 1960s. My favorite items in the 21st century have been post consumer packaging , plastic bags, and aluminum cans. I make moveable playful doll figures from grocery and household cardboard packaging, Wearable Art fashions and accessories outof plastic bags and bottles, and every part of the aluminum can is utilized in creative ways for garments, costumes, accessories, and jewelry.
I also adore old textiles, feed bags, vintage sewing notions, and have amassed a huge collection of old doilies…just waiting for something special to create with them.
This book would make my day!
I tend to repurpose anything that can be stitched down on a crazy quilt or alter art piece…fabrics of all sorts, lengths of trim or cording, lace, beads, buttons, charms, ribbons from dresses to candy boxes, plastic/acrylic washers/rings, dominoes, wooden tiles from Scrabble sets, porcelin cabs from jewelry, etc. I really appreciate the chance to win this book.
I love to use linen………..at all times for any reason……
I love reusing anything…I am 65 yrs. old and have been recycling, reusing since I was a little girl. I hate to see anything useful thrown away. Love old wool sweaters!
So far my most successful reuse projects have been from old t-shirts and a lovely old French grain sack my mother gave me.
My favorite is old sheets. There’s so much you can make with them!
I have be creatively “re-inventing” since the late 1960s. I have collected vintage sewing notions, old buttons and fabrics, ephemera, old books and tins.
In the 21st century I am enamored of all things post consumer …be it aluminum cans (made into jewelry and fashion accessories, or sculptures), plastic bags (made into fine art fashions, accessories, or giant trash filled fish), cardboard grocery boxes (made into whimsical movable paper dolls). I embroider on old window screens, and make enormous sculptural art rings out of plastic bottles!
I would thoroughly enjoy this book. I have a pile of old feed bags, and bags of ancient doilies just waiting for inspirations.
I love taking old material and make things from it. I used to take remnants from a dollar store and make little dishwashing liquid bottle aprons. They were so cute. I made a little money selling them while I was waiting for my disability to start. It sure helped with the little things my husband’s check would not take care of. Also, I like to take old pillow cases to make cafe curtains and sheets for shower curtains.
I like reusing old clothes. Not only is fabric super great for anything you can make with fabric, but sweaters make great yarn.
I like reusing old clothes. Not only is fabric super great for anything you can make with fabric, but sweaters make great yarn.
textiles, wood almost any thing that i can see a future in
anything i can get my hands on but especially textile & wood
Hard to say since I see potential in too many things and save them all. But I think things from nature, like nuts, stones, and shells because the act of collecting is such a fun experience.
I reuse clothing and thrifted fabric to make my kids clothes and various accessories. I love seeing my kids dressed in pants made from their dad’s old pants and skirts pieced from relative’s t-shirts. They have lots of unique clothes with history. Thanks! kristie_keely(at)yahoo(d0t)com
This looks like a great book! Lately I have been reusing the bags birdfeed comes in- sort of heavy reinforced plastic that is a beautiful red with pictures of wild birds and words. I just sewed a traveling iPod case that is indistructable because of the make up of the rip-proof material. Nothing pleases me more than to create utillitarian beauty out of something that would end up in the trash. I also love using zippers that still have lots of life in them which were salvaged from old clothes; card board from Costco bulk canned food cases to make my sewing patterns; and card stock from shareholders annual reports (stocks) which have beautiful photos and colored graphics.
This looks like a great book! Lately I have been reusing the bags birdfeed comes in- sort of heavy reinforced plastic that is a beautiful red with pictures of wild birds and words. I just sewed a traveling iPod case that is indistructable because of the make up of the rip-proof material. Nothing pleases me more than to create utillitarian beauty out of something that would end up in the trash. I also love using zippers that still have lots of life in them which were salvaged from old clothes; card board from Costco bulk canned food cases to make my sewing patterns; and card stock from shareholders annual reports (stocks) which have beautiful photos and colored graphics.
This looks like a great book! Lately I have been reusing the bags birdfeed comes in- sort of heavy reinforced plastic that is a beautiful red with pictures of wild birds and words. I just sewed a traveling iPod case that is indistructable because of the make up of the rip-proof material. Nothing pleases me more than to create utillitarian beauty out of something that would end up in the trash. I also love using zippers that still have lots of life in them which were salvaged from old clothes; card board from Costco bulk canned food cases to make my sewing patterns; and card stock from shareholders annual reports (stocks) which have beautiful photos and colored graphics.
This looks like a great book! Lately I have been reusing the bags birdfeed comes in- sort of heavy reinforced plastic that is a beautiful red with pictures of wild birds and words. I just sewed a traveling iPod case that is indistructable because of the make up of the rip-proof material. Nothing pleases me more than to create utillitarian beauty out of something that would end up in the trash. I also love using zippers that still have lots of life in them which were salvaged from old clothes; card board from Costco bulk canned food cases to make my sewing patterns; and card stock from shareholders annual reports (stocks) which have beautiful photos and colored graphics.
Clothes! Sweaters make great yarn. Hurray yarn ramen!
I re-use all kinds of things: from broken bits of jewelry, thrift store finds & old clothes to things that I have found on the ground. It would be great to win this book!
I’ve only been experimenting with re-crafting for the last couple years… I started out with T-shirt bags. Anytime I have to make baby gifts (T-shirts again), everyone gets their gifts in a T-shirt bag! I’ve vowed to never again spend money on any kind of gift wrapping items – bags, tissue, paper, ribbons – none of it! All will be recycled items! :o)
I would love a copy of this book for inspiration to expand my re-crafting skills.
I re-use all kinds of things: from broken bits of jewelry, thrift store finds & old clothes to things that I have found on the ground. It would be great to win this book!
I re-use all kinds of things: from broken bits of jewelry, thrift store finds & old clothes to things that I have found on the ground. It would be great to win this book!
I make cards and photojournals. I reuse every piece of scrap paper, lace and fabric I have.
I love using woolen sweaters for felt, and old sheets and blankets for anything cause they are so big. ambrerose at(aol) dot(com)
Love your ideas. I just made a wall hanging, using those slick coffee bags that are so colorful. I needle felted coffee cup shapes and appliqued them to the top of the quilt. I think my 6 month old grandson will love it because the bags make a crinkly sound and are smooth to touch while the coffee cups are fuzzy.
I love to find old wool suits and 30’s fabric items in the Thrift Shops, they all have so much potential . Thank you for a chance to win this awesome book.
I like to reuse old clothes!!!
I enjoy using old home dec fabric that used to be a sample sale.
I enjoy using old home dec fabric that used to be a sample sale.
I’ve been re-using plastic folders to make templates.
I’ve been re-using plastic folders to make templates.
I like to use old linens and embroiderer my own designs on them.
Right now, my focus is upcycling my husband’s ruined dress shirts. I’ve also used table clothes and sheets.
I’m in the midst of making a bunch of hats (cycling caps, roomier newsboy caps) using remnants of slips I’ve shortened as linings, pants legs (from worn or shortened pants), and kids’ belts as hatbands.
I have been using brown paper bags a lot lately in my crafting! This book looks awesome!
I like to hunt for thrifted sheets. You can find all kinds of cool patterns and there is lots of fabric to be used. My favorite is making pajamas for my two little ones! This book looks awesome!
I turn t-shirts into kimonos, jeans into bags and I particularly like working with old-man golf sweaters… I turn those into girly shrugs and scarves. Oh, and books!
I love reusing jeans; they are so tough that even when reused they last forever and can be used for multiple things!
I love reusing jeans; they are so tough that even when reused they last forever and can be used for multiple things!
Burlap is one of my favorite materials to reuse! And feed bags!
I love re-using old jeans! Also burlap and old feed sacks or flour sacks! Oh, and also love using old scarves!!
Burlap bags and feed sacks are my favorites to re-purpose!
I enjoy recycling linen and my husband’s cotton work shirts.
I think my favorite things to reuse are blue jeans. The top part makes great purses, the legs make fabric for crocheting or pillows, and the cut off hems (when rolled) make great coasters.
I love the prints used for infant clothing, so I use lots of thrifted baby/kids clothes to make other things. This book looks really interesting!
I use the metal circles from old lampshades for unusual hangings, cotton clothing for patchwork and all manner of things for mixed media ‘whatevers’.
This book looks SO interesting!
This totally inspires me so much. I have lots of old fabric lying around that I could reuse.
Lately I’ve been recycling everything I can get my hands on. Plastic water bottles, cans, old books. So much fun!
I reuse old clothing, jewelry, ribbons, plastics, china, old silverware. You name it and I will find a use for it. The book sounds wonderful I would love to win a copy.
I love using old jeans and old sheets. I don’t think I could decide between them.
I reuse and recycle just about anything I can get my hands on. I repurpose baby clothes for dolls, empty containers for multiple purpose and once a garment is headed to the recycle pile, it is anybody’s guess as to how it will end up.
I love using old jeans and old sheets. I don’t think I could decide between them. I am interested in making t-shirt yarn, too. It would make the best little crocheted rugs!
Clothing. I am currently taking apart a Lilly Pulitzer patchwork dress to make it into a bag for myself.
Clothing. I am currently taking apart a Lilly Pulitzer patchwork dress to make it into a bag for myself.
Now that I have re-discovered my love of sewing, I am saving every scrap of fabric. My daughter used some of them to cover a simple cork board – so easy but really cute!
Clothing. I am currently taking apart a Lilly Pulitzer patchwork dress to make it into a bag for myself.
Now that I have re-discovered my love of sewing, I am saving every little scrap of fabric. My daughter used some of them to cover a simple cork board. So easy but really cute!
Clothing. I am currently taking apart a Lilly Pulitzer patchwork dress to make it into a bag for myself.
I love upcycling my kids’ old clothes. It brings back lots of good baby memories when I use their baby stuff somehow in the clothes they can wear now.
I love upcycling old and forgotten jeans into bags and jewelry. Yes, jewelry! Hope I win…
My favorites are vintage sheets/pillowcases and tableclothes. The fabric is super soft and the colors lovely. I can make clothes, shopping bags, or just about anything else.
I love upcycling my kids’ old clothes. I use the fabric to enhance their clothes now so there’s a bit of nostalgia in it for me.
I have found so many new ways to use scraps. They all tell a story of their own.
My favorite materials to reuse are old magazines. They can be used for so many projects.Also when gluing you can glue on the pages and just throw them away if any excess spills out.
I’ve made a few items of clothing for my son out of my husband’s old clothes and my husband made a fantastic rocket ship out of cardboard boxes for my son to play in. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
I’ve made a couple of items of clothing out of my husband’s old clothes and my husband made a fun rocketship out of cardboard for my son to play in. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
Clothes and fabric into other things. I have made Maya’s buckets before, so now periodically I grab a burlap bag from our coffee company if an empty one is available.
Clothes and fabric into other things. I have made Maya’s buckets before, so now periodically I grab a burlap bag from our coffee company if an empty one is available.
This is a delightful-sounding book, that totally would speak to my inner reusing self! ;-) I grew up poor but with a beautifully creative mother who could remake, reuse, & turn out marvels from castoffs. I have taken up the mantle & am carrying on. My wackiest reuse being a (really pretty)topiary centerpiece at a wedding shower, made from a plunger (clean, of course). Oh how I would be blessed to win this. Many thanks – Julie H.
I like to repurpose vintage linens and clothes into blankets and toys. My current project is taking a set of California King sheets of ours that have a stain and making them into matching pajama bottoms for my husband, son and I. My 2.5 year old is going to LOVE it!
I like to repurpose vintage linens and clothes into blankets and toys. My current project is taking a set of California King sheets of ours that have a stain and making them into matching pajama bottoms for my husband, son and I. My 2.5 year old is going to LOVE it!
My best upcycled fabric project was making numbered bean bags from an old denim dress (who wears those any more?). My granddaughter loved them! I’ve also used old clothing for new toddler dresses and to make toss pillows (a suede shirt was especially luxe!).
I like to repurpose vintage linens and clothes into blankets and toys. My current project is taking a set of California King sheets of ours that have a stain and making them into matching pajama bottoms for my husband, son and I. My 2.5 year old is going to LOVE it!
I like to repurpose vintage linens and clothes into blankets and toys. My current project is taking a set of California King sheets of ours that have a stain and making them into matching pajama bottoms for my husband, son and I. My 2.5 year old is going to LOVE it!
I love to reimagine old men’s suits into purses, using the buttons and plackets for texture and the pockets for… Pockets! Ties make great handles.
I love to turn adult t-shirts into skirts for my daughter. It is one of the quickest and most satisfying reinventions I know!
One of the fastest decorating projects I know is to turn fabric placemats (bonus if from a yard sale or thrift shop) into covers for sofa pillows. I’ve used old bed pillows, cut to size, for the filling. I’ve also used dishtowels in pleasing designs for pillow covers. A couple of seams and a finished edge for a “envelope” makes it easy to slip off and replace with a new set every so often. Slightly more ambitious style is to reuse a zipper from another household item or piece of clothing.
One of the fastest decorating projects I know is to turn fabric placemats (bonus if from a yard sale or thrift shop) into covers for sofa pillows. I’ve used old bed pillows, cut to size, for the filling. I’ve also used dishtowels in pleasing designs for pillow covers. A couple of seams and a finished edge for a “envelope” makes it easy to slip off and replace with a new set every so often. Slightly more ambitious style is to reuse a zipper from another household item or piece of clothing.
The materials I like to reuse are containers (boxes, jars, bags); boards (foam core, chip board); and thrift store clothes :].
I live on a farm, so everything is fair game for reuse. I’m most fond of textile reuse: worn out sweaters for felting, t-shirts for rags and denim for patches, bags, etc.
I live on a farm, so everything is fair game for reuse. I’m most fond of textile reuse: worn out sweaters for felting, t-shirts for rags and denim for patches, bags, etc.
Oh I love to use old sheets, table clothes and drapes for large projects. Old clothes, dish towels, doilies, pillow cases for smaller projects. The book looks amazing! Thanks for the chance.
Oh I love to use old sheets, table clothes and drapes for large projects. Old clothes, dish towels, doilies, pillow cases for smaller projects. The book looks amazing! Thanks for the chance.
My favorite thing is to shop resale shops such as Goodwill to find anything wool. I love making penny rugs and little doo-dads from old jackets or skirts. There’s always a wide color selection and patterns to choose from for such a reasonable cost. I also collect the buttons and any trim used. Have a very blessed day, Kathy
I am just back from the farmer’s market with old burlap coffee bag from our local fair-trade coffee business. This will be my next recycle-reuse project :) Cardboard is a favorite too, with children we can make so many use of it!
Jeans! Definitely jeans! Have made totes for absolutely everything including my daughter’s flute. Would LOVE to win the book- fingers crossed.
Jeans! Definitely jeans! Have made totes for absolutely everything including my daughter’s flute. Would LOVE to win the book- fingers crossed.
I’m currently obsessed with finding ways to reuse plastic bottle caps — by making them into kids’ games and other fun stuff.
My current obsession is finding ways to reuse plastic bottle caps to make children’s games and other projects.
My current obsession is finding ways to reuse plastic bottle caps to make children’s games and other projects.
I currently enjoy finding ways to reuse plastic bottle caps to make children’s games (tic tac toe, memory, etc) and other projects.
My favorites are sheets – cotton and flannel. I’ve found quite a few at rummage sales and resale shops to reuse into curtains, pajamas, and other crafts.
love upholstery fabric bc its so sturdy. what an awesome book!
love upholstery fabric bc its so sturdy. what an awesome book!
I love to reuse all kinds of stuff for years now … the old, too small kids jeans, old linen, bedsheets, curtains, all kind of paper – books, magazines, comics, bubble mailer ….
I can’t turn around at my university workplace without somebody offering me a t-shirt. So I love to cut them into strips and make yarn out of them for crocheting and knitting. Actually,I make a lot more of the yarn than I use — the process of getting rid of the t-shirts is just so satisfying!
I love reusing old T-shirts to kids clothes :)
[…] Sleeve for laptop, tablet, or journal by Maya Donenfeld — see the free tutorial here […]
[…] Sleeve for laptop, tablet, or journal by Maya Donenfeld — see the free tutorial here […]