Wooden Pallet Furniture

As I was emptying my recycling today I noticed a huge pile of wooden pallets next to my complex's maintenance building. It got me thinking and I have been imagining wooden pallet furniture. After some serious brainstorming and internet searching, here are some of the best that I have found.

Coming soon: Reclaimed Wreckage furniture

This was one of the coolest and most inexpensive projects I found. It's adorable, functional, and kinda quirky.

I've always wanted a hammock bed in my imaginary backyard with a REAL twin bed like this. Now that I've seen this, I think it might actually become a reality sometime in the next decade or so when I get around to it.

recycled rubber furniture

I've been wanting to experiment with rubber furniture for awhile now so found myself drawing inspiration from other furniture designers. Here are some of the best that I've found:

My gratitude list for the day

Overall, today has been absolute shit. I mean literally with potty-training this morning and then it came back again when I got a letter from my doctor saying that my MRI came back normal so my arm numbness is cardiovascular- a MUCH bigger deal. Things are scary when you don't know whats going on. Today, I need to focus on the positive.

As a lot of you know I keep a gratitude journal and write down at least 7 great things about each day. Whenever I stop writing for a few days I can tell. I'm moody, hyper-sensitive, and an overall bitch. Since today has been the exceptional, here's my list for today and I thought I'd share it with you:

1. I have an amazing family. My kid is hilarious and wore a robot mask and a superhero cape for most of the day. He makes my day every day and falls asleep in my bed every night. I'm so lucky

2. My husband is my best friend and calls me several times when he's at work just to say hi- I think he's just bored to death, but I love that he misses me when he's away.

3. Although I didn't get as much done today as I had planned, I should still be able to ship out ALL my back-orders tomorrow and be somewhat ready to craft lake city on Saturday.

4. I will have not one, but TWO magazine publications this week. I don't know if I'll ever break that record.

5. Today starts Chris's last day on so he will have an entire week off with us. I can't wait because I could really use a break from motherhood for an hour or two.

6. Thank god for health insurance

7. I'm young and strong willed- so chances are I'll outlive an old person with the same problems

8. I'm in the process of making some kick-ass laptop sleeves. I can't wait to finish 8 tomorrow.

9. My mom calls and checks up on me. She loves me so much.

10. I'll be passed out by eleven and tomorrow will undoubtedly be better. 

11. I bought a family dinner tonight at the grocery store. It's my good deed for the day.

12. Did you know that if I moved to Portland I would live only 1/2 hour away from wine country?

13. I have a great little studio where I can make a big mess and nobody cares

14. I only have about a week and a half left on my heart monitor.

I feel much better. Thanks for listening to me whine.

How to make a Turban Style Headband

I love this look. The turban headband popped up on runways all over the place in Spring 2011. Since I don't have $400.00 to buy one, and like to do things in "Reclaimed Wreckage" style, here's a tutorial on how to make one from a recycled T-shirt.

First, cut out two 5" x 22" sections from your t-shirt.

Fold them in half and sew. When sewing stretchy fabric without a serger, it helps to use a small zig zag stitch rather than a typical straight stitch. It allows the finished garment to stretch more without breaking your stitches.

Turn them inside out so you have two tubes. Next, we'll "link" them.

Lay one out flat, across the table, and lay the other on top of it to make a criss-cross.

Now, fold the bottom layer up, to link the two.

Fold the other side up.

When you pick them up, it should look like this:

Now, match the seams up, and sew the raw edges together.

You will be sewing through 8 layers of jersey at this point.

Finish your seam however you'd like and wear it with the raw edges facing in against your hair. All done!

In hindsight, I think I'd like to experiment with making it thicker, finding some stretchy lace, or embellishing it. But enjoy your new headband and take pride in knowing that you created it yourself from materials that would have been thrown out. Congratulations!

The Chain Draped Goddess Harness

I know it's semi-normal to be obsessed with your own creations, but honestly.... I think I out-did myself on this one:

Measurements
-From collarbone to last draped chain: 14"
-16" neck space
-34" draped chain in back
-12" off draped chain detailing

It can be tough to find the perfect piece of statement jewelry to add to an ensemble, but we think you'll agree when we say this bold accessory really suits your amazing sense of style. The unique design and feminine rose chain actually creates a slimming effect through your torso for a sensational look that you can always rely on. Pair it with a black tank top, skinny jeans, and stilletos or drape it over a boring, t-shirt dress for a whole new look. Magnetic clasps behind the neck and behind the back make it a breeze to slip on and off. One size fits all.

Today I saw the saddest thing....

I think today was one of those life-changing days that will make me see the world a little differently. The Farmers market started today and I showed up (late as usual) at about 7am. I noticed a homeless man sleeping on a park bench about 100 yards away from my booth and thought nothing of it. How often have we passed a homeless man sleeping in the park after all? 

Anyway, the day went on and I was completly distracted by kettle corn, market sales, and iced coffees to even notice that he never moved. I was there until two, packed and left, and somehow never noticed that he never moved. 

It wasn't until around six tonight, when I was heading past the park again to meet Chris for dinner, that I noticed the ambulance and fire truck loading him onto a gurney. Nobody had any idea how long he had been there with his jacket over his face. What kind of culture have we created where somebody can die on a bench during a happy festival with a thousand people walking a foot away from him, and not a single person even notice? 

It completly disqusts me that I saw him, knew he was homeless so obviously needed help, and didn't think twice about it. What makes me the saddest now, is that I don't know where to start to make the situation better.

 I've been bringing water to the men at the freeway off-ramps on the way to school for the past few days. Next week should I bring iced waters and wake all the homeless people up to make sure they're alive? I doubt they would like that. Even if I did discover someone who needed an ambulance what then? How long had they been there when I came along? I just hate it so much. I think that it doesn't matter what kind of life you have lived, addictons you have struggled with, or what kind of hand you have been delt, NOBODY desearves that. But what can I honestly do to help? I hate this feeling. I've found a problem, now what am I going to do about it to fix it???