Work it if You’ve Got it

I recently saw a hilarious ‘DIY’ meme on Facebook that read “Why buy it for $7 when you can make it yourself with $92 worth of craft supplies”. So true in most cases really, unless you are just repurposing what you already have.

I am not a hoarder. Let me make that clear – but I really, really hate waste and if there is something I think I can reuse in the future I will keep it – sometimes for years but it will always get used. I keep ribbon for example, I keep gift boxes, I keep paper bags…

I have always been like this really. I remember keeping paper bags way back when I was in high school and I did a series of oil paintings on them. I kept fur from the collar of a vintage coat and used it in a sculpture project (it was an arts high school by the way and the best school ever! (www.walnuthill.edu). If you’ve got it, use it I say.

Since starting the property styling division of Design & Diplomacy – which is a waste intensive industry, I am proud to say that I have not bought a single box or piece of packing material. I reuse it. I reuse all of it over and over. It’s not hard to do. If you just think outside the box a little (literally), most things can be repurposed into something else.

It’s not just about not creating waste, but it is about creating beauty. If you look at the things you have from a different perspective, if you ask yourself the question – ‘what other use does this thing have’ or ‘ how can I turn this thing into something beautiful’ then I do believe you will surprise yourself. Whether it’s your left over dinner, an old dress or a piece of furniture, sometimes the second – or third times the charm. 

Case and point – above is a headboard that Tim and I made out of 2 discarded shipping pallets and a quilt cover.