Glamorous Garbage!: Weblogs

This morning I found my mind wandering...

First, I found a great site for some great Glamorous Garbage ideas--Upcycle That. The project above was featured on that blog and it is the funkiest re-use idea that I have seen in a long time. I would love to have this in my home. There is something about the colorful retro art that would go well with my vintage toys, carnival chalkware, and neon. Also--brings back fond memories of countless hours spent in penny arcades at the Jersey Shore. This birdhouse is by artist Dan Burfield and he has an Etsy shop called "TLTCYCLE."

Seeing the birdhouse make me think: I've always loved Pinball machines. I've been trying to get a working machine for years. But, really, it's the art that I love the most. I think I would put an entire pinball machine in my house, working or not, if the 50s graphics were spectacular. And in the absence of space for a full machine? I could take any one of these back glass designs and frame and hang it, although I guess it would be at it's best if it were back-lit.

Then I got to thinking: Pinball machines have a similar graphic sensibility to Hawaiian Shirts. That would be another great source of imagery for fun projects.

Shirt above is from the Hawaiian Shirt Dude. Below, one from The Hanna Shirt Company. And below that a shirt from Hickorees.

My next thought: suppose you took your own birdhouse (either one you hammered together or a ready made craft birdhouse) and covered it with vintage imagery from a shirt. It certainly would be easier than cutting up old pinball machines. You could use vintage shirts (those in rough shape only--shirts in wearable condition are too valuable to cut up) or replica shirts. The effect would work. Birdhouses are available in many of the arts and craft stores. This one is available here and it runs $9.95.

That reminded me: I have an old, unwearable Hawaiian shirt hanging in my closet. It is not authentic vintage wear, and it does not have any hula girls, but it has that "look" and it would be great to cut up and collage unto a birdhouse or maybe even something else. The possibilities are endless.

Well, this has been an interesting morning. Something I saw on a blog, led me down the path to think about vintage graphics, sources of old imagery, and ways to use the pictures I find. To be continued. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Do you like going to flea markets, yard sales, thrift shops, antique stores and maybe even the dump? So do I! I visit those places every chance I get. I simply love old and used stuff. That's one reason I wrote and illustrated a new book: Glamorous Garbage. It stars Bobbie and Joanie, the characters I introduced in Glamorous Glasses , and it also stars Bobbie's messy room. But it's really all about reusing old stuff in new ways.

One of my hobbies is decorating my house with the used treasures and thrift store goodies that I find. I also love to write about my hunting and gathering experiences. That's what this blog is for: sharing and showing you ways to create uniquely fun rooms.

Let's go on a treasure hunt!