There has always been something exciting about finding a "score" at the thrift store, or getting something marked down to a fraction of it's regular store price... and if you enjoy a good score you will really enjoy the idea of re-purposing something.
In on of my earlier blogs I talked about my line of Re-Loved ornaments, stockings, blankets, ect... and those are fun for crafty folks, but the idea of re-purposing goes even deeper than that.
This past spring I began working on a neat project. I decided to build a woodshed completely out of re-claimed materials.
We desperately needed a wood shed for our winter supply= 5 cords. We had been storing our cut wood in stacks , in the barn, in the green house and just about everywhere in between. Now, that was fine while the weather was nice, but running around in the snow with a wheelbarrow trying to collect wood from the four corners of our property to bring into our house was not too much fun. Not to mention the fact that it was totally counter productive.
So, I began doing a bit of research on wood sheds. I found a few great articles on the use of pallets, and soon decided that they were the way to go. I then put the word out in my neighborhood that I was in need of pallets and any extra wood that folks had kicking around.
A week or so later my neighbor Donnie dropped off a few truck loads of pallets for me, and the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main a dieu let me know that they had just knocked down a wall, and had some wood for me to grab.
In on of my earlier blogs I talked about my line of Re-Loved ornaments, stockings, blankets, ect... and those are fun for crafty folks, but the idea of re-purposing goes even deeper than that.
This past spring I began working on a neat project. I decided to build a woodshed completely out of re-claimed materials.
We desperately needed a wood shed for our winter supply= 5 cords. We had been storing our cut wood in stacks , in the barn, in the green house and just about everywhere in between. Now, that was fine while the weather was nice, but running around in the snow with a wheelbarrow trying to collect wood from the four corners of our property to bring into our house was not too much fun. Not to mention the fact that it was totally counter productive.
So, I began doing a bit of research on wood sheds. I found a few great articles on the use of pallets, and soon decided that they were the way to go. I then put the word out in my neighborhood that I was in need of pallets and any extra wood that folks had kicking around.
A week or so later my neighbor Donnie dropped off a few truck loads of pallets for me, and the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main a dieu let me know that they had just knocked down a wall, and had some wood for me to grab.
After Stephen and I took all of the nails out of the old lumber I was ready to build.
For a foundation I actually used old rail road ties. We live on the S&L Railroad line, which was a main line for transportation between Sydney and Louisburg many years ago. Our home was actually one of the stops on the line and when the rail road ceased to exist I guess they just left everything. There wasn't much left by the time we got here, but there were a few ties left on the property.
The design was pretty simple. Stephen calculated the size for me based on the necessary wood storage and I went to work drawing out a design.
For a foundation I actually used old rail road ties. We live on the S&L Railroad line, which was a main line for transportation between Sydney and Louisburg many years ago. Our home was actually one of the stops on the line and when the rail road ceased to exist I guess they just left everything. There wasn't much left by the time we got here, but there were a few ties left on the property.
The design was pretty simple. Stephen calculated the size for me based on the necessary wood storage and I went to work drawing out a design.
Once I got going it went pretty smoothly. Within a few weeks the walls and roof were up. I waited a while to find my roof and siding material, which ended up being old vinyl election signs given to us by our buddy Aaron. He happens to be a saver of everything that may have a second life as well!
So we managed to build our wood shed for the cost of nails and metal roof supports. All told under $50...
Now we are looking at the little adjustments, and I am waiting for spring to put on a proper living roof. I didn't get to that before the winter, so we have been dealing with a few leaks here and there. But all and all it was a great success, and we managed to do it with things that we found within our community.
So we managed to build our wood shed for the cost of nails and metal roof supports. All told under $50...
Now we are looking at the little adjustments, and I am waiting for spring to put on a proper living roof. I didn't get to that before the winter, so we have been dealing with a few leaks here and there. But all and all it was a great success, and we managed to do it with things that we found within our community.
Another fun project: Turning our table into a butcher block counter top island!
Stephen had a big heavy birch table that he bought when he first moved here. It was home made, and unfortunately quite unstable. So it sat, in the work shop, and was home to card board boxes and the kitties.
When we decided to tear out a wall in our kitchen to open up our living space we wanted to have an area that could be multi purpose, for cooking, entertaining and eating breakfast for the kids.
Stephen had a big heavy birch table that he bought when he first moved here. It was home made, and unfortunately quite unstable. So it sat, in the work shop, and was home to card board boxes and the kitties.
When we decided to tear out a wall in our kitchen to open up our living space we wanted to have an area that could be multi purpose, for cooking, entertaining and eating breakfast for the kids.
So, much to our neighbor... contractor... helper's dismay, We came up with the idea of using the existing cabinets as a base for our new table.
I ripped off the counter top, and then went to work removing the base of Stephen's table.
I ripped off the counter top, and then went to work removing the base of Stephen's table.
After that we cut down the cupboard space so that I was able to save two out of three drawers and cabinets.
Next came replacing the side and adding a "front" to the base. I did buy oak plywood for that... holy smokes that stuff doesn't come cheap!! But besides that everything else was re-purposed.
And the end result is a fantastic island that acts as an eating nook, a large chopping block and counter top for baking bread... not meantion a great area for putting party snacks!
Actually, it isn't quite finished... I am in the midst of oiling the wood and putting in an outlet for all of my counter top appliances, but you get the idea.
Next came replacing the side and adding a "front" to the base. I did buy oak plywood for that... holy smokes that stuff doesn't come cheap!! But besides that everything else was re-purposed.
And the end result is a fantastic island that acts as an eating nook, a large chopping block and counter top for baking bread... not meantion a great area for putting party snacks!
Actually, it isn't quite finished... I am in the midst of oiling the wood and putting in an outlet for all of my counter top appliances, but you get the idea.
It seems that if you open up your mind to all of the creative possibilities for the "stuff" in your life, it seems that you may be able to re-purpose a lot of your stuff and that of your communities for that matter!
The result is something that creates less waste, costs less, and happens to have a way better story attatched to it!
Now go forth and re-purpose... and when you have I'd love to see photos and hear about your story!
The result is something that creates less waste, costs less, and happens to have a way better story attatched to it!
Now go forth and re-purpose... and when you have I'd love to see photos and hear about your story!
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