I’ve been dreaming of remodeling our house with a patina on metal for a while now. After extensive research and practice, I finally made it happen. I put the process into a step by step video tutorial with the hope that it will provide information and inspiration to anyone interested in a different look for the exterior of your place.

Before and After

We’ve lived in our house for about 15 years. We needed to fix a few problems and make some upgrades. Our goal was to change up the look without spending a fortune on huge structural changes.

We decided to go big and resize the windows. We went from 5 tall and 4 feet wide to 6 feet by 6 feet.

Why the windows were so small to start with was unfortunate but look at our view of the mountains now!

Loving the new bigger windows, we removed all of the aging faux rock from the house. And got ready to add the new cold rolled steel with patina and wood accents.

The cold rolled steel pieces are 12 inches wide and fabricated to lock together. Blues and purples were my goal colors for the finished patina.

The metal is a cold rolled steel, from Cypress Metals. Twelve inches wide and fabricated to seat together as it is hung up. We used the Copper Plating and Torch Patinas from Sculpt Nouveau. This gave a rainbow effect, and we really like how it turned out.

We used pine for the front porch area, a spot mostly protected from the elements.

The paint is a darker turquoise which adds a lovely pop of color. It pulls the blues out in the metal patina surrounding the porch.

The other three sides of the house are stucco. We painted all of the stucco a pale lavender, new and refreshing compared to the old tan color.

We opted for rounded gutters on this very basic exterior. Hoping to add flair to the sides and back of the house. Incidentally, the original crappy gutters are what started it all. The old gutters were installed incorrectly and cause the stone to slowly fall off over the years. These new, durable and heavy duty aluminum gutters should last for many years.

The finished project… so long in the making and planning is a delight to come home to. We really love the way all of the exterior elements came together. Be sure to check out my Patina House Project DIY video. It’s very helpful if you’re interested in taking on a patina project on metal in a larger format like this one. I hope this patina on metal for house use is helpful for your next project. Thanks!

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This mini messenger bag is a pattern and design that I’ve always loved. (Watch the short video) As a matter of fact the purse I use every day looks exactly like this one. I’ve made it many, many times over the years for the Beehive Bazaar, a local handmade market in Utah, where I live. When a quilter friend of mine asked me to make one for her, we agreed on a trade and then 3 years passed…

And now, at long last, I have redeemed myself and actually made (and delivered) her bag.

It was fun for me to rediscover this pattern that I’ve tweaked and shifted over the years. It was like revisiting an old, familiar friend.

This zipper technique of sewing one side of the zipper directly to the bag face is one of my favorite time-saving hacks. Zippers can be tricky to install but this method makes it easy.

I use a heavy interfacing with the lining pieces to add stand up sturdiness to the internal portion of the bag.

The interfacing really gives the mini messenger bag a professional feel and eliminates floppiness.

There is another zipper pocket in the flap. A regular pocket wouldn’t work since the flap is constantly being flipped upside down when the bag is opened and closed.

Top stitching the flap after sewing it all together- including a hand sewn patch with a bit of color and unique flair. Never underestimate the power of ironing seams before you sew- another trick to a professional quality finished product.

Use a leather needle when working with leather, it cuts as it punctures and sews. Take your time and remember once a hole has been made in the leather it will always be there and likely visible.

Placing the outside of the bag inside the lining to sew together can be an adventure. Be patient and take your time lining up seams and stitching. Also, leave a good size gap (about 5 inches) for reaching in and turning the whole thing right side out.

The finished bag

Here’s a look at the completed mini messenger bag, with an added oversized snap for complete closure and a professional look.

Backside view with zipper back pocket. I don’t zipper this pocket closed all the time but it’s nice to have the option.

And there are the basics of making a mini messenger bag. Handmade and especially sturdy. I’ve used mine for years with minimal wear and tear and several washings. Try bag making for yourself- let the creativity flow and learn as you go! Watch the short here.

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This fun, quick patch pockets project is an easy sewing tutorial. It works for any sewing project that might need some color and details worked into the design. When making a basic gray linen apron, I decided to add just a bit of color. I used upcycled or recycled colorful linen scraps. This was easy because I’ve been hanging onto a ton of them waiting for a project just like this.

This cross back apron design is my favorite apron design. Comfortable enough to be worn all day, it’s a favorite among artists and chefs. The lack of pressure or pulling on or around your neck makes it great for longterm wearing. Follow along my video to learn how to sew a pieced patch pocket- *with a bit of flair.

I don’t know about you, but color is an integral aspect of my life and seems to directly affect my happiness. So the plain apron, with plain pockets just wasn’t cutting it for me.

Making Patch Pockets

Color doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but just a pop of color can make something memorable and get the endorphins flowing.

As a maker, upcycling and using every scrap of fabric is key. No matter the size, is part of my everyday routine as I design and create. Let’s use up what we already have!

Side Note:

It’s not necessary to serger the seams. But in the case of a pocket and the wear and tear involved, I decided the extra sturdiness was a good idea.

Use this quick project to jazz up an existing apron or personalize a homemade apron. Or forget the apron and add a pieced pocket onto pants, a skirt. Because everything needs a bit of color. Patch pockets are easy to make, and easy to sew into place.

Check out this other Upcycled Denim Wall Organizer project for other great fabric recycling ideas!

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I’ve been dreaming of having a greenhouse most of my adult life, and now I’ve finally made it happen! Not only is it a place where my plants can thrive, but it’s a hideout for one when you need some sunny alone time with silence and just the company of plants. I hope you enjoy this shed to greenhouse project, be sure and watch the video!

Follow along the very satisfying project of turning a tiny, boring shed into a greenhouse- from start to finish. The video isn’t a how to but a journey of discovery and learning for me and hopefully inspirational for you.

The Garden Shed

This shed came with our house and has been an underutilized tiny, dark cavern- basically taking up space next to where we put our vegetable garden on the south side of our house.

When our neighbors decided to replace the 50 year old windows in their house, I knew it was my big chance to turn my shed into a greenhouse.

We cleaned out the random contents and started cutting window holes. I consulted with a builder friend on how to properly frame in the windows, and any other questions I had along the way.

I’m no expert builder, just an eager maker happily upcycling my existing shed, some very cute vintage windows and trying to keep it all within a reasonable budget.

We had the help of Jacqueline the kitty, and my daughter to keep the work progressing daily and the mood light on this shed to greenhouse project.

The Pieces Come Together

I was happy to learn that I could keep the existing door and just have windows put into for a nominal fee at a local door makers shop.

I finished the inside by insulating 2×4 walls and ceiling the entire shed. Then I finished the walls with 1/4 inch plywood, 1×4’s for interior window frames and lots of caulk to seal the deal. I put in a thermostat controlled attic fan to vent the space during the hot summer months.

All painted and tiled, the greenhouse looks bright and lovely inside. The new look is the opposite of the dark cave that it used to be.

I finished the outside with board and batten siding picked up from a local used website- likely leftovers from another persons house.

I finished the outside white as well. And after months of hard work and learning a lot along the way my greenhouse is finally finished! Just in time for the test of the freezing winter months in the mountains of Utah. I have a small space heater that kicks on to keep the space from freezing at night when the temperatures drop. The sun does a great job of heating the space during the day. Feel free to kick up your feet and watch the entire process in 12 minutes, and inspiration might strike you to start your own shed to greenhouse project!

To see the humble beginnings, dirt patch to current look of my backyard, start here.

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Here’s a quick and easy DIY- Paint and Glitter Thrifted Pumpkins, that’s great for anyone with a short attention span and a love of glitter. This project takes about 30 minutes (paint drying time included) so gather up your basic pumpkins and let’s get started!

You will need:

pumpkin

paint (any color)

paintbrush

glitter (any color)

newspaper or other paper to keep the mess contained

bowls

plastic spoon

spray adhesive

To keep the mess in check I used leftover packing paper but newspaper would work great too.

For the full tutorial watch this quick video for the DIY process. How to go about painting and glittering thrifted pumpkins. Easy to find at a charity shop, thrift store or craft store. Or makeover pumpkins you already have and are in need of a refresh. Easy holiday decor DIY- you can give old fall decor a new look by repurposing pumpkins with color and glitter of course.

It’s a great, easy DIY project for kids or beginners looking to learn the art of upcycling.

For more Halloween project ideas check out this pumpkin sewing tutorial.

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Have you ever wondered about how to recycle or upcycle a retired sail? I’ve had a few old sails stored in my garage waiting for another chance, a second life as a useful project. As it turns out sail cloth is perfect as a recycled sail barbeque cover. The fabric is white so it absorbs less sunlight, waterproof, sturdy and windproof.

When my old shredded plastic barbecue cover protecting my cute red BBQ started literally falling apart at the seams I needed a new plan. Enough is enough with the cheap plastic covers that only last a season. Then it occurred to me that one of the old sails sitting in my garage would be the perfect material for this kind of easy upcycling project– a recycled sail barbeque cover.

DIY Project Plans

An easy project with a full video tutorial, with just a few seams to be sewn. I would definitely recommend this recycling sail BBQ cover project to those of you with an adventurous spirit and an eye for eclectic design and use in your backyard. Thinking creatively and with reuse and recycling in mind is a skill and a gift.

It feels so good and it’s more important than ever to upcycle goods around us and make a concerted effort to consume less. Let’s hone those upcycling and recycling skills!

Leave all of the sail numbers visible for reversibility super powers- present it 4 ways. If you have any other ways that you’ve recycled or upcycled sail cloth let me know- I would lover to hear about your project ideas!

In the mood for upcycling? Check out this Resizing a Patagonia Jacket Project.

Final words to live by:

The most sustainable item is the one you didn’t buy.

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Hello folks! My latest project goes through process of designing and fabricating a custom screen door for a garage bakery. The screen door is custom made for the bakers needs with 2 smaller zipper doors that can be easily opened to roll out racks of fresh bread to take to market or easily carry in supplies for another baking session. The key element in the design plan has baking al fresco in the hot summer and fall months without allowing any “nature” to wander or blow in. Designed to be sturdy enough to withstand the natural elements as well as the constant use of the zippered doors- this screen door should stand the test of time.

This is my friend Andrew of Hawk and Sparrow Bread. He’s the local artisan bread baker in our town and all around great guy. He converted his garage into a bakery and needed a way to cool off the bakery during the hot months.

We brainstormed ideas and took into account his specific needs. A design with two smaller zippered entrances for quick and easy entry and exiting is what we decided on.

Making a plan then purchasing supplies

All of the supplies- screen, zippers and velcro were purchased at Sailrite. The khaki green outdoor canvas that just so happened to match the outside color of Andrew’s house was found at the local thrift store.

The project was pretty simple, the scale was the trickiest part. Using the backyard lawn to layout the project was very helpful.

Sewing a project this big also took patience. Working in steps as much as possible was a great way to keep the scale workable as long as possible.

It wasn’t until the zippers had been installed that I realized my mistake. In hindsight, I should have stepped backed and puzzled through the zipper conundrum a little longer. The zippers were installed facing down, so they zipped up too close. I should have mounted them so they zipped down to close. I could have avoided the separating zipper issue I ran into. Hindsight is 20/20!

The finished project looked great and checked all of the boxes of necessary features. Check out my video and the process of making this screen door should be useful in brainstorming helpful ideas for your own custom garage door screen or any other screen situation you may have in mind. Thanks!

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With multiple lifetimes of experience building IKEA furniture and Legos, stars in our eyes and Christmas looming a week away we started putting the kitchen together. I mean really… how hard can installing IKEA kitchen cabinets be? Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose- right?

Where to start building

We decided to start building the bank of cabinets by the refrigerator first. It was just a wall of cabinets, no corners to deal with- yet. And we needed all the newly empty floor space to build the four 90″ tall cupboards planned for that spot.

Stacking cabinets

The tricky part was figuring out how to stack the cabinets as we installed them. Part of the reason for remodeling the kitchen was to achieve more cupboard storage space. And to utilize the space between the upper cabinets and the ceiling with another set of cupboards.

We started with the upper row of layered cabinets. After staring at the basic, wordless IKEA instructions we put our heads together. Work with your team- kick around ideas and possibilities before you start making holes in walls.

The Sektion suspension rails for hanging the cabinets are somewhat adjustable. Once you have found the studs in the wall, measured for height and done your absolute best in finding the exact hanging height. The locking “key”, the metal apparatus that holds the rail to the wall can be removed while the bar is adjusted to the correct high- infinitely adjusted, if you will, without having to do any re-drilling. The rails can be moved up and down within about 1/2 of an inch. Then relocked into place when once again level and tweaked to the exact correct spot.

We did a lot of adjusting, taking off and putting the cabinets back on to get it just right. Also, the 90″ tall Sektion cabinets sit on the floor on legs. The legs are very adjustable, which was very handy. As you can see, I did a terrible job measuring and cutting the outlet hole. Thankfully, its hidden behind a door and lower than eye level with shelves installed.

While installing a kitchen right before Christmas wasn’t the most convenient time frame. But, there were definitely some perks. My 20 something kids were home from college and available to help. My husband was off work for the holidays too. It was all hands on deck and for the most part we were all happy to be spending some quality time together.

Hanging upper cabinets

Tackling the other bank of cabinets was a bit easier with some experience under our belts. We used the measurements from the finished side as reference. The distance from the ceiling to the top and bottom rail was referenced. And the distance from the floor to both rails for the stacking cabinets was also helpful.

The cabinets “lock” to the rails with a plastic ‘key”. If the cabinets aren’t hanging all the way on the rail (for instance: sitting on top of the other cabinet and not fully hooked onto their bar) they will not lock into place. Our goal was to adjust until the stacked cabinets fit as snugly on top of each other as possible. While safely hanging (and locked) on their own rails. There will be tiny gaps here and there. But once the doors are installed, you will not see the gaps any more.

Installing IKEA base cabinets

The lower cabinets also hang on the walls. Which is a good thing because the plastic legs that come with the kitchen are surprisingly flimsy. In hindsight, build frames for the lower cabinets to sit on (as well as locking to the walls) for an overall sturdier feel. We were in a hurry to meet our countertop templating appointment. Or we would have stopped and built box frames for the cabinets.

Installing IKEA kitchen cabinets as an island

We realized that there was no way we could build the kitchen island with plastic legs. The island would never have been sturdy enough. We used 2×6’s we had in the garage to build a frame in this case, bracketing them to the sub floor to hold them in place.

The cabinets were toenailed into their base support. The screw will never be seen once the drawers are put into place. As an extra bonus, the island will be slightly taller when finished. This is nice for taller people working at a standing workspace.

Stay tuned for the next step- farmhouse sink install and adding temporary countertops!

Take a look at the original kitchen, its removal and it’s new home.

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