Must love dogs -- and these silly dog photos

I'm always looking for old hardback books to turn into cases for Kindles, Nooks, and other e-readers. Nancy Drew is the most popular, but after awhile, her perky face on the cover (usually as she hides behind a tree or bush) gets boring. So I love finding an old, kitchy book that I've never heard of.

What can I make with Rig-a-Jig?

I love old toys, as my friends know. So I wasn't surprised when one brought me a box of "Rig-A-Jig," a plastic construction playset similar to TinkerToys. It was invented in the mid-50s by a Mr. L.E. Carson to amuse his sick son, Larry. 

GreenCraft Magazine -- I wanted it to be more useful

Last week was my birthday week, so I indulged myself at a local bookstore by buying a few new-to-me magazines. One was GreenCraft, designed "to honor and inspire those who find artistic applications for normally discarded resources."

Turning old coffee bags into a messenger bag

Seattleites drink lots and lots of coffee. Mostly it's to stay awake and remain upbeat during the long grey days. 

We make daily visits to the nearest dark-paneled cafe for hits of espresso. And we buy bags and bags and bags of dark beans for home. 

Cuff 'em -- turning a shirt cuff into a soft phone case

One upcycling challenge I think about -- a lot -- is what kinds of things I can use to make a case for my cell phone. I've tried plastic bags and old jeans, but nothing seems quite right.

Next generation upcyclers?

I spent Earth Day weekend with 6 energetic Daisy Scouts and their parents on gorgeous Camp Orkila on the San Juan Islands. We had unexpected (and unforecast) beautiful weather -- dry, sunny, and just the right temperature.

Everything is Everything Else, at least in New Mexico

In my last post, I described a paper-making class my husband and I took in Abiqui, New Mexico. We discovered more examples of upcycling in this land of enchantment.

A lesson in making handmade paper

Making paper is easier than you'd think! On a recent visit to New Mexico, my husband and I were lucky enough to have a private lesson in paper-making by artist and paper sculptor, Jacqueline Mallegni (www.mallegni.com). We started with pieces of a dried mulberry plant and left with almost a ream of handmade paper. I think this counts as upcycling!

How to turn a cigar box into a case for glasses

In this guest post, my resourceful husband describes how he transformed a wooden cigar box into a handsome case to hold his glasses. He found this large box at an outdoor flea market; it fits 2 pairs of glasses.

From cheesy cookbook to placemat

One of the perks of being a known upcycler is that all my friends bring me strange and wonderful things to repurpose. Julia and Cindie send me Scrabble tiles, Teri brings me board games, and recently Wanda -- one of my most loyal supporters -- gave me this treasure.