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How-To: Advice on Chair Reupholstering

casasugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:00:12 -0700

If you were intrigued by my DIY upholstery project, but have an easier time learning things by watching them instead of reading them, then I have just the help you need! The fine folks at ReadyMade created a very helpful video showing you a slightly different technique for reupholstering chairs.

To see the video for yourself,

DIY: Floral Foam Vase

casasugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:00:00 -0700

If you read Casa regularly, you've probably noticed that people are making vases out of almost anything these days (pipes, plastic bottles, honeycomb, light bulbs). Quite frankly, a makeshift vase (coffee can, glass bottle) is not the hardest DIY. But, when I came across a DIY from ReadyMade for a vase made from floral foam that was cheap, easy, and most importantly, water retaining, I was pretty impressed. You'll probably find most of the supplies needed for this project in your house, too; who can argue with that?
Supplies:

Floral foam
Wax pellets or standard white candles
Baking paper
Cookie sheet
Toothpicks
Long, sharp knife
Cookie cutter or jar lid
Double boiler
Coffee can, slightly flattened to form a spout
Aluminum foil

To learn the steps,

DIY: Homemade Hammock

casasugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:00:51 -0700

Yesterday I told you about how I sewed a hammock for my backyard by riffing on instructions from the Getaway issue of ReadyMade magazine. If you want to get the exact instructions from the magazine, head down to your local bookstore and pick up a copy. In fact, I urge you to do so, as there are a ton of other cool Summer projects that will keep you occupied and crafting this month.

Want to get comfy in your own hammock? Then

Cool Idea: ReadyMade Magazine's DIY Hammock

casasugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:15:04 -0700

I picked up the latest issue of ReadyMade over the weekend, and was delighted to find it brimming over with fun, easy projects for Summer living. One project I started nearly immediately was making their hammock project, which was explained in the article "Re-Kindle." Basically, all you need for this project is an old sheet, a sewing machine, and some rope. I used a duvet cover I'd made a few years ago, and which had been gathering dust in the linen closet. The project only took about half an hour from start to finish (threading the rope through and remembering my rock-climbing figure eight and water knots took the majority of that time).

If you want to make one for your own yard, pick up a copy of ReadyMade at your local bookstore. You can also check back tomorrow, when I'll share my own version of building this hammock. And yep, that's my hammock in the photo. It's surprisingly comfortable and strong, given that it's just a few layers of cotton. Are you going to make one for yourself?
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Weird Furniture: Sprout a Couch

casasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:00:57 -0700

We all know that money doesn't grow on trees . . . but furniture does! Well, in the ground, at least. That's right, you can literally grow your own lawn furniture. ReadyMade has instructions on how to grow an outdoor couch, which requires little more than some dirt, sod, and wooden stakes. Forget green sofas and mattresses, this couch will literally produce oxygen! Just don't try to have it recovered in five years, your upholsterer
might get a little freaked out. Oh, and "Note: Couch may require mowing."

This Just In: ReadyMade's Green Issue Available Online!

casasugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:00:37 -0700

ReadyMade’s Green Design Issue is available in a paperless edition. And good news: this first installment of the online edition is absolutely free. Check out all of the cool DIYs, online exclusive pieces, and clickable table of contents. I don't know about you, but I'm a huge ReadyMade fan, and offering readers a tree-free version is super smart for this green design issue. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go read up on organizing my garden gear.

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