Make your own DIY Driftwood Mirror

It's no secret among my nearest and dearest that I am obsessed with driftwood. It's already beautiful, you don't have to do anything to it! I make so many things with driftwood, from toilet paper holders and jewelry stands to picture frames and pan racks. If you are lucky enough to live near a source of driftwood, there are countless objects that are waiting to be turned into something useful and one-of-a-kind. By YOU.

That said, there are a few things about working with driftwood that can be challenging. This mirror, for example, I had to make and re-make a few times before it was sturdy. I started with a glue gun, like a usually do. No good. The smooth surface of the mirror and the uneven texture of the wood was not a good match. I ended up using a super strong rubber cement which barely holds. Now with other mirrors that I've made for people, I use a wooden backing, like plywood, Cement the mirror (that is smaller than the backing) to the backing, and then screw or finish nail the pieces to the wood that is surrounding the mirror. Much better plan.

DIY Vintage Mason Jar Light

Okay, Okay, I know my love affair with vintage mason jars is nothing new or original, especially among homesteaders and DIY enthusiasts who have expounded on their virtues for ages. Still, I never tire of seeing these things around our house, being put to various uses. I use them everywhere, from starting new houseplants to holding lentils in my pantry. They just make me happy to look at them. In an age of mass produced, cheap crap, they evoke a sense of timeless quality. Plus each one has a history about which you will never know, especially if you picked them up at a yard sale or something. They might have held the pickled beets that got a family through the great depression. They are special objects.

This is one of my latest uses for one my collection. I used a modern canning lid collar to hold it on, rather than cutting a hole in the original lid. The light was already installed, I just switched out the shade with the jar and used a smaller bulb so that it would fit inside the jar. Simple project.

DIY hand-painted, hand-dyed baby onesie

Here is one of my latest projects. Hand dyed and hand painted baby onesies! This is SO fun and satisfying. They make great gifts for friends' babies and they are all unique! Can't go wrong.

I encourage you to try this yourself, but these are available for sale on my etsy site. Just in case anyone is interested. www.wovenwillowdesigns.etsy.com

Driftwood and Animal Mobile

Before I was pregnant, I had visions of sitting in a rocking chair and knitting and sewing a mountain of baby things. Little did I realize, pregnancy would be so exhausting that I ended up with only one thing. This mobile.  Luckily, everyone else did the mountains of knitting and Zizzy is well-adorned with hand made goods. I can't wait to return the favor when they all have babies!