Showing posts with label tinyartbyjmullin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tinyartbyjmullin. Show all posts

Upcycled Shovel and Pitchfork Planters DIY Tutorial plus those flea market bargains find a new usefulness

First a quick update on the new lives of some of my recent flea market finds, although the bicycle wheels are just taking a little pitstop ...


1. more little golden books for our book wall - pants hangers from Ikea
2. this horseshoe has a nice new home bringing us some good luck
3. vintage doorknob plus cork = cool new bottle stoppers
4. bicycle wheels make a great temporary seed holder
5. vintage mallet makes a perfect little bookend
6. old baseballs + stampings = a total homerun


Now, this tutorial is almost too easy peasy to call itself a tutorial,

but since everyone who sees mine goes home and makes one, I won't let that stop me!

Your rusty old shovels and pitchforks can be easily turned into great planters that will add some whimsy and old-time farm magic to your garden!


what you need:





1. empty coffee cans
2. screws, washers, screwdriver
3. metal straps from hardware store
4. some rusty old farm tools
5. your drill


1. the cans can be double strapped (top and bottom) or double screwed into your shovel or pitchfork handle very easily
2. pick a great spot in your garden that needs a little height and gets enough sun for your plantings
3. add your plants and a garden gnome to keep watch and you are all set!


And check out some amazing gardener goodies on Etsy:

1. Succulent seeds by PlaidPigeon
2. I dig dirt toddler tee from RoundBottomBaby
3. Green thumb locket in my Polarity shop
4. Rusted handmade ceramic herb markers from Glazed Over
5. Woodland Waldorf Gnome from MariaAsenova
6. Work With What You've Got collage by TinyArtbyJMullin

Time Out Tuesday or stuff to check out while you eat your tuna on an everything bagel

I've been a bit AWOL from this blog lately what will all my decorating, caroling, shopping

(have got the shopping part down, just not the shopping "for other people" part)

wrapping, baking, visiting schools, nursing homes, hospitals- your basic do-gooder holiday schedule that I have every year

(well... I did sing Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer yesterday to an old lady at the grocery store until she tried to silence me with a can of Raid- not very eco-friendly these old ladies now a days)

so, now seems like a good time to take a time out and see what the wonderful web has offered up for us in the way of inspiration and maybe even some last minute gifts

(but don't count on it because this stuff is awesome and is probably sold out)


This hidden bookshelf allows your books to just kind of float on your wall- love it.


Rural Chinese farmers are growing Buddha pears - these are a little scary, but very cool.


Now, I trip over my own shoelaces (actually I have even tripped over other people's shoelaces) all the time, so this Shoelace Rug has a special place in my heart.


This camera can punch out a picture anytime, anywhere- yup, I said punch out a picture- me thinks me likes it!


A seesaw (that spelling looks wrong) for grown-ups recycled from bike parts- what more can I say about that.


Now when my hubby dances with our daughter he steps on her feet, so we would need these reversed for us.


I think I am obsessed with resting my books- but I love these, too.


Yup- that's 3604 coffee cups in 4 shades using various amounts of milk and coffee!


The most brilliant use of your extra cords- had me searching my entire house for extension cords- just brilliant!


French footlong marshmallows!


A new way to look at design that I just love.




The gorgeous furniture collages of Jennifer Mullin- I want to live in her rooms and yes, she has a locket!



How cute are these.



OK, back to work- just a few (couple) more days of chaos. I've been slowly adjusting to my return to real life like a diver coming up from the darkest depths of the ocean, although an ocean that has been littered with unwashed bowls of Lucky Charms, laundry, unopened mail and a very sad little Olive needing a walk and some brushin'.

My Scoutie Girl Giveaway

Check out my interview and giveaway on the absolutely amazing Scoutie Girl blog.

Jan said some really nice things about me-

"Cat Ivins is a very 'cool cat' (shucks!)- her originality & commitment to her ideas, techniques and materials rocks in every which way. she is currently focused on two materials in her work: sustainable cork and recycled steel. using these materials in conjunction with gorgeous artwork and other repurposed items, like barnwood & galvanized steel, she creates ingenius cork pendants, magnetic lockets, earrings, bulletin/magnet boards, pushpins and so much more. when i see an artist who pushes boundaries like this in such simple yet unconventional ways - and do it so well - i can barely stand it! progressive artists like Cat are such an asset to the modern art movement of their/our time. in her words: "I seek to use repurposed, recycled and sustainable materials in new, unique and beautiful ways leaving the lightest possible footprint in my wake." that's passion baby!"

*yes, Jan, your check is in the mail*

Actually I have hung this in my studio to remind my family I am one cool Cat!

This giveaway is double-trouble and includes my favorite GIDDYUP seahorse cork necklace by Uncorked and a TinyArtbyJMullin Locket from my Polarity artist series featuring the gorgeous collage work of Jennifer Mullin. The contest runs through July 5th so drop your barbecue mitts and get yourself entered!

New Artists for Polarity Locket Series

This week I am so fortunate to add five more amazingly talented artists to my Polarity locket artist series!


TinyArtByJMullin - Jennifer is a high school art and art history teacher by day and collage and watercolor artist by night. Creating art keeps her sane and happy and she is thrilled to be able to share her passion on Etsy! We are so lucky to have her beautiful I Will Be Blue and Floral Improv. No. 8 artwork for your locket!

f2images - Emi and Mark started f2images as a way to share their photography with others. Their ambition is to capture and present images in a unique and engaging way. Although they enjoy fine art photography, the technical aspect of image capture is equally important to them. We are so lucky to have their beautiful Lazy Summer and Mare photographs for your locket!

blackoutwell - When she was young Amy wanted to be a mad scientist but quickly decided that her path in life would be accompanied by a notebook and pen, a yellow flask of semi sweet tea, a small orange fox, a slightly bent but empty birdcage and a rusty red lantern she found in the street. Unfortunately she has only 2 hands so she carries the leftover items in her backpack, alternating from time to time and picking up treasures and inspiration along the way! We are so lucky to have her beautiful Stripey Fox and Suspicious Cat artwork for your locket!

somethingwhimsical - Vinnie is an amazing artist who wanted to have some fun and walk on the wild side of things for awhile, well, on the whimsical side at least. His little alien lifeforms known as BOBs (bunch of bolts) have recently been leaving some marks and symbols that we will leave it up to you mad scientists out there to decipher. You can check out Vinnie's other, slightly more serious side at http://www.corona-evans.com We are so lucky to have his little BOBs language for your locket! He also happens to be my amazingly talented brother....

Deadpan Alley - Liese loves to work with all types of media. Paint, ink, copper, beads, fabric, you name it. She shows work in a traditional art gallery but when she gets pen in hand nothing traditional seems to come out. Etsy is her outlet for the illustrations that like a hysterical giggle, she can't seem to suppress! We are so lucky to have her beautiful X-Ray, Devourer of Nations and The Innovator artwork for your locket!

Purchase any of these amazing lockets and you will receive a FREE set of additional lids.

I will also be doing a giveaway with each locket from now until the end of June- the first giveaway is on Andrea's awesome Anything Indie blog for the Jessica Doyle Locket shown here!