Old is New

So, I totally dropped the ball and neglected to write an Eco-Chic post in honor of Earth Day last Friday.  I know, bad KC.  Being an environmental engineer by day kind of means I should have put a bit more emphasis on the one day a year that celebrates Mother Nature, but I figure it's better late than never, right? I'm loving these creative and unexpecting potting methods to add some extra green around your home.  In order to pot those plants in a drawer, Justina suggests lining with plastic sheets, then pebbles, then potting soil.

PHOTO CREDIT: Image 1 via Compai Blog, 2 via Pinterest

Old is new

Confession:  See that arrow at the top of this drawing? Ya, that basic little black arrow pointing at that beautiful frame?  It probably took me about 45 min.  Yep, 45 frickin' minutes.  I may be Photoshopped challenged for now, but in no time at all I bet I'll be able to add other basic images (maybe I'll get crazy and add a star one of these days) in under an episode of Modern Family. A girl needs goals, right?  However, please note that stellar shading job I did (or hopefully I did such an outstanding job I'll be freelancing as an airbrush artist for the stars??)...I ended up having to "clone" and re-shade all around that cursed little arrow in a trial and error method for all of 45 min.

Enough of my Photoshop rant, and back to this awesome Old is New with a painted vintage frame and some sturdy twigs.  I think a wide range of variations could easily be adopted, including wooden dowels, decorative nails, etc, but this image is great inspiration for creating a gorgeous way to display your jewels. 

Image via Brass Razoo Boutique

Old is new: bangles

See that shiny gold bracelet above?  It was made out of string, and nuts (like from the hardware store).  Yup, string and nuts.  Pretty impressive huh?  And the instructions are easy as pie.  Get them here.  Plus, I think it would look totally bitchin' with one of these fabulous bangles below:

| fig. 001 $19.50 | fig. 002 $27.50 | fig. 003 $4.80 | fig. 004 $19.95 | fig. 005 $8.80 |

old is new

via pinterest 

I love this take on an old stiff bristled brush.  I feel like everyone has one of these lying around their bathroom (myself included) but I don't think I've ever used it.  (oops?)  But now I totally will for pens, pencils and the like...and probably should reinvest in a scrub brush.

Old is new

image via French Larkspur

Why use a towel rack when you could up-cycle an antique ladder?  I found a plethora of these beauties at the Alameda Flea Market, but even if you have an old ladder or pieces of wood stored in the garage, it could easily find a new home in your bathroom.  

old is new

image via Design*Sponge

In an attempt to make this blog more thrifty AND green, I thought I would write a reoccurring feature called "old is new."  Americans are notorious for not only consumption, but wastefulness as well.  Before I get on my soap box, let me tell you I am certainly guilty of this mindset just as much as the next person.  Instead of simply taking a dress I no longer wear to the tailor to turn it into a shirt, I donate it, and buy a new shirt (or worse, keep it stashed away in my closet).  However, this mentality is not only a waste of money, but also not a sustainable method of consumption.  Instead, we must be innovative and creative, seeking new purposes for old, unwanted items.  Now don't get me wrong, I love new things.  I love coming home from a successful day of shopping and deciding which item I am going to wear first.  However, I don't really need any more items of clothing, or really any additional material possessions for that matter, and am going to make a conscious effort to limit my spending and buy used goods whenever possible.  I will continue to write product roundups and fashion posts, but hopefully these posts utilize items you currently have, or inspire you to use what is currently hanging in your closet.

I love this idea of taking an old desk, removing the drawers and using them as frames.  All you would need would be some black spray paint and your imagination

Summer to Fall

With all of this flip flop of weather, I can't decide if I want to wear fall or summer clothes.  Here are some ideas of how to transition fall pieces for warm days, and summer pieces for when the air gets crisp.

Idea #1:  Pick a wardrobe staple and accessorize it according to the weather.  The shirt-dress is a classic example of a versatile piece that fits any type of weather.  For warmer days, pair it with nude pumps and a light cardigan; and for fall, pair it with boots and a blazer.

Shirtdress by kcfox featuring leather shoes

Idea #2:  Liven up your fall clothing with bright summer pieces.  It might still be too warm to wear those new army green pants you just bought with a turtleneck and booties, but it's the perfect weather to pair them with your favorite summery tank. Plus, no one likes a Negative Nancy, so I love to wear happy, bright tops with darker bottoms anyways.

Liven it up by kcfox featuring cross body tote

What are your wardrobe staples that you wear regardless of the season?

LITTER

The idea "Old is New" is really popular right now.  From recycled building materials to bamboo fabrics, recycled and green are definitely buzz words of the moment.  The girls at LITTER take this idea to a whole new level with their edgy body jewelry.  The girls use pieces of hardware (yep, the stuff you find at Ace Hardware) and vintage items to create works of art that can be displayed on any body type, shape or size.  Every piece is custom designed and handmade.  Although these pieces are not cheap, they inspire some great looks.  I love the juxtaposition of the edgy, hard look of a metal arm piece with a soft pastel dress.

And how adorable is this headpiece?

All images courtesy of LITTER SF's blog

Although my style is a little more classic than edgy, LITTER's products inspire me to mix and match edgier pieces with softer staples to create an interesting look.

Old is New

Every year I am bound to lose one earring.  It never fails.  So what am I supposed to do with the left-over single earring?  Save it in the hopes that I'll find it's mate in some idealistic, romantic-comedy sort of way?  I think not.  Solution?  Use the single earring as a pushpin in a chic bulletin board. Courtesy of Real Simple