Stylish, functional, simple, environmentally friendly projects for your natural home.

Have your pillows recovered?

SWATCH THIS...
Every year, upholstery fabric designers put out oodles of swatch books filled with beautiful, luxurious fabrics. At year’s end it’s in with the new, and out to the landfill with the old. Turn these doomed swatches into spirited pillow covers that give your rooms a quick, painless facelift. Ask for discontinued sample books at a store or showroom specializing in home-furnishing fabrics; they’ll be glad to see their trash turned into your treasure.

light of strings

STRING ‘EM UP... Make a sophisticated design statement with just a ball of string and a little glue. The beauty of these lovely pendant lamps is that you probably have most of the materials in your junk drawer. You can purchase an inexpensive pendant light fixture at the hardware store. This project is simple enough for kids, but the results are decidedly adult. As an added bonus, these make energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights more attractive.

basket of silk

TIES THAT BIND...
This indulgently soft basket made of cast-off neckties uses an easy beginner basket-making technique that requires no tools except your nimble fingers. The finished product makes a beautiful addition to a dresser or nightstand and is perfect for eyeglasses, watches and other precious things that need a soft place to land. A larger version could make a choice catnapping spot for a pampered feline.