DIY // Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

I stumbled upon the 2011 Pinterest Challenge:  Fall Edition while checking out some plans for a kitchen island over at Ana-white.com and I was all over it.  If you're asking, "What in the Sam Hill is Pinterest?"  Then, please allow me to ask, "Where in the Sam Hill have you been?!"  If you're asking yourself, "What's the Pinterest Challenge?" Then, I'll just keep my smart comments to myself.

You know all those Pinterest pins you've been addictively pinning like they're going out of style?  The ones that you say "I can totally make that" and then they just sit there collecting internet dust?  Well, now's the time to roll up those sleeves, step away from the computer and get to work.

DIY // West Elm / Dwell Studio Papier-Mâché Animal Head

I gotta tell you, this project was easy-peasy.  I was pretty intimidated at first, but once I got going things just seemed to work themselves out.  Here's my first attempt at the ever-popular mounted animal head ~ mini-style.

Supplies:

• copy paper
• scotch tape
• plaster
• round wood plaque
• liquid nails

Subject:

The awe-inspiring stag, of course.  Not only is this a beautiful creature, but I get brownie points from the hubs who is a Harvey Mudd grad.  (Go Stags!)  My choice for a mini-version was out of convenience (it would fit on our "control center" wall) and it would be less daunting than a lifesize version.

Steps:

Homegirl: You rock!

Gina Bishop, with Homegirl, you are a lifesaver!  Thank you so much for letting me rack your brain and sharing your sage advice with this newbie. And in the words of the great Wayne Campbell, "I'm not worthy!"

Jump on over to Gina's site, Homegirlshop.com and check it out!  She has bi-annual homegoods sales that'll rock your socks off.  For those of you near Ohio, be sure to drop in at her next sale coming in the Spring, but go early, Homegirl sales are extremely popular!

Revamp someday?  A girl can dream...

DIY // Van Gogh's The Starry Night Mosaic Art

This is a piece that I created a few years back.  Back before the creation of Revamp Homegoods, even before the creation of blogging.

Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night has had me mesmerized for as long as I can remember.  The deep colors and the night's energy are awe-inspiring.  Did you know that this was his view from his room in the sanatorium in Saint Remy and was painted just 13 months before his death.  He would stare at the view at night and then paint from memory in the morning.  I, too, could stare at it for hours. (Que sappy music.)

"The Starry Night" Vincent Van Gogh 1889

An extremely long time later...

Being one of the most replicated paintings of all time, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and create "The Starry Night" in glass mosaic form.  I made a trip out to Bullseye Glass, in Portland, Oregon, to pick up the supplies, which were:

• Glass cutter
• Sheets of colored glass

Salvaged Goods: Trash to Treasure (Literally!)

Home Depot definitely has its allure as a one stop shop for home improvement, but are you guys familiar with salvage materials stores?   You can get salvaged furniture, homegoods and building materials, such as doors, windows, hardware, tile and tubs, at insane prices. You'd be amazed at what people throw out.

Rad Sign from Salvage Works, LLC

DIY // How To Transform a Vintage Dresser

I don't know about you, but I always feel anxiety and guilt over painting a vintage piece of furniture or any piece of furniture, for that matter.  Right before I smear on the first coat my right eye starts to twitch, my forehead beads sweat and my whole body starts to shake.  I know that the paint will liven up the down-and-out piece, but it just seems so wrong to cover up the wood.

A past project had me all wrangled with guilt when I chose to paint (EEK!) my mom's childhood dresser. 

I think everyone in the family has used this dresser at one time or another.  But first, it was my lovely mother's. As a child, she saved up all her money to buy it and it's been around ever since. I know, what you're thinking...what child saves up to buy something so practical? That'd be my mom.

For nearly 40 years old (sorry, mom!), this dresser is in pretty good condition. It's still rolling around on its original wooden castors and only two pieces of its veneer had chipped off. But the wear and tear of being passed around was definitely showing and the old guy needed some TLC. Refinishing veneer can be quite the challenge, so I figured paint would be the way to go.  I rolled up my sleeves, plugged in the hand sander and got to work. Sanding and sanding and sanding until I had this:

And then I began sanding some more.  Grr...

Blast into the Past

There's something about the combination of newspaper, papier-mâché, and animals that gets me all giddy. My most recent project sent me straight back to 1991 when I was in grade school and all about papier-mâché. I would even go so far as to say obsessed. Just saying the word, papier-mâché, is fun. Say it with me now, “pap-YAY muh-SHAY." Now wasn't that fun?

West Elm Papier-Mâché Animal Sculpture

Dwell Studio Papier-Mâché Animal Heads

I know you've seen these plastered (heh.) everywhere in blogs, magazines & catalogs. Are you as in love with them as I am? Stay tuned for my very own DIY mini animal head.

Introducing Revamp Homegoods

How many of you can call yourselves a do-it-yourselfer? Better yet, how many of you WISH you could call yourself one? You see a project and think to yourself "I can totally do that!"? Only to find yourself elbow deep in sawdust and covered in primer, ready to throw in the towel and tramp out to the nearest homegoods boutique to replace that botched job with that beautiful, but OH SO EXPENSIVE, piece.

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Revamp Homegoods. I remake, revise, and reconstruct one man's junk into something spectacular.