The Modern Materialist

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• DIY: A Cheaper Means of Building That Overpriced Kaleidoscope Collection

  Earlier today, you learned that I have, for some reason, spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars upon the building of a kaleidoscope collection. (If you're interested, I totally suggest checking out 'scopes by this guy, and these guys here.) If you're saving up for...anything...then I suggest going the following route instead: Read More... Posted Jun 25 2008, 03:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY

• DIY: Make Your Own Underwear

  Got a lot of old t-shirts lying around? Want to make your own underwear out of 'em, like the pairs pictures above? Then just use this pattern:   Read More... Posted Jun 16 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: DIY, Shirts, Underwear

• Do-It-Yourself: The Bag You Couldn't Afford

  While this totally looks like the schematics for some odd-shaped paper airplane, it's actually... Read More... Posted May 12 2008, 05:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Accessories, DIY

• Five Ways I Burn Off A Bad Mood

  [Photo Via]  I've always wanted a punching bag for those Xanax-worthy moments, but due to space constraints I: Drive far and fast, with an up-tempo song blowing my eardrums out. Hoop dance. Power walk. Hug the cats against their will. Well...as it doubles as home decor, I'm considering this: Read More... Posted May 06 2008, 03:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, DIY

• Do-It-Yourself: Create Your Own Time Capsule

  Just the other day, Wendy and I were discussing how delightful it is to clean out old storage spaces and come upon buried treasure: the detritus of years gone by... In the past, while helping my parents clean out their garage, I've thrilled over elementary school essays detailing my dream of becoming a master gymnast (see above), nursery school report cards scolding me for being "bad with scissors," my patch-laden sash from the junior girl scouts, old newspaper cut-outs my parents had scoured through, with titles such as "What To Do When Your Child Doesn't Speak"... As nostalgia is so darn fun, why not ensure a similar trip back in time by creating your own time capsule?   Read More... Posted Apr 29 2008, 01:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY

• DIY: Jewelry Shadow box

  I have a problem. I've got too much jewelry and not enough places to put it. Right now I'm storing a third of it inside a broken jewelry box shoved on the bottom shelf of my nightstand. Above that is an Asian jewelry roll I've had forever that holds another third of my jewelry and the rest of my baubles are stuffed in a drawer and housed in a much smaller box on my dresser. A couple months ago I read in the now defunct Blueprint magazine about some great storage ideas for jewelry — storage that showcase pretty accessories instead of just hiding them away. I've been dragging my feet in using these strategies, but I've finally given myself a deadline. By the end of May, I want to have homes for all my jewelry — homes that are organized and aesthetically pleasing. For those of you who are in the same boat I am, you can start by making a pretty jewelry shadow box like the one pictured above. Super easy and fun instructions, including links for materials, after the jump: Read More... Posted Apr 28 2008, 10:00 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: home decor, Jewelry, DIY

• Do-It-Yourself: Knitting Project To-Go

  [$20, Tigo Gifts]  I've long since given up on crocheting, and I never even attempted knitting, but as that's the trendy thing to do these days, I thought it only right to point you in the direction of this clever little package.   Read More... Posted Apr 25 2008, 05:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY

• DIY: Breast Milk Soap?!

  The other day I shared some recipes for making your own facial cleansers using natural ingredients like avocados and grapes and whatnot. But apparently, I missed another recipe for a cleanser that uses arguably the most natural ingredient of all: breast milk. Seeing the recipe for breast milk soap reminded me of a time I went to a dinner party where some of the other guests were brand new parents. After dinner, one of the new moms presented a cheesecake she'd made for dessert and as we all sat down to eat it, she proudly proclaimed, "It's made with my breast milk!!" I'd never seen so much cheesecake leftover after a meal before or since.  Anyhow, for those of you not grossed out by the idea of cleaning your body with the milk meant to feed your babies, or those who are just a wee bit curious, the full recipe after the jump:   Read More... Posted Apr 24 2008, 12:00 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: DIY, Ew!

• DIY: What's Old is New

  A few weeks ago I mentioned an awesome fabric store where you can get beautiful contemporary patterns for all sorts of sewing and DIY projects. I'm no crafter and I don't know how to sew and usually my idea of DIY involves two pieces of bread and some peanut butter, but recently I did take a stab at putting some material where my mouth is, uh, so to speak. See the chair above? It's an antique rocking chair I inherited from my grandparents. I'm pretty sure it belonged to my grandfather when he was a little boy about a 100 years ago (no really, if he were still alive, he'd be over 100). Anyway, I love the little rocking chair and its history, but it was in bad need of reupholstering. So, I got some fabric from Purl and I tried my hand and doing it myself. And you know what? It didn't turn out so bad: Read More... Posted Apr 11 2008, 12:30 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: DIY

• Don't Do-It-Yourself: Let Etsy Handle It

  I've been meaning to post about this, but I'm a slacker and stuff. To add to its own awesomeness, Etsy has re-launched Alchemy, wherein those with tons of vision — but zero crafting talent (me) — can request the custom objects they've been dreaming of. Sellers then bid to make your dreams come true!  I have so been wanting my own lookalike Neverending Story Auryn pendant for, like, ever.  Posted Apr 04 2008, 04:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY

• Do-It-Yourself: Ukulele Rock Star

  [$39.99, Perpetual Kid]  Okay, so I already have a ukulele. Because I'm just that cool: Read More... Posted Mar 20 2008, 04:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY, Music

• Special Happy Hour Do-It-Yourself: Home Brewing

  [$44.95, Gevalia]  In 385 AD, Saint Guinness, the patron saint of beer, traveled the world, dispensing home breweries to those in need (of a good buzz), and teaching the art of booze. The results of these home brewing experiments brought Saint Guinness much acclaim and, because his middle name was Patrick, they launched St. Patrick's Day, the Day of Beer.   Read More... Posted Mar 17 2008, 12:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Booze, DIY, Happy Hour, alcohol

• Do-It-Yourself: Blox-Made Furniture

  [$59.95 for case of 20, Bloxes]  Jaime over at Design Milk was just blogging about her inability to stop blogging about bloxes. And I feel the same way. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2008, 10:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: furniture, DIY

• Do-It-Yourself: A Model of a Home

  [$68.38 USD,  Domestic] Apartment Therapy recently had this fabulous post about the 1.2.3. Furniture line, a line that utilizes pre-cut wooden boards similar to those used in child-friendly wooden models to create various pieces, such as vases, consoles, and decorative sculptures. It struck me because it reminded me of sculptor David Best, who uses discarded bits of wood from dinosaur model kits to create gorgeous temples for the Burning Man festival. Though I have only ever seen photographs, I am in awe of the detailed and larger-than-life sanctuaries he has created, and often wonder if — with a bit of ingenuity — I could create something so beautiful. While 1.2.3.'s pieces are not nearly as detailed, I'm delighted by the inventiveness and vision that went into this line.  Posted Mar 06 2008, 12:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY

• Do-it-Yourself: Bella Pendant

  This beautiful lampshade is mailed folded in a cardboard envelope. The part you do yourself? Open the envelope and unfold the lamp! Dudes, that's a DIY project I can get into!! [$34.95, Wrapables]  Posted Mar 05 2008, 06:00 PM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: home decor, DIY

• Do-It-Yourself: Bowls

  [$223, Rose and Radish]  Back in elementary school, I briefly dabbled in needlepoint. But those beginner-level kits never had quite the same beauty and sense-of-purpose about them as these bowls, which are made out of glazed white porcelain and come with an embroidery pattern, yarn, and a needle. Finally, an art project that mom would be proud to keep on display. [Via All That and A] Posted Mar 05 2008, 11:00 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: DIY, bowls

• Art Exhibition in Your Living Room

  [$36.95, The Spoon Sisters]  I fancy myself an artiste, a careful sculptor or words and phrases and radiant strings of pure, written language (never mind all of my past typos). But my drawing abilities hover somewhere in the realm of nursery school flunkie. Seriously. As far as I'm concerned, the creator of the drawings above is Picasso. Read More... Posted Feb 26 2008, 01:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Lamps, lighting, DIY

• Quick Tip of the Day: It's a Wrap

  With so many beautiful wrapping paper options out there (I love Whimsy Press, for example), it seems a shame when its only use leaves it ripped up and discarded like last week's New York Times. How about also using it to paper the bottom of drawers, panels of doors, and cupboard shelves? Any other uses you can think of? [ $4.50 a sheet, Whimsy Press] Posted Feb 20 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, DIY