False Product Labels

A new twist to the false product line: false product labels. We all have lots of bottles, boxes, and jars around the house and our senses have become so jaded by constant commercial advertising that we ignore the jarring visual onslaught of all of those labels. Relief is on the way: simply cover them up with false product labels.

A bunch of unlovely product labels peeled off of their containers

It turns out that most product labels just peel right off. Grab a corner and start ripping them away. Save them on a sheet of paper as shown above so that you can measure them to construct your new labels.

Create new, far more lovely labels (click on image to see larger version)

Create new labels of your own using photographs you've taken or copyright-free images from the Web. The images above are from my own photos. They are, in clockwise order starting from upper left: mold grown for mold jewelry; more mold; found seedpods from far-flung rainforests; and the last three are floating seaweed from the Yucatan Peninsula.

You will note that I have created my own product line - Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust - based on the idea that frankly we are all just kidding ourselves with beauty care products.

The next step is to print and carefully cut out your new labels. Place a label face-down on a sheet of plastic adhesive (buy it by the foot at a hardware store). Trim the adhesive so there is anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 inch of adhesive sticking out all around the edge of your label. Slap it on the bottle or jar and you have a new customized product that may or may not succeed in beautifying you, but will definitely beautify your home.

From left: sunscreen, hand sanitizer with pump, travel-size hand sanitizer

From left: body lotion, Oil of Olay

Close-up of Oil of Olay remix

An even easier method of creating your own labels would be to save and cut up beautiful wrapping paper or pictures from magazines. Forget about words and just go with eye-appealing images. Come to think of it, you don't need to stick to the boring rectangles of the original labels either. Cut one out in the shape of an amoeba or a spiral or whatever you like.

Or print out pictures of your family and pets and turn the containers on your kitchen and bathroom counters into a family portrait gallery.

Art Emergency Earrings

When I was about ten I had a compelling urge one afternoon to do some oil painting but couldn't find any brushes. I grabbed a hank of my hair, chopped it off, used a rubber band to secure the hair to the eraser-end of a pencil, and I was in business. Now that I'm older I have a more sophisticated solution to art emergencies: paintbrush earrings.

Earrings made from old fanned blending brushes.

Close-up of paintbrush art emergency earrings

 Ingredients for the paintbrush earrings include used paintbrushes, old faux pearl beads, and cannibalized earrings. Yes, the earrings are two different sizes. So what? Don't screw with me, I'm an artist. Note the subtle blue and mauve hues on the tips from prior use.

Going to Hell in a Handbasket

And here we have the handbaskets, the first in what may or may not be a series. These are false artifacts from the NanoAmericans - the eco migrants who roam the earth after soaring temperatures, rising seawater, and a dwindling water supply led to failed crops, economic collapse, and the realization that if mankind is going to continue at all it will have to be on a much smaller scale (thus the "nano"). NanoAmericans are adept at using foraged materials and refuse from the previous use-it-and-throw-it-away culture. Neither plastic bags nor soda cans are manufactured any more and these materials are considered semi-precious.

NanoAmerican artifacts

Basket used as an offering at the birth of a child, crafted from three plastic bags and coveted soda can tabs.

Aerial view of NanoAmerican birth basket

NanoAmerican water-sighting basket, used for divination ceremonies during searches for potable water

Underside of water-sighting basket showing coiled technique combined with blanket stitch

Seeing the Tropics (or what to do with all those photos)

This project involves yet another step in the Seeing series, inspired by several symposiums at the Exploratorium on that topic. A still photo just doesn't accurately represent the way we see things as we stitch together an array of visual bits and pieces to form a gestalt. This collage format represents to me the way I actually see, and captures a more genuine sense of the "truth" of a setting. Below are three examples from a recent trip to Costa Rica.

Monteverde Cloud Forest (click on image to see larger version)

Reading Clues in Nature (click to enlarge)

Wilson Botanical Gardens/Las Cumbres (click to enlarge)

How to Make Your Own "Seeing" Collages

You can make these using a computer graphics program or you can work with photo prints, scissors, and glue, which is how I created the original series.

• First decide on desired end size. The ones above were six inches by eight inches. The original series was done in postcard format in 4 inches by six inches. Once you've got your end size, decide on your unit-square size, which has to divide evenly both vertically and horizontally into your end size. For example, the squares above are two inches, making a horizontal span of 3 squares = 6, and a vertical span of four squares = 8. Create your grid in your computer graphics program or draw a grid on a sheet of stiff paper. Your unit squares will be pasted (either virtually or in reality) onto this grid.

Create a grid.

• Next, sort through your photos looking at them with a new eye. What you're looking for are details and close-ups—a fragment from the original photo. Cut out the fragment in the size of your unit square (e.g., 2" x 2").

Pick a visual focus for each square

• Start playing with your squares on the grid, arranging and rearranging until they make visual sense to you.

Arranging squares on the grid

For those using a computer, remember that all images (including the original blank grid) need to be the same dpi. In some ways it is a lot more fun to cut up old photos and play with the squares at your leisure. Dig out old photos that are moldering in the closet and play with those.

Upcycled Men's Shirt #12

This remix of a recycled standard man's shirt involves a trip to the tropics. This is a project in two stages, the first of which is detailed here. In anticipation of a voyage to Costa Rican cloud and rain forests, I wanted to create cool, airy apparel suitable for warm temperatures and high humidity.

Here is the finished product.

Shirt front (click image to enlarge)

Shirt back

The project involved a used, one dollar shirt from my corner thrift store made of light, white, 100% cotton. The first step (one I use regularly in upcycling men's shirts) is to remove the collar, picking away the stitching that holds the collar in place. The neckband is then restitched. Sleeves were cut off so they hang just below the elbow. Note the assymetrical front, with right side shorter than the left. The right side of the front, as well as the back, were cut shorter to eliminate a few inches, including the bottom back curve and the balloon effect that men's shirts often create at the bottom. The left front was left as-is for visual interest.For this shirt I did something I seldom do in upcycling—I purchased a half-yard of new white cotton eyelet material.

Eyelet material replacing shirt yoke

Eyelet yoke

Eyelet yoke

For this step I carefully cut away the existing shirt yoke, staying about 1/4 inch inside the existing stitching at neck, shoulders, and back. I then used the cut-away piece as a pattern to cut out a new yoke from the eyelet material, adding about a 5/8 inch seam allowance. I turned the seam allowance under about 3/8 of an inch all the way around, pinned it to the shirt, and stitched it down.

Because I know just how hot and humid it can get, I also wanted the shirt to be very loose fitting and even more airy, so I started cutting at the side seams of the shirt and continued the cut right through the seam on the underside of the sleeve.

Side/sleeve vents of eyelet material

Using a section of eyelet material about 3 inches wide, I created a long panel which was then stitched to the shirt to create a vent that runs in a continuous line from the sides right up under the armpit and out to the sleeve end.

Additional lower front pocket

Some of the left-over material from a cut-off sleeve was used to create an additional pocket. One can never, ever have enough pockets. 

As noted, this is just stage one of a two stage project. Stay tuned for the second half.

Upcycled Men's Shirt #11 - Sunbonnet Baby

Yet another piece in the ongoing series of upcycled men's shirts. This time around a standard button-down-collar man's shirt has been transformed into a baby bonnet and sun frock.

The ensemble

The bonnet utilizes the shirt collar for the bonnet brim and one shirt cuff for the back of the bonnet. Gathered shirt material is used for the remainder. The hat brim can be worn folded back or extended forward. When extended, the profile view looks remarkably similar to the vintage Sunbonnet Babies' bonnets. The extended brim view below (third photo down) should give you a very clear idea of how the hat was constructed.

Bonnet with hat brim turned back

Bonnet with hat brim turned forward.

Hat buttoned under chin, using the original fastening from the front of the collar

The dress utilizes sections from the back yoke of the original shirt for the front and back yokes of the dress. Additional shirt material is gathered and sewn to the yokes to become the body of the dress. The button strip from the front of the original shirt has been removed, cut into sections, and used for the shoulder straps of the dress. Any leftover shirt buttons have been added to the strips so that the straps are adjustable. Hand-sewn button holes have been added to the dress yokes on front and back.

Dress

Shoulder straps from original button strip on shirt

Below we see an almost-one-year-old modeling the fetching ensemble.

Brim forward, chin buttoned

Brim folded back, unbuttoned

Pacific Gyre Happy Clams

A new false product from Stuff You Can't Have! As always there is absolutely no way to purchase these, but you can always make some of your own (see instructions at end of post).

Front of happy clam package. Click to enlarge.

Back of happy clam package. Click to enlarge.

Fun Facts:

High concentrations of plastic, sludge, marine litter and debris trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre (one of the five major oceanic gyres created by ocean currents) have formed what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also called the Pacific Trash Vortex. Estimates of its size range from an area the size of Texas to an area twice the size of the Continental U.S. For more info, try Wikipedia or Google.

The happy clams

Instructions:

Drop a happy clam into a tall glass vase, fishbowl, or aquarium and prepare to be amazed. Get into the swim of things by dropping a few happy clams into your bath and pretend you are paddling in the Great Pacific Garbage patch.

The clams in action, recreating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Close-up of happy clams in action

Make your own:

• Collect matching pairs of clam shells from the beach or save them after eating a clam dinner. Clean thoroughly and keep matching pairs together.

• Cut colorful used plastic shopping bags into strips. Glue strips to the inside of clam shells using a dab of glue. The best glue to use is 100% silicone, available at any hardware store.

• Stuff plastic strips into clams and close clam shell. Either just wad it in there or twirl the plastic around a toothpick, working towards the inside base of the clam, and then stuff it in there.

• Use small strips of tissue paper to hold clam closed. Use a glue stick or other water soluble glue for this step. Remember you want the tissue paper to come apart under water so the clam opens up. Don't use heavy paper - the more delicate the better.

• For simple packaging you can just put clams in a zip-lock baggie. Or you could make colorful little bags out of recycled shopping bags. Recycled packaging has been used here. Always save any packaging that has interesting display possibilities, particularly those with plastic compartments. The packaging here came from little model car packaging, suitable for hanging on a shelf display from a rod.

Good luck and happy clamming. We created the Pacific Trash Vortex, might as well have some fun with it.