jeans decorated with vintage linens

shabby chic!

flea finds:
1. vintage embroidered linens
2. vintage linens with applique designs
3. vintage hankies
stains and holes are OK

other materials:
1. blue jeans
2. pins, thread and needle
3. scissor

directions:
1. cut out the desired designs
2. arrange placement and pin in place
3. sew the linen cut-outs in place using small slip stitches around each piece

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house!

knitting with fabric

recycle vintage fabric...knit a scarf!

flea finds:
1. vintage fabric- 1yard at 44" - 45" wide

other materials:
1. size 17 knitting needles (1/2" dia.)
2. rotary cutter, mat and acrylic ruler

directions:
1. choose your fabric (fabrics printed on one side give a muted heathery look- as shown in photo)
2. using rotary cutter, mat and acrylic ruler, cut 1/2" wide strips across the true bias grain (bias strips will not ravel or fray and have more give and stretch)
3. join strips with square knots, leaving 2-1/2" long tails, pull each knot tight, roll into loose ball
4. cast on 12 stitches, knit in garter stitch until desired length (1 yard = app. 42" long scarf)
5. knit either right before or right after a knot
6. cast off stiches, trim knot ends to approximately 1-1/2"

tip: Chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house.

well traveled suitcases

reminisce of faraway places!

flea finds:

1. three old vintage suitcases in staggered sizes

other materials:
1. sheet of glass bigger than the smallest (top) suitcase
2. dust cloth
3. all purpose cleaner

directions:
1. find a corner
2. dust and wash the suitcases
3. stack suitcases largest on the bottom -- smallest on top
4. put glass top on the smallest (top) suitcase

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

vintage necktie pillow

necktie pillow .. recycle old neck ties!

flea finds:
1. 35 vintage silk neckties

other materials:
1. needle / thread
2. scissors
3. 14" square pillow insert
4. sewing machine
5. 15" square black cotton (for the base)
6. 15" quilter's fleece
7. 2 pieces- 8.5" X 15" velvet

directions:
1. hint - experiment to find a pleasing arrangement before you begin stitching
2. cut off points at 3.5" from the tip (35 tips required) - cut 3 pieces (4" X 5.5") from scraps to fill in the spaces for the bottom row
3. draw six lines across black base fabric
4. layer and baste fleece to wrong side
5. stitch 3 cut pieces (4" X 5.5") on the short ends, press seams to one side, sew strip at bottom line, matching raw edges.
6 start at lower left corner, arrange first row of tie points on bottom line, overlapping pieces and placing points 1/2" from bottom
7. trim excess off the side edges
8. repeat on each row, staggering points to make an interesting arrangemnet; make sure points cover base fabric and stitching
9. baste raw edges at pillow sides; hint- be careful not to get the points caught in the seam.
10. assemble pillow back - insert zipper between the velvet pieces using a 1" seam allowance and lapping the top edge over the zipper an extra 1/4"
11. place right sides together and the zipper flap pointing down; stitch together pillow back and front
12. place 14" pillow insert inside

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

wood school ruler purse

measures up!

flea finds:
1. two wood rulers (12" long / recommended)
2. vintage fabric
3. embroidery floss

other materials:
1. .25" thick cording
2. drill
3. sewing machine
4. sewing supplies
5. purse sewing pattern

directions:
1. Assemble the purse using vintage fabric following pattern instructions (make sure the rulers and the purse opening are the same measurement)
2. Drill small holes every 1/2" on the lower portion of both rulers / drill large holes at 1.5" and 10.5" in the middle of the ruler
3. Hand stitch the purse opening to the small drilled holes using multiple threads of (match the fabric) colored floss
4. make 2 fabric covered handles with .25" cording
5. Attach handles to the two large holes in each ruler (fabric covered cording)

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

no fuss bedskirt

easy low-cost idea!

flea finds:
1. vintage tablecloth
2. old bedsheet
3. vintage curtains
4. any interesting old cloth

other materials:
1. thread & needle
2. sewing machine
3. tapemeasure

directions:
1. calculate needed width /
(height of the box spring X 2) + box spring width + 6" = required width
2. calculate needed length /
(height of the box spring X 2) + box spring length + 6" = required length
3. sew 1" hem all the way around /
to create a rectangle of fabric that covers the box spring and hangs down an extra 2" all the way around

tip: some "flea finds" for "chic recycler" projects are found in our house

necktie necklace

...tie one on! 

flea finds:
1. vintage neckties
2. assorted vintage buttons
3. assorted vintage buckles (optional)

other materials:
1. thread
2. sewing needle
3. sewing machine (optional)

directions:
1. place the smallest end at neck base
2. drape necktie around neckline to desired length
3. cut the widest end off leaving two inch overlap
4. stitch a small pleat at the 1/2 point so the necklace drapes on the body
5. sew assorted buttons on to the necktie / slide necktie through the buckles
6. turn under the cut off end and stitch end closed
7. make a machine buttonhole (optional) on one end and/or stitch a button on the other end


tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

silk scarf evening bag

it's in the bag!

flea finds:
1. two square silk scarfs (app 15" X 15")
(suggestion: one print one solid)
2. one pretty button (any size)

other materials:
1. Wonder-Under Transfer Web
2. needle
3. thread
4. ribbon
5. iron

directions:
1. make both scarfs the same size square (app 15"X15")/
(make sure the outter scarf has the finished edges)
2. apply Wonder-Under Transfer Web to the wrong side one scarf
3. iron wrong side of other square scarf to the Wonder-Under Transfer Webbed scarf (this makes the silk sturdy and double sided)
4. fold the square scarf into an envelope
5. slip stitch the seams (same places where an envelope is glued)
6. attach a pretty button on the bag near the bottom and attach a small piece of ribbon to the underside of the flap near the "envelope" point
7. iron the "envelope" lid making a fold for the flap
8. ENJOY!

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house!

beaded hair scrunchee

recycle broken necklaces!

flea finds:
1. beaded necklaces
2. beads

other materials:
1. elastic thread (Elasticity by Beadalon 0.5mm)
2. scissor
3. ruler
4. bead needle (if desired)

directions:
1. cut 11 pieces of elastic app 9" long
2. thread the beads on to each string leave 1" on each side to knot /be creative with color and patterns
3. weave the ends back trough the beads (makes the ends more secure)
4. use the 11th piece to hold the other 10 strands together
5. gather hair and place in hair...
6. or wear as a bracelet

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house!

scarf covered pillow

change with the seasons!

flea finds:
1. scarf: sized to cover a neckroll pillow
2. tassels on cording

other materials:

1. neckroll pillow

directions:
1. lay scarf with wrong side up
2. place neckroll vertically on scarf edge
3. roll neckroll inward
4. wrapping neckroll in scarf
5. tie a tassel on each end

ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house!

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

china tea cup candles

hearts on fire!

flea finds:
1. china teacups
2. teacups w/ saucers
any pretty china or pottery teacups (cracks/ chips are OK)

other materials:
1. candle wax
2. white birthday candle
3. hot water
4. coffee can
5. pot of hot water
6. stove or hot plate

directions:
1. pour hot water into teacup to warm it
2. set a coffee can in a pot of hot water on the stove or hot plate
3. add the wax to the coffee can and let the wax melt 
4. remove the coffee can that contains the wax from the stove or hot plate
5. pour the water out of the teacup and dry thoroughly
6. carefully pour the hot wax into the cup and let it sit until a soft covering appears (2-3 minutes)
7. push a birthday candle into the wax and steady it until it stands up straight

tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house!

china boullion cups

hangin' around!

flea finds:

1. pretty china bouillon cups (two handle cups)

2. pretty tea cups

3. small sugar bowls

*china patterns adorning both the outside and inside look best!

 materials:

1. satin ribbon

2. nail or hook

3. hammer

directions:

1. string ribbon through one handle

2. tie in a double knot

3. hang from a nail or hook to brighten up a bare wall

tip: some "flea finds" for "chic recycler" projects are found in our "hobby room"

 ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house! 

planter ice buckets

for the summer BBQ!

flea finds:
1. galvanized planters (long enough to hold 3 bottles)

other materials:
1. silicone sealant
2. shaved ice
3. chilled wine bottles

directions:
1. seal inside seams with silicone sealant
2. fill planters with shaved ice
3. place wine bottles in the planters


tip: chic recycler "flea finds" are found throughout the fleatique house

ask Lee (the flea) for a "flea find" not found in our house!