Thursday, October 10, 2013

Ragtag Boutique Show this Friday and Saturday, 9am - 6pm. October 11-12, 2013

Come visit Ragtag Boutique set in a small, cozy garden in Arden Hills. This October we have some Fall and Christmas Decor to offer as well. Along with all the other fun and funky repurposed creations we normally have!

@ 1871  Glen Paul Ave
    Arden Hills, MN 55112


           Ragtag*incongruously varied in character

Repurposed, reclaimed, and upcycled home goods.
For not so ordinary lives...



Thursday, August 29, 2013

Upcycled little cardboard jewelry boxes

Do you know those little cardboard jewelry boxes you get from the store when you buy a necklace or a pair of earrings? Usually, they aren't the cutest little boxes and have the brand monogrammed all over it which just takes the fun right out of a piece of cute jewelry.
 

Well, it was my besty cousin's birthday this past month, and I wanted to make something cute for her. I had bought her the cutest little necklace with a little blinged-out camera trinket on it. But to my dismay, there was nothing just as cute to put it in. Then I thought it would be great fun to customize a little box for her I had laying around. All I needed was a little bit of paint and creativity.


Then I set to work and this is how it turned out! Fun, right?



Nothing says you love someone like a bright gift that matches that person's personality and character. So next time you want to give a friend a fun gift, find a way to customize it!


P.S. Give some life to those little old cardboard boxes too!


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Ragtag Boutique Show This Weekend 7/26-28/13 in Hastings


Ragtag Boutique is open for business this weekend in Hastings at the Little Log House Antique Power Show. I will have lots of fun creations including, repurposed shutter shelves/bookcases, an upcycled headboard bench, some funky jewelry organizers, cute little signs, birdhouses... and much much more.

The best part is knowing that you can find more earth friendly and cute products for your home, because everything is repurposed, reclaimed, or upcycled.  You can also meet the person who is making everything, and you can support an up and coming small business owner... which would be me.

Show times are Friday, Saturday, from 8am - 5pm and Sunday 8am - 3pm. There will be lots of vendors and activities, such as, an old wild west show reenactment and a tractor pull, daily parades at 11, live music from 12pm-4pm everyday. Little Log House Antique Power Show

More info at the above link.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

How-To for Your Own Girly Bangle Bracelet Holder!

Bangle Bracelet How-To

Difficulty status = Easy!! and quick. The best kind of DIY projects! 

Supplies/Tools:

*wooden pot holder trivet of your choice
*wooden spindle of some sort (mine was an old stair banister)
*choice of paint
*drill with drill bit and bit for screw
*screw long enough to go through trivet and into spindle
*paint brush if painting
*hand saw or table saw
*clamp or someone to help hold trivet and spindle when drilling (Husbands or older children are so handy for these kind of moments.)

1) Secure trivet tightly so it doesn't spin around when you drill the screw hole. Make sure the screw hole is a tad smaller then the screw so the screw has something to hold onto. If the hole is to big, no amount of trying will get that screw to work, and instead it will slip around in the too-big hole. Use a drill with a drill bit to screw a hole into the trivet.

2) Cut the wooden spindle to the length you desire with a hand saw or table saw. Be Safe! Wear goggles and don't operate machinery under the influence of a few drinks, too many late nights, or with a few kids running around... You're just asking for something bad to happen.

3) Drill a hole for a screw into the spindle from the bottom side. Try to drill as straight into the wood as possible. Otherwise your bracelet holding spindle/wood bar will screw on at an angle, crooked. Unless you like your DIY projects to look a little haphazard. Its your thing, make it how you like it!

4) Paint spindle if desired, and let it dry.

5) Screw the screw into the trivet from the bottom side until it just peaks through the top. (May need an extra hand here.) Next, place the hole on the spindle over the screw in the trivet peaking out.  Secure the two pieces together tightly and continue to screw the screw into the spindle. Can use a drill or a hand screw for this job. (Hint. If you use a tight clamp, wrap a cloth around the wood pieces to prevent chipping or paint scratches.)

6) You should be finished! (Unless you ran into some technical difficulties...) Go use that cute bangle bracelet holder! The best part is, you feel accomplished and organized!





Friday, June 14, 2013

Ragtag Boutique Show this Saturday June 15th'13

Hello, just wanted to let you know you can check out my lovely things this Saturday if you happen to live in Minnesota near the State Fair Grounds in St. Paul. Chances are that's not many of you... : ( Help me pay off my colossal amount of student loans and support a healthy hobby of mine.

I will be in the Progress Building selling lots of girly stuff amongst antique motorcycles and dudes wearing lots of leather with bared arms and tattoos.  Its my first show. I'm excited and feeling a little out of place, but there is a lovely lady named Kathy right beside me selling handmade jewelry who took me under her wing. I went to live today and she gave me a hug! Now that's my kind of people.

Here's the web address for the MN State Fair Grounds so you can get directions.

http://www.mnstatefair.org/

 The Antique Motorcycle show is not listed unfortunately on the calender of events, but... there is also a vintage jewelry and clothing show going on right next door in the Art Building. 

Come check out my first show!!! 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

My Grandmother's Junk


Hang those Photos!
Maybe I got the penchant for collecting junk and old things from my grandmother. She was one of those women who believed everything had a use and could be saved for doing something with in the future. You never know when you just might need that basket full of old socks, newspapers, and egg cartons! Right?  That's how my grandmother was and is, but she taught me the value of little things that might otherwise get thrown out. She lived through some tough, tight times, and raised a brood of six (Six kids! that means she had to be pregnant six times... now that's true love) and she did it by being creative with what she had on hand, and by learning how to make do. I think we can all learn from our grandmothers and how the Greatest American Generation lived before us.
For the love of earrings..

Hence, I was inspired to start making do with things I could find used, given away, and thrown out. I might not face the same challenges as my grandmother, but I'm facing some big, fat, overwhelming school debt, and the world is facing huge issues of pollution, environmental degradation, and waste management. Ragtag is my way of addressing all the junk that is produced, and an attempt to support myself financially.

Cutie Tootie Button Magnets

So, keep an eye out for me
in Minnesota, and for my upcoming Etsy site (I will post the link as soon as possible.)