Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway: French General: A Year of Jewelry: 36 Projects with Vintage Beads by Kaari Meng

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French General jewelry bookJust in time for the New Year I have a giveaway of the new book:

French General: A Year of Jewelry: 36 Projects with Vintage Beads

by Kaari Meng

Leave a comment in today’s post by Wednesday January 7, 2015 and you are in the running for this pretty and inspiring book that is sure to get you in the bling making mood! Open to U.S. residents only please.

I have had the pleasure of shopping at the French General Store here in LA and this book is as pretty and wonderful as the store. The projects are ones virtually every jewelry maker can do and be wearing within the day. Just the type us busy crafters like!

More about the Lark Crafts book:

The gorgeous lifestyle store French General has legions of devoted fans—and its founder, designer and stylist Kaari Meng, has created an exquisite book based on the boutique’s beloved aesthetic. Inspired by vintage French beads, these 36 simple but gorgeous jewelry projects go month by month, season by season. With evocative names like Les Grandes Vacances (Vacation by the Seashore), La Rentrée (Back to School) and La Saint Valentin (Valentine’s Day), the 12 sections each feature three pieces of jewelry-including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

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Comments

  1. I have 5 wonderful granddaughters who would love me to make them jewelry! Would be wonderful to win the book. Thanks for the opportunity! Happy New Year!

  2. What a gorgeous looking book! I have a lot of vintage beads, and would love ideas for using them. Thanks for the great giveaway!

  12. I would love to have this! I love all the crafting books so I can learn new & old things!

  14. This looks glorious an would be a great start to the year with lots of new ideas to get inspired with .

  15. I would love to win this book. What a wonderful way to start the New Year by learning how to repurpose salvaged items. I love all French General books.

  21. I love making jewellery all sorts of them I would love to learn how to make this style as well.

  23. I don’t have a studio or a craft room, what I DO have is the end of my sofa with a small side table to work my jewelry. I would be ‘wowed’ to have an actual book to get even more ideas for creating funky jewelry, Thank you for the chance.

Have you read?

DIY Review: Handmade Wooden American Flag – Rustic, Patriotic, and Perfectly Imperfect

 

I don’t know about you, but there’s something extra special about décor that’s both meaningful and made by hand. That’s exactly what drew me to this gorgeous DIY wooden American flag from Reinvented Delaware. It’s rustic. It’s bold. It’s brimming with character. And the best part? It’s made using reclaimed wood, which gives it that perfect weathered look that screams vintage Americana.

This isn’t one of those quick, cookie-cutter craft projects. It’s the kind of DIY that feels like a labor of love—in the best possible way. Cindy walks you through the whole process with easy-to-follow steps, and I found myself nodding along, thinking, “Yes, I could totally make this.”

Using scrap wood from previous projects (we love a good upcycled decor idea, right?), she cuts, paints, and assembles each stripe with care. What really makes this piece shine is the attention to the little imperfections—the uneven brush strokes, the subtle distressing, the real wood grain showing through. It’s that handmade touch that gives it soul.

And let’s talk about those stars for a second. Instead of using a stencil or printed decals, she goes full-on old-school by hand painting them—flaws and all. It’s not about perfection here. It’s about capturing that raw, rugged beauty that makes patriotic farmhouse decor feel real and lived-in.

Once assembled, the flag makes a statement—whether it’s displayed on a porch, hung in a cozy entryway, or propped on a mantel. It’s bold, but not flashy. Americana, but not tacky. Just honest, beautiful handmade home decor with a patriotic twist.

Personally, I love that this project honors not just the flag, but the idea of reusing and recycling materials to create something new. It’s a subtle reminder that old things still have value and that a little creativity goes a long way.

So if you’ve got some extra lumber lying around (or you love haunting the scrap bin at your local hardware store like I do), this is the kind of weekend project that satisfies your creative itch and leaves you with something meaningful to display. Bonus points if you already have red, white, and blue paint in your stash.

Bottom line: this DIY is a winner. Whether you’re crafting for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or just love a good rustic statement piece, this DIY reclaimed wood flag is a project with heart.