Jan 12, 2010 Posted by eclectic

Repair, Don't Replace: Broken Earrings

I don’t own a lot of jewelry, but the few pieces that I do have I tend to wear a lot.  When this pair of wooden earrings broke recently, I was upset. I was about to throw them away, but thought that I should at least try to fix them first.  I chose to use EcoGlue because it is water-based and adheres to wood. First, I applied the EcoGlue along one of the broken edges.  Then, I matched up the two... read more

Sep 12, 2009 Posted by eclectic

Repair, Don't Replace: Unstitched Zipper Placket

A couple of years ago on a business trip on the other side of the country, I picked up a pair of pants on clearance at Banana Republic for less than $10. It wasn’t until several days later and when I had returned home that I realized the zipper placket was completely unstitched. The pants were inexpensive enough that I wasn’t motivated to return them and I also knew it was an easy fix. And I... read more

May 26, 2009 Posted by eclectic

Repair Don't Replace: Turning Trash to Treasure

Before throwing out that scrap wood, worn out piece of furniture or leftover DIY project materials, consider reusing them. We found some clever projects that do just that. Give Old Furniture an Inexpensive Facelift Bring an old table or chair back to life by refinishing it. Home improvement guru Danny Lipford gives directions on how to refinish.* Apply liquid stripper according to the directions, allowing... read more

Feb 23, 2009 Posted by eclectic

Repair, Don't Replace: Little Girl Shoes

If your little princess’ shoes are losing their luster, a little GOOP will help keep her on her toes. Step 1: Clean each part of the shoe that need to be stuck together. Apply a thin layer of GOOP between the shoe and the sole. Step 2: Clamp the toe of the shoe together using a basic plastic clamp. Voila! Your little princess is all set for another twirl around the ballroom... read more

Dec 29, 2008 Posted by eclectic

Repair, Don't Replace: Ceramic Tile

In well-appointed homes, tile is a popular choice from earthenware tiles in the foyer to porcelain in the bathroom and ceramics in the kitchen. A cracked or broken tile, even when it appears to be nothing more than a hairline, can cause thousands of dollars in water damage. Don’t delay making this repair. Use a hammer and chisel to completely remove the broken tile, taking care not to damage... read more