WHO
day-lab DIY blog is a project started by Amy Shutt. I also own and run the online boutique www.day-lab.com and maintain the-bit-more-personal-mixed-with-business blog day-lab.blogspot.com. I am a 32 year old living in Louisiana with my daughter Logan and our three rescued cats Pearl, Cleo, and Minou.
WHY
In February of 2007 we moved into a new home that was built in the 1930s and heavily "renovated" in the late 1960s. I have had to start over in the furniture department almost completely. Also, I have been trying to create a functional and cozy atmosphere in each room of the house. Most of my own DIY projects fall into these two categories (oh, and the garden..can't forget the garden).
HOW
Always considering my shoestring budget first, I try to pull creatively from a plethora of resources which include, but are not limited to: garage and estate sale finds, thrift store and Good Will finds, side-of-the-road finds, and the revamping of older things of my own.
I am inspired by innovative and creative ideas that focus on smaller budgets, the reusing of found objects, restoration, preservation and the like. Nothing is more upsetting to me than watching a TV show featuring the ripping out and trashing of perfectly good thirty year old kitchen cabinets! I am always so happy and relieved to see projects where people have seen past an ugly, or "out of style" object, and make something beautiful of it. The ability to do so is a special talent.
GOAL
Through day-lab DIY I hope to showcase fun and interesting DIY projects from not only myself, but from you, the readers, as well. Inspiration comes in all forms and from all walks of life, so I would love to feature a variety of projects from a variety of people from all around the world.
Do you have a project you recently finished? Think others might enjoy seeing the progress and finished product? It can be a project making something from scratch or revamping something old or discarded. Either will work for the blog. Just email the photos and the story to Amy at info@day-lab.com, and it might show up here!