another successful repurposing project!
I weeded in my garden tonite and took a heaping sled full to my bunnies. Still wanting to get fresh woodchips spread between the beds.
Bill ran out of wood to split from the old pile behind the house, so yesterday he cut down one of the maples that the mules killed by stripping the bark. It has been dead a year, so it is good and dry.
Yesterday I bought a day bed w a trundle to replace my futon in the living room. The edges of the mattress weere wearing so that I could feel the metal springs.
I tore apart the futon frame, saving most of the corner brackets and other usable hardware and brought the new day bed in from the truck. Love having a truck!
. Today I tore apart the futon mattress thinking to make bolsters from the cotton stuffing around the inner springs.
I discovered that there was a 1" layer of poly batting between the cotton padding and the springs, so after tearing off the excess cotton, it was easy to roll up the poly and padding with the poly outside and stuff it (using a garbage bag to help it slide) into the fabric tube I made of the old slip covers from the futon, which I tore apart to use the components. I should have taken photos of the process. I used top and bottom mattress sides of the poly/stuffing and made one firm bolster for the very back and another looser, softer bolster to lean against. I tufted it to hold its shape using some large antique bakelite buttons and synthetic rawhide.
The bolsters are exactly the right length.
I still have a bunch of that cotton left.
I am totally in my element repurposing/transforming things that I cannot use in their current form. It gives me such satisfaction.
I might use the now bare box springs on top of some tall fence posts to make a sort of structure for beans and other climbing plants. it would look cool arched!
I will have very little to throw away from the old futon. The metal mattress supports could be used in the garden too, to make support for climbing plants. Wired together to make a "roof" over tall fence posts. I can picture it!
I can burn the wooden ends and the steel hinge mechanism can be recycled.