Upcycling: Create Beautiful Things with the Stuff You Already Have [Paperback]

Danny Seo (Author), Jennifer Levy (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2011

Renowned environmental lifestyle expert and Today Show regular Danny Seo shares 100 of his most inspiring projects for creative transformation. Have neglected items around your house? They can be the source for exciting craft possibilities! Turn your old leather belts into a cool doormat (or even a briefcase!); worn-out paperbacks into gorgeous bud vases; tennis balls into a quaint country swing; chopsticks into a handsome trivet, and many more.

With full-color photos throughout to guide and inspire, Danny shows that it’s easy to be crafty, and fun to be budget- and eco-conscious.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb
"We love Danny Seo. Don't ask us why--it would take too long! Just take our word and read his book!"

 

Kirkus, 8/1/11
“Interior designer Seo produces an idea book on how to grant junk a second life using his crafty “MacGyver-meets-HGTV” skills… A solid resource for the eco-conscious, as well as the crafty.”

 

Every Day with Rachael Ray
“My mom has a special way of beautifying our home. So does Danny Seo: What I do with food, he does design.”

 

 

About the Author

Danny Seo has been dubbed the “crafty MacGyver,” and has become the national face of eco-chic. He’s a contributor to NBC’s Today Show and many other national programs including Access Hollywood and Regis and Kelly. He also pens the syndicated column “Do Just One Thing” in newspapers nationwide. His line of organic bath and beauty products, Wholearth by Danny Seo, launched on Shop NBC this year, and he partnered with Simmons to create the “Simmons Natural Care Mattress by Danny Seo,” which is sold at JC Penney, Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond, and many other venues. Danny is also the national spokesperson and partner with TJMaxx and designer of GreenHouse by Danny Seo. Danny lives in Bucks County, PA. Visit him at dannyseo.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Running Press; 1 edition (August 23, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762441798
• ISBN-13: 978-0762441792
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing at best September 12, 2011

By Unique and Lovely

Format:Paperback

As an upcycler myself, I am constantly looking for inspiration and scoping out the ideas of others. With Danny Seo being such a celebrated designer, it seemed common sensical that this book would be fabulous. After all, it states "create beautiful things..." on the cover.

Granted, some ideas are unique and attractive. But I am shocked at how many of the items look so "junky." Making a picnic blanket out of old towels, hanging cotton batting "clouds" from the ceiling, and making play crowns from coffee sleeves does not an upcycler make. Most of the more attractive upcycling projects are already being done the world over, and provide no new information to the seasoned upcycler.

Flipping through the book, one gets a strong feeling that Mr. Seo was instructed by publishers to make the book thicker, and many of his projects are a result of just this. Whether this is correct or not is beyond my knowledge, but if you are new to the upcycling movement, I strongly recommend against this book. It will simply convince you that most of upcycling is taking junk and making it into different junk, rather than actually adding value, purpose, and beauty to what no longer may be referred to as junk.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars So so... February 9, 2012

By Shanonymous

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was very excited to be getting this book (since I've been on a crafting kick lately). I was overall disappointed by many of the ideas in here. They range from unoriginal, to extremely unexciting. Who wants a concrete bottle shaped door stopper? Overall, the good ideas in the book are FAR overshadowed by the countless crafts that were obviously pushed to fill up space so they could sell an entire book. You're probably better off just using the internet.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Made this Non Crafter into an Upcycler September 12, 2011

By Marjorie Green

Format:Paperback

I can not sew. I do not have the patience to intricately paint. And knitting is so not for me. What i love about this book is that the author uses things we all have stashed away around the house in super fresh and modern ways. Turning cassette tape covers into a clear tissue box cover is not only modern and pretty, but it can be done in like, 4 minutes. And the paint stirrers wrapped around glass hurricanes with just these plumbing store pipe things... so easy, but pretty. I love this book so much.