Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

New uses for discarded furniture ahead on show

Information on wardrobe planning, new uses for discarded furniture, and the “poison purse” will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and noon Thursday (All times are Mountain).

If you’ve ever said “But I don’t have anything to wear,” you’ll want to pay attention as Becky Johnson explains how our enemy is our wardrobe. She’s going to share some tactical tips for winning the wardrobe war. Johnson’s company is BeckyHomecky’s Life UNITS and she lives in Adrian, Texas.

Bruce Johnson represents Minwax which is located in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. He says that funky and functional charm are the buzzwords today, and he’ll share a couple of ways to find new uses for discarded pieces, such as ladders and old drawers. He’ll show how to turn these items into towel racks, centerpieces, and even a new wall display.

Connie Moyers is retired from the NM Cooperative Extension Service, and she’s going to talk about what she calls the “poison purse.” She says we need to be wary of the danger of many common items we probably all have in our purses or pockets. Moyers is from Clovis.

Information on decorating garments with transfer art, making a swimsuit cover-up and creating backgrounds for fabric postcards will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” noon Tuesday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Dianna Effner is an artist and owner of Dianna Effner Porcelain Dolls, and she’s going to show several dolls wearing tee-shirts or other garments that are decorated with transfer art. She’ll show how she uses various transfer sheets for her projects. She’s from Jamestown, Missouri.

Laura Keith owns Laura Keith Apparel Design, and she’s going to demonstrate how to make a swimsuit cover-up as she talks about taking measurements, pattern drafting, and step-by-step construction. Keith is from Vancouver, Washington.

Author and designer, Franki Kohler says the fabric background for your postcard is the canvas for your art. She’ll show six different background choices that she features in her book “Fabric Postcards.” Kohler lives in Oakland, California.

Unexpected Wood Decor

An Old Ladder = A New Towel Rack

1. Cut a section off an old wooden ladder to either hang on your bathroom or kitchen wall or to lean against it.

2. Clean and sand to remove any rough edges.

3. (optional) Drill holes in the tops for a heavy cord to hang it on the wall.

4. Apply two coats of a clear finish.

An Old Drawer = A New Centerpiece

1. Clean all sides of the drawer.

2. Stain and finish any unfinished sides to match the front.

3. Fill with Mason jars to hold any assortment of items: flowers, napkins or candles on your dining room table, or cooking utensils on your kitchen counter.

An Old Drawer = A New Wall Display

1. Clean all sides of the drawer.

2. Stain and finish any unfinished sides to match the front.

3. Measure and cut narrow strips of wood to create shelves and dividers in whatever arrangement you desire. Attach thin strips of wood to the inside of the drawer to create shelf supports. Stain and finish the dividers and shelves to match the drawer.

4. Hang on your wall or stand on a piece of furniture, then fill with small items.

“Creative Living” is produced and hosted by Sheryl Borden. The show is carried by more than 118 PBS stations. Contact her at:

[email protected]