Rustic items can be seen at the back deck of Suzanne Stanek's Northside home.
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Designer Suzanne Stanek said fall is her favorite time of year. She enjoys working with autumnal red, brown and orange colors in many of her pieces.
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Antique cheese graters and Bundt pans get a second life as art pieces, according to Sioux City designer Suzanne Stanek. Stanek frequently finds such items at garage sales and second-hand stores.
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Suzanne Stanek uses unique items to create autumnal lawn decorations.
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Used parts of an old bike are made into a comical sculpture by Sioux City-based designer Suzanne Stanek.
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Random items can add big impact when it comes to art pieces, said designer Suzanne Stanek. Stanek frequently picks up ideas from TV shows and magazine as well as social sharing sites like Pinterest.
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Suzanne Stanek is inspired by items she finds at thrift stores.
SIOUX CITY | When Suzanne Stanek sees an antique cheese grater, it becomes transformed into a one-of-a-kind flower pot or candle holder.
Likewise, a wheel from a 10-speed bike becomes a piece of impromptu sculpture when it's given reflector "eyes" and a bike seat "nose."
"You don't have to be artsy if you're crafty," said Stanek, an amateur decorator. "And you don't have to spend any money on material if you know where to look."
Most of her art-making material has been discovered at garage sales or thrift store "free boxes."
"I'm always on the prowl for unusual things," Stanek said. "Sometimes I'll pick something up without an expressed use but I'm confident that inspiration will hit."
For instance, she'll come up with an impromptu kitchen tableau with found objects like used Bundt cake pans, old thermometers and empty bottles.
"I love the fall and tend to lean towards the reds, browns and oranges a lot," Stanek said. "The fall always reminds me of sweater weather, football games and beautiful foliage."
Autumn also reminds Stanek -- a wife, mother of four and grandmother of four -- of family.
"Halloween occurs right before Thanksgiving which occurs right before Christmas," she said. "It's fun when there's one holiday after another."
Stanek said she frequently gets decorating ideas from magazines, TV shows and social sharing sites like Pinterest.
"Pinterest really opened up the flood gates when it comes to homemade art," she said.
Still, there are certain items that always get Stanek's attention.
"I'm a sucker when it comes to doors and ladders," she said. "If I see an unusual ladder, it immediately becomes a sculpture where I can drape different kids of stuff."
The same goes for the countless number of suitcases and boxes that fill Stanek's Northside home.
"I think I've trained my friends well," she said, laughing. "If anyone comes across a nice, vintage suitcase, they'll immediately say 'let's give this to Sue!'"
The same is true for the colorful cigar box and metal tool box that are both sitting on top of Stanek's bedroom dresser.
"The old tool chest, especially, will make for an unusual jewelry box," she said.
A self-taught designer, Stanek said Martha Stewart is too frou-frou for her taste.
"I like things that are fun, creative and truly one-of-a-kind," she said. "You don't have to spend a lot of money to make some really nice pieces."
Antique cheese graters and Bundt pans get a second life as art pieces, according to Sioux City designer Suzanne Stanek. Stanek frequently finds such items at garage sales and second-hand stores.
Random items can add big impact when it comes to art pieces, said designer Suzanne Stanek. Stanek frequently picks up ideas from TV shows and magazine as well as social sharing sites like Pinterest.
