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Picnic Blankets
Creating something from nothing, I love to do that. I’m told I have quite the talent for doing it with food, specifically leftovers. Or last minute dinner ideas from whatever is on hand. I seldom stick to a recipe after the first time I try one. Lately, I have made a few picnic blankets from basically nothing, as in things that had been destined for the trash can. Old denim jeans, work pants, little pieces of sample fabrics, unwanted curtains, etc. My most recent make was from several pairs of my oldest son’s work pants, and some shirts from my husband that could not be worn because the company logo…
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POTHOLDER RUGS, CREATING USEFUL ITEMS FROM WASTE
I’ve been making useful items from textiles on the way to the trash. T-shirts that were torn, stained, stretched out of shape, or just generally unloved have been blended with other random stretchy fabric items to create gorgeously soft and fluffy rugs. I started with a loom from crispina ffrench and some discarded clothing from family in November of 2021 to create my first ever potholder rug. It has had many washes in my washing machine, fluffs in my home dryer, and still sits on the floor in the bathroom I designed it for. I love it, quirks and all as I learned my new skill. It should last out…
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Walking gently through this world
I like to think that I can do this by being kind and loving to all the other living creatures that coexist with me. Being mindful of my words and actions and how they affect others. Remembering that I do not live in a vacuum and everything I do, or don’t do, touches the lives others. My self-care does not need to come at the sacrifice of others. I tend to think of the long term effects of my actions. I often weigh the cost versus the benefits of any action I take. I know I am not perfect at this, nor do I have all the answers. My focus…
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Earth Day 2023
What is Earth Day, what does it mean to celebrate it? If you want to know the actual history of Earthday, follow this link: https://www.earthday.org/history/Otherwise, everyone seems to have a different idea of what this day stands for, and there are many different ways to celebrate it. Like anything else, the whole idea is picked up by some corporations and used as another way to greenwash. So BEWARE!Earth Day, or saving the planet, does not need to involve consumerism in any way. There are lots of things to be done that do not incur any cost. Just a little mindfulness, or thought, made by lots of people doing little things…
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Patches
People have been mending clothing for centuries by covering holes with patches. The Japanese are famous for their BORO. https://www.heddels.com/2015/08/all-about-boro-story-japanese-patchwork/ It has become quite the fashion to replicate this style. You may have grown up with iron on patches, both utilitarian and decorative. Or maybe you tried your hand at some sewn on patches. Maybe you even tried some embellishment of your jeans at some point. Patches are a great way to extend the life of your garments, or just create a little interest and personal style. These can be a simple fabric shape stitched over a hole, or something more elaborate. Patches can be sewn on with a…
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Not just wine carriers
These multi-functional and sturdy up-cycled bags are made from rescued textiles of various colors and thread content. Once headed to the landfill or incinerator, the fabrics have a new life, providing use for years to come. I created the first bag when my grocery store wine bag started to disintegrate. Although it was manufactured of 35% recycled content, I did not know what the other 65% was. There was no way to recycle it when it eventually fell apart and it was not machine washable. I decided to do what I had done years ago for my regular grocery bags. The more you use them, the more good you are…
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Making colorful rugs
I take T-shirts that have been discarded by their past owners, wash, cut, and weave into beautiful, One-of-a-Kind rugs for your home. Each rug is handmade and machine washable. These will last a lifetime. Have a favorite color? Just ask and I will source that for you. 20″x30″ or 30″x40″ are available.