How to make your own - inexpensive screen printing kit
See and follow the tutorial instructions at link Instructables
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Project; make your own screen printing kit
How to make your own - inexpensive screen printing kit
See and follow the tutorial instructions at link Instructables
Project; display card shelf made using a yardstick
An inexpensive and ez card shelf
what you need:
- a yard stick- you should be able to find one at your local hardware store. paint or leave it natural.
- ribbon
- thumbtacks
Cut 3 pieces of ribbon all the same length - about 9 inches long. Fold one ribbon into a circle, overlapping the ends. Put the end pointing up on the inside. Push a thumbtack through both ends from the inside and stick it in the wall. Repeat with the other two ribbons, one for each end of the yard stick and one in the middle. Slide the yard stick through the ribbons. Glue it underneath if you want. voila! you're done.
link
Sunday, January 28, 2007
You Must Be a Military Brat if....
.... when you see vapor trails in the sky, you ASSUME they're from military aircraft.
... when you hear sonic booms, you snap to attention.
...you notice increased military air-traffic prior to or during the escalation of international crisis.
...you feel irritated at civilians who can smile and laugh at everyday events on the day we declare war.
...everyone asks where you're from because they just can't quite peg your accent
...you obsessively return to the dozen places you lived when you were a kid to "see what's changed".
...your wish you could discuss politics in greater detail with your father (or mother), but he/she refuses to tell you what he/she *really* thinks about his/her boss-- the Commander in Chief.
...you are taught being naked is bad but its perfectly alright that the women in naples walked around topless and their children played naked in the gutters
...you hate living in the same place for more than two years, hate packing and cleaning, have your personal effects reduced each year instead of added to because of the moves
...tabula rasa means scrubbing white walls clean
...when you go on vacation you dont have to pay for lodging because you have friends everywhere in the world
...its perfectly acceptable not to write to your friends and still be considered a good friend
...you can adopt any accent, cause you lived everywhere
...kids that were in your 2nd grade class in Ft. Monroe, VA were in your 9th grade class in Heidelberg, Germany
...your significant other is a brat, and you compare posts
...you move or change jobs every two years
...you left your mother in Germany
...your father is still working on the same artillery project for 12 years
...you used to bag groceries at the commissary
...you miss not having an ID card
...if the smell of Brasso makes you homesick.
...when asked how short are you know the correct answer is "short enough to sit on the edge of a dime an dangle your feet," and not that that you're 6ft tall.
...when a movie starts you get ready to stand up waiting for the national anthem to play as well as that little musical ditti that leads into the upcoming features
.... if "duck and cover" reminds you of those worthless 1960's era bomb drills held in base elementary schools, instead of tornado alerts like the civies remember!
... if you still refer to your underwear as "skivies".
....you used left over k-rations when you played pioneer/cowgirl
... you know how to fold a flag, even though you were never in Scouts
... your friends expect you to know the songs for all the branches of the military - and you do
Saturday, January 27, 2007
My wee garden, fighting the slugs and snails
I haven't tried this yet - hmmm, we'll see. Pacific Northwest and slugs are native, I think, so it has become a losing battle for me. My gardening started with no slugs or none that I could see the first couple of years. And in the last three years they have become 'progressive' slugs. So does that mean they are democratic slugs? I don't know, but I do know they can consume in one night more than I can nurture and grow all season. I don't like to kill them, but dang, I am not growing my kitchen produce garden to feed the slugs.
Another good riddance to slugs remedy;
I was told -- and it worked like a charm -- to save my egg shells, dry them out (I throw them in my dehydrator, of if in a bigger hurry, my oven for a few minutes), and run through the food processor. Then scatter them on the yard or garden. The snails and slugs eat them and die as it acts like eating glass on them.
During the 11 years I lived in that home, I did it like clock work
every month and we never had problem again.
Oh, and here's a different take on the egg shell remedy;
Keep your egg shells and fragment them. Don't crush them too fine; each
piece of shell should be about the size of a coin, no smaller than a dime.
Scatter the shells around your vegetable plants. Snails and slugs will
scratch themselves on the shells and die.
(I already do this and my slugs - you know the progressive ones - must be egg shell resistant!)
And my neighbor insists on the beer remedy;
Place containers of beer around perimeter of garden and/or plants. Slugs will be drawn to the beer, fall in and drown.
A complete list of supposedly 'proven' methods to control (or get rid of) slugs
No, I'm not going to put the whole list here - how about a link to Garden Advice though, and go read for yourself.
Another good riddance to slugs remedy;
I was told -- and it worked like a charm -- to save my egg shells, dry them out (I throw them in my dehydrator, of if in a bigger hurry, my oven for a few minutes), and run through the food processor. Then scatter them on the yard or garden. The snails and slugs eat them and die as it acts like eating glass on them.
During the 11 years I lived in that home, I did it like clock work
every month and we never had problem again.
Oh, and here's a different take on the egg shell remedy;
Keep your egg shells and fragment them. Don't crush them too fine; each
piece of shell should be about the size of a coin, no smaller than a dime.
Scatter the shells around your vegetable plants. Snails and slugs will
scratch themselves on the shells and die.
(I already do this and my slugs - you know the progressive ones - must be egg shell resistant!)
And my neighbor insists on the beer remedy;
Place containers of beer around perimeter of garden and/or plants. Slugs will be drawn to the beer, fall in and drown.
A complete list of supposedly 'proven' methods to control (or get rid of) slugs
No, I'm not going to put the whole list here - how about a link to Garden Advice though, and go read for yourself.
Recipe; Garlic Chicken and Grapes
Garlic Chicken And Grapes
"The potency of garlic is deftly contrasted with the coolness of grapes in this baked chicken. Sesame seeds offer nutty undertones. Serve with Dijon-soy sauce.
INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons Dijon-style prepared
mustard
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 cups seedless green grapes
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine mustard, soy sauce, honey and vinegar. Set sauce aside. 2. In a 9 x 13 inch pan, combine garlic and oil. Place chicken in pan skin side down. 3. If using thighs, bake covered at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 minutes. If using breasts, bake covered at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Uncover, and turn chicken pieces over. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until no longer pink in center, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle grapes over chicken, and bake 5 minutes longer. Remove from oven, and arrange chicken and grapes on platter. Pass sauce when serving.
link - allrecipes.com
"The potency of garlic is deftly contrasted with the coolness of grapes in this baked chicken. Sesame seeds offer nutty undertones. Serve with Dijon-soy sauce.
INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons Dijon-style prepared
mustard
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 cups seedless green grapes
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine mustard, soy sauce, honey and vinegar. Set sauce aside. 2. In a 9 x 13 inch pan, combine garlic and oil. Place chicken in pan skin side down. 3. If using thighs, bake covered at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 minutes. If using breasts, bake covered at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Uncover, and turn chicken pieces over. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until no longer pink in center, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle grapes over chicken, and bake 5 minutes longer. Remove from oven, and arrange chicken and grapes on platter. Pass sauce when serving.
link - allrecipes.com
Recipe; Mixed Grain Casserole
Mixed Grain Casserole
2 medium carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (1 cup)
1 cup fresh mushrooms quartered
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained (can use dry pinto beans, soaked overnight)
1 8 3/4 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup veg. broth (can use water)
1/2 pearl barley (can use quick cooking)
1/4 cup bulgur (can substitute long grain rice)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Combine all in 1 1/2 quart casserole. I put two chicken breast halves on top with no seasoning. Bake covered in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until barley and bulgur are tender. Stirring once halfway through the baking time. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover, let stand 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
2 medium carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (1 cup)
1 cup fresh mushrooms quartered
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained (can use dry pinto beans, soaked overnight)
1 8 3/4 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup veg. broth (can use water)
1/2 pearl barley (can use quick cooking)
1/4 cup bulgur (can substitute long grain rice)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Combine all in 1 1/2 quart casserole. I put two chicken breast halves on top with no seasoning. Bake covered in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until barley and bulgur are tender. Stirring once halfway through the baking time. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover, let stand 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
Recipe; chicken w/ white wine and pasta
Chicken with White Wine & Pasta
Recipe:
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 C. Chopped Onions
4 Tbsp. Chopped Garlic
Sautee all of the above until onions start to turn a bit brown.
Add all of the following...
1/2 C. White Wine
Let simmer on medium heat for about 5 mins.
Add all of the following...
White Wine into a wine glass, and enjoy for yourself!
Add one of the following...
1 C. canned red sauce
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can chopped tomatoes
4 chopped fresh tomatoes
Let simmer for about 5 mins.
Add one of the following...
4 chicken quarters
4 chicken breasts
Recipe:
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 C. Chopped Onions
4 Tbsp. Chopped Garlic
Sautee all of the above until onions start to turn a bit brown.
Add all of the following...
1/2 C. White Wine
Let simmer on medium heat for about 5 mins.
Add all of the following...
White Wine into a wine glass, and enjoy for yourself!
Add one of the following...
1 C. canned red sauce
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can chopped tomatoes
4 chopped fresh tomatoes
Let simmer for about 5 mins.
Add one of the following...
4 chicken quarters
4 chicken breasts
Converting back to Vegetarian diet = lifestyle change
We have done the Ornish diet a few years back, which is primarily vegetarian. Not vegan, though - there is a dramatic difference as I learned from my daughter - see her blog Veganville. When we did the conversion to Ornish, I had to completely rework my kitchen pantry, learn to cook in a completely different way, and I came to have an appreciation for the amount of time it can take to prepare food the vegetarian way.
I'm still enamoured with the 1970's 'Earth Mother' imagery; growing a garden, putting up food, drying herbs and produce, cooking vegetarian, long dresses, getting back and closer to nature. Times have changed since the 70's, and now it is more about sustainable living; organic produce; vegan; intentional living; home-schooling; family values - but it still much resembles much of those efforts of the 1960's into 1970's. No, I never was into the drug culture at any decade of my 55 years, and no I am not a left over hippie by any means. I was a young military wife to a young husband, drafted and sent to Vietnam - I wasn't sure then what to think of the 60's hippies protests and lifestyles. I just knew drugs wasn't part of what I wanted, so I was one who observed from the sidelines, rather then one who lived the lifestyle.
Somehow, I think I wanted to participate in the sanitized version - drug free and in possession of my mental faculties. I look back now at some of those 1970s era cookbooks with the few vegetarian recipes which seem pretty boring now. I'm not new to lifestyle changes. Not sure I can do what my daughter did and go completely vegan = no animal products at all; no dairy, (no eggs, no butter, no milk) and no meats whatsoever. But I took the self-test at RealAge.com and had my husband take the self test too. It measures chronological age against life habits to come up with your 'healthy' age. My husband and I lost years and while our heads knew some of our unhealthy lifestyle habits, a wake up call is helpful. We are over the hill now and losing years is not a welcome concept.
Not without hope though, along with the test results, RealAge also provides a fairly comprehensive personalized regimen of lifestyle changes we can make now to influence having more, not less years. And interestingly, for both of us, our regimen indicated a reduction of red meat to 4 oz. a week. As we convert to that standard, it makes sense to begin overall reduction of meat in our diets(carnivore eating).
Hat's off to my daughter then, for her dedicated effort to completely convert her family to vegan - not easily done when she has a husband who is a serious meat eater.
She took it steps further than I was able to take it and has taught me much about today's standards for animal farming. I tend to think of that image of a farm with a couple of cows for milk, cutter, roasts, and steaks; some chickens for eggs; a pig to butcher for family's winter supply of meat; a farm dog; a produce garden; kids running around; a keeping room; canning preserves and such like images. Nice safe images of yesteryear. My daughter's wake up call is unsettling in that yesteryear is no more with animal farming and husbandry. Steroids, animal cruelty beyond inhumane, killer chickens, exhausted cows dying from producing milk 24/7, slaughterhouses which are far from humane, animal testing.... yes, it's enough to make us flinch from contributing to the misuse of our animal friends.
posted by Lietta Ruger
I'm still enamoured with the 1970's 'Earth Mother' imagery; growing a garden, putting up food, drying herbs and produce, cooking vegetarian, long dresses, getting back and closer to nature. Times have changed since the 70's, and now it is more about sustainable living; organic produce; vegan; intentional living; home-schooling; family values - but it still much resembles much of those efforts of the 1960's into 1970's. No, I never was into the drug culture at any decade of my 55 years, and no I am not a left over hippie by any means. I was a young military wife to a young husband, drafted and sent to Vietnam - I wasn't sure then what to think of the 60's hippies protests and lifestyles. I just knew drugs wasn't part of what I wanted, so I was one who observed from the sidelines, rather then one who lived the lifestyle.
Somehow, I think I wanted to participate in the sanitized version - drug free and in possession of my mental faculties. I look back now at some of those 1970s era cookbooks with the few vegetarian recipes which seem pretty boring now. I'm not new to lifestyle changes. Not sure I can do what my daughter did and go completely vegan = no animal products at all; no dairy, (no eggs, no butter, no milk) and no meats whatsoever. But I took the self-test at RealAge.com and had my husband take the self test too. It measures chronological age against life habits to come up with your 'healthy' age. My husband and I lost years and while our heads knew some of our unhealthy lifestyle habits, a wake up call is helpful. We are over the hill now and losing years is not a welcome concept.
Not without hope though, along with the test results, RealAge also provides a fairly comprehensive personalized regimen of lifestyle changes we can make now to influence having more, not less years. And interestingly, for both of us, our regimen indicated a reduction of red meat to 4 oz. a week. As we convert to that standard, it makes sense to begin overall reduction of meat in our diets(carnivore eating).
Hat's off to my daughter then, for her dedicated effort to completely convert her family to vegan - not easily done when she has a husband who is a serious meat eater.
She took it steps further than I was able to take it and has taught me much about today's standards for animal farming. I tend to think of that image of a farm with a couple of cows for milk, cutter, roasts, and steaks; some chickens for eggs; a pig to butcher for family's winter supply of meat; a farm dog; a produce garden; kids running around; a keeping room; canning preserves and such like images. Nice safe images of yesteryear. My daughter's wake up call is unsettling in that yesteryear is no more with animal farming and husbandry. Steroids, animal cruelty beyond inhumane, killer chickens, exhausted cows dying from producing milk 24/7, slaughterhouses which are far from humane, animal testing.... yes, it's enough to make us flinch from contributing to the misuse of our animal friends.
posted by Lietta Ruger
Mama to Mama; links vegetarian and vegan recipe sites
My mom is so helpful. When she knows I have an interest in something, she does a bit of online googling and sends me a few links she thinks might be of interest to me. It's been that way every since she got computer savvy - and I'm pleased to say I instructed her through her first basic lessons in getting acquainted with the computer. Who knew my dear 60 something mother would become as savvy, sometimes more savvy with her computer than I am with mine. Now my dear mother is 70 yrs old, and still going - why she even has a myspace to keep up with all her kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren!
She sent me a link to 'vegetarian recipes' cause she knows I'm converting us in that direction. I could just bookmark it as I have done with some others, but I also want to have it here on the blog now that there is the nifty 'label' to help catalogue posts.
Mama's Health.com - Vegetarian Recipes
Other vegetarian recipes links;
VegWeb.com
Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine - healthy recipes
Vegan Recipes - Vegan Outreach
Vegan Cooking - Vegan Outreach
International Vegetarian
and this site gives you recipes in many languages!
She sent me a link to 'vegetarian recipes' cause she knows I'm converting us in that direction. I could just bookmark it as I have done with some others, but I also want to have it here on the blog now that there is the nifty 'label' to help catalogue posts.
Mama's Health.com - Vegetarian Recipes
Other vegetarian recipes links;
VegWeb.com
Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine - healthy recipes
Vegan Recipes - Vegan Outreach
Vegan Cooking - Vegan Outreach
International Vegetarian
and this site gives you recipes in many languages!
Converting back to Vegetarian diet = lifestyle change
We have done the Ornish diet a few years back, which is primarily vegetarian. Not vegan, though - there is a dramatic difference as I learned from my daughter - see her blog Veganville. When we did the conversion to Ornish, I had to completely rework my kitchen pantry, learn to cook in a completely different way, and I came to have an appreciation for the amount of time it can take to prepare food the vegetarian way.
I'm still enamoured with the 1970's 'Earth Mother' imagery; growing a garden, putting up food, drying herbs and produce, cooking vegetarian, long dresses, getting back and closer to nature. Times have changed since the 70's, and now it is more about sustainable living; organic produce; vegan; intentional living; home-schooling; family values - but it still much resembles much of those efforts of the 1960's into 1970's. No, I never was into the drug culture at any decade of my 55 years, and no I am not a left over hippie by any means. I was a young military wife to a young husband, drafted and sent to Vietnam - I wasn't sure then what to think of the 60's hippies protests and lifestyles. I just knew drugs wasn't part of what I wanted, so I was one who observed from the sidelines, rather then one who lived the lifestyle.
Somehow, I think I wanted to participate in the sanitized version - drug free and in possession of my mental faculties. I look back now at some of those 1970s era cookbooks with the few vegetarian recipes which seem pretty boring now. I'm not new to lifestyle changes. Not sure I can do what my daughter did and go completely vegan = no animal products at all; no dairy, (no eggs, no butter, no milk) and no meats whatsoever. But I took the self-test at RealAge.com and had my husband take the self test too. It measures chronological age against life habits to come up with your 'healthy' age. My husband and I lost years and while our heads knew some of our unhealthy lifestyle habits, a wake up call is helpful. We are over the hill now and losing years is not a welcome concept.
Not without hope though, along with the test results, RealAge also provides a fairly comprehensive personalized regimen of lifestyle changes we can make now to influence having more, not less years. And interestingly, for both of us, our regimen indicated a reduction of red meat to 4 oz. a week. As we convert to that standard, it makes sense to begin overall reduction of meat in our diets(carnivore eating).
Hat's off to my daughter then, for her dedicated effort to completely convert her family to vegan - not easily done when she has a husband who is a serious meat eater.
She took it steps further than I was able to take it and has taught me much about today's standards for animal farming. I tend to think of that image of a farm with a couple of cows for milk, cutter, roasts, and steaks; some chickens for eggs; a pig to butcher for family's winter supply of meat; a farm dog; a produce garden; kids running around; a keeping room; canning preserves and such like images. Nice safe images of yesteryear. My daughter's wake up call is unsettling in that yesteryear is no more with animal farming and husbandry. Steroids, animal cruelty beyond inhumane, killer chickens, exhausted cows dying from producing milk 24/7, slaughterhouses which are far from humane, animal testing.... yes, it's enough to make us flinch from contributing to the misuse of our animal friends.
I'm still enamoured with the 1970's 'Earth Mother' imagery; growing a garden, putting up food, drying herbs and produce, cooking vegetarian, long dresses, getting back and closer to nature. Times have changed since the 70's, and now it is more about sustainable living; organic produce; vegan; intentional living; home-schooling; family values - but it still much resembles much of those efforts of the 1960's into 1970's. No, I never was into the drug culture at any decade of my 55 years, and no I am not a left over hippie by any means. I was a young military wife to a young husband, drafted and sent to Vietnam - I wasn't sure then what to think of the 60's hippies protests and lifestyles. I just knew drugs wasn't part of what I wanted, so I was one who observed from the sidelines, rather then one who lived the lifestyle.
Somehow, I think I wanted to participate in the sanitized version - drug free and in possession of my mental faculties. I look back now at some of those 1970s era cookbooks with the few vegetarian recipes which seem pretty boring now. I'm not new to lifestyle changes. Not sure I can do what my daughter did and go completely vegan = no animal products at all; no dairy, (no eggs, no butter, no milk) and no meats whatsoever. But I took the self-test at RealAge.com and had my husband take the self test too. It measures chronological age against life habits to come up with your 'healthy' age. My husband and I lost years and while our heads knew some of our unhealthy lifestyle habits, a wake up call is helpful. We are over the hill now and losing years is not a welcome concept.
Not without hope though, along with the test results, RealAge also provides a fairly comprehensive personalized regimen of lifestyle changes we can make now to influence having more, not less years. And interestingly, for both of us, our regimen indicated a reduction of red meat to 4 oz. a week. As we convert to that standard, it makes sense to begin overall reduction of meat in our diets(carnivore eating).
Hat's off to my daughter then, for her dedicated effort to completely convert her family to vegan - not easily done when she has a husband who is a serious meat eater.
She took it steps further than I was able to take it and has taught me much about today's standards for animal farming. I tend to think of that image of a farm with a couple of cows for milk, cutter, roasts, and steaks; some chickens for eggs; a pig to butcher for family's winter supply of meat; a farm dog; a produce garden; kids running around; a keeping room; canning preserves and such like images. Nice safe images of yesteryear. My daughter's wake up call is unsettling in that yesteryear is no more with animal farming and husbandry. Steroids, animal cruelty beyond inhumane, killer chickens, exhausted cows dying from producing milk 24/7, slaughterhouses which are far from humane, animal testing.... yes, it's enough to make us flinch from contributing to the misuse of our animal friends.
Tying it all together
I've been blogging for about 3 years now, learning some of the ins and outs as blogging has grown in popularity, along with more sophisticated formatting. For clarity, I'm a blogger user - using others' formatting and designs. I've played around with templates, learned more about html and css and so on and so on. Somehow along the way, I managed to create themed blogs that rather compartmentalized aspects of my life as separate one from the other.
You'd think I wouldn't have come to have ownership over some of the blogs I created that are really more stubs of intention than fully grown blogs. Yet each does speak to an aspect of my life and I continue to be reluctant to let go of them or delete them. Perhaps with this blog, I can tie the elements together to create a more full album of the many aspects of my life.
You'd think I wouldn't have come to have ownership over some of the blogs I created that are really more stubs of intention than fully grown blogs. Yet each does speak to an aspect of my life and I continue to be reluctant to let go of them or delete them. Perhaps with this blog, I can tie the elements together to create a more full album of the many aspects of my life.
Anniversary Weekend
I took Friday off and today we're in day two of "just us" for the weekend.
Sunday will mark 11 years and it hardly seems that long. Often in earlier years we would journey back up to Skagit County where we were married and drive out to the water where we were married by a Christian Native-American Shaman in his home.
We will view a VHS recording of our wedding tomorrow and celebrate with a wedding dinner out at the Tokeland Hotel.
It's a quiet time for us - an interlude almost from the past and what lies in store in the future. Political activism has been a dominant theme in our home now since the start of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Resistance on our part has continued without let up and what with speaking at rallies, workshops and most recently the Citizens Hearing on the Illegality of the War, we see no end in sight to at least some activism-related travel and speaking as well as our primary staple of online blogging.
As I write this, we're listening to a CD entitled A Walk in the Deep Woods with it's quiet morning slumbering melody augmented by the occasional light calls of birds. Our home in Bay Center possesses these elements as the area is so thinly populated that it is perpetual silence of remoteness from the urban that get's interrupted occasionally by city noise.
Like yesterday when I was power walking, I heard an ambulance or police siren - something I have not heard here since we moved in in 2002 but perhaps 3-4 times.
So our anniversary weekend moves on and we sit silently at separate computers but a mere 10 feet apart - saying little but loving each other a lot.
Sunday will mark 11 years and it hardly seems that long. Often in earlier years we would journey back up to Skagit County where we were married and drive out to the water where we were married by a Christian Native-American Shaman in his home.We will view a VHS recording of our wedding tomorrow and celebrate with a wedding dinner out at the Tokeland Hotel.
It's a quiet time for us - an interlude almost from the past and what lies in store in the future. Political activism has been a dominant theme in our home now since the start of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Resistance on our part has continued without let up and what with speaking at rallies, workshops and most recently the Citizens Hearing on the Illegality of the War, we see no end in sight to at least some activism-related travel and speaking as well as our primary staple of online blogging.
As I write this, we're listening to a CD entitled A Walk in the Deep Woods with it's quiet morning slumbering melody augmented by the occasional light calls of birds. Our home in Bay Center possesses these elements as the area is so thinly populated that it is perpetual silence of remoteness from the urban that get's interrupted occasionally by city noise.Like yesterday when I was power walking, I heard an ambulance or police siren - something I have not heard here since we moved in in 2002 but perhaps 3-4 times.
So our anniversary weekend moves on and we sit silently at separate computers but a mere 10 feet apart - saying little but loving each other a lot.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Project; Refashion skirts from old trousers
Refashioned Skirts from old trousers
Call me odd (it's okay - my kids do), but I think these refashioned skirts are just too cute.
Refashioning a couple of pairs in into maxi skirts. The original idea is from a skirt belonging to Babylonglegs.
The first is from chocolate needlecord bootlegs, with added godets (inserts) from William Morris curtain material and waxed cotton wide trim on the bottom.
The other skirt*photo below) is made from honey beige brushed cotton twill trousers and more William Morris godets. It isn't quite finished (and needs an iron!) but it will have cotton curtain trimming, which I have tea-dyed, added on the bottom .
(posted to Wardrobe Refashion blog by Annie - there was not a link back to Annie's blog, so linking to her show and tell at Wardrobe Refashion. Why not take the pledge?)
Projects; Not just for Holidays
These kinds of ideas really belong more to my Skinflint Curmudgeon website and blog, and as I find the time to refocus my energies, I will loop Skinflint Curmdugeon, Everything Old is New Again, Wonderwander, our Bay Tower House at houseblogs, Wee Garden, and I will need to make a new blog for converting to Vegetarian. I think Skinflint will be good place to proffer 'green living' along with thrifty, frugal tips.
Holidays - why not all winter long!
-- from The Homespun Heart blog
Use one pint size canning jar (not the wide mouth) and one glass votive holder . The votive holder should be shaped like a flower pot or have enough of a lip to sit on the top of the canning jar steadily.
Place sprigs of evergreen in the jar. Fill about 3/4 with water. Top with fresh cranberries.
Place votive holder with candle in the top! So pretty and festive.
A clever garland - not just for holidays!
wooden beads, spools, calico ribbon, wire hangers
Spray paint one package of small wooden beads red. How I did this was to unwind a wire coat hanger, thread all the beads on and poke one end of the hanger into the ground outside - then just walk around and spray. Very easy.
Glue homespun/calico fabrics around wooden spools. I also decided to wrap twine around some.
Thread beads and spools onto twine into desired length. Tie bows in between to stretch the wooden items. Hang!
Note: two packages of spools and one package of beads made this length, plus two smaller ones that would equal this much again.
Not just for Autumn!
Stand a bunch of ears of corn that are tied together in a wide-mouth canning jar. Raffia is a natural choice for tying them together as it blends in with the husks so well and looks very appropriate for Fall.
Holidays - why not all winter long!
-- from The Homespun Heart blog
Use one pint size canning jar (not the wide mouth) and one glass votive holder . The votive holder should be shaped like a flower pot or have enough of a lip to sit on the top of the canning jar steadily.
Place sprigs of evergreen in the jar. Fill about 3/4 with water. Top with fresh cranberries.
Place votive holder with candle in the top! So pretty and festive.
A clever garland - not just for holidays!
wooden beads, spools, calico ribbon, wire hangers
Spray paint one package of small wooden beads red. How I did this was to unwind a wire coat hanger, thread all the beads on and poke one end of the hanger into the ground outside - then just walk around and spray. Very easy.
Glue homespun/calico fabrics around wooden spools. I also decided to wrap twine around some.
Thread beads and spools onto twine into desired length. Tie bows in between to stretch the wooden items. Hang!
Note: two packages of spools and one package of beads made this length, plus two smaller ones that would equal this much again.
Not just for Autumn!
Stand a bunch of ears of corn that are tied together in a wide-mouth canning jar. Raffia is a natural choice for tying them together as it blends in with the husks so well and looks very appropriate for Fall.
Project: Shredded magazine strips to wallpaper
Interesting recycling use of old, saved magazines. Expand on the idea using recycled newspapers, old greeting cards, wrapping paper, colorful junkmail, past IKEA catalogs, maps. Think up your own creative way to reuse/recycle colorful articles which would otherwise be headed to the trash bin.
instructions posted at decor8 (fresh finds for hip spaces - and a new link I'm adding to my blog)
Shredded Bliss How To: Grab all the magazines you'd like to incorporate into this project, issues you won't mind sending to the shredder, that is. Find a shredder that creates strips (try Staples where you can find them for around $20) and feed your colorful pages through it. Collect the strips that appeal to you the most, that work within your desired palette and the 'look' that you're going for. Grab a narrow paintbrush and apply a craft glue to the back of each strip (Budget Living suggests Delta Sobo from Dick Blick. Locals: There's a Blick across from the new West Elm over by Fenway Park, they have it.).
Place the strips in a pattern on a dry, clean, smooth wall and allow them to set overnight. The next day, brush on an even coat of clear sealant. Let that dry overnight and viola! You've just given your walls a facelift for less than the cost of one roll of wallpaper. Budget Living shows it in a bathroom, but with the moisture factor to consider, I'd suggest this project for a small office space, entry way, guest bathroom (no shower/tub), or just for one wall - behind the bed or your work area, for instance. If you have a galley kitchen, this would look great on the back wall. By the way, Home Cheap Home is loaded with excellent projects, the focus being on use what you have vs. constant spending, so highly suggest picking up a copy.
And another clever idea ....
And here's another cool project that is totally animal friendly and easy to create in an afternoon. Use white linoleum, cut it into the shape of a zebra rug, and paint the black stripes yourself.
So, guess will need a plug for the book then - Budget Living: Home Cheap Home
Recipe - no knead bread
Recipe: No-Knead Bread
Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.
1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.
Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.
thank you link Path to Freedom
Project; the quilt I never made - not too late!
It was always my intention to make a heritage quilt out of the clothing my children outgrew as they got older. So I saved the clothing for decades (can you guess that my children are full grown adults now with children of their own!). Alas, after all those years, a mistake in storage and the saved treasures were ruined with dampness and mold. That project that I yearned to do won't be happening quite the way I envisioned, with squares of fabric from well loved children's clothing. And I never quite did manage to teach myself how to quilt. Great Grandma's sunbonnet hand sewn quilt, which was my inheritance, still needs to be quilted with a backing. I have some lifetime left, so I still think I may get around to completing this project.
But - there are the grandchildren, and if I can convince my daughters to save their children's clothing, perhaps there can still be a heritage quilt - or bedspread.
For now though, it might be fun to do what this lady at Sew and So did in making a jean bedspread - squares of jean-denim material. I think I'll need much more jeans/denim than I have, but again, can turn to daughters and ask them to send along old and outgrown jeans.
How about some more denim projects? Denim placemats (use pocket to hold silverware); denim hotpack (from pants leg); denim pocket fridge magnet; denim winebags (from pants leg); denim pot holders (use old sweatshirts for batting)..... see these projects at AllFreeCrafts.com
But - there are the grandchildren, and if I can convince my daughters to save their children's clothing, perhaps there can still be a heritage quilt - or bedspread.
For now though, it might be fun to do what this lady at Sew and So did in making a jean bedspread - squares of jean-denim material. I think I'll need much more jeans/denim than I have, but again, can turn to daughters and ask them to send along old and outgrown jeans.
How about some more denim projects? Denim placemats (use pocket to hold silverware); denim hotpack (from pants leg); denim pocket fridge magnet; denim winebags (from pants leg); denim pot holders (use old sweatshirts for batting)..... see these projects at AllFreeCrafts.com
Two projects - tea towels n buttons make vintage curtains; crochet wire and beads into fashionable jewelry
Crochet with wire and beads - Interesting project for new to crocheting and experienced crochet affectionatos. A great tutorial here!
Another 'how to' tutorial to whipping up some cute kitchen curtains, using tea towels and great button finds. Photos show retro flower design, and why not let imaginative creativity take you in many directions - - new way to look at tea towels and buttons and a quick way to give your kitchen curtains a new lift. link - vintage button curtains.
Another 'how to' tutorial to whipping up some cute kitchen curtains, using tea towels and great button finds. Photos show retro flower design, and why not let imaginative creativity take you in many directions - - new way to look at tea towels and buttons and a quick way to give your kitchen curtains a new lift. link - vintage button curtains.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Wastin away ... out here in Veganville
Lookin for my lost table salt ....
some people say that there's a woooommmaannn to blame ,
but I know ..... it's my own damn fault.
If you lack courage don't go to RealAge.com
You'll be sorry ... but maybe healthier.
Lietta found it and told me.
I went there, completed the questionnaire,
and found out I'm a lot older than my calendar says I am.
So tomorrow's the first day of the rest of my life eating 4 oz or less red meat.
Last month it was my teeth.
This month it's dang near all my red meat.
Next month?
Who knows?
some people say that there's a woooommmaannn to blame ,
but I know ..... it's my own damn fault.
If you lack courage don't go to RealAge.com
You'll be sorry ... but maybe healthier.
Lietta found it and told me.
I went there, completed the questionnaire,
and found out I'm a lot older than my calendar says I am.
So tomorrow's the first day of the rest of my life eating 4 oz or less red meat.
Last month it was my teeth.
This month it's dang near all my red meat.
Next month?
Who knows?
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Project - little girl's adorable skirt from jeans, lace and whatever
I couldn't resist, had to post one more 'so sweet' little girl's refashioned new skirt.
Since I have a sweetheart little granddaughter who it still toddlerish, this would be an adorable skirt for me to make for her.
Hey Mom (Lica) - I think I need her sizes, or you need to send me a pair of old jeans in her size!
I wonder if this would also be a good project for Ems? Hey Bree, what do you think?
and
oh, and if I'm going to link Chloe's post and photos at Wardrobe Refashion, then it's courteous for me to also post the link she included to her online baby store, where she sells some of her refashioned items.
Since I have a sweetheart little granddaughter who it still toddlerish, this would be an adorable skirt for me to make for her.
Hey Mom (Lica) - I think I need her sizes, or you need to send me a pair of old jeans in her size!
I wonder if this would also be a good project for Ems? Hey Bree, what do you think?
and
oh, and if I'm going to link Chloe's post and photos at Wardrobe Refashion, then it's courteous for me to also post the link she included to her online baby store, where she sells some of her refashioned items.
Project - Woman's blouse into little girl's sweet dress
I just loved how sweet this little girl looks in her new 'dress' made from a woman's blouse. See it at rostichery blog I love that linen style blouse and won't these now vintage blouses make adorable children's dresses? I have a granddaughter that is young enough that I can make this project. I'm looking forward to making up several projects for my grandchildren!
Project; From t-shirt sleeves to baby 's pants
The sleeves of a generous-sized, stretch-knit T-shirt can be made into a pair of baby cropped trousers very easily and quickly. See her first-time I made this project tutorial from one of the contributors, Katherine, at Wardrobe Refashion.
Project; Blanket Coat or Shawl
Look what I found in the archives of Craftzine. A page of refashion projects. Take a look for yourselves.
One of the projects shown on their archive page is a blanket coat or blanket shawl. I have a blanket, and think it would be a great idea to fashion it into a coat or shawl...well great for someone else that still has a waistline. Me and belts just aren't what we used to be....we don't go together so well anymore.
One of the projects shown on their archive page is a blanket coat or blanket shawl. I have a blanket, and think it would be a great idea to fashion it into a coat or shawl...well great for someone else that still has a waistline. Me and belts just aren't what we used to be....we don't go together so well anymore.
Project - Sweatshirt to Sweetshirt
Refashioning from your valued 'stash' - not a rag bag anymore!
Still in my early enthusiasm phase, after looking over all the archives and posts at Wardrobe Refashion blog, I found so many ideas that will work for my 'stash' - all those bags of clothing I have saved. But even more than the ideas, I feel so validated that I am not alone in saving clothing and accessories because they catch my eye, the texture, the pattern, unusual, vintage and any other assorted reason why I 'just can't get rid of it yet'.
Some people actually have an entire room of these wonderous 'saves' and 'treasures'. So, I'm excited about my renewed appreciation for my own pack rat characteristics and I regret having given away so much of the 'saves' I kept for years and years. Over the years I've had my stash stored away in plastic bags in basements, garage, storage closets but I continue to move it around with us when we move from one location to another. Now that we are in our own home and have been for 4 years, my 'stash' has been in the basement. It's time to bring the treasure out of storage and the basement and create a 'treasure room' and get busy with refashioning!
I just knew I was saving it all for projects - I just couldn't quite see the whole vision of what projects. Gotta love those creative people who think up clever new ideas and what I like best is that it is 'recycling, sustainable living, green living, frugal and thrifty'. There are people out there who have created small business enterprises out of refashionng old clothing into something individually unique and exclusive! What a fun way to generate some income. I'm no seamstress - makes me wish I was though.
Projects to explore using my 'stash';
- men's shirts - reconstructed and using men's deconstructed shirts to reconstruct new items.
- dresses - reconstruct into skirts, halter tops
- pants - reconstruct into skirts
- jeans - reconstruct into skirts and bags
- bibbed overalls - reconstruct into dress
- sheets and pillowcases - reconstruct into tops, skirts, curtains
- t-shirts - reconstruct into exclusively fashionable and personalized closer fitting t-shirts. Based on a popular selling book 'Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt'
- table cloths - reconstruct into circle skirts
- napkins, handkerchiefs, scarves, placemats - use to make halter tops, add onto top in layers to form bottom skirt, add as hemline motifs
- lace from doilies, napkins, pillowcases, dresses can be used as motifs in reconstructed clothing, ie, t-shirts, tops, skirts.
- clothing remnants - refashion into bags, journals, gift wrap, wrap a box for use as stationary box.
Some people actually have an entire room of these wonderous 'saves' and 'treasures'. So, I'm excited about my renewed appreciation for my own pack rat characteristics and I regret having given away so much of the 'saves' I kept for years and years. Over the years I've had my stash stored away in plastic bags in basements, garage, storage closets but I continue to move it around with us when we move from one location to another. Now that we are in our own home and have been for 4 years, my 'stash' has been in the basement. It's time to bring the treasure out of storage and the basement and create a 'treasure room' and get busy with refashioning!
I just knew I was saving it all for projects - I just couldn't quite see the whole vision of what projects. Gotta love those creative people who think up clever new ideas and what I like best is that it is 'recycling, sustainable living, green living, frugal and thrifty'. There are people out there who have created small business enterprises out of refashionng old clothing into something individually unique and exclusive! What a fun way to generate some income. I'm no seamstress - makes me wish I was though.
Projects to explore using my 'stash';
- men's shirts - reconstructed and using men's deconstructed shirts to reconstruct new items.
- dresses - reconstruct into skirts, halter tops
- pants - reconstruct into skirts
- jeans - reconstruct into skirts and bags
- bibbed overalls - reconstruct into dress
- sheets and pillowcases - reconstruct into tops, skirts, curtains
- t-shirts - reconstruct into exclusively fashionable and personalized closer fitting t-shirts. Based on a popular selling book 'Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt'
- table cloths - reconstruct into circle skirts
- napkins, handkerchiefs, scarves, placemats - use to make halter tops, add onto top in layers to form bottom skirt, add as hemline motifs
- lace from doilies, napkins, pillowcases, dresses can be used as motifs in reconstructed clothing, ie, t-shirts, tops, skirts.
- clothing remnants - refashion into bags, journals, gift wrap, wrap a box for use as stationary box.
Project; t-shirt refashion - halter from crew neck t-shirt
from Make magazine
Nobody just wears a t-shirt these days. You've got to "mod" them. To get you started on your first t-shirt for the summer, artist Karyl Newman took a regular looking large crew neck t-shirt and created this cute halter tee. The complete step-by-step is up on Instructables. Link.
get instructions here;
Nobody just wears a t-shirt these days. You've got to "mod" them. To get you started on your first t-shirt for the summer, artist Karyl Newman took a regular looking large crew neck t-shirt and created this cute halter tee. The complete step-by-step is up on Instructables. Link.
get instructions here;
Project - 5-minute t-shirt jacket
So okay then, Blogger help shows me there is indeed an as yet unfixed problem with the Blog This button in the newest blogger upgrade. Sigh. For now, then, I'm back to the 'old fashioned' way of blogging, but actually opening 'create a post' and doing the typing (instead of the copy/paste of Blog This).
Refashioning your t-shirts seems to be a big thing right now. And I have a lot of t-shirts from over the years, but I've gotten too big for many of those sized medium t-shirts. Well, gives me incentive though to shop for t-shirts again in the thrift shops. I'll be posting various refashion t-shirt ideas as I come across them.
Found this at mediathinker.com
“wardrobe refashioning,” taking an item of ready-made clothing and turning it into something else
How to instructions;
Finished jacket (recommend pinking shears to cut or hem the edges, get creative and hem edges with edging, piping, lace)
Refashioning your t-shirts seems to be a big thing right now. And I have a lot of t-shirts from over the years, but I've gotten too big for many of those sized medium t-shirts. Well, gives me incentive though to shop for t-shirts again in the thrift shops. I'll be posting various refashion t-shirt ideas as I come across them.
Found this at mediathinker.com
“wardrobe refashioning,” taking an item of ready-made clothing and turning it into something else
How to instructions;
Finished jacket (recommend pinking shears to cut or hem the edges, get creative and hem edges with edging, piping, lace)
Blogger upgraded and now my blogger tool isn't working
I'm not pleased to discover that with blogger's new upgrades I may have lost some reliable old functions. I've been blogging with blogger since 2004, so I've seen it in it's early stages of development. The upgrades over the years have made blogger more functional and user friendly. Recently blogger did an overall upgrade in conjunction with google. Well, some of it is good and some not so good.
Mostly, I'm disappointed that my ability to use my blogger button on my toolbar to do copy/paste blogging (clip it kind of thing) does not seem to work with this new blogger upgrade. It still works on my older blogs which I didn't 'upgrade' but it doesn't work with this new blog I created in blogger upgrades.
So, unless it is a glitch that will be fixed, I'm not too sure if this blog will continue. There is my very first blog at blogger - Wonderwander - and I'm still fond of that blog, nostalgic about it even, since it was my first blog. I may have to convert the intended theme of this blog over to Wonderwander. I've already posted a couple of new posts to Wonderwander that were intended for this blog. See Make T-Shirt Stencils from Freezer Paper and Independent America entries at my Wonderwander blog.
Mostly, I'm disappointed that my ability to use my blogger button on my toolbar to do copy/paste blogging (clip it kind of thing) does not seem to work with this new blogger upgrade. It still works on my older blogs which I didn't 'upgrade' but it doesn't work with this new blog I created in blogger upgrades.
So, unless it is a glitch that will be fixed, I'm not too sure if this blog will continue. There is my very first blog at blogger - Wonderwander - and I'm still fond of that blog, nostalgic about it even, since it was my first blog. I may have to convert the intended theme of this blog over to Wonderwander. I've already posted a couple of new posts to Wonderwander that were intended for this blog. See Make T-Shirt Stencils from Freezer Paper and Independent America entries at my Wonderwander blog.
Independent America: November 2006
Independent America: November 2006:
"We're two former network news journalists who have just finished production on our own road movie across the United States. More than ever it seems like it's Independent America vs. Corporate Chain store America. We searched for those pressure points along with our Black lab Miles in some of the most scenic, least traveled corners of the country. We endeavored to make our 55-day trip without setting one tire on an interstate highway – without setting one foot inside a corporate chain restaurant, motel or store." view trailer here
I am so impressed with the concept of two journalists crossing the backroads of America, finding what remains of the Mom and Pop stores in communities who have permitted the 'big box' stores to come into their communities. I haven't seen the dvd, but there are clips available and it looks like a dvd worth owning.
Independent America featured in Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone with five clips from the dvd;
clip part one
clip part two
clip part three
clip part four
clip part five
MAKE: Blog: Make T-Shirt Stencils from Freezer Paper
Make T-Shirt Stencils from Freezer Paper
project photos 
Angry Chicken posted up a great tutorial on how to make stencils for t-shirts from freezer paper. Originally found off Craftster.org, this technique is so quick and amazing, you'll be ready to emblazon your designs on all your shirts, bags, you name it! If you can't draw, don't worry, freezer paper must be like magic because you can even run it through an inkjet printer (just make sure it prints on the matte surface not the plastic side). Link.
project photos Angry Chicken posted up a great tutorial on how to make stencils for t-shirts from freezer paper. Originally found off Craftster.org, this technique is so quick and amazing, you'll be ready to emblazon your designs on all your shirts, bags, you name it! If you can't draw, don't worry, freezer paper must be like magic because you can even run it through an inkjet printer (just make sure it prints on the matte surface not the plastic side). Link.
project A Shrunken Sweater makes a child's dress; Wardrobe Refashion
from Wardrobe Refashion June 2006; A Shrunken Sweater makes a child's dress
My next project was to try to salvage a cute little wool sweater that my husband shrunk when my first daughter was a baby.
I cut off the short, stiff sleeves and some of the length. I then fashioned a "handkerchief" skirt from a layer of eyelet and a layer of lace I had in my stash. At the waist I added buttonholes for a velvet ribbon that ties in the back. And I can't forget the embellishment: some felt flowers at the neck. Now the shrunken sweater has been reborn into a fall/winter dress for my second daughter!
TFTCarrie blog
My next project was to try to salvage a cute little wool sweater that my husband shrunk when my first daughter was a baby.
I cut off the short, stiff sleeves and some of the length. I then fashioned a "handkerchief" skirt from a layer of eyelet and a layer of lace I had in my stash. At the waist I added buttonholes for a velvet ribbon that ties in the back. And I can't forget the embellishment: some felt flowers at the neck. Now the shrunken sweater has been reborn into a fall/winter dress for my second daughter!
TFTCarrie blog
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Everything old is new again.... a phrase from a song
Introductions and getting started: I'm a child of the Pleasantville 1950s, a teen during the turbulent 1960s, a wife and mother during the 'earth mother' 1970s, a career mom in the 1980s, a grandmother in the 1990s, and now an empty nester in 2007.
Spent the past 4 years immersed in activism efforts trying to end war in Iraq and bring the troops home. So immersed, that I let go of a lot of pleasures I used to enjoy before the Iraq war and it's time to yank my life back into balance.
So what did I used to do that I don't do now, what did I used to like that I don't get to do as much of now and what were all those projects I was going to do when I had more time.... ??
I like collectibles, and have collected items from different eras.
I like vintage things that aren't exactly 'antiques' or collectibles.
I like trash to treasures kind of things and projects.
I like historical perspective of how families managed in different eras.
I am looking at sustainable living, simplistic living, meaningful living, frugal living, 'green' living.
I like learning about diy projects.
I like learning about and doing my kitchen vegetable gardening, putting up the produce.
I like crocheting, simple sewing projects.
I like 'decorating' my home. We bought a house built in 1892, in a fishing village - Bay Tower House, we call it - visit our blog at HouseBlogs.
I like my dog = Jake, an australian shepherd.
I liked the cat, inherited from my daughter, when I didn't think I liked cats.
I like the idea of new recipes, although I don't love cooking - been doing it for decades, so like to spice things up.
I like thrift stores, sales, collectible shops, antique shops, off the beaten path kind of shops. I don't like 'box stores'
I like oil painting.
I like reading for leisure and learning.
I'm a homebody by nature and prefer to find treasures and pleasures exploring things I can do in my home.
I'm also an explorer, wanting to explore new places, new ideas, new trails, knowing I have a home to come back to.
So what's the purpose of this blog? It's a place for me to collect ideas from others who are more creative than I in thinking how to repurpose, refashion, re-use, re-new, re-utilize old into new.
As I wander in my internet travels, I am so often finding happy discoveries amongst the many who share on the internet and today I was so excited when I found Wardrobe Refashion blog, I just knew when I finished looking it over I was going to make a new blog for myself. I recently was involved in trying to purge my closets and storage of decades old clothing I've saved and managed to complete the project. So several bags to go out to thrift store and several other bags remain to be used in sewing/crafting/quilting projects. Then today when I found Wardrobe Refashion blog, well those bags set to go out to the thrift stores will get another looking over for what might be useable in 'refashioning' projects. I'm excited and animated about some great new ideas for using the 'stash' I've saved over the past decades.
My family and friends find it humorous that I save stuff like I do, and my kids (adults now) like to laugh at some of the things I have saved - like some of their clothing from when they were kids. Some have said I need an 'intervention' to get rid of clothing, shoes, and purses that date back to 1980s. Of course I do - need an intervention, and I'm delighted with the new ideas being shared by so many people who are interested in retro fashioning old into new..... I have a whole new world stretching out before me.
posted by Lietta Ruger
Spent the past 4 years immersed in activism efforts trying to end war in Iraq and bring the troops home. So immersed, that I let go of a lot of pleasures I used to enjoy before the Iraq war and it's time to yank my life back into balance.
So what did I used to do that I don't do now, what did I used to like that I don't get to do as much of now and what were all those projects I was going to do when I had more time.... ??
I like collectibles, and have collected items from different eras.
I like vintage things that aren't exactly 'antiques' or collectibles.
I like trash to treasures kind of things and projects.
I like historical perspective of how families managed in different eras.
I am looking at sustainable living, simplistic living, meaningful living, frugal living, 'green' living.
I like learning about diy projects.
I like learning about and doing my kitchen vegetable gardening, putting up the produce.
I like crocheting, simple sewing projects.
I like 'decorating' my home. We bought a house built in 1892, in a fishing village - Bay Tower House, we call it - visit our blog at HouseBlogs.
I like my dog = Jake, an australian shepherd.
I liked the cat, inherited from my daughter, when I didn't think I liked cats.
I like the idea of new recipes, although I don't love cooking - been doing it for decades, so like to spice things up.
I like thrift stores, sales, collectible shops, antique shops, off the beaten path kind of shops. I don't like 'box stores'
I like oil painting.
I like reading for leisure and learning.
I'm a homebody by nature and prefer to find treasures and pleasures exploring things I can do in my home.
I'm also an explorer, wanting to explore new places, new ideas, new trails, knowing I have a home to come back to.
So what's the purpose of this blog? It's a place for me to collect ideas from others who are more creative than I in thinking how to repurpose, refashion, re-use, re-new, re-utilize old into new.
As I wander in my internet travels, I am so often finding happy discoveries amongst the many who share on the internet and today I was so excited when I found Wardrobe Refashion blog, I just knew when I finished looking it over I was going to make a new blog for myself. I recently was involved in trying to purge my closets and storage of decades old clothing I've saved and managed to complete the project. So several bags to go out to thrift store and several other bags remain to be used in sewing/crafting/quilting projects. Then today when I found Wardrobe Refashion blog, well those bags set to go out to the thrift stores will get another looking over for what might be useable in 'refashioning' projects. I'm excited and animated about some great new ideas for using the 'stash' I've saved over the past decades.
My family and friends find it humorous that I save stuff like I do, and my kids (adults now) like to laugh at some of the things I have saved - like some of their clothing from when they were kids. Some have said I need an 'intervention' to get rid of clothing, shoes, and purses that date back to 1980s. Of course I do - need an intervention, and I'm delighted with the new ideas being shared by so many people who are interested in retro fashioning old into new..... I have a whole new world stretching out before me.
posted by Lietta Ruger
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