"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better." — Maya Angelou

Seriously good words!! I lived one way for so long because I didn't know any different, but now that I am learning and growing, I live a whole new life!

I have been reading, researching and finding a lot of new info on living better, healthier, greener, more sustainable...
I have made many changes to live a better life for my family and to respect the Earth, but I know there are still so many changes I want to make. I look at my recycling and see so many things that really don't even need to be there. Not that they don't need to be recycled, just that I don't need to be bringing that amount of packaging home. There are so many ways to avoid having large amounts of waste and it seems I am just being lazy and procrastinating. I need to smarten up and get my act together! Time to make more of a difference! I need to make some reusable mesh produce bags, make muslin bread bags and bags for bulk foods (I still need to find a bulk place where I can use said bags), bake my own bread 100% of the time, look for recipes to make my own hygiene products...Such a long list of the things I have been putting off out of sheer laziness. No more excuses!!!

I have found a few really good sites and blogs that have tips on ways to reduce your waste, live sustainable, being more eco friendly and so on. A lot of great info to be read here.

Linkies to share, in case you too are interested:

The Clean Bin Project

Groovy Green Livin

My Plastic Free Life - The initiative on getting restaurants to stop giving out plastic straws automatically, is a great idea. Be sure to check it out and join in!

Mom Goes Green

The Sheets That Just Keep Giving

That's right, yet another item crated from the retro sheets. Miss Z now has an entire outfit and a matching kite...LOL!! Now that is a serious accessory :P

Here is the last item made from the retro sheets.

This is a very simple little apron top. No pattern used, just another winging it type of deal.

Front

Back. The bow is not actually wonky, as it appears in the picture.

The whole outfit, worn on Easter Sunday.

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Re-purpose: Retro Sheets...Again!

Keeping this "reuse, reduce, recycle, re-purpose" segment going, here is the latest!

This is a kite I made, using the sheets you saw turned in to a skirt. There is so much of it to go around, I am still trying to find different ways to use them up. I did make an apron top to go with the skirt, but it is in the wash, so I posted this project first.

I made this kite after doing a bit of research online, to figure out how to make a kite with fabric. Of course, I ended up just winging it. There has been no real wind for flying and now it is raining like crazy, so we'll have to wait to see if it can actually fly. I really hope it does but if not, this one will be hung in Miss Z's room as decor and it will be back to the drawing board for me. We'll see, I guess...please fly, please fly, please fly...

Silent Sunday

What A Day!!

Happy Earth Day all!!

I will have to wait until tomorrow to post all the fun things we did today, as I am sooooooooooo tired! I am on my way to dreamland.

Nighty night all!

Earthy Links

I know, I was supposed to post a crafty entry today, but I was out ALL day and there was no crafting :( We had a good day though, in spite of not crafting! Though, I did see a great recycled craft done by a friend's husband and their daughter, but I had no camera to take a picture of their creation. It was like a recycled snow globe/lava type thingy...Yeah, yeah, a lovely description...LOL! I believe my friend said it was made with a glass bottle (pop, beer, milk, juice bottle, whatever you have on hand), light corn syrup, a tiny bit of water and some beads and sparkles. It was really nice and a great craft for a parent and a little one. I will have to get a detailed instruction and post it another time.

I figured this would be a good time to share some links on Earth friendly crafts, activities, ideas and some info. If you are looking for some ideas, check these links out!

Magazine Paper Beads
Toothbrush Bracelets
5 Easter egg projects using recycled materials
Make your own paper

Earth Day Canada
Plastic Free Life
Hip Mountain Mama Blog (great products and info)

Here are few ideas of what you can do to celebrate and appreciate the Earth:

Park the car and walk or bike
Turn off the TV and get outside, get active
Clean up your neighbourhood or someone else's
Plant a tree
Start a vegetable and/or fruit garden
Make some crafty items with materials from your recycling bin
Go meat free
Build a bin
Attend an Earth Day event if available in your area

The Earth needs to be cared for, appreciated, celebrated and love every day, not just this one!! Take some or all of the ideas and info and apply it to every day life, not just for one single day.

On the Hunt

Well, there will be no recycled craft for today. We were out most of the day, running errands and such. I was also on a hunt for a bike. A bike for Macho Man! We have a few great ideas on how we will spend Earth Day, doing lovely things to respect and appreciate the Earth and a big part of it includes biking. The only problem is that we are having a heck of a time locating a bike that will be suitable for Macho Man. He is a rather large guy and needs a good sized, sturdy bike. Of course, we don't buy new (unless absolutely necessary) and finding a good bike for him second hand is proving a bit tricky. I will use what time I have tomorrow to continue my search and maybe will get lucky or a friend will have one to lend. Wish us luck :)

I will have another crafty item to share tomorrow and Friday, I will post info and pictures of how we spent Earth Day! How are you all showing your love for the Earth? Anything special planned?

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Re-purpose: Retro Sheets

This is currently a WIP! I am actually taking a quick break from sewing, to type out this post...LOL!

In a previous post, I showed you a picture of a pair of retro sheets that I purchased at send hand stores. Well, they are now becoming a re-purposed/upcycled skirt for Miss Z. It is turning out very well and it is a super simple style of skirt. No pattern, I am simply winging it (yeah, it's just how I roll).

Anywho, I must get back at it, so that I may finish it up before bed time. Pictures to be posted before I end my evening :)

Okay, all finished and I LOVE this little skirt!! The two sheets together look fantastic.

First, here is a refresher of the sheets I posted previously:So cute and retro :)

Now, here is the simple but super sweet skirt:I love these fabrics (sheets) so much, that I am planning to make a little apron to to go with this skirt.

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Re-purpose: Egg Cartons

Ah yes, egg cartons and their many uses! There are so many great ideas of what you can do with egg cartons. Here is what we did with them today.

Caterpillars:This one was a lot of fun because it involved cutting, painting, pipe cleaners

Spring Flowers:Miss Z says that these flowers smell SOOOOOO good! Tee hee...So sweet!

Color Sorting and Counting:
This idea was something I came up with when Miss Z was about 2. She used to love sorting the colors and counting the pieces. She still takes it out sometimes and plays with it on her own. This is actually a double re-purposing, as the circle pieces are made from a cereal box!

We have one more thing to do with the egg cartons, and that is to start a few plants in them. From what I gather, you can transplant them in to your garden, still in the individual cups...Cool :)

Silent Sunday

So.Very.TIRED!!!

This weekend has been a whirlwind!! I am now just getting a chance to take a slow moment, before I have to get back at it. I feel like I have not sat down this long in months. There's been sewing, laundry, swimming, a dinner date, driving, homemade pizza being made, more sewing, stressing, groceries...Aaaaaaaahhhhh!! I just really need a sleep. I have been so crazy that I completely missed blogging yester day. Can you believe that?!?! GASP

Well, I think this sit down has come to an end as my pizza is about to burn...Eeeeeek!

Until next time. Peace, love and save the planet :X

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Re-purpose: Great Link

I found that a blog I follow is also going with a recycled theme, in honour of Earth Day and they have posted a great tutorial that I have to share! Cereal Box Crafts: Notepads. Oh my, I am such a sucker for notepads and when you are trying to be friendlier to the Earth, notepads are a total waist (unless made of recycled material and you pay the price) but now, I can make some great recycled ones of my own. I am planning to make a few of these for Miss Z and myself. I think I will make some paper from old flyers and scraps, to make it even more Earth friendly...I have always wanted to try making my own paper ;)

I hope you guys find this as interesting and useful as I do and make one or a ton for yourself!

Toilet Paper Bunny Tutorial

First, let me just say that I am very sorry for the wonky pictures turned on their sides. I didn't realize they were like that when I uploaded them and now will have to wait until I go to my Mom's again to fix them...My connection is super poopy!
Okay, let us begin!Supplies:
Cardboard toilet paper rolls (without the toilet paper...LOL)
Paint brushes
Paints
Cotton Balls
Bunny ear pieces (made from recycled bits of paper - I made these myself)
Paper bunny faces (also recycled paper - Made by me)
Googly eyes
Glue

We also used a little Styrofoam container that I sometimes use to put Miss Z's paints on when she is painting.

1. Paint the tubes, which ever color you like. Once we painted all the rolls we were using, we waited a few minutes for them to dry, it doesn't take long.

2.Glue ears on to the roll.

3.Now to glue on some googly eyes...jiggle, jiggle!!

4. Don't forget to add a bunny face with nose, mouth and cute little whiskers ;)

5. Last but not least, where would Peter Cotton Tail be with out his cotton ball tail...LOL! I put a small amount of glue on the back of the roll, put on the cotton ball and then pinched it firmly to the roll to ensure is was secured.VOILA...Wonderful bunny creations :)

Some Rescue Animals, I Rescue Pants

Yes, you read that right! I rescued a pair of pants today, from an unnecessary trip to a landfill. A lady in my building offered a pair of pants to Macho Man and unfortunately, they were not a fit for him so I told her she should donate them and someone else would make use of them (they were practically brand new). It seemed as though donating would be too big of a chore because she looked at me a bit odd and said that they would simply be put in the trash...GASP! How could I let those perfectly good jeans end up in the garbage, when someone could get good use of them? Why would I let them go to the landfill to lay for who knows how long? Just crazy talk I tells ya...LOL :) I put my hand out said that we would gladly take them and find someone who would fit in to them or donate them if not.

I know that maybe donating items can be a chore, as the items sometimes sit for a long time before you can make it to the drop off, but it really isn't that big of a chore. I am a serious procrastinator and I know very well how long things can sit, waiting to be donated and how much space things can take up. It may seem like a lot of hassle, but it is really worth it! Someone will get use of the items you no longer need and you can save things from ending up in our landfills. Sometimes, you don't even have to make it to a drop off, there are places that will come and pick up your unwanted items for free...FREE! It doesn't get easier than that. I mean, if you are going to bag it all up and toss it to the curb on garbage day, then why not bag it up and have someone come pick it up to make use of these items that still have a lot of life left in them?

Come on guys, let's help the Earth out by passing on good clothing and other gently used items and not throw them in the trash. You won't just be helping the planet, but maybe someone else who really needs it ;)

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Re-purpose: Toilet Paper Rolls

Time to stop procrastinating and get things kicked off! Here they are, the toilet paper roll bunnies!
These were so much fun to make and Miss Z had a blast with this craft. We are planning to make them again.These are super simple to do and can be winged, but I will be posting a tutorial Wednesday evening. Stay tuned...

Silent Sunday

A Lovely Spring Day

We were out and about today, exploring and enjoying this lovely Spring weather! We collected some items for one of our "Reduce, reuse, recycle, re-purpose" segments and I think it is going to be a lot of fun to create with Miss Z (you'll see). We also got to squeeze in a bit of secondhand shopping/browsing.

How about you, what was the weather like in your area? Did you get out and enjoy some fresh air?

It's All About the Earth

Earth Day is rapidly approaching and though it should be Earth Day every day, I thought it would be a fun thing to do and share with you some recycled/eco-friendly crafts and activities. Of course, this is something I will continue beyond Earth Day as well.

I already have some fantastic ideas and tutorials I have found online. There are just endless possibilities when recycling/re-purposing old items. I will use materials from our recycling bin, items found in the yard, second hand clothing and whatever else I can get my hands on, that needs a new life :)

Keep your eyes peeled for the segments titled, "Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Re-Purpose" and "Earth Loving Activities". Hopefully you will be inspired to join in and try some earth friendly crafts too!!

Do you have anything planned for this Earth Day, or just everyday activities/crafts that are Earth friendly, you may like to share?

Give A Hoot!

A little something crafty to share with you, today :)



This is a set of "owly" mug rugs I have made for a fellow Craftster. It has been a while since I posted something crafty because most of the crafty goods I have made lately, are items that are surprises for some who may see my blog. This is okay to share because this will be a secret to the person recieving! She has no idea I am the person sending her crafted goodies ;) Such a fun craft swap idea!

Green Read

I am always on the prowl for some good ole green reading, and today I found a few interesting sites. There was a post by Adventures of a Thrifty Mama in a Trailer Park on FB about a contest she is in, on a site called Circle of Moms and the link was loaded with eco-friendly Mom blogs. This is a contest to find the Top 25 Eco-friendly Moms and can generate a lot of new readers to the winner and to all the other blogs really.

I have taken a peek at a few of the blogs and have like what I see. A lot of interesting things to read. I am now off to take a deeper look and get my read on...LOL!

Be sure to check things out and possibly vote. Hope you find some good reading like I did :)

Oh, and if anyone has a good eco-friendly/green/crunchy/homemade/gardening/natural...(you get it, LOL) blog, I would love it if you would share a link, so I may take a read!

What Will They Be?

I have been collecting materials and used clothing, in preparation to make a summer wardrobe for Miss Z and this is what I have purchased thus far:

Some shirts and a jean jacket that will remain a jacket but with a few touch ups. It needs to be taken in and I want to add some crazy color and patches.These skirts were a great buy at only a dollar a piece. The two sheets are super sweet and it is funny how I found a matching set.. The yellow sheet was purchased at a local secondhand shop but the pink sheet was found quite a ways from home. My family went on a mini-vacation and when we arrived to this tiny town, I saw something that caught my eye...A SECONDHAND SHOP!! Of course I can spot the only tiny secondhand shop in this town...LOL!! I had to stop in and take a look. I looked over just about everything and when I decided I was finished, I headed to the cash when I walked by this pink sheet that looked super familiar. I picked it up and hmmmed and haaaaaed over it when I realized, it was the same as the yellow sheet I had purchased at home! I had to get it, it was just meant to be :P I mean, Macho Man couldn't possibly argue this purchase. I have a pretty good idea of what will come of these sweet old sheets!

It is just a matter of time before these items become lovely (I hope) pieces of clothing. I plan to use the tutorials I posted in a previous post as well as winging it with a few things. I am thinking of making a few of my own patterns. We shall see how this all plays out.

Silent Saturday

We are off on a mini-vacation, so I though I would share this weeks "Silent Sunday" today.
Mmmmm...Maple Syrup *drools*

Okay, so this post wasn't so silent after all :P

Old friends

I am SOOOOO excited!! I have some friends coming in to town (well, a town not too far away) and we haven't seen them in 2 years. That is far too long to be away from someone you used to live 2 minutes away from and LOVED having in your everyday life. I cannot wait to see them and have some fun catching up and meeting a new family member...Eeeeeek!! Yes, I am that stoked for this :D

I will be sure to share more once we return from our visit!!

Have a great weekend all :)