Old Ties Still Bind

For instructions on how to make several belt styles from neckties see:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4542/4-belt-styles-that-are-a-cinch-to-make

I've included two different styles of card holder case patterns for you here.

With all the punches and stamps at the local coffee shops and hobby centers,

you're gonna be glad to have a neat place to keep them all!

http://tamdoll.blogspot.com/2008/03/business-card-holder-tutorial.html

http://roseycornercreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/too-cute-card-keeper-with-clear-vinyl.html

Now this is something I have never yet attempted, but I'm game!

Here I have a video tutorial and written, as well.

http://cleverlyinspired.com/2011/03/video-make-a-clutch-purse/

http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2006/12/purse_frames_de.html

This looks like a GREAT baby gift!

I totally have to do this!!!

http://www.handmadebabyclothes.org/infant-boy-clothes/infant-boy-clothes-tie-onesie-tutorial

I love these ideas for dressy doggie duds!

This looks like a very good toot:

http://keyka.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/recyled-dog-col.html

http://www.erinerickson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Little-Dog-Tie-PDF.pdf

This is the closest I could find for a lampshade pattern for neckties.

Put your clever cap on, measure thrice and cut but once:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4899519_make-sewn-silk-lampshade.html

This particular lampshade was created by Nancy Gamon:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nancygamon

For the footstool toot, you'll need to stitch your fabrics together first.

http://projectsbyjess.blogspot.com/2011/03/upholstered-footstool-ballard-design.html

http://firstadream.blogspot.com/2011/03/chair-weaving-tutorial.html

I could not find any instructions for this magnificent throw,

but I did find out that this gal goes by Eileen Away,

and she has made other such beatiful pieces.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tierug/6285726301/in/photostream

 

Creating this will be easier than you might expect,

but you will need a grand collection!

This would make a great masculine quilt for the good fellas in your life.

http://greenupgrader.com/18150/necktie-craft-projects/

Check my Etsy shops for possibly available upcycled neckties,

I keep my eyes peeled:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/YeOldeKnackery

http://www.etsy.com/shop/EcoBrilliance

It's Easy Being Green!

If, for you, being "green" is another word for being frugal,

you can become a budget-saving steward

with just a little inspiration.



Martha Stewart



Recycled Chip Bags

Simply trim, wash with hot soapy water, and dry.
Et Viola!  You have wrapping paper!
(I'm sure Martha had her crew iron these.)




Martha Stewart



Gift-Box Fillers

Shred your old wrapping paper instead of buying a bag of shredded paper.  Use pine boughs to nestle your gift and offer fragrance.  Use candies, nuts, potpourri, tea bags, corks, or cocoa mix packets.



Martha Stewart



Recycled Paper Wrapping

Re-use wallpaper, restaurant menus, maps, shopping bags, old music sheets, old sewing patterns, etc




Martha Stewart


Magazine Bows

Trim matching colored pages to 3/4 inch widths.

Three at 11 inches, three at 10 inches, two at 9 inches,

One at 3 1/2 inches.

Happy Wrapping, friends!

Learning How To Eat More Veggies: Winter



Aurora Borealis in MN



Lets face it, we don't generally like winter produce.  The list above looks like a sad bunch as a tasty side for our suppers tonight.   We rather prefer fresh lettuce, crunchy broccoli, and bright sweet peas.  Up here in the North, where the ground has become too cold to offer us any more bounty, and will soon freeze-over completely, were looking at another long, bleak winter of frozen grocers peas and canned tomato sauce.

There is another option. 

Take a fresh look around you next time you're walking through the produce section.  You will see sweet potatoes, colorful winter squash, and so many different types of cabbage. 

I know, you don't like squash, and you don't like sweet potatoes,

and you're not a fan of cabbage. 

Its the same in my house. 

Forgive me for what I'm about to say, but its time to grow up.  We've spent a lifetime eating what we like and neglecting what we think is yucky, and look where its gotten us. 

Chubby, tired, and battling a host of health issues.

There's good reason why cabbage is so often

eaten as a weight loss food.

1 cup contains only 19 calories.  It offers plenty of vitamins C & K,

and has cancer-preventive properties.

This is a nutritious and economical vegetable that we should learn to love.

Emeril Lagasse's Favorite Cabbage recipe looks like a good bet.

It's rated 5 stars and is as easy as ... slaw!

Stuffed Cabbage is a bit putzy, but as an all-time favorite combination,

 your family will thank you!

If you haven't tried Creamed Cabbage,

you're missin' somethin'.  Give this a try, you might be surprised

with this creamy comfort side dish.

A super spokes-veg for vitamins A & C, a good source for minerals, too.

There are only 30 - 60 calories in 1/2 cup serving.

Mommies, winter squash offers a good source of folic acid,

good for growing baby.

They're rich in carotenes, helping to fight cancers, heart disease,

and type 2 diabetes.

Roasted Corn Pudding in Acorn Squash gives us all of our favorites

in an edible, nutritous bowl.  Cheese, butter, corn,

and scallions, what better way to introduce winter squash to the fam?

1 small acorn squash, seeded & cleaned

1 Tbsp butter

1 cup milk

1 egg + 2 egg whites

1/2 cup corn kernels

1/4 tsp anise seed, pulverized

1/2 cup chopped scallions

pinch nutmeg

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/3 cup grated Cheddar

Preheat oven to 375°F, place rack in center.

Rub squash flesh with butter.

Be sure it sits flat on baking sheet, trim the bottom even, if needed.

Cover with foil and bake 40 min until tender.

In a bowl, combine milk, eggs, corn, anise seed,

half the scallions, nutmeg and salt.

Fill squash 3/4 full.

Return to oven, bake 30 - 50 minutes.

Check that the pudding has set, toothpick comes out clean.

Sprinkle the cheese on top, brown under the broiler.

Garnish with remaining scallions.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Chipotle

is a healthy, spicy Mexican-inspired soup with loads of flavor,

and great with crusty bread.

Risotto with Winter Squash and Shrimp is with

dry white wine, shallots, and scallions.  A pleasing combination.

The Culinary Institute of America shares

Peppery Beef Stew with Butternut Squash, a hearty meal with robust flavors.

Jacques Pepin shares his recipe for Gratin of Butternut Squash.

This creamy dish serves 6.

1 large butternut squash

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Peel, seed, and slice squash 1/8 - 1/4 inch thick.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place squash slice in large saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil.

Boil on high heat 1 1/2 - 2 minutes, drain.

Arrange pieces in gratin dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Pour on the cream, cover with cheese.

Bake 30 minutes.

Brown under broiler before serving, 4 - 5 min.


There are only 103 calories in 1 whole sweet potato.
That's about the same as 1/2 cup of brown rice.
That same veg packs-in 14% of your daily fiber, 37% vitamin C,
and 438% vitamin A!
It also throws in some calcium and iron, for good measure.

They help to stabilize and lower your blood sugar,
and, without the skins,
they still fall into the medium glycemic zone,
which is lower than whole-wheat bread.

The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission shares many recipes
for us to try, from appetizers to main dishes to sweets.

Try Jalapeno Sweet Potato Chowder for an
easy spicy and creamy soup.

Roasted Sweet Potato Poblano Salad is a fresh twist.  Very delicious,
simple, and a world apart from being smothered in marshmallows.

Sweet Potato Cabbage Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing,
goodness!  How bad could this be?
Chicken, bleu cheese, toasted pecans, and red wine vinegar
make a glorious and flavorful dish for the whole family.

1 medium sweet potato
1 small head red cabbage
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced & toasted
8 slices bacon
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lb. roast chicken
1/2 cup toasted pecans
Hot Bacon Dressing (recipe below)
4 oz bleu cheese
1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Sprinkle sweet potato with salt & pepper; wrap in foil.
Roast 375º F 45 minutes, or until tender but not soft.  Cool.

Slice cabbage thinly, removing core.
Place into a bowl & toss with vinegar and garlic;
season with salt & pepper.

Cook bacon crispy.  Cut to 1-in. pieces.  Keep warm.

Slice cooled sweet potato into rounds;
saute with butter and honey until glazed; set aside.

Heat oil in large pan; add cabbage, toss 30 seconds.
Add shredded chicken and bacon pieces, sweet potato rounds,
and pecans; toss 1 minute.

Add 1/4 cup bacon dressing; toss.
Serve immediately with bleau cheese & parsley.

Hot Bacon Dressing

Cook 1 slice bacon until crisp; remove & set aside.
Add 2 Tbsp diced celery & 2 Tbsp minced onion,
cook tender 2 minutes.

Add 3 Tbsp each red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar,
brown sugar, and 1 tsp whole grain mustard.
Salt & pepper to taste.
Simmer 10 min.  Remove from heat.

Slowly stir-in 1 cup olive oil to emulsify.
Crumble and add bacon.




What are your favorite vegetable recipes?

What Can I Do With All These Plastic Bags!!!??

Home From Shopping

Who doesn't recognize this?

Now, I don't know about you, but around here

there are stores that don't even carry paper bags anymore.

Our recycling protocol requires that our

recyclables be organized into paper bags.

More often than not we have run out of paper bags.

At the risk of blaspheming the environment, I rather like paper bags.

I use them when wrapping boxes that I'm 

packaging for the mail.

We use them to cover and protect our children's text books.

Theres nothing better onto which to place your freshly fried foods!

Paper towels get soggy,

paper bags absorb grease

while preserving the crispiness of your food.

We've used them for countless school and craft projects.

But, here we are,

knee-deep in plastic bags.

So, lets make lemonade!

Paint "Shirt"

There are many wonderful uses for plastic bags, too.

This little tot demonstrates how to keep

your tummy clean while painting. 

An impromptu and clever idea when you may not yet have

established a paint shirt.

I use them to cover appliances while in storage.

We have a shelf  in our garage

that holds a crock pot, canning kettles,

roaster, ice cream maker, juicer and bread machine.

All with a plastic bag

draped over them to keep the dust out.

Up in the attic we have recently

put away our fans for storage, each of them covered

with a plastic bag.

This easy extra step preserves the life

of the motor inside by keeping dust particles out

during storage.

With all this plastic literally flying around,

were finding some new uses.

(Naturally, we stumble upon some superfluous uses.

But that is part of the mechanics of ingenuity.)

I'm exploring some practical ideas that we can put to use

in our own homes and lives.

My interest is in turning our abundance,

seemingly negligible,

into daily domestic productivity.

Some will even make enterprising gifts!



Directions For How To Make Plarn





Cut 1 Inch



This is plarn.
Plastic yarn.

Ive blogged about this before, back in March.

Today, however, I would like to share a bit more in depth.

I would like you to see this as something

that you can do to make your life better.

The instructions are simple enough.

You're cutting strips (about 1in) and linking them together.

Once you find yourself with a nice, long length, roll it into a ball.

You may wish to keep your colors separated,

or you may not care.



Balls of Plarn in Assorted Colors





Plarn Bag



With your balls of plarn,

simply knit or crochet your project.

There are many patterns to be found on the web now.

You'll need large needles.

Click HERE for a free crocheted clothespin bag pattern.



Plarn Coil-Weave Bowl



This is a photo of a plarn coil-weave bowl.

You will find directions for how to coil weave on various sites,

You may use clothesline cord, or any sturdy cord or rope.

These make a sturdy textile bowl

that you can shape as you weave.



Spinning Plarn



In order to get that smooth look,

and a smaller stitch,

you'll need to spin your plarn.

This is a whole other step that you may or may not be interested in.

I'm not ready for this, myself,

but Ive highlighted a couple of links for you to check out, if you'd like.

You'll need a drop spindle.

The Joy of Handspinning and Instructables share directions

for how to make your own drop spindle.



Spun Plarn Crochet Angel 



Knitting Spun Plarn



Crocheted Spun Plarn Purse





Spun Plarn Snowflakes



A New Twist on an Old Favorite -
Spun Plarn Granny Squares

Tutorial For Fusing Plastic For Fabric

 

There is another process by which we can

create something new and useful with our plethora plastic bags.

Fusing.

With only an iron and a bit of parchment paper between the board and the iron,

(with your layers of plastic between)

you can create all kinds of things made of this very strong, fused plastic "fabric".

It will take a bit of practice to get a feel for the amount of time

and the temperature you'll need.

The key is to keep your iron moving,

prepare for the plastic to shrink as it fuses together,

and keep on trying!

This is a fun project,

especially when you're itching to create something

useful and practical, but haven't yet learned to knit or crochet.

Give this a try, you'll enjoy it!

Stitched Fused Plastic Bag

Fused Plastic Owl Bag

Click HERE for some very good instructions on how to make a

fusible plastic fabric grocery bag.

Fused Plastic Bag



Above is a fused plastic fabric bag that uses some nice handles.

You may find these at your larger craft stores.

You might also wish to

keep your eyes peeled for some vintage purses that are better-off

in the trash, but have good handles.

 



Fused Plastic Bag



Here we see someone has created a make-up bag

using some trimmings for embellishment.
There are many examples of this, even to the extent of

being considered art.



Fused Plastic Notebook Cover



This is a great idea for young ones in church,

scratch paper in the car, or purse,

or a funky and whimsical gift idea for your teen.

Use paper that you have;

art projects that you can't throw but don't have room to save,

maps that are out-dated,

place mat menus,

anything that would make it personal and fun!



Fused Plastic Weave Bag



Don't throw all those fused plastic bits that "didn't turn out"!

There's a use for just about anything.

In this case, trim your practice bits and use them in a weave.

This is very cool,

and much sturdier than the free cloth bags that we get at the fair.

(What are those made of, anyway?)

Fused Plastic Bib

Who can argue about this as the quintessentially perfect project

for plastic fusing?

Click HERE for a free fused plastic bib pattern.

You can place images in between your plastic bag layers 

for an applique look.

There are great directions for this on Sustain Lane and Craftzine.


Pattern Idea For Fused Plastic




Fused Plastic Reusable Sammy Bag
Click HERE to get these directions.




Fused Plastic iPod Case


 

Fused Plastic Eyeglasses Case

Click HERE for a free eyeglasses case pattern.

Here are a few more ideas from one of my previous blog posts,

Thrifty Letter B With Vicky Lansky:

*Cut up green bags into strips and tie onto child's belt

for Hawaiian “grass” skirt.

*Store over your heaters in the summer,  around your fans in winter.

 
*Cover ceiling fans during remodeling.

 
*Keep in kids’ closet for catching outgrown items.

*Cover well-watered plants with transparent bag just before vacation,

keeping out of direct light.

*Dust covers for seldom-worn clothing.

 
*Store extras in bottom of waste basket.

*Wrap one up to the size of piece of gum, slip rubber band around it, drop in purse

 - never know when you’ll need it!

*Spray paint small items inside of one.

*For intense toilet cleaning, place hand in bag, scrub, then toss.

*Cover shoes before packing to keep other garments clean.

*Keep feet dry inside not-so-waterproof shoes or boots.

*“Wear” when mixing meatloaf.

*Set metal furniture legs into after carpet shampoo to prevent rust.

*Funnel for liquids.

*Waterproof a mattress by splitting and placing under sheet.

*Indispensable for travel, auto, camping, picnic.



Plastic Bags Made Into Flowers



Fused Plastic Flower With Vintage Button

Finally, have fun!

Experiment!

This doesn't need to be perfect, theres not much out there

that's more forgiving.

And, for a while, your resources don't seem to be

in danger of being endangered.

Until then,

proudly display your upcycled plastic, friends!