Cork Gnome

It is so busy that I am pulling things together at the last minute. As I fill the empty wine bottles with cranberries and water and place a long stemmed flower in the bottle, I realize that my Holiday is coming together just fine.

I have the task of what to do with the cork. I think just placing them in one of the apothecary jars would suffice. These are funner though. Wine cork crochet gnomes.

Of course, by now everyone knows I love mushrooms and I have had this vintage glass mushroom sitting on the counter for probably close to year or more and haven't done a thing with it.

Fill with some ornaments and pine cones and I am set. Now to make some Christmas color clothing for the gnomes.

Light Bulb Ornament

I just don't have enough time in the day to accomplish what I want to do. I'll get what I think I should get done but the rest will have to fall on another day.

I really did need to go into today, but with the car accident on Friday, I am just a little sore and it will have to wait until tomorrow.

I haven't accomplished much today but rest and work on a few projects.

My intentions were to give everyone an ornament from a burned out light bulb. That just isn't going to happen, so I have came up with something else which I will share later.

I suppose I could give the team I work with the light bulb ornament instead.

This is what I came up with.

Freeform Crochet

I am not patient enough to do the larger projects such as afghans. My issue is I start them and then they get pushed aside and I don't seem to finish them. The only larger project I seem to be able to complete are the crochet rugs. The stitch is so large they seem to be fast and easy to me.

I had a friend inquire, are you going to make an afghan with the spiral granny square I made and yes, it would be nice, but it would never get done. I thought to myself, what am I going to do with this piece. It is not exactly a recycle craft. Then it dawned on me that I could use it in combination with my creations.

I decided that I will do a little freeform crochet and create a purse and the main focal point would be the spiral granny square.

You all have them, I know I do, the one offs on the place mats. Usually one buys these in sets and one wears out faster, one gets lost, you know where I am going with this.

This is a great opportunity for me to use that place mat and design a freeform crochet purse and practice different stitches, use up some buttons that I have made from old clothing, and make buttons with the water bottle caps to use as the closure.

It is freeform, no rules, just your hook and imagination.

Have a lovely week and here is the starting of my freeform crochet purse.

Spiral Granny Square

I really don't have much to talk about this week. Busy getting ready for Christmas and working all the time.

The only thing I accomplished this week was putting one of my daughter's gift together and crocheting.

I did attempt to make a spiral crochet granny square. I think it turned out pretty good for my first attempt. I need to modify this to give it a more square look. I love the new modern crochet.

Next week I will be working on crafts for fiends and others.

I did finally get the branches situated on the tree, now I can hang the ornaments. I am glad I do the majority of my shopping and gift making during the summer. I dislike the crowds during this time of year.

Side Tracked

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful Holiday. I just love cooking and eating all the food. Of course it is tradition around here to put the tree up the weekend following Thanksgiving.

The tree is up but it will take me several days to form the branches and then comes pulling out all those memories of past years events.

I am one to go on my adventures and pick up items, such as a rock, pine cone, napkin, card, whatever it may be and save it as my souvenir.

This year, I decided to hand down my tradition of crafting with the things I pick up on my adventure throughout the year and making ornaments for the tree to another family. I was invited to attend the pumpkin patch farm with them and it was a blast. The corn maze, which I have never experienced before was so fun. Watching the children run and play and laugh is always a wonderful thing.

Sometimes I think we forget that the happiest times in our lives is not about money or the things we have, but about the spirit of play. It really doesn't cost anything to run, jump, walk and laugh and it brings such joy when shared with others.

As I walked around, I started noticing the rocks and small pine cones. I though well, I might as well pick up one of each and make something for my tree.

I finally began creating on Thanksgiving Day my ornaments for the tree in remembrance of the event. As I worked with the pine cone, I thought, I need to give this to the family that invited me and share my tradition with them. Maybe they will, maybe they won't incorporate it, but hopefully they will appreciate it.

I still need to make something with the rock, but the pine cone ornament is finished and delivered. I think it was well received and will be enjoyed for many years.

I even used some of my vintage buttons and the stuffing as always, is plastic grocery bags. I thought it was so cute that I had to go back several times and admire it and count the stitching so I can make myself one. That is not an item I would make over and over again, so there was no need for me to write the pattern down. Especially a gift as a memory, they are one of a kind and based on what I know of the person and what I feel will bring the happy thoughts.

I can say, I have seen these from other crafters floating around but this is a one time gift that I thought reflective of the person so no need for me to write patterns and I am sure there are some out there.

So here is my whimsical owl with pine cone. I like the idea of crocheting a square of rectangular shape and then turning that into something. So now, back to working with my tree and pulling out the ornaments.

Have a great weekend........

T-Shirt Rag Rug

Here is the starting of my t-shirt rag rug. It will be a colorful one. Good practice before I start working with blue jean material for the rug I am going to make for the living room. I am using whatever t-shirts I have around the house that are worn out or not worn anymore.

In the process of starting the rug that will be going in the room where the dogs have taken over, another idea comes to mind to make dog collar necklaces for the dogs. I am not sure that Boston the Boston Terrier will enjoy it but the Shotzy the doxi will.

The nice thing about the rugs are they are washable. I love my pets just as much as I love my children, but they are a higher maintenance and carpet and dogs just don't seem to mix in my house. I have not been able to train my dogs or my children to not track dirt in, take your shoes off, wash your paws. As you can see, I am not a carpet person at all.

The one nice thing though, is the majority of the house has tile or prego flooring. The bedrooms have carpet, so we are slowly but surely pulling it up and replacing it with the fake wood floors, but for now the spare room gets painted as we work on the other rooms. It will take me months to figure out what I want in the rooms. These kind of decisions are always so difficult for me.

Sea Life Crochet

My weeks are becoming more and more busy as year end approaches. I don't seem to have the time to craft as much as I would like to. I am putting together my sea life series of crochet bottle caps. These are always so fun to create. Writing the instructions on how to create them is another.

I have so many ideas and just not enough time. I have noticed about myself, as I work on one project in the back of my mind there is another stewing away for my attention. Most of the time I have to drop the projects I am currently working on and get the next started in order not to loose my thoughts.

As I create and design my bottle cap sea life series, I am sitting here crocheting and realize that, wow, I need more color in my home. I have always stuck to reds and I really need a more cool color as in blues. When I entered this home it was already custom painted on the inside and I like all the rooms, but my living room is so dark with the dark brown paint. I have been contemplating painting it a light gray. So, four years later, I am still looking at dark brown walls. Painting is not a pastime that I really enjoy, but still today, I would like to see them light gray so that I can incorporate any color or a multitude of colors in the living room.

I am thinking well, I can start to change the color out by crocheting a rug out of T-Shirts, great idea, so I started one. What color do you think I start with, yes, red. Since it is a practice one, it will be very colorful, as I work with the technique. I am of course making excuses for why it is ok to start out with red when I want to change to a more cool color palette.

I think the only resolution is, make the rug out of blue jean yarn and use the t-shirts for other projects.

Then I say to myself, get back on track, stick with the sea life series and finish designing and creating. I have completed my crab, jelly fish and working on a star fish, just two more, then I can start the rugs.

I am very excited about Thanksgiving this year. My daughter has the day off, which I am thrilled about. With school and work, I don't know how one keeps that kind of schedule. Amazes me, the drive and motivation people have to accomplish their personal development and goals.

At the end of the day though, it about the connection that we have with our family and friends and this should be a fabulous Thanksgiving.

My Trip with Crafts

Since I am on a roll with plastic bottle caps and preparing for Thanksgiving, I choose to share my acorns. I will have plenty to sprinkle on the dining room table this year.

My second day, I had to come up with something new. I decided to stick with the bottle cap. I love mushroom. I collect them. So with my crochet hook in hand and bottle caps in my pocket away I went with my theme. I won't post my first attempt. It wasn't meeting up to expectation with everyone. The one thing about creating, is you can fail but not beat yourself up about it, because you can always say, hey, it is in the works, I am building up to a masterpiece, I am developing, exploring, drafting. I wish it was like that in other areas of life, but sometimes you don't get second, third and fourth chances.

My last and final day was to come up with a jewelry piece. I could have used a bottle cap, but I wanted to try wire. Talk about hard on the hands, I have blisters on my fingers, but, oh, oh, oh, this makes me want to invest in sterling silver wire. Just beautiful. Before I venture down that alley though, I need to practice, practice, practice.

T-Rope

It is good to be home. My size F crochet hook became my best friend for the last three days. Today, I have access to my other hooks. In my last three days of being with crafters, it seems that yarn made from T Shirt was a big hit.

I pulled out an old T Shirt and some scissors and away I cut. Pull the strip and it curls and hides the unfinished edges and you have yarn. I think my T Shirt was a little too thick, because I found to crochet with this was difficult but the results are just beautiful.

This is defiantly a project I will go forward with.

Bottle Cap Acorn

God does work in mysterious ways.

I want acorns to scatter on my dining room table for Thanksgiving. I picked up the bag of acorns and caps at the thrift store and proceeded to crochet the nut portion for the cap. Cute idea, I see them all the time. Felted ones, as well.

I know I am suppose to be thinking about my plastic bottles and the second round of crafting and the things you can make with a plastic bottle. As I sat and came up with patterns for the nut portion of the acorn and how the cap should look, I am asking friends to send me acorns, I will pay for the postage, you know the story.

Then low and behold, it dawned on me, I have another bottle cap crafts.

I already had everything I needed.

I will be away for awhile, have a great week everyone!!!

Acorns

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love everything about it. The food, the colors and the closeness of family and friends. It is a time that everyone gets together and shares the closing of the year. It is always a time for me, when I reflect upon the year and start setting goals for next year.

Acorns seem to be a fascination for me this year. I was quite fortunate to find a few at a thrift store. Where I am from, they are not something that you can find on your daily walks.

I have stared the process of painting the caps and crocheting balls for the bottom to make some decorative acorns to sprinkle on my dining room table for Thanksgiving. I may trying some felting as well.

In the process of doing this, I realized that another plastic bottle craft creation is being formed. It just hit me that I can make acorns from one of the section of the plastic bottle.

Today, I will be working towards a new creation with the plastic bottle.

Plastic Bottle Cap

Today, I will be finishing the process of everything you can do with the plastic water bottle. If I can come up with just one craft for all parts of the bottle, then I can start the process again and come up with more.

So far to date, I have made bags with the bottom, bracelets with the center, tussie mussie's with the top, wreaths with the plastic ring, and last but not least crochet magnets with the cap.

I am now ready to start the process again and create new items.

Here are a couple of my plastic bottle cap magnets.

I need a pin for Halloween, so I believe I will be making crochet bottle cap pumpkins.

Buttons

One thing I am not is a clothes shopper. I dress with the classic styles. My clothes last me forever. On occasion, I may not buy the classic, but very rare. When I wear out a piece of clothing, it almost breaks my heart. Because, I have had the piece for so long, it holds a lot of history. With the fact that I can't wear the item anymore, I have a difficult time getting rid of it. I have so many memories of, "Oh, I wore this when".

I am learning to let go of the pieces but still trigger the memories. I am not a quilter. I have tried, but it is not something I have the patience for. So instead of making quilts with my clothing that is no longer serviceable for wear, I cover buttons with a piece of the fabric to hold the memories.

I love this idea, because I have the memory without my closets being over crowded.

Pinecone

Last night I decided I would try my hand at making brown plastic bag pine cones. I think for the first try they have hope and will continue to try and work with this project before heading on to something new.

I crochet so much these days, I am going to try freeform crochet. My daughter is a big time purse person and that will be my first project. A freeform purse. I think I will collect some vintage potholders and build the freeform around the potholder.

I love to thrift shop, only issue is, I spend hours upon hours with the process and before I know it the day is done. As long as I am enjoying myself, it shouldn't be an issue, right?

Plarn

Today, I made plarn all day. Thanks to those that donated their grocery bags. I must of cut and slip knot close to 100 brown plastic bags. This should last me for a while, hopefully. I plan on making clasp coin purses with the plarn, but for today, just a small pouch to put my rings in while I bowl. The nice thing about the brown bags is any button will go with them.

I collect buttons and have a really hard time crafting with them because I don't want to part with them. Especially the vintage ones. I usually make button stems with them and put them in a vintage bottle to display, but today, one of the buttons will travel with me, attached to a small pouch.

The purpose of making the plarn was to clear my entry way and thoroughly clean the front part of the house. I had four bags of either grocery bags or plastic bottles. I have managed to eliminate one and still haven't started cleaning. I did not realize it would take all day to make plarn, but I have contributed to keeping the bags out of the landfill, so it was well worth it.

Guess what I will be doing this evening instead of watching TV?

Temari

I make yarn, or as they call it plarn, from my plastic bags. It is a great way to recycle and reuse. The only part of the bag that is not used when making plarn is the bottom of the bag and the handles. I have placed those pieces in an old sock, knowing that I need to come up with some way to use that part of the bag. In the process of placing those in the sock, I realized that I was creating a new form of stuffing.

We all have them and don't tell me you don't. Socks that get get old, socks your dogs chew up, socks that you wash and for some reason one mysteriously disappears.

They are perfect for making Temari balls. Use your plastic bags as stuffing, and if you don't crochet, well here is your opportunity to use yarn in a different way. Wrap, wrap and wrap that stuffed sock with yarn.

By stuffing the excess yarn in an old sock, I came up with the idea to make Temari Balls. I cut the socks down to a more manageable size and stuff with the excess plastic and then wrap the sock with yarn to form a tennis ball size Temari.

I have made many of these yarn balls as I call them. When creating, I don't always follow tradition or text book instructions. I come up with ideas and thoughts that give me the opportunity to express who I am or options that are different and new. Bring something new to the table. Is that not what it is all about?

My thing is, I don't want to do the traditional stitching that is used in the Temari ball. I want to embroidery on the yarn ball. I like to incorporate the old with the new. I never discount vintage, it has held the test of time and it is the base. So with that in mind, I am going to spend this evening, designing a way to place some vintage stitching techniques and colors onto the Temari ball.

Crocheted Stones

One of my craft fair items this year is the crocheted stone. I love to crochet. It keeps my hands busy and it keeps me out of trouble. My Aunt Sally taught me this art when I was in my early 20's. I have not crocheted as much as I would like to over the years, but I am definitely catching up over the past few years.

Seems that every craft I do incorporates crocheting in it, but not always. I think crocheting gives me a chance to sit and relax but still keep my hands busy. Gives me a chance to think or create new ideas or just ponder in my thoughts.

To me, creating is a form of freedom of speech. It gives me that opportunity to do things the way I want to do them, when I want to do them, and there is nothing to judge, no argument's, you own it and it is yours.

The crocheted stones are small and I place them with my sea shells or any nautical items that I collect. It brings both earth and water together for me.

Quarter End

It's quarter end where I work and that becomes life itself. This weekend, I am going to take a break and work on paper, paper, paper. Transforming all that junk mail, envelopes, magazines into a new creations, it gives me the opportunity to transform myself as well.

I am just now noticing that the art of communication has changed and I need to change. What was acceptable and not acceptable years ago, is not the case today. I need to transform the why I communicate.

So this weekend will be about changing all that junk paper into a piece of art and researching to change my old communication style into a new communication style. I think by doing this, not only will I eliminate a lot of paper in my life, I will accomplish and establish a new communication style that will be more acceptable for the times.

Of course, just as a new creation, a new communication style does not happen over night.

Developing in this area is my biggest challenge this year and I don't think I am going accomplish a complete change this year, but I can at least establish a foundation and work towards transformation.

On that note, as I outline my objectives and set new communications standards, I will also be creating and changing all that junk paper into something more useful.

Homemade paper, seed paper, beads, paper seed bombs, gift tags and hopefully a new items will arise.

Hopefully, with this process, I can start to eliminate the amount of paper that flows through this house and get a new development on communicating and how to organize paperless.

Doily Snowflakes

I have picked up crocheted doilies throughout the year. I could crochet them myself, but I just can't help myself. They just look like they need a home and they are so unappreciated. I can understand why they sit for a long time. If you don't decorate in that style or like the pattern then there are alternatives for their use. They are usually one of kind and the detail that is put into crocheting doilies is an appreciation in itself.

Today, I will be pulling out the starch and starching the doilies to make snowflakes. A little fishing wire, some starch to stiffen the doily and wah la, snowflakes to hang above my tree this year.

Sentimental Heart

I have a very sentimental heart. I have saved all those things that have brought me joy over the years. The only issue with this, is I have so much, it becomes clutter at times. This particular project is one that I have worked for about a year now, and I have only just begun. Any glass jars I buy or gifts that come in a glass jar, I save. When browsing the thrift stores or garage sales, I pick up candlesticks, stemmed glassware or sundae cups. With the jars I have saved and the candlestick I have bought, I make apothecary jars.

Have you noticed that a lot of the kitchen cabinets do not go all the way up to the ceiling as they they did in the past. I love the fact that they do not. Now I have a place to place my apothecary jars and enjoy those memories each and everyday, and that puts a smile on my face.

I, of course, have a long way to go with this process. As I decide what to put in each jar and which candle stick goes best with all the jars I have saved. The really nice thing is, these are sealed, so I do not have to worry about dust and dirt to wipe away, to what I consider precious items.

Craft Fair

The next two months are about preparing for a craft fair. I have never participated in one and I am curious as to whether my items are even desirable. I craft with trash and I do get compliments on my items but are they worth selling? Only one way to find out if I am contributing to the green. I have committed to crafting with five plastic bottles per week.

Remember the McDonald's play area, where the kids jumped and play in the colored plastic balls? Well, that is what my garage looks like, but with plastic bottles. I highly doubt that five bottles per week will make a dent in my garage, but it is a start.

I have fallen so behind with my responsibilities to my home. I don't know how others feel, but with the economy the way it is sometimes I just feel like walking. But, I am old school, so I will hang in there as I always do and I know things will work out. My house has always been an investment, and what you put inside is what makes it a home. I know it is just material, but I have always relied on my home helping me through tough times as far as credit and equity. Not the case in this day and time, so I depend upon trash at this point.

So away I go to crafting pretending like everything is ok and hopefully everything will be in balance as long as I keep the pace and pursue to move forward and be contributing in some form or other.

If you don't hear from me in awhile, you know I am lost in the garage or stuck in an enormous pile of plastic bottles. Please call for help!!!

Tussie Mussie

My most difficult challenge with the plastic bottle was to create a craft with the top portion of the bottle. I came up with the tussie mussie. The plastic is covered with old Christmas wrap. Yes, I save my Christmas wrap. If you are a scrapbook crafter, you can use your small pieces of card stock or paper that you have. I used a finner yarn and put a border around the top and also the bottom. Ribbon would be nice also. The beads are from an old piece of costume jewelry. I usually use the costume jewelry to make bookmarks with, but I think this also works as well.

I need to get through my mail today. Of course that brings a lot of paper that has the potential to hit the landfills. Hopefully, when the heat breaks, I can build a new compost and add some of my paper from the mail.

With that said, I will be working with paper today. Seed paper, seed paper bomb, paper sheets for making gift tags, and numerous other items that can be make with paper. Appears. I am on a new subject.

I bought the cutest little cookie cutters last week. With that in mind, I am making dogie biscuits for the pups. They are very much a part of our family and they like to open gifts just as much as we do. The tussie mussie will be the perfect thing to put their biscuits in.

2 Liter Bottle

I have become obsessed with making crocheted purses from plastic bottles. This is my crochet 2 liter bottle and I plan on using them to give as gifts. My idea is to put crocheted slippers, crocheted cap/hat or something to that affect, to give as gifts.

I see so many plastic bottles hit the trash cans, it has put me in a state of panic. Please try and recycle your plastic bottles. I know that the caps and the cap band left over can not be recycled, but there is someone out there that wants these, so put them in a box and save them, sell them, give them away, just don't throw them in your trash bin.

Once, I get over this obsession with the bottle purses, I am going to head on to crafting with the caps. I am also working on the top portion of the plastic bottle to make tussie mussie cones. I have listed one on a previous page but I need a smaller version for hanging on the tree as an ornament. I think I have an idea which is in the works and involves decoupage and beads and just a little bit of crochet. One can always replace crochet with ribbon.

Tomorrow I will be listing a new version of the tussie mussie.

Busy Week

This was an extremely busy week. I really didn't have time to craft as much as I would have liked. I did accomplish creating a crochet flower from the plastic ring left from the cap of a plastic bottle. This will be nice to add to my plastic bottle crochet purse. This flower can be used as a hair piece, a brooch, or just use your imagination. I still need to decide what to do with the cap, before I head on to my next project.

I have not had time to craft this week. I plan on working with the plastic rings from the cap that are left behind when you take the cap off of the bottle. This is my project for the week. Labor day is already upon us and I am way behind on my crafts. I need to prepare for the craft fair and start my Christmas shopping.

Plastic Bottle Gift Cone

This has swam around in my head for sometime now and I think I have gotten to the point where I can actually transfer it to my hands and create. This is a base for me to follow for future creations. You have all seen them, the decorated gift cones. I have thought about this over and over again, how can I incorporate this idea with a plastic bottle?

These are great for hanging on the tree, door handles, just about anywhere you can hang things.

Of course my main objective, is to keep that plastic bottle out of the landfill. I think I have covered about every part of the bottle with the exception of the cap.

This is my version of the decorated cone, plastic bottle style.

Have a great Monday!!!

Crochet Plastic Bottle Ring Wreath

I love making these. There are so many options and creativity that you can use to decorate your wreath. You have all seen them, the plastic ring that is left behind when you take the cap off the your plastic bottles.

From my understanding this is a part of the bottle that can not be recycled, just like the cap. So with a simple double crochet stitch, you can create a wreath, pin, ornament. These are great as a gift. You can attach them to present, prefect for stocking stuffers, or give a whole set of these as a gift.

When I first started learning how to crochet, this is one of the items I first started with. You can buy the plastic rings at the craft store, but why should I do that when I can get them for free and help the environment at the same time.

I have other items I am designing today, but today will be an easy day and I will be relaxing and working on the wreaths for the craft fair.

Spend some time with my daughter, God, Family and Friends always has priority over everything else. Have a great Sunday.....

Crochet Bookmark

I love to shop the thrift stores and garage sales. One of the bargains I just can't seem to pass up are the costume jewelry deals. I buy as much as I can. I take the jewelry and break it down so that I can use it for other crafts. I can't find a better deal. One of my favorite pastimes is make crochet bookmarks. I can use beads from costume jewelry, buttons from old clothing, so many options. These make great gifts, simple yet elegant.

I don't always read as much as I should and as much as I would like. To encourage me to read more, crocheting bookmarks while I read really encourages me.

Tin Can

The tin can is such a misunderstood item. How many people without hesitation discard the can after emptying it? I don't even want to try and phantom it. I have 4 empty tin cans that I plan on working with. What inspired me to work with three of these cans is a gift that I received from my boss last year. For those that are more into the art of cooking, this one is for you.

Have a great Wednesday and see you tonight......

My bread in a tin can turned out decent. Our team had received a gift from our boss, which consisted of a bread holder and bread mix. It is a lovely gift. It was so lovely, I forgot I put it up in the cupboard and never baked the bread mix stored inside the bread holder.

Instead of baking it in a traditional bread pan, I have baked it in tin cans.

Rest assured, you can google and find recipes for baking breads, cakes, and muffins in a tin can. What a great gift idea. Clean and prepare the cans, package a cake, bread mix or muffin mix with instructions and give as a gift for someone to bake up.

Oh, and lets not forget that we need to come up with a tin can holder and mix holder to put the empty can and mix in to present as a gift. That will be later on, but it involves those lovely place mats that we stuff in a drawer and forget about......

I am off to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long day.

Tomorrow, I will be working with the lids of a tin can..........

Please feel free to correct me in my writing. I write the way I speak, which isn't always correct. I am trying to develop in this area.....

Canned Label Magnets

There is so much you can do with paper products. If anything, build a compost to throw your envelopes from your mail, paper napkins. The labels from the cans are a type of paper that really do not break down well. I usually make paper reeds. Very easy to do and you can use the reeds for just about anything. I made magnets with the the labels from the cans. Rolled into reeds and then cut down to size, I stacked them. Great for my fridge. I am just trying to decide if I should glue some small beads on the paper to give them some pizazz......

I didn't get a lot done to day but the important. Went to visit a friend who was released from the hospital and that is priority, the crafts can always wait......

Whoever created this device was a genius. A seamless can opener. I love everything about this piece of hardware, as you will see in the future. Here are my four cans and labels that I will be creating from. My stew is on track and slow cooking. I cook late at night, because my daughter doesn't get home till the wee hours of the morning and she likes to eat when she gets home. My stew is in progress and on time. I hope she enjoys and of course she will put it in the fridge for me to prepare my lunch tomorrow.

I am so excited to share my new crafts with you tomorrow. This is my last post of the evening.

Sweet Dreams!!!

I am going to list what I collect each day that could end up in a landfill and then as I create something useful out of this item, I will share.

Today I went grocery shopping and of course there are so many items that we depose of from the packaging of groceries . The grocery items I collected today resulted in 6 grocery bags, 4 tin cans, the labels from the tin cans and the styrofoam and plastic from the meat packaging.

There are just many great things you can create from a plastic bag. I have already made plarn from the grocery bags and crocheted scrubbies. I use these to scrub my pots and pans. My Daughter says, "they are the best." Soak them in a little bit of clorox and water when they need to be freshened up, and they sanitize and keep what seems like forever. Each scrubbie takes 3 plastic bags.

The tin cans and labels are for a future project.

Oh, and the wonderful mailbox check. That's my Daughter's responsibility. For some reason, all I get is bills. What is that all about? I only look at my mail on Mondays so I have plenty of paper that I need to do something with.

Of course, I can not do everything in one day, so I will have to share as I create.

My Mother was a simple cook and there are some recipes that I just had to have from her. The one I am making tonight is slow cooked stew. I can always share the recipes if you like. My Grandmother was what I consider the best cook in the world, only problem was, she never shared those recipes. So of course, I will share if asked.


Time to cook and have the essence of my Mother in the house.

Have a great evening everyone!!!

Adorable

Using the base of a plastic water/soda bottle to create a small purse/bag,these little purses hold a lot. Displayed is a crochet butterfly that can be used as a magnet, hair piece, or brooch. A great craft fair item.

Happy Monday!!!

My Everyday Life

Welcome, my name is Debra and I am a big time crafter. I have always kept a journal to assist with keeping my craft projects organized. I now need more flexibility so that I can jot down ideas if I am mobile. I craft with trash, or articles that are no longer wanted. I will be sharing my day to day activities of what I do with items that would otherwise be thrown away or put in the donation box. My objective is, that anything that comes in must go out and serve a purpose, besides hitting the landfill.

I also like to collect any type of craft pattern, kits, craft books and vintage and obsolete articles. Hopefully, I will be able to set up a store online to sell with others.

My current projects are using plastic water bottles. I am just going to jump right in and share.

Enjoy!!!

Plastic bottle bangle.