Friday, April 10, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Return To The Wild
My boyfriend brought home a snail. Actually, he brought home two. They languidly left trails of goo as they slithered along his palm, looking all cute and alien-like with their extending/retracting eyes.
He raided the cupboard (or was it the recycling bin?) and found a plastic dwelling for our quiet new guests. There was much research to discover what snails eat, where they like to live, what they like to do with their spare time and who their favourite celebs are...all in an effort to make them more comfortable in their new surroundings--our home.
Boy, it didn't take long for them to get comfy! In no time at all our two gooey pets layed a batch of eggs and Voila! a family was hatched! My boyfriend and I joked that the parent snails were our children and their offspring were our grandkids. When this little family grew to a whopping 83 members, I stopped laughing.
I don't know if you should admire a guy for tending to 83 snails or have him sent to a therapist, but take care of them he did, to the best of his abilities. There were some casualties through the months. Baby snails are micro-miniatures of their mature counterparts and have paper thin shells. One plastic lid can decimate a handful of these fragile infants with a Snap! Crackle! Pop!
There was laughter, there were tears, there were even attempts at escape, but after being confined to a life of store-bought soil and grocery store vegetation it is time that these small slithering slugs with shells return to their home in the wild.
My boyfriend and I are no longer a couple. I have tended to the snails for a couple of months now. Their numbers have decreased drastically but not during my care. I feel for these little critters but I believe, and had argued this point more than once, that they belong on the trail where they were found, not jarred and set upon a shelf like a knick knack.
And so I shall liberate my filmy family and wish them well on their journey through the wilderness of an empty wood lot in Port Perry. Vive les escargots!
He raided the cupboard (or was it the recycling bin?) and found a plastic dwelling for our quiet new guests. There was much research to discover what snails eat, where they like to live, what they like to do with their spare time and who their favourite celebs are...all in an effort to make them more comfortable in their new surroundings--our home.
Boy, it didn't take long for them to get comfy! In no time at all our two gooey pets layed a batch of eggs and Voila! a family was hatched! My boyfriend and I joked that the parent snails were our children and their offspring were our grandkids. When this little family grew to a whopping 83 members, I stopped laughing.
I don't know if you should admire a guy for tending to 83 snails or have him sent to a therapist, but take care of them he did, to the best of his abilities. There were some casualties through the months. Baby snails are micro-miniatures of their mature counterparts and have paper thin shells. One plastic lid can decimate a handful of these fragile infants with a Snap! Crackle! Pop!
There was laughter, there were tears, there were even attempts at escape, but after being confined to a life of store-bought soil and grocery store vegetation it is time that these small slithering slugs with shells return to their home in the wild.
My boyfriend and I are no longer a couple. I have tended to the snails for a couple of months now. Their numbers have decreased drastically but not during my care. I feel for these little critters but I believe, and had argued this point more than once, that they belong on the trail where they were found, not jarred and set upon a shelf like a knick knack.
And so I shall liberate my filmy family and wish them well on their journey through the wilderness of an empty wood lot in Port Perry. Vive les escargots!
Search, Save, Find!
Every crafter has a stash of materials stuffed in all the nooks and crannies of their home. Every crafter has an extensive personal library of patterns to organize and maintain. The materials are one thing, but that long list of projects you want to make means there is as many (at least) patterns hiding somewhere to go with them. If you're like me, you have a multitude of patterns that you don't have supplies for and every once in a while you page through the pattern books, magazines and binders of cut-outs imagining when you might find the time (probably when you're 80) to make all of those wonderful things. And if you're like me, you spend time (translates as hours) surfing the net in search of more crafting inspiration...and you find it and save it to your computer. But then what? You can print it, adding to your already hazardously tall mountain of patterns. Or you can leave it saved on the computer and look at it from time-to-time until you are ready to print it off and use it.
Have you ever noticed how your documents list keeps getting longer and longer? There's this mish mash of text files, pattern files, important files, useless files.... Well, it is almost Spring and what better time than to give your computer a good cleaning and organize those miscellaneous files so that they're easier on the eyes and easier to find!
Let's begin with the wonderful array of crafting files you've been collecting. Some are probably in your Pictures but I'm guessing most of them are in your Documents. No matter where they are, find them all and move them to one spot... "My Documents". This way, when you do go to print them, they won't print off in photo mode. Once all of your pattern files in are in "My Documents", create a file called "Patterns". Open that file and create subfolders with titles like "Crochet", "Knit", "Sewing", "Scrapbook", "". Now start moving those pattern files you've collected into the relevant subfolders. If, like me, you want to go one step further, open subfolders in your subfolders so that you can organize patterns for each craft even more. I have subfolders for things like sweaters, skirts, accessories, hats, etc.
With just a few clicks of the mouse I can find any pattern on my computer easily. This same technique can be used for pictures. I have a file in "My Pictures" called "Inspiration" and in there I store pictures I have found online that inspire my crafting. They are pictures of adorable outfits, colour combinations, fancy detailing...all the things that make clothes and accessories stand out in a crowd. None of those files have text with them, they are only pictures, but they are all organized in the same manner as the patterns on my computer.
Good luck with your Spring cleaning!
Have you ever noticed how your documents list keeps getting longer and longer? There's this mish mash of text files, pattern files, important files, useless files.... Well, it is almost Spring and what better time than to give your computer a good cleaning and organize those miscellaneous files so that they're easier on the eyes and easier to find!
Let's begin with the wonderful array of crafting files you've been collecting. Some are probably in your Pictures but I'm guessing most of them are in your Documents. No matter where they are, find them all and move them to one spot... "My Documents". This way, when you do go to print them, they won't print off in photo mode. Once all of your pattern files in are in "My Documents", create a file called "Patterns". Open that file and create subfolders with titles like "Crochet", "Knit", "Sewing", "Scrapbook", "
With just a few clicks of the mouse I can find any pattern on my computer easily. This same technique can be used for pictures. I have a file in "My Pictures" called "Inspiration" and in there I store pictures I have found online that inspire my crafting. They are pictures of adorable outfits, colour combinations, fancy detailing...all the things that make clothes and accessories stand out in a crowd. None of those files have text with them, they are only pictures, but they are all organized in the same manner as the patterns on my computer.
Good luck with your Spring cleaning!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Life In The Slow Lane
It's a beautiful day and I'm eager to explore the town in the sunshine, so here's a few links to peruse if you're stuck inside...
www.anniemodesitt.com
www.whiteliesdesigns.com
www.chrochetville.org
www.craftster.org
www.yarntomato.com
www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
Enjoy!
www.anniemodesitt.com
www.whiteliesdesigns.com
www.chrochetville.org
www.craftster.org
www.yarntomato.com
www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
Enjoy!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Spring Cleaning
Spring has sprung and you can't tell my otherwise! The Starlings hang out on the cables outside my living room window puffing up their feathers as they sing to each other, and I have this irresistible urge to repaint my apartment. Yes, Spring has sprung.
This is typically the time of year that most people start to open their closets and garages and take a serious look at what they've accumulated over the past year. What should go and what should stay is foremost on our minds. Spring cleaning is no easy task but as we chip away at it, little by little, an amazing thing happens...our minds lighten, our eyes brighten, and our lives become freer. There is a definite psychological bonus to clearing out the clutter.
But where do you begin? Under the beds? In the closets? Up in the attic? Well, that's a personal choice, but here's something to consider...how about within yourself? We focus so much energy on organizing our surroundings, in making it aesthetically pleasing, in caring for a lifetimes worth of knick knacks, but how much time do we spend on cleaning out the cobwebs and clutter that have built up inside us?
One way to sweep the dust from your soul is to connect with people. Whether you're volunteering, visiting friends, working with the public, or just making a point of saying hello to people you pass when you go for a walk. We're social creatures, we need each other. You could also be proactive and take a class in something that interests you. This is a good way to meet people that have similar interests to your own. Or, you could take part in a community activity, such as an Earth Day clean-up or an MS Walk. Nothing makes the soul sparkle like giving.
Other possibilities for clearing away the inner clutter:
-Go for a walk. It's amazing how open the mind is after a brisk walk in the sunshine.
-Watch the sun rise. Just remember to sit facing East.
-Write in your journal, penning down all the stuff that crowds your mind.
-Draw. Paint.
Or you could clean out your closets.
This is typically the time of year that most people start to open their closets and garages and take a serious look at what they've accumulated over the past year. What should go and what should stay is foremost on our minds. Spring cleaning is no easy task but as we chip away at it, little by little, an amazing thing happens...our minds lighten, our eyes brighten, and our lives become freer. There is a definite psychological bonus to clearing out the clutter.
But where do you begin? Under the beds? In the closets? Up in the attic? Well, that's a personal choice, but here's something to consider...how about within yourself? We focus so much energy on organizing our surroundings, in making it aesthetically pleasing, in caring for a lifetimes worth of knick knacks, but how much time do we spend on cleaning out the cobwebs and clutter that have built up inside us?
One way to sweep the dust from your soul is to connect with people. Whether you're volunteering, visiting friends, working with the public, or just making a point of saying hello to people you pass when you go for a walk. We're social creatures, we need each other. You could also be proactive and take a class in something that interests you. This is a good way to meet people that have similar interests to your own. Or, you could take part in a community activity, such as an Earth Day clean-up or an MS Walk. Nothing makes the soul sparkle like giving.
Other possibilities for clearing away the inner clutter:
-Go for a walk. It's amazing how open the mind is after a brisk walk in the sunshine.
-Watch the sun rise. Just remember to sit facing East.
-Write in your journal, penning down all the stuff that crowds your mind.
-Draw. Paint.
Or you could clean out your closets.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Three R's
Reuse, Reuse, Reuse!
I know, you thought it was Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Today, it is all about reusing what you already have in your home to help keep what you ship out of your home down to a minimum. Below is a list of my top 5 techniques for stretching the use of an item, which invariably stretches my dollars, and keeps said item out of the landfill altogether or for a little while longer.
1. Garbage Soup. Sounds yummy doesn't it? My daughter turns her nose up at the name but I turn out a delicious soup every single time and this is how: When I chop veggies for a meal, I don't use up all the little bits, so I cut those bits off and put it in a container in the freezer. The little bits? Well, they're the tops of tomatoes with the hard center cut out, the trimmed off tops of carrots, the ends off celery. Getting the idea? I have one container that it goes into, uncooked, and when I'm ready to make soup I boil this oddball mix of 'leftovers' to make a broth. I also save meat bones separately and use them in the same broth. When I feel the broth is just right, I scoop out the odds and ends and then add my fresh ingredients.
2. Cloths. I don't use paper towelling. It really is a waste of money and resources. There is nothing wrong with using a good ole fashion rag to clean up spills. When a dishcloth becomes threadbare it can pull duty as a cleaning cloth. Keep a separate pile of these little helpers with your cleaning supplies.
3. Newspapers take the stink out of life. Tired of reading about corrupt politicians and wayward people? Put your newspaper to good use before you recycle. My kitchen garbage pail used to smell by the time I got my bag of trash to the curb each week, but one Sports section placed in the bottom of the pail when I put in a new bag keeps my garbage pail from smelling like a landfill. I've also balled up newspaper and wedged it in a smelly summer shoe for a few days. Who would have known there was an easy way to be rid of the-teen-doesn't-like-to-wear-socks-with-sneakers-foot-odour. I also wadded some up and put it in a plastic storage container that had an unidentified aroma. That particular container was never again used for food but is still in use for other storage.
4. Treasures. I'll be completely honest here...I haven't used all of the treasures I have found. I have a jar of them that I pull out from time to time, hoping I will have a project they can be used in. Treasures are the lost bits of jewelry, buttons, and other bits that I find on the ground when I'm out for a walk. I have earrings without mates, little charms, bits of heavy wire, plastic ties, hoards of odds and ends that can be converted into decorative trims for craft projects. I used a section of a beaded necklace as a hanging 'button' on a crocheted purse. It snagged the yarn constantly but the theory is a good one. I'm going to try it on a sewn bag next time.
5. Plastic bags. There is a booming market for reusable bags. Businesses are trying to be rid of plastic bags for both environmental and financial reasons. But what about the plastic bags you've already accumulated? Most of us have used them as trash bags, but what about just using it as a bag? Why pay for a reusable bag when you can simply reuse your plastic ones? Just lay them flat and fold, pressing flat as you go, and stuff them into a resealable bag, then keep it in your purse or pocket for those unexpected trips to the grocery store. You can also crochet with them. I did this once, but the time and effort put into cutting the bags and crocheting them together, just to make another plastic grocery bag, didn't make sense to me in the end. I'm sure you can make other things, though. What do you think?
Some other ideas for reusing items found around your home:
-Make your own mailing envelopes out of magazine and catalogue pages
-Reuse envelopes by putting a label over the old address
-Jar and freeze the water you boil veggies in to use in soups
-Pull laces out of worn out shoes and launder. Voila! Spare laces
-Make old clothes new by refashioning them
-Use large Q-tip boxes for storage when they are empty. Great for things like crochet hooks.
-Make magazine holders out of cereal boxes
I know, you thought it was Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Today, it is all about reusing what you already have in your home to help keep what you ship out of your home down to a minimum. Below is a list of my top 5 techniques for stretching the use of an item, which invariably stretches my dollars, and keeps said item out of the landfill altogether or for a little while longer.
1. Garbage Soup. Sounds yummy doesn't it? My daughter turns her nose up at the name but I turn out a delicious soup every single time and this is how: When I chop veggies for a meal, I don't use up all the little bits, so I cut those bits off and put it in a container in the freezer. The little bits? Well, they're the tops of tomatoes with the hard center cut out, the trimmed off tops of carrots, the ends off celery. Getting the idea? I have one container that it goes into, uncooked, and when I'm ready to make soup I boil this oddball mix of 'leftovers' to make a broth. I also save meat bones separately and use them in the same broth. When I feel the broth is just right, I scoop out the odds and ends and then add my fresh ingredients.
2. Cloths. I don't use paper towelling. It really is a waste of money and resources. There is nothing wrong with using a good ole fashion rag to clean up spills. When a dishcloth becomes threadbare it can pull duty as a cleaning cloth. Keep a separate pile of these little helpers with your cleaning supplies.
3. Newspapers take the stink out of life. Tired of reading about corrupt politicians and wayward people? Put your newspaper to good use before you recycle. My kitchen garbage pail used to smell by the time I got my bag of trash to the curb each week, but one Sports section placed in the bottom of the pail when I put in a new bag keeps my garbage pail from smelling like a landfill. I've also balled up newspaper and wedged it in a smelly summer shoe for a few days. Who would have known there was an easy way to be rid of the-teen-doesn't-like-to-wear-socks-with-sneakers-foot-odour. I also wadded some up and put it in a plastic storage container that had an unidentified aroma. That particular container was never again used for food but is still in use for other storage.
4. Treasures. I'll be completely honest here...I haven't used all of the treasures I have found. I have a jar of them that I pull out from time to time, hoping I will have a project they can be used in. Treasures are the lost bits of jewelry, buttons, and other bits that I find on the ground when I'm out for a walk. I have earrings without mates, little charms, bits of heavy wire, plastic ties, hoards of odds and ends that can be converted into decorative trims for craft projects. I used a section of a beaded necklace as a hanging 'button' on a crocheted purse. It snagged the yarn constantly but the theory is a good one. I'm going to try it on a sewn bag next time.
5. Plastic bags. There is a booming market for reusable bags. Businesses are trying to be rid of plastic bags for both environmental and financial reasons. But what about the plastic bags you've already accumulated? Most of us have used them as trash bags, but what about just using it as a bag? Why pay for a reusable bag when you can simply reuse your plastic ones? Just lay them flat and fold, pressing flat as you go, and stuff them into a resealable bag, then keep it in your purse or pocket for those unexpected trips to the grocery store. You can also crochet with them. I did this once, but the time and effort put into cutting the bags and crocheting them together, just to make another plastic grocery bag, didn't make sense to me in the end. I'm sure you can make other things, though. What do you think?
Some other ideas for reusing items found around your home:
-Make your own mailing envelopes out of magazine and catalogue pages
-Reuse envelopes by putting a label over the old address
-Jar and freeze the water you boil veggies in to use in soups
-Pull laces out of worn out shoes and launder. Voila! Spare laces
-Make old clothes new by refashioning them
-Use large Q-tip boxes for storage when they are empty. Great for things like crochet hooks.
-Make magazine holders out of cereal boxes
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