Ingredients for Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Wash:

1 cup water

2 tablespoons baking soda

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

Combine all 3 ingredients into a spray bottle and mix until well combined.  Use the spray just before you eat or prepare your fruits and veggies.  Spray first, then rinse off with water.

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Blue River (painting made from plastic bags)

“Wow” was the first word that came out of my mouth when I first discovered the work of John Dahlsen.  It feels like the possibilities are endless when I wander around his website.  He is one of the first artists I discovered when I started to research other artists who like to reuse materials.  He is the true definition of creating treasure from trash.

Thong Totems (found flip flops)

Primary Installation (Digital Prints hung on the wall that mimic the found material floor piece below)

To see more of Mr. Dahlsen’s work, click here.

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Home Remedy for a Soar Throat:

Boil 1 cup of water with 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.  Once boiling, turn off the stove and stir in 2 teaspoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (or the juice of 1/2 a lemon).  Once everything is well combined pour your tea into a mug and drink it up!

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Out front was this super cool upcycled bench made from repurposed scrap metal. I wanted to take it home with me then and there!

Artist: Tom Macomber

Have you spied any Creative REuse lately? Send an image and tell me where you spotted it!

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The next time you take a camping trip remember to take a box of baking soda with you.

• If you get bit by a mosquito, use it to relieve your pain.
• It makes a great toothpaste!
• You can also use baking soda as a deodorant to keep you smelling some what fresh on your hikes.
• After your fun adventure, the rest of the baking soda on your camping gear to take care of any odors it might have gathered up during the trip.

Happy Camping!

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For this round, I decided to test the old wive’s tail of pouring hydrogen peroxide directly on a stain.  Just a side note, this stain set for about a day.

***My Dad wrote me a note after this originally published and I thought it was appropriate to share***

One thing about hydrogen peroxide to watch out for is that it may bleach out some color from a fabric and one might want to try the process on a spot in the fabric that will not show if the color is removed or partially eliminated.

Now, the stain didn’t completely disappear, but I think after a wash it will hardly be noticed.  Nice job hydrogen peroxide.

Super easy stain fighting home remedy.  Woot!

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Fabric design inspired by grass blades

I am so excited about what’s unfolding in my studio these days.  I have decided to take a bit of a different approach to my Upcycled Unlimited Purses this year.  Instead of randomly making one purse at a time I have planned out 3 pattern designs and 3 fabric designs that will be the bulk of my line.  Look for the whole she-bang! in April.

I wanted to give you a sneak peek into two of the fabric designs I’ve made so far.  The spring collection is inspired by the environment.  What a stretch, huh?  I’ve created my own designs and handmade my own screenprints influenced by grass blades, rocks, and tree bark.

Fabric design inspired by tree bark

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks to come as the collection unfolds.

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Reuse those sacks to scrub last nights dinner off the saute pan.

Save yourself some money and extend the life of those funky bags.

Yay for two eco-friendly gestures in one!

Don’t know if it will make washing the dishes any more fun, but it’s worth a shot.

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I still remember my Dad getting overly excited whenever the breakfast place we were eating had orange marmalade within its selection of single serve jelly options.   He was the inspiration behind attempting my own batch of homemade orange marmalade.  I have to say as someone who is not as excited about it as my Dad is, I enjoy the flavor of this recipe.  There’s a sweetness right when you bite into it and then a kick of tang near the end.  And the orange pieces didn’t mess with me like certain textures in food usually do.  So, all in all, for the first attempt, I consider this a success.  You give it a try and let me know if you like it.

How to make your own Orange Marmalade:

This recipe makes 5 pint jars (give or take)

Ingredients:

• 6 large oranges
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 6 cups water
• 5 cups of sugar

• 5 to 6 pint canning jars with rings and lids
• canning funnel
• tongs
• ladle
• 8 quart heavy bottom stock pot

Directions:

1.  Wash the oranges making sure to scrub them really well.  The whole thing will be going into the jelly, so you want it to be super clean.

2.  Cut the oranges in to thin slices (about 1/8 inch thick).  Then cut the slices into quarters.

3.  Combine the oranges, lemon juice and water into the stock pot.  Set over high heat until it starts to boil.  This will take about 10 minutes.  When the liquid starts to boil reduce the heat to a fast simmer and cook 40 minutes, stirring frequently.  You want to fruit to be very tender.

Preparing your canning materials:

During the last 10 minutes of the simmer process, place the lids in a pot of water and bring them to a boil.  Once boiling, keep them warm over medium heat.  In your canning pot fill the jars half way with water.  Add 3 or so inches of water to the canning pot and bring the water to a boil.  Once boiling, keep hot over medium to high heat.

4.  After 40 minutes, return the heat to high and bring the marmalade back to a boil.  Add the sugar and stir frequently for 25 minutes.

5.  To fill the jars with the marmalade remove one at a time from the canning pot.  Use your canning funnel to fill each jar.  Leave 1/4 inch space at the top.  Use your tongs to get the ring and the lid and use a hand towel to tighten the lid.  Place it back into the pot and start with the next jar.

***It’s best if the jars don’t touch the bottom of the pot.  If you aren’t using an official canning pot, try placing a cake rack at the bottom of the stock pot you are using.***

6.  When all of the jars are full and in the pot, add water so there is at least 1 inch of it over the jars.

7.  Bring the water to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.

8.  Remove the jars using canning tongs and place on a wooden counter top, cutting board, etc.  Allow them to cool for a full 24 hours before opening.

Your new marmalade will last up to 6 months!

Enjoy and Happy Eating.

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My Top Ten Favorite ways to REuse Tights:

1. Treat yourself to an oatmeal bath. I learned, after receiving the worst sunburn of my life, that filling pantyhose with some dried oats, and using it in the bath with you (get it wet in the tub), soothes red skin and prevents peeling.

2. Keep your drawers fresh. Fill your tights with potpourri and tie in a knot. Put in your drawer or hang in your closet to keep it smelling fresh.

The Daily Green has a few awesome ideas:

3. Chemical free pest control. Wrap your melons and squash in pantyhose to keep pests away.

4. Fun with Photography. Experiment with putting tights over your camera lens while you take a photograph to see what types of textures it creates.

5. Keep it dry. Fill pantyhose with kitty litter and hang in moist-prone areas to keep them dry and prevent mold and mildew from appearing.

6. Make your own hair tie. Just cut a 3 inch section across the legs and viola! you have a new hair thing.

7. Patch a hole. Have a window screen with a hole in it? Before you replace the screen, use an old pantyhose to repair it temporarily. Use rubber cement to secure the pantyhose to the screen.

8. Save room in your suitcase. Do you roll your clothes when you pack? I do. The smaller the luggage the better! So, the next time you roll your clothes, put them inside pantyhose (with the toes cut off so they are open on two sides) to keep them from unrolling.

9. Stay Warm. Fill part of a leg (size is your choice) with some rice and tie the top in a knot. On a cold night, stick your rice tights in the microwave for a short time to heat them up. Put the hot rice on your neck, feet, or legs to warm up quickly.

10. Keep trash tight. Use a circular strip of your tights and place it around your trash bag at the top of the can to keep it from moving when it starts to get full.

As always, I have referred to one of my favorite books Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things for some of these ideas.

I would love to hear your favorite reuses for an old and tired pair of tights. Please share them in the comments below!

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