Grow your Own.

I'm Growing PET Bottles!

Actually We had freeze and frost warnings again, Yesterday for early this morning, (Someone please tell Mother Nature it is May 18, OK?) I was saving the bottles in hopes to maybe make a hothouse/lean-to for the garden, or maybe a chair. But I am also using some of them to make beads. Anyway they came in handy as an emergency cold frame for the plants. Covering each plant was a big pain in the ass, especially since I had to do this last week too. I had just put the bottles/frames away when I had to haul them back out.

Doncha love the debris? They flew off the Elder Tree. We used to call them Helicopters, or propellers. They fly off the tree like propellers. They all landed in the garden.

Anyway I promised a post on my trash can.

This was one of those paper/cardboard barrels, usually seen in the garment district and such. I inherited it when I took the excessive fabric remnants our school/church had left after a harvest fest one year. I have two of these. I decided to cut one down and make a waste can. This is the beginning. I coiled paper from the news and inserts as well as the magazines we get at xmas.
My attempt at being decorative...My square insert.

Finished with the coils. Now it is sitting there waiting for a topper. A band or something around the top. I tried folding the aluminum cans but it didn't work for me. I was thinking a copper band would look nice but I don't wanna pay an arm and a leg, it defeats the purpose of upcycle/ repurpose/ frugal. Try and try again I guess.

Is it May Already?

Wow . Summer is almost here. So what have you been up to you may be asking?

WELLLLLLL.......Besides the gallbladder problems and the subsequent surgery I had back in march ( yeah, happy birthday to me, you had a gallbladder!) to remove the nasty organ, and the depression that followed.....( same thing last time I had surgery too...Hmmmmm...I see a pattern here....no more cutting...or drugs)..I have been trying to create things from my waste products.....NO not that waste, the waste from the packaging this family uses.

Like soda Cans, plastic bottles, ( shut up! I have to buy my water, the water here sucks and the cheap-o filter systems are just as bad....you gotta buy the cartridges talk about waste, I dont even know how to repurpose those things. I would love a burkey ( sp.) wanna buy me one? costs around 200.00 last time I looked.), video tape and plastic supermarket bags.

Now I know I posted about crocheting those pesky bags into bag,bags... but sometimes I forget to bring them and worse still my oldest and her husband still bring them home...they never use the re-useables...grrrrrrrrr.....I feel like the garbage gremlin, going around cleaning up their waste all the time.

So I am always trying to find creative and dare I say it lukrative outlets to upcycle.

My first attempt at a mobile.....

CAN ya see it better here?

Soda cans cut into tear drop shapes. I punched a hole in the top and bottom, used eyelets and strung them with 30 lb test line. The small glass beads are clear crystal chips that i PURCHASED at the craft store in the jewelry dept.I alternated long and short lines and then added the chip lines in between, in addition are 2 lines of faux bali beads.

I liked it but it looked too industrious. It was too heavy as well, didnt swing too well with a light breeze. Also it was not very frugal. Crimp beads and eyelets are expensive.

My next attempt............

My daughters fingers...LOL she is holding a dark background to help me get the shot...

Ok so I can't get a good shot. These are cut into hearts and hung on 8lb filament with blue dangles for added weight. The 8lb test however, is too light. So this keeps tangling...My next attempt is a heavier weight line which is in progress.

The 30 lbs test line I could not tie I had to use crimp beads b/c the line was too thick and heavy. The 8lb test I could tie and it stayed and I did not need to use eyelets either ( more money saved).

Next.....my trash can.

Flowers Anyone?

Empty Soda Cans

Green Crafting

I think I posted this over the summer. I have finally finished it. They are Friggie magnets. I do believe I am the only one doing this and will be putting them up for sale soon, after I tweak a few things.


This is an Empty Soda Can I turned into a Suncatcher. I just cut off the top flipped it over and hung scrolled craft wire thru it and then made beaded Dangles.

Recycle! Post consumer Wreath

Recognize those bags? Yup Target bags, and maybe one or 2 burlington coat factory bags too.
A metal hanger ( drycleaner) and the bags are post consumer. I purchased the Floral Picks and ribbon.

HO HO HO.... Its time for Christmas crafting

I have been soooo busy. Jewelry making and Upcycling.

I made this from Recycled grocery bags. I cut them into strips like I was making plarn and then cut them in 1/2 and tied each one to a wire hanger shapped into a circle. ( we used to do this with sandwich bage 30 yrs ago.) Then I sprayed it green. I am now embellishing and will post finished pic.

Turquoise Dangle earrings.

Ruby chandelier chain drop earrings ( my own design)

Spiral Bracelet

Multi strand with peyote cuff.














Wrapped Sea Glass Pendants

















Bookmark.
This is the coil.












I made dangles from shrink plastic. embellished with beads and findings on ribbon.
























Black Lace choker ( beaded of course) Original Pattern is here

Bows I made from recycled magazines...

Tutorial Here

Christmas is coming.

So... it is that time of year again. ( I promise this year, NO mandolin without the guard..:P)

I have to explain, I have been very much concentrating on Upcycling. This is a passion for me, always was. I was shunned however as a child and my parents called me a garbage Picker, and a few other names.

Today I thumb my nose at anyone who criticizes me.

I am NOT however an al gore environmentalist. I dont believe that our SUVs cause global warming, in fact what they call global warming is nothing more then sun activity, the electro-magnetism that comes with it and ( maybe even a lil GODLY Wrath).

I do however think we produce way to much garbage, and our plastic-industrialized living is killing us quickly.

That being said, I approach green living from a selfish and non selfish stand point.

Selfish being ( not self centered) but HATING Corporatism. The conglomerates that are bleeding us dry with electric bills and heating bills! HATE THEM!

Non selfish being I think we need to help ppl to help themselves and see that all the crap they are eating chock full of preservatives are killing them and others thru the use of manufacturing and the crap being belched into MY Air.

Did you know we don't break down as fast as we used to when we die? We ingest ( thru mouth and skin) so much formaldehyde and other preservatives it is taking us longer to decompose today!

Now that I have explained my approach, I prefer the term organic living over green since green has come to being identified with the chicken little al gore worshippers.

Organic is what us old hippies were called.

Now with that outta the way......Here is what I have been doing.....

For Christmas.....




I will be uploading my pics of my re(up)cycles soon. I switched PCs and have files everywhere now.