Sunday is trash night in my neighborhood. Everyone sets out their bags and bins for collection, I take a stroll to look for good pickings, and marvel at the piles of refuse we consign to the heap each week.
Many of the houses around me are piled every Monday morning with three or four big black trash bags, each and every week the people that live there manage to create that much waste! I can't tell you how to fill those bags, it's a mystery to me, but I do know the things I do around my household to reduce waste...
The most important, as always, is to reduce what comes into the house! When shopping I (of course!) use cloth market bags. But I also use cloth bags for bulk foods and produce, or reuse old plastic bags. Buying bulk foods not only saves on a lot of packaging, it reduces wasted food. One buys what their household needs, and never too much.
If you focus on eating foods that can be bought in bulk or reusable packaging you also see a change in your diet. Avoiding excess packaging often means avoiding processed foods as well.
Naturally, not everything you want to buy comes in reusable packaging. From food to clothing to household goods almost everything has some kind of wrapping nowadays.
When you're shopping you can however consider the fate of the packing material. Is it cardboard? Paper? Annoying hard plastic blister packs that require bolt cutters to open? When you can pick the item that has minimal packaging, and is recyclable. While it's better to not create the waste in the first place, if you have to try and recycle it!
Ready for the really hippy-dippy stuff? Compost. Seriously. If you have even a small yard or garden the soil enrichment is priceless. There are many styles of bins, turners and boxes - or you can just pile stuff in a corner. It assuages some of the guilt of a ruined dish if you know it's being composted into next years garden. Separating out all the food waste will also keep your garbage from smelling!
I keep a small flip top trash can in the kitchen to collect funky food, my parents always kept a yogurt container. You need something with a cover for inside, then empty it regularly. The pile shouldn't ever smell outside, after dumping kitchen scraps just toss a little dirt or leaves on top to keep away flies.
There are also options for the yard-less. Under-counter vermiculture bins are perfect for apartments or small houses. Some progressive cities are creating municipal compost programs with curbside collection bins. If there's a community garden in your neighborhood they will often have a compost pile you can contribute to.
There are a lot of small things you can do to reduce your environmental impact, and managing your waste stream is a good place to start. Consuming with the thought in mind "how much garbage is this going to make?" shows companies that we care about packaging. Recycling everything that you can preserves natural resources. It's easy to have a much smaller bag on the street corner on Garbage Day!
I fiddled with the layout for quite a while, I'll be using the booth for four days so I need to make sure it's just right! My tables and racks are laid out, so I can go right in tomorrow and start hanging bags. I'm looking forward to an exciting weekend, and it will all be inside in the coolness...
So I've been wanting to share this with you guys for a while, but I had to work up to courage! At a local First Friday event there was an artist doing "Unflattering Portraits". Like a caricature only you know how bad it's going to be from the get-go! So here it is, courtesy of the Misanthrope Specialty Co, fine art meets that awkward photograph. Check out the site to see all the horrific wonders!
Some vintage strap stays from a bag of old notions grace the front. I left it otherwise unadorned so that it can be used equally with steampunk, fantasy and everyday garb. I may however devise a system of interchangeable accessories to give it more flair. I could make a pair and feel even more like a pack mule...
It's nice to have a small break from my usual sewing from time to time!
That's what I call dyed wool fleeces, hanging on the line they seem to be fluffy colorful remains from a stuffed critter. But when I stack them on the dining room table and set up the drum carder they become a curiosity magnet...
Last night's full moon passed thru glowing cloud banks to bathe my yard in it's pale cold light. Even tho it comes once a month I never feel like the illumination last long enough. As the cycle turns I can only wave at the moon goddess knowing she'll return in 4 weeks...
If you find yourself missing the light at the moon wanes enjoy this hand-sculpted silver cast pendant from Bronzegirl1. The slightly polished surface is a good parallel to the pockmarked moon.
Werewolves beware, one could wear the moons bright face on a shirt and bring it out into the world in broad daylight! This sweet shirt from BlackBirdTees has the detail and contrast to make people howl...
Reflecting light dancing across water, this stained glass piece from DianesGlassWork seems illuminated from within. The soft swirl of colors is captivating, imagine filling a room with this scene by hanging this piece in a window!
The glow of that satellite preserved in wonderful woodgrain. JoshuaRutherford has wonderful wood plaques highlighting the phases of the moon and the arc of the sun, all in native hardwoods with natural finishes.
Am I the only one drawn to that bright light? Seems not... These lovely cards from ScarlettDesign with a large graceful moth using the moon for navigation remind me that other creatures of the woods love the soft glow of moonlight.
How does your garden grow?
Shouldn't be that hard a question right? But it is right now... I've done a consignment of yarns to Fabric Bliss here in Denver to see if they can sell any there. So far feedback has been good! But then the hard question - can I spin enough to supply a shop and carry it myself online? If sales go well there I may let them become my exclusive outlet, but then I've got the "all-your-eggs-in-one-basket" scenario. I guess we simply must keep crafting and let the fates decide! No matter what the answer will still be "Yarn"...
The main object here is a simple wooden box, bought at a hobby shop. I did have to tighten up the corners and all the screws ("Made in China" you get what you paid for) before starting. I stained it with mahogany oil stain and finished it with linseed oil. This is the messy part!
I then cut some decorative parts out of brass sheeting. The metal is fairly easy to work with, but it dulls both razors and scissors fast so always cut metal with junk shears. I created a symbol with a large gear cog and wings - I've decided this is the emblem of "The Royal Exploration Society" and I will wood burn that into the side.
I will continue to add dials, switches, wires and parts as I find them around the house and at estate sales. I will need to antique the new brass so it matches the old brass a little better. I have debated antiquing the entire contraption when it is done, but it makes more sense for me that is has traveled time, and thus despite being made in the 1880's it is only a few years old... right?
On July 9th there is the Handmade Homemade Market. I won't be selling there, but expect to see me bartering for local goodies!
The most important, as always, is to reduce what comes into the house! When shopping I (of course!) use cloth market bags. But I also use cloth bags for bulk foods and produce, or reuse old plastic bags. Buying bulk foods not only saves on a lot of packaging, it reduces wasted food. One buys what their household needs, and never too much.
Naturally, not everything you want to buy comes in reusable packaging. From food to clothing to household goods almost everything has some kind of wrapping nowadays.
Ready for the really hippy-dippy stuff? Compost. Seriously. If you have even a small yard or garden the soil enrichment is priceless. There are many styles of bins, turners and boxes - or you can just pile stuff in a corner. It assuages some of the guilt of a ruined dish if you know it's being composted into next years garden. Separating out all the food waste will also keep your garbage from smelling!
Lovely photograph by Gbrosseau
Colorful yarn from TheyToldMeSew 
Cute pin for accessorizing by VanCocoaDesigns 
Classic earrings from BlueBeadStudio
Cute repurposed necklace from SweetEllaBean
Adorable skirt from Vickytzo
