...so we can test out our new porch swing cushion...
...it's blue but of course it's green too...
You know the stuff, right? The way-too-bright, crinkly-feeling, sticks-to-everything-including-your-jammies-and-hair plastic-y stuff the Easter bunny likes to line his baskets with? Plus if your cat eats it, the necessary emergency surgery to remove it from her intestines will be quite pricey. Well, that stuff has long been banished from Knitsburgh. This year, we are going with flannel. Scraps from Wee One's flannel receiving blanket collection. After making bibs from two of these blankets (squeezed three reversible bibs total from the two), there was some leftover fabric. Not enough for another bib. I had some other ideas of what I might make them into but this one won out. Maybe it was the colors in the blankets (green and white gingham; pastel colored polka dots) that sealed their fate... 
I grabbed the pinking shears and cut strips of fabric, just eyeballing it to the width I liked. How easy is that? 
Get your basket and throw it in there. It should last for years as the flannel won't fray either. It would be cute and rustic too with some leftover cotton fabric. The fun part is you can make it any color you like and use any scraps of fabric you have, from old t-shirts to sheets to sewing scraps!
Did anyone else partake in Earth Hour this past weekend? We did and I managed to finish the Owlie Hat by candlelight. I enjoyed the time with the lights off; Nature Boy even got out a book and read, I couldn't believe my eyes! He did promptly turn on the television as soon as the hour was up but we did leave the lights off. Here is Owlie Hat for Wee Too, drying with the Owlie Sleep Sack. A Valentine pictorial...
A "green" bouquet! I made these fabric flowers out of two old shirts and a stolen wedding napkin (don't ask!) that were in my Reuse Me basket of textiles. Plus some sticks from the neighborhood and a hot glue gun. I used the tutorial found HERE. Best part is, they will last and grace our table long into the spring. Sorry the pics are so dark; we are having an overcast, gloomy looking day.
Handmade card using some embroidery floss, card stock and a pen, all of which were just lying about the estate. I traced a piece of heart shaped chocolate, then cut it out on the front part of the card. I then traced that negative space with my pencil to make a heart shape on the inner part. I used 6 strands of floss and did a very rustic looking satin stitch along the outline on the inner part. On the front, I did a rustic back stitch around the opening, leaving the ends long to tie in a bow. Write something cheesy and sappy, and there you have it!
Wee Too's baby booties.
Vegan sugar cookies with strawberry icing. The berries eliminate the need for any food colorings or dyes and make the hearts the sweetest shade of pink.
Vegan Strawberry Icing
4 medium strawberries
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Pulse the berries in a food processor until smooth. Pour into large bowl. Add in the vanilla and two cups of powdered sugar; with electric mixer beat. Add in additional sugar to make a stiff icing. If it gets too thick, you can add a teaspoon of soy milk.
Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day too!
Even though this little project didn't work out as I first envisioned, I was able to pull off the accessory for it.
A headband! From a shirt collar. From a men's shirt that cost $1 in a consignment shop.
If you find yourself refashioning/upcycling a shirt with a collar, it's really easy to make one of these babies. Plus instead of throwing out the collar, you can eek out one more usable item and prevent even more fabric from getting into a landfill. The result is a nice, sturdy, thick band that really works for crazy out of control hair (those thin tiny headbands simply laugh at me when I try to wear them).
Just cut the collar from the shirt, then cut the part of the collar that would rest against your neck away from the pointy-end piece. The pointy-end piece can be reserved for something else creative you might make. I haven't decided what mine will be yet but you can bet I will save it 'til I come up with that something else. When I cut the pieces apart, I made sure I did not cut through any of the outer stitches so I didn't even have to finish the edges, they were quite secure on their own. You could take off the button on one side, or leave it like I did for charm (or as an emergency secret button for some day when you find a button has escaped from some sort of clothing).
Next, grab a little scrap of elastic you have swimming around in your sewing box from some other project (baby yoga pants, represent). Sew it to the inside of one end. I sewed mine by hand but you could also do it with your machine.
Pin the elastic to the inside of the other end, try on your headband and adjust the pin as needed to ensure a snug but not headache-inducing fit. Stitch this end in place too.
Voila! Wear it like the awesome green crafty one you are! Show it off to your cat who witnessed said transformation and looks really impressed! And good luck on your shirt repurposing....
Added to Upcycled Awesome--go see what other people have made this week!!!
PINK DRESS-SHIRT DRESS, born July 19, 2010, died on July 20, 2010 after a surgical procedure to install a zipper. Pink Dress-Shirt Dress was the child of Ms. Knitsburgh's imagination and a men's Van Heusen dress shirt bought at the Avalon Exchange for $1.00. Such a short life; you will forever be missed and revered.
So the above ran in the Knitsburgh Times today. I so wanted to be showing you pics of me and this dress, happy together. Alas, it was not meant to be, another fate awaits her. That's right, I'm talking reincarnation here!
I used a lovely little frock that I quite like and is linen as my pattern. Problem was I did not take into consideration there is a zipper in my pattern-frock to help with the fitting of the waist over one's bosom when putting it on. Without the zipper I could get it over but I swear, it felt like a mammogram and I knew I would not wear the evil torture device as it were. I cut and installed a zipper no less than twice (I admit to you and only you I installed the zipper on the bodice portion only first and then when I went to try it on, same problem, waist strangling my chest). The second time I tried it on and --damn!!! Having to hem the seam allowances for the zipper made it too tight across the heiney and stomach, two areas I definitely want some flowing fabric to cover. A bummer for sure but I will live.
Wee One even offered to help fix it and got out his tools...so helpful, my Wee One!
In other events today, we got rear-ended on our way to dinner at Moe's! No one was injured but this sort of thing makes me feel really weird. I'm kind of glad I was driving and drove us to Ikea and then home too, one of those get-right-back-in-the-saddle things.
I also want to say this; I love to go to Ikea but we never buy any furniture there because our house is really not the "Ikea style." Meaning, our home is not very modern or Swedish or whatever you call that style. I do wish we could call our furniture things like "Skoog" and "Bjork" and "Flurgan."
Before you feel all bad for me because I don't have interesting names for my furniture or because we got rear-ended, know this: I still found some things to buy! Knitsburgh now has even more animal shaped cookie cutters; even more Wee One cups; even more fabric and yes, a glass jar to make some sun tea in along with a set of funnels for funneling. How did we ever get by before today?
Upcycled Clothespin Bag!
I also made another origami wrap from a maternity dress from Old Navy. I cut off the bottom and cut up one side to make the fabric piece for the wrap. The remaining piece might just become a little something to sleep (ahem!) in. Or maybe if I can figure out a way to reduce the cleavage factor, a shirt...
When I was pregnant, I bought some things super cheap at Old Navy. Like this dress for $3 that has been lounging around in my closet for over a year.
Now it doesn't look so bad lying on the table but trust me it was a mess. First, the size. I bought an XL because there were no other sizes and I thought I could make it work. Maybe had I been brave about alterations I could have; but if you look closely you will see what my meager attempt was to alter it--tie the straps in a knot to make them not so long. Thankfully, the bodice just didn't work, it was to the point of obscene. Which makes me wonder--why oh why, garment designers, do you think small thin straps will ever hold up a dress for someone who needs a bodice so large? Obviously they will be wearing a substantial undergarment underneath, especially if we are talking maternity wear. Hmm unless there are implants involved, then they will stay up by themselves I suppose...
Old Navy, I don't have to take it! I'm an all-natural girl and I will wear this dress and it will work and I won't even be pregnant when I do it.
Gathering up my courage (thanks again Marisa for the inspiration, you are amazing), I cut the entire bodice off. 
The bodice pieces (lucky me the striped fabric was lined underneath with olive fabric) would become the new wider straps and the belt. The elasticized underbust would now become the top of the dress, worn over the bust and shortening the dress to a more flattering length for me.
Of course, I needed to bring the waist in and opted for a drawstring waistband. From the wrong side I folded down the fabric to create a little tube and sewed it all the way around. 
It made a cute little casing for the drawstring. 
The drawstring was cut in one continuous piece from the bodice lining, then pulled tight to create a rolled belt. Some of my cutting was not very even so some of the drawstring is a bit ragged; I would improve on this aspect if doing it over.
I then cut long pieces for straps from the bodice fabric, pinned the front in place and sewed, then had Nature Boy pin the back straps and sewed them.
And here you have it...a dress I will actually wear!
OK so I have to admit, this is going to be a very uncomfortable post. For me and you both. It will require me to discuss intimate personal habits. I am still going to do it and if you are sort of squeamish about it, then quit reading now and go onwards across the 'net. If you are very very brave, then continue.
What on earth could this be about, you wonder?
I will start where it started for me. Cloth diapers. As I change Wee One's nappies many times a day and wash them faithfully every other day all in an effort to prevent another disposable from getting dumped into a landfill to never decompose, I started to wonder about other things I could do. One thing I didn't realize before breast feeding was your menstrual cycle (mine is affectionately called Judy) does not return until the breastfeeding slows or stops. For me it came back about the time Wee One was really starting to eat his solids, around 6 or 7 months of age.
Let me also say Judy had changed. Judy used to be very punctual. She is now more painful than before and very unreliable, showing up all willy-nilly like. A woman needs to be prepared at all times with a friend like Judy.
So I was thinking about ways to make Judy's visit much more green. Instead of clogging up Mother Earth with all kinds of yuckiness (you know, the disposable products that also cost a fortune every month), why not go reusable?
So I went to Whole Foods and got me a Diva Cup. Here is some propaganda from their site that worked on me. The statistic about the amount of waste created yearly from disposable tampons and pads is incredibly shocking. I won't lie, it took some getting used to as it is inserted a little bit differently than a tampon. I have to say now it is awesome! I was able to go swimming with Wee One and shopping afterwards without a hitch. The best part is, you don't have to empty it but once every 12 hours, that's only twice a day! (I even read online about a woman who empties the contents in a watering can half filled with water and waters her houseplants and flowers with this super-nutrient rich water. I have been contemplating this one...) However, I do like to wear a little backup with the cup to protect the clothing and for peace of mind.
And so I give you...the cutest little "backup" in the history of Knitsburgh.
I found THIS TUTORIAL at Sew Green and it was very easy to make them. I did splurge and bought some flannel for the outside part. We didn't have any flannel shirts or sheets that were ready to be re-used and I felt weird about using Wee One's flannel baby receiving blankets for this purpose (and I have some other things in mind for them). So I got the fabric with flowers you see here and some with mushrooms which I haven't quite made yet. I made eight to start off with and test, then will make more if all goes well. I also need to make the lining pads which go into the outer pockets I sewed. I have some old towels which I will reuse for this purpose. I like how the linings or inner pads will all be customizable too--as thick or thin as you like and need them to be. And did I mention how cute they are?
Funny thing is Nature Boy said the sewing on these was very professional- looking...of course it's on something no one else will really ever see! I think I am slowly getting better at sewing.
I would just say, to all the brave folks that read this far, to consider these options and maybe try one of them out. You are rather brave, after all. You can buy the pockets and pads online (try Etsy) and if you can't find the Diva near you, it can be purchased online too. Or you can make your own pockets and pads. Or if it's not for you, maybe green up something else in your life. Now go forth and love thy earth-mother!
A long long time ago in a Knitsburgh far away, you were promised some product reviews. I'm going to give one to you now.
The Gro Baby Diaper
We chose this for the Wee One before the Wee One was here for several reasons. We wanted a cloth diaper that might not leak a lot; we wanted one with organic cotton; we wanted them to last beyond a few months as our Wee grew. We also wanted cuteness.
We really liked how adjustable they are for fit and growth. There are three rows of snaps on the front which enable you to make it bigger or smaller. The Wee is on the 2nd row of snaps and has been for some time; it feels like they might actually work out until he is two as the product stated! Bear in mind our Wee is indeed small for his age.
The inserts are organic cotton and the outer shells are made of leak proof PUL. They are indeed cute and look good on their own with a t-shirt on a hot day if you are in a relaxed, informal mode. Especially if your Wee has on some striped socks.
Leaks have occasionally happened but normally this is an error made by myself or Nature Boy. If you are diapering a fidgety Wee and don't get the shell velcroed closed while paying attention to the leg openings, you sometimes get leaks around a gap in a leg opening but by now, we are pros at this. The other type of leak happens when you lay a Wee down for the night or an extended afternoon nap and don't add one of the organic cotton booster thingies, which is just an extra layer of organic cotton you can add or leave out at your whimsy. Oh, and then the last type of leak is just boy-related and happens if certain parts are not positioned in a downwards state before the diaper is closed...again user error, not diapers fault.
After three months, one of the shells did have a problem. The elastic around the back came detached within the diaper on one side, leaving it loose and leaky. I contacted Kelly of Kelly's Closet where we bought them; she referred me to Gro Baby who sent me a new shell that very day (received it in like two days' time). Kelly also followed up with us and sent us a coupon for $5 off our next purchase; how nice of her! We just bought a swim diaper for Wee One through her as well and once it has been swim-tested, I will review that here too. Here's a peak at it and can I just say, it is too cute and I don't want to cover it up with any of the five (that's right, five) pairs of swim trunks he has to date.
We also bought our diaper pail wet bag and travel wet bag through Kelly's Closet and love them too. The washing of the diapers is not that bad; you need to buy detergent that will not leave a residue and this is for me the toughest part. Rinsing them out is easy and the washing is not a problem. I wash them every two days and when I can I hang them outside. I use a drying rack for the shells inside which dry very quickly, about 3 hours or so. The inserts are really thick and take F-O-R-E-V-E-R to dry inside on the drying rack so I usually pop them in the dryer if the weather is not conducive for outdoor drying. The sun also helps fade out any stains too and of course, imparts a freshness beyond compare. I try and hang the shells in the shade to prevent fading; the purple shells have faded the most so far, much more than the green or yellow.
I would say the cost to purchase the Gro Baby diapers is worth it in the long run as they appear to hold up well. Since they come in gender-neutral colors, if they hold up really really well you could potentially use them for additional siblings. I really like these diapers and for anyone who wants to cloth diaper and use organic cotton and not have their Wee One outgrown them quickly, these are definitely the way to go.
Here is a pic of the setting for our little Oscar celebration...I have to confess, the champagne flutes are holding beer...
