Masterdabbler

January 3, 2012

Re-Cap on 2011 Re-Use Experiment

My projects:

Tote Bag

What I learned:

Its really hard to get off the Joann Fabrics Email list.
I have a lot of GOOD material.
It stifled my creativity or created another block to getting in the studio.
Good to waste material on “experiments” that failed (see below) to learn a new technique.

Failed Unblogged Projects:

VELVET vest. Eeks. I need to find a way to get that material back. Maybe a hat.
Skirt. Its on Flickr. That was supposed to be a bubble skirt.
Cigar box purse. I will have to set up a photo of this one. It’s very weird!

Giraffe With Pattern

I made a gaggle of giraffes for the holidays. I used old (1970s) upholstery fabric and ricrac.
giraffe photo
giraffe pattern 1
giraffe pattern 2

Click for more photos

1 Comment

Filed under crafts, sewing

January 3, 2012

Chicken Tortilla Soup: Crock pot

Love this trick. My good friend Veronica (whom we lost in 2005) gave me this tip.

Put chicken breasts in the crockpot, cover with salsa. Cook all day on low. The chicken shreds easily with a wooden spoon. Make burritos first night, then make soup. Add cans of black beans and diced tomatoes, frozen corn, and chicken broth. I add extra flavor with a teaspoon of adobo sauce*.

Serve topped with chips, cotina cheese and cilantro.

*adobo sauce is GREAT in chili, adds a little smoky flavor.

Rustic Outdoor Chandelier

As much as I loved the retro chandelier, it just didn’t go with my new table and chairs, which are a more of a rustic style. I spied this piece of wood in the garage that Peter was holding onto for an “art project.” Art Project is code for not-knowing-what-he’s-doing-with-it-but-will-not-throw-it-away. Using my wiles, I conned him out of it. I used hay-bale wire and Kerr canning jars. Cost was under $10.00. I love it!

3 Comments

Filed under home projects

September 22, 2011

Compost bin with plans

A thing of beauty!

My first attempt to compost was a valiant one. I bought a black box on a website and I diligently put my veggie scraps, egg shells and coffee grounds into it. The amount of stuff that went to the landfill decreased mightily and my tomatoes were award-winning! OK no real awards, but pretty good and abundant. However, the more full it got, the harder it was to turn, which is crucial to getting a good mix of compost.

Then Martha had to taunt me with this. Oh bring it!

Special thanks to Peter for the sweat! We (really he) made it for less than $100, using all scrap we had on hand. We had to buy the wire, some screws and bolts, and the cedar for the front.

We put in the corner of the yard and put it on the drip line. The right side is for dry items (leaves and grass clippings) the left side is for the active or “cooking” compost. That side is on the drip system. I’ll layer my scraps with the dry and turn once a month.

This is the detailed plan. Thanks to Iowa State University of Science and Technology.

3 Comments

Filed under gardening

September 18, 2011

Backyard 70’s Chandelier

This was a dumpster dive. Yes, I do that. I couldn’t let this go to the dump! I took all the electric wires and light fixture parts out of it, to make it lighter. I painted the “brass” fixtures a cool retro avocado green.