it's not easy being green

In an effort be more environmentally friendly, I began to take stock of my life to see how I can take better care of our planet.  Recycling:  check!  Carpooling: check! (I make Jennifer drive me around as much as possible)  Reducing Water Consumption: check! (no sprinkler system for my grass, I only use the water God decides to give me).

So, I generally think of myself as pretty environmentally friendly. I donate used clothes to charity, I recycle pop cans, and I dispose of chemicals the right way.  But, as I was watching television one night with my crochet hooks and yarn close by, I had an epiphany-- reusable cotton balls!  I use the cotton pad variety to take off make-up, put on toner, and take the nail polish off my nails.  So, I took some white yarn that I had lying around and tried a few different patterns.  Here is what I came up with: [for those of you dear readers who don't know how to crochet or don't want to, we will soon have them available at our Etsy Shop]

Reusable Cotton Face Pads

Materials:
100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Lily's Sugar and Cream in White)
Size J Hook


Abbreviations
Ch: Chain
DC:  Double Crochet
St:  Stitch
Sl st: Slip Stitch


Instructions:
Row 1:  Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.
Row 2:  Ch 3, 11 dc in circle, join with sl st  to top of ch 3.  12 dc.
Row 3:  Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joining st, join with sl st to top of ch 3.  24 dc.


Weave in ends.


I use these for all my make-up needs.  After I am done, I can throw them in the washing machine with some bleach and they are good as new.  The only task I don't use them for is taking off nail polish.  If you would like to use them for nail polish removal, I would suggest using a very dark color yarn when you make them. 

Cheers!  Jaime

Secret Weapons [Shhhhh, don't tell NASA]

Dearest Reader,

I am about to share with you a tip I once got from a dermatologist that revolutionized my life.  I don't throw the word "revolutionized" willy-nilly either.  This advice has saved me HUNDREDS of dollars in my quest for a clean face.

About 6 years ago [right around the time I was studying for the bar exam], my dermatologist gave me the following recipe for washing my face:



1. Wet your face.
2. Put 2 pumps of original clear Softsoap in your hands and lather.
3.  Use the Softsoap to clean your face.
4.  Continue to use your hands to scrub while you sing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice.
5.  Rinse.



[the music swells and angels sing]



I have to say that my dermatologist was GENIUS!  The Softsoap is super cheap and very mild on my skin.  Making sure to use it for the entire song of Happy Birthday TWICE really makes sure that my skin is clean.  So, no more expensive face washes for this girl!  It is very important that you use the colorless, clear version.  You can even get the generic version (that's what I use to save even more money).

Happy face washing!

Cheers!  Jaime

I double dog dare ya!

In the old west [and especially on the playground] these were fightin' words.....crafters also have fighting words.  They usually come in the form of "Too bad you don't know how to make_______"  Or  "I wish you could make ________"

As you may remember from my prior post my sewing machine gave me a HUGE feeling of a major power trip.  I was Wonder Woman and MacGyver all in one (throw in my iPhone and I could dang near rule the world!) - I was basically just waiting to be dared to make something!

And of course it happened......"Too bad you can't make Christmas Stockings...."   :-O  Excuse me?!?  OF COURSE I can make a silly little Christmas stocking!!!  Geesh!  I thought you were going to ask me to make something hard!  In fact I'm going to the craft store right now for supplies!

So this started my Christmas Stocking adventure....  I literally went to the craft store the same day....bought material, went home and washed it, ironed it (of course my favorite part!) and then stood looking at it...for a long time.....Just how the heck does one MAKE a Christmas Stocking?????

So back to the craft store I went.  I purchased a cheap stocking, brought home, and ripped out every seam to use as a guide (or what actual "sewers" would call a "pattern"!)

Then I went to work!  Even with a "pattern" it took SEVERAL times to get the shape enlarged correctly...but thankfully I live close to the craft store so if I had to go buy more material so be it!  I was dared after all remember?!!?!?!

The first one was for the dog (please do not let this make you think I don't love and care for the dogs in my life!  Because I DO!)....it wasn't bad....but I knew it could be better!  So I did what every knotty krafter would do....I'm tweaked it and improved it!!!!  By the time I had the 3rd one done I would have been willing to let anyone watch my happy dance!  I HAD DONE IT!!!!!  You can take that dare and drown it in a cocktail!  I RULE!

And then I remembered I needed to put a cuff and a loop to hang it by on...... BUT I put on my big girl pants and my pearls and went back to the craft store!  I got some $.99 white fat quarters and came back home and went to work!

All in all they turned out GREAT - especially for my first time!  I might even get brave enough to make a new batch next year.... ;-D

Materials

Christmas Fabric 

Coordinating Fat Quarter for the Cuff (I used white so you could see the names)

Pattern (There is a great one here from Prudent Baby-- we LOVE Prudent Baby)

Pins

Thread

Sewing Machine

Red (or coordinating color) Glitter Paint

Sequence in the same color as your paint 

Instructions

1. Wash and Iron material

2. Lay the "pattern" piece on the backside of the material and use a nifty frixion** pen to draw the outline one the material approx. 2 inches bigger than the pattern (because I just got a small cheap sock to tear apart LOL!)

3.  then I cut it out and flipped it over to the other side of the material and traced it and cut that out

4.  Pin both pieces together inside out and sew 1/4 in seams along the bottom and both sides leaving the top open

5.  For the cuff,  cut the fat quarter into pieces long enough to go around the top of the sock and then wide enough to be doubled

6.  Put the cuff inside the sock pinned it to sew 1/4 in seam and then roll the cuff out.

7.  Take red glitter paint and write the first letter big and outlined with large red sequins (using the paint like glue) and then finish the names with smaller letters.

8. Viola!  Your stocking is complete!

**Frixion Pens by Pilot are the BEST new invention for quilters and crafters.  They completely erase with heat.  There is an eraser on the end of the pen which causes friction and erases the mark.  You can also use an iron to erase the markings from your fabric, as I learned the hard way!  I buy mine at Target, but you can also get them here.

the Good, the Bad, and the Scrubbie

When I moved to Wichita 3 years ago, Elaine's mom, Georgia, sent me the BEST HOUSEWARMING GIFT EVER!!!!!  Dear readers, I would like to introduce you to The Scrubbie.

The Scrubbie

What is this Scrubbie I speak of?  It is a little piece of crocheted nylon delight that you can use to clean most things in your house.  They are especially helpful for cleaning non-stick cookware without scratching the surface.  I am not exactly known for my cleaning prowess (come on people, you have seen my car).  My Scrubbie lets me get to tough cleaning jobs when I want to, but isn't as abrasive as an SOS or similar pad.  Best part about it is that I can put it in the dishwasher and it will clean and sterilize my Scrubbie when I am done.

Georgia 

So, after using the Scrubbies that Georgia gave me (Thanks, Georgia!) for 2 years, I finally decided that I needed to make some myself!  So, I asked Georgia very nicely to share her pattern with me.  Not only did she share it with me, but she also taught me to crochet!

Georgia's Scrubbies

Materials:
Nylon Netting-- I bought this at the fabric store by the yard.  For my first project I bought 3 yards, which should net 10 (ish) Scrubbies.  
Crochet Hook Size J

Abbreviations
Ch: Chain
DC:  Double Crochet
HDC:  Half Double Crochet
St:  Stitch
Sl st: Slip Stitch


Instructions:
Before you begin to crochet, cut your netting into strips that are at least 1.5 inches wide.  I folded my netting like very long accordion and then cut my strips width wise at the top.  Use these strips of netting as the yarn in the following pattern:

Row 1:  Ch 5, join with sl st to form ring.
Row 2:  Ch 2, 9 hdc in circle, join with sl st  to top of ch 2.  10 hdc
Row 3:  Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joinging st, join with sl st to top of ch 3.  20 dc.
Row 4:  Ch 3, 2 dc in next st and each st around, dc in joinging st, join with sl st to top of ch 3.  40 dc.  Fasten Off.

So, thank you Georgia for all of your advice and teaching me the secrets of The Scrubbie!  My family thanks you, too (as they all received them as Christmas presents this year).

Cheers, Jaime