Be Ye Separate

Making it last

Blessings!

   I am asked often about how we use things to their fullest potential so I thought I would share a few things with you. They aren't complicated at all, just fun and easy:)

   I can't abide waisting things. It just turns me sideways to see things tossed or left behind that have a potential to give a little more of itself. My husband used to tease me about some of the things I would "save" for later. You know what I mean...always finding a potential in something rather than throw it away? Well, my husband put his foot down one day and said, "no more"! I had boxes and shelves and bags FILLED to overflowing with all my "I can do something with that someday" stuff. Soooooooo, the children and I were put to the task 10 years ago to make it happen or toss it! (GASP!)

   Toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Who hasn't saved THOSE for a child project at one time or another. How many of you STILL have bags of those hanging around?:P Here's what we do...

1. take the children, a bag of birdseed, kabob skewers, string and peanut butter and sit them down at the table. (Our children are nearly grown and they STILL enjoy this). First poke holes with the kabob skewers at the bottom in a crisscross so they stick out in four places. Remove the skewers and set them aside.  Also poke holes in the other end (just two of them) and lace a string through it and tie it for a hanger.

   Let the children (dont' hesitate to participate) spread peanut butter over the paper roll. It doesn't have to be a thick layer, just enough to stick seeds on it. The roll the peanutbuttered tube in the seeds (or if you are feeling very crafty, you can get all kinds of different types of seeds and make neat designs). Carefully push the kabob skewers through the holes you already made and voila!  A easy, fun, disposable birdfeeder! They can be hung in the trees, from eves, just about anywhere that you have birds. We put them in the trees near out garden and they dont bother my vegetables:)

Torn clothing? Or any clothing that needs disposing of for whatever reasons. My husband and son are avid fix-it men. Needless to say they can stain up a pair of pants to unusable pretty quickly. They also tend to tear through them and stain shirts etc. They DO have work clothes but even those need retiring at some point:) Everyone puts holes in this and that at times and renders an article of clothing unwearable now and then.  Or perhaps you have things that belong to your children that want to keep but we all know, over time, things tend to yellow with age and those little spitup stains that hardly showed at all turn to a dark color after a few years in thos storage bags:P Here's what you do (and do it right away mind you or things pile up). We used to donate things to the mission and to the second chance stores but more than not they would turn us away because they had no room to take more. Now that we make all our clothing, we wear things till they nearly wear out completely so who will want it then?:P Instead of letting it pile up anymore here's what I do...

2. Spend time going through the clothes that everyone has outgrown, worn through or otherwise given up. Make templates out of old cereal boxes or if you happen to have quilt templates you can use those. Use the best amount of the fabric from the clothing as possible and cut out your squares, triangles and strips. Have large plastic baggies that are marked with the size and shape. Fill those baggies until you need another:) When you do this make sure you clip all buttons, snaps (if they are the old sew-on type), hooks & eyes and zippers to put in your sewing stash.

   Throw away all unusable portions and you have your future quilting pieces all organized and ready when you are in the mood for stitching:)

Sheet-tastic! Got old sheets that are faded or you don't use the anymore? Give them a new life...

3. If you have little children the sheets make great (very durable) shirts for boys (even hubby):P, dresses and pinafores and sunbonnets and skirts for mommy or teens. They can be cut up in squares and hemmed for cloth napkins to dress up your table or picnic:) and they make great quilt backings:) It's also cheaper than most yardage so don't hesitate to search for sheets at the second chance store:) If they are faded or you want a more vibrant color on solid sheets then use a little Rit Dye:) And don't discount the fitted sheets...they have plenty of yardage in them too:)

Well, those are just a few things and I am being called to noon meal. I'll share more over time. I pray this is of some use to someone:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Untitled Comment

{ 21:04, Tuesday, July 10, 2007 } { Posted by meme21713 }

The birdfeed is a must for my little Doodle Bug. I keep sorts of things, but if I have not used it in a year or two they are history. I don't have ideas as you do so keep them coming...Debbie

Old Sheets

{ 21:58, Tuesday, July 10, 2007 } { Posted by oklamouse }

I love using the old sheets also in "recycle" projects. Depending on the sheet size, you can use them as a backing for baby quilts or quilted place mats; make little girl's pantalettes or bloomers; pillowcases; fabric to make a little baby doll or teddy bear. I have also used scraps from them in embroidery hoops to use as a "practice" fabric for teaching little ones how to sew on buttons or to practice embroidery stitches.

If you quilt alot, you can use the smaller scraps of the bed sheets to make quilt labels or the casing that you attach to the back of a quilt to hang it.

Paula

~~Blessings!
You know you can also use those pillowcases for making little sundresses? I love finding uses for unwanted yardage:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 14:28

Some really nice ideas!

{ 06:49, Thursday, July 12, 2007 } { Posted by Joanne }

Do you have any suggestions for juice cans besides the usual ever-popular pencil can?
Joanne

~~Blessings!
I am posting a few ideas just for you:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 14:29