Radical Recycks

Everyday

2012-01-30T21:05:00.003-05:00

Have you every really realized the things you use EVERY DAY?

I just realized these few things about myself

1) I use only one bowl in my house to eat out of. It's a vintage blue bowl I got at an antique store.

2) I only eat from one plate. If it's dirty I wash it before I will eat. It's small (I have always preferred smaller plates must have been that weight watchers thing from years ago) It's a rectangle with sides.

3) Now this one I've know for a long time. I only use Soup spoons to eat with! don't know why but I love them & my very favorite one I took from a resort in Jamaica. (Sorry I know that was wrong of me but I want to be buried with this spoon)

4) This one isn't much of a secret but I needed a 4th for my picture lol! My French press. I have had coffee makers in the past & have one now but I just Love my French press the best!

When I quit my Job I had grand plans to make my own sour cream, yogurt, sour dough bread, cheese, pasta, etc.... well non of which I have made lol.

But this week I did start making bread, not sour dough (which I did make the starter it just seemed like way more work that I was willing to put in to it). Now for the best part..... My family ate it all at one sitting! The third time it didn't all go but I did get a good effort. It tastes a lot like egg bread kind of sweet and oh so yummy. I did make home made cinnamon rolls this morning which I thought were good but I had ran out of white flour and had to use some Whole Wheat flour well hubby noticed the "brown " color and declared he does not like Wheat! WTH really you don't like Wheat? whatever not worth the fight.

So This week I will be adding Olives to my bread to see what that might taste like!

Here's the link to the Recipe (click the word Recipe)

xoxo

Tracie

Apple Pie

2012-01-16T13:23:00.004-05:00

I am not sure if I mentioned it here or not but I became a Grandma on 10.13.11

to a Beautiful Girl named Alexandra.

Now her name was a battle between her parents. Now it seems her parents each have different nicknames for her~ Mom calls her Lexi ~ Dad calls her Alex

So Grandma decided she was going to call her Apple Pie!

Nothing like confusing the poor child lol.

without further ado here she is!

Mascot

2012-01-12T12:36:00.001-05:00

I have been wanting a mascot for Radical Recycks for sometime now.

I have emailed a logo company with no response (loved their work).

I have asked a friend to draw me a picture which hasn't come to fruit yet.

I've looked online for that perfect Raccoon & was having no luck until now!!

Here he is Ricky Raccoon!

Bohemian Bag

2012-01-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

After I did the video's for the Bohemian Bag I was kind of over it...... then it came back to me the other day and a trip to Salvation Army was in my future! The thought of a Black & Gray bag with Sweater beads that were beaded with hot pink beads got me drooling again! After your first one they whip up quick! I can't wait to ditch this cast and backpack so I can carry it around town!

If you want to sign up the classes are now live (as of 1.1.12)

Plus there are 19 more classes you can take from the comfort of your own home!

Here's the link to sign up!

Click here to view more details

T-Shirt Wreath Tutorial

2011-12-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

I made a video on how to make a T-Shirt Wreath! Great for any Holiday or just because! I have one in my hall way and one on my front door.

Sweater Beads

2011-12-16T22:25:00.001-05:00

Finally I'm done with my workshop video's and Pdf's!!

I have been wanting to do online workshops but always put it on the back burner being apart of "Stitched" forced me to do it and have deadlines!

In case you haven't signed up yet here's the link

Here's some pictures of the bag and beads I made in the video's

Stitched Online Workshops

2011-12-01T08:56:00.001-05:00

I am excited to be one of the 20 teachers teaching an online workshop!!

They are all Fabric Based Projects and who doesn't love Fabric!

I'm teaching the Bohemian Bag workshop in which we will transform Acrylic Sweaters into a Fantastic Bag! So get your sewing Machines out and grab those Ugly sweaters and go Register!

Click here to view more details

Here is the Bohemian Bag

Click here to view more details

Plus the First 20 to Register through me get a FREE Kit!

Kit Includes:

Roving to made Felted beads

Bead

Wool Sweater pieces

Felted wool piece

webbing

Custom Embroidery pattern made by Jen Osborn just for this Bag!!

All will come wrapped up in Upcycling Packaging of course!

Click here to view more details

Here are pictures from all the workshops!

Click here to view more details

Bagels

2011-11-18T07:05:00.001-05:00

When I was 15 yrs old I worked at a place called broadway bagel. Looking back I am not sure what was up with this company but they let a 15 yr old run their business. I would open by myself and close by myself, take deliveries and make bagels. When I made the bagels I would put them in a giant boiler then put them on the giant oven. One time I was slicing meat for a customer and cut my finger on the meat slicer ended up not being a bug deal but it sure scared the crap out of me! Why am I telling you this story? Because I have been wanting to make homemade bagels for along time now and finally got around to doing it! They were everything I hoped they would be and my daughter even liked them! The only bad thing is they only last the day you make them. I think next time I will only make a half batch. They aren't hard to make so I encourage you give it a whirl.

I put some Black salt on a few of them. I am a salt snob and love unique salts.

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Slipper Obsession

2011-11-13T23:20:00.001-05:00

I love love love slippers~ I love to buy slippers and slipper patterns ~ crochet, knit & sewing. Funny thing is I usually only make one slipper lol! but it's usually because the slipper doesn't quite fit me. Not sure why all the patterns I get never fit my big old foot and it's not like they don't give a pattern for my size 9's so not sure what the problem is the only thing I can think of is the folks making the patterns have smaller feet so they just assume the adjustments will fit a bigger foot with no real proof! Well time to try another pattern this one from ithinksew.com but again to much despair it didn't fit however it was an easy fit I just had to make the foot longer! Presto a new pair of slippers for mamma!

My Mother in Law was over the other day to see my Granddaughter and said to me "you know that you have two different slippers on?" I let he know I made them from old clothes and didn't have enough fabric to make a matching pair~ duh!

My all time favorite Knit slipper pattern is from Lee Meredith called Mary Jane Booties!

They whip up quick and I mean quick plus the best part is you can use all your left over yarns and if they don't match all the better! They have been a Christmas hit for a few years now go get the pattern & start Knitting the holiday's are right around the corner! Here's the cover page of her pattern so you know what your looking for!

Stitched

2011-11-03T22:39:00.004-04:00

I am one of the 20 instructors!

all 20 classes (plus bonus mini ones) all for $89!

More details about the classes to come.

For the Love of Tee's

2011-11-01T10:04:00.001-04:00

I have been obsessed with T-shirts lately! I am making this cute hats which are great for the fall as they aren't too warm yet keep the chill off your head! Gender natural as well!

My Stash of Tee's

a Sloo of hats ready to go!

Betty in her hat! (This was my display at a craft show)

My Son not happily modeling a "world of warcraft" hat!

So I have now added Flowers to the mix! I love these so much they can be used in your hair or as a clip on your shirt, purse or even shoes!

A mess of them ready to be posted for sale!

My with my new flower!

Nope doesn't stop there! Fingerless gloves now are added to the T-shirt goods list! they are great because they aren't too warm but just right for those cold office days!

You will just have to wait to see what I have brewing next.....................

Crescendoh~ Guest Curator

2011-10-04T10:47:00.000-04:00

I am a Guest Curator this week over at Crescendoh~ check out the blogs that inspire me and my story!

A%20Maker%20of%20Things%20%E2%80%A2%20by%20Tracie%20Lampe

Random Recycling & Zippers

2011-09-24T22:32:00.001-04:00

My hubby is a bit obsessed with Craigslist but lucky for me he came across this listing for a coke bottle recycling bin! I have seen these at amusement parks but where in the world does one get them? Craigslist right? Lol. When my hubby went to pick it up the person also had giant M&M guys for sale but hubby thankful didn't jump on those!

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I've been instructed not to put it outside lol! Seems it will be going in the corner of the kitchen.

I use zippers in some of the things I make but they are a bit pricey when you add up your cost in supplies so I turned to eBay to see if I could score some for a fraction of the cost and I did! That's when it all when wrong! One lot of 750 was enough I had to buy 2 lots! So now I have 1500 zippers and I frankly don't use that many. In the last few days the zippers have made their way back into my creations but I am not a fan of the blind zipper so I sorted the 1500 zippers out so the regular ones would be on top for easy access. Heres the pile of regular zippere!

The picture really doesn't do this gianormous pile justice!

Zipper creations.

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Location:Joan,Pinckney,United States

New Clutch

2011-09-21T16:59:00.001-04:00

So now that I'm home I have a little more time to finally get to those things I've been wanting to create!
One is made with grocery & h&m bag, the other one is from a plastic table cloth. Both are lined with Eco felt.
You can purchase them at RadicalRecycks.etsy.com

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Love 2 Upcycle: Meet & Greet: RadicalRecycks

2011-09-21T15:36:00.000-04:00

Love 2 Upcycle: Meet & Greet: RadicalRecycks: Tracie discovered her love for recycling and upcycling as a girl scout leader. Taking plastic bags and turning them into plastic fabric she ...

Tutorial, Give Aways & More!

2011-09-16T11:13:00.001-04:00

Contest/Giveaways/Just plain good stuff!

On my other blog I have a tutorial, give away and just some great info on a new eco friendly kid's program. Click the link above to check it out! be sure to leave a comment on my other blog for a chance to win!

(RadicalRecycks.com click on the blog section!)

Last hurrah!

2011-09-05T21:25:00.000-04:00

Well as I may have mentioned before I recently when from going into work everyday to working from home ( I was quitting all together but made a deal with the devil). So what am I doing with all my free time? Don't seem to have much free time for anything lol! I really don't know where the days go and I try not to "craft" in the evening when my husband is home which doesn't leave much time! I swear I got more done when I was working lol. I am sure it will all fall into place soon, or at least I hope so.Thus weekend signals the last hurrah before school starts- I'm not going back but my lovely daughter is starting 8th grade which with that comes drama lots of drama! So like always we headed up north to our cabin in the woods, time to sit back relax and enjoy the fresh air.

I have always wanted to go on a guided mushroom hunt but have yet to do the research on where one might be but nonetheless its the start of my mushroom obsession. I first wanted to eat them but after learning more about them unless you are 100% sure what mushroom it is don't eat it you could die... Enough said I will be loving them from afar lol. So my hubby went on a walk with me to look for mushrooms. Not sure what any of them are but here are my findings.

This isn't a mushroom but the cutest thing ever in it's green& brown scenery.

My hubby & the dogs on our mushroom walk. We have to watch for hawks so they don't swoop down & grab the dogs.

My other favorite thing to do while up here is garage sales. It's a bit tricky because there are no subdivisions just houses off dirt roads. I did score some goodies! These vintage curtains that just had that musty yummy smell to them. When I bought them the lady said " oh those will keep the drafts out" I said " I'm not using them as curtains I'm cutting them up and using them as liners in my totes" a bit of horror on her face then a quick reply " I never heard of that I'm glad you found a use for them". Here's my score.

A view of our scenery! I love it up here so much! Ya know this is plan "B" if me not working doesn't work out we will pick up & move up here to our tiny cabin. The girl isn't happy there's a plan "B".

Fresh start Give Away!

2011-08-08T22:14:00.002-04:00

So my fresh start is upon me as my last day of work is Friday & my 40th is a week after that! For me it feels like I am taking off my coat & starting fresh! With that said I am starting my online presents campaign not really sure what that means but it sounds good. I have 2 blogs right now one on blogger & the other one on my website this as you can imagine is a bit confusing but to my defense I didn't plan it this way. I am going to be amping up my posts on my website blog so I am want to drive traffic to my website & the give away will take place there.

Now for the good part the Give Away!

What is you wonder? A messenger bag made from a cat food bag with an adjustable strap & front pocket, trashy Barrett which is make from 1 1/2 shopping bags, notebook with a chicken nugget cover, juice pouch pocket, used gift card earrings (target gift card), water bottle flower ring (adjustable), used gift card guitar pick key chain (Starbucks gift card), used gift card necklace (trader Joe gift card) & a signed copy of my book "upcycled Accessories ".

So do you want to win all this yummy stuff? Then go to my website www.RadicalRecycks.com and sign up for my newsletter! The cut off will be my birthday august 20th so anyone that signs up by midnight on the 20th will be entered to win! Now I will be in Vegas that day so I may not announce the winner until the 22nd. Also I have yet to do a newsletter so my first one will be announcing the winner!

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Giveaway coming up!!

2011-07-24T21:32:00.000-04:00

I am going to be giving away a Signed copy of my book along with some goodies starting in August so stay tuned..................... (you can become a follower on my blog to be the first to know!)

Duct tape iPad case

2011-07-22T23:35:00.002-04:00

A few posts ago I told you about a challenge I has with making something using duct tape, Velcro & westcott cutting tools well I made a iPad case with a pocket that is also lined with Eco felt and a camera/cell phone holder with a pocket and lined with Eco felt as well. Here they are on display .

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Me with Marisa Pawelko, Barb St. john, Bernie Berlin in the Westcott booth.

Duct tape clutch

2011-07-19T22:51:00.002-04:00

I am at CHA Chicago this week and made this totally awesome duct tape clutch! Marisa Pawelko at www.modernsurrealist.com was demoing how to make them in Westcott's booth. We also got some free scissors which are non stick! How cool is that?!

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What will I make?

2011-07-04T21:02:00.002-04:00

I got 3 packages the other day from the following:

Westcott - scissors, cutting mat & paper cutter

Duck brand duct tape- assorted rolls & sheets ( they make sheets of duct tape now incase you didn't know)

Velcro- dots & strips

Now the mission ( since I already choose to accept it) it to make something using all 3 of the brand items sent to me. So of course my wheels were spinning on what to make- for me it has to be functional I have a hard time making something that well is just pretty I admire those who can do this! I need to work on that a bit.

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Hot day

2011-06-28T23:38:00.001-04:00

Nothing like homemade white wine sangria on a hot summer day!

This was an adaptation of a Martha Stewart recipe. Simple sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, white wine, apples, lemons.

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Traveling for Trash

2011-06-21T21:56:00.001-04:00

I talk a lot about my upcycling - for instance while I am getting my trashy roots dyed at the salon I ease drop on conversations and insert myself not because I'm nosey but rather because I'm bored (this looking beautiful thing is long hard work lol) and of course I somehow get to talking about how I make things out of trash. well on this particular occasion the lady I was talking to had a trunk full of games that she had tried to donate to salvation army but they wouldn't take them because they didn't have the time to make sure all the pieces where there, really? yep really! So guess who has them now? Yep me! So I have taken what I can use and recycled what I can't.

Now I also meet someone who is quality control for a company that makes tractor kind of seats so they get rolls of vinyl in then test it and if it's bad well they don't have anything to do with it because the recycling company only takes small pieces and the company they buy the vinyl from doesn't want the defective vinyl back so I was more than happy to volunteer to take it off of their hands! Heres my first roll! Now what to make?

And so it goes on.....I got an email last week from someone who works at Dow Corning and seems they orders these shiny silver bags from 3m but they were the wrong size and didn't meet their standards for some reason so to the trash they were headed but this wonderful lady got the go ahead to give them to me! Now what to make with them? Oh I think there's at least 250 in each box!

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Trashy Friends

2011-06-09T22:12:00.001-04:00

I found someone that was more than happy to join my cause and now sends me all the used gift cards she collects at work (Trader Joes). She found me Now that i think about - lucky me! Here's a picture of the last batch. I love to get mail and when it turns out to be trashy mail it's that much more exciting.

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Michigan Goods

2011-06-05T12:18:00.001-04:00

June 11th Heart of Michigan @ 203 w. Grand River Howell, MI 48843
(517) 548-5454 is having their Grand Opening! I will be doing a fused plastic demo from 11-12 as well as having my goods for sell there! The store will have all kinds of great stuff from Michigan Artists. My friend Wendy from RecycledLps.com will have her awesome LPS goods there as well.

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Plastic Bottle Flower Key Chain

2011-06-02T17:48:00.000-04:00

My heart belongs to Michigan

2011-05-31T22:16:00.001-04:00

I was asked to make some RePurposed totes for gifts that would be given at our Girl Scout Encampment this year. I wanted to make them a little bit more special & since our Girl Scout council is Heart of Michigan I thought I needed to put those two things together!

I love the idea so much and to be honest I've seen it before but it never really make me even think about applying it to my fused plastic until I was presented with the task above. I know my Heart is in Michigan so I know others must be to and maybe they want to wear it on their tote! Here is the link to get one ( I only have one up but I can make a custom one if this one isn't tickling your fancy) http://www.etsy.com/listing/75168095/my-hearts-in-michigan-repurposed-fused

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Beautiful day

2011-05-30T22:56:00.001-04:00

Today we honor all of those that have died fighting for our freedom. I thank each and every one that gave their lives. My heart goes out to their families.

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Dog food tote

2011-05-26T13:02:00.001-04:00

I have had an idea to make totes out of food bags for a long time now and then donate part of the proceeds to "a Place to Bark" but it just never made it to the front of the list, sad I know right! Well I am happy to say I finally got it to the top of the list with a little inspiration from a pattern I found at www.keykalou.etsy.com . Her patterns always inspire me! So this is the first one -I need to whip up some more and get them for sale so I can give some money to "a Place to Bark"!

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Plastic Bottle Lights Tutorial

2011-05-24T21:54:00.001-04:00

I whipped these Plastic Bottle Lights awhile ago and use them on my tent when I do craft shows & it seems to draw the folks in then they meet me and never leave lol! Just kidding but they are intrigued by the lights nonetheless & always ask me how I made them. I'm sure you could figure it out by looking at them how to make them but I put together a little step by step just for those who might need a visual. I even did a video tutorial but it doesn't want to upload to blogger so I am taking that as a sign that I should! Oh and the very very best part of these lights is that they are Solar!!

This is a booth I did last year with my friend Wendy @ RecycledLps.com

Trashy finds

2011-05-23T19:20:00.001-04:00

So when I went to the dumpster at work to throw out the trashy I found some goodies that missed the dumpster and were just waiting for me to find! Not sure what I'm going to make with my finds but they made me happy nonetheless!

What is it you wonder? Well baby metal washers & frankly I have no idea what it is that we sell that uses them (that will be my mission this week to find out). The sparkly nuggets are from a broken glass backboard (basketball hoop).

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New ideas

2011-05-20T22:09:00.001-04:00

While at Inspired someone requested a new design for my used gift card necklaces. At first I really didn't think it would look good, lay right or even work but to my surprise as I was putting it together it just felt right and came together beautifully! Thanks Cheryl Carraway for requesting the design!

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Here's Cheryl's goodies already to ship out!

New glue Helmar 450

2011-05-17T23:32:00.001-04:00

While I was at the inspired event all everyone was talking about Helmar glue so I had to see what the buzz was all about. I have to admit I am kind of a glue junkie but I have been on the hunt for a glue that would replace my contact cement because contact cement is not clear but a rather tan color so you have to be very careful with it so that it doesn't show. So I meet the Helmar distributor and she is totally fabulous! Yes, it's a woman owned company ! Well I tried the glue with my bags and presto it's just what I was looking for! I want my friend Wendy over at recycled LPS to try it to on her purses! Check it out at helmarusa.com.

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Location:Darwin Rd,Pinckney,United States

Inspired Workshop

2011-05-16T21:18:00.001-04:00

I taught at Artist Inspired Workshop in North Carolina this past week/weekend and I can't even express in words how much fun I had. I met so many fun people and laughed so hard I am pretty sure I peed my pants a couple of times! Everyone loved it and made the most amazing bags ever! That is one of the things I love the most is seeing what people come up with everyone is so talented! Ruffles I do believe was the theme that was to have been started by Stephanie Stacy Ackerman! I hope to cross paths with all of the folks again one day!. I was so excited to come home and start making some stuff myself but I had to catch up on sleep first then work this week but I managed to bust out a tote tonight!

Here is a picture of every student with their creation~ Well I hope I got everyone!

Mosaically - Inspired workshop by RadicalRecycks

oxxo,

Tracie

In a Pinch

2011-04-25T16:21:00.000-04:00

So I'm at work today & it's Rainy & chilly so I was thinking a cup of tea would be nice right about now! Then I remembered I just picked up some Tea from a craft show and that I would love to try it but crap it's loose tea and I have no tea ball! what to do what to do??? I found some other tea in fancy tea bags so I cut it open and poured out the other tea (it's now air freshner for my cubie) then filled it up with my new tea use a binger clip to close it and a stir to hang it in the hot water ~ Presto sipp'n on Perky Pear Tea!

the binder clip really comes in handy!!

Middle School Eco Club

2011-03-24T18:37:00.000-04:00

Today I was invited to a Rochester, Michigan Middle School Eco Club! I told them how I got started with my obsession of Upcycling then we fused some plastic! It was mostly boys which surprised me but they were so much fun, very creative and out going! Teachers & Parents came as well. I would love to do that everyday just go around to schools and talk with the kids then make stuff.
This is what they gave me when it was time to go!

Probiotics

2011-03-20T20:30:00.003-04:00

So my extreme nature has taken over yet again! A few weeks ago my friend at work was tell me about his friend & how he was weird now that he had a crazy girlfriend & they were growing their own probiotics~ well that was all he had to say and I was off on the internet researching how I could grow my own~ not even sure what they did but knew they were good for you & I had to grow my own!
First I came across Kombucha which it a tea I guess since you brew tea bags & easy enough to make but you needed a "mother" which was the thing that was hard to get your hands on since you can't buy these things live at the store. I came across KombuchaBrooklyn and bought the whole package. It was a bit pricey for what you got but I just did it! This tea takes two weeks to produce and there it a yucky thing that grows on top which is the mother with all the good stuff in it ( you have to have a mother but it will produce more mothers under it). Well I had to ask some questions because it just didn't seem right and sure enough I had to much tea in the jar. Once I took some out all was good and two weeks later I had my tea. Now I had no idea what this was suppose to taste like~ I can tell you that when you take the cup to your lips it smells like a big jar of vinegar but does not taste like it! it's taste like a mild tea but you have to get use to it and know it's for the greater good of your body. The good stuff it brings to your body it endless from all that I have read. I am not sure if I feel better yet but I don't think I was feeling bad to begin with & I have only had it for a few days now. I have already started my second brewing.

Here is a picture of my first brewing. Looks like there's mold on it but it is normal. I will soon have mothers to share so let me know if you want to try it.

While on my research quest I also came across Water Kefir. Now this doesn't take as long to produce only a day or two. It doesn't look as weird but that is personal as my husband called it my science project in the kitchen! This has many good effects as Kombucha. These are Grains in which you put them in a jar of sugar water, just like kombucha the living organism feeds off of the sugar. I like mine after a day since it's still sweet. The longer you let it sit the more vinegary it becomes. You can flavor it after & it becomes carbonated during the second fermentation. These Water Kefir grains reproduce like crazy ~ I have given away some already & had to halt production because i was drinking to much to keep up and found myself bloated! Once I get close to depleting my supply I will continue again. I find that I crave it now! no one else in my house will touch it. My son would if he was still living at home but I did send him with a jar of Kombucha for his belly troubles.

If you are interested in trying water kefir I have some ready for shipping and they are yours I just ask that you pay the shipping which is $5 in the US since I ship it priority. Then you will have a ton to share with your friends!

Now that I mastered Water Kefir & seem to have a handle on Kombucha I am on to Milk Kefir. Now they are not similar to Water Kefir in looks ~ Milk Kefir looks like little white brains! I got my from Groovy Guts . These ones you put in with Milk~ just normal Pasteurized milk but not ultra pasteurized! It is a bit to get past if you are squeamish about Milk products as it looks like spoiled milk. I love this stuff however it taste tart but I don't drink it straight I put in a blender with Maple flavoring (groovy guts uses maple syrup ) and artificial sweetener~ maybe a banana if I have one or frozen strawberries. It's so good I carve that now too but I only make enough for some big ol cup! but the cool thing about this stuff is there is whey left over which is the thick stuff. I didn't add anything the first time and didn't let it sit as long & it turned out more like cream cheese. Then next time I put sea salt and fresh cilantro in it and let it sit longer ~ it made a nice cheese, only 2 bites but divine nonetheless!

Milk Kefir Grain (Brain Grains) from Groovy Guts!

Let me know if you have any questions as it's a learning process for me that right nowwhich has taken over my life & kitchen!

Publish Post

Recycled belts!

2011-03-11T19:41:00.002-05:00

So like most things when they break we throw them away! well if you are like me that is just not an option! either you find a new use for it or you recycle it~ and if it can't be recycled you better find a new use for it. So my hubby broke his belt, we could go on here on how or why it broke but I am sure that you can figure that out on your own. So the first thing that popped in my head and I would think anyone's head is to make a bracelet with it. This took some time to come to fruit because I wanted it to snap and I knew the snap kits at Joann's just weren't going to cut it so I had to do some research & found the tool for the job~ seems there's a leather website that has anything you could dream up! Which is were I also found my other idea of burning something into the leather because let's face it I need to spice things up!

TaDa! here are the first 3 (well there is one before this that I burned the word Recycle into that I wear I figured not everyone would like my penmen ship so I stuck with shapes). I put them up at the Yellow Door in Berkly, MI for Sale!

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Location:Joan,Pinckney,United States

Vocation

2011-02-20T10:47:00.000-05:00

A little article on Work

We are what we do, and the more we do it, the more we become it. By giving a job your time, you are giving it your consciousness. Eventually it will fill your life with the reality that it presents. So look beyond the superficial attractions of a particular job or profession. Consider what it will require you to do on a day-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute basis. See if that is how you want to spend your time. If it is not, your job will become your prison rather than the vehicle for your dreams. And a person without dreams is only half alive.

You should think of work as vocation, which comes from the Latin word for calling, which comes from the word for voice. In those meanings it touches on what work really should be - something that calls to you, that gives voice to who you are and what you want to say in the world. If you find a vocation, embrace it. You have found a way to contribute to the world with love.

Find what it is that burns in your heart and do it. Choose a vocation, not a job, and your life will have meaning and your days will have peace.

By Teesha Moore

You should check out her Eye Candy of a website~ even go to one of her Retreats! The first "art" retreat I ever when to was with her, her hubby Tracy & Michael DeMeng. I was let's say life changing! it has lead me on the road not only to be a better person but to find myself , chase my dreams and well find a job that is calling to me! I'm not there yet with the job thing but I am letting go of my "Prison" job in Aug to do my Vocation lets just hope I can make some moola at it lol!

Recycled Plastic Bag Flowers

2011-02-13T19:46:00.000-05:00

I use to make these a lot and it's actually a mini project in my book but just like everything you grow tired of it so I sold out of what I had and then just a few weeks ago I lost interest in everything else except sitting on the couch with my hubby and making these! I made some Pins and some Barrette's. I still have one on my purse and it's been through hell but is holding up. Some of the girls in my girl scout troop bought some from me at a local craft fair and they wear the barrette's on their headbands~ clever girls!

So get your flower looms and plastic bags out and weave away to a new brooch from your spring coat!

you can find them for sale at www.RadicalRecycks.etsy.com

Craptastic

2011-02-02T22:38:00.001-05:00

So I am an avid drinker of WoodChuck which is a cider draft ~ it's apple cider liquored up! anyway the green glass bottle it comes in are not returnable~ Michigan has .10cents returnables but for some reason these ones aren't so I recycle them but we can't recycle glass in our curbside recycling bin and the big recycling dumpster at work only takes clear glass. So i have to drive a ways to the recycling center that will take them. So now you can image this gets to be a pain in the rear on some occasions so I thought I should just make something out of this glass! So I bought an industrial rock polishing thing and thought I could break the glass then tumble it to look like sea glass~ It did just that but then it sat there I just didn't have the drive to do anything else with it. So then I got the idea that I must have a kiln to melt it then I would use it in some jewelry pieces. Great idea but I really didn't want to plunk down $500 bucks on a kiln then for it to sit there because it didn't really do what I wanted. I talked about this kiln must have for a long time then a friend saw this Microwave kiln and it was cheap (well cheap enough I could justify it!) it worked right off the bat but now it's not doing what it was before but still melting the glass! I have to figure out the bugs.

Now that I had my melted glass piece I was finally inspired to make something with it! I made this necklace it's main piece is the woodchuck glass then the rest of the charms are recycled pieces like a used gift card, metal bottle cap, button, star charm that was in the junk drawer! I want to call these necklaces "CrapTastic Necklaces " but I am not thinking that will fly with the customer that might want to purchase it! Any suggestions would be welcome!

Find more at www.RadicalRecycks.etsy.com

Green Craft Spring 2011

2011-01-25T16:50:00.000-05:00

The New issue of Green Craft is due to hit news stands any day now! it's packed full of wonderful ideas as usual! I have an item in the Gallery as well as in the Article Package Toppers. Here's a sneak Peek!

Regina Lord

Nancy Baraw, Rubyellen Bratcher, Monica Johnson, Tracy Schults & Cean M. Schopf

Wow Hoops

2011-01-24T19:33:00.001-05:00

I found this Yummy shop on Etsy just now~ she bought something from me last month so I like to check out everyone's shop if they have one~ and who would have thunk it custom Hula Hoops?? I wish I could Hula~ afraid I might pull something but after I get in better shape I will be sure to buy one of these and hula in my front yard all summer long!!!

www.NiceHoops.etsy.com

Almost Famous

2011-01-24T18:23:00.000-05:00

It seems lately every time something happens and I get excited it doesn't follow thru so after the last let down I decided to keep my mouth shut until the proof was out! So back in December I got a call~ wait wait let's go back further~ I had a show in Fenton, MI and there was this lady at my friends booth what seemed like most of the day and I chatted with her on and off but not really about my goods, she was very excited about my friends upcycled vinyl purses. So the show was wrapping up and that is when she saw my goods and my book so we chatted this time about my stuff and how I began and blah blah well she said that she had a reporter friend that she was going to tell about me because i was a local person. So I didn't really think about it because sometimes folks have the best of intentions but things don't come to fruit~ then she called me and let me know she passed my info on to her friend~ really how nice is that to call and let me know not to many folks out there like this fabulous lady! so again I didn't put much stock into it because he had to want to talk to me~ he called and set up an appointment to come to my house along with a photographer! crap now I have to clean my house!!!!!!!! so they came and all was fab. then the article came out this past Sunday in the livingston Press & Argue (michigan paper). I read it online then went to pick up a copy and to my surprise my mug was on the front page! whoot whoot~ ok not the most attractive picture but I'm not going for Ms. Michigan! and the article inside was wonderful too~ hubby said it doesn't get any better than that for a newspaper article! very excited and I have gotten a lot of calls and emails!

You can read the article here http://tinyurl.com/4r4sagn

scraps

2011-01-22T17:00:00.001-05:00

When you fuse shopping bags you end up with a lot of scrap from the bottom of the bag and the handles of the bag. You can't throw them away that defeats your efforts but you can use them to stuff thing like this hanging heart.

for purchase at www.RadicalRecycks.etsy.com

But when I store my scrapes I line them all up and the a piece of scrap around them this makes it look like a pom pom! so I have all these plastic pom poms around my sewing room. Well I have been wanting to put them on a stick and glitter them up~ today was the day I finally came thru! I used an old chopstick~ not sure where they come from but seems I always have a ton of them in my silverware drawer! I hot glued the chopstick up in the middle then hot glued around the base so that it stays put! I trimmed up the pom pom to make it look its best then sprayed it with glitter spray! this would be a cute, quick, cheap & eco friendly way to make some pom poms for those sporting events! oh I will have to make my friend some for football season since her son plays and she of course goes to every game to cheer him on! I think I can even spray paint them to match the school colors!

Homemade Granola

2011-01-16T12:32:00.000-05:00

Well I not eaten much Granola in the past and when I think about buying it it is pricey! So I figure it has to be cheaper to make the stuff myself and then I can add what I want!
This is the second time I've made Granola and the first time it was Yummy to but not as sweet~ I'll post that recipe too. I did have grand illusions that there would be these big hunks of Granola that I could grab but with the first batch since there wasn't much holding the stuff together it was more crumbly but frankly I could care less. This batch however has bigger hunks! must be the brown sugar!

5 Cups of Oats (pretty sure this is a must and the base of the recipe)

1 Cup chopped nuts

1/2 Cup Wheat Germ

1/2 Cup Coconut

1/2 Cup Dried Pomegranate

1/3 Cup Ground Flax Seed

Now keep in mind I am winging this recipe and you can change out anything except the Oats.

I would normally put my own dried fruit in the mix but didn't have any on hand to dry.

Now for the bonding stuff

3/4 Cup melted butter~ I make my own butter

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Honey (all I had was whipped Honey)

1/3 Cup Oil

Almost forgot 1 tsp Vanilla & 1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix it all together~ this takes a bit because of the honey and it's not super wet.

Once mixed spread out on a cookie sheet or if you have a dehydrator then on a fruit mat so the granola does fall thru the trays. I dehydrated my at 120 degrees for 10 hours. You can use the stove on the lowest setting for less time since I don't believe a stove goes down to 120. Just keep checking it.

This Granola is Sweet.

If you don't was a Sweet Granola then I suggest this recipe (this was the first one I tried)

Mix:

1/2 Cup Honey

1/2 Cup hot water

1/2 Cup Oil

2 tsp Vanilla

Pour it over:

4-5 Cups of Oats

Then add:

1 Cup of Chopped Nuts

1 Cup Flax Seed

1 Cup Coconut (didn't use this the first time)

3/4 Cup dried Fruit (I used Banana's & Strawberries)

3/4 Cup Wheat Germ

again I just used what I had and liked.

Mix up and Dry.

When did that happen?

2011-01-15T22:04:00.000-05:00

So I was in bed the other night just about to drift into my land were all things are good when I thought back to my childhood and how I use to do handstands~ I would do them against the wall with my head on the floor and then in the yard trying to balance myself and progressed to just supporting myself with my hands. I thought to myself when did that happen that I couldn't do a hand or headstand anymore? I thought for a second I can still do that but then quickly remembered I am bigger now and to let all my weight rest on my head is probably not a good idea and if I even tried a handstand and it didn't work out it could cost me some bucks having to go the chiropractor for a week! Oh to be young!

Upcycled Bracelets!

2011-01-03T20:49:00.000-05:00

So I can't get the Used Gift card medium out of my head so here's what else is on my 2011 to make list!
Bracelet's I of course first thought I should make them how I make my plastic bottle charm bracelets like the Elephant one below........................

but after some pondering thought you really couldn't see the gift cards and that wouldn't be much fun so this is what I dreamed up!

Gift Cards

2010-12-31T19:17:00.000-05:00

So I found another use for used gift cards~ as this is my idea out of the gate but for me it's a nice addition to my used gift card line! Guitar picks! my son plays a little and he thinks they are cool!
You can get a set over at my easy shop www.RadicalRecycks.etsy.com If you have a custom request let me know!

Holiday Waste

2010-12-27T18:38:00.001-05:00

So now that the holiday's are over (with the exception of New Years) what are you going to do with all those cards you received from thoughtful folks that were thinking of you this Christmas? throw them away? I think not! at the very least recycle them but maybe first you should tear then in half and flip them over and use the black sides for notes, list, to-do's! then when your done recycle them!

Did you remember to recycle all that wrapping paper & boxes?

Mail Trash

2010-12-17T19:12:00.000-05:00

So yesterday the gifts I purchased online start to pour in and I am thinking what am I going to wrap them in? I am not sure if I have enough packing paper saved up from the year to wrap everything so I had seen that there was a tutorial on how to turn a tyvek (those postal envelopes that you can't tear) envelope into something not sure didn't read the tutorial but I am sure this is how it turned out! so I went down stairs (hobbled because I pulled my lower back garbage picking on Monday!) and whip up this cute bag from a priority envelope! it could so be used for a Thank You gift and you could just circle the word Thank you that is printed all over the inside of the bag! but for Christmas it to will work since it's red right? So now I am looking at the mail in a whole new light!

Odd Cool Stuff!

2010-12-08T08:47:00.000-05:00

I get this daily email from Thrillist.com it kind of seems more geared towards men but they have all kinds of weird stuff on there like a weird converter ~ 1 Tom Cruise = 133 placentas ! or a beer shooting cooler. Today's was this GymyGym chair which is an exercising office chair but the best part is it is made from 95% recycled materials! check it out http://gymygym.com I would love to have one at work!

Party time

2010-12-07T21:43:00.000-05:00

I am sure you know that I work at a place that sells swing sets and because we have a hugh indoor showroom we had two party rooms built when we built the building so on weekends there are up to 8 parties! well I put recycling bins in the party rooms, a sign on the wall guilting them into recycling for their children and even a sign on the party room door but to my dismay only a few of them actually recycle! I ask the employees to leave the trash from the sunday parties so I can sift thru it on Monday pulling out all the plastic bottles, returnables, plastic silverware, juice pouches and any wrapping paper that hasn't found the food! The saturday parties trash tends to start smelling by sunday so the employees feel them must toss it so I figure I have to let it go and know that I am doing something by saving those who had parties on Sunday~ damn those Saturday folks!lol!

Well a lot of people out there make all sorts of stuff from juice pouches and I really don't feel I need to travel that road since it's so well traveled (I like to take the road less traveled & bumpy) but everytime I have a show I get the "oh you make stuff like those juice pouch bags" No people I don't! but to stop them from saying that & the fact that I do come across a poop ton of pouches I decided to make these juice pouch Pockets! everyone loves them and at $2 a pop who wouldn't!

One thing leads to another

2010-12-07T21:31:00.001-05:00

I joined a easy team!! yeah! and then when I went to the team page there were links and I started clicking which lead to more stuff like this http://www.etsypreneur.com/ . I have signed up but not sure what it's all about really and I think it's pretty new. You should check it out if you have an etsy shop it seems like it might be a good thing and if nothing else it won't hurt!

Craft Appeal

2010-12-02T18:41:00.000-05:00

Someone on Etsy suggested I check out this site called Craft Appeal so I did and posted something and I won!! Sweet huh? here's my Award.

Eco-Friendly Award | Art & Crafts Awards | November 2010

other's inspire the fire

2010-12-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

I have been making MoHawk hats for awhile now and have been wanting to make a toddler size but haven't really had the fire to sit down and do it~ well someone asked me to make a custom MoHawk hat for their toddler ~ so there was my fire! Now for the Hawk well she wanted some oranges and grays well before she could suggest it I had the ahh moment and thought why don't I tye dye it and dye the roving like I would a lump of yarn~ then she suggested something along those lines as well! I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought of doing the Hawks that way before! Funny how somethings are right in front of your face but you can't see them!
Here's a picture of one of the toddler MoHawk hats I made. Love this one so much I'm thinking of making one for myself! you can see more at www.FiberJuJu.etsy.com

Recycle~Upcycle

2010-11-20T19:36:00.002-05:00

One of my items today made it to someone's Treasury! So when I went to check out the Treasury ( which can be found here http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ce5d0d1aeef8eefdd137a8b/trashed-up-for-real?index=0 )
I found these cool Newpaper bags~ I have wanted to make these but just haven't had time and now I don't have to at a great price for 3 of them! and she even uses that strapping that is around newspapers for the handles~ very clever! Check them out~

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62273870/handmade-set-of-3-newspaper-gift-bags?ref=tre-4ce5d0d1aeef8eefdd137a8b-8

Happy Accident!

2010-11-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

The other day I was getting all the Gift Cards cut up for assembly when I made a circle but it didn't get all of the image I wanted so I decided to cut out more of the center~ it didn't come to me right away ~ it was as I sat organizing the circle into the combo's I wanted when it hit me to use the "O" and I couldn't be happier with the results! not this open's up another world of possibilities!

New Purse

2010-11-07T23:48:00.000-05:00

I have whipped up a T-Shirt purse this weekend~ well two of them so far but only one made the photo shoot! It's made from a Wolf T-shirt and I love how it came out! you can find the pattern here if you want to make one yourself or you can purchase one in a few days when I post it on my etsy site!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56482797/bucket-bag-pdf-sewing-pattern

It's a great way to use up those old t-shirts!

Butter Love

2010-11-02T16:11:00.000-04:00

I have been making butter for a bit now and doing it by shaking it in a jar~ I have been longing for a butter churn and keep seeing them at Antiques stores but can't break off with $125 which is what most of them were going for. This past weekend I stopped in an Antique store not to far from home and SCORED one for $40! there were a few for $65 as well but this one came with it's instructions & a Blue Moon recipe booklet.

This moring I whipped up some butter~ it is much easier and really the easiest part is the washing of the butter! I just poured out the butter milk and put a cup of cold water in and churned emptied and repeated until the water was clear. Boy at half quater cost $2.98 with only the carton to recycle and I got a heap load of butter!

Now for the handy dandy instructions that came with the Churn and some Recipes from Blue Moon!

Jello

2010-11-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

I recently was at my mothers and for whatever reason was looking through her cupboards~ I know not nice right? but trust me she has things that she doesn't even know she has! so while looking I saw the jello mold from when I was a kid~ oh it brought back great memories so I let my brother know it was mine(he let me know the grandfather clock was his~ not a fair trade but to me it was)! Well while I was at my friends house the other day I saw that she too had one of those molds and told her my story and that I loved that thing. She is such a good friend that she gave it to me! she said she doesn't use it and she got it at a garage sale for a quarter and it's hard to pass up Tupperware that is only a quarter! My day was made and Jello was on the mind. Here it is before the unveiling but I won't show you that because it wasn't as pretty as my mom's I think I didn't fill it up all the way so I will have to devour all this jello so I can make another one.

Project's in Work

2010-10-30T20:11:00.000-04:00

Well I got into a Nov show and waiting on word for the December one but I do have a truck show in December so that should be good for some Christmas Cash!

Today I got all my Wristlets prepped and ready to be assembled! My friend cuts my patterns for me and I pay her so wait that means I have an employee! I'm moving up to being a real business!

Flower Pot

2010-10-27T19:37:00.000-04:00

My god son and his siblings had their yearly birthday party so I wanted to make something special for their mom that would represent me and my love for them so I had the idea to make flowers from plastic bottles with stems made from plastic silverware and the pot was a soup can collage pauged then filled with plastic caps for the filler~ oh the best part was a picture of each one of them in the center of the flower~ you can see a picture of it on my Facebook Fan page just search Radical Recycks. So I was so loving how it turned out I decided to just make some with nothing in the middle for decoration~someone had given me these old Avon containers that I had not come up with anything for yet so they made the perfect pot & instead of plastic caps since they were a bit to big for the pot I used those glass pebbles that I have had floating around my house for years now!! I used a plastic fork for the stem since i couldn't glue the steam to the flower. How cute would these look at a wedding shower for the guest gift!

Party Recycler

2010-10-22T16:47:00.000-04:00

Well when ever I am invited to a party I am a freak about the recycling~ to the point I have everyone from the party coming up to me asking what they should do with their plates, cups, silverware, bottles, etc.... well I am sure in the back of their mind they think I am just a whack job but you know what to bad because I do what I do for their children! And I am sure they also wonder what in the world do I do with the recyclables? recycle them or hoard them ? Well here is what I created with the goods from the last birthday party~ flower magnets made from the Plastic water bottles! These particular magnets will be given away at the Yellow Door in Berkly Michigan for their Grand opening! the first 100 people get goody bags so if you live in Michigan I suggest you put this shop on your to do list! I just set my table up today~ and now that I see my goods with the table I need to go back next week and spruce it up!

Paper Crain

2010-10-18T13:07:00.001-04:00

When I get internet orders I want to give them a special Thank you for their support but what to give them that is special enough yet not take up most of my time making? finally it came to me but i had to make sure i could do It because let's face it this origami is as easy as It looks. so i struggled a bit at first but after a couple of tries it all came together and i now have my special Thank you gift! it of course is made from old magazines!

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daily grind

2010-10-08T16:10:00.001-04:00

only 10 more months until my dream becomes a reality. Everyday it is harder & harder to drag myself to the office but that's because there's light at the end of this tunnel. I know I will be scared to death when the final day approaches & my big plans for my new daily route will not be as i dream they will be but it's what i must do to make my life What i believe its meant to be!

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Gift Card Score

2010-09-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

Look what one local store collected for me! Yes, they (won't say who) are helping keep plastic out of the landfill~ I can't get everyone to do it so I will be very excited for the ones that do! Now off to make something with them (already got necklaces down but maybe some earrings and bracelet to match!)

2010-09-23T21:44:00.000-04:00

This is how long it takes for things to decompose if just out there as litter~ it will never ever break down in a landfill as dirty is put over the trash which does not let any sunlight it to do it's job of breaking things down but the dirty ends up mummifying it! I got this from Keesta.com

Here’s how long it takes for commonly used products to biodegrade, when they are scattered as litter:

cotton rags 1-5 months

paper 2-5 months

rope 3-14 months

orange peels 6 months

wool socks 1 to 5 years

cigarette butts 1 to 12 years

plastic coated paper milk cartons 5 years

leather shoes 25 to 40 years

nylon fabric 30 to 40 years

tin cans 50 to 100 years

aluminum cans 80 to 100 years

plastic 6-pack shower holder rings 450 years

glass bottles 1 million years

plastic bottles forever

No Pictures :(

2010-09-21T18:10:00.000-04:00

I have no Camera it's driving me up a wall! *& I can can't find any of my back up's~ oh take that back the one I found is no longer in working condition! My daughter claims not to have it but everytime I find it I discover over 100 pictures that she has taken of herself on it! So I have been using my phone which is a great camera but then you have to email them to yourself and for whatever reason that didn't seem to be working out for me the other day when I took over 50 pictures of stuff that I needed to post! Ok breathe deep and hopefully it will turn up!

Sprouts

2010-09-16T00:06:00.002-04:00

My beans are sprouting! I just read an article in Urban Farm on growing micro greens indoors which of course got me excited~I just imagined my house with all these sprouts all over the place but then remembered I don't live alone so I will just sprout one jar at a time! Its amazing how quickly they grow and are ready to eat in 4~5 days now how to trick hubby into eating them!

Yummy Paper!

2010-09-13T00:16:00.002-04:00

I love paper & have to control myself when its back to school time & the paper is piled high. While @ Target this year I found tree free paper! Its actually made from stone. It feels so odd silky smooth yet heavy. I have yet to write in it for fear I will never have it again!
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2010-09-02T19:39:00.000-04:00

Lately I have been wanting burlap coffee sacks & while I'm Denver my friend Sarah gave me a few that she had. Well my cousin called me yesterday day & asked me if I wanted some burlap coffee sacks & not just a few but a pick up truck amt! Well actually there's one more truck loads worth he is suppose to drop off so I think my sack longing is no more. Now what to make with them?

Sweet Treats

2010-08-31T15:29:00.000-04:00

Just got home from Denver yesterday! It was fun filled with adventure, food & conversation ~ I miss my BFF already! while out there we found Gigi's cupcakes and they were so Yummy!! Cupcakes joints are popping up all over the place they are super hot right now and I hope they stay hot!.

It's about time Lady!

2010-08-26T15:05:00.000-04:00

Well my freind has been on me that I need to make myself a purse to use as it's the best form of advertising! My friend Wendy from http://www.recycledlps.com/ cares around one of her album purses and someone noticed it and did an interview with her for national geographic! If you love it flaut it!

My problem is everytime I made one that I wanted I ended up selling it! the last one I drew up plans and everything just had some finishing touches. Then I did the Maker Faire and sold more than half my bags the first day so I had to finsih it up and put it out there for sale~ It was the first bag to sell the second day! So finally I made one for myself and here it is!

Heaven and Earth

2010-08-20T22:46:00.001-04:00

Well today is my birthday and my saying is this "Today is the day Heaven & Earth Collided & created such a being as myself" Pretty fabulous isn't it? and yes I thought it up all on my own years ago so everyone only has to hear it once a year! It will be my last year in my 30's but next year on this day I should be in Vegas if all goes as planned!

So life once again has seem to be wild ~ every night I have plans which non are what I really need to be doing! I did however manage to get 18 jars of pears canned and 3 jars of salsa canned before the fruit flies carried us away! Now if I could just have a day or two before the next wave of pears become rip for fruit roll ups and dried pears life will be good!

I have been obsessed with making Gift Card necklaces so much so I have now cut up all of our credit cards! The one necklace I made of all Gold and Silver credit cards will be on display at the Janice Charach Gallery in West Bloomfield, Michigan starting September 2nd until sometime in October~ I should know these things shouldn't I??? I just like making the stuff everything else is just minor details! I have several for sale on my etsy site and the most treasured ones are the ones from Farmville gift cards and too boot I just kicked the farming habit after two years!

I also have whipped up some of these cuties they are Plastic Bottle Flower Necklaces! I still have to put these ones up on Etsy but again minor details! not so minor when I am broke and it's no joke huh?

Inspired Artist Workshop May 2011

2010-08-08T20:29:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to say that I am going to be one of the Artist's at

The 2011 Inspired Artist Workshop in Charlotte, NC

Limited Space

Time to Make it a Go!

2010-08-08T20:24:00.000-04:00

So it's been an eventful week! I put in my years notice at my day job~ I know a year everyone laughs at me when I tell them but it was agreed upon long ago that if I ever left I would have to give a year's notice and couldn't do it in the busy time of year so just before my 40th is when I will be on my own! Scary yet exciting. I read somewhere awhile back that a Goal is a dream with a deadline so I posted it on my computer screen at work and Made my goal~ to be on my own (no day job) before I'm 40! so here I am starting to make my Goal a reality! and I love my hubby for helping me reach my Goal!

I also did a Trunk show today at a hair Salon called "The Studio" in Farmington Hills, MI . I meet one of the salon owners at a Green Breeze show I did a couple of weeks ago and the show wasn't that good for me but so I thought! I met Tasha and honestly she is one of my biggest Cheerleaders! I love this Gal she just talks about my stuff with such Love! I had a Great day there and meet a ton of Fantastic Ladies! I can't wait to go back!

Then on my way home from the Salon I stop at a road side place and got a bunch of corn to freeze and topped off my night with a dinner that had food from my garden in it!

Green Craft Issue #3

2010-08-07T16:45:00.000-04:00

I am proud to say that I have an article in the lastest issue of Green Craft Magazine! It just hit news stands and it chalked full of fabulous "Upcycling" ideas which are sure to inspire you!!

I love this one made from bike tires!!

Tee Shirt Obsession

2010-07-27T19:39:00.000-04:00

I cleaned out my closet and now I have all these shirts that just sit in a pile~ Alot of them are white with those discolored underarm areas so you can't give them away and other's have holes so what to do with them??

Well I came up making bracelets with them. Not only are they cute but they are absorbant on those hot days~ maybe I should make a headband.....Hmmm my wheels are turning!

Grey Tee Shirt

White Tee Shirt ~ Then Tye Dyed

Now you can only use so much of the tee shirt to make bracelets so what to do with the rest?? Well make Tee Shirt Rag Rugs that what! I already have a few of these~ one in my bathroom and one in the bedroom.

Home Made Butter

2010-07-21T10:34:00.001-04:00

Now for the life of me I can't remember where I first read about making home made butter but I thought or I was lead to believe you had to have unpasteurized cream to do this so I search high and low but couldn't find it and thought I would have to find a dairy farm to get it! So when I read the book "made from scratch" she talked about it again and said to use heavy whipping cream but recommend a local dairy farm. So I was so excited to finally try my hand at it! I was nervous she said you had to shake it for 15 min but it "popped" sooner than that!!! Now I can't wait to eat some it tonight. I will have to compare pricing to see if all that shaking is worth it:) Also it's like Whipped Butter light and fluffy not what I was expecting so when I went to rinse it and I kneaded it it popped out of my hands~ so be careful if you give it a try.

Garden Gifts!

2010-07-17T22:23:00.000-04:00

The one thing I was most excited about was coming home from vacation and seeing what my Garden had grown for me!! I was thinking there would be a ton of Green Beans but there was only a small handful but I did get 3 big Banana Peppers! I also discovered some Cilantro which I had grown last year but it didn't do so well so that was a sweet surprise! This is only my second year at having a garden and last year not just for me but for most folks in Michigan garden's didn't do so well we got tomatoes but they never turned Red this year I only planted 3 tomato plants and they are Monsters!! we had to fix them up since the tomato cage isn't able to handle them! I also planted potatoes for the first time~ my neighbor gave me some starters so I dug up some of them since the plants are still green~ I think once they start turning brown they are done! So tomorrows dinner will have potatoes and banana peppers!! I is so rewarding to eat something you've grown!

Shirtless Men

2010-07-16T19:15:00.002-04:00

We spent our family vacation in Missouri this year and every where I turned there was a shirtless man! Some could pull it off and others it was best if they would have left their shirts on. To top off this trend we put up to an antique shop with this Gigantic shirtless statute!
I think I finally have broke my hubby to just go with my recycling efforts while on vacation. So of course every bit is saved to be recycled but most hotels don't have a recycling program but I know to Google it and it usually not far to the local recycling center. Although the lady at the center got a bit testy with me because the only took plastic bottles but I informed her I did not live there and her tune changed. So recycling doesn't stop even when on vacation!

Made From Scratch!

2010-07-12T09:54:00.000-04:00

I am not much of a reader these days~ there's just not enough time when I want to make things! But we were going on vacation and that is when my making time comes to a hault so I found this book and actually read it in two days between partys and theme parks! It's about Homesteading but in a more realisitc way~ chickens, Bees & Gardens as well as making clothing and a few other things but the first three things are what excited me the most since I already sew and spin yarn. My husband is a bit concerned now that I have demanded that I am starting a bee hive and we are getting chickens (but I have to make sure with our township first). For me it is not only a sense of raising your own food but the fact that I don't get all that packaging when I actually get it! I can get eggs without an egg carton and I can make pasta without have to recycle a cardboard box~ this is what most thrills me! This book not only gives you a run down on how to do these things it also tells her story before hand and let me tell you it's pretty comical!

A Must Have Book!!

Stick a Fork in it!

2010-07-07T19:52:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I was at a wedding shower and of course I noticed the bottled water, plastic cups, paper plates, plastic silverware and then all the wrapping paper! well it took everything I had not to be the Recycle Police but I managed to pick the coolest table in the whole world to sit at and seems these ladies (well most of them ) had the same Love for our Mother Earth as I do! So as I was shoving all the plastic bottles I could in my purse I look up to see someone (OK she was only 4!) throw the plastic wrapping bag from a gift in the trash~ see I thought I could just discreetly go up to the head of the room after and snag the bag of trash that held all the wrapping paper~ so this just broke me and I had to weasel out of the corner and dig it out of the trash in the middle of this shower~ lucky for them they were to busy chatting to hopefully even notice but I doubt it! Oh well they can say what they want I am do it for them (and me too). I also asked what they were doing with all the plastic table clothes and now they are in my possession along with all the wrapping paper! But for the best part~ the plastic silverware well I just couldn't throw it away so I shoved it to in my purse and had the ah ha moment that night! and here it is a ring! I love it so and at my day job we have birthday parties were they use tons of plastic silverware!

Weekend of Food

2010-06-27T23:41:00.000-04:00

I think my weekend was mostly about food~ Gardening and Dehydrating all the food in my house that was about to go bad! I made a bunch of Fruit roll ups from a big stash of strawberries that I thought my daughter would eat up but didn't. I dried half of the quanity when I first got them. So I blended them added some ground flax seed and honey they taste fabulous but my son is so hip to them probably because they aren't filled with all kinds of crap. I also have home made granola and bananna's in there right now. Yesterday was the day for the veggies~ Celery, onions & japalones. The onions are so good you can just eat them right out of the jar!

I also got my first produce out of the garden! whoot whoot green beans. I made green bean casserole. I am excited that the garden is going to grow and fruit like crazy because last year it wasn't so good here in Michigan. No one's tomatoes grew and cucumbers weren't coming up either. We had alot of cold days so the tomatoes just stayed green!

Old School Wrapper Bracelet's

2010-06-24T19:02:00.001-04:00

So lately I have been obsessed with these wrapper bracelets! I found this fantastic site called Ecoist with all kinds of bags but I guess my problem is that they use run offs from companies not actual used wrappers but I guess what is a company to do with the run offs? so in all fairness I shouldn't be bitter. But then they send them off to Peru to be made! Ok I should be happy that something is being done with the run offs even if they are being sent to Peru but what about good old USA? Because sure you are using what might have been thrown away wrapper run offs but you are not doing the environment any good by then shipping those run offs to Peru. There is good and bad to everything so why does it bug me so?? All I can say is that my chip bag bracelets are American Eaten (chips of course) & American Made~ if that matters to anyone. I really am trying not to be bitter.

New Wristlet Design!

2010-06-22T22:37:00.000-04:00

I whipped these wristlet's up just before Liberty Fest~ I wanted a cute Wristlet that was big enough for all the essentials but small enough for us ladies on the go! What do you think??

Radical Recycks hooks up with Recycled Lps!

2010-06-21T22:10:00.001-04:00

I had a show this weekend at the Liberty Fest in Canton, Michigan~ I didn't know if the show was any good and the booth price was pricey so I asked my old new friend Wendy if she wanted to split it with me since she makes purses out of old lps as well as journal~ they are so cool she actually has a patent pending on her purses I never seen one made like that! Of course I was coming up with all kinds of ideas for her to make with the lps. Funny how we can come up with ideas for others so easily! She even painted that sign in our booth on a used vendor banner from Home depot!! It's it great! she thinks it's crappy so I took it home with me so she didn't ditch it! I think our stuff goes well together so I see more split vendor shows in our future! but not Liberty fest ever again it was like a home show with business's trying to shove stuff down your throat and I think we were the only booth that was handmade! But I had fun with my friend and meeting her fantastic family~ fireworks to end the night!
You can see her stuff here ~www.recyclemania.com

Summer Slippers

2010-06-13T14:53:00.000-04:00

So I have been walking around barefooted since it got hot which isn't a bad thing it just drives me crazy! so I opted to wear socks but that made my feet hot! What to do?? so yesterday I googled Summer Slipper Pattern and found these cuties! I was up until 3am whipping them up~ not because it took long to make but because I had the idea to look for a pattern at Midnight!
Here's were I found the pattern Lady Harvatine

Video Tutorial on how to Make a Flower from a Plastic Bottle!

2010-06-13T00:54:00.000-04:00

Water Bottles

2010-06-08T22:18:00.000-04:00

I found this through "The Daily Green" and just ordered a set~ buy 4 get one free!!
How Fantastic are these because face it when you have to lug those water bottles home from the office it's gets to be a hassle on some days~ but I just grin and bare it as I know it's for the greater good. BUT with these handy dandy water bottles you can fold them up and shove them in your purse or even pocket! and you can freeze them too boot! get for those people who have to lug their kids around to sporting events~ Sorry folks my kids aren't athletic so I didn't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn on Saturdays and Sundays to watch them play sports.

Check them out at http://vapur.us/

Plastic Wreath

2010-06-06T21:08:00.000-04:00

I have had this vision for awhile now to make a "Plastic Wreath" and today it's finally come to fruit! I love it so and can't wait to hang it on my front door! I will be the entrances to my Trashy house filled with Love!

Soap Box time! I don't buy bottled water as I believe it's a waste of Money and Wasteful! We all surived the
tap water growing up and for god sake we drank from a hose as kids! So you don't like the taste now that's your reason huh? then buy a filter for your sink tap! I know there are times that it's what's available and your parched so I won't fault you for that but then make sure it gets recycled or better yet find a new use for that plastic bottle!

Art in the Park

2010-06-05T12:19:00.002-04:00

I am at Art in the Park this weekend which in downtown Pinckney, MI so close to my house I will walk home tonight! This cabinet is my new display item that I love so much and even more excited that I can fit both pieces in my car. Hopefully no rain!

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Sent from Photo Effects - http://bit.ly/6qTiKD

ReUseable Swifter Pads

2010-05-27T23:26:00.002-04:00

I finally finished up my swifter pads! I love my swifter but throwing those pads way was killing me so I whipped these up they Velcro around the swifter and I bought some concentrated floor cleaner put it a squirt bottle with water and I can either squirt my swifter pad or the area on the floor I want to clean. I can even flip the pad over for another quick clean up before tossing it into the dirty laundry.

First Aid Pouches

2010-05-24T21:06:00.002-04:00

I tried to sew sew sew on Saturday and I got a lot done but never enough!

I made a few of these first Aid pouches for my last little venue and sold them all! I put band aids in them and I'm try to find a place to buy individual antibacterial ointment things like in the first aid kits to put in there too. I think these little cuties are fantastic and would be great to hang on a beach bag for that moment when you cut your heal on a pop top!

Creation is Done!

2010-05-18T23:41:00.004-04:00

Here is the creation! It's totally fabulous when your vision turns out better than you had imagined! So the flowers are made from an anthropology magazine, the stems are sticks from my front yard, pot well you know about that but the "fill" in the pot is white caps! How awesome would his look in a foyer of a house?

What Swirls in my Head

2010-05-13T16:00:00.001-04:00

My mother in-law bought us this cute Easter tin filled with popcorn bags & other goodies but now Easter is over & I have no room to store the tin & it's such a great size I hate to toss it in the recycle bin so what am I to do? Well like most of my ideas it came to me while drifting off to sleep! Here is the start of what swirls in my head, doesn't look like much but I hope it all comes together as I have envisioned it will but you too will have to wait to see!

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Gell'n

2010-05-06T20:56:00.002-04:00

Why is it after a vendor show I just gel the week following? maybe it's all the excitement and craziness of trying to make sure I have enough stuff made and hoping to go home with nothing but a big fat wallet? yep, I think that's what it is~ but while at the show I chit chatted my butt off and have idea's up the wazoo not to mention the folks that gave me the ideas~ gotta love that! So my week has turned into a big number headache! I took a quick book's class (2days) for my day job and I learned a lot but when I when back to the office to apply my new found knowledge seems it doesn't work as smooth as the instructor made it look! of course right that's why they want you to purchase $600 worth of DVDs so you can reference back! well good thing I spent the companies money and did just that! we'll see if he (he being the boss man) will let me keep them you have 30 days to return them!! So number talk not only bores the piss out of me but gives me a headache and makes me sleepy! funny how that seems to be my main job something I hate numbers~ oh one day hopefully soon it will be over or at least be more crafty time than number time~ let's bow our heads and pray to the crafty god to take me over to the other side where the glitter shines so bright you have to wear sunglasses all day long!

This is my latest obsessed piece~ can't seem to make enough! wallets, I said I was going to keep the grizzly one for myself if it didn't sell this weekend and seems it was in the stars to be in MY purse! not sure if folks figured out what it was~ grizzly snuff if so they may not have wanted to carry it!

New Friends

2010-05-04T20:42:00.002-04:00

When your at a vendor show it's always fun to meet new like minded people such as yourself and that is just what I did when I was at the Green Street Fair! Next to me was Teresa Rogers, who's hubby's name is Mike too, she makes the Fantastic bags from Coffee Bean Burlap Sacks~ Local coffee shop's supply her with her material and they are to dye for check them out at:
www.burlapboutiquellc.com

Then across the way from me was Michelle Taber she owns Consciously Hip~ love those women owned and operated business! We gave each other ideas all weekend! She is a Great person and I am glad I got the chance to meet her! One of her motto's "Wearing it on the outside will remind you to Wear it on the inside". You can check her tee-shirts out at:
www.consciouslyhip.com

On Saturday Shell moved next to me (which had been an open space) seems there was dust storm issues where she was located at the fair on Friday~ My dad harassed her and she loved him so I knew she was my kind of gal! I wanted to get some of her salt scrub but time got away from me! She (and her business partner) make salt scrubs, soaps, lotions all kinds of goodies! They can be found at:
www.mysecretstash.com