myreclaimedlife

Reclaimed Tea Towels!

Somethings just call out for reclaiming like tea towels which don't match a redone or new kitchen. As long as they are minus stains or burn marks. Don't ask just my cooking skills are often questioned when I am multi-tasking and noone seems to appreciate peas ala charcoal flavor when I am caught up in a design frenzy and cooking supper at the same time! Anyway I digress, take tea towels, scrap fabrics and trims to create some clever aprons. Full instructions on my stitch chick blog. ----Debra---making it green...day by day!

RE Cycled with Style!

On my way out to the garden I pass my recycling bins in the garage. The few tin cans shine in the dusty dim garage light, the cats unfortunately are not as eco minded as we are and demand a small can of cat food a day. In doing the math in a year that is alot of cans. I am on a mission to create something from them. I am inspired by the stylish items found at BTC Elements. BTC is an acronym for "Be The Change" from Gandhi's famous quote "you must be the change you wish to see in the world." Elements refers to the natural world we wish to preserve. Their stylish collection of one of a kind fashion and accessories are all created from recycled and renewable resources.Very cool earrings are created from tin cans, skateboards and records. The fun purse shown is created from leftover seat belt pieces! So now back to my tin can creating!   Debra                                                              

Creative Cats

This weekend was the first official cat show for our cat club, the Chickadee Cat Club (the chickadee is our provincial bird). We just have a couple of housecats but the founding members of the club are good friends so I offered to do the decorating for the show. The theme involved using provincial birds with each judging ring a different bird and color. With a small decorating budget we had to be really creative. The club president did the artwork and drew each bird. They were color copied and cut out. Dollar store buckets filled with sand held up minature trees( branches cut down by the power company) The bird cutouts were mounted in the trees and extra branches were taped to the podiums where some birrds perched as well. Here is one pretty kitty being judged on a podium. Rosettes and tablecoverings matched the birds. It was co-ordinated and colorful created inexpensively. The buckets, sand and birds will all be reused again next year. The event was a great success!  

The finale stage held lit trees with the branches glittered. The chickadee theme was carried through with tablecloths draped in layers of black, white and gray matching the rosettes. Even the the overall champion of the show matched the stage, a British short hair, a beautiful shade of gray!

More Re Creating at Home!

In my cute little house the bathroom has no linen closet so I had a wicker CD rack which is perfect for towels but what about all the other items TP, toothpaste etc. I found a flush shelf unit on clearance for $30, before assembling painted the doors glossy black. Replaced plastic knobs with leftover brushed nickel knobs. Added some dollar store jars I had and it holds all the bathroom toiletries. I still have half a year to redeem myself with no shopping so even though one closet is minus a rod I am thinking I can make one from a piece of extra curtain rod I found. Here are pics of my bathroom cabinet project. Another shot of my fun sink I couldn't resist adding. The soap is balanced on black end pieces recycled from the curtain rod boxes.

RE Creating at Home!

Finally I have pictures of my new home and some of the projects I have been working on. In my guest room I have a cedar chest that belonged to my great aunt to put bedding in and a never used but dated hide-abed from my Mom's place. I also have a lot of pillows which don't match anymore so I found these great napkins on clearance with finished edges and 14" square they make perfect pillow tops. Even the reverse was nice so it made a coordinated set. I used my favorite fabric glue Fabri-tac* from Beacon.  Here is a photo of the outside so pretty and green this time of year!

I am Back!

I am back finally. When I decided on the name of this blog "My Reclaimed Life" I had no idea what that would mean and half way through the year my life has completely changed in so many ways from a new home to a new will, passport everything in my life is being renewed! I have shopped but when you buy a house that was completely gutted closet rods and curtain rods are kind of necessary along with a fridge and stove. However everything was on sale or in clearance or a gift. The place is simple, uncluttered. I have my veggie garden in, small but I have tomatoes, beans, peas and carrots in so far. It is a five minute walk to my Mom's place on the hill which is great for us all and my legs!

In the latest issue of Creative Homearts in my column "Make it Green" I take some tin cans and fabric paper scraps to make attractive vases. Pizza Fusion"fresh, organic, earth friendly" is the featured company, creative with delicious pizza and eco friendly practices. Every month there are organic cooking classes for kids.

Also in the current issue my good friend and talented designer Lina Ferrara recycles an old tea set with a beautiful painted finish. I designed the co-ordinating table runner. Such an elegant set, recycled splendor!

"It is so easy being Green!"
Debra

Moving Stuff!!!

Having sporadic Internet for the last two months has been challenging but moving after 12 years has been brutal. With only two nights to pack (15 hours straight) it has been crazy! Then when it was dumped in the garage filling all floor space I was almost sick! Where did it all come from, one closet was full of toys of my now 16 year old and now she after packing and hauling it up out of the basement is now ready to let go. My other daughter 8 boxes, she moved out 3 years ago! Some of my Mom's things as well. So one momento bin each (myself included) and Christmas from 8 bins down to 2. YARD SALE!!! and donations. Fabric stash to slash in half. I will post a photo of the scary sight, packed to the ceiling on one wall now! I had to organize it all before going further, the chaos of clutter, of stuff made me truly resolve to be living simply with what I truly love!!! I so swear on a stack of soon to be empty bins!!!

EARTH DAY COUNTDOWN!!!

The countdown is on to EARTH DAY! around the world. EARTH DAY, April 22. Of course everyday should be EARTH DAY but a big celebration and increasing awareness is important. Visit Earth Day to see all the national and international events planned. What am I planning for Earth Day? Well I bought a new to me house, a quaint and quirky 50 year old place right around the corner from my Mom's place and within walking distance of downtown. I spend quite alot of time looking after her and this way it is a five minute walk. The house is smaller, more energy efficient and has vegetable garden beds. So I plan to grow more of my own food, walk more and live simpler. Moving two households in three months has taught me alot about having too much stuff and wanting to live simpler and easier. I have also learned that it is great to buy an older place partly renovated because it comes with mature trees, gardens and lots of extra paint and building supplies. So lots of my favorite things are being repainted to match the new place.

I digress, back to my specific plans for EARTH DAY, using less power, walking as much as possible, exploring my new gardens slowly emerging under the snow and being grateful for the Earth and her ability of renewal  each Spring! Also catch my podcast with awesome Debba of Girlfriendology celebrating Going Green with Girlfriends!

Broomsticks! Restyled Intervention!

  At the BC Sewing & Crafts Show I wore my favorite restyled long jacket created from a broomstick skirt pictured (gulp) at left. I wore the skirt without realizing apparently at the time broomstick is the important clue and you must be built like a broomstick to look good in one! After seeing that photo I cut off the offending waistband and some of the skirt to create this jacket using a sweatshirt of course for the bodice. My waist is disguised and the illusion given that I actually have one. When restyling clothing:
Try to maintain as much of the integrity of the garment as possible for example by keeping the hem. Cut off at the top and cut out the middle, gives you a wider garment (if needed, somehow everything seems to shrink in the closet) and maintains the original hemline saving time as well.

This has been an interesting year so far living green and conscious shopping. I have to confess to making the biggest purchase of my life two weeks ago, a house but it was necessary. I have taken over full time care of my Mom and moved her into a lovely Senior place nearby and I need to be there daily . Even though I was only 20 min away by cab, it still was too far. I found a little house which has had some work done but needs some loving TLC and is only an 8 minute walk from my Mom's place just around the corner. Convenient to walk downtown and for my daughter's school. So we are moving this week! It is a 50 year old place with mature trees and gardens waiting to explore if the snow disappears sometime before June! Now I will be walking everywhere which is wonderful! There is only a small front lawn, the rest seems to be wooded and garden beds so a small push mower will be fine unless bylaws allow for a goose or goat!

Green, green, green! will the green buzz keep its momentum, I hope nd think so, this is not a trend that we can grow tired of but one we must continue to embrace and I like to think of it more as conscious living for example White Apricot  Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle for the Eco & Socially Conscious. The Creative Homearts Club members continue to come up with great recycling and reclaiming ideas.

The Green Stripper!

I just returned late last night from the BC Sewing & Crafts Show where I taught two classes four different times. My Out of the Closet with Style! presentation was met with laughter and applause. I gave tips and techniques for taking much loved garments with history and updating them into wearable items once again. Comments were "I was so natural, inspiring and informative!" I gave the presentation wearing a black camisole and pants putting on garments that I had altered and how. Then at one point I realized I was stripping in front of a large picture window of the Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria! Of all the pieces I showed and tips I gave the one most commented on was my extending the waistband on low rise jeans. I have included some of my other tips as well and was thankful to not have been arrested. The second day of the classes, the curtains were shut!

Restyling Pants & Jeans
1. Narrow legs or too snug; open side seams and add a strip of fabric into seam tapering to waist.
2. Short; add fabric border and decorative embroidery detail.
3. Low rise; oh my! Carefully remove belt loops. Open up waistband and face with a piece from another pair of jeans.
4. Discarded jeans; cut up leg strips, carefully cut off details such as pockets. Use a sweatshirt as base for the top and make a jacket like the denim one featured in "SWEATSHIRTS".