Upcycle Junk Artwork into a Collage Journal

Make an Eco Art Journal! 

If you are anything like me and have been making art for years, chances are you have some works that did not turn out the way you wanted.  Scour through your boxes of old art and pull out everything you dislike.  Then turn it all into this fabulous art journal and give it a whole new lease on life!

This journal is created with 100% upcycled materials or items I already had around the house.  If you know anything about me you know I don’t like to spend a ton on art unless it is absolutely necessary.  I made this journal with things I already had, so it was nearly FREE to make! 

The materials list for this project might seem extensive, however I want to encourage you to think outside the box!  Use the materials you already have.  Sometimes the best projects come together with a more scrappy, creative use of resources. 

Especially when it comes to Eco Art, it is fun to use what you already have or use materials in fresh ways.  Make the journal your own and have fun using what you have on hand!

The finished dimensions of my Eco Art Journal were approximately 13 inches wide by 11 inches tall, with about 30 pages in the book. 

Materials:

Old artwork in varying sizes

Hole punch

Marker

Hemp thread or needle and thick floss to thread the binding

2 pieces of thin cardboard that are the same size

(you could use a cereal box or look around your house and find a larger box that is made from a light weight cardboard)

Optional paper cutter or scissors and ruler

Materials to decorate the covers

(old magazines, craft paints, glue stick, stencils, other material you have on hand)

Optional Manilla Envelope for back cover

This is a great rainy day project!  Turn up the music and plan on spending some time during the weekend getting the art journal together.

For Step One, start by preparing the cardboard pieces that will be the cover.  Break the box down so that you have two large pieces of equal size.

The binding of the book is created by a line of holes along the left edge.  You can use a ruler and mark every inch along the left edge to align the placement of the holes.  Or do what I did and just wing it!  Put the bottom hole approximately ½ inch from the bottom edge and then work your way up.  If your cardboard is thin you should be able to use the hole punch; otherwise use a crop-o-dile tool or book making awl. 

Once you have the holes punched along the left edge of both pieces of cardboard, choose one piece to be the front cover.  Fold the cardboard about an inch in along the left side in a straight line and crease.  This will make it easier to open the book.

Set the cover aside and it is time for Step Two!  This is kind of the arduous tedious part of the process so be prepared for some elbow grease.

This is the perfect time to crack open a cold one, put on some upbeat music and get INTO the process!

Take one piece of paper from your stack of old artwork and lay it under the front cover.  Align the bottom edge of the cover with the bottom edge of the paper and, using your marker, draw dots to mark where the holes are supposed to go.  Punch out the holes and then use that sheet as a guide to punch holes in the rest of the sheets of paper. 

If you want the right edge of the book to be neat and tidy, you may need to trim down some of the pages.  My journal has pages that are similar in size and I’m letting the right edge be uneven.  I did trim down some of the papers to make them similar in size.  If you are a perfectionist and like to have all your ducks in a row, just make the pages approximately the same size.

If there are other papers or cardstock that you want to add to the journal, prep them in the same fashion as you did with the old art.  You could add map pages, grid paper, book pages, etc.  It just depends on the style of journal you are trying to make.  My journal is going to be for collage so I’m using junk watercolor papers and mixed media paper.   

So now that you have the pages prepared it is time for Step Three!  This is the fun part, the part that you have been waiting for!  Decorate the covers of your journal in any way you see fit. 

To begin, start with the back cover.  I happened to have a manilla envelope lying around, so I glued one to the inside of the back cover.  This will be handy for storing magazine clippings and bits of paper that I want to later work into the journal.

Next comes the front cover!  Mine is a basic collage scene with a cardstock background.  Use what you have on hand and decorate to your heart’s content!

I started my cover with a piece of cardstock to create a background.  Then I built up layers of collage until I was happy with the work.  Feel free to go to town and glue images down intuitively.  If you don’t like something you can always layer an image over the top. 

Seal the collage with a top layer of matte medium, mod pauge sealant or spray varnish. I prefer Collage Pauge because it doesn’t put off fumes…there are lots of options out there today. Some sealants even have sparkles in them, or you can use a sparkle glue pen to add to the overall design.

Step Four has finally arrived!  Try to relax while you put the book together. The end result will be an incredible collage book, where you can finally turn junk artwork into something you love.

Place the bottom cover of the journal in front of you and begin stacking the pages to line them up.  Every once in a while, push a thin paintbrush through the holes to make sure everything is aligned the right way.  Continue stacking the pages until they are all aligned and then stack the front cover on top.

(I wanted to use leather cord to bind the book however I quickly discovered that threading the binding is much easier with a thin sturdy thread like hemp thread.  Alternatively, use a needle and heavy thread or floss.)

 Thread the hemp through the top left hole and then down and up through the second hole.  Leave a bunch of extra thread at the top to make sure you have enough to do the entire binding.  Basically thread the book like you would lace up a shoe.  Once you get to the bottom, pull on the thread to make sure you have enough slack and then work your way back up going the other way. 

When the entire binding is threaded, tighten the lacing and then tie a few knots at the top.  Trim the thread and the book is finished!

Now that your book is complete, the sky is the limit! Prep the pages with gesso so that you have a clean slate to art journal on, or leave some pages as is to collage over with paper and fabric. The book could be used to gather ideas or inspiration, or even use as a glue book to save bits of fodder from your daily life.

I hope you had fun creating your Eco Art Journal!  Life just feels amazing when you are doing what you love and using your materials in new and fun ways. 

Make Art Journals from Junk Mail

I have to admit, over the years I always get excited about projects that use up junk mail! For some reason the thought of turning rubbish into something sacred really appeals to me! At my old place, homeless people would take bags out of my trash can really often. So I stopped putting mail in the bags to prevent identity theft. My husband bought a paper shredder and we typically save up all our junk mail and then shred it, but the mail tends to pile up for months before we do anything with it.

Enter the world of junk journals! I’ve made them in the past, and recently started saving cereal boxes to make some more. Sometimes people will convert old books into junk journals or art journals, but it is so much fun when you make the book from scratch. My junk journals are typically pamphlet style. I cut up a cereal box to use as the cover, and then use junk mail and book pages for the paper. Fold the cereal box, and then fill with folded paper. Use a needle and thread to attach the pages to the cover. You can collage on the pages, or use gesso or white acrylic paint to prime them for drawing and painting.

Here are a couple junk journals I made in the past! I have a stack of mail and cereal boxes that I’ve collected, and cannot wait to make some more.

Daily Journaling Habit

About eleven years ago I read The Artist’s Way, and it was so close to my heart. I needed to read those words at that time in my life. The biggest take away I got was that writing three pages a day could connect you with what you truly wanted in life. I remember after I had written for a few months, showing up at the page every day. I looked over what I had written and circled topics that kept coming up. “I want to start a blog” kept showing up on that page. I didn’t know anything about how to use a computer and at that time I was not on social media yet. I was nervous to voice my desire out loud for fear that my husband wouldn’t want to help me with it. And yet today I have blogged in one form or another ever since, and I can thank my daily journaling habit for forging a new path for me.

I always throw out my journals once they are filled up. Because they are so private, I don’t want anyone to read them. But it gives me the freedom to write whatever is going on, or whatever I’m thinking of or dreaming up. Everyone needs a space where they can just let it all out, and for me that is my composition book. I buy them in packs of six and at certain times in my life I have gone through a notebook a month! My journals are like my besties, softly embracing me and holding space without judgement at my best and worst, no matter what I’m going through in life.

If you have been trying to make sense of life, or have wanted to vent freely…or even tune into the rhythm of your heart…give daily journaling a try! It might forge some new paths for you in your own life.

Tips for Ordering Custom Clothes

It has been a while since I posted on here, I’ve been sewing for a non-profit this past week. I’m sewing cloth pad kits for girls in Africa who don’t get regular access to feminine supplies. Each kit has a backpack and other essential items so the girls have what they need for their monthly moon time to bring with them to school. The project I’m working for is Forget Me Not, and I’m doing it all in memory of my younger sister who passed from an OD years ago. So my heart and headspace have been all wrapped up in sewing these kits! It is going to be an ongoing project of mine to do when I don’t have other stuff in the works.

SaniKit for Forget Me Not Project

Since I don’t have an upcycle to share this week, I wanted to pop on and post some tips for ordering custom clothing on Etsy. I used to sell custom clothes, and let me tell you it was one of the most nerve wracking projects I ever did. By the time I was done I could not get myself to step foot in the sewing room without feeling nauseous…not good!

I’ve been trying to support other women who upcycle, so I ordered the above skirt and another shop has some things in the works for me. If you are interested in ordering upcycled or altered clothes from people, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Know your measurements. Seriously, I made two custom skirts for a woman who would not tell me her waist measurement. Nothing weird or fishy about that…am I right? Be up front about your size requirements and measurements when you order handmade clothing. It helps the seamstress so much.

2. Be open to the maker’s creative process and ideas. When you are ordering custom clothes, give the maker the freedom to do things their way. It can be tempting to go overboard with demands or to ask something to be made just like something else you saw in an ad. But that is above and beyond difficult for the seamstress and takes all the fun out of the design process. Honestly, if you want something to be a copy of something else…you should just buy that thing in the first place. A lot of people try to order custom clothes because they think that they won’t have to pay as much for a knock off. But sewing handmade is a lot of blood, sweat and tears! It takes a lot of work and the reason some of those originals are so expensive is because a lot goes in to making them.

3. Not all seamstresses do custom work. If a seamstress says they aren’t open to the idea, let them know it is ok. You can still support their shop or help spread the word if you love what they do!

4. If the seamstress is working from a pattern, keep in mind that patterns call for a particular type of fabric. Sometimes a heavy weight woven is the best fit, sometimes lightweight cotton or stretch knit. The pattern typically will sew up best with the proper kind of fabric, or at least something as close as possible. So if the seamstress says you cannot go with the fabric of your choice, respect that and be open to other possibilities.

5. Treat your seamstress with respect and also pay them accordingly. A former client who wanted lots of custom work was not paying me what the work was worth. I was undercharging because I wanted my upcycling biz to be a success, but it drove me loco because I knew I could be charging way more. The client kept asking me to keep my prices low, but I started to suspect that she was reselling the pieces because she didn’t care what size they were. She was buying for cheap and then marking things up…I’m fairly certain of it. And it ruined my biz! Show respect for the people making your clothes. You can expect that a handmade item is going to cost more than something from Walmart. And the pieces you get will be one of a kind and make you feel divine!

6. Look at the inventory in the shop you are considering, and see what styles the seamstress likes to sew. Buy what they have available first if it is in your size, or ask for something similar to a style that the person already knows how to make. That way there won’t be a huge learning curve to do your custom threads.

7. One last thing, when you get the item try it on right away. That way you can tell how it fits, and if it needs to be altered you can either alter it yourself or send it back to be fixed. When I received this Bob Ross skirt, I automatically assumed it would be too short. So I complained and made a fuss. It turns out the skirt actually is way longer than I first assumed! I apologized to the seamstress, and plan on shopping her store in the future to support her business. But above all I learned a very valuable lesson! Try everything on before you make a judgement on the work.

It is so fun to shop altered and upcycled clothes! The biggest rule of thumb is to treat the maker with so much respect. Pay them what the work is worth, and be open to his or her design process. In the end you will wind up with totally unique pieces that fit you like a charm! So worth it!

Book Review in Pictures: Generation T

Generation T

Supplies

Making some cuts

Template

More cutting

Ready…Set…Go!

Sewing…My favorite part!

Photo taken by Jason Sturges

Awake and Aware Journal Quilt

For years I have pondered how to combine my love of fabric with art making. I’m finally taking that idea seriously and giving myself time to experiment and play! Something about drawing and painting on fabric just makes me feel like a kid again. Painting on fabric feels different than canvas or paper. Fabric is thready and nubby and bumpy, the texture is a dream to make art on. Lately I feel so inspired! A big part of what brings me deep satisfaction in this life is just experimenting with the materials I have on hand. It is surprising what you can do with a few fabric scraps and paint!

This work started about five months ago by sewing scraps onto muslin, then I got out some puffy fabric paint. I think it was more designed to create dots on rocks and stuff, and when I tried to draw with it I wasn’t entirely happy with the result. So I brought in some white acrylic paint. We got a huge snowstorm yesterday and the white reminds me of the cool chill of snow. I used acrylic paint markers and a sharpie to write and draw. An old credit card came in handy to swipe paint on the surface and smudge out mistakes from the puffy paint.

I love the way this turned out so hardcore! I’m thinking I will frame it and hang it on the wall.

Awake and Aware by Kathryn Sturges

Self Care for Mind, Body and Spirit

I used to be really into self care as a way of life, but somehow along the way I got away from it. It dawned on me today that I have not been doing enough to take care of myself, mind body and soul! So I meditated a little and got out an adult coloring book. I have a small collection of coloring books that I get out from time to time. Something about coloring with zero need to make anything good or special makes me relax and unwind!

Are you doing enough to take care of yourself these days? The Pandemic seems worse now than ever before, and it can be so easy to tough out the daily grind without taking the time to nurture yourself. I created a list some years ago, called the “Mind, Body, Spirit Guide”. It has self care items that you can try to achieve balance and feel grounded. I’m going to share it here, and choose a few to try this week.

Art is so healing because it helps you tune in to your inner wisdom! When I was coloring today I could see that I have been starry eyed about the vision for my life, and that I need to take a more grounded approach. Choose a coloring book, get some colored pencils and give yourself time just for you! It is so worth it!

The Mind Body Spirit Guide

If you are reading this little book, chances are you feel like there must be a way to feel really good in your life.  The Mind, Body, Spirit Connection is very real and each individual aspect of a person affects the other areas.  I’ve been studying ways to feel better in my life and I’ve learned a ton about ways to lift my spirits and reach a whole new level of harmony.  And so I have decided to give this little book as a free gift to fellow travelers, people who want to set a new standard in life to feel really good.

About ten years ago I was a total wreck and every day was total misery.  I was in a dark depression and couldn’t seem to shake myself out of it.  I felt a lot of shame for mistakes I had made in life and I saw myself as too broken to contribute in a meaningful way to the world.  So I sat feeling very sorry for myself for a few years and let me tell you, the more you think about how miserable you are it actually proves to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.  The more you get stuck in the mud of sadness and doubting your own brilliance, the worse off your life tends to get.

I began studying healing modalities to feel better about myself and my life.  I’ve explored meditation, worked with some life coaches, taken classes on getting the most out of life.  And what I’ve found is that feeling good about life is a daily tending; a daily check in to what you most need and then meeting those needs one at a time.  Slowly you can feel better day to day, and over time your life will change in radical ways!

I do not offer these ideas as an expert, and I’m not perfect at achieving all of these healing practices all of the time.  When I began compiling this list I realized that my body could use more attention, so I’m dedicating more time to that area in the months to come.  You may find that one area comes really easy to you while the others are more work to bring into balance.  And that is OKAY!  Choose a few practices to start with and try out different things until you figure out what makes YOU feel great!

One thing I love to do throughout the day is to tune inward and ask, “What would feel good right now?”, then do that thing.  Taking care of yourself can blossom into a way of life, and I guarantee you will feel better a lot more often.  Some of the best advice I ever got in life was “If the thing you are doing isn’t working, get up and do something else!”  It sounds so simple, but really how often do you drudge through the day without really stopping to see if the activities you do are making you feel good? 

So, without further commiseration, here is a list of ways to feel good.  Some ways to work with this list are to choose your favorite items and write them each on a note card.  Then when you are feeling out of balance simply pull a card and do what the card says.  Or you could print out the list and keep it somewhere special.  When you are feeling out of balance pull out the list and try a few of the activities from each category that speak to you.  Add to the list too, and find ways that custom fit your own life.  Something that works for me might not work for somebody else.  Once you are more familiar with different self-care practices, you will naturally be drawn to just the right activity at just the right time that it is needed.

Here’s to a whole new way of life that feels amazing!  Thank you for taking this step toward wholeness and healing!  I’m rooting for you!

Mind

1.     Meditate:  Close your eyes and listen to the sounds in your environment.  When you have a thought, gently let it go and return to listening to sounds.  This is a great way to clear the mind and calm overactive thinking.

2.    Journal it:  Grab a pen and paper and write out what's on your mind.  Keep your journal in a special place away from prying eyes and as you begin to trust the page your journal might slowly become a new best friend!  Get out all your hopes and fears and then look back over what you have written when the journal is complete.  Anything that comes up over and over again in your writing is worth exploring further.

3.    Make a gratitude list or start a gratitude art journal:  Connecting with thankfulness is the highest form of positive thinking.  You could take photos with your cell phone of things you are grateful for, draw pictures of the people in your life that mean the most to you or simply jot down a list.  Gratitude is the highest form of positive thinking and when you make it a regular practice gratitude has a way of giving you a whole new perspective.

4.    Get creative:  Tapping into creativity connects you to the endless source of inspiration in the Universe.  The simplest act of creativity is to grab some magazines, tear out three images and a word or phrase that you are drawn to and then glue them in a pleasing arrangement in a composition book.  Expressing yourself visually is very healing and helps you tune in to your authentic self.

5.    Do something you really enjoy today:  What sounds fun right now?  Sometimes life gets too heavy and you just need to lighten up a bit.  Watch a comedy, play a game, spend time with someone you love.  Even just a half hour at a coffee shop can turn a drab afternoon into something worth remembering. 

6.    Visualize it:  Take some deep breaths and relax your body from head to toe.  Then imagine your wildest dreams coming true.  Try to see images in your head of yourself in the perfect place for you, doing things you love.  See your loved ones smiling and happy, see yourself healthy and living out your joyful fantasies.  Then say some affirmations at the end.  Notice how your visualization begins to mesh with reality in your life.

7.    Say some positive affirmations:  Affirmations are short positive phrases that can help you feel better about your life.  Either write a few out each day or memorize some to repeat when you need them the most.  A few that I love are “I’ve Got This!”, “Every day in every way I’m getting better.”,  and “I Live My Truth”.   The words you speak about yourself and your life hold a lot of power.  Use affirmative words to lift yourself and others up.

8.    Read a good book:  Go to your bookshelf or a local bookstore and pick up the book you are most drawn to.  Read it cover to cover and nourish your mind and spirit.  Jot notes in the margins, draw doodles in the blank areas and really get into the material you are reading.

9.    Mindfulness of Breathing:  Take seven deep breaths and breathe in peace, when you exhale visualize stress and tension going out with the breath.  Then focus on your breathing for a while and when a thought enters your mind, visualize it drifting away like a cloud in a pale blue sky. 

10.Take a day trip!   Gather your loved ones and take a day trip someplace new.  When you get to your destination go in a store or café that calls out to you.  You would be amazed at how fun and healing day trips can be!  Vacations don’t have to always be to lands far away, even enjoying adventures in your hometown can be really inspirational.

11.Enjoy some silence:  Silence is a great way to calm your mind and let go of the stress of the day.  I try to have moments of silence every day, to help me tune inward and hear the stirrings of my heart.

12.Try a new hobby:  If there is something you have always wanted to learn about, there has never been a better time than right now to dive in!  Watch some videos on YouTube about your topic of interest or buy a book on the subject.  Then actually get messy and do the hobby!  No perfection allowed… 

Body

1.     Stretch it out:  Do some gentle yoga poses and stretches to feel more grounded and centered.  YouTube has lots of free Yoga workouts to try, so put on some comfortable clothes and get stretching.  If you are not physically able to do full on yoga, try chair yoga for a soothing treat.

2.    Shake what your mama gave you:  Dancing freely to your favorite music is uplifting.  It is also a great way to release pent up energy and emotions.  I love to turn on Pandora Radio and get my energy moving.  March in place, jump and shimmy.  Get your whole body into the music and you will feel incredible!

3.    Take a walk in nature or even in your neighborhood:  Walking in nature is a great way to clear your head.  Nature is the ultimate healer, peace is yours with every step.  Notice the plants and animals you see along the way.  Offer everything and everyone you see peace and love.

4.    Enjoy your favorite food:  Food is meant to be enjoyed so savor your next meal.  Try mindful eating and slow down, savoring each bite.  Focus on how nourishing the food is and thank everyone who harvested, shipped and stocked the food to get it to your table.

5.    Have a glass of water:  Water rids your body of toxins and is the best way to hydrate your body.  If you want you could flavor it with a bit of lemon or add some berries to make it a truly divine experience.

6.    Introduce a new fruit or vegetable to your diet:  Try swapping out one routine food that is unhealthy with a healthier alternative.  Or level up one of your routine meals by adding some veggies to it.  Additionally, try to replace a sugary treat with a piece of fruit and make that a habit for nourishing your body.  Try to get five servings of fruits and veggies every day, but if that seems difficult aim for at least one healthy snack a day.

7.    Have a mug of tea:  Teas have healing properties and soothe your body.  Enjoy the sensory experience of slowly brewing a cup.  If you are looking for a caffeine boost, try some Black Tea.  Green Tea and Herbals have a lot of health benefits.  Sipping on tea is a soothing treat!

8.    Try aromatherapy:  Put on a body spray, perfume or cologne and let the scent uplift your spirit.  Or light some incense and wave the smoke around your favorite space in your home.  You could also try out an essential oil blend to calm your nerves or energize you.

9.    Tune in to body sensations:  Do some deep breathing for a few minutes, then focus on how your body feels.  Simply open up your perception to the sensations in your body and notice what shows up.  Our bodies are always full of sensations however most of the time we are focused on other things.  Tuning in to your body this way can help you feel more grounded.

 10.Try a new restaurant:  It has been proven that most people eat the same ten to fifteen foods on repeat.  Mix up your diet and explore some new restaurants for a fun culinary experience.  Or make a new recipe at home!  Try making smoothies…throw your favorite fruits in with orange juice and blend.  They are a great way to get nutrition that tastes good too!

11.Move your body:  Do a workout that sounds fun!  Joyful movement is as easy as taking a walk, playing tennis, dancing or any other activity that makes you smile.  I enjoy aerobics or dance at home, while some people may prefer sports or bicycling.  The point is to do something you really enjoy!  If you have limited mobility try chair yoga or a beginner’s walking work out. 

12.Let go of a bad habit and replace it with a good habit:  Take it one step at a time and go easy on yourself along the way.  It helps to find a healthy substitute for the bad habit, create some affirmations to say every time you are tempted.  Ride the waves of temptation and put your energy into things that really enrich your life. 

Spirit

1.    Pray:  Give your worries to God and say thanks for your blessings.  If you are struggling or having a hard time in life, practice giving your worries to God or your Divine Power and then letting them go.  Say “God’s Will Be Done” and God will show you a better way.

2.    Read a new spiritual book:  I have some spiritual books that I enjoy reading again and again.  Jot down your favorite nuggets of wisdom and try out the spiritual practices that are recommended in the book.  Spiritual books have a way of smoothing out the rough patches in life and give so much comfort.

3.    Get passionate and take action for a cause you care about:  Volunteer, write letters, donate old stuff, give to the homeless.  It feels really good to help someone else and can make your problems seem to disappear when you focus on what you can offer to help somebody else.

4.    Make your home a sanctuary:  Declutter an area that has been bothering you and show your home some love.  Clean the space as thoroughly as possible and decorate with items that bring you joy.  Your environment plays a big role in how you feel about yourself and your life, so take some time to make it a haven for you and your family.  Feng Shui is the art of arranging items in a way that brings good energy flow to your environment, and it really does work!  Look online for ideas.

5.    Get out in nature, enjoy the magic of the natural world:  There is something so profoundly healing about connecting to nature.  I have often thought that your relationship with nature is a vivid representation about your relationship with life itself.  If you have fears related to nature the best way to get through them is to go outside some each day.  Nature is the ultimate healer, it provides everything we need to survive on the Earth and spending time with Mother Nature is profoundly satisfying to the soul.  You might notice this one shows up in more than one list.  Spending time in nature is the ultimate way to get back into alignment and feel really good.

6.    Give the gift of kindness and attention to someone in your life.  Turn your energy outward to someone you love and figure out how you can help them in that moment.  Additionally, send a surprise care package to someone you love.  Everyone loves surprises, and it will make you feel good to do something special to honor relationships in your life.

7.    Practice letting go of the past:  If you are swamped by thoughts of the past, visualize yourself putting all those thoughts into a hot air balloon and then send it off into the sky.  Wave goodbye to the past and focus on the present moment.  One thing that works for me when I am thinking of a past memory is to think “I honor this memory and now I let it go!”  Then focus on the present moment and use your senses to become more mindful of the moment you are in.

8.    Forgive yourself and others:  Each moment is an opportunity to start again.  The easiest way I have learned to forgive is to separate the action from the person.  Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and people change over time.  Forgiving someone does not mean they have the right to continue to hurt you.  If someone is in your life that makes you feel bad, spend less time with them.  I’ve noticed that forgiveness is more of a gift you give to yourself to live with more love in your own heart.

9.    Embrace the moment:  Take a mindful pause and tune in to what is happening right now, in the moment you are in.  Whether it is happy or painful, take some deep breaths and allow yourself to feel how you feel right now.  Facing the moment can be an act of courage, and it is also a beautiful way to tune in to what is really going on in your life.  Change and healing only happen in the moment you are in. 

10.Bring a new plant into your home:  Tending to plants is nourishing and is a wonderful way to bring the outdoors in.  Create at least one area for plants in your home and get on a regular schedule of watering and caring for the plants.  If you are new to plants it might take some trial and error at first.  Choose plants that are easy to care for and give yourself time to learn the ways of nurturing those plants.  Taking care of plants is a great way to get focused on nurturing something else and it is fun to watch plants grow. 

11.Make a travel altar:  Get a small tin and paint it or add collage with paper and glue.  Then fill it with small treasures that have meaning for you.  You could also add a small vial of essential oil to make the tin a sensory experience.  Then you can connect with your spirituality no matter where you go. 

12.Spend time with an animal:  If you have pets, spend some time today bonding with them.  If you don't have animals, go out in nature and observe animals in their natural habitat.  If you see an animal repeatedly, that animal might have a message for you.  Spirit Animals are a way of looking to the animal kingdom and divining wisdom to apply to your life.  Search for a specific animal that means a lot to you online  and see what message you can apply to your life.

I hope you have enjoyed this list of healing activities!  If you have any questions about this list or would like some guidance… 

feel free to contact me at katsturges@gmail.com

or find me on my blog http://www.kathrynsturges.com

Life is meant to be enjoyed! When you care for yourself it ripples outward toward all the people in your life.

-Kathryn Sturges

Design and Sew Felt Plushies

Things got heavy around here, and whenever that happens I love to do a light hearted project! I was accepted to sell my art at a local outlet mall, but the contract involved more than I was ready for so I had to bail on the project. I was so excited about the opportunity, and my spirit tanked when it fell through. So I decided to make some plushies anyway, just for fun!

One of the items I was going to make to sell at the mall was felt plushies. I have a big stack of felt that is constantly taunting me to use up. What is it about felt that makes my heart sing? Could it be the thick nubby texture, or the bold bright colors? Felt is so easy to work with, it is a dream to sew. The two plushies above only took a couple of sittings to make, and you could make a bunch in a weekend.

Designing a felt animal only takes your imagination. The shape of the cat above came from a vintage Seventies pattern. But you don’t need a pattern to make these little critters. Here’s a quick outline of how to design and sew the plushies! The best part is you will get to dip into your assortment of buttons, trims and whatever you have on hand.

Materials:

Felt in different colors (If you can, try to find Eco Felt. But if you already have some felt at home that is the best bet.)

Permanent marker

Scrap material or patches

Buttons, trim, etc.

Fabric scraps to turn into clothing if you want your plush to have an outfit

Fiberfill, extra batting or scraps to fill the plush

Basic sewing kit

Step One: Choose an animal to base your plush on. Or step outside the box and come up with a quirky concept. You could make a creature like an alien, sasquatch, monster, etc…or something more feminine like a doll or teddy bear.

Step Two: I promise…you do not need a pattern for this step! Trust me! Stack two pieces of felt, then draw the outline of the felt plush. For the frog above I just drew a freehand design. Make sure the head and body are all one piece. You can make separate pieces for arms and legs if you want, or do like a gingerbread style shape and draw the entire body shape as one piece.

Step Three: Cut out the two layers of felt at the same time. This will give you the front piece and back piece. If you need to make arms and legs, you probably only need one layer, unless you want to stuff them to make them puffy.

Step Five: Now comes the fun part! Design the facial features and decorate the plush. You can sew on buttons for eyes, or cut out felt shapes. I sewed a decorative iron on patch onto the frog. Don’t iron anything on though, because felt melts. Decorate with bits of yarn or fabric, trim or ribbon. Just have fun with it! I chose to only decorate the front of the plushies and left the backs plain.

Step Six: Stack the front and back with right sides out. Then sew around the edge, making sure to leave an opening so that you can fill with stuffing. Fill the plush, then finish sewing around the outside.

Make one, make a bunch…give them as gifts, donate them, sell them! Once you make one you will want to make more because they are so fun!

Screw Old Navy...Five Ways to Rethink Fashion for Plus Sizes

So I need to be right up front because I have shopped at Old Navy over the years. They actually used to be my favorite store. The fashion there is affordable, which makes it seem like a good option if you are shopping on a budget. But the truth is if you are Plus Size, Old Navy is not your friend! I am on a mission to stop buying fast fashion. Every time I do, it feels dirty somehow…because I know that those clothes are harmful to the people that make them and the environment.

It can be so tough to shop responsibly when you are on a budget. Plus sizes really have a tough go of it, and even seamstresses often struggle to find sewing patterns in their size. One thing you can be absolutely sure of though is that if a piece of clothing is offered for $5, brand new…that item was made in a sweat shop environment! It is a lot of work to sew a piece of clothing. If you shop on Etsy, you will see that handmade clothing is usually really expensive. That is because it takes a ton of work to produce an article of clothing. There is the material that goes into the item, and then hours to sew it.

Five ways to rethink your fast fashion…

1. Look into the stores you shop at to see how the clothing is manufactured. Some stores stand by a code of ethics, and some don’t. Do a bit of research before you settle on a store. Buy second hand if you are comfortable with it, because you can often find items on the cheap. It is always more ethical to purchase second hand vs. brand new. It is better for the wallet and the environment. A lot of people only wear clothes a few times before they get donated, so something that didn’t work for them can be brand new to you! Look on Poshmark or ThredUp if you want to shop from home. I prefer Poshmark because it directly helps individuals, where ThredUp is a corporation and the clothes that come from there are often falling apart and in bad shape.

2. If you just love buying brand new, be choosy and pick clothes that will last. If you buy a shirt and it only lasts a few washes before seams start coming apart, you can be sure that the brand makes clothes in a subpar way. Look for brands that stand up to the test of time. The clothes that last the longest for me typically come from Torrid. If you read about Torrid production ethics, they state that their clothes are made responsibly and not in sweat shops. I’ve had really bad luck with stuff from Macy’s and Old Navy. Lane Bryant offers fashion at a higher price point, but the clothes are made to last! The fabrics that Lane Bryant uses are often thicker than other stores. Lane Bryant t shirts are a bit subpar…some of them are really wrinkly out of the wash and aren’t the most flattering.

3. If you buy clothes from a store over and over and are constantly disappointed in the fit of the clothing you buy, reconsider that store and shop elsewhere. Instead of throwing those pieces away, alter them so they work for you. Add fabric to a hem to lengthen a top or turn it into a dress, hem pants that are too long. Old Navy has sizing that is all over the place. I bought a pair of jeans in my size and another a size smaller. The smaller pair fit and the larger pair was too small! Another thing that really grinds my gears is when plus size tops are too short! Not many plus size women want to show their midrif, and I feel like it is total oversight to just keep the length of tops the same regardless of size. So if you have sizing and fit issues at a store…it might be best to shop somewhere else.

4. When you upcycle clothing, it is important to consider whether the new items you are bringing in are created from fabric you can use to upcycle. Some fabrics, like dry clean only articles and super sheer fabrics can be a challenge to work into projects later on. I love sewing with t shirt material so over the summer I made a point to stop buying blouses and tops in sheer fabrics. Now I buy sweatshirt materials and t shirts that I know I can turn into something else.

5. Material matters! A lot of clothes today have Polyester in them, and especially for Plus Sizes it is almost unavoidable. Polyester is a kind of plastic, and truly a disaster for the Environment. Be aware of the fabric content of the clothes you buy, and consider sewing your own clothes to have more control over the fabric that goes into the item. I have yet to find a single store out there with eco friendly fashion for Plus Sizes, that I can actually afford. The Plus Size market is growing but it still has room for improvement.

   6. Upcycling and sewing your own clothes is challenging, but so worth it! Throughout history, women have often sewn their own clothing instead of buying from stores. Go on Facebook and get into some plus size sewing groups for inspiration! I’m currently learning how to resize patterns so that I can make clothes from scratch. Once you get the hang of sewing from patterns, it can be so easy to make your own wardrobe. You can even upcycle old clothes into new items with sewing patterns! You will have a wardrobe that is as unique as you are, made of the fabrics you choose. Sewing is my dharma and my goal is to make handmade over buying new things. It isn’t always the quick easy option, but when I do sit down at the sewing machine it feels really good!

I hope this post gives you some things to ponder! Fast fashion doesn’t have to get you down…you can save money and still look really amazing. The name of the game is no shame…you are so worth having a wardrobe that makes you feel really good. If you can’t afford higher priced items for yourself and your family, you surely are not alone! Even big box stores have options for the conscious consumer. Be choosy and have fun expressing your style!

Simple Holiday Decorating

The Holiday Season is well upon us by now, and some of you might feel swamped under the pressure to procure a meaningful holiday for your loved ones. The truth is, Christmas decorating and wrapping paper are not always that great for the environment. Even just small touches can add so much warmth to your space, without going overboard.

I have never gotten into the decorating aspect of Christmas because my husband and I don’t have people over for the holidays and we don’t have children. This year I’m feeling more nostalgic, and I wanted to begin to create our own traditions. Over the last few years we have begun rethinking Christmas and how we can make it special for us. Things like drinking Old Saint Nick’s on Christmas Eve and watching our favorite Christmas movies…slowly we are developing some of our own traditions.

Here are a few ideas for decorating and making the Holiday special, without harming the environment…and without adding too much to your already busy plate.

1. Wrap gifts in fabric! This idea stems from Furoshiki, a Japanese art of wrapping items in fabric. Simply cut large pieces of fabric and tie knots to keep the fabric in place. You might want to use pinking shears or a zig zag stitch around the edges of the fabric if you are worried about the fabric fraying. The gifts above are for my husband’s birthday, and wrapped in fabric they look absolutely divine!

2. Make popcorn strands to display. This was one of my favorite projects as a kid, when my Mom would pop a bunch of popcorn and we strung it on thread to put on the tree. You can drape the popcorn strands on a mantle or down a staircase railing for a festive look.

3. If you aren’t into having a traditional Christmas tree, make one for yourself! The above tree is just a wooden dowel stuck in potting soil, and I sewed a little felt triangle top. If you look online there are endless ideas for making your own trees, or try my project for fabric trees out of old dresses and linens. Here’s the tutorial to give you some inspiration!

4. Put strands of Christmas lights in a bottle, jar, vase or lantern. You can even do a bunch of these for different spots around the house.

5. Gather holiday items together to create little vignettes. I seriously have a meager holiday decoration collection, but gathered together on my counter top table everything looks so festive! You don’t need all the things to make your home feel cozy and welcoming.

6. Make some homemade potpourri with pinecones and dried plants and put it in a bowl. Scent it with some essential oil and your home will smell divine!

Ok, I could go on and on here! The point is that there are so many simple ways to add some Christmas cheer to your space that are eco friendly and on the cheap! It doesn’t take a lot to create a warm holiday home, and just a little effort goes so far!

Sourcing Vintage Notions and Patterns

I know I mention Etsy a lot, because I actually really love the site! A few years back Etsy changed their rules, so now people can sell mass produced goods on there…which took a lot of fun out of shopping on there. But I love selling on there occasionally and love supporting other makers there! I have shopped on Etsy a little over 80 times throughout the years, always supporting makers and collectors of all different stripes. Etsy is still a fabulous place to find handmade goods, and it is easy to spot items that have been mass produced vs. handmade.

Vintage Patterns from Etsy

This post is about finding vintage notions and sewing patterns, because doing so is one way to automatically make your sewing hobby more eco friendly. You can find vintage patterns on the cheap being sold from lots of different shops, in all different sizes. I have amassed a small collection of clothing patterns from Etsy sellers. Some are from the Seventies and Eighties, some 90’s. It is so fun to be able to find a pattern where I know the sale is directly benefiting the seller vs. shopping through a big box store. Plus, collecting vintage patterns is so addictive! Being able to create vintage looks straight from a pattern is an incredible experience. I also love finding vintage craft pamphlets and books on the site.

Vintage Buttons from AStoreCalledGalore on Etsy

Buttons, lace and trims are also so fab to buy on Etsy! I swear, I bought one or two stashes of buttons from JoAnn fabrics, but once I discovered vintage buttons on Etsy I was hooked! You can find collections in specific colors, quirky fun buttons from the Sixties and Seventies, etc…and they are typically competitively priced. You can also occasionally find sellers with bundles of scrap material for sale. I bought a random assortment of felt and fabric scraps, bits of lace and trim for like $25 years ago, and I still get into that stash for projects like art quilts, upcycles, etc.

Mystery Box Fabrics from Etsy

Last but certainly not least…the fabric on Etsy is awesome! Some of it is super expensive, so you have to really hunt for a bargain. I have purchased yardage that claimed it was vintage only to find it seemed more like new. But you can also buy up used sheets to back your projects like quilts and table runners, and the Seventies fabrics make me swoon! Look for mystery boxes and people trying to unload some of their stash for the best deals. Or buy precut scrap material in bundles!

I tell you what…I put limits on shopping for sewing and art all the time. I mean, using what I have on hand is so important to me. As far as crafting goes I have tried to have a sustainable hobby for many years. When I first started out I tried lots of random materials just to see what I liked. But once you have been sewing or making art for years you just know what works for you! My latest challenge is to use up what I have first in that sewing room before I buy anything new! I also plan on continuing to support Etsy shops for things like vintage patterns and notions, but it is on my bucket list to have turned all of my scrap material into projects and quilts. When you limit your fabric selection it makes you ever more creative! And using what you have on hand becomes second nature after a while.

Have a browse at vintage notions and patterns on Etsy, and you will be amazed at all the fun collections there. And if you get wind of a good sale or great bargain on vintage sewing stuff, shoot me a message and let me know all about it!

Changing Seasonal Wardrobes

I have put this off like the plague, but it is time to pack up some of my summer clothes to make way for Winter! During seasonal transition times, it can be so easy to just run out and buy a bunch of new clothes for the season ahead. But you can make the transition smooth when you take your time to rethink what you already have.

I’m washing all of my clothes, so I can go through everything. I get excited when it comes time to swap seasons because it means I can figure out what clothing items are working for me and what I could upcycle into something entirely new.

Here are a few tips for the changing fashion season!

1. To start, wash everything that is dirty and get it hung up or put away neatly to be able to go through with ease. I always gather seasonal items into a bag to store in my closet, or you could use a cardboard box or other storage bin.

2. Next, pull out any item of clothing that you didn’t wear over the Spring/Summer months…or things you only wore a couple of times that got pushed to the back of your closet. These items are perfect for upcycling into something new, so don’t throw them out. You could donate some of them if you want or give them to a friend to wear, but if you are like me…set those pieces aside to make into something new.

3. Anything that needs mended for the Winter months should be gathered up next! I have a dress that lost a button, so I’m going to sew the button back on. Also anything with holes or stains can go in the bag to be altered later. Those items are perfect for applique and lace, or mend tears with a zig zag stitch. Do you know I actually used to throw things away if buttons came off…when all I had to do was sew the buttons back on? SHAME!

4. Unpack winter clothing from last season and get it ready to wear. I am getting out my sweaters this week and washing those as well. I also just washed my old winter coat to be reworn. I bought it two years ago, and it is still in perfect condition! If you want to spruce up an old faux fur or wool coat, consider sewing on patches for a trendy look so it will be like new!

5. Another step here is to figure out what warm weather items you want to keep in your wardrobe for the cold months. T shirts can be worn in layers or worn as pj’s, or you could always add long sleeves or layer turtlenecks underneath. I stopped wearing shorts in my teen years, so my pants easily transition for year round wear. Pants and skirts made with super lightweight fabric might have to sit out the cold months though, so get them out of rotation.

6. As a final step, you could check for gaps in your wardrobe and pick up a few items. Thrifting is a great option, try Poshmark for a sweet deal. This year I bought a few basic long sleeve t shirts and turtlenecks for layering, and a couple of pairs of jeans. I also got a faux fur jacket for the mild winter days, because my old coat is really puffy and only works for those super cold temps.

Now you have a bag or bin full of clothes that are dying to be made into something new! And you are ready for Winter…bonus pack! I guess I better get back to my own wardrobe now…those clothes are not going to wash themselves! LOL! 😂

Sunshine Eco Blanket Tutorial

I have wanted to try a project like this for years! It is so strange how creatives work, because sometimes you have so many creative dreams that ideas get pushed back years before you see them come to fruition. This eco blanket was really simple to make, and it would be an awesome holiday gift to share with a loved one. You could probably make this in a day if you spent three to four hours in the sewing room. And you probably already have everything you need to whip this up! Try to use what you have…that is the eco challenge posed here!

Materials:

Thrifted fabrics…or old sheets, an old duvet cover or table cloth material

Basic sewing kit

Binding for your blanket

Other scrap material for the applique (I used an old shirt and a quilting cotton from my stash)

A large plate or other round object

I scored so big when I got a mystery box of old knits on Etsy last year! I got tons of yardage of fabric for only $50, it was estate fabric and arrived in a big ole box. I hung up all the fabrics in my sewing room closet, and the other day I was super chilly, I wanted to make a poncho. So I grabbed these two fabrics from the closet, but quickly realized they would be really cozy as a blanket. Root around your linen closet and stash and see what fabric you can come up with! An outdated duvet cover, old sheets, an old fleece blanket or table cloth would all work to make this original blanket.

Step One: Cut two squares of fabric, approximately 55 inches square. I skipped this step and assumed my fabrics were already squared off…but they weren’t! Sometimes measuring is the way to go! You can make your blanket larger or smaller, depending on who will use it.

Step Two: If you are using a binding, stack the fabrics right sides out and pin with safety pins around the outside edges and sew. If you are skipping the binding, stack fabrics with right sides together and pin with safety pins, be sure to leave an opening to flip it right side out. I used regular pins and they immediately starting popping off the fabric. So safety pins or clips are your best bet! If you are not using binding, after you sew, flip the blanket right side out and close up the opening with a zig zag stitch. You could continue that or another decorative stitch all the way around the blanket with contrasting thread for a fun look.

Step Three: Attach the binding. I already had this binding in my stash, but you can make some yourself. Cut long strips of woven non stretch fabric, approximately three inches wide. Sew those together end to end. Then fold in half and iron with steam, fold each side under to meet the middle and iron again. Then simply wrap the binding around the edges as you sew, and attach with a zig zag or other decorative stitch.

Step Four: Grab the fabric for the circle part of the sun. The seams on this shirt started coming apart after the last wash, and I only wore this three or four times! GRRRR fast fashion! I was going to mend it, but then it dawned on me that it would make a perfect sunshine applique. The fabric is a super stretchy and slick, odd polyester blend. I traced around a large plate to get my circle shape and then cut the circle out.

Step Five: Because the sun fabric was so awkward to manage, I attached it to a quilting cotton backing to make it more sturdy. The fabric would not lay flat on its own, and immediately wanted to fold and bunch up when I tried to pin it to the blanket. You can applique with just about any fabric as long as you stabilize it the right way. Because I could not use heat on the fabric and fusible web, I pinned the circle onto a large square of orange quilting cotton fabric. Then I switched my thread to a burnt sienna color for contrast, and sewed around the edge of the circle.

Step Six: Next, grab a pair of scissors and cut around the orange fabric to make sun rays. I just did this freehand, but if you want a more uniform look you could trace around a template made of paper or cardboard. Pin the applique onto the blanket and sew around the circle first. Then stitch down the edges of the rays. Remove all the pins, and you are done!

I’m so glad I finally made this blanket, it had been a creative dream of mine from many years ago to make an artful blanket with applique and now I have done that dream! You can change up this project to suit your own vision! Make up your own applique shape and just enjoy the process.

Shopping for Upcycled Clothing

There are a ton of makers getting into sewing upcycled clothing for sale. You would be surprised if you have not ever shopped for remakes just how much there is to choose from! Because I normally just upcycle my own clothing, I had not ever purchased upcycled threads from someone else. So I explored Etsy to see what other creatives were up to.

Plus Size Dress from RepurposeCouture on Etsy

Goblincore Top by JenileeDesignStudio on Etsy

Art Dress by KoolHandDesigns

Here are three pieces I had to see in person! One thing to note is that Etsy does not have endless makers who do work for larger sizes, but there are really cool designs if you just look. If you wear standard sizes…there is tons to choose from! I love all three pieces for their creative edge, and you can see by looking at them that all are unique.

The Goblincore shirt is from a shop who creates handmade patches and sews them onto thrift store tops. She also turns shirts into crop tops! The other two pieces are completely made from scratch, and I love how original each one is. I didn’t realize the blue patchy dress had to be dry cleaned when I bought it. If you want to shop upcycled, be sure you understand how a piece will need to be cleaned first before you buy. That is also something to consider when you upcycle your own clothing!

As a consumer, you can make a huge impact by how you choose to spend your money. Buying thrifted and upcycled clothing really does make a difference! I feel like I have to mention…Covid can live on fabrics for two days, so if you do buy second hand or upcycled you might want to let the package sit for a week before opening. Just because there is a Pandemic going on does not mean you have to stop buying thrifted goods, you just want to be knowledgable and stay informed on best practices for handling used goods.

If you are a seamstress, look on Etsy and EBay and see what other people are making! It will give you tons of ideas for your own projects. If you are a consumer of thrifted clothes, why not try some upcycled pieces too? You will have a unique look all your own and truly make a difference for the environment and small biz too!

Full Moon Gratitude Cards

The Eclipse was amazing last night! If you did not see it, I can tell you a little about how it looked. The moon looked almost pinkish gray, not dark red like the blood moons of nine years ago. It was amazing because the eclipse went on and on, during the two hours I saw the moon last night it was covered in shadow with just a small sliver of shimmery moon showing through!

In the past I was really into doing little rituals at the New Moon mostly, but sometimes for the Full Moon too. Typically those revolved around what other people were doing or teaching at the time. After being so into spirituality for so many years I think I have finally graduated to be able to come up with my own little ceremony!

The Full Moon is typically about celebrating what you are thankful for! In the USA, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. But perhaps sometime over the next few days would be a most potent time to give thanks for how far you have come in this life. I started my ceremony last night with prayer, to thank God for guiding me into some fresh directions this past few months. Next, I grabbed a stack of magazines and flipped through, tearing out pages that represent things I’m thankful for.

The truth is, things that make you feel gratitude are really a part of you…the best part! Taking time to notice, name and honor those things is like honoring aspects of your higher self…your best self!

Today I’m arranging the images onto 5x7 notecards and gluing them down. I’m going to keep these little cards and add to them over time. If you want to try this activity, you could always collage everything together on paper or cardboard and then put it somewhere you can see it often. Because it will help grow even more things to be grateful for!

The Eclipse was really powerful, the energy can be felt by all whether you saw it last night or not. Take a minute and just notice something good in your life today! It has been challenging this past couple of years but God is always putting things in our life to be profoundly grateful for if we just stop to notice.

Buying and Selling Secondhand Goods

Buying secondhand and vintage is a more responsible choice than buying new. I mean, if you think about it when you buy new it takes resources and energy to make all that brand new stuff. When you get secondhand and vintage it helps because it prolongs the lifecycle of those goods and you do not create more demand on the marketplace for new items. When you buy new companies have to keep making more of those products to meet demand. Seriously, if everyone on the planet only bought second hand goods it would truly be a godsend toward helping curb emissions caused by factories and put more resources into the hands of individuals selling their old stuff.

But the pandemic has really changed the way that people buy second hand! Now that Covid is on the scene, a lot of local thrift stores have stopped collecting donations. And knowing that Covid can live on surfaces for a while makes it more challenging to go local to shop. Did you know that Covid lives on fabrics for a week or more? Pretty unsettling if you are worried you might get sick!

Being a plus size woman, I have personally found it really hard to find my size at local thrift stores. I mean, surely there must be other plus size women in my community! But at a lot of the local thrift shops the selection is really small of clothing in my size, and what is there is less than desirable. So it can be hard to find what you are looking for locally when you are thrifting unless you are really tuned in to the type of goods local thrift shops carry on a regular basis.

Online thrifting is just exploding! And there are all kinds of ways to buy directly from individuals instead of chain stores. It is easy to both list and sell your own items today, and just as easy and fun to shop for second hand goods online. Modern times and technology have totally transformed the way that people shop second hand.

Websites like Poshmark make it easy to both buy and sell used clothing and home goods online, and the market is huge for those items! One downside of Poshmark is people often buy clothing on a discount in bulk from stores online and then mark it way up to sell on there. It becomes obvious if a seller has a lot of one item, so it doesn’t hurt to actually research the item at the store it came from to see if that item is actually worth what they are asking for on Poshmark. That being said, Poshmark is so much fun…it is like a huge garage sale only it is filled with items that you truly want to wear and use. I sold some clothes on Poshmark, and shipping became a chore because I had to go to the Post Office two to three times a week. Demand there is especially high for name brand and novelty items.

ThredUp is another great option for buying clothes and fashion accessories. I have had some mixed experiences with ThredUp though, because often times the clothes I have received from there are not even washed and have hair and debris on them or seams coming apart…yuck!! ThredUP does not accept returns, but if you sew you can easily alter or mend items if seams are worn. I bought some clothing from there when I was upcycling in the past and I noticed ThredUp often charges the same price that you would pay for the item brand new. But ThredUp has options for unloading your clothing and they claim to recycle things that don’t sell, which is bonus.

Etsy is a great place to buy vintage goods! I absolutely love shopping for old books and other vintage items there. I actually sold vintage semi-precious stone pendants on Etsy with great success. Etsy is great for if you have an old collection of goods and want to set up shop with ease. Adding items goes pretty fast, but there is also steep competition. Lately I have noticed some sellers leaving Etsy because they have recently changed some of their policies regarding shipping. Etsy is a great place to shop if you want to support small businesses and independent makers and creatives! I’m not sure about today, but in the past Etsy considered anything over ten years old to be vintage. I’ve noticed that there are sellers marking items as vintage on the site, but then saying they aren’t entirely sure how old the item is. So just know that if you are looking for true vintage pieces you might have to do some homework and research items before buying. Also, some shops on Etsy call themselves vintage shops, but are actually Goodwill Industries hiding under a different name.

EBay is another option for buying and selling vintage and second hand. I don’t have as much experience with EBay, but I do know it is fun to take part in auctions and even just look to see what people have on offer! My Aunt sells records on EBay and has great success there. EBay is a bit more intricate to set up if you are trying to open an actual storefront online, but there are books, articles and resources online that can help you figure it out. One thing I noticed about EBay is that there aren’t as many protections if you do not receive an item that was shipped to you. One time I ordered vintage sewing patterns that never arrived on my doorstep, and I never received a refund or compensation of any kind for that botched order. Poshmark and Etsy are much better as far as buyer protections, but there are ways people try to scam others out of designer merchandise on those sites so you have to be careful.

Above all, depending on what you are looking for there is a way to shop and sell it second hand online. If you just put a little effort in you can find all kinds of super cool vintage and pre owned pieces that will quickly become your favorite items to use and love. Also, setting up shop is just as simple! If you have lots of old clothes and need some extra cash, give Poshmark a try. Or if you have a lot of vintage home goods like books and housewares, Etsy is a great bet for selling. Gifting second hand is also fashionable and a great way to have eco friendly holidays. If you are looking to sell your old clothes and items online there is probably a venue that would be a perfect fit! My motto is becoming…shop second hand first before considering buying something brand new!

Another Painted Craft Bag Project

I painted this bag in 2020….unfortunately I think I might have thrown it away afterward! Sometimes when you make things you develop a love hate relationship with those things based on what other people think. It does take courage to decide that you just don’t care anymore. What is beautiful and lovely to you is all that truly matters! As you create things and upcycle or reinvent, don’t let naysayers deter you. I wish I still had this bag!

Paint a Craft Bag

Ok, so short story goes something like this…I used to collect handbags. Now I’m trying to repurpose my bags and use them as storage, but I want them to be special. I have a new theory forming that when you turn something into art it is much harder to throw that item away. Like suddenly it is divine because you did something creative with it!

I bought this bag at Macy’s a couple of months ago. The first time I used it my husband said it just didn’t look like me. If my husband disses something I wear I cannot bring myself to wear it again, otherwise his comment is always just hovering in the back of my mind. He has way better fashion sense than I, he is more classy and I am more anything goes. So I only used this bag twice and then it sat collecting dust. :(

I decided to paint the bag and use it to store art supplies. When I researched the material the bag was made of it said plastic coated canvas. So basically the bag is a churched up plastic bag! Don’t even get me started!

I put down a little light purple liquitex basics paint to add a tint and then layered black acrylic paint over that. The purple kind of took the edge off the black paint and made it look subtly gray. It grunged up the bag some but the print on the bag still showed through.

Then I painted the pocket. I had this insect stencil book that I bought thrifted on Poshmark, so I used the general shape of a dragonfly and then altered it a little to be more my style. The angel is one of my folk art symbols that I have used a lot over the years.

I did add some text on the back of the bag, just painted in cursive. I wanted a reminder to live in the present! I might go back over the back and redo some of the lettering, but I’m pretty happy with how the bag looks! It is so ready to hold my precious art supplies, and has lots of pockets for all my needs!

Five Repurposed and Crafty Storage Solutions

I just moved in to my new home two and a half months ago, and the one thing that has haunted me this move has been the amount of junk I have acquired! Unfortunately a bunch of stuff got thrown away in the process of moving, and even now as I still have the last bit of boxes to unpack I’m wondering why I buy and hold on to so much stuff.

One thing that is so American is figuring out ways to store things. I mean, hell! There are like entire stores just devoted to storing stuff, like the Container Store. Plus there are storage options outside the home for when you just can’t bare to throw things away. It is so easy to just go out and buy a bunch of plastic bins. I have always stored my fabric and scrap materials in bins to keep everything dust and bug free, and when we moved into this place we bought even more bins to hold linens and blankets. My husband and I talked about it last night, because we had been considering buying even more bins to store things away in the basement. I asked if we could think of other ways to deal with our stuff besides stuffing it all in bins. He said, well we could throw stuff away instead of keeping it.

It feels challenging to go green because as an American I have acquired the hobby of buying stuff I don’t need. The USA is responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, even though we only make up a small percentage of the world population. I know I am not alone in shopping just for fun and buying stuff I don’t need. I cringe to think there could be millions and millions of other people out there doing the same damn thing! Obviously the first major solution is just to buy less and buy smarter. Pondering the impact of purchases on the environment takes a really strong commitment to putting the environment first. Fortunately there are so many eco friendly options out there, it just takes some research and time to discover what they are.

Here are five ideas for storage solutions you can make at home with stuff you already have!

1. Sew fabric baskets! This is a great one for seamstresses because you probably already have everything you need to do a project like this. I found a website with links to twenty free patterns to choose from at Sew Can She.

2. Get crafty and cover some cardboard boxes with paper. I did this years ago, because I had tons of cardboard boxes and wanted a cheap option for storage. You can print out photos or artwork and glue the paper on with glue sticks or Elmer’s School Glue. I found images of cats online and printed them out for my boxes. Find photos of your favorite animal for a super cute look! Or use wrapping paper or artist paper if you have some on hand!

3. Make some braided rag baskets. I mistakenly discovered how to make a rag basket because I was trying to make a braided rag rug but the braid was wrapped too tight at the start and so the fabric curved into a basket shape. Follow a basic braided rag rug pattern to start but pull the braid tight as you sew around the shape so that the edge curve into a basket. Cut up old t shirts or knit fabric into 1 1/2 inch strips, and sew the strips end to end to form the strands. The wider the strips, the bigger the braids will be. Here is a tutorial I found on Capper’s Farm website for a braided rag rug. Experiment and have fun with this one!

4. Use old handbags and purses to store items! Backpacks and purses with lots of pockets are a great storage solution for things like art supplies, craft supplies, and more! Use larger lap top bags to store magazines and artist papers, and smaller bags for paint sets and colored pencils. Display the bags on an over the door rack and you will always be able to find those items you use the most.

5. Sew fabric drawstring bags to hold items. Drawstring bags make great storage for toiletries, jewelry, fabric items and linens, etc. Drawstring bags are super simple once you get the hang of sewing them. Woven, non stretch fabrics work best to make them, so upcycle an old dress or table cloth and make a bunch! Here is my basic laundry bag tutorial, you can make these bags any size you need.

Making Reusable Linens

Allergy season is here, but truly all year long I am tormented by allergies. I am one of those people who is allergic to dang near everything, including grass and animals. I typically blow my nose constantly throughout the day and night. I also use tissue and paper towels to dab excess water when I am painting. So I decided to create a little basket of hankies and rags for my art table. That way I can just wash everything instead of wasting so much paper. Today was my first day using the new handkerchiefs I made, and it will take some getting used to. I also made a basic drawstring bag so I can put some in my handbag for on the go!

Making handkerchiefs is actually super simple. They do not need to be fancy, and you can even make some without sewing. I used 10 inch pre cut squares and just hemmed the edges. But you could cut up an old sheet or cotton dress to use instead. If you do not sew, just get some pinking shears and trim the edges with the shears to prevent fraying. 10 x 10 inches is about the smallest I would recommend going, aim for 12-14 inches square at minimum. If you have some old bandanas, those would work great too!

Making UnPaper Towels is also super easy. You can buy them on Etsy, but making them yourself is a great way to use up some of your fabric and custom tailor the cloths to the specific purposes you will be using them for. A very basic rag can be created by cutting up flannel and zig zag stitching around the edges. Cut up tee shirts work great for dusting and are totally washable. Or use a flannel or cotton on one side and a more absorbent fabric like an old terry cloth towel on the reverse side for 2 ply towels. My twin sister bought me a bunch of UnPaper Towels from a woman who sews them online, and they were fussy with all these fancy details. Call me simple and plain, but basic things like handkerchiefs and cleaning rags do not need to be fussy, they just need to be functional.

Sewing your own fabric napkins is also super easy. Make them a bit larger, like 18x18 inch square. Use a single square of fabric for each and do a basic hem around the outside. Single ply is best for fabric napkins. I learned this the hard way and used a fabric on either side, which turned out to be way too thick for use as a napkin. You can use any cotton fabric for fabric napkins, and batiks or solids are especially nice because they look the same on both sides.

If you do want to add a nice element to your handkerchiefs or UnPaper Towels, embroider a little design on each one. Small bundles of each would be great gifts to give as well! When you are crafty, going green is so much fun! Little by little you can create objects of beauty that you will want to reuse instead of wasting paper all the time.