5 Pinteresting Links

Are you on Pinterest?  It's a cyber cornucopia of craft ideas, eco inspiration and beautifully shot photography.  It's also incredibly addictive, more so than Facebook I'd say. 

Anyhow you can judge for yourself.  Here are some of my favourite things I've seen on Pinterest lately:

1.  Upcycled spool side table

When I was growing up we used to have dozens of these wooden spools in our backyard.  I love this idea of bringing them inside to use as a side table/book storage.  All you need are a few strategically placed dowels, wheels and a coat of paint.

2.  DIY alphabet stones

These are just adorable and seem so simple to make.  I think my favourite part of this craft will be hunting for the stones.  I'm going to walk down to the lake as soon as I hit 'publish' on this post.

3.  Non spiralizer technique for making zucchini noodles

Must try this tonight ...

4.  Raw vegan ice "cream" bars

Raw vegan ice cream bars, need I say more?

5.  Eco-friendly business card idea

This pin reminded me of a fellow yoga teacher I met last summer.  Before he went back home to New Zealand he told me he had to give me is business card.  Wow, I thought, he has a business card?  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a torn piece of cardboard with his name and email address written on it!  This stamp makes his idea so much more classy.

Honestly I could find 10+ things on this site everyday that interests me.  Genius!.  Are you on Pinterest?

 

DIY # 8: Eco Meditation Cushion

Have you seen the prices for a meditation cushion lately?! They're certainly not very zen ;) That's why I was super excited when I found this tutorial on how to make my own. I kept the cost nil by using leftover fabric both for the cushion itself and the stuffing. Traditionally hulled buckwheat is used for the filling, but I couldn't find a supplier for the buckwheat near me. So instead I used up my entire supply of fabric scraps filling the cushion. These scraps were too small, stained or faded to use in sewing, so I was glad to use them up without adding to the landfills. That means this project is made 100% from recycled materials and cost absolutely nothing!!

Start to finish this project took about 2 hours, but it's well worth the effort. Here's what you'll need:

• 59 inches of heavy fabric
• measuring tape
• straight pins
• Filling (fabric, buckwheat or other filling)

Start off by cutting 3 (or 4 if you want a handle) pieces of fabric. I used a heavy linen because that's what I had on hand, but any heavy fabric will do.

• 1 long strip - 59 inches long, 6-9 inches wide (this will determine the height of your cushion)
• 2 circles - 11-13 inches in diameter (this will determine the size of your cushion)
• 1 rectangular strip - 10 inches long & 3 inches wide (this is the handle) OPTIONAL

Steam iron all the pieces. Then begin making the pleats on the long strip. Starting 6 inches from the edge, make 3 marks on the fabric that are 3/4 inch away from each other (See diagram). Measure 3 inches from the last mark and make another set of 3 marks that are 3/4 inch away from each other. Continue in this pattern until you have 14 sets of pleats. Pin the pleats so they are all facing the same way and steam iron them in place.

Next you'll need to sew the edges of the pleated strip together to form the cushion. Fold it in half with the pleats in the inside and match up the raw edges. I chose to leave a space here in this seam for stuffing, so I didn't completely sew the entire seam. You can choose any seam to leave open though.

Then take 1 round piece and begin pinning it to the pleated strip right sides facing each other. By now your cushion should be taking shape. You can also choose to leave an opening here for the stuffing if you wish. If you are including a handle on your cushion you'll need to attach it here. Simply sew the long edges of the small rectangular piece you cut and turn inside out. Steam iron flat with the seam in the middle.

If you're really particular you can embroider the handle now, so the wrong side of the stitches will be hidden inside the handle. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to embroider, so I left this part until the end.

I chose to use a handle to "mask" my hand-stitched seam, so I inserted over the open seam in the pleated strip. Pin in the inside of the cushion with right sides together (so if you pulled the handle out the side with the seam should be facing you). Pin the handle in place.

Stitch on both circles and turn inside out using the seam you've left open. Stuff with filling. Hand stitch the opening closed.

If you can find hulled buckwheat it's the ideal filling for a meditation cushion. Aside from being natural (as opposed to the acrylic stuffing you buy in a plastic bag at the craft store) it also naturally repels dust mites and other critters that may be lurking in your cushions. It's allergy friendly and keeps its shape well, even after years of use.

Eco Wedding Gifts

It's wedding season! Of course you plan on giving your newlywed friends green gifts to celebrate their new life together. Here are some ideas:

• Bamboo/organic cotton blend bedding. Don't let your friends and family sleep in pesticide laden bedding. These silky soft 250 thread-count sheets are an eco-friendly blend of 50% bamboo and 50% organic cotton. Made from all natural fibers, so it's breathable, lightweight and the bamboo helps to wick away the sweat, keeping you dry. Available online from Gaiam. Prices range from $36-229 USD.


• Bamboo garment rack. Of course you don't use a dryer and neither should the newlyweds. Double up on your green impact by hanging your wet laundry (therefore saving energy) on this beautiful bamboo rack (made from sustainable materials). Available at Canadian Tire. $169.


• EARTHchef bamboo kitchen accessories. No one wants to chop, serve and store their food in plastic that leaches BPA or wooden utensils made from trees that will take decades to grow back. So give the couple-to-be bamboo utensils instead. Bamboo grows super quick (3-5 years), and since the plant is anti-bacterial its perfect for use in the kitchen to minimize germs without harsh chemical cleaners. Available at The Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters.


• Counter top compost container. Collecting your kitchen waste in this chic container helps to save trips out to the compost while keeping the kitchen neat and odour free. Available at Canadian Tire. $19.99.


• His & Hers organic cotton bathrobes. What could be better on a cold winter night than wrapping a plush, super soft organic cotton robe around you and your new spouse? These luxurious robes allow you to give a lavish gift while remaining true to your values. Not made in a sweat shop. Available online at rawganique.com. $169-179.


• Solar lanterns & garden decor. Widely popular, even outside green communities, solar powered lanterns, lights and garden accessories are super easy to install and available in many stylish designs. They collect power in the daytime and automatically turn on when it gets dark. Be careful not to buy the kind that requires batteries. Some of the more inexpensive lights use the solar panel to charge a rechargeable battery which powers the light. The battery usually only lasts one year, requiring you to buy new batteries every year. Widely available in a large selection of prices.


• Simple Human recyclers. I LOVE this rectangular recycler. The removable dual bins inside make sorting waste easy, and the patented lid closes slowly preventing it from slamming shut like most petal garbage containers. Pair this gift with the counter top compost pail and the newlyweds have all their eco bases covered. Available at The Bay or online at Simplehuman.com. $179.99.


• Raw vegan uncooking classes for 2. Give the gift that keeps on giving - to the planet. Pay for raw food classes which will teach the couple how to prepare nutritious, delicious, live food that minimizes waste and environmental degradation. Pair this gift with a raw food accessory such as a spiralizer, or his & hers hemp aprons personalized with the couples' initials embroidered on the front is also a nice present.
  

DIY # 1: Dead Man's Chest

I re-finished this chest of drawers last summer, and I decided to post a short tutorial in case any of you out there are looking for pointers. The whole project is actually less complicated than you may think. If this is your first attempt at refurbishing, I wouldn't recommend using a piece that is valuable or irreplaceable. My brother purchased this chest of drawers a few years ago, and then abandoned it. It was perfect for my first project because it cost me nothing, and if I destroyed it, no one would miss it.

Materials Needed:

1. Dust mask
2. Safety glasses
3. Gloves (I used rubber kitchen gloves)
4. Screwdriver
5. Sandpaper (100 - course & 220 - fine)
6. Paint brushes (various sizes depending on your project)
7. Wood stain
8. Sander
9. Old rags (for cleaning dust & paint drips)
10. Newspapers

Materials You May Need:

1. Hammer
2. Wood filler
3. Chemical wood stripper
4. Varnish
5. Steel wool
6. Drill
7. Hardware (handles & knobs)

Start off by removing anything that will interfere with the sander - handles, knobs and other embellishments. My chest had a wooden flower motif near the top that had to be removed. If there are any nails sticking out, either nail them back in or remove them with the reverse side of a hammer. Big holes should be filled in with a wood filler. Tighten up any loose screws.

Your work space should be well ventilated. If your piece can be separated, then sand each of them individually (i.e. I took out the drawers). To begin load the sander with the most coarse grade of sandpaper. Put on all your safety gear - mask, glasses and gloves. Now it's time to get down and dirty. Strip off all that old flaking paint with the sander. I used a belt sander that I borrowed from a friend, but a small sheet sander would also work. When all the paint is stripped off, switch to a fine sandpaper, and go over the entire piece again. Remove any built up dust on the piece with a rag. The end result should be a smooth, clean finish. If your piece has curves or an intricate design, you will need to either sand these parts by hand or use a chemical wood stripper to remove the old paint.

You're half way there! Protect your work space from drips with old newspapers. Next apply a coat of wood stain to your piece. Stains are available in a wide variety of shades and types. Pick the one that best suits your project. I wanted to save time so I chose a 2 in 1 stain and polyurethane that worked as both a stain and a top coat of varnish. For best results lightly rub the piece with steel wool in between coats. Each stain will have different directions, so make sure you read your label. I applied 2 thin coats, and allowed 10 hours in between for each coat to dry.

Now it's time for the best part - picking out the hardware! Most home improvements stores have a large selection of handles and knobs in lots of colours, shapes and sizes. My chest required two knobs for the smaller drawer on top, and four handles for the two larger drawers on the bottom. If you'd like to change the direction of your handles or replace them with ones that are a different size, you will need to drill new holes. Another option is to clean up your old hardware with a coat of metallic spray paint.

For more tips and ideas for your DIY projects, visit Be Jane, a great site for women DIYers.

Happy sanding!