Wardrobe Refashion fun!

Now that we have The Homemaker's Blog up and running, I have a place to post about the Wardrobe Refashion project. This is such a great idea, created by a lady from Australia in 2006, to encourage hand crafters to refashion fabrics and fibers from previously loved garments into "new" items of clothing or home dec. I heard about Wardrobe Refashion from Dana at Made (a great sewing blog, by the way) where she listed WR as one of the reasons she sews.

I've been busily sewing along with the project since Sept. 1st, making room in my closet by culling unworn items and turning them into things I can and will wear now. I must agree with Dana that reusing garments forces you to stretch your imagination and sewing skills. For me, it's great to have some incentive to sew something new each week!

Part of the project is to announce that you are actually doing it, so here is the Pledge:

The Pledge

I, Rose-Marie, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed Rose-Marie.

If you want to see what I've been up to, head on over to the Wardrobe Refashion blog for pictures and a quick write-up. Even better, join the fun by signing up!

--Rose-Marie

Chicken Scrap Bucket

You can collect kitchen scraps for your chickens in pretty much any container, but this bucket is a great way to make use of something you would have thrown into the recycling anyway. It's easily rinsed, has a great handle for carrying out to the coop, can be replaced at no cost...a plastic gallon milk jug!

Just cut off the top portion with the spout. I find it helps to get the cut started with a serrated bread knife. Strong kitchen shears make short work of the rest of the cutting and provide a bit more control.

Decorate your jug as you see fit. Young artists might apply stickers. Others may want to draw little chicks on the outside using a Sharpie marker, provided they are old enough to know not to draw the same doodles on themselves! You can print clipart on your computer, cut around the designs and over them with clear packing tape.

Kitchen scraps can be good for your chickens and help cut down on the feed you must purchase. They love fruit and vegetable peelings and leftover salad, bread crusts, leftover pasta or oatmeal and all kinds of goodies that you might just otherwise toss. Do remember that these are supplemental treats and shouldn't be overdone or you'll end up with pudgy birds. There are a few things chickens should not have, though, so avoid potato peels, chocolate (don't ask me why...it's there on the lists of things to avoid), strong foods like fish, garlic, onions or spices that might flavor the eggs or meat, or things that might cause your chickens to get sick, such as moldy foods or uncooked meats or overly salted foods.

--Rose-Marie

Easy Grooming Kit

This is my mess. I need to take all of this stuff to dog shows with me for pre-show care. But how in the world am I supposed to store it all in an easily portable container?
Every show I need to bring:

• Lint Roller
• Dog Treats
• Dog Wipes
• Treat Pouch
• 2 sets of showleads and show collars
• 2 sets of grooming scissors
• 6 sets of brushes/combs
• Cotton Pads
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Cotton Swabs
• Gum Picks
• Chain Collar
• 2 sets of earwash
• Produce bags (for poop)
• Rabies Certificate (not pictured)

A lot of stuff, huh?

My secret? A tacklebox. Tackleboxes are sold in a variety of sizes and prices. This is my tacklebox.

My tacklebox is one of the fancier, bigger types. It has a slide-out tray that is very helpful in storing the smaller objects that would get lost in the sea of grooming supplies underneath. This box was purchased around $15 at a discount store. Remember, they're meant for fishing, so you can find them in the sporting goods section.  

Now, TaDa! Look at my organized, simple layout to my grooming supplies now!

That's right, you really can fit all of that stuff into this small package. I promise that everything is there, its all necessary stuff and I would never go to a show without it. I did make some changes, though. First, I used my dog wipes package to line the bottom of the box, so that it wouldn't get scratched up. Also, a whole pack of dog treats wasn't really needed, and it took up so much room. So I just took about a fourth of the treats out of the bag and put it in a small resealable sandwich bag for easy storage.

Now you can see how much impact a tiny purchase like that can have on your life. You can become so much more organized with small things like that, and its very worthwhile. I don't know what I would do without my tacklebox,  and thats all there is to organizing. As long as it works for you, then its organized.

--Becky