Use it up Tues

Still working my way through my scrap bin.  All of the Christmasy fabrics are in one of those plastic bedding zippered bag things. 

It is less full than it once was, but not as much less as I expected after having cut out 5 Christmas stockings.  

Even though I don't have a large stash, it apparently is going to take me at least a year to use it all up.

How are you coming on stash busting?  And if you haven't started yet - what are you waiting for?  

Steadily working on fulfilling my promise to my kids that I would not leave a mess for them to sort once I shuffle off this mortal coil...

Use It Up Tues

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I want to figure out some sort of schedule for topics for Northwoods Ramblings.  

And as happens when one asks God for help - He answers!  Here is a rough plan for the time being.

Monday - (Children's) Ministry Monday - I am sort of  in charge of our children's church ministry.  I set up the schedule. Together with our Children's Ministry Director we equip our volunteers with what they need.

We do not have a curriculum.  We teach the same passage that our pastor is teaching - but geared for children.  Not everyone feels comfortable with 'walking the tightrope without a net'.  Personally, I love the challenge of creating curriculum - so on Monday's I will put up some ideas for teaching, crafts, music, games that will help the kids understand the passage or story.

I will send a link to the folks who are teaching that particular weekend to hopefully (!) help them out.

Tuesday - on Tuesdays, I will share my progress on busting my fabric stash or other repurposing projects I might have going on.  I will either call this Re-use Tues or Use it Up Tues.

Wednesday - I will share whatever is on my heart.  Whatever Wednesday.

Thursday - Thankful Thursday - I can get so focused on my getting my to do list to be done, that I forget to breathe and count my many, many blessings.

Friday - Frugal Friday.  I come from a long line of tightwads.  I will share some of what I have learned or what I am doing on Fridays.

So in the spirit of Use It Up Tues, my plan this month is to make 5 Christmas stockings from fabric I have (and have had for years!) on hand.  It is not doing anybody any good stuffed away in a box in the basement

 I am very happy to be able to report that stocking #1 is finished. And the other 4 are all cut out.

I went outside in the below zero windchill to take an artsy picture of it.  Turns out I am not that great at artsy particularly when the windchill is -20*  And the sun don't shine.

 Not that great at indoor artsy either.

One down - four to go!  And I should probably add to my New Year's goals - LEARN TO TAKE BETTER PICTURES.

to a tee

I know I've mentioned this before but I volunteer at a faith based organization here in town.  We give clothing and toiletries to those in need.  No charge.  A local coffee shop donates cinnamon rolls and other baked goods and really good coffee for us to serve our guests.  Some donated couches and chairs and we've got ourselves a cozy place to gather each Wednesday from 9-4.

All our goods are donated.  Our little community has been so generous.  We always have MORE than enough clothing.  The one item that seems to languish on the shelves though is tee shirts.  Tee shirts that have writing on them.

Not Green Bay Packer shirts but the other variety commemorating golf scrambles, music camps, equestrian events, camps, 5K runs.  You name it, someone has been there, done that AND bought the tee shirt.

Then, they donate it to us.  Since we have such an abundance of shirts, we have come up with a plan.

Did you know that you can make a tee shirt into a shopping bag?  You can.  Easy peasy.

Cut off the sleeves, scoop the neck (I trace around a cake pan for a nice uniform scoop).  Sew the bottom of the shirt closed and you have a bag!

We pack them with our guests selections and send them off.  Our guests have been returning with them, so they are being used.  Yay!

Cut-off sleeves and collars.  Awaiting another project.  Sometime later.

I have made about 100 of these so far and I'm not even close to being out of tee shirts yet.

But I need to take a break, for now, and work on a Christmas stocking for the newest grand baby.  No peeking, Taya!

re-use Tues

Our friend, Tonia, over at itty bitty impact has instituted a reuse tues at her blog. So, in the spirit of things, I'll join in.

My mother-in-law was a very thoughtful, sentimental person. She would spend a lot of time choosing the perfect card for her friends and family. So it was no surprise as we cleaned out her house after her passing that we would find - lots of cards.

Her sentimental son and daughter-in-law couldn't bear to throw them out either. Many of the cards were stained and had quite a bit of extra writing on them. But with my trusty scissors, a bottle of glue and some cardstock, they could easily be transformed and re-used.

I love the graphics on this card from the 40's.
(someone needs to be told how to sit like a lady though...)

this hillbilly card is so me

a batch of repurposed cards - and lots more to come!

Do you have any ideas for reuse tues?