How to Recycle yarn from a sweater

Remember when I blogged about reusing yarn from sweaters to make new things? Well I just stumbled upon an excellent free instruction on how to unravel the yarn from the sweater step by step. So if you've got sweaters you want the yarn from but are frustrated with how to get it apart, check out this page from Neauveau fiber arts.

From Board Game to Computer Accessory

I've seen game pieces used in jewelry and as scrapbooking embellishments, but this one on the techietechno blog is a first. A Scrabble keyboard. Most of the keys on this keyboard came from an actual Scrabble game. The edges were rounded off to fit the keyboard better. I must admit I've never really thought to take an old item and make something high tech with it. I think the board from the game needs to become the mouse pad next to this keyboard.

THE GREEN GABLES

Plantable Wildflower Heart Paper Bunting

I really love the idea of buying something beautiful but that will also serve a purpose after use. Rather than chucking this heart garland in the bin after use (though can't imagine you would want to!), you can actually plant it in order to grow wild flowers. I think this is a really lovely gift idea. 

Gabrielle Treanor, designer and owner of The Green Gables creates eco-friendly, plantable and colourful paper bunting. Perfect for decorating a wedding venue or your home, this length of paper garland is made from handmade paper embedded with wildflower seeds. The handmade plantable wildflower paper makes this a unique garland decoration that is beautiful and eco-friendly at the same time. The paper is thick and the garland can be used many times over but if you really want to, you can plant the paper and watch wildflowers grow from it!

Gabrielle hand cuts the hearts from handmade plantable wildflower seed paper and you can choose to have the hearts strung on jute string or co-ordinating skinny satin ribbon. You can adjust the spacing by moving the hearts along the string to your desired position. The large hearts each measure 12.5cm at its widest point x 11cm long (approx 5" x 4") and the smaller hearts each measure 9.5cm x 8cm (approx 3.5" x 3"). As they are cut from handmade paper they are a slightly off-white colour with seed flecks. Choose from the regular length of 12 hearts on 2.5m ribbon or string, or the extra long length of 24 hearts on 5m of ribbon or string. Each length of wildflower paper bunting is carefully handmade by Gabrielle in her garden studio.

The Green Gables website

To see The Green Gables website click HERE.

THE BIG GAP

There are no sinister reasons for the lack of postings since September. I've just been busy doing other things, as well as recycling!
However, there has been a lot of extra activity at the recycling centre to insure that all the textiles that are left there, are not stolen by the rogue traders, a nationwide problem it would seem.

TEXTILE BANK AND ROGUE TRADERS

I have a key to our textile bank and keep a check on the amount left there, so I know when items disappear. Then, the police and Black Country Rags are informed, but these thieves seem to be able to carry our their dastardly trade unhindered! I suspect that most textile banks are not monitored, so that most schools and charities who recycle textiles for fundraising purposes, have no idea that these people are taking money from their good cause.

UPDATE

Following this, the police stopped two male occupants in a white transit van, which was full of textiles. more textile banks have been raided in Stowmarket and I'm pleased to report that our local council is taking this very seriously.

They have sent a letter to all organisations that have recycling facilities, warning them about rogue traders and asking everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious incidents involving

people in unmarked vans trying to gain access to clothing banks.

They are also liaisoning with BCR Global Textiles, who in turn are going to replace our bank witha new, NO ACCESS to anyone who doesn't know the code

B R I L L I A N T

My Recycled Christmas Cards

Made these with my daughter and her best friend using the Recycling Christmas Cards e-book and templates I purchased the other day. Since the kids were only 5 we stayed with the simple projects. The gift tag with the fish on it actually came from the same card as the polar bear book mark. So even using only Christmas Cards I am able to make items that could be used for other holidays as well. The house is surprisingly sturdy. We made a second house with some kids and a puppy peaking into an old toy store window, but the batteries on my camera died so I can't show it today. I'll have a whole card village on my mantle next year. The templates are easy to use and make the projects work up very fast. The projects in the e-book can be used to recycle any type of holiday or greeting card for any season. I think I need to get one of these Card Keepers to store the cards in. Hey, my mom just stopped over with all her Christmas Cards! This is very addicting to do. I think next year I'll have my friends over for a card recycling party just after Christmas.

Recycle Christmas Cards

Every year I receive tons of beautiful Christmas cards. Unfortunately many of them have embellishments that prevent them from being recyclable. I hate throwing them away, so all those cards have been sitting in a pile waiting for me to figure out what to do with them. Today I discovered "Recycling Christmas Cards: Craft And Template Collection. It's an e-book containing 50 projects and 40 craft templates to recycle Christmas cards or other greeting cards. Since it's an e-book we don't have to wait for it to arrive or pay for shipping. Being an e-book means it's also not wasting paper or killing trees. I'm about to purchase it. My daughter's best friend is on her way over and I bet this would be a great project to work on with them. I'll post our recycled Christmas card results when we're done.

cassette