Have You Washed Your Reusable Shopping Bag Lately?

Just a thought...

The use of cloth reusable shopping bags comes to mind. You know the ones that virtually every store has jumped on the band wagon and has made available, in every color of the rainbow and every size and shape possible and of course sporting various logos etc. I want to believe it is because those companies are serious about being environmentally conscious, but my years in the publishing/marketing world tells me that it is more about another marketing tool to get their name on something that will make it's way into our homes and be visible by anyone that sees us sporting it around.

That being said I'm a big fan of reusable shopping bags, with or without a company logo on them, because I detest those plastic ones, although there are some interesting ways to craft with them. I just wanted to offer a friendly reminder for those that have a pile of those lovely fabric bags stuffed in the back of their car like I do, remember they can pick up some nasty bacteria so make it a habit to wash them on a regular basis. I have found that most of them hold up pretty well so...better to be safe than sorry.

'Tis The Season For Ghost Poop

As the holiday season looms ever closer, I have had on my mind, or maybe it's in my nightmares I'm not quite sure, but I can foresee the days when I will feel like I am suffocating under the mountain of leftover packaging that seems to find it's way into my house this time of year. You know the stuff....chunks of squeaky styrofoam, millions of packing peanuts (lovingly called ghost poop in our house), shredded paper, cardboard boxes, gift wrap, bows, tags, cards, plastic air pillows, bubble wrap! This is the part where I scream and start to pull my hair out, not really but it does significantly raise my anxiety level.

On the up side I feel a small sense of relief knowing that I can and will reuse as much of the packaging as possible when I ship items that have been purchased in my Etsy store, Toodlefetties.etsy.com. However that may only make a small dent in the mammouth pile, and no matter how organized I keep it if I try to store much more stuff in our modest three bedroom house, I just may have to deal with the wrath of my hubby, who I've noticed the excuse and I quote myself..."but honey I may need that someday, I can find a use for it" is starting to fall on deaf ears. Probably because he's heard it more than a zillion times in 24+ years of marriage, he is a good sport though and has been coming around more and more to conserving and reusing.

A couple of handy websites for ideas on how to craft with or reuse discarded items I have found useful are About.com, search Trash to Treasure or Green Crafts and checkout a great article by Ann Johnson on eHow.com titled Trash to Treasure Crafts. While I wish I could claim to be a total creative genius and come up with an unlimited amount of ideas for Trash to Treasure myself, like any mom with a plate full and then some it's more fun some days to pick others brains or follow other tips and hints and then put my own creative twist on things. Always with the goal of reducing all of this crazy waste our disposable minded consumerism mentality causes on a daily basis. The good Lord only gave us one chance to care for this beautiful planet of ours and if we all do just a little, collectively we will be able to accomplish a lot.

Just A Little About What I Do...

As I trek around thrift stores, yard sales and more, various things may find their way home with me for a little Toodlefetties love. Recently I listed a few Christmas items like Snowy the Snowman who I discovered in the bargain box at a thrift store. Missing his nose and looking very tattered, here in my studio he received a good cleaning, a fresh coat of snow and a newly sculpted carrot nose and from a piece of a recycled ornament I gave him his own snow covered wreath.

Current projects in the works here at Toodlefetties are an art wall hanging made with upcycled items like scraps of pretty papers that are being fashioned into flowers along with tree limb trimmings from my garden. Ice Cream Cone Snowmen and more. Stay tuned because you never know what my idle time and over active imagination will come up with next.

Taking Place Right Now...

This Etsy BNR Treasury happening right now...and featuring my cute little Vintage Puppy Dog Planter. Stop by and check it out. Not familiar with or new to Etsy, I highly recommend it for handmade goods, vintage things, art, upcycled items and more.

Come check it out www.etsy.com or http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf2b4577a668eef9a6167d8/open-bnr-merry-pig-504-sales-and?page=15#comments.

What Do You Get When...

What do you get when you have ice cream cones, beads, styrofoam orbs, scraps of paper, tree trimmings from the garden and a second hand frame? The makings of my latest upcycle projects, hopefully to be completed soon and available on Etsy. Stay tuned!

Upcycled Art Not Just The Next Green Thing

Up cycled art is becoming more popular with home crafters and the environmentally conscious. Creative entrepreneurs, home crafters and artisans are making a business out of turning re-usable fabrics, ribbons, laces and everyday household objects destined for the landfill into decorative reusable items for the home, garden and more.

If art imitates life then this trend bodes well for the green movement and also seems to be calling attention to the end of the crazy consumerism that has characterized American society since the industrial revolution.  Going green is not just about recycling tin cans and changing your type of light bulbs. It's a trend in jewelry, home decor and art, a definite shift in our way of thinking. To quote a very famous Martha,  "That's a good thing."

The Launch of Toodlefetties Blog

It's official Toodlefetties is venturing into the world of blogging. The goal for this blog is to share what's new at Toodlefetties, tips and ideas for upcycling and crafting, insights and wisdom that only a stay-at-home mom can have and all done with a sense of humor and a sense of  fun.

Welcome to Toodlefetties, I hope you will follow along and leave a comment on occasion. Don't take life to seriously, embrace your loved ones and count your blessings...and on that note away we go!

~Teresa