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Old nylons, new uses

Huddler's Green Home Community — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:04:43 PDT

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We dedicate this to all our stockings that have bit the dust.

Many women have felt the frustration of being all dressed up when disaster strikes -- a run in your nylons. Maybe it's small and in an inconspicuous spot and can be salvaged with clear nail polish.

But if the run is beyond hope, here are some great alternative uses for your damaged stockings.

Nylons can:

Tie up things, like plants that need to be staked.
Filter old paint from one can into a new can. Just stretch the nylon across the top of the new can and pour the old paint through it. It will filter out lumps and dried paint.
Store scraps of soap. Collect enough pieces, and tie the stocking off. It will made a good soap scrubber
Protecting very small items, like handkerchiefs and doilies, in the washing machine and dryer (low temp). They may need ironing afterward, but lace trim and hem-stitching will be safe from the zippers and rivets of other clothes, and they won't find their way into the lint trap.
Be made into sachets ... put in some lavender flowers, cedar chips, or your favorite potpourri; tie a knot; cut above the knot; repeat up the leg and then toss the little bundles in drawers, shoe boxes, the pockets of stored coats ... wherever.
Remove cat hair from furniture. Pull the stocking over your hand, and wipe down your couches and chairs. It creates static and the hairs come right up.
Find lost contact lenses, earrings, or other such tiny items. Put the stocking over the end of the vacuum hose and gently vacuum the area where the item was dropped.
Repel deer and other animals from your garden. They hate the smell of humans, so you can use nylons with ivory soap staked in the garden to keep the deer away.
Shine shoes like the best of them.
"Scrub" silver, plexiglass, and other easily scratched surfaces.
Store things like screws, nails, nuts, etc. Pour the items into the stocking, tie it off and hang it over a work table.
Be attached to the discharge hose of your washing machine to catch lint before it goes down the drain and clogs pipes.
Be pulled over a yardstick to dust under the fridge, washer, dryer, or under any hard to reach area.
Be used like a bungee cord to tie things down. Keep an old pair in your car trunk.
Become a pet toy -- for cats, fill the nylon foot with pieces of old fabric, then tie off the opening. Add a bit of catnip for an extra treat. For dogs, put a tennis ball in an old stocking and tie a knot.
Apply varnish or finish in the hard-to-reach places where a brush won't fit.
Keep kids warm -- on extra cold days, use clean old stockings as mitten liners for children. They are ideal because they can provide warmth at least up to the elbow.
Keep kids entertained -- nylons can be used to make a crafty seed sprouting creature.
Bind piles of newspapers and magazines. Cut the top of a pair of nylons off and voila! You have a large rubber band.
Reduce your heating bill. Make a stocking snake to prevent drafts by filling the leg of a nylon with sand and tie the end shut. Place at the bottom of the door to prevent cold air from seeping inside.
Haul around small toys, like action figures. This works great for road trips.
Replace expensive stuffing in homemade pillows or dolls. When the stuffed toy wears out, you can take the nylons out and use them again.
Protect shoes from scuffing while traveling. Store one shoe in each leg of the nylons.
Create an outdoor hand-washing station. Put a bar of soap into an old nylon and tie it to an outdoor faucet. If you donât have a convenient outdoor tap, an old laundry detergent container can be filled up with water. Tie the soap to the handle. You can use a hammer to poke a hole near the bottom of the container, and stick a golf tee inside to create a lower level of water flow. Now you can wash your hands after gardening, walking the dog, and playing or working outside.
Be used to create a non-slip bar of soap for kidsâ bath time. Put the bar of soap into the nylon, and tie off the edges. Cut off any tail. This makes the soap have better grip for kids.
Be used as a disposable headband. Cut the nylon across the leg to create circles. In a pinch they can also be used as hair bands for ponytails.
Be turned into an inexpensive softball that won't hurt kids or your furniture. Stuff an old stocking with other old pairs of nylons, and sew the top closed.
Scrub your back when you canât reach -- place a bar of soap in the middle of a stocking, and tie off both ends. Now you can grab each end of the stocking and seesaw your back clean.
Help someone with a broken arm or leg get dressed. Cut the foot part off of a stocking, and stretch it over the cast. This nylon will keep clothing from getting caught on the cast.
Make you rich quick -- go to a bank, pull the nylons over your head and ... um â¦ maybe not. ;)

Never underestimate the power of a box

Jenn Savedge , Forecast Earth Correspondent — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:10:20 PDT

Last week, my husband came home from work with a surprise for the girls: a pair of empty boxes. And not just any boxes, but really big boxes.

You would have thought the girls just won the lottery. As soon as they regained their composure and could form complete (or, in the case of the 2-year-old, partial) sentences, they set to work making these really big boxes their own. With nothing but markers, scissors, and some tape, the boxes were transformed into "houses" complete with a mail slot and sky light for Emily and a pretend fishbowl and window garden for Erin.

Several days later, and the boxes are still the most popular toys in the house. Never underestimate the power of a box to bring endless hours of enjoyment to kids of all ages.

Got a few empty boxes laying around? Before you recycle them, hand them over to the kids and let their imaginations run wild. If they need a little inspiration, have them try one of these projects for turning a plain old box into a timeless treasure.

â¢Airplane Costume
â¢Firetruck Box Toy
â¢Decorative Photo Memory Box
â¢Papier-mache television
â¢Box Guitar
â¢Easy Easel

Jenn Savedge's blog posts are provided by LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company.

A different kind of look under the hood

Forecast Earth Correspondent Alex Nunez — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:47:24 PDT

Flickr user luxomedia

Culture maven that I am, I had never heard of San Francisco's Panhandle Bandshell until about 10Â minutes before I started typing this.

Thanks to GreenUpgrader.com, however, I not only know of it, but now I have something to talk about right now.

The Panhandle Bandshell is the result of a collaborative effort between several SF-based artists and designers, who set out to prove that through creativity, reuse, and recycling, a structure could be created that helps enhance the community by providing a venue for entertainment.

Everything that went into the structure would have otherwise ended up as trash.

Take a close look at the photo above (taken by Flickr user luxomedia). It's made of car parts, you see. The amphitheater's construction includes 65 junked automobile hoods, which provide the primary exterior covering for the shell. They're all the same color on the inside, but their original finishes appear to have been retained on the outside, adding shots of color to the structure.

I'll be honest, it's not the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but you know the saying: Eye of the beholder and whatnot. Additional trim is provided by recycled PC circuit boards, the structure is built around recycled steel, and the stage itself appears to be made of old wood like doors that would have otherwise been trashed, according to GreenUpgrader.

The whole thing is modular, so it can be broken down for storage or relocation ... ideally towed by someone driving a pickup running on waste french fry oil. I mean, that'd be in keeping with the whole reuse thing going on here, right?

There are a number of great photos of the bandshell taken by the general public up on Flickr, where you can better see some of the nitty-gritty, like the thousands of reused water bottles that also went into the construction.

Neat stuff all around.

Alex Nunez's blog posts are provided by LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company.

The kid's treasure chest

Forecast Earth Correspondent Jenn Savedge — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:00 PDT

Like most kids, my girls love a good craft. Give them an empty box, a glue stick, and some markers, and before long they will have a rocket ship, a cooking stove, or a dollhouse.

All this crafting is great for their creativity, but a little rough on the environment in the amount of resources they go through on a daily basis. That's why I have "the treasure chest."

The treasure chest is a large bin that I keep in the pantry for "reusables" -- items that can be reused as craft materials rather than tossed in the trash can. The typical contents of our treasure chest include paper towel tubes, fabric swatches, plastic containers, cereal boxes, old newspapers, egg cartons, and bottle caps. It's purpose is twofold: keep stuff out of the landfill and feed my girls' insatiable need for craft supplies.

A few recent masterpieces to come from the treasure chest include a robot that Emily made by covering an empty toilet paper tube with tin foil, attaching pipe cleaner arms, and decorating the body with various bits of bling; and a dragon that the girls made together using an old juice carton for the body, egg carton cups as scales, and recycled paper for the face, wings, and tail.

So if your kids like crafts, you can save the planet (and your wallet!) by starting them a treasure chest of their very own.

And check out these sites for some cool ideas on turning everyday trash into treasure: AllFreeCrafts.com, About.com, and KinderArt.com.

Jenn Savedge's blog posts are provided by LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company.

Sew green, save green, look fab

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:16:52 PDT

Sewing might seem like an archaic skill in the 21st century, but it's a fun way to green up your lifestyle, add some flair to your wardrobe, and even save some money. You don't even need a sewing machine for most projects -- just a few basic needles, some scissors, straight pins, and thread.

The Daily Green points out that July 25 is Thread the Needle Day -- a traditional holiday for tailors, seamstresses, and garment workers. So why not take this time to acquaint yourself with a little stitchery?

Mend, don't toss

The most eco-friendly thing you can do is repair stuff instead of throwing it in the garbage. According to thrift-store chain Savers, the average American throws away about 67 pounds of clothing every year!

While some of that may be threadbare socks, nasty undies, or frightening fashion disasters, surely some of those pounds of clothes are just missing a button or have a saggy hem.

Never sewn a stitch? Instructables to the rescue. Start with this step-by-step how to sew tutorial. This page guides you through the basics of hand-sewing. CraftStylish also has a useful primer to get to know your hand-sewing needles.

The most common mending task is replacing a button. They always fall off. But they're quick to put back on. It helps if you've saved the original, of course. eHow has a nice tutorial on how to sew on a button. So easy, a teenager could do it.

Pants need hemming? Check out Expert Village's complete video series on how to hem pants. From picking the right thread to marking the hem to cutting off old hems, you won't need an expensive tailor after watching these vids. This technique also works for skirts and dresses. Take it from a gal who's 5'2" -- hemming is an important skill!

One common reason clothes get thrown out is sticky or separated zippers. For zippers that don't run smoothly, try rubbing a candle or a piece of soap across the teeth, then zipping and unzipping the zipper a few times. If the zipper has come apart, check out eHow's instructions for repairing a separated zipper. You'll just need some pliers, a needle, and thread.

Don't forget about your shoes too. You may not be able to repair them at home, but taking them to a cobbler is cheaper than a new pair of loafers or Jimmy Choos. Most shoes can be re-heeled a few times before the uppers actually wear out.

Running shoes don't need to be replaced until after 350-550 miles of use. If you run 25 miles a week, that means you need new shoes every three to four months. The rest of us slackers can keep our sneaks for ages!

Add your own style

Decorating plain clothes can give them new life so you don't want to toss 'em out. In fact, it's become quite the niche in sewing and craft stores as well as book stores -- so if you need inspiration, you'll find it fast.

A great place to cruise for ideas is the Wardrobe Refashion community (which I've praised before). The blog is for people who pledge not to buy new clothes for a few months, and instead they remodel old clothes or sew new clothes from scratch.

Here are some simple ways to makeover something in your wardrobe:

Sew unusual buttons on a jacket or shirt.
Shorten a skirt or dress.
Turn a long-sleeve skirt into a short-sleeve one.
Cut long pants into shorts.
Sew a band of trim near the hem of a straight or A-line skirt.
Dye a white or pale garment a new color.
Make a baggy button-down shirt more fitted.

Some of these updates will be easier with a sewing machine. If you've never bought one, read through this detailed sewing machine shopper's guide written by a very experienced friend of mine. That should help you ask the right questions at the store.

Hit the runway

You can take recycling to the next level by making totally new garments out of old ones. For example, Threadbanger has videos on making a new tie out of old ties and a dress out of men's slacks.

On the One Pearl Blog, you can see how to revamp an old sweater into an adorable cardigan. It just took a big snip, some edging, and a little decoration (to cover up a stain).

Check out these two different ideas for making an old pair of jeans into a denim skirt: sleek pencil skirt or sassy A-line skirt. Both use similar methods for varied effects.

If you want to learn to sew stuff from scratch, SewMarm's YouTube channel has some handy tips on everything from inserting the bobbin on a sewing machine to making a 1920s-inspired dress in one hour.

BurdaStyle also has useful tutorials on techniques like pleats, different types of seams, pockets, and buttonholes.

Sewing doesn't require a huge, up-front investment, although it's easy to go nuts at a fabric store. Keep it eco-friendly by looking at thrift-stores for fabric. I love using sheets, tablecloths, and curtains as material because you get a huge piece of great yardage on the cheap. And making over clothes you already own is definitely green since you're reducing garbage.

The extra benefit is that you'll have a wardrobe like nobody else! Who needs Project Runway?

Recycle, retread your toes

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:08:16 PDT

Here's a new idea for summer footwear -- make a pair of sandals out of an old tire. Planet Green points to instructions from a camping expert.

To make Thomas J. Elpel's sandals, you'll need a saw for the large cuts and a utility knife for the small cuts. Then add some nylon harness strapping for the Teva-style straps, and that's it. No glue or stitching required. You've got a pair of hardcore recycled sandals.

These shoes are similar to those worn by the Maasai warriors in Tanzania. Six warriors from this east African country raced in the London Marathon in April 2008 to raise money for their drought-stricken village.

Their efforts were largely successful, though water remains a critical issue in Africa. While you're trying to chill this summer in your nifty retread kicks, see how you can help the reset of the world cool down with fresh, clean water too.

Recycle, retread your toes

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:08:16 PDT

Here's a new idea for summer footwear -- make a pair of sandals out of an old tire. Planet Green points to instructions from a camping expert.

A snake the mice love

Hank Green — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:48:20 PDT

I don't generally get excited about people making art out of trash ... because it's not generally this awesome.

My one question is: why do the mice seem to be running toward the snake?

I guess that's for the artist Choi Jung Hyun to explain.

Via Metaefficient

Picture a greener print

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:11:31 PST

The holidays are over, and the decorations are packed away. All that's left are the memories ... and the photos. In fact, if you're like most of us, you probably have a year's worth of digital photos on your computer with oh-so-helpful names like PICT0027.jpg and IMG_3108.jpg.

The dark days of winter are a good time to stay inside and organize those photos into albums so you can share them with family and friends. And you can do it in fun, creative, earth-friendly fashion too.

Keeping digital pictures digital is green because you use almost no additional resources. Plus, many online photo albums are free of charge, depending on how many files you upload. Most sites have privacy options so you can choose who sees your photos. Some also provide printing for a fee.

Yahoo! offers Flickr, and you can find various other services out there too.

But even though we love the Internet here, at some point, you really want to put a photo in a frame on your desk. Or you want to carry a picture in your wallet, or maybe you're a scrapbooker. Here are some low-impact tips for printing photos.

First, look for recycled-content paper. The Green Guide has an excellent discussion on what to look for in sustainable papers, because the labels can be a little misleading.

One brand to try is GreenPix. This paper claims to be the only 100% post-consumer recycled content photo inkjet paper. It's also process chlorine free (less nasty chemicals in the making), and the paper is archival quality so your photos will last a good, long time.

Now, you may be used to buying packs of photo paper to print photos. In my experience, you don't always need that heavy, glossy stuff for pictures. It depends on what you're using the photo for.

In scrapbooks and other craft projects, glossy photo paper can be difficult to work with, and I prefer a matte, mid-weight paper. If you're putting the photo in a frame, the glossy paper will often look best.

Before you print, make sure to measure your picture frames, craft projects, wallet sleeve, etc., so you're printing the right size and don't have to cut away paper later.

Also, make sure to get the most out of each sheet of paper. In whatever software you're using, try to fit as many photos as possible on each page. All you need is a very slim margin of white space (if any) around each photo's edge. Set the page margins to the smallest possible for your printer too.

If you're not already using recycled cartridges in your ink-jet printer, check out our previous post about the benefits to the planet and your wallet.

Moo has some nifty option for printing photos as well. You can buy mini-cards (like business cards), greeting cards, note cards, postcards, and sticker books, all made from digital photos you upload. If you have pictures on Flickr, you can transfer them easily. While it doesn't give specifics, Moo does say it uses paper from sustainable forests.

Art for sustainability's sake

Laeleya Saludez — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:21:40 PST

Ever tried to a turn a cement bag and glue into ornaments, gingerbread houses, or even jewelry? Good luck. But for an artisan like Etzer Lindor, it's a skill that he managed to hone amidst the grinding poverty of his native Haiti. For starving artist Etzer and other uniquely talented artisans wanting to make a living, there is hope.

Dedicated to helping craftspeople in developing nations, Aid to Artisans provides assistance in countries from Afghanistan to Peru and around the world.

Aside from the monetary and marketing avenues it offers, Aid to Artisans conducts programs for those who need to sharpen their skills.

How can you help? You can simply give, or own a piece of art yourself. Hand-crafted, sustainable arts and ornaments make meaningful holiday gifts too.

Find the original review for this siteâand other features on the Web's coolest offeringsâon Yahoo! Picks.