Upcycled Skirt

I started with a pair of biking shorts, blue with small dots in a swirly pattern, and two men's t-shirts, I think extra large.

 I combined them to make this very comfortable skirt.

 The trick is to make sure that the width of the bottom of the shorts, after the legs are cut off, is as close as humanly possible to the width of the top of the trapezoids which makeup the skirt itself. I think I used 8 panels. The hem is serged but not hemmed since these are mostly for hanging around the house. I could go to the hardware store in them, but not church, I'm thinking.

They were fun to make! I hope you are also having fun with some creativity these days!

Computer monitor stand

Every week I try to do at least one thing that makes my life run more smoothly or I try to make some progress on a long-standing project, like organizing photos.

Here's something I designed to make my life easier. I would have liked to have built it, but my darling husband took my cut list and finished it for me.

 it was made from leftover wood, and was very simple, but it will be an improvement. If I make a little Improvement every week, I can work towards shaping a home that functions better and frees up more time and energy.

I hope you are all working towards your own goals and making good progress! Here's to baby steps-- they really do all add up.

#CoronaCreative

 A sample of some of my creative endeavors....

 

The above headband is designed to match all of my jeans, regardless of the varying degrees to which they have faded. :)

The tops I just added ruffles to, but it's nice because it transforms a tank-top with spaghetti straps into something I can wear in public.  They are SO comfy -- I'm not a huge fan of bras so I love them -- and now they are modest enough to go anywhere.

I hope you've been having some creative fun this summer, too!

A Morning Harvest

Tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, squash, cherry tomatoes, okra, and purple beans. All harvested this morning before work.

My husband has decided that next year we only need one zucchini plant, not four!

 

PS

We did not steal the shopping basket.  We bought two when Shopko went out of business for $5 each.  Very handy!

Video with Life Hacks

Some interesting stuff in this video!

It makes me think I should melt more stuff!

Gardening to save money?

I spent an hour gathering these beans this morning. I'll probably spend another half an hour processing them. I could buy the same amount for about $5, which makes my hourly rate pretty dismal.

Now granted, these are tastier then what I get in the store, and probably healthier as well since these will be more fresh when they are eaten. (Most of them will be frozen and eaten this winter, but even then, I am guessing freezing them right away preserves more nutrition then what probably happens to commercially processed ones.)  They were not harvested by children or people being exploited. And it is quite satisfying to eat food you have grown yourself.

But if you are in it for the money, I'd just get a part-time job

Freezer Inventory Made Simple

Here is an easy way to keep track of what you have in your freezer. As you add or subtract items, simply move the magnets. It stays on the freezer top, held in place by more magnets, and can be customized to what your family eats.

 No need to find a pen, or wonder where you put that piece of paper. Hope this helps!