| One of my all-time favorite thing to do- when I'm not with the kids and/or Roger- is "creating" something out of nothing. Taking seemingly useless items and giving them a new start is an exciting challenge. I'm a "dumpster Diva" in training, you could say! There are excellant sites out there about this very thing, and HG TV website is filled with ideas (search under 'trash to treasure", you'll get dozens of hits!). There's also the Dumpster Diva's and the Prim&Rustic decorating boards which I adore and used to frequent on an almost daily basis. (Life is much more hectic these days, but I do still try to poke my head in the door once in a while.) Some of my past projects include a neat little rack for a VAST inherited collection of spices. Made from two old wooden fruit crates, it was so simple to make (100% my speed!) and suited the country/primitive look I favor nicely. Another past project was transformation of a "curb-shopped" (nice name for picking up something someone else left out for the trashman) worn-out white wicker baby bassinet transformed into a unique mini-vegetable garden. In keeping with my "junk" habit, a few years back, learned about something called the FREECYCLE(TM) NETWORK--a worldwide movement of people dedicated to keeping still-useful items out of our overflowing landfills. They do this by posting items they have to give away on their local community's Freecycle group website. EVERY item you find listed there is free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. In May of 2004, I got brave and formed a group for my local community 'cuz we didn't have one. Whoowee, I am here to tell you: It is SOOOO much fun. Not just to get stuff, but to GIVE stuff away to others too! Visit www.freecycle.org for more info about the Freecycle movement, and to see if there's a group near YOUR community. SO what do I do when I have to actually BUY things for the house? Ah, that's where auctions, yardsales, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army store come in handy. Maybe we'll talk about those places some time? For now though, I've got a hungy family to feed... Check back later, okay? God bless! |
| Somethin' From Nuthin'! |
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