my mood board

I made a new mood board today...longing for the seaside...and lots of cuteness!
Have a nice weekend :)

 

At swim two birds

Untitled, a photo by At Swim-Two-Birds on Flickr.

The beautiful At swim-two-birds cushions by Renilde  are now in the shop!

testing stuff

I recently started a new board on my pinterest, it's about green DIY projects and products.

My concerns about the environment started many years ago, but when my daughter was born they became amplified. As time goes by my concern grows.

So I started to look for ideas and products that will help me to do more about it, and now I think I'm ready to share them with those of you who have the same concerns.

Plastic: plastic is everywhere, if you go to a beach, you will find many tiny coloured particles mixed to the sand...that is plastic! it won't degrade for centuries. Fishes are eating it and so birds, it has entered in our food chain, and that is scary as we don't know about the consequences.
Supermarkets make me totally frustrated since I can't find a vegetable that isn't wrapped in plastic!

For these reasons and more I'm very keen to make of "alternatives" the routine. 
I made this board, which is the easiest part and I've started to test those ideas I've pinned, to see if they are any good.

To start with, I tried this project. Let me tell you that it is a great way to recycle old t-shirts, but, make sure your t-shirts have no seams on the sides, because if they do, this method is not good at all.

Think about the project you want to make based on the number of t-shirts you have to recycle. I'd like to make a bathroom rug, crocheted (I find it hard to knit this kind of yarn). For my project I crocheted a chain of 23 stitches, with a n8 crochet hook. So far I obtained 4 1/2 rows with one t-shirt, which is roughly 9cm, to finish this project I need in total 5 t-shirts. I quite like the result...I think it's worth it if you want to avoid to send your stained, full of holes t-shirts to landfill.

//

The next project I tested is this one.

Using cheap garden twine and some wool filling, I made a scrub a bit larger and I knitted two rectangles rather than a folded one, then I sewn them together.

I tested it on the breakfast washing this morning and I must say that it worked perfectly.

I'll stick to these scrubs and I'll try with different natural materials and sizes.

//

Last I tested this one

...Yep! I gave it a go, because I'm keen to avoid plastic bottles as much as possible. 

I've been using expensive organic products for more than a decade, but the plastic bottles that come with them are bothering me. I've tried many of them but still, my hair gets dry and heavy, sometimes my scalp irritated, not to mention that I really spend a fortune on shampoos and conditioners! I had nothing to loose so I've tried this recipe last night, as soon as I washed my hair with bicarbonate of soda ( baking soda is exactly the same product) I got really worried because they felt like fuzzy wool! then I added the apple cyder vinegar and the feeling changed completely, thank goodness it worked, the scalp felt clean and my hair looks fine! I'll stick to this recipe for a while then I'll do a recap with you to let you know if I have lost all my hair or not! ;^)

Ok, sorry for the long post, I hope I haven't bored you, instead somehow managed to inspire you.

Next I'm onto soap making...

PS: just so you know, I don't get any compensation to pin those products on my board, I've chosen those shops or images for ethical and aesthetic reasons, also because I have some of those products at home (hence I tested them) I've been using them for a while and I think they are well worth it.  I don't suggest much where to buy it, but what to look for if you too want to avoid plastic and nasty stuff and need some tips.

Have  a nice beginning of the week . 

Oh and this is my 500th post! 

just to say

Few days ago I started my Eyes Wide Open photo course with Erin Little

Although I took an exam on photography while attending Art school many years ago ( before digital) the truth is I'm not at ease with digital cameras as much as I was with my old film cameras, it's the feeling that is different.

I know it's just a matter of a lot of practise and to get out of old mental habits, this course encourage me to do so, to explore more and to keep my mind wide open ;)

See more on my flickr .

small things that make me happy

My pilea has two babies! I've been looking for tips on how to separate the babies from the mother ( I know, it sounds cruel ), so I can grow more plants but, I couldn't find much on the internet...any clues?

My little succulent is flowering and I find the little buds beautiful.

Small flowers on the little lady from Atelier Stella,

Isn't she lovely?

The clouds in the may sky are beautiful but pleaaase, enough of rain and cold! 

Little bits and pieces in the bookcase (nama and Camilla Engman postcards), 

still on the floor few piles of books to sort it out.

Have a nice beginning of the week!

Just for playing...
Few more sets for the mouse house at knots.

Have a very fine weekend...

 

surroundings

It's going to be a bank holiday weekend at home, the weather doesn't look promising. I'm looking at the clouds and they are like animal silhouettes chasing each other.

I have few diy projects to finish anyway. A little bookcase (the only one possible here) is white now, no matter what, I end up painting all the stuff I don't really like in white, and it works: it's kind of blending with the white walls. I put up the "new" old semi pendant that I wanted for ages, (found on ebay Denmark) it has few scratches but I don't mind, it was a good deal.

I'm enjoying "Backyard wildflowers", a little book full of blooms and photographic poetry by Jaime Rugh

Have a relaxed weekend.