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.

Oh and this is my 500th post! 

update: after a couple of weeks I gave up, my scalp became quite dry and itchy.

I hope to find alternatives, for now I stick to a brand that is organic and 

use glass bottles. I diluted the shampoo with water.

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!

play

and 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' by Jaime Rugh

Have a relaxed weekend.