Vinegar can be used to clean mildew, steel, sliver, piano keys, carpets, cutting boards, coffee makers, vegetables, and spectacles; to remove sticker gunk, fog from windows, candle wax, grease, cookware build-up, and garlic odors; as deodorant, mouthwash, conditioner, and jellyfish sting salve. At least, according to this veritable textbook of home remedies for the ails of modern life.
Spring is upon us and in the north east it means time to eradicate the garlic mustard. As a preview to an article I would like to write on the invasive and evil weed I share with you a simple garlic mustard recipe for pesto: take 3 cups of garlic mustard leaves, 1 cup each: olive oil, walnuts, parmesan cheese, and 1 clove garlic. Pulse in food processor. salt and pepper to taste. Put on pasta. If you can't beat them, eat them.
Although I dislike playing frisbee evidently can just slap some postage on it and mail one. I love AmberLee's giver's log. Thanks to jettesette at G* for this!
I think I might love these necklaces and bracelets from Orly Genger by Jaclyn Mayer made out of climbing rope and precious metals.
I always enjoy Laura Hartmark's blog but her post on R.U.S.T. (stands for Radical Urban Sustainability Training) is a great picture storybook for what is going on with urban farmers and those of us who wish we were urban farmers.
A lesson I recently learned: Salt, baking soda, and a coarse scrubbing pad can clean up a whole lot of things that you might think would require harsher chemicals. For example, I spilled noxious BLACK LEATHER DYE all over a laminate counter top. I tried mineral spirits and numerous other solvents before finding that mere BAKING SODA and a serious upper arm WORK-OUT took care of most of the dye, and a bit of bleach did the rest. Now I am stronger as well as smarter!
The only catch is that you need to be an artist! Now since when has that been an advantage. An artist couple in Maine are having a contest to give away their house. Write a 4000 word essay and pay a $50 entry fee and you have a chance. What a great idea all the way around: someone gets a house, the owners make some money and are able to get rid of their house in a bum economy. I freaking love Maine.
Coming up Tuesday January 26th at 6pm is a panel in conjunction with the exhibition Ethics + Aesthetics, at the Pratt Institute Manhattan Gallery. The panelists include Julie Gilhart, fashion director of Barneys New York; Mary Ping, designer and founder of Slow and Steady Wins the Race; Caroline Priebe, designer and founder of Uluru and it will be moderated by Sarah and I.
I really like this. A woman in Vancouver is making all her clothes for the next year- shoes, socks, everything. It's called Makeshift. I also like that the camera is always positioned very low so she looks like a giant.
January 17-23 is National Thrift Week! Check out the history here, enter the contest, or read up on thrift.
Also, think about marking each day of the week with a thrifty activity, such as holding a potluck or organizing a stuff swap.
