Juice Pouch Lunch Box

Last week a friend asked me to make a rainbow colored juice pouch lunch box.  She wanted to buy one for a belated birthday present.  So last weekend I made it.  Each juice pouch is stuffed with a layer of batting to help insulate it.  She also wanted a ribbon that had to do with gardening, but she wanted me to use something from my ribbon stash.  What is funny is that the person who it is a gift for saw it yesterday and asked me how much it would cost to make one for her, lol.  She is going to be surprised when she gets one soon.  

It has been a long time since I sewed anything, so it felt good to dust off my sewing machine and make a few things.  I did make something else, but its for the Halloween swap (you'll have to wait to see what it is).

Projects from Class

Last Thursday I taught a juice pouch notebook class at the East Branch of the Somerville Library.  It was a full class (15 kids), and everyone walked away with a juice pouch notebook.  I made an orange Kool Aid one.  Then 5 of the kids stayed longer and made paper beads to add as a tassel on their notebooks.  Four of the kids were girls, and they wanted to learn how to make paper bead bracelets.  So I did a mini demo of how to make them, and sent them home with supplies.  My demo bracelet is in the above picture.  Here is a past blog post that shows what the bracelet looks like when finished.  That particular bracelet was made as an example for another class at the other branch of the Somerville Library.  One of the kid's brother asked if he could have it, and how could I say no?  :)  

Episode 39: Kevin McMullin & Atlantic Green Energy

This is episode 39 of my local access t.v. show called "It's Easy Being Green."  My guest is Kevin McMullin from Atlantic Green Energy.  He talks about using solar power in your home, schools, library, and even on boats using such products as K Shields and solar blinds.  Atlantic Green Energy is a New England company.  Their website is http://www.atlanticge.com/. 

8 Rainbow Cork Elves

Here are my rainbow cork elves so far.  I can't wait to have the whole rainbow completed. 

I made this little guy last night.  I just had to take a picture of him next to this plant, because of the similar colors.  I'm starting to run out of corks with blank spaces on them (for the faces).  However now I have a few more people who will save corks for me.  I don't drink alcohol, so all of my corks are donations.

Yes, More Cork Elves

I've been busy making more cork elves.  This time with smilie faces.

I finished knitting the red one's hat at the Farmers' Market yesterday, which is where this picture was taken.

Here is the yarn that I have been using:  Bernat mosaic acrylic yarn: Calypso.  I want to make the whole rainbow of cork elves.

Orange Cork Elves

I'm thinking that these guys will be good for Halloween.  I can add a little leaf to the top of their hats, and make a mini trick or treat bag for them.

Blog Carnival

I was on Ravelry.com a moment ago and checked in on one of the 2 Eco Craft Challenge threads. One of the people on there (heppiehaaksters) posted a link to her blog where she has been posting about how she is doing with the challenge. Her blog is mainly in another language, but pictures can say it all. It looks like she is on day 11 of the challenge. I love what she is doing. There are a lot of similar projects between us but with different looks. I haven't talked about it on here, but I had also started making the knitty knobby left over skein rug as seen in the book "One Skein." Its nice to how hers is coming along. Keep up the good work:)

Is anyone else blogging about their experience with this challenge?

I also want to tell everyone about Julia from Easy Eco To Go. Julia has taken up the zero waste week challenge. She has been posting pictures of her trash and talking about ways in which she is decreasing her waste. Very inspirational. Right now she is offering to send people a reusable snack bag and a reusable handkerchief if they take up this challenge. Julia is on day 14 of this challenge. That's right, she extended the challenge from 1 week to 2 weeks. I can see this becoming a life long habit. What a difference it would make if we all took this challenge. I am starting this challenge on Wednesday, which is my trash day. I want to begin with a clean slate. You can also become a fan of Easy Eco To Go on facebook, and you can follow her on twitter as well.

Focus Organic always has some interesting information. They also have a regular blog carnival.

My Recycled Bags loves working with plarn. That isn't the only recycled material that she crafts with. Check out her blog.

Jennifer Perkins recently posted some how to videos for Halloween on her blog. She also posts a regular crafty blog carnival (the newest one was posted today).

Plastique Recreations is another amazing eco-crafter. She crafts with plarn and VHS tape. She also sells her creations as well as her spun plarn and VHS tape.

Fat Bottom Bags is another plarn crafter. Christi crochets round bags out of plarn. She sells them for a very good price. She also has a special deal going on. If you send her a certain amount of colored plastic bags, she will send you a mini fat bottom bag for free. You can also become a fan of Fat Bottom Bags on facebook, and you can follow her on twitter as well. Christi goes a step further and helps out marine animals that are in trouble in her area.

I don't know how often I'll post a blog carnival. I really just wanted to share some of the blogs that I follow.