I am thanking you ahead of time and hoping to get some help in a very strange way.
Since breaking my left arm in a car accident last month and being put on disability I have been looking for things that me daughter and I could make together for Christmas.
I even wrote an extensive diary of all the research I did that I will republish after the fold because it took forever to write with one hand typing and I am very proud of it.
I needed to find a simple enough project that would take minimum intervention from me and give us a great result, I also wanted it to be green, to be something that reused an unwanted item or up cycled something already here.
Charlotte and I loved the wreaths made from wool sweaters but it never really occurred to me how hard it would be for me to actually find wool sweaters in Southern California Thrift stores! And because I cannot drive and my limited mobility, I do not have the energy to check every thrift store there is. And buying new wool sweaters would defeat the purpose and be too expensive.
I have looked online for wool scraps but those can be expensive too!
So, this is where yo come in.
Do you think you could help us? Do you have an old wool sweater that you never wear that you think you could part with to help me with this project? I will pay shipping, I just need you to send me the sweater.
I got this idea because a Facebook friend (and Kossack) was kind enough to volunteer to send me a couple of her sweaters. I thought, well, it couldn't hurt to ask.
Or, if you are a crafter and you have wool scraps you are willing to part with?
As they say, it never hurts to ask. Just Kosmail me.
Some DIY and Eco-Friendly Gifts this year
Since my sorry bruised ass has been painfully stuck at home for the past few weeks and I have been spending way too much time online and awake too late, I have been thinking about gifts that my daughter and I could make together with some one handed direction from me. (It is a long story, but I got in a car accident, on disability until end of January and cannot use my left arm to do anything, also struggling with other fun injuries and a lot of pain.)
I am lucky to have the best lap dog ever to keep me company, she has been stuck to me like glue. I adore my Emma girl.
So I thought I may share some of my finds, eco-friendly ideas, upcycling crafts, home made goodies, etc. and maybe inspire others to try these at home.
It started with a necklace that I helped my daughter make for herself. She felt empowered and oh-so-special and wanted to do more. we have made things in the past together, so this was not the first time, but she was the patient one this time helping me put the clasp together with one hand and learning how to put a crimping bead on.
The next question was, what gifts could we make for gifts?
I started with a great list that some one else compiled called, 101 Green Handmade Gift Tutorials. Some are not easy, some are not very good to give as gifts and some just are not right for the occasion but the list gave me links to other ideas, websites and future crafts once I have better skills and the use of both hands again.
Charlotte and I agreed that gift number one was perfect for us to make for a teacher's gift or girlfriend's. Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub – Under the Table and Dreaming.
Just three ingredients, all which should be bought organic, recycled jars and reused or recycled ribbons and you have an amazing handmade and green gift for any amazing woman on your list. There is also a recipe for a brown sugar body scrub (and no, I do not think I am sharing anything ground breaking here but hoping to show people how easy it can be to make gifts).
Our other project is going to kick off at our local good will in search of wool sweaters that no one may want to wear again but they certainly have some use left in them! We are going to make sweater wreaths! It doesn't take much and I know Charlotte can help cut up sweaters into similar sized squares. The other great thing about these is that you use wire hangers to make them! And you can make them any way you want, here are just a few examples I got from etsy.
Now if I had two hands and a sewing machine, I would also try sweater pillows (now now). It is amazing how ugly sweaters make amazing pillows! And lots of others things you can do with scrap fabric.
Some other ideas I like were:
Felted Soap – Rhythm of the Home
Menswear Stuffed Bunny – Martha Stewart
Recycled Lunch Bag – Made By Lex
T-Shirt Memory Quilt – EcoKaren
And another one of my favorite ideas, look what you can do with all those t-shirts you love but you necessarily do not want to wear? Voila! It is the perfect gift for an older kid, baby boomer with too many t-shirts, etc.
And then if you really do not want to make anything, here are some cool green gifts I found. I have actually made such a list in the past for black Friday or But Nothing day but did not post this year. I was worn out from Thanksgiving. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, there are so many worthy charities and ideas that by me not including something is not a comment about that organization. I know in the past I have gotten Criticism for the things I did include. So be it, if you have an issue with Heifer International or any other organization, you can make it with out calling anyone a corporate shill, etc.
So to start, some places to shop online. I belong to this great little company called Blissmo and once a month I can opt to receive my choice of a box of organic/fair trade product budged and discounted and sent straight to my door. It is a great way for me to try new brands of products and support this great little company in San Francisco that is also helping support great little companies around the US. Their Customer service has been above average since I have had some issues with my boxes, but they have always gone above and beyond to make things right. Charlotte is a fan and she looks forward to opening our Blissmo Box every month. And they also have Groupon like deals for companies that specialize in organic, fair trade and sustainably made products.
It is how I discovered Abe's Market, a great online store for all things keen and green and a good alternative to Amazon for your sustainable goodies you need to buy online! They have a registry as well! Some great gifts you can get there?
GLOB!
GLOB arts and crafts products are sourced from natural and biodegradable materials, specializing in paints made from fruits, vegetables, and spices with natural ingredients and organic extracts.
Here are some other interesting online retailers that sell a multitude of products or just clothes (in a range of prices and styles) handmade to made in the USA, I hope you find something new and exciting:
- Ethical Ocean has a elf helper to help you pick out the perfect gift and they sell gifts from food to personal care items.
How it works
Presented here is a collection of the most ethical products in North America. Every product on our website must qualify for at least one of our three designations: Good for People, Good for Animals or Good for the Environment. Sellers are thoroughly screened before being allowed to sell on our site.
Moral Fibers clothing is painted by artists in developing countries who dream for a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Buy a Moral Fibers shirt, and wear the difference you want to see in the world.
-The Team
- Brilliant Earth - Look, I am not advertising, I am not a big jewelry person, but if you buy diamonds, please try your local antique shop and then try ethical diamonds. Just a suggestion.
- Twirly girl. Looks simple fun and tough pricey, it is made in the USA. All these sites are not for everyone, but I had fun looking.
- Goody beads has gorgeous recycled beads that I hope to get some for Charlotte and I. We also determined we could make our own paper beads that they have for sale, there are lots of guides, even a few on the 101 Green Handmade Gift Tutorials.
- Fair Indigo
- United by Blue
For every product sold, UBB removes 1 pound of trash from our worlds oceans and waterways.
- My Good Greetings, a greener alternative to shutterfly, recycled photo cards!
- Earth Lover
- World of Good by Ebay
- Hannah Anderson
- Sweet Organics, which includes 100% post consumer waste wrapping paper and bows, made here in the US.
- Now my girl is an animal lover and all things in the ocean, dolphins, sharks and whales. She loves to go whale watching with me, read about dolphins and whales and watch documentaries about all animals. So this gift made me think of her.
Sea Animal Plush Adoption Kit
Bring the a little bit of the sea into your home! Adopt a killer whale, dolphin, and shark and in addition to cute plush version of each, you'll receive a personalized adoption certificate. Your donation will help protect these animals from destructive fishing and habitat loss due to climate change. All gifts go towards making our world's oceans healthier and safer, for generations to come.
I know she would also love coupons for various visits to local parks and longer road trips to our National Parks. I just started reading Last Child in the Woods and I know that any time outdoors would be good for her. So I thought a coupon book of outdoor activities would be a great idea. We have so many great parks with naturalists that lead programs with kids. How about a coupon for the day on low tide so we can go see all the critters at the perfect time? One visit to the Ocean Institute (insert your local institute or museum), One trip to help Back to Natives plant Natives, One beach clean up with a shopping spree to follow. One nature hike with the family. One afternoon with Mom to do green crafts! The list goes on and on and it could be gifts that give all year round!
There are so many amazing organizations that you can donate to in someone's name, so many good causes or you can purchase local gift certificates for businesses in your neighborhood to keep it hyperlocal and make sure your money supports your immediate community.
How we spend our money and time says a lot about who we are and how we give gifts says something about how we value our planet and resources.
And the even more revolutionary approach is to skip the gifts all together and focus on the most important thing of all, the people in our lives and the importance that they have over stuff, over things, over money and the push to buy bigger and better gifts.
There are so many people out there hurting that our family has scaled back our Christmas spending so we would have enough to donate to those who are struggling. Imagine that, a Christmas for others, there are lots of organizations that will help you bring the Holidays to those who would otherwise not have any if it were not for the kindness of strangers.
Charlotte helps us pick out toys for our local Toys for Tots and Spark of Love toy drives. She also knows that the end of the year means going through her toys and giving away toys she no longer plays with.
The options are limitless.