| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bohemiangel |
Posted - Nov 28 2006 : 08:21:02 AM
I have been thinking about this all summer and here it is almost Dec. ! OY Ok so what I have on My list for making things so I don't have to spend moolah is hankerchiefs, cloth napkins, hand towels, things I mean to make bread...I forget the others :-x I am totally new to watching money and trying to be environmentally friendly and going natural. My town is not good for that. My fam is ok but laughs when I want natural soap/cosmetics because of chemicals. ooo now I remember yeah soaps, toothpaste, body lotions and potions. Anything you can make and is natural and good quality. I need ideas, recipes, how-tos, resources, websites, you name it! HELP ME please!!!!!! Ideally I'd like to make my own lil book with info for fam and friends. But first off I want to improve my life and save and live simply. THANKS!!! a million HUGS!
"... to thine ownself be true." |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 2:37:41 PM
Maria-
I use a terry or flannel rag to wipe down my cast iron as well. I also like to keep flannel between the cast iron when I stack it to put it away.
Alee |
| MariaAZ |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 09:16:37 AM
I use cast iron cookware extensively, and was getting tired of using paper towels to wipe them out between uses (I don't wash my cast iron very often.) I had a few old bath towels ready for retirement, and cut them into large squares. They work better at wiping the cast iron than non-terry cloth rags as they are more absorbent as well as a bit "scrubby." They also clean up pretty nicely if soaked for awhile in soapy water with Oxy-clean or borax.
Visit my blog at www.craftyfool.net |
| Reepicheep |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 05:58:16 AM
This site has a lot of great info for making personal care items - http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/self
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/merryhearthomestead/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onourway/ |
| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 11:14:52 AM
Alee - when we were little, my mom said that she twisted the diapers between our legs, just once, so they were more narrow, then put on plastic pants or a diaper wrap - that might help with the bulkiness between her legs - I guess my mum was worried about that, too!
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 23 2007 : 8:00:31 PM
Heather-
She just weighed in at 6lbs 11oz. She is a month old and was born at 5lbs 8oz. Today I ran out of clean diapers and had to use some that I had sewn that looked a bit big for her. Luckily they worked out just great. Maybe I am being to worried about putting bulk between her legs- She doesn't seem to mind! So far as long as I use a diaper wrap we don't spring any leaks. She does usually wet through her whole diaper though. I guess there has been a few times that she has leaked a tiny bit, but that was when she was sleeping and it was just a tiny bit.
Alee |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Apr 23 2007 : 11:10:14 AM
I wouldn't worry about the stuffers hurting her. I don't know how tiny your daughter is, but I was using them when my daughter was only 4lbs and she was ok with them. I don't use plastic as I'm allergic to petrolium, and petrolium based products, like plastic. My daughter is now just 13 lbs and still doing ok with the stuffers. She's pretty tiny too. Well for her age at least. She's almost 8 months. How old is yours? And what does she weight? Oh yeah I will say the stuffers I do use are kind of small though. And I find with the stuffers there is no leaking. With out the stuffers we always spring a leak! lol haha I don't mind the leaks so much, but other people holding her do! lol haha |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 8:47:23 PM
Hi Heather-
I haven't tried making or using help stuffers yet as Nora is so tiny I think Stuffers would hurt her little pelvis. She will soak through a diaper when she wets but that is okay because I have little plasticish diaper wraps that I bought at our local Natural Supply store. As she gets bigger I will probably buy some help stuffers from the same store. If I like them I will then make my own.
Vinegar is wonderful and I use a ton of it, but I must admit I do like to use a bit of bleach now and then :)
Alee |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 6:22:55 PM
Love your ideas Alee. I also cloth diaper, and use flannel! A LOT of it! lol Also I use that fuzzy material-long day and brain dead from tiredness, can't think at all of the name of it, oh yeah Fleece! DUH. lol
However, I haven't tried making the hemp stuffers yet, have you?
Um, bleach is pretty toxic. I would be in the hospital if I used bleach. If I am any where near people who use it, I usually end up in the ER. My vote is vinegar! Or vodka. But, vinegar is cheaper, and Helpful Helloise (sp) had independant testing did with it and bleach once, way back when she used to do spots on Good Morning America! And the results came back that vinegar killed all but a few germs that bleach does, and it also killed a few germs bleach doesn't. In the end, she voted for vinegar being the better cleanser. At least in that segment of GMA. |
| mtngirl1 |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 06:52:38 AM
Baking soda is good to brush teeth with, vinegar and water to clean the windows- use cloth napkins and not paper ones- use reusable water containers- do not buy bottled water- no paper plates- bleach kills germs as good or better than expensive and toxic cleaners- the list goes on and on.
Kim |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 3:43:34 PM
Heather-
Making cloth napkins is a great idea. You could even make a set of "standard" ones and then a set of "nice" ones to send to people. I recently have been sewing a ton of flannel for diapers for my baby and I know you could get some really cute flannel patters for napkin use.
Alee |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Apr 21 2007 : 2:37:55 PM
I only skimed through so don't know if this has been mentioned.
But, yesterday on Oprah they were saying how if we used less paper napkins we could save a lot of trees. I am thinking hardly any one has cloth napkins any more. So making and embroidering pretty cloth napkins for people with a little note on how you would like them to use them, not save for good so they can help save some trees/animals who live in them, help the heating of the earth etc etc. lol
About deodorant, my husband and I only use the crystal. It comes in a spritz not areosal, if she HAS to spray. But, you can also get the kind of like roll on crystal etc. I find one particular brand to work best (comes in blue packaging). With the "roll" on, you must wet it first, and make it "slimey" other wise it doesn't work. With the spritz, you just spritz, nothing else. We both like it a lot, it's all natural and works well. The only thing is you must put it on right after your shower or bath if you have a smelly problem. My husband and I both have strong body odor, and this works for us. If we go ala deodorant, people would and DO say things! lol I always used the kind I am talking about. But, when I first married my husband I moved from Kansas to NYC. I had my own deodorant, never even thinking this would be hard to find! Then my husband became allergic to regular deodorant so I told him to use mine. it worked, but then...we ran out and couldn't find it here in NYC, took me a while to get my mom to send me some. In that time believe me lots of people asked my husband to wear deodorant! lol Since then I have figured out how to buy it online and locally! lol But, needless to say if it works for our odor, it should work for any one! lol haha |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Jan 04 2007 : 7:12:29 PM
I saw a homemade toothpaste recipe here at Mother Earth News, January 1975. I made my own toothpaste using glycerine, baking soda and a few drops of mint oil. I put it in a brown plastic pill bottle and I think it works just fine. I added some water to it as I like it a little bit sloopier than theirs is. But I use it and I prefer it to toothpaste - do you know that toothpaste has sugars in it - is that some sort of contradiction? I thought you were supposed to get that kind of stuff off the teeth, not put it on. Oh well, maybe its just me.
Here's where I got it. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Homesteading_and_Self_Reliance/1975_January_February/Pennywise_Tooth_Cleansers Good luck. |
| bohemiangel |
Posted - Jan 04 2007 : 5:24:11 PM
hmmm yeah it stinks that many times I feel I'm alone at least in my area for wanting natural/organic healthy things surrounding me. I literally hold my breath if I smell Lysol or air freshners. I don't buy candles anymore unless they are soy.
I'm tryin to switch over to organic clothing (I know this sounds a lil over the top) but what do you spend your life against...chemicals! If I can limit them from being on me some and especially in me WHY NOT!
I also avoid advil and tylenol and cough medicine etc. I use for a sinus problem some salt water concoction from the local drugstore and even for cough drops I use that smith bros. If I can't find natural/organic I opt for the fewest ingredients or those that can barely be tampered with.
These thoughts go through my head all day. But I just see cancer killing those around me (lost another one) so I figure whatever I can do.
I know I probably wrote about this before BUT organic style magazine (out of print) was THE BEST and I will forever keep my copies. I highly recommend buying them if you can find them anywhere! There was an article on detoxing your house. Houses are so secure and sealed that our air is the same and pollutants stay in the air. You can get plants to help take up toxins and open windows or get purifiers if you have allergies like myself:( Another thing that made sense was power strips try to sit as far away from these as you can! EM waves are so bad. Least I am under the opinion that they are. If you have an alarm clock that's plugged in beside your bed MOVE IT! you will sleep better. I switched to a battery operated one. I also don't have anything plugged in to the outlet beside my bed. NOW you can get even more crazy and make sure your bed is not near an outlet but I can't do this. Get rid of your plastic shower curtain and switch to fabric or better hemp! Becareful about carpets and rugs. Anything that you can buy that mother nature provided BUY IT instead. I know this does get very expensive but slowly and surely I'm changing over. The other thing that I've heard a ton about is mattresses. You spend so much time sleeping and the chemicals for fire retardents are very bad. Also try getting organic sheets. Ok I could go on and on. And NO I do not yet have everything accomplished like I should. lol Baby steps;) hehe OK off soap box. I just love talking about this and feel very passionate! :) HUGS
"... to thine ownself be true." |
| momto6 |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 10:38:48 PM
Hey, Libbie,
That sounds like a plan to me. Tomorrow, after some sleep, and hopefully this stupid cough/cold is somewhat better, I'll be thinking clearer. But anyone should feel free to start this thread and I'll just jump in. Where is best? Family matters?
Val |
| Libbie |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 9:35:50 PM
You know, Valerie and Bonnie - that is such a good topic - how would you feel about starting a thread under "Family Matters," or "Parenting and Farm Kids" about how to gently and lovingly change our loved ones' hearts and minds about using things that we now know aren't the best for them? I struggle with that one, too....
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 08:01:27 AM
Love the napkin link! Thanks!
Jewelry, art, baskets, etc.
www.willowtreecreek.com |
| Beemoosie |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 04:40:58 AM
Hi Valerie!
I'm kind of in the same boat myself. I just do what I can, and remember that many of the things my mother told me to do or modeled weren't important to me until I was in my 20's! So there were 15-20 years of her doing and showing and being ignored/laughed at/ect, then all of the sudden it made sense to me!
Model what is important in your life, and someday your children WILL thank you!
O, Come let us adore HIM! www.beequilting.blogspot.com |
| momto6 |
Posted - Dec 28 2006 : 11:00:42 PM
I've been trying to decide where to post this, or even if I wanted to, because it seems like I'm complaining...I complain to myself alot . I know the post from bohemiangel is over a month old, but I'm still reading through all the old threads. Enjoying it immensely, I might add. Anyway, she commented about how her family laughs when she wants to use natural products because of the chemicals. My kids poke fun (good-natured) alot, too. I'm just starting on this more natural/organic journey. My 15 year old daughter uses aerosol deod...the whole basketball locker room reeks of it! I tell her about all the studies done about aerosol/aluminum deod., but she just laughs and says she'd rather smell good than worry about some health scare. (Youth!!!) I was that way, too. But at times, it seems to grate on my nerves; I feel very alone in our small community, and in my family, because convenience and "modernness" are so important.
But, I can't do what I do because of what others think. I have to press on to healthier living, a healthier environment (they don't even know about some of the things I do to make their lives safer and less "chemically-dependant" (what kind of word is that)!!
Any help here? Some days I just wear down and want to throw my hands up and run away!!!
Val |
| bohemiangel |
Posted - Dec 09 2006 : 5:25:48 PM
Great ideas girls! But I guess I wasn't clear and kinda misleading:( still I got great ideas! I really meant like in general. Everday things. :)
"... to thine ownself be true." |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 2:39:25 PM
Bridget, how about making coupon books for services/treats throughout the year? A little fancy paper and scissors, and you could do twelve pages one per month) for baking a batch of cookies at their request, or offering to clean out a garage, or spruce up their yard, or brihg a home-made meal - things like that? People who seem to have everything already would appreciate not getting another material object to find a place to store it.
Also, take some large canning jars, or use cleaned up glass or plastic containers from other products you buy, which could be filled with all the ingredients for a particular recipe (think soup/cake,cookies, pasta salad, etc.) and they would only have to add fresh eggs, water, meat, whatever, when they are ready to make the meal. Add a nicely printed recipe card and a ribbon ... fun and original, especially if it is a particular recipe they have complimented you on in the past!
Finally, there have been some good barter/trades here for things that we all have around the house, unopened and unloved, which could be just the perfect thing for someone else's gift list.
Jo
"There are no strangers here, only friends you've yet to meet." |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 10:40:37 AM
WOW Bonnie, that was a fun site. More good ideas. Hope whoever is sick at your house is on the mend, so many things going around you feel like you should hide in the closet.
oh yea about this thread, I would love getting home made gifts and I think Tina came up with really good ideas.
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| Beemoosie |
Posted - Dec 04 2006 : 10:28:01 AM
Here is a link for a tutorial for homemade napkins. I think I will try these myself after the holidays!
http://www.purlbee.com/mollys-handmade-napkins/
...she is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
Prov 31:10
www.beequilting.blogspot.com |
| Libbie |
Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 6:47:36 PM
As far as personal care items, I really like the book "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox. She has some great recipes and the items really work and are fun to make. "Clean House, Clean Planet" by Karen Logan is my fave natural cleaning recipe and information book, and then, of course, the farmgirls here are my very favorite personal sources of inspiration and information!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Nov 30 2006 : 1:11:08 PM
o.k. I'll chime in here:
you can make some lovely small victorian styled paper snowflakes by using the pattern in the last issue of Small Town Living at www.stliving.net
use Victorian designed scrapbook papers and then add a bit of glitter to the edges and add a sparkly button to the centers on either side of the completed snowflakes, add a ribbon hanger by punching a hole in the top.
these can be used as homemade ornaments or as package toppers.
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you can create cupcakes out of a favorite mix and instead of using frosting that could get damaged in transit..make a white drizzle frosting out of melted white chocolate, then criss cross with melted chocolate... put a batch in a shirt box and tie with festive ribbon.
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you can make very fast and easy cookies by doing this:
To you favourite cake mix simply add 1 egg and a touch of water, and 2 tablespoons butter to make a stiff cookie type dough, add a matching flavored chip (example, carrot cake= cinnamon chips, chocolate= chocolate chips, and so on) bake at 350 for 10 minutes. you can also drizzle melted chocolates over these for a more festive look
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you could create mini cakes using those mini bundt pans.
wrap in saran and top with festive bow
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how about making rum balls or homemade truffles?
or even fudge?
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another idea is to create an Italian dinner basket:
get a rustic looking basket/with or without a liner and add a few packages of different pastas, a jar of pesto or marinara, a bottle of wine..things like that...
or you could even put all the items into a nice casserole dish and have 2 gifts in one.
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framed images of your family also makes a good gift for grandparents/parents.
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homemade jams and jellies are a good thing/check under the kitchen forum here for a few jam/jelly ideas
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teas, coffees, hot chocolate packages in a basket along with a few gourmet chocolate bars and a good book are another good idea
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look online for the topic "gifts in a jar"
you'll find more than enough!
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how about creating small sachet bags using holiday scented potpourri? decorate with ribbon and dried flowers hot glued to them.
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embroidered pillow tops are another good idea
you can create them very easily out of muslin and do a simple redwork (red thread only) embroidery
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how about embroidered tea towels, or you can hand paint a floral design onto a tea towel, or even paint a design onto a few bathroom towels and hand towels, remember to use fabric paint
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what about hand painted tee shirts?
there are lots of stencil designs you could do,also designs you can duplicate from pictures
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you could create some hand made jewelry, plenty of bead supplies and wire at local craft stores.
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bath salts are easy to make, there is a recipe on the forums for creating bath salts
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what about scented milk bath powders?
do a search online for "how to make scented milk bath powder"
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what about creating a pinecone wreath?
or pinecone ornaments? you can add embellishments(dried flowers, glitter, mini birds, etc)
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o.k. I'm running out of ideas now.
have fun!
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 30 2006 : 08:36:27 AM
Oh My!
Making soap is really easy and there have been quite a few threads about this. If you use the search feature (Top right of screen) to search for soap and soap making you should find a wealth of information. A lot of sites that have soap making lye calcualtors are multi-task sites and have recipes for other things like lip balms and such. I love this site's lye calculator and recipies http://www.the-sage.com/calcs/lyecalc2.php
Another good gift idea is to find a good desert recipe and put all the dry ingredients into a jar along with a homemade label with instructions on how to add the wet ingredients and bake. You can even buy colored sugars and do a "sand art" style gift.
I am new to the sewing so I don't have any clue about the others :) |
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