eco-craftalong

[linzo]

So I saw this mentioned in a board elsewhere and I thought "what in the world are we waiting for, lets get this started right now!"

I guess my idea is something like each month you kind of designate what eco-friendly craftrelated goal you would like to accomplish (ie. sew/ knit/ crochet grocery totes, plant your own veggies, make reusable swiffer covers, make a reusable lunch bag and pack eco-friendly lunches, ... the list could go on and on) and then post here about how it goes and we can all kind of cheer each other on and help each other out and gain new ideas from each other.

I have never even particpated in a craftalong and I know this is a rough draft of how it could work but what do you all think. I feel like this could help motivate me and hopefully others to take some risks and try new eco-friendly crafty things!

-Lindsey

Okay so I pasted this up here so it was easy to find... I also didn't want to get rid of my original post... so here are the themes so far.... I am wide open to suggestions for the rest so feel free to PM me.

May: eco friendly cleaning?
(craft a eco-friendly cleaning kit, reusable swiffer covers, dusting?, craft a clothes drying rack, washcloths, shower scrubbies, etc.....)

June: reducing plastic waste?
(grocery bags, crafts using grocery bags, any other creative crafty ideas)

July: make your "garbage" into something reusable?
(......)

August: reducing paper waste?
(journals, make "new" paper, recycled into cards, etc....)[/b]

[WIPs]

Definitely in. I am currently in the process of making a cloth bag, so my mom can use it, instead of plastic bags for her groceries.

[MarysMom]

Sounds great. Id like to participate too!

[jessvict]

i would participate too. are there going to have specific things to do each month?

[Kookaloo_Starr]

I LOVE this idea Lindsey  I'm all for recycling and cutting down on my waste, I'm just not sure how I could " CraftAlong" though
 I tend to use old clothing as cleaning cloths and things like that, I'm sure nobody needs to see my hubbys old work vests being used as a duster 
I'm working on a crochet grocery bag at the mo' in a crochetalong 
I'll certainly be keeping my eye on this and stealing your ideas lol

[kakariki]

I'm definitely in!  This pretty much describes my crafting.  I pretty much use recycled material for everything I make and I try and make everything to have a practical purpose, even if it's just for wearing.

Yay 

[pawnshoppromises]

I'm so in on this!

Currently, I'm working on cutting plastic bags into strips so that I can crochet a few shopping totes with them. Both my mother and grandmother work at a grocery store, though, so it shouldn't take too long before I have enough!

I can't wait to see what other ideas everyone comes up with! I'm all for helping out Mother Nature!

[linzo]

I am so happy to see people responding to this
hmmmm... what if we did it sort of like a eco-topic and then we all sort of craft our own solutions to the issue raised.
basically like
may: eco friendly cleaning?
(craft a eco-friendly cleaning kit, reusable swiffer covers, dusting?, craft a clothes drying rack, washcloths, shower scrubbies, etc.....)

june: reducing plastic waste?
(grocery bags, crafts using grocery bags, any other creative crafty ideas)

july: make your "garbage" into something reusable?
(......)
august: reducing paper waste?
(journals, make "new" paper, recycled into cards, etc....)

This of course is a very rough sketch of how it could go... so it would sort of be a craftalong/ challenge for yourself to try something green each month but in your own way, I think that would be fun and get more poeple interested. Any input or ideas is more than welcome...
Tell me what you think

[pacasha]

Yippee!!! i love this thread!

ok. May... cleaning... my mom is a nurse in the OR and brings home surg rag things which would normally get thrown away (they haven't been used) and i use them for washing dishes, dusting, even in my baby's cloth diapers. i dry them out after use on a CLOTHES LINE outside and wash them on COLD once a week, after letting them soak a little in bleach. (i do all my laundry on cold, it cleans very well!)
i highly recommend that if you have a friend or family member in the healthcare field to ask them what they throw away and if they can sneak them to you (clean, of course!).
i use these things called 'vag swabs' (yeah, use your imagination) to clean and my baby plays with them in the bath.

oh, and google all the uses for lemons, baking soda, white vinegar and salt and never buy awful chemicals again!

[linzo]

pacasha... vag swabs.... too funny. your reusing of them and everything else is awesome. Great tips too... thanks!