Thursday, September 17, 2009

Amazing Things to do With Vinyl

As I have been using vinyl for the last 3 years to make everything from business card holders to earrings and necklaces, I know the amazing things you can do with once loved music. But when I saw these artists I was blown away.
Enjoy!

Sound Wave


Record Silhouettes (5) 1Record Silhouettes (5) 2Record Silhouettes (5) 3Record Silhouettes (5) 4


Music To My FeetVinyl Baby:

Vinyl Baby


Wall Sculpture

Record Lampshade
Phenakistascope:

Phenakistascope
Walk That Vinyl:

Walk That Vinyl

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Tarts at Gifts and Garters

Save the date. Texas Tarts will be a the first annual Gifts and Garters. You so need to be at this show!

Gifts and Garters Gifts and Garters: A collaborative event between Through the Looking Glass studios and Bewitching Burlesque. It's going to be THE shopping event of the holiday season with vendors featuring vintage and one of a kind gifts and a fabulous Burlesque show featuring the JiggleWatts from Austin as well as local favorites and debutantes! Keep your eyes here as more information will be coming soon....

Friday, September 4, 2009

I CAN COMPOST THAT?

75 Things You Can Compost, But Thought You Couldn't

Can I really compost that? Yes you can!

compost photo


Howard Oates/istockphoto

READ MORE ABOUT:
Composting | Composting Tips | Gardening

The basics of composting are simple. Most people know they can compost fruit and vegetable peels, leaves, and grass clippings. But what about that tea bag you used this morning? Or the fur that collects in the brush when you groom your cat?

The following list is meant to get you thinking about your compost possibilities. Not every item on the list is for everyone, and that's fine. Imagine how much trash we could prevent from going into the landfills if each of us just decided to compost a few more things. Here are 75 ideas to get you started.


From the Kitchen


  1. Coffee grounds and filters
  2. Tea bags
  3. Used paper napkins
  4. Pizza boxes, ripped into smaller pieces
  5. Paper bags, either ripped or balled up
  6. The crumbs you sweep off of the counters and floors
  7. Plain cooked pasta
  8. Plain cooked rice
  9. Stale bread
  10. Paper towel rolls
  11. Stale saltine crackers
  12. Stale cereal
  13. Used paper plates (as long as they don't have a waxy coating)
  14. Cellophane bags (be sure it's really Cellophane and not just clear plastic—there's a difference.)
  15. Nut shells (except for walnut shells, which can be toxic to plants)
  16. Old herbs and spices
  17. Stale pretzels
  18. Pizza crusts
  19. Cereal boxes (tear them into smaller pieces first)
  20. Wine corks
  21. Moldy cheese
  22. Melted ice cream
  23. Old jelly, jam, or preserves
  24. Stale beer and wine
  25. Paper egg cartons
  26. Toothpicks
  27. Bamboo skewers
  28. Paper cupcake or muffin cups


From the Bathroom


  1. Used facial tissues
  2. Hair from your hairbrush
  3. Toilet paper rolls
  4. Old loofahs
  5. Nail clippings
  6. Urine
  7. 100% Cotton cotton balls
  8. Cotton swabs made from 100% cotton and cardboard (not plastic) sticks


Personal Items


It might be a good idea to bury these items in your pile. Just sayin'.

  1. Cardboard tampon applicators
  2. Latex condoms


From the Laundry Room


  1. Dryer lint
  2. Old/stained cotton clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces
  3. Old wool clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces


From the Office


  1. Bills and other documents you've shredded
  2. Envelopes (minus the plastic window)
  3. Pencil shavings
  4. Sticky notes
  5. Business cards (as long as they're not glossy)
  6. Receipts


Around the House


  1. Contents of your vacuum cleaner bag or canister
  2. Newspapers (shredded or torn into smaller pieces)
  3. Subscription cards from magazines
  4. Leaves trimmed from houseplants
  5. Dead houseplants and their soil
  6. Flowers from floral arrangements
  7. Natural potpourri
  8. Used matches
  9. Ashes from the fireplace, barbecue grill, or outdoor fire pit


Party and Holiday Supplies


  1. Wrapping paper rolls
  2. Paper table cloths
  3. Crepe paper streamers
  4. Latex balloons
  5. Raffia
  6. Excelsior
  7. Jack o' Lanterns
  8. Those hay bales you used as part of your outdoor fall decor
  9. Natural holiday wreaths
  10. Your Christmas tree. Chop it up with some pruners first (or use a wood chipper, if you have one...)
  11. Evergreen garlands


Pet-Related


  1. Fur from the dog or cat brush
  2. Droppings and bedding from your rabbit/gerbil/hamsters, etc.
  3. Newspaper/droppings from the bottom of the bird cage
  4. Feathers
  5. Alfalfa hay or pellets (usually fed to rabbits)
  6. Rawhide dog chews
  7. Fish food
  8. Dry dog or cat food

I know that the longer I've had a compost pile, the more likely I've been to take a second look at something I was preparing to throw in the trash. "Hmm. Can I compost this?" is a frequent question in my house. And, as you can see, it's surprising how often you can answer "Yes!"