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!






Vinyl Baby:

Phenakistascope:


Walk That Vinyl:

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: 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....

I CAN COMPOST THAT?

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

Can I really compost that? Yes you can!

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

29. Used facial tissues
30. Hair from your hairbrush
31. Toilet paper rolls
32. Old loofahs
33. Nail clippings
34. Urine
35. 100% Cotton cotton balls
36. 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'.

37. Cardboard tampon applicators
38. Latex condoms

From the Laundry Room

39. Dryer lint
40. Old/stained cotton clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces
41. Old wool clothing—rip or cut it into smaller pieces

From the Office

42. Bills and other documents you've shredded
43. Envelopes (minus the plastic window)
44. Pencil shavings
45. Sticky notes
46. Business cards (as long as they're not glossy)
47. Receipts

Around the House

48. Contents of your vacuum cleaner bag or canister
49. Newspapers (shredded or torn into smaller pieces)
50. Subscription cards from magazines
51. Leaves trimmed from houseplants
52. Dead houseplants and their soil
53. Flowers from floral arrangements
54. Natural potpourri
55. Used matches
56. Ashes from the fireplace, barbecue grill, or outdoor fire pit

Party and Holiday Supplies

57. Wrapping paper rolls
58. Paper table cloths
59. Crepe paper streamers
60. Latex balloons
61. Raffia
62. Excelsior
63. Jack o' Lanterns
64. Those hay bales you used as part of your outdoor fall decor
65. Natural holiday wreaths
66. Your Christmas tree. Chop it up with some pruners first (or use a wood chipper, if you have one...)
67. Evergreen garlands

Pet-Related

68. Fur from the dog or cat brush
69. Droppings and bedding from your rabbit/gerbil/hamsters, etc.
70. Newspaper/droppings from the bottom of the bird cage
71. Feathers
72. Alfalfa hay or pellets (usually fed to rabbits)
73. Rawhide dog chews
74. Fish food
75. 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!"

I'm in Love With These!

Here’s a great way to make use of your outdated gadgets by turning cassette tapes into functional household lamp enclosures.

The designers make each lamp from dozens of individual cassette tapes, arranged into visually appealing patterns. Not only do they look cool as a sculptural piece, they cast dramatic shadows onto surrounding surfaces.

Tarts at White Rock Local Market Sept. 12

Come check out the Tarts Saturday, September 12 from 8am to 1pm. at your local White Rock Market.

Our Mission

White Rock Local Market aims to promote regional, sustainable agriculture and ensure a supply of fresh, local produce and artisan foods for residents of east Dallas. White Rock Local Market supports local farmers, food producers and craftsman, providing an opportunity to sell fruit, vegetables and other products directly to our community. Our mission is to offer an alternative to conventional shops with products that are high quality, aesthetic, and useful.

And we hope to enable the growth of our communities by creating a place where people can shop and socialize in a friendly environment.

Our Story

Stocking up on locally grown produce and natural foods is about to get easier for residents of East Dallas. The White Rock Local Market will be held in the parking lot next to the Green Spot on the second Saturday of every month from June 13 to November 14, 2009.

The market features artisan foods, local produce and natural meat and dairy products, as well as vendors offering an assortment of art, furniture, locally made clothes, music and more.

"We know there are several markets opening this year, but none serving this active neighborhood," says Bruce Bagelman, owner of the Green Spot and one of the organizers of the White Rock market. "But we'd really like to provide what people in this community need – and at the same time offer a great venue for local vendors."

Bagelman opened the Green Spot Market and Fuels in 2008, combining the convenience/ gas station concept with the notion that consumers prefer healthy snacks and treats. He quickly saw a demand for fresh local produce and other goods. He started by carrying some produce in his store – and the idea to expand into a local market began to take shape. When some neighbors approached Bagelman about a farmers market, he was ready.

White Rock Local Market – at the intersection of Buckner Boulevard and Northcliff Drive – promises to have a baker, butcher, dairy man, and farmer, in addition to a jeweler, dressmaker, and florist, all artisans you might actually need on a regular Saturday of shopping – plus a little extra.

"Local food, local goods and local friends are what makes our community special," says Bagelman. "Our market will no doubt be a success. After all, ours is the best neighborhood in Dallas!"

Cleaning Without Harm

Homemade, Dollar-Saving, Fragrance-Uplifting, All-Purpose Spray

The Goods:
-1 empty 32 oz. spray bottle
-3/4 c. Distilled White Vinegar
-1 c. Hydrogen Peroxide
-1 1/2 tsp. Castille Soap (Such as Dr. Bronner )
-30 drops Tea Tree Oil
-30 drops Essential Oil of choice (some of my favorite choices include lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, lemon verbena, spearmint, clove, cinnamon, anise, sage, grapefruit, lemon, and lime; experiment with one or a combo and see what scent makes you want to get lean and clean!)

The Deal:
-Place all ingredients into the spray bottle using a funnel or measuring cup with a spout.
-Add water until contents reach top of bottle.
-Shake vigorously and use with abandon!

*For those with no time, or inclination, to make their own natural cleaning products but still needing a good cleaning kit, these companies offer a repertoire of items you can feel good about purchasing:

* Mrs. Myers
* Seventh Generation
* Method
* Ecover
* BioKleen

New Age Gardening

So, I have really been trying gardening this summer and let me tell you, it's going decent at best. I talk (maybe even sing a little), compost, water, and even fertilize with bat gauno but still my bumper crop is out of reach. Well, with this little ditty maybe it would take the guess work out of what to plant. And then maybe I would be up to my ears in veggies (maybe).

If you’re not the super handy dandy green thumb type? A new tool out promises to help you.

You want to start a veggie garden, but you want to make sure you plant the right veggies for your climate and soil conditions. You also want an easy and fast way to do this. Cool. Then you will be delighted to learn of Easy Bloom, an environmental sensor.

image via Like Cool

This is not your mom and dads gardening. This is high tech awesome stuff for sure, but its not complicated at all. Essentially Easy Bloom is a tool for those who want to create a wonderfully eco friendly garden. Because when you pick the best plants according to your climate, less waster is used – less care is used, etc.

The $40 to $60 device analyzes sunlight, temperature, humidity, and soil drainage. Simply stick it in the soil for one day, then plug it into your computer’s USB jack and behold the breadth of the gardening guru’s wisdom. Matching the data from the soil to the EasyBloom’s library of plants, it suggests the best vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs and flowers suited for your garden.

I am so loving this idea and product, as I’m not the best green thumb out there. What could be better than to literally stick a tool in the ground, then stick it in your PC, and voila! a list of the appropriate veggies for your area and soil are given to you. Very useful indeed.