Here’s what I’m making today!

I’ve been long intrigued by recycled plastic bag “yarn”, so I thought I’d make some and try out weaving with it. I was inspired by this inexpensive little Japanese craft book which features weaving, coiling, and knotting projects with hemp string.

For this project, we need: a plastic bag, some hemp or yarn, a piece of cardboard that is the length desired for your finished piece, scissors, masking tape and a large-eyed needle of some sort.

To get started, smooth the plastic bag out flat and cut off the handles and the bottom seam.

Starting at the top, cut your plastic yarn by spiraling down and around the bag. Just like peeling an apple! Keep the yarn width around 1/2 inch. If it gets too thin, it might not survive the weaving.

You’ll end up with more than you expect! One bag is quite a bit more than enough for this project.

Let’s get started on the weaving. You’ll need enough of your chosen yarn/string to wrap around the cardboard piece at least 8 times - doubled. You can add more wraps, just make sure it’s an even number. Tape one end with masking tape, and wrap the doubled yarn, keeping some space between the wraps. A centimeter or two works swell. Then tape down the loose end.

Flip to the front side and lightly add a length of masking tape to create a straight starting point that will allow room for fringe.

To keep the loose end from popping out, start your plastic yarn in the middle, weave to the end, turn and come back underneath the loose end.

Now you can turn and weave back across on top of the loose end. Then just keep on weavin’! Over and under, over and under… Make sure to keep pushing down the plastic yarn so it looks nice and tight. But be careful not to pull too tight while you’re weaving, this will pull the wrapped yarn closer together and make your final piece warped. Note that I’m using a delightful pink plastic children’s safety needle. I’m good at stabbing myself, so this is a great option for a project of this sort, where the needle doesn’t need to be stabby.

When you get towards the top, leave about the same amount of space that is at the bottom. To finish, turn and weave back halfway underneath the last full pass. It’s just like at the start, but in reverse.

Carefully peel off the long strip of tape. Turn over the board and cut the strands in half, then slowly pull off the tape on the back. Be careful not to pull on a strand too much, or you might pull it right out! That would suck.

This is one reason why you needed an even number of wraps… Now you tie square knots using the pairs.

Here’s what it looks like with the square knots. Now that the weaving is all tied down, you can cut off the loose plastic ends.

Now for some more knots to add a little more decoration! Looking at one of your square-knotted bunches, split up the groups taking one strand from the left and one from the right. Now you do an overhand knot on each new set. If you have trouble getting that knot into place, you can stick your needle in the loop and then use it to pull the knot into place as you tighten it up. Repeat the process on each group.

All done! Here it is being useful under a nice cold soda.

I’m excited by this use of plastic bags! Perhaps I’ll embark on a larger weaving project one of these days.

I found a cookbook at the thrift store called Crepe Cookery by Mable Hoffman. This book has several different crepe batter recipes and hundreds of lovely things you can make using your crepes for any course of a meal. They’re not just for breakfast!

For dinner this evening, I made a batch of the “All Purpose Crepe Batter I” (pg. 12). Also from the thrift store, I happen to have a Perfect Pancake pan that used to be sold on TV. I got mine for $2.99! Since I’m terrible at flipping and turning things over without losing them to the floor or ripping them to shreds, I decided it would be great to try out Perfect Pancake on my crepes.

I made the batter exactly as specified in the book. When it was ready, I heated up Perfect Pancake. The first few crepes I made were too thick, which makes them mushy in the middle. Surprisingly little crepe batter is needed to make them just the right thickness. I used this mixing spoon — a level spoonful was just the right amount to put in the Perfect Pancake.

I swirled the batter around to coat the pan like the book suggested, and then let it sit until the edges started to brown.

Then, the fun part! FLIP!

Because the first half of Perfect Pancake has a curve to keep the batter in, I found that the crepes needed to get flattened a little after flipping to cook as evenly as possible.

I wasn’t counting, but I think I got about 30 crepes out of the batch. I made a pizza crepe to eat tonight, and I’m freezing the rest to use later. (I put them in plastic freezer bags separated with freezer paper. According to Crepe Cookery they store for up to 4 months in the freezer and can be reheated by microwave.) For my pizza crepe, I layered on: sauce, zucchini, fresh tomato, sliced “baby bella” mushrooms, fresh basil, turkey pepperoni, and feta and mozzarella cheese. I put it in the oven at 350 for about 12 minutes. The crepe stays soft in the middle, so you can’t pick it up like a regular slice. Folding it N.Y. style worked well.

If you want to get a copy of the book, used copies can be gotten very cheaply on Amazon and eBay. I recommend it. It contains more than you’d ever want to know about cooking with crepes!

On Memorial Day, some of our favorite thrift stores have a 50% off sale! It has become a tradition for us to go thrifting and find some great bargains. Here’s the rundown on what I got this year!

I bought these tins to chop up and make stuff from. I made a cute handbound book from a Chinese-y tea tin once. I wish I’d taken a photo of it before I gave it away…

I got the pasta machine for about $3.50! It’s really heavy and nice. I bought it for polymer clay use, but I’m almost thinking maybe I’ll keep it for pasta and get another cheap one to use for clay. The box on the right is a film developing tank. That cost about $2.50. The box is beat up, but it’s actually brand new! I have intentions of learning how to develop film someday, so I thought I better pick it up. The round knitting looms were also about $2.50 for the set! I used to think these things were for kids or people who couldn’t get the hang of regular knitting, but after I saw this book about knitting cables on circular looms, I knew that was not the case! Some really nice things can be made with these. I can’t wait to try them out.

This little Papier-mâché dress form was 30 cents. I don’t really need it or know what I’m going to do with it, but at that price… hehe The little spools are labeled as punch needle yarn. I’m not sure if I’ll use it for that purpose. I have some experiments I want to try with it. The yarns came 3 in a package for about $1.50.

I got some great additions to my fabric stash! The blue stuff is on a big roll; it’s a faux dupionni kind of thing. It’s pretty though, and only $3.50 for the whole roll. All the other bits ranged from $1-$2 and are 1-3 yds. I love the red furry stuff! It’s neat!

I’ve sort of ended up with a collection of these DIY stuffie fabrics. Previously, I’ve purchased some Care Bear and other funny animal fabrics.There’s something kind of charming about them. I don’t think kids really like the finished products that much… the joy of these is much more in the simple and quick construction. These came in a few mixed bags with some other fabric bits for about 90 cents. I really love the Popple one, but it’s missing the back side! So sad! I guess it’s okay, as I’m pondering using them for other purposes anyway…

I got Good Things For Organizing for 90 cents. It has some really cute ideas and inspiring photos. I like it. Got the old McCall’s Needlework for about 80 cents. It’s from ‘77 and has some funny ads in it, as well as some cute projects. The retro Indian and Chinese poster art greeting cards were about 35 cents each. I love the little space travelers! You can see more of them here!

I’ve been busy working on my craft room, hence the lack of posts lately, but it is nearing completion! I hope to finish organizing and putting things away soon, and I’ll share the final results!

We brought the defective Expedit bookcase piece back to IKEA, and the exchange was no problem! Also, my smooth-talking husband was able to talk them into giving us a $15 gift card for our troubles. That was very nice. I quickly blew that of course. It was not a drop in the bucket towards my purchase of two Alex drawer units. These were originally on my list of new furniture for my craft room, but I decided to take them off to lower the bill a little. However, I decided I would buy them eventually anyway, so what difference did it make if I got them now or later? They will be wonderful to put paper in. So excited to get organized!

After we left IKEA, we went over to the mall to get dinner and wander around a little. I stopped at Archiver’s and picked up the preservation supplies for my scrapbooks, some awesome paper, and a new book!

It’s The Doodle Formula by Adrienne Looman.

I was captured right away by the doodley goodness on the cover. Inside, it’s like a design class for doodling. The author presents some great principles about what makes a doodle attractive, tools for doodling, finding your “doodle personality”, ideas on making and using doodles…

It’s quite inspiring! The author insists that everyone can make great doodles, and that making doodles of that caliber do not require any special talents.

Not too long ago, I acquired a Family Circle from April 1956. The cover price was only seven cents! (I paid $1) How could I pass it up with great ads like these!? When you flip open the cover, the first thing you see is this poor outcast. If only she knew the answer to all her problems was mouthwash. (Click each ad for a readable size!)

Readers of this issue are also treated to this appetizing ad for green pea soup. Can anyone say Exorcist?

I am also led to believe that people in this period in time are incredibly obsessed with their digestion. There are five ads in this one magazine about various laxatives and indigestion relief products.

Even children are not exempt from the worries of *gasp* constipation. Children of all ages even!

The kid in this laxative ad looks like he just crapped up a storm and he couldn’t be prouder! Don’t you love how dramatic the facial expressions are? The headlines and body copy have a tendency towards uber-dramatic too.

Look at the brow furrowing on this chica! I cannot imagine a more dramatic look of discomfort.

Finally, here’s another dramatic ad for the ladies! Why be old-fashioned!? Make sure you’re not sadly behind the times! haha