(RePurposed) Things around the House

I've entered the world of being a grown-up again, financially speaking.  I now owe the US Government enough money to purchase yet another house - just so I could further my education.  Work is more flexible, but now I've entered a realm of becoming more thrifty (again).  Goodbye shopping for luxury goods for a while.

So... what have I done around the house to make life easier?

I Re-Purposed a common purchase to start composting indoors

A friend of mine gave me a ceramic indoor compost container before she moved from the area currently reside now.  I did not realize how damaged it was from sitting in the garage over the winter!  The darn thing had a crack on one side.  I went to empty it into the garden and ended up with several pieces rather than one bin!  Of course, this was frustrating.  I was about to send a large coffee can off with the weekly recycling then decided I could put a better use to this item AND save a few dollars by NOT purchasing an expensive metal one.  And by expensive, I mean about $20 for a metal bin with a metal lid and some compost sponges.

Here's how to achieve the item pictured above.  This applies to METAL coffee canisters only.

Supplies you will need: A blow torch or other similar item, Scissors, Spray Paint, Chalkboard labels, Chalkboard Pen.

1.  Finish using your product.  This could be considered a waste if you did not enjoy your daily coffee!

2. Use the SCISSORS to cut the plastic label off the can. There will be some remnant where the label was glued.

3. Use the BLOWTORCH to burn off the remaining glue and plastic.

4. Use spray paint. Apply several coats. The product I used was Rust-Oleuim Painter's Touch in Gloss Seaside (I LOVE this product).

5. Apply Chalkboard Label, write on using Chalk Board Marker.

Alternative uses:  Trash can for a car (or other small area).  This is important if you have kids.  They seem to make messes no matter where they go!  Outdoor Luminaries (with LED candles or flame candles, remember, never leave flames unattended!)

Variations on a theme: Use to store knitting needles, pens, pencils, art supplies if you have 16 oz. vegetable cans available.  You may need to coat the inside of your can if the plastic liner is burned; Tin Can Telephones, Outdoor Luminaries.

Total Cost for Supplies: $8.00 + tax for spray paint, $2.99 + tax for 24 chalkboard labels, $6.99 + tax for a chalkboard marker, cost varies for a blow torch or long lighter.  Cost also varies for the product in your tin can.

Cost of a new (metal) compost bin: Starting at $24.99 on Amazon.com.  Cost of a new trash can: Starting at: $6.00 on Amazon.  You may find cheaper at Wal-Mart.  Of course, Ikea can't be beat!!!  But is saving all that $$$ worth the drive???

Happy Crafting!

Learning a new Techniue: Intarsia Knitting

I have a feeling I am going to run out of my main color for a sweater that I cast on (and purchased yarn for) over two years ago.  The pattern I am knitting is a hooded sweater with a cable trim.  I am using Rowan's Creative Linen in Salmon and Natural.  The main color of the sweater will be salmon with natural as the cable/accent.
I thought knitting intarsia would be super complicated until I found a tutorial from the ladies at Tin Can Knits (great designs, even with the free patterns!!!).  The tutorial gave me everything I was looking for: how to cast on, how to knit with two different colors in a non-Fair Isle way.
Now to finish other objects before I go back to another treat for myself.

Cowl-A-Long

This month, I completed one knitting project thanks to a mystery cowl design complements of Colorworks by Debi.  This project consumed many more hours than anticipated thanks to tinking and dropped stitches.  That is what I get for knitting while tired!

The project and more updates on the knitting journey can be found on my Ravelry project page.

Keep calm & knit on!

Correlation does not imply causality

One thing I wish our modern society could fully understand is the concept that correlation does not imply causality.  This is for many reasons, including extraneous variables that cannot be accounted for.  I am writing this post because of noticing some trends with my children's behavior after watching television.

My eldest child will beg to continue watching television even after we complete an agreement.  I usually let her watch one more episode of a streamed show than I intentionally allowed.  However, she becomes angry once I tell her she is not getting any more of her favorite show at the moment.  I have also noticed a lack of creativity in her imaginative play.  The lack of creativity was noted by T. M. Williams' study investigating three Canadian cities (1986).  One city had no television, one city had one channel, and one city had three channels.  Much of my observations include the eldest talking about being a "princess" or doing something she saw while watching a cartoon.

The attitude toward having television taken away boggles me at times.  There are times when there are no arguments, whereas other times it is a pre-school fit fest.  There is documented correlation between aggression, anger, and fear due to viewing of television in children.  Why?  It could be due to the lack of activity one engages in while viewing shows.  It could be due to the rapid scene flashes which stimulate the brain.  It could be related to family dependence on the activity (some studies note that increased television viewing in families masks dysfunction).  Whatever the answer(s) may be, limiting the viewing time seems to be the best thing to do for my child.

When television is removed, I see a happier child.  Both of my children are less apt to fight, listen to my instructions better, and are more willing to help with work around the house.  While watching television seems to occupy time of children, I ask, is it really the best thing?  Most likely not, due to variables that cannot be accounted for.  The evidence is there, you just have to know where to find it!

Some studies to review for more information:

Singer, J. & Singer, D. (1986). Family experiences and television viewing as predictors 
     of Children's imagination, restlessness, and aggression. Journal of social issues, 42(3), 
     107-124.

Steuer, F.B., & Hustedt, J. T. (2002). TV or No TV? A primer on the psychology of television. 
      Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America.

Williams, T.M. (ed., 1986). The impact of television: A natural experiment in three communities. Orlando, FL: Academic Press (Harcourt/Elsevier).

Another year to finish objects!

I never posted a list of knitting goals that I want to accomplish for 2015... so why not start on that now!  There are a few things I NEED to finish before the end of March.  I really mean NEED to finish, too!

The first one is the last of a pair of Thrummed Mittens for my preceptor and mentor, Lili.  The down-side to this project is that I ripped it down to re-do all the thrums to match the first mitten I made.  Yeah... that was a great mistake to make!

The next project is The Dude Sweater for my husband PLUS sewing in a zipper for a cardigan that I made him LAST YEAR.  Oh yeah, I should do that for my daughter's sweater, too.  Oops...
I am also participating in a few MYSTERY KNIT ALONGS this month.  Here is the list:

• Another MKAL with Debi Tomasello.  This one just happens to be a cowl.  Follow the link to see my Ravelry project page.
• A Double-Knit Hat.  This will be my first attempt at double-knitting.  I found a Dr. Who scarf that I MUST make.
• A pair of socks, knit from the toe-up.  This will be my second attempt at toe-up socks.  Why not learn the method in a fun manner: surprise!!!

This means that I have six projects (at least!) that need to be completed this month.  Whoa.  I better get hot!!!

Happy knitting y'all