Wanting to Build a Recycled Home

I sell jewelry and accessories online. I used to be a lighting designer. I never wanted to design lighting, it was just a career move that landed in my lap. I was good at it.

Recently, relative asked me what I really want to do. This is where my heart is. This is what I want to do. I want to build myself a house out of recycled and reclaimed materials. There is a wonderful article about a man named Dan Phillips at nytimes.com and the beautiful low income housing he makes out of reclaimed materials. This is what I want to do. I want to make a tiny house out of reclaimed materials with my own two hands.

I really love what Mr Phillips has done. His homes are creative and, like habitat for humanity, you have to work with him to build your own house.

I like it so much that I would love to do what he did. I would love to make my own house, and then help others build theirs. But I live in Northeastern Ohio, not Texas. The rules are a bit different there. The best thing to do is start with my own home. Because land is hard to find and city regulations vary, I know that I can't even build with a sustainable waste removal system in my current county (composting toilet) which is what I would like to do. I either have to fight the system here or find a more progressive county. lol

I suppose the best place to start is to locate some like minded builders in my area. I think when I get a retirement income that I can be assured that I will have food and shelter while I get started, I might just look into it. If anyone in the Cleveland, Ohio area, knows of someone who loves to protect the environment and who builds homes, you can contact me through your wonderful comment :)

Click on the images for more articles on Dan Phillips and his amazing houses.

Creativity On The Run

A few days ago, I was waiting for my cousin to pick me up to go to the Art Museum. It was fairly early in the morning, and we don't have the greatest roads, so I was meeting her a few blocks from home.

While I was waiting I realized I didn't grab any jewelry for my arms or fingers and I kind of felt bare. I started to look around and saw some nice stones, if only I had something to mount them on, and a decent sized length of white electrical wire.

The night before I was looking at a Wire knot ring tutorial, kind of like this one on Handmadeology. I couldn't find the one I was looking at. It was a bit bigger, more like a rose. So I thought, I could do that with the electrical wire. Before I started, I checked my bag for a Swiss Army knife with scissors to snip the end. Yep I had them.  And here's the Ring.

Not too fancy, but I had to twist the wires by hand. Not that shabby considering it was made from garbage I found at the side of the road. Too bad I didn't have time to snip a beer can into a bracelet too.

Good Plastics - Bad Plastics

Mr. McGuire: "I want to say one word to you. Just one word." Benjamin: "Yes, sir." Mr. McGuire: "Are you listening?" Benjamin: "Yes, I am." Mr. McGuire: "Plastics." Benjamin: "Exactly how do you mean?" Mr. McGuire: "There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?" 


I was 16 year old. My friend and I put on a lot of make-up, skirts, stockings and had our long straight hair piled in buns on our head. You had to be 18 to see the adorable young Dustin Hoffman in the hottest movie of the year, The Graduate. 


Plastics. Ever since a friend posted about My Plastic Free Life I've been torturing myself, thinking about a life without harmful plastics, and are my flowers, made of recycled plastics good or bad for the environment? Should we really stop using all plastics.


I guess what it really comes down to, is using plastics responsibly. Or rather choosing to use plastics responsibly. After all. I'd be hard pressed to find a wooden cased computer or cellphone. I'm sure they are out there, but I'm sure someone threw away the original plastic casing to make it.   


I also would not necessarily want to go back to a health care system without plastics. Disposable syringes have halted the spread of a lot of diseases, and if I needed a transfusion? Well blood is collected in plastic bags and transfused through plastic tubes. And if I had to have a limb amputated, I'm sure the plastic prosthetic would be much better than wood or metal. These are plastics I don't want to live without.


I'm looking through my house and my friends lives, and making a list of things we can do without. 


Disposable Diapers
Little Red Cups
Deodorant in throw away plastic
Disposable Cameras
Plastic utensils
Plastic shopping bags
2 liter soda bottles

What Plastics can you live without?


Here are some rules to follow when using plastics.


If it saves your life GOOD


If you use it for less than a year BAD


If you use it for less than a day VERY BAD


If you use if for a few minutes SHAME ON YOU

What Evah! - Chinese Factory - Not Possible!

I was commenting on a post about biodegradable sneakers, when I thought of how hard factories in China would try to make these possible. One thing about Chinese people, is that they are clever an industrious. Not that there aren't lazy or sneaky, cheating, deceitful people there, just in general, most are hard working.

I also made mention that, although you will get anything you want, not without being told that "It's Impossible".

I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been told by the workers or managers "that's impossible" or "no, we can't do that". Who taught those people that word anyhow? If you teach English to anyone Chinese, please do not teach them the word "impossible"

I've never even asked anyone at the factory anything that I couldn't do myself. So when I was told it was impossible, I would show them I could do it myself. If a carver said it was impossible, I would grab their tools, if a painter said they couldn't do it, I grabbed the paint and brushes.

Not really sure I could make eco friendly sneakers though. But even though the workers would like to complain, in the end they would always find a way to do what you wanted. I swear they just say it's impossible to make themselves look better when they finally complete the task.

I just can't begin to tell you though, how much clever and inventive ways my Chinese friends would come up with to make my wildest imaginings come true.



Images via http://www.chinaenvironmentallaw.com/2009/08/14/recyling-in-china/ and http://www.weirdasianews.com/2007/06/08/beer-sunshine-hot-water/

Sharing - Keeping Busy Crafts

I've recently become obsessed with crochet. I made the cutest cupcake hat for Luna and learned a new stitch. I have loads of yarn sitting around an loads of time, so as long as I don't get distracted trying to watch videos and crochet, Luna will have lots of sweaters/booties this winter.

How about you? Have some time on your hands and want to try something new?

Try these cute DIY Rope Bracelets from honestlywtf.com - cute.

Ever want to try those Rolled Fabric Flowers? jonesdesigncompany.com has a tutorial for you. Gonna have to try these myself.

How about sprucing your house up a little. I love these Vintage Wall Art Shelves found at Better Homes and Gardens, sooo much. I think I'm hunting in the room next door for some.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year and I'll bring you more ideas to spruce up your home next week.