cream cheese polenta

• 4 cups water
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup medium-grain yellow polenta
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup cream cheese

1 Heat water lightly seasoned with salt to a boil over high heat, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the polenta until fully incorporated.

2 Lower the heat to a low simmer, add the butter and allow the polenta to cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

3 Finish by stirring in the cream cheese and salt to taste.

baked potato chips

• 4  baking potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
•  salt to taste (and any other seasonings you like)

Place the potato slices in a bowl. Add the olive oil, and salt (and seasonings) to taste.  Mix well. Spread the potatoes out on a baking pan in a single layer. Bake at 450℉ about 12 minutes on each side.

felted wool plant pots

Materials needed:

• leftover pieces or sleeves from Felted Sweater Bag project
• empty, clean tin can
• optional: fabric glue

Remove the labels and wash cans thoroughly.

Measure the length of the can.  Add 1/2 inch to this measurement. 

Cover the outside of the can with the felted wool.

Secure the wool with fabric glue.

recycled wool sweater (felted wool) bag

Wash the sweater in a hot sudsy wash and run through the hot dryer until completely dry (also known as felted wool).

Supplies:

• wool sweater that is shrunk
• scissors
• sewing machine or needle and thread
• coordinating embroidery thread and tapestry needle 

Instructions:

1. Cut sweater into two layers, halter-shaped by cutting through two layers of sweater at once.
2. Cut a line along each side of the body, close to the side seams.
3. Following the sleeve line, continue to cut the sleeves off as well. You'll have two pieces of sweater. I used a large dinner plate to cut the curves.
4. If desired, cut the bottom band of the sweater completely off (set aside to create flower later).
5. Lay pieces with right sides facing, and starting at one armpit stitch down the side, across the bottom, and up to the other armpit.
6. With right sides still together, sew the "collar" (top of handle) front and back together, stitching across twice or more to create a firm handle.
7. Turn the sweater right side out. You now have a basic bag with two large side openings.
8. Turn under the raw edges along each handle opening and top stitch.
9. Turn them under again and hand stitch with a coordinating embroidery thread and large tapestry needle. This completes the bag.

Flower Instructions:

1. Using the bottom band from the front or back of the sweater (or part of a sleeve), thread a large tapestry needle and knot the thread.
2. Lay the sweater band out horizontally and starting with one short side, make a z-fold and run the needle through it. Pull tight. This is your flower center.
3. Now begin wrapping the band around that center, keeping it tight and running the thread through every few wraps. Once you have rolled up the entire band, finish it by pulling the thread through one last time and knotting it.
4. Knot tightly several times.
5. Attach to the bag and fold down the last outer wrap to make a stylish petal.
6. Wool that is tightly felted will not fray, so you can simply cut some leaves from the sleeves to add alongside the flower.

dishes vs. paper/plastic

Don't use paper plates or plastic flatware that will end up in the landfill. It can take up to 1000 years for a plastic fork to biodegrade.