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Upcycling Throws

I love upcycling things.  When we get tired of looking at what we have, a lot of times there’s a temptation to go out and buy new.  However, there are a lot of things that can be upcycled.  The weird thing is, if we go on a scavenger hunt in our homes, we can usually find just what we need to do the trick.

I have two throws here that I was itching to do something with.  The first throw is a fleece throw.  I looked in my linen closet, and then I decided that I would take two wool scarves that  I didn’t wear anymore, and cut squares out of the material.  I cut up about thirty squares total.

 

upcycle, home decor, DIY, reuse, throws, blankets, crafts, sewing

 

Upcycling Begins:

I took the second throw, and decided that I wanted something to hang from both ends.  I found just the right scarf for this adventure.  It had strings hanging on both sides.  I cut off the sections of strings on both sides, and then realized that I would need a thick needle and thread combination to handle the weight of the wool.

I had the needle here in my sewing kit, but I needed to go to the craft store for the embroidery thread.  I decided to purchase the #25 embroidery thread, and created a checkers pattern on both ends of the first throw.  For the second throw, I just had to sew straight across the bottom of the hem of the throw, making sure that the piece was tight enough.

For the first throw, I spent about $6.00 on embroidery thread($39 per bunch).  For the second throw, I spent about $2.00 on embroidery thread.  I saved money, and another thing that I was excited about is that they are originals.  Let’s not forget the third bonus:  sewing these wool pieces onto the throws was very therapeutic for me.

Feel free to share things that you have upcycled in your home.  Be blessed!

upcycle, home decor, DIY, reuse, throws, blankets

upcycle, home decor, DIY, reuse, throws, blankets

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:24-27, KJV 

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What about those Jars?

We all have a way of our way of organizing things.  Some people use bins.  Others of us use drawers, filing cabinets, bookshelves, baskets, magazine holders, etc.  I have discovered that my thing is jars.  I love clear jars of all shapes and sizes, and I really love mason jars.  Their uses are unbelievable.

The thing about mason jars is that they are so inexpensive.  You can get twelve solid mason jars for about $7.99.  About four times a year, the Sunday’s paper has coupons in them for $2 and $3 off, which is a steal.  The bigger mason jars come in six packs, and there are usually coupons for those as well.  You really can’t beat the price.

I use the smaller mason jars anywhere from using them as drinking glasses, to storing spices, coconut flakes, chia seeds, and nutritional yeast.  The larger ones are used for grains, flour, sugar, different types of meal, legumes, beans, and cereal.  For some reason,  over the years, cereal boxes seem to remain halfway open, causing the cereal to get stale, and the remains to waste out.  I don’t have that problem anymore.

Mason jars are simple and functional.  And of course, I like the asethetic of those as well.  I would love to hear about what you use that keeps things simple and functional in your home.  Have a blessed rest of your weekend!

jars, organizing, oatmeal, beans, rice, sugar, simple, home decor

pipes, shelves, organization, jars, home decor

 

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7, Berean Study Bible

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Upcycling Jars

Whether it is something that I need or desire, I always think of Elijah and the widow in the bible.  God always adds on to what we have when we start with what we have first.  I have been guilty of thinking so much of what I don’t have, that I have missed out on looking at what I do, and seeing that I am in the right position for praying, and allowing God room to do the rest.  Elijah convinced the widow that although she had a little meal and a drop of oil left, if she believed, and fed him first, her and her son wouldn’t die, and there would be enough food left over for them as well.  Sure enough, God provided.  As a matter of fact, they ate for several days.

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lordsends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

1 Kings 17: 13-15, NIV

One of the bonuses to some things that we have in life, is that they can be upcycled and used for so many other things, that we could possibly write a whole book on them.  I think that jars would fit into this category.  A couple of years ago, I was looking for something to place on the trunk in my bedroom, and of course, it was one of those times when money was scarce.  I started walking around my house, and wondering if I had something in one room that I could swap for a new home in my bedroom.  

I didn’t find anything, but what I did find was a relish jar and pasta sauce jars that hadn’t gone to the recycle bin yet.  My mind got to going as it does when I get into creativity mode.  I cut out pictures from my French book from high school, and with the little change that I had, I bought a small container of Modge Podge for about $2.50 with a coupon from Michaels, and the rest is history.

 

home decor

upcycling, reuse, Modge Podge, crafts, used jars, home decor

 

Activity:  Creating vintage jars

Materials:

  • Used jars (home)
  • Books or Magazines (home)
  • Modge Podge $2.50 (Craft Store like Michaels)
  • Foam Brush (home or craft store for $.25)

Instructions:

  • Wash jars and dry thoroughly.
  • Cut out the pictures that you need.
  • Using a foam brush, place Modge Podge all over each of the jars.
  • Place the pictures on the jars.
  • Use Modge Podge to cover the entire surface of the pictures so that they will stay attached to the jars.
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Our Burdens and Grief: His Plans

I am often amazed at how we think we have our days all planned out down to the minute, and then, out of nowhere, things get shifted around.  Oftentimes, it comes down to one phone call, a text, or an encounter with someone that changes our plans to God’s plans.  Our focus shifts over from our plans to our backpack of burdens.


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

 

About a year and a half ago, I had a day of fighting with grief off and on.  I decided that after not feeling any better, I needed to take a walk, get fresh air, and get out of my own thoughts.  Walking to the beach to watch the sunset seemed like the perfect idea.  After walking a few feet, I ran into my neighbor, and after our encounter, God pressed upon my heart to write this poem, dealing with our backpack of burdens.

Christianity, backpack, poetry, burdens, prayers
Photo by Tobi on Pexels.com

 

Providence

 

Lord, what did my plans look like for tonight?

It was watching your sunset with a ton of delight.

As I walked out the door, the sky grew dark.

Should I walk to the beach, or fly home like a lark?

 

I walked a few feet and ran into a neighbor.

Then taking my bag of grief, you whispered, “No labor”.

Catching up on life, we talked for a while.

A bless you, a wave, and it ended with  a smile.

 

Lord, what did my plans look like for tonight?

Sharing my backpack of burdens, making my load ever so light.

 

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:2, KJV)