I’m making a fresh batch today. I think I’ll blend the magickal oils for the new batch for relaxation and comfort and security. I’m going to call this blend “Peaceful Home”, and tint the wax blue.

These things are great if you hate to mess with crumpling paper or ugly, smelly pressed wood and wax starters. It only takes one cone to start a roaring fire, and besides… they look awesome sitting in a basket next to the fireplace until you use them up!

I’m upcycling like a mad woman these days, trying to piece together some fun items for sale, while using up the wealth of materials I have around here. One of my recent projects was this purse made from a pair of tan jeans. I made 3 more small ones, but still have to finish the hand stitching and beads, before I take pics. Not bad, really. 4 bags out of one pair of jeans and a kid sized shirt.

Doing a bit of stained glass as well. Just finished this custom order for a friend who is sending it to a family member in Hungaria!! I’m excited. I think that makes about 8 countries that ThornesArt has traveled to.

Drop me a comment if you’d be interested in How-To’s on any of these projects, n I’ll see if I can get them up.

Right now though, It’s nap-time in Thorne’s World. Too many late nights and early mornings makes Thorne a grumpy grrrlll.

Peace, out!

So really, I’m no idiot. I understand that that time as we shortlived humans count it hardly matters when it’s held up to geoligical timelines. I also understand that our Mama is and our surrounding Universe is aging and changing in its own mysterious ways. Understanding that climate changes are part of that process however, does not give validity to the argument against our part in having an effect on the earth and our part in global warming. That’s what we call a fallacy in logical thinking.

Let’s get real. Of all the mammals on this earth since the very dawn of life, has ever a species changed as much of the planet as we do? Levelling mountains for ores and coal (is coal an ore? *hmmmm). Razing rainforests to graze cattle? Paving millions of miles for cities and roads? Poisoning our air and water…

Who can be so stupid as to believe that these things (and countless others, I’m sure) have not had and are not having an effect on our world? Or does anyone really think that? Are the folks that say it just the people who want to keep making money on raping the earth? I dunno.

Check out 350.org and see what you can do to help.
*photo credit to Gilbert R

Peace, out!

Hesperaloe Parviflora, Yucca Hesperia or False Yucca. I dug a chunk of one of my neighbor’s plants up 2 years ago. This is my first bloom. I love things that don’t require a lot of water and that still bloom. Summer…

Peace, out!

I’ve got some cool links for you today. Get creative and make a lil space in the Land Fills while you’re at it!

1) Repurpose your old crayon bits (Great fun for the kids!)

2) These lamps made from plastic trash rock! Find photos at the artist’s etsy shop and the How – To at her blog!

3) At Storque Handmade Life you’ll find a whole slew of creative uses for “junk”!

4) How about some lawn furniture? A great chair made from a pallet!

5) Maybe turn old clothes into stylish new fashions? Girl Reconstructed has some great ideas!

6) This Momma to be is making adorable onesies out of vintage T-shirts.

7) Some awesome ideas (and some instruction) for some very chic wall art made of magazine pages. I like these a lot, and the concept could be applied in several ways. Hmmm….

8) I can think of many ways to combine these newspaper spirals… hot plates are only the beginning!

9) Oh, oh!!! This is a recycled recycled idea! Remember those chevron style chains made from stick chewing gum wrappers? (I had one that was at least 20 feet long!) How about using starburst candy wrappers to make them? Bright colors and too much fun!

10) These Spa Slippers made from an old pair of beach thongs and a towel are what I call some tootsie comfies!

11) Cookie Sheet Calender, or Advent Calender.

12) This paper yarn, spun on an old fashioned drop spindle, might be even cooler than plarn! I gotta try it!

13) I would SO do this if my ceilings weren’t so darned low! Check out this hanging pot rack made out of a bicycle wheel! Image here, How – To here.

Well, that was fun! Head on over to Thursday Thirteen and tell um Thornie sent cha… err… check out a whole bunch of TT-ers!

Peace, out!

Let’s get real, okay? Plastic is a serious problem. We’re not talking a little mess here, we’re talking mountains of waste, we’re talking more ugly than has any right to exist. And the price tag on this ugly?? The cost to our planet, our Mama Earth, is pretty steep. And we sold out cheap- a twinkie here, a bread bag there, a trip to the market.

According to various sources around the web:

Here in Thorne’s World we:

We use reusable bags for our groceries, and I’m still working on convincing my bulk foods market to allow me to use cloth bags for the food products, but it’s an uphill battle out here in the boonies.

San Francisco, (smarties that they are) has actually outlawed the use of plastic shopping bags in supermarkets and pharmacies.

In Ireland an extremely successful plastic bag consumption tax, or PlasTax, introduced in 2002 reduced consumption by 90%. Approximately 18,000,000 liters of oil have been saved due to this reduced production. Governments around the world are considering implementing similar measures.

Move over Ireland! Thanks to Congressman Jim Moran, a Northern Virginia Democrat, the “Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2009″, an earth friendly piece of legislation if ever there were one, was introduced on Earth Day this year. Since voluntary eco awareness and responsibility are not the strong suit of a consumer driven society, this legislation would hit folks where they will actually feel it. Their wallets! The bill proposes a 5 Cent per bag charge to hopefully encourage reusable bag use. The legislation would allocate the funding generated to land and water conservation programs, to lower the national debt, and to cover the costs businesses to implement the program.

So what can you do to reduce your
dependence on those pesky toxic plastic single use shopping bags now, so you won’t get caught short and have to pay real cash money when this legislation goes through in 2010??

Remember:

PRECYCLE

RECYCLE

REUSE

UPCYCLE

What do you do to reduce the amount of plastic you consume? How do you recycle or reuse it? Have you ever made any of the upcycled crafts at the link, or have projects of your own to share? Tell me about it, or leave the link to your own plastic post or
tip in comments and I’ll visit and comment at your blog.

Peace, out!