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Saturday, January 5, 2013

What's on my Screen: Bag It

We're a streaming video family.  We don't have cable.  I'm not sure I even know where the remotes to use the 'regular tv' boxes are.  When we want to watch something on tv, we use the Roku upstairs, or the Wii downstairs to stream it from either Netflix or Hulu Plus.  I like that Mims isn't exposed to a lot of commercials, and I can control what is played on the tv.  Jake and I both like that the cost is less than $20 a month.

I watch a lot of documentaries at night, after Mims goes to bed, and I am sitting crocheting.  I watch documentaries on everything: comedians that died too soon, world religions, puppeteers, environmental causes, historical mysteries, I watch it all.  Jake thinks I'm nuts, and that I should just curl up with a nice romantic comedy and wind down at night (um, sometimes I get very upset by the injustices in the world...), but I'd rather know, you know?  

So, the other night I was watching Bag It, a documentary by Suzan Beraza, that began as the story of plastic bags in our environment, but then spread to include all plastics in our world, and what it's costing us as a global community.  It had a powerful message that really resonated with me.  I can do more.  I can do WAY more.  And it's my responsibility, as a citizen on this planet, to do it.



A great way to start is to bring your own bags.  I know, I know, we've been hearing this for years, but seriously, every time you use your own grocery bag, you're changing the world! 

Market Bags: Some Pattern Suggestions






I know you're wondering what to do with all the mesh produce bags that you've already got, since they can't really be recycled, or can they?!  I thought this idea was brilliant:

It's a Reversable Dish Scrubber!  Awesome, right?!  You can find the pattern for it on Mrs. Greene

There's also THIS amazing crochet pot-scrubber on Crochet.About.com!  Who knew all these recycle-friendly crochet projects were out there?!


I made THIS messenger bag last summer out of grocery bags and nylon yarn.  I didn't put the instructions for it up at the time, but maybe if you guys were interested I'd show you the process I use to fuse the bags, and then how I turn them into something.  Let me know in the comments below if we need to do a recycled craft week... :D I promise, there will be crochet involved in all of it.

Okay, so find your fave pattern, grab your hook and yarn and watch Bag It on Netflix tonight. It's amazing to think that we can make such a difference in the world we live in!  Even if you don't want to do it for me, do it for the Sea Turtles.

xoxo

**Sometimes I write my posts a couple of days in advance.  It keeps me organized.  But it means that I sometimes have to do an update to the information, since I'd like it to go out as my most current version of my thoughts.  I feel like I have to give a warning (? not sure if that's exactly the right word, maybe caution would be better) about the documentary.  Um, I'm a really emotionally sensitive person (I believe that overly-sensitive is a descriptive phrase that comes out in family arguments...) and I have found it almost unbearable to go out in the world knowing the damage that plastics are doing to the environment.  I've now boycotted two of our favorite restaurants, because they use Styrofoam cups.  I almost had a meltdown in the grocery store because of all of the plastic packaging.   I know what you must be thinking, I'm a wacko-lunatic (you're right) but I feel like I need to warn the other emotionally sensitive Dynamos (comes with the creativity, we're in touch with nature) that if you're the type that becomes distressed after watching March of the Penguins, or An Inconvenient Truth, you may want to pass on this one and just continue taking your eco-friendly bags to the grocery store.  It really DOES make a difference.
That being said, my dad assures me that the Icelandic super volcano is overdue for an eruption, which could trigger a mini ice age, and all of the nature being harmed by our plastics over-consumption will die anyway.  LOL!! Somehow, that makes me feel better...**

UPDATE 1/7/13:  Crochet Dynamite Recycled Crochet Week will begin Monday, January 14th!  I needed an extra week to make it extra spectacular!!  Fused plastic shoppers and crossbody messengers for everyone!! (um, that means lots of bags -and other really cool stuff- for those that don't speak Jaime gibberish...)

24 comments:

  1. I LOVE recycled projects! I'd love to see some of your clever ideas!!

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    1. Deal, Jenn! Let's do it next week! :D
      xo Jaime

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    2. Hi Jenn, can we do it next week? LOL!! It's going to be awesome! Recycled Crochet Week starts Monday, January 14th!
      xo Jaime

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  2. I love recycled projects too! And actually this is one reason I do not like the Keurig coffee machines. I think those little coffe cups are taking the place where the water bottles left off. Ugh.

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    1. Oh Teeni, I hadn't even thought about the coffee maker!! We mostly just use tea bags in it, but the occasional cup of coffee does add up... Blarg. Poor Jake, he's going to have to use the little filter basket and coffee grounds from now on.
      xo Jaime

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    2. Speaking as a Keurig lover.....I use an adapter with mine so I don't have to use their plastic cups and I save money by using my own coffee. ;) I've already blown through my first machine and immediately replaced it. LOL

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    3. Hi Sue! We've got the filter basket too, we just didn't use it that much! :hanging my head in shame: But we will now. :D
      xo Jaime

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  3. Well said.I'm on the same lenght and I will add a crochet or more shopping bags in my projects.I love watching documentaries ,too.I find them so educative.You learn way more than in school!

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    1. I think so too, Angie! There are so many of them too! I'm thinking of getting a subscription to SmartFlix so that I can watch how-to videos at night too. I love learning new stuff!
      xo Jaime

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  4. I'd like to see how you fuse the bags. Did you use fabric for the body of the bag?

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    1. Hi Pam! It's all plastic, no fabric. It's waterproof and really a fun way to recycle! I'm thinking of doing a tutorial next week.
      xo Jaime

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  5. I'd love to have a recycled craft week. It's funny because we had a craft day at our church (crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, whatever else) and we were talking about recycling and crafts earlier today. We had some great ideas and I'd love to learn some new ones. I'd be on board if you would do it.

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    1. Hi Stephanie! (On a really random side note, my very favorite teacher in elementary school was named Stephanie Craig, so I love you already! LOL!!) Your craft day sounds like so much fun, I'm totally jealous!
      xo Jaime

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  6. I love your posts! A big YES from me to the recycling week...and a BIg FAt Happy New Year from me in the UK x

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    1. Hi Michele! Thanks!!! A Big Fat Happy New Year from me in my bedroom! LOL!!
      Cool! I'm going to do recycling week starting Monday, January 14th! Although, I'm thinking that will probably mean late afternoon on the 14th for you... LOL!!
      xo Jaime

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  7. Happy new year to you, ypur family and your blog!
    Recycling is a cheap, fun and useful idea. I love your messenger bag.

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    1. Hi Line! Thank you so much! Bonne année to you!!! I think recycling is fun too! I'm planning on doing much more of it this year. :D
      xo Jaime

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  8. LOVE the Mrs. Green scrubby!

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    1. Hi Sue! Me too!!! I've got these cool, fine mesh bags that I've been saving that held pearl onions that I am just obsessed with, but they're so small I didn't know what to do to recycle/craft with them. NOW I've go a project! I'm so excited!
      xo Jaime

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    2. **to clarify, I am obsessed with the cool bags the onions came in, not the pearl onions themselves. The onions had to be boiled and peeled before I could use them in my boeuf bourguignon and they were a pain in the behind! Next time I'm going to get the frozen kind to save myself 40 minutes of extra work... And I can recycle those bags too! ;D

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  9. I'm looking forward to your tutorial on fusing the plastic and creating that beautiful handbag. I LOVE that 'scrubby', too. Love the idea of re-purposing everything, or at least, to the best of our abilities. I once watched a youtube video on how to take an old pull-over sweater (or one bought from a thrift store) and make it into a cardigan (various styles). Such a clever idea...oops, guess I'm drifting off of the recycled plastic idea. Sorry about that :)

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    1. Hi Lois! I've totally done that! The sweater that I wore in the post I did with my cowl pattern was made out of 5 different thrift store sweaters that I felted and then stitched together to make one awesome super sweater. I made a funky wool skirt for Mims with part of my leftover pieces, and I've still got a stash of felted wool sweater parts for upcoming projects. No worries about drifting subjects, I'll just drift with you!!!
      xo Jaime

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  10. We're cable-free in our house, too! We've had our Roku for about two years and think it's great!

    Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy! I am obsessed with our Roku! I don't know how we lived without it!! :Roku High Five: LOL!!!
      xo Jaime

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