CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Feed Bag Pillow

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:30:29 -0800

Danny Seo recently made some pillows out of feed bags he scooped up at an old general store in Pennsylvania for a buck each, by simply stuffing and stitching them. I love this fresh twist on an antique; it's unexpected. But, there's also quite a lot you could do with feed bags, such as upholstering or making tea towels, or framing them. The country graphics are charming and offer kitschy, yet understated style. And, the $1 price won't break the bank! But, if you're not a crafty person, I can see how this wouldn't appeal to you. Luckily, I've found some colorful pillows made from recycled rice sacks to purchase for those of you who fit that profile. To see where you can buy them, read more.

The Urban Outfitters Recycled Rice Sack Pillows ($20) are made from recycled rice sack on one side and soft tonal cotton on the other, and stuffed with polyfill. These pillows certainly have more of an international look with varying-tongue typefaces, but make a similar agricultural reference.
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How-To: Get Rid of Fabric-Eating Moths

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:34 -0700

If you've opened your closet and realized that your favorite cashmere sweater has holes all over it, you've probably got a moth problem. It's unlikely that the moths are attracted to just that one cardi, so there are a few steps you should take to ensure your whole wardrobe doesn't suffer the same fate. That is, unless we're talking about all those reindeer Christmas sweaters from grandma.

To learn how to kick those buggers to the curb, read more.

Clothes moths feed on wool, feathers, fur, hair, lint, paper, and even cotton, linen, silk, and some synthetic fibers. But in general, they especially crave fabrics that have been stained or soiled with food, beverages, perspiration, sweat, oil, and urine. In many cases, you can't even tell that your apparel has been stained, so you should always clean your garments before you store them.
If you've already discovered you have a moth problem, you should wash all of your clothes in the infested area in hot water and detergent or dry clean them.
When it comes time to store your out-of-season clothes, you should keep them in airtight containers such as plastic boxes and bags, metal containers, or wooden (cedar is ideal) chests.
Moths tend to develop under humidity. So, if your closet or storage space is near a bathroom or humidifier, you should ventilate the area by opening windows or using a fan.
Clothes moths also prefer darkness. So if you have an alternative place to store your apparel that is bright, consider moving your clothes. You might also leave on low-energy lightbulbs such as CFLs or LEDs to light your closet.
To capture the male clothes moths in order to stop the breeding process, use a pheromone trap in your closet.
You should also vacuum your closet thoroughly in all cracks and crevices, as well as carpeting. Use a flashlight to identify lint and hair at the baseboards, in air ducts, and corners of the room that you might not see otherwise. If you have upholstered furniture in your closet (lucky lady), make sure to vacuum it thoroughly as well.
As for moth repellants, mothballs are tried and true, but they can also be harmful to your health, and leave a strong odor on your clothes. So, you can make a sachet with these herbal mothball alternatives. Cedar chips tend to lose their effect after the wood has dried, but cedar chests, which are airtight, are often effective.

Roundup: Hit the Sack Pillows

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:00:30 -0800

These trendy pillows are anything but sad sacks. Like Danny Seo's recycled feed bag pillow, these chic throws are crafted from old rice bags and grain sacks, or at least made to look like they are.

Some are super colorful, like the Urban Outfitters Recycled Rice Sack Pillow ($20). The pop-art designs would look great in eclectic rooms or as a dash of color in an otherwise minimalist space. If simple and chic is more your bag, then the elegant neutral tones of French grain sacks should suit your fancy. Check out my roundup below.

How-To: Prepare Your House For Vacation

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:00:44 -0800

After you've done your shopping and packing, if you're leaving town for the holidays, there are a few things you should check off your list to keep your digs in tip-top shape. If you'll be gone for a couple weeks or more, I suggest following all of my steps. If it's a short trip, you may choose to omit some.

To start, you'll want to purge your refrigerator and pantry of any perishables. You'll likely have household staples (sugar, flour, etc.) that you won't want to toss; store those in tightly sealed containers, like Le Parfait Storage Jars.
If you're going to be gone for a few weeks, once you've emptied your refrigerator/freezer, unplug it and open the doors to defrost. Leave a box of Fridge-N-Freezer to absorb any odors that may be lingering.
Round up all of your trash bags and take them out to your garbage bin. Make sure you bring your garbage bin to the curb so the garbage crew can access your trash.
Scan your yard, patio, or deck for any outdoor items and furnishings you might have left there and bring them indoors.

To read the rest of my vacation preparation list, read more.

Water your plants, or hire someone to come by and water them while you're gone. And don't forget to feed your pets and hire a caretaker for them if they're not coming with!
Ask a trustworthy neighbor or friend to check on your house while you're gone.
Suspend your mail service, or ask a trustworthy friend or neighbor to pick up your mail daily.
Turn the thermostat down to about 55 degrees.
Turn off the water.
Put a few lights in the front of the house on timers so that they go on at night, and turn the rest off.
Close your windows, blinds, and curtains to prevent sun damage and to keep your house private.
Dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, and wipe down your counters.
Wash and dry your bed sheets. Fold them, and put them in your linen closet. Make your bed when you return from vacation to prevent your linens from getting dusty while you're gone.
Make sure to do any other laundry.
Shovel snow and ice off of any walkways at your home, if there is any.
If you're leaving a car at home, remove valuables and bring them indoors. Lock your car doors, and leave it in the garage, if you have one.
Obviously, lock all of your doors (including the garage). But, leave your interior doors open to keep closets and small rooms from getting stuffy.
Do a run down to make sure you haven't forgotten anything (passport!) and take a walk through your house.
Set your alarm system. Bon voyage!

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Cool Idea: I.V. Self-Watering Plant Pot

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:00:47 -0700

I once showed you how to make a self-watering planter from a recycled soda bottle, and while the DIY was pretty easy and inventive, I will admit it wasn't the most handsome pot I've ever seen. I'm not someone who thinks we should need to make sacrifices when it comes to good design, so I kept my eyes peeled and was silently hoping for a sexier alternative. Then came the Vitamin I.V. Self-Watering Planter ($375), an ingenious pot that comes with a refillable I.V. bag that regulates the flow of water to your plant with its drip feed. The lightweight fiberglass pot has a sleek, modern conical shape that's a far cry from the do-it-yourself look of that surgeried soda bottle. Unfortunately, I.V. is quite large (as is its price) at 12.5 x 21.25 inches, and is really meant to hold a tree, so now I'm not-so-silently hoping Vitamin will release a mini version for more petite plants.

DIY: Self-Watering Recycled Vase

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:30:22 -0700

This DIY will show you how to make a planter from nearly all recycled (and free) products which will pretty much water itself. Without giving them much attention, you can grow your own herbs, flowers, or other plants. You can continue to re-use the planter, or simply recycle it when you're finished. If you don't like the look of the plastic bottle on your windowsill, you can always cover a recycled tin with some decorative paper, and slip in the planter for a look that's more your style.

Supplies:

1 plastic soda bottle (2 or 3 liter)
Newspaper, aluminum foil, or a bit of a black plastic bag
Twine
A drill or hot wire (to make a hole in the bottle cap)
Certified organic potting mix
A sharp knife (to cut the bottle)
Seeds

To learn the steps, read more

Here's how, compiled from here and here:

Cut the bottle. Cut the empty soda bottle in two (the cup and the reservoir), so the bottom part is bigger than the top. When inverted (i.e. when the bottle neck is inside the bottle), there should be about 2" of clearance between the neck and base, so that wick can dangle in the water. Do some measuring ahead of time, and mark your bottle with a guide before you cut.
Bore holes in the cap. Make one hole just large enough to thread the twine through, and several other smaller holes just for drainage.
Assemble the wick. Cut three lengths of 15" of twine. Line up the lengths. Tie them together in a knot 3" up from one end. Then, thread those 3" of the lengths of twine through the hole that you bore in the cap, so the knot rests on the inside of the cap. Those lengths will dangle in the water, drawing water up into the soil from the reservoir to feed the plants.
Line the interior of the cup. Since roots do better in darkness, you'll want to line the interior of the cup (where the dirt goes) with either newspaper, aluminum foil, or some black plastic bag. Newspaper is best (biodegradable), but just use what ever you have. Make it flush with the sides of the cup, putting it all the way in. Then, poke a hole in the bottom for the wick to come up.
Setting the wick and add soil. Screw the cap onto the bottle neck, pull the wick up so it hangs over the edge of the bottle. Figure out how much soil you'll need to fill the cup. Add 1/3 of your soil to the cup, keeping the wicks running straight through the middle. Then, coil one of the lengths of twine on top of the soil, around the other 2 lengths in the middle. Add another 1/3 soil and repeat. Then, fill the cup with the rest of your soil, keeping the last length of twine running up the middle. Spreading these coils throughout will help to distribute the moisture better.
Plant your seeds. Read this How-To for instructions.
Add water. Add water to the reservoir, but don't let it touch the cap.
Let it grow!

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Source and Source

Koko - Shajahan Rice Pillow - $69.00	French Stripe Lumbar Pillow Cover - $59.00
India Gate Rice Bag Pillow - $24.95	Koko - Taj Mahal Rice Pillow - $58.00
Red Grain Sack Pillow - $495.00	Koko - Golden Rice Pillow - $69.00
Nur Jahan Rice Bag Pillow - $24.95	Koko - Wild Flowers Rice Pillow - $69.00
Blue Grain Sack Pillow - $495.00	Solid Silk Handloomed Pillow Cover - $39.00