Today I drew groundhogs on Photoshop all day for Very Important Reasons, so this evening was for preserving some of the last early autumn veggies available!

Took me around one hour and a half, made a... Sauce? Not sure what it is, it's not very soupy but it's also... not solid. It's made with zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes, also onions and garlic and olives, and tastes preeetty good to me.

The green jars are an experiment for the unripe tomatoes from our balcony garden, I'm hoping to ferment these. One jar has green tomatoes, apple, jalapeños, garlic and oregano, the other has green tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic and basil. I'm so curious to see how it goes!

🌿Minimizing Waste as a Hearth Witch🌿

Minimizing waste saves money and the environment. With a little creativity, there are many ways you can create opportunities to reduce waste and maximize the supplies you have.

🍄 Keep your jars. If you buy something that comes in a useful container and can be reused - then reuse it. In my experience, the best reuse for plastic containers is to freeze food. Also, small bottles like Advil bottles, are EXCELLENT spell jars. However, for all types, you can use them to store food, organize drawers and closets, store spell ingredients, or even make decorations. The possibilities are nearly endless!

🍄Keep all your fruit, vegetable, and herb scraps. With some scraps and water, you can make a lovely broth. Alternatively, you can use them to make a simmer pot for a spell or simply for the scent.

🍄If you eat meat, keep the bones. Again, a great broth ingredient!

🍄Avoid paper towels whenever possible. These are super wasteful and expensive. Whenever possible, I opt to use a towel or cloth. You can recycle old textiles for rags. However, if you're feeling ambitious you can knit or crochet towels and cloths; this is a great way to use up that scrap yarn you probably have laying around! You may even choose to add a bit of knot magic to these pieces.

🍄Thrift and upcycle. This is a bit of an obvious one; but really. It's a great way to have lovely belongings while reducing waste overall and saving money. With a bit of love, many things can be new.

🍄Almost every dish can be salvaged. It happens. We mess up. But, before you throw it away, do some research on how to salvage it. Odds are, you will be able to do it!

🍄Don't throw away fruits or vegetables that are overripe or wilting. Within reason, of course, many of these fruits and vegetables can be frozen for soups, casseroles, sauces, and smoothies!

🍄Buy a reusable coffee filter and tea basket for loose tea. Really, this is a given if you are a tea or coffee lover. Disposable ones are so wasteful and the reusable ones will pay for themselves in no time.

🍄Compost if you can. Compost dirt is amazing for growing ingredients for dishes and spells. While you're at it, save your eggshells, as well.

🍄Mend your clothes, blankets, and even shoes. A little bit of love can go a long way, including increasing the life of your favorite items. You can also add flair by learning how to darn and apply patches.

🍄Learn how to remove stains from fabric. In the same vein as mending, learning how to remove stains increases the life of your clothes. Different stains require different methods of removal, but usually, it is not impossible. Failing this, learn how to dye your clothes to revamp them.

🍄Use alternative cosmetics. This is a really big topic and I will create a post about this later. But, consider doing research. There are lots of things that can be made or substituted; notably face masks, hair masks, and using coconut oil as a make-up remover.

🍄Localize your practice. Use natural herbs and ingredients found in your local environment. Create your own correspondence if needed.

🍄Collect rainwater. Unfortunately, it is no longer a great idea to drink rainwater - but use it to water plants and clean your floors. Rainwater is also a powerful spell ingredient for spells that don't require drinking or putting on your skin.

🍄Only buy what you need. This time of year more than ever it is VERY tempting to buy up cheap Halloween-themed goods. But, consider an item's long-term usefulness, if it will create clutter and disorder in your home in the future, and if there are alternatives.

🍄Buy a cheap food dehydrator. These are perfect for making tea and drying out herbs, flowers, and other ingredients for spells and cooking.

🍄Consider alternatives in cooking and spells. There is always an alternative, you may not have to buy something new.

🍄Meals and beverages as spells. As a full-blown kitchen, I believe spells eaten and drank are extremely powerful. It also saves on ingredients.

You guys like all that cottagecore ecosomething upcycled whatever, right?

Here, have some homemade chocolate syrup in a reused jam jar.

The original recipe was decent, but I modified it based on what I know of chocolate and that was 100000% the correct choice. Both richer and smoother than the original.

radfems against food waste! 🥬

here’s some good info compiled from kathryn kellogg on how to make use of food waste - remember to compost the rest! (click link for more from her including zero waste recipes!)

1. make your own apple cider vinegar

save all apple peels and cores in a mason jar. add 2 tbsp sugar, fill with water. let sit 3 weeks in the dark. strain water into new jar. let sit 3 more weeks in the dark. done!

2. how to eat broccoli stalks

trim off the bottom and shave the rough sides. slice long-ways into thin pieces. toss in with the “tops” and prepare how you like.

3. banana bread recipes using overripe bananas

4. revive wilted kale

cut off the stalks, then soak the leaves in ice water 30 mins. store them upright (like a flower bouquet!) in a jar with water in the fridge.

5. preserve lemon peels

boil 4-5 lemon rinds/peels for 30 mins. add rinds to jar, pour in ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ kosher salt. mix. store in the fridge!

6. get the most out of your squeezed fruit juice

simply microwave your lemons and limes 15-20 seconds and squeeze out a whole lot more!!

7. preserve wilted herbs

chop up wilted herbs and fill up and ice tray. add in water or oil or butter or lemon juice. freeze!

8. make stock from your veggie scraps

this is NOT for cruciferous vegetables! save veggie scraps in the freezer until the bowl is full. simmer 1 hour on the stove OR 6 hours in the crock pot. add herbs to your liking.

9. use carrot “tops” in place of parsley

honorable mentions

save and reuse other organic components!

1. maintain your flower petals

air dry or oven dry your flower petals (85°C/200°F for 20 mins). add in dehydrated orange peels and cranberries, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, and/or anything else you like. put in a covered bowl overnight. add to small fabric bag and let sit in your drawers/closet for that lovely potpourri scent!

2. upcycle your christmas trees

trim small parts of your pine, spruce, or balsam fir christmas tree branches. add to a jar with 1x1 mix of vinegar and water. shake shake shake! strain and use as a cleaner spray!

Garbanzo Capers Fry Up

My parsley was getting out of hand...so what to do...make a fry up using a generous bunch of parsley teamed with some of my favorite ingredients - capers, garbanzo beans, spinach, eggplant...all great to include as part of my healthy eating plan. See what you think...

oil

1 red onion, diced

1 bell pepper, seeded, diced

1 - 4 oz. can green chilies, mild, with liquid

1 eggplant, diced with skin

1 t. garlic, minced

1 bunch fresh parsley, scissor chopped to speed the process

1+ c. spinach, chopped

1 - 4 oz. jar capers, drained

1/2 t. black pepper

1/2 t. cumin

1 - 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, with liquid

In a large fry pan, begin sauteing onion, bell pepper, chilies, and eggplant. Give this mixture a stir, add in garlic, parsley, spinach, capers, black pepper, and cumin. Add the garbanzo beans last to just heat through to keep their bright color. Serve up as it comes, on a bed of brown rice, with a slice of pork roast...whatever seems like a good plan.

When I'm not working up healthy sides or main dishes for the family, I'm bounding downstairs to sew cotton pocket aprons for my online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawerthreads .

Or, I'm putting the finishing touches on handcrafted crocheted upcycled recycled thrifted throw rugs worked by me from wool selvage locally sourced - www.etsy.com/shop/topdraweryarns .

My daughters have an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/yesdesigns - where they design and sew cotton pocket knickers for wearing whatever you get up to.

My older daughter has an online shop - www.etsy.com/shop/wildwovenwome - where she knit upcycled recycled thrifted yarns into soft, supple throws and afghans to curl up in.

DIY: Summer Citrus Sugar Scrub

Rejuvenate and revive your skin with this easy citrus sugar scrub recipe. With only 3 ingredients you probably already have on hand, you’ll be ready to whip up this gentle exfoliating body scrub in no time! 

Sugar Scrub, or body polish is a luxurious way to refresh your skin. It is so gentle that it can even be used on sensitive skin. 

Exfoliating body scrub makes a great shower favor, quick gift, treat for yourself or a hostess gift when you are welcomed to a friend’s beach house.  This jar will keep my skin happy all summer long!

Keep a jar of this sugar scrub by your kitchen to soothe your hands after washing dishes. It will rehydrate your skin from the harshness of the hot water and dish soap. Keep a jar of sugar scrub in the shower for a mini spa treatment up to 3 times a week! 

Citrus Sugar Scrub Recipe Ingredients

It’s made with just a few ingredients, from your kitchen!

Sugar – 1/2 cup of regular white table sugar is perfect for this diy sugar scrub! It exfoliates your skin, gentling rubbing away dead skin cells leaving your skin feeling smooth and radiant. 

Oil – I use 1/4 cup Vitamin E Oil in this recipe which is so good for your skin. Its anti inflammatory properties soothes and calms, while hydrating dry skin and working to heal any blemishes. 

Citrus – Is so good for your body inside and out! Naturally full of vitamin C it leaves your skin with a beautiful glow! It also can help to lighten sun spots or other blemishes on your skin. I love the texture and beautiful color the citrus adds along with its amazingly refreshing scent!  You can use the zest from one Orange, Grapefruit, or Lemon, or 2 Limes, in this recipe.

*** Zest is made from the top layer of a fruit peel. Always try to avoid the white pith. If you don’t have a zester, you can use a vegetable peeler to gently peel the top layer of your fruit. Then cut the strips into finer strips lengthwise, and then again into tiny cubes widthwise. 

Supplies

Large Glass Mixing Bowl

Handheld Citrus Zester (variations under Tips and Tricks)

Spatula

Measuring Cups

Sealable Glass Jars (I like to use mason jars or repurpose clean jars I already own)

Ice Cream Scoop

How to Make Exfoliating Body Scrub

This scrub is so easy to make. It only contains natural ingredients and no artificial food colorings.

Combine sugar and oil.

2. Add zest.

3. Scoop into sealable glass jars.

4. Label and date.

5. Store for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Variations

This sugar scrub recipe is so easy to customize to fit your needs! 

Citrus Variations – In this recipe I use orange, but any other citrus would work well! In the past, I have used grapefruit, orange, lime, and lemon. They all have worked wonderfully! If using lime I chose to use the zest from 2 limes since they are smaller sized fruit.

Oil Variations – Vitamin E Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Carrot Oil, Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Grapeseed Oil. 

Sugar Variations – Any white sugar should work well in this recipe. Sugar is used for a gentle exfoliation so keep that in mind when choosing the coarseness of the sugar. 

For a winter sugar scrub try adding a dash of ground cloves or ground cinnamon. 

Add a few drops of essential oils. My favorite combinations include other citrus oils to complement and enhance, floral scents such as moroccan rose or lavender, and woody scents such cedar or rosemary. 

Pro Tip: If using coconut oil, it will help to slightly warm the oil on the stovetop or even the microwave before adding it to the mixture. I love coconut oil and lime combination! 

How to Store Sugar Scrub

This Sugar Scrub recipe can be stored for up to 3 months in a properly sealed jar / airtight container.  

PRO TIP: Upcycle jars you already own!

If you’re anything like me, you don’t like to waste. When you enjoy herbal preparations as part of your daily routine, you are bound to wind up with a stockpile of perfectly good containers that can still be used. But how can you make sure they are cleaned well enough to reuse, and how can you continue to put them to use time and time again? Here are some tips and tricks to help you keep those bottles in circulation.

How to Clean and Reuse Glass Bottles and Metal Containers

The following method is primarily used to clean:

Glass bottles with a dropper top (tincture bottles)

Glass bottles with a mister top

Glass bottles with a screw on cap

Glass bottles with a treatment pump

Essential oil bottles with reducer top

Roll-on bottles

Cork top bottles

Metal tins

PREPARE YOUR CONTAINERS

We all know about the importance of labeling homemade remedies and ingredients, so when reusing bottles, you’ll want to be sure to take the old labels off to eliminate any confusion.

Peel the label off by hand, if possible. If it doesn’t come off as one or two pieces, you’ll want to soak the bottle in warm water to loosen them up.

Begin by rinsing each bottle out and then filling it with warm water and placing the lid back on. PRO TIP: Soaking the bottles with the lids on will prevent bits of paper and glue remnants from making their way into the bottle. Filling them with water will prevent them from bobbing around.

Place them into a pot filled with warm water and let sit for about five minutes. Some may take longer than others.

Rub your thumb and/or fingernail on the label and it will begin to roll off.

If there is some glue left over, no need to re-soak—we have another life hack to share for that! This one from DIY Natural works brilliantly and calls for simple ingredients: baking soda, coconut oil, and sweet orange essential oil (though I also like lemon oil for this purpose!).

{...}

Managed to obtain wifey's computer chair but finally got outbid on the luggage kit (should have known $10 was too good to be true lol, I'll wait til we're more liquid and try again with a larger budget on a different lot). Hopefully going to be able to pick up the kitty bench tomorrow if it's still available (here's to hoping it doesn't get snagged today) but if it isn't I'll just keep my eye out for new opportunities there too, probably on Saturdays instead of Fridays so I can schedule pick up immediately the next day.

I need to get ahold of some fabric with decent stretch to it, so maybe some old shirts or dresses with decent prints but some wear and tear that can be upcycled. A button jar would be nice too if I can find one, but I'm not too fussed, I can order buttons if I that's the only thing I need new.

The biggest thing that still needs buying is new clothes for wifey, and some of that I can take care of myself with fabric and my sewing kit, and some can be managed with thrifting and time, but at least a couple of items will need to be purchased newly tailored, so we'll have to save up a little for that one (next paycheck I think should have room for it). I may go through some of my clothes and see which ones can be turned into fabric or upcycled for wifey into something new. I know I have an undershirt that I can use, and I think a pair of leggings which would work well for something.there's a dress that doesn't fit me anymore with a black and white gingham pattern that could be good for upcycling into a blouse for wifey I think if I go about it right. I'll definitely have to ask her to let me use her as a model while I drape the pattern though and she'll HATE that lmao, my love does not enjoy standing still long enough for me to drape a blouse. I can picture it though, with a nice deep neck, a little pop of crepe and color at the cleavage, maybe a racerback or thick shoulder but sleeveless straps to make it a nice summer blouse and so it wears well under short jackets or fall sweaters, a scooped hem at the waist so it tucks well or wears gently at the tummy rather than being constricting.

So that's probably 4 items or so I can make with what we have at home. Not quite a wardrobe, but a start! And we'll see what else I find in our closets that can be put to use. I have a skirt that needs badly to be upcycled but no idea what to do with it. The underpinnings could probably be repurposed for...well more underpinnings, and the skirt itself is a breezy cotton, so maybe another blouse? It has a lot of pink, which really isn't wifey's color, but maybe I could pull it off. Maybe for the color pop on that shirt with a matching bonnet for her to wear with her twists once we put them in? We'll see what I manage. There's a lot of skirt to work with, I could probably pull something fun off. Oooh. A matching pullover. That would be cute as hell, and real summery. Maybe I can pull off all three if there's enough fabric and give her a whole set.

Okay, so that's 6 items to go for, largely shirts and underpinnings, which is good and important. But we still need to figure out some pants and a few more shirts before I'll be ready to set this project down, so we'll see what else comes of it. I think I'll take the weekend to break out all these pieces I'm going to alter and break them down to the fabric I'll need so I can just sew when the time comes. Maybe Monday since wifey and I both have the day off we'll do some draping if she's up for it and she and I can listen to podcasts while I get started on the shirt at least. I might be able to make two of the shirt in different iterations if I'm lucky and sizing works out the way I think it will. We'll see. If not, I'll see if any of wifey's old shirts are in a state enough to be upcycled.

I may look into the idea of a patchwork shirt? Scraps from various smaller or damaged garments that wouldn't be able to make a whole garment alone but can be fitted together into a neat design? And some sheet slacks. Those would be nice to do for wifey. Easy to buy sheets for cheap from the theift store and turn them into tailored slacks if I have enough buttons.

Okay. I have my plan. I have enough fabric to work with between now and the end of the month, and then at my end of month payday, we'll go thrufting and I'll get more along with a good button jar so I can start expanding into more complex garments.

some repotting reporting for you all: over the weekend i rehomed a few plants with a friend’s leftover soil. big mistake! the soil was carrying mold. aside from those two, three of my smaller vining plants had a difficult time being fertilized with coffee grounds, but to be be fair, those coffee grounds had probably seen better days.

pictured below are my lickety split (philodendron selloum) and my dragon tree (dracaena marginata). i’d never reported any of my plants before this weekend, so it was funny for me and my friends to see them naked. my friend suzy advised me to take each plant and spray it with water to dislodge the soil stuck in the roots, some of which were bound and needed massaging. it turned out to be a pretty relaxing sunday activity, especially if you’re into mindfulness.

for the replacement soil i went with miracle grow’s cactus mix. i love this stuff because it has moisture control and fertilizer already mixed in, so no more coffee ground mold for me. phew. despite the moisture control though, a little group of mushrooms manage to sneak into the bay. you’ll notice the last picture on this post is of them. i’m as fascinated with mushrooms as i am with plants if not more, so i decided to keep them in a makeshift ziploc bay terrarium. the next step for these little freaks is a glass terrarium that i’ll upcycle from an old jam jar, but that’ll be its own post.

‘til then, happy memorial day!

being wxposed to television after spending all my free time avoiding ads and pirating shit is always so jarring. 90% of the time i’ve spent “watching” this hgtv show my mom left on has been sitting thru commercials that are all desperately trying to market a sense of identity to me and tying it to their product. lose 10 pounds in one week with our weight loss program and take your life back!!! buy this car and become a more exciting person!!!!!! this huge regimen of dietary supplements is SOOO empowering. this premium perfume will make your life beautiful again! have we mentioned our revolutionary new weight loss program???? oh and don’t forget to buy [brand] at [store] so you can be #sustainable #mindful #healthcore or whatever the fuck. our big chain mega franchise retail store is so community and local business, don’t forget to support us on our journey 😇 did you know for every billion tons of pollution we create, amazon plants One(1) tree? hey girl, your skin shows signs of a life lived! that’s disgusting!!! here’s fifteen different creams and concealers to smooth out all that horrid, repulsive skin. fuck it, you and i both know that won’t do anything, but you’ll try it anyway. also have you considered botox? OH AND BY THE WAY - are you suffering constant aches and pains from the multiple jobs you have to work to stay afloat? we gotchu girl!!! this painkiller will help you #girlboss your way through all that easily avoidable agony and maximize your slay so you can come home after a long day at the back pain factory and cook and clean for your husband and care for your children, because you’re an Empowered Woman who can do it all! are you stressed? do you have constant migraines? babe, that’s gonna impact your productivity!!! here, this pill will suppress that chronic health issue just long enough for you to power through your work day and not long enough for you to stop and consider looking into why you’re so stressed once you get home. are you having trouble sleeping because of all the STRESS??? oh honey, don’t you worry, this medicine will knock you OUT the moment you step foot into your home. gotta be rested for all your full time shifts at your multiple jobs!!!! uh oh, all that back pain finally catching up to you? cant find a doctor? our healthcare system is a nightmare! help shouldn’t be so hard to access— luckily we have just the app for you!!!!!!!! don’t forget to buy that luxury car btw!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh, you’re having trouble managing your finances even after all the work you’ve been doing? bestie, we’ve BEEN THERE. this totally legitimate stock app is gonna CHANGE. THE. GAME. vote for this politician in the upcoming primary! no wait, that politician is evil. vote for THIS one! you didn’t forget about our new weight loss program, right? just checking. look at all these totally average healthy people— DISGUSTING!!! but look, they lost weight! now they’re beautiful and worthy of love again! don’t look at these pictures too long or you’ll realize the only difference is better fitting clothes and makeup. don’t you want to feel GOOD about yourself again? don’t you want to be HAPPY? aren’t you TIRED? shouldn’t you feel more FULFILLED with your life? buy our product! download our app! subscribe to our premium membership! shop at our store! eat this food! take these pills! still not happy? what’s wrong with you!!!! just keep buying!! money CAN buy happiness, because you’re a #bossbabe and you’re WORTH IT!!!

and then you finally make it through the hellish advertising psychological warfare gauntlet and you get to watch some annoying white couple buy a perfectly nice looking older house in a perfectly nice little neighborhood and totally strip it of all its unique and beautiful features to turn it into the worlds tackiest furniture store showroom with blank white surfaces everywhere and fake succulents glued into planters all over and one piece of wildly impractical ‘upcycled’ custom decor that cost them thousands of real life dollars to make and that you KNOW nobody’s ever gonna want or use and it’ll just rot in someone’s closet or maybe sell for 15 bucks at a garage sale and then they sell the poor mangled corpse of that house for 25x the value of every other house on the block to another annoying white couple and pat themselves on the back for ‘making this neighborhood more beautiful’ but that’s only on for like ten minutes before the next commercial break and then the cycle repeats

Upcycling Inspiration// Chanel Pre-Fall 2023

DIY Tutorial Idea

Attach various beads to a sturdy felt panel - not directly to jacket - so you can wash it

Panel similar to shape used here

Use a specific color palette or assorted with various colors, textures, styles of beads

Lots of thrift stores have jars of bracelets for ~$3-15 for costume jewelry

Once panel complete - attach to garment

Front like Chanel - or back or maybe shoulder piece would look nice too

Denim, tweed, canvas - all sturdy textiles to attach panel to well without weighing down garment

How to Repurpose Empty Spice Jars

Have you recently cleaned out your pantry and are now wondering about what to do with all those old spice containers? Looking for creative upcycling ideas and ways to reuse them?

There are SO many ways to repurpose old spice jars around the house that you should definitely not just toss them in the recycle bin, never to be used again. https://www.turningclockback.com/repurpose-old-spice-jars/

Creative DIY Indoor Lighting Ideas on a Budget

Brighten Up Your Space with These Affordable DIY Lighting Solutions

Are you looking to add a touch of warmth and ambiance to your living space without breaking the bank? Look no further! In this blog, we will explore some creative and budget-friendly DIY indoor lighting ideas that will illuminate your home in style.

Mason Jar Luminaries: Illuminate Your Nights

Transform simple mason jars into charming luminaries that can instantly uplift any room. All you need is a string of fairy lights and some translucent paint to create a magical lighting effect. These mason jar luminaries are not only easy to make but also add a cozy glow to your space.

Rope Light Chandelier: Add Elegance to Your Ceiling

Elevate your home decor with a stunning rope light chandelier. By intertwining LED rope lights around a hula hoop or wire frame, you can create a mesmerizing lighting fixture that adds a touch of elegance to any room. Hang this DIY chandelier above your dining table or in the living room for a captivating focal point.

Paper Cup Pendant Lights: Embrace Quirkiness

Infuse a playful element into your lighting design with whimsical paper cup pendant lights. By cutting out the bottom of paper cups and attaching them to string lights, you can create unique and eye-catching pendant lights. These quirky fixtures are perfect for adding a pop of personality to your space.

Wine Bottle Sconces: Upcycle with Style

Give your old wine bottles a new lease on life by turning them into chic sconces. Simply insert string lights into empty wine bottles and hang them on your walls to create a sophisticated lighting arrangement. These upcycled sconces not only illuminate your space but also serve as stylish decor pieces.

Fairy Light Canopy: Create a Dreamy Ambiance

Transform your bedroom into a cozy retreat with a fairy light canopy. By hanging sheer curtains along the ceiling and draping fairy lights over them, you can achieve a dreamy and romantic ambiance. This DIY lighting idea is perfect for adding a touch of magic to your personal sanctuary.

With these creative DIY indoor lighting ideas, you can brighten up your space and infuse it with warmth and charm, all without exceeding your budget. So roll up your sleeves, get creative, and illuminate your home in style with these affordable lighting solutions.

A tour at Wolverhampton art gallery’s Artforum session.

As part of an effort to engage residents and visitors in the beautiful sceneries of Wolverhampton, The Wolverhampton art gallery, located in the heart of the city, occasionally organises some amazing exhibition to its art loving viewers. This is in a bid to boost the art industry in the city, and to give artists a chance to showcase their works to the public. The exhibition dubbed the ‘ArtForum’ was slated for the 1st and the 15th of May, from 5-7pm. The event was free for all and open to 14–25-year-olds. This further emphasises the need to have more young people within this sector.

The event was hosted by Rosalind Manasseh, she is a freelance ‘ArtForum’ co-ordinator on behalf of Wolverhampton gallery, and was graced by a variety of people, from locals, to students, international students, the young, the old, men, and predominantly, women. Some artifacts that were on display included, upcycled jars into vases, flower paintings, images of animals curated with papers, dolls carved using basswood, cutleries, and drawings of recognisable objects. The highlight of the event was the inclusion of women in creating these wonderful arts. The motive behind this was to promote diversity, and project the intelligence of women, and what they have to offer in this area. Given that it is known to be a male dominated field. Events like this one propel their confidence, serves as a breeding ground to boost their sales, and bring to light their small businesses.

My main aim for attending the event was to capture amazing photos of the arts, interact with other colleagues and facilitators of the events, and gain a few transferable skills, which I managed to do. The event was filled with lots of ideas, fun moments, meaningful interactions with other art lovers. It commenced on an intriguing note and ended on an even more indulging note. The challenging bit about my visit to the exhibition was mustering the courage to take a descent photo of people without complaints. My position as a student journalist was not enough reason to get pictures of people or an interview with more than two people. This was because, attendees valued their privacy, it did not matter to them whether the purpose of me taking pictures was for academic purposes. This limited my scope to taking only pictures of the paintings and creations only. Also, I was cautioned on the use of flash images, this was because, it could alter the original image of the photographs. Using the camera for the very first time meant having to deal with some technical difficulties, and then finally being able to operate it well, after minutes of trying.

With each passing minute, the two-hour event did not feel underwhelming, even for a second. It was fun from start to finish. The nearer it was to the end of the show, the more people trickled in, and this made it beyond entertaining. The organisers were open to answering questions regarding the event, and future ones to come. The artists also spoke to us about their works, the inspirations behind them, how their love for art started, the highs and lows of their works, the number of career opportunities that are available within the arts and craft industry, and what they have instore for future exhibition events.

Expert Tips for Eco-Friendly Rubbish Removal in Gold Coast

When it comes to rubbish removal on the Gold Coast, adopting eco-friendly practices isn't just a trend; it's a responsibility we all share. From reducing waste to recycling efficiently, there are numerous ways to make your rubbish removal process more environmentally friendly. Here are some expert tips to help you navigate towards a greener approach to waste management.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The three R's—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—are the cornerstone of eco-friendly rubbish removal. Start by minimizing the amount of waste you generate. Consider buying products with minimal packaging, opting for reusable items instead of single-use ones, and repairing items instead of replacing them.

When it comes to recycling, familiarize yourself with what can and cannot be recycled in your area. Separate your recyclables from general waste and ensure they are clean and dry to avoid contamination. By recycling materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal, you can significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

2. Composting Organic Waste

Organic waste, such as food scraps and garden trimmings, makes up a significant portion of household waste. Instead of sending it to the landfill, consider composting. Composting not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills but also produces nutrient-rich compost that can be used to fertilize gardens and nourish plants.

Setting up a composting system is easier than you might think. You can compost organic waste using a backyard compost bin or a worm farm. Remember to balance the ratio of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials to ensure proper decomposition and avoid unpleasant odors.

3. Donate or Repurpose Unwanted Items

Before tossing unwanted items in the trash, consider whether they could be donated or repurposed. Clothing, furniture, appliances, and other household items that are still in good condition can often find a new home through donation to charities or community organizations.

Alternatively, get creative and find new uses for items that might otherwise be discarded. Upcycling projects can transform old furniture into trendy pieces, repurpose jars and containers for storage, or even create art from salvaged materials. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also adds a unique touch to your home décor.

4. Hire a Professional Eco-Friendly Rubbish Removal Service

For larger or more specialized waste removal needs, consider hiring a professional rubbish removal service that prioritizes eco-friendly practices. Look for companies that offer services such as waste sorting, recycling, and proper disposal of hazardous materials.

A reputable rubbish removal service will have the expertise and resources to handle waste in an environmentally responsible manner. They can ensure that recyclable materials are diverted from landfills, hazardous waste is disposed of safely, and any reusable items are donated or recycled whenever possible.

5. Stay Informed and Educate Others

Finally, staying informed about environmental issues and sharing your knowledge with others is key to promoting eco-friendly practices in your community. Keep up-to-date with local waste management regulations, sustainability initiatives, and opportunities for recycling and composting.

Educate your family, friends, and neighbors about the importance of reducing waste and adopting eco-friendly habits. Encourage them to join you in making small changes that collectively have a big impact on the environment.

By implementing these expert tips for eco-friendly rubbish removal in Gold Coast, you can contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Bundle Bulk 6lb Jewelry Crafts Parts Pieces Chains Beads Pendants Findings.