use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without

The nest is empty. I am out for the summer. For the first time in over 50 years I have time and no schedule…to speak of. I have had a great time recycling t-shirts into all sorts of delightful things. I began by seeing an idea for making a quilt out of the kids’ shirts. With five kids gone they left behind a huge pile of t-shirts which neither fit nor represent the current school, cause or band. Now I am well on my way to finishing five quilts for Christmas which will represent many fond memories for each of the kids. But I was left with the backs of the t-shirts and couldn’t bear to throw them away. I found a book – Generation T – and have had a great time creating new things from the old such as dresses for the wee ones, burp rags, halter tops, pot holders, baby hats, etc. Also with one seam and a few snips of the scissors great cloth shopping bags can be made from a t-shirt. Now before any thing is tossed or taken to the recycling center I look at everything with a critical eye and wonder if I can turn it into something “new”