When I finish a big sewing or quilting project I am often left with a ton of scrap fabric and trimmings. I hate to see them going to a landfill where it would take an enormous amount of time to biodegrade. I was talking to my roommate about it and she and I came up with some cool ideas. I later found during a google...
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Leaves are falling, coats have to be worn but what about your summer plants? It can be confusing to know how to take care of our plants as it gets colder and hopefully this guide will help answer some questions. It is important to know some key terminology: Growing Zone, Perennial, Annual, First frost, Overwintering. What is my Growing Zone? A grow Zone uses climate data to...
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With many remote classes planned for this coming Fall Quarter, staying on track with everything can be stressful and overwhelming. Here at the IRL, we’ve taken the time to put together a list of resources that may assist you in staying productive and on track: MS OneNote: It allows you to take notes with a stylus if you are on a touchscreen laptop or iPad. The...
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Some bottle caps have designs that you want to carry around with you, and after this tutorial you will be able to do just that! A couple of materials you will need include: a bottle cap a marker a hammer safety pins. Make sure that your safety pins are long enough to go through the bottle cap and connect. You’d hate to make the holes on the bottle cap...
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As many theater companies have been forced to stop production in order to flatten the curve and comply with state regulations, many are left with a creative ache. For theatre goers and for theatre makers there are solutions alike. Save up to support local theaters once they reopen. Buy tickets for productions months in advance as gifts for others. Buy gift cards to theaters. Donate to...
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Aquafaba is a protein rich juice from chickpeas/garbanzo beans. These are good beans to have in quarantine. Aquafaba is a powerful egg white replacer in many vegan dishes and is a great alternative for allergies and a way to practice a zero waste lifestyle. There are two main ways to procure aquafaba from the beans. You can buy the beans and when you are ready to use...
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This is a quick and easy way to provide extra nutrients to your plants. All of these are basically free and zero waste. Cooking water If you like to boil veggies before you use them and then throw away the water, dont! Not only is this cooking water nutrient rich, it also can serve as a natural dye in many cases. You can also use it to...
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You can use everyday household objects and upcycle to do Shadow Puppetry. This is a great form of storytelling and theatre making. It is also fun for all ages, young and older! Materials: I used an empty cheez-it box, deconstructed. You can use any paper material that is sturdy enough to hold itself up. Paper is usually not great, but cardstock, poster paper and thin cardboard is. You...
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Basic Clothing Tear Repair You find your favorite shirt has a hole in it. What now? During shelter-in-place you may not get the chance to go to a store to buy new clothes, and with financial instability it might not be an option. Luckily, there is a time-tested fix for fabric wear-and-tear: hand sewing! All you need is a needle and thread for most repairs, but...
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While many of us are following the shelter-in-place guidelines suggested by public officials, it can be a real challenge to get up, follow a routine, and stay active in some way; luckily, here at the IRL we decided to give you some motivation to remain active! Here is a quick 10-minute workout you can follow in the mornings and afternoons to get your blood flowing...
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