In My Haven: April 2022
This April in my haven I'm thinking about sustainability. How do I create a business structure that is sustainable? How do I use materials in a sustainable way both in my business and in my home? With Earth Day celebrated on the 22nd and spring cleaning on everyone's mind, April is the perfect month to focus on how to make better use of all types of goods. Read on for more about how Haven Handmade focuses on sustainability, projects that help replace disposable items, creative ways to use up leftovers, and some eco-minded reading selections.
My Thoughts: Sustainability in my sewing room
In the Haven Handmade Shop: Sustainable gifts
Make it Yourself: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
In the Kitchen: Use up those leftovers
To Read: Planet-friendly picks
All the links from this month's journal can also be found on the In My Haven: April 2022 Pinterest Board.
Sustainability In My Sewing Room
Anyone who sews know that scraps happen. It can be a challenge to use up every inch of a yard of fabric, but it is also guilt-inducing to throw away perfectly good pieces of fabric even if they are small. The appliqué work that I do for Haven Handmade is a great solution to this problem though. I can use even the smallest bits of fabric leftover from other projects to create my free motion stitched appliqué designs. I generally only discard fabric scrap pieces that are less than about 1 or 2 inches wide or long. This means that almost no fabric goes to waste in my sewing room. It's not just fabric that I try to conserve though. Instead of backing the entire appliqué shape with fusible adhesive, I just cut little rectangular “dabs” of it. My roll of fusible adhesive lasts a lot longer this way, saving the business money, and I end up with less waste too. These are just two examples of how Haven Handmade reduces waste. Being a small business is what makes this focus on sustainability possible. I don't have to worry as much about “efficiency” as a large company, so I can make these choices that help reduce waste and increase sustainability. Making sure I don't waste materials is both a smart business practice and personally important.
Sustainable Gifts
One way to make sure that the gifts you give are both meaningful and sustainable is to focus on giving items that will be enjoyed for many years. Kids can quickly lose interest in, grow out of, or break typical toys, stuffed animals or dolls. That's not likely to happen to a Huggable, personalized banner, or Easter basket that is made just for them though. This principle doesn't just apply to giving gifts to kids. A set of placemats is a gift that adults can appreciate for years, as is a throw pillow that perfectly complements your recipient’s tastes. Handmade gifts tend to be more meaningful to the recipient, which translates into being a more sustainable gift too.
Huggable Kid
A Huggable that looks just like your kiddo is a gift that is sure to be cherished for years. And it's only available from Haven Handmade.
Monogram Pillow
While I've seen pillows with initials or monograms on them before, I've never seen any that look as unique as mine. Have you? These would be a wonderful wedding or housewarming gift, and I'm able to match the colors to any home's decor.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We've all heard that we need to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but it can be overwhelming to figure out how to actually follow through. How do we do all three? How much do we need to reduce, reuse, and recycle? How often? Which items? Is it even making a difference? Like I said, it can get overwhelming, which can lead to inaction. When I'm trying to change a habit, I find it easiest to focus on making one small change at a time. I'm more likely to stick to it if I take it one manageable step at a time. So for this month, I'm just focusing on reducing. Here are three easy projects you can make to reduce paper and plastic consumption.
Cloth Napkins: Reduce your use of paper by switching to cloth napkins. I have some cloth napkins that have been in rotation for about eight years now. Imagine how many paper napkins my family has avoided throwing into the garbage because of this easy switch! They make a great sewing project for a beginner or for someone looking for a quick, fulfilling make. This design looks great in so many different fabrics and could not be easier!
Reusable Shopping Totes: Arguably more important than using less paper is using less plastic. If you haven't already converted to using cloth shopping bags, now's the time! I particularly like this tutorial because this tote is designed to be sturdy and fold flat when not in use.
Laminated Cotton Snack Bags: Another source of plastic use that I'm trying to cut back is from zip-top food storage bags. I've reduced my dependence on these some by having a set of reusable silicone storage bags, but they are too bulky to pack in our lunch boxes or for throwing in my purse when I need a snack on-the-go. A set of laminated cotton snack bags would solve this problem, I think. I particularly like that I won't have extra dishes to wash since I can throw them in the washing machine.
Use Up Those Leftovers!
With the rising cost of groceries, I’ve been especially aware of food waste lately. I don't want my family wasting any money on food or adding anything unnecessary to landfills. Making sure we eat everything we buy and cook is the best way for us to accomplish this, and sometimes that means finding ways to use the leftovers.
Fried Rice: Extra bits of meats and vegetables can be chopped up and turned into one of our favorite simple meals, and it is best when made from leftover rice. Pretty much any type of meat or vegetable tastes great with some soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger! I usually don't use a recipe to make fried rice, but this one is a good starting point for how we like to make it.
Castle Breakfast: While I haven't actually made this recipe, I love the concept behind it and think it could be adapted to fit any meal of the day. Really, there is no need to make anything at all. It's basically the idea of assembling what's already in your kitchen in a pleasing way to create your own little buffet, tasting menu, or snack board. It's a great way to make small amounts of fruit, pastries, bread, and other odds and ends feel fancy and fulfilling.
Pack Lunch Boxes: The most common way my family actually uses leftovers is to pack them in our lunch boxes for school. We have stainless steel thermoses that we can pack reheated leftovers in and they stay warm until our lunch break. It may not be that creative, but it saves us from having to prepare something different for our lunch. And. no recipe needed!
Planet-Friendly Picks
I've got three books recommendations to inspire readers of all ages to show our planet a little extra loving kindness this month.
For the littlest readers, I suggest Cool For You by Marianna Linz and Caitlin B. Alexander. It is a simple, but beautifully illustrated, picture book about taking care of the planet.
For young elementary school readers, the book Stella Diaz Never Gives Up by Angela Dominguez is a great pick. When I read this with Joanna, we both found Stella to be a very relatable character. This is the second book in the series, and it tells the story of how Stella works to make new friends and help the environment.
For upper elementary through adults, I suggest No One is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg. This book is a compilation of her speeches on climate action. I listened to the audiobook version and I found it very impactful to listen to her. One caveat though: All her speeches touch on the same topic so it can get repetitive to listen (or read) for a lengthy period of time.
I hope that April is a wonderful month for you and for Mother Earth!
From my haven to yours,
Beth
Disclosure: The links in this post are not affiliate links. I do not receive any compensation for the recommendations I make in my journal. It's just a place where I can write about what I like and think you might too.
