"Cracked Eggs" ~ A Proverbs 31 Story ~ Snippets

Every time I see a cracked egg, I am reminded fondly of my grandmother. You see, my grandfather ran an egg farm and as a peaceful type of fellow, he wasn’t too aggressive as a businessman. When grandmother noticed trays and trays of cracked eggs that were unsellable to his customers (and therefore being wasted), she asked if she could have them. He gave her the go-ahead and she took them to the local restaurants and sold those eggs for half the price. The businesses were delighted with the arrangement which lasted many years and she was able to put aside some savings for their family. Later, she was to use that money to purchase a few beachfront properties that she felt were fairly priced. Grandfather never got involved. He trusted her. These homes (that she rented out) eventually became their retirement. 

Through an old fashioned dose of diligence and resourcefulness, a poor egg rancher was essentially “rich” with her as his wife…

“The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.”

~ Proverbs 31:11-12

$haring Our Frugal Kitchen Reusable Linen Laundry System

“Well, now there is a very excellent, necessary, and womanly accomplishment that my girl should not be without, for it is a help to rich and poor, and the comfort of families depends upon it. This fine talent is neglected nowadays and considered old-fashioned, which is a sad mistake and one that I don't mean to make in bringing up my girl. It should be part of every girl's education, and I know of a most accomplished lady who will teach you in the best and pleasantest manner."

"Oh, what is it?" cried Rose eagerly, charmed to be met in this helpful and cordial way.

"Housekeeping!"

"Is that an accomplsihment?" asked Rose, while her face fell, for she had indulged in all sorts of vague, delightful daydreams.”

~ Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins

Yes indeed, dear Rose, it is a delightful accomplishment! To run a home of your own using all the order and loveliness you can muster up is a fulfilling and nurturing existence. And even the daily rituals of kitchen-linen-keeping can become beautiful if we put our heart into it. For instance, I haven't purchased paper towels or napkins for our home in over 10 years. One reason I enjoy it is because I love the pretty fabrics I get to work with each day. It brings such delight! This has also been an economical blessing and I see the beauty in that! Because of my enthusiasm, I often get asked about the washing of kitchen linens and my laundry process in general.  I think that an efficient laundry system is what keeps this happening in our home and I'm happy to share some methods I have implemented along the way to make this possible.

There are two important factors that make it work for me.

One is having a decent inventory of linens (don't worry, this can be done very frugally!) and the second is having a designated kitchen laundry "outpost". Both of these concepts are key and I'll go into all the nitty-gritty details for all of you detail-loving homemakers out there who share the same interests in daily homemaking routines. There are more of us out there than we realize ;)

First off, to make this run smoothly, it helps to build up a generous supply of cloth napkins.

It works best with pretty ones since you won't mind washing and folding them! But of course, that it entirely my preference. But by having a nice surplus of napkins, you will eliminate the need to wash so frequently which gives you freedom to use real linens in your home. It will remove the stress that you haven't washed a fresh batch quick enough to keep up! It basically allows for more "grace" in your laundering routine. We don't have to worry about having enough table linens when there is plenty of stock to rotate. If you are going to start a system, I recommend having at least 3 - 4 sets to start with. A decent inventory is key to success! And this can be achieved simply and frugally in a manner of ways. 

Frugal ideas to build up your napkin supply:

1. Make your own.

You can achieve this by cutting down old sheets and/or tablecloths which don't fit any tables (or which never get used). You can use my No-Sew "Snip & Rip" process and have a set of 12 in less than 30 minutes! 

I like to make them to match each season and by doing this, it keeps it interesting for the homemaker. You get to see different patterns at different times which adds a bit of delight to the laundry pile. But of course, this is not necessary! I only began doing this when I realized how easy it was to fabricate a napkin with just a snip of the scissors. 

Of course, if you are handy with a sewing machine, you can purchase inexpensive sheets with pretty prints and sew them into napkins. Or, you can even thrift pretty linens and turn them into napkins.  I have found beautiful floral (Ralph Lauren) bedding for $1-2 at a second-hand store that I had such plans for (but to be honest, I ended up just snipping and ripping those too! Pictured above). Many people donate odd and end bedding and these would make fine table linens (just place thrifted fabric in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes to sanitize them -- before putting in your washer -- and then launder the linens in hot water, followed with a nice strong vinegar rinse)! I received these instructions to sanitize linens from an exterminator (interesting but beneficial source, right?) and I so appreciate these handy tips!

2. Buy a set of cloth napkins each time you would normally buy a set of disposable napkins.

Every time you would usually buy the $20 dollar pack of paper towels, invest in a set of napkins instead. They are very affordable at discount stores (Marshall's, Ross, TJ Maxx, Home Goods) and completely inexpensive at thrifts stores. Continue to do this each time you would need to buy more napkins/paper towels and eventually you will have a good supply of inventory. The buying will eventually stop and the money saving will begin! It is much funner (and economical) to purchase a pretty set of napkins for the price of a warehouse bulk purchase of napkins. Every year I would splurge on an attractive set of 12 (which costs around $12-15) and they ended up paying for themselves in the next few months. Not only is your table more of a joy to set, the grocery bill is lowered and good stewardship is being practiced. 

3. Use what you have.

My guess is that you probably have a stash of napkins somewhere. Perhaps they were grandmothers or set aside for special holidays and so forth. Either case you have them and are not using them in any way. Perhaps it is time to bring them out, allow them to get used (even stained!) because what is the purpose of their existence if it isn't to be of service? Start using these sets and slowly add to your collection from the ways shared above. Then, when you have enough accumulated, you can safely remove these from the rotation should you want to preserve them for some reason.

Be practical:

Overall, when choosing fabrics or buying napkins, it is best to utilize dark or patterned napkins so that obvious staining won't be a hindrance in this routine (especially with younger children, more on this later). Even solid napkins can be a problem if you are concerned about stains (the busier the fabric, the more stain-camouflaged they will be).

Convenient Location is Key:

In order to make the napkins convenient to use, I found it helps if they are visible. This is also good for when you have guests. They will look around for a paper towel and napkin and when they see the basket, they realize this is what they should use. We now keep our napkins in a wicker basket on our table. In our other home, we kept them on the lowest shelf of our baker's rack. Either way, this makes for easy access when setting the table and is convenient when putting fresh linens away. Because I have so many, I also have a few baskets scattered in the kitchen dining area that are filled with my surplus of napkins. This is not only for convenience but it is also a pretty but practical decoration.

On ironing and wrinkles:

If I line dry our linens and clothespin them firmly, corner to corner, they dry nice and smooth. In the dryer, if you fold them immediately while hot, they fold up beautiful. There are a few thicker fabrics that crinkle at the corners which can be frustrating but the ones I make (no sew) with light cotton sheets launder well and fold wonderful! 

Additional linens to have on hand -

Reusable Paper Towels:

While napkins are obviously helpful for meals, the paper towel can be re-created into un-paper towels. Once again, one less thing to buy! I've been using these for years and love to make them in flannel "double-ply" fabrics as they are quite absorbable and durable. But, you can also just cut up old clothing, bedding, etc., into squares and use that instead. Some ladies purchase inexpensive towels at Dollar Stores and use these happily (and without labor) as paper towel replacements. To make this convenient, place your version of the un-paper towel in a basket somewhere in the kitchen that is readily available. Anytime there is a spill or kitchen mess, simply grab the un-paper towel to mop it all up!

You will find my un-paper towel tutorial HERE if you would like to sew your own. I have found some delightful floral flannel remnants at second-hand stores that I've turned into lovely un-paper towels for pennies. 

Of course, now that I have finished homeschooling, I have a bit more time so I have also made up some seasonal prints of un-paper towels for our kitchen. It's the little things dear homemaker!

Grease has also been brought up with concern in various conversations. When frying tacos, I have used my un-paper towels as absorbable napkins and will give them a light wash under the kitchen sink with dish soap before placing them to dry overnight (prior to adding to laundry pile). But I will be honest, my husband isn't so thrilled with this idea and he purchased one roll of paper towels purely to be used for absorbing grease (he placed them under the kitchen sink so they are not so easy to access). I have also just used parchment paper to line this type of food but I'll be honest, I don't deep fry too many things. This is an area that you will have to decide what works best for your household as there is no perfect answer (unless you have one?). 

Dishcloth DIY:

I also thought to share this little project as it fits into the general theme of the post. You can repurpose worn-out bath towels (or in this case a damaged and vintage, hole-filled terrycloth tablecloth) into cottage-style dish rags. Simple cut out squares of approximately 12" or so (I just used a washcloth as a pattern) of the undamaged areas of the chosen linens. You can either hem the entire cloth (if that is the case you may want to cut out a larger size) or use a bias tape and sew around the perimeter. I used leftover strips of different fabrics from my leftover sewing projects and created my own edging with them. It was fun to make a set of these dishcloths in various designs. Rick-rack edging would also be darling for this! I use the dishcloths (shared above) to wipe and clean our tabletops, countertops and stovetop (basically, the more sanitary cleaning while the un-paper towels deal with the dirty floor messes and spills).

Tablecloth Tips:

Some of us have tables that need covering before setting out meals and/or they like to keep a constant tablecloth on the table for decoration. This is the case for me. And since I don't want to wash a tablecloth for every meal I prepare, I have found some useful products for laundry convenience.

When we had younglings, we always used an oil-cloth tablecloth because of its ultra slick surface (shown above). These make it VERY easy to wipe up spills, protects the wood or painted surface on your table, lessens your laundry load while being pretty at the same time (you can find them in a variety of prints -- I always loved the vintage floral or checkered designs). You can find beautiful oilcloth patterns at your local fabric store and simply have it cut to size (with no sewing necessary). The best part is that these tablecloths don't require any laundering!

This fabric also makes for convenient coasters (tutorial here).

Please keep in mind, there is a difference between an "oilcloth" tablecloth and a "vinyl" tablecloth (which are often found at discount stores a-plenty). While the vinyl tablecloths (pictured above) are less expensive, they can be frustrating to maintain. Because of their flannel-backing, they can get slippery when wiping and are less sturdy than a traditional oilcloth tablecloth. Of course, either will do for the purpose of reducing laundry but I prefer the traditional oilcloth as it is much more durable and user-friendly. It is definitely worth the extra investment because the oilcloth can hold up for years with proper care and they wipe clean with ease (and don't have the frustrating "move everywhere" effect). But I won't pretend I haven't got lured into buying the vinyl when they have cute patterns!

Now that our family is older, I prefer using the "laminated cotton" tablecloths (pictured above). These too are wipeable and can be used all week long if maintained properly. I just wipe the crumbs off the table each evening and then spray any stains with my all-purpose cleaner and it is as good as new! The laminated cotton tablecloths appear more like a "normal" cotton cloth which is lovely (but they are dipped in some kind of laminate). However, they would be a bit harder to maintain with toddlers as the surface isn't as slick and would require "spot" cleaning (unlike oilcloth which wipes away in a swipe of the rag!). Also, the "laminated tablecloths" need to be laundered every week to keep them fresh while the oilcloth does not.

Sponge $avings and other Washing Sentiments:

Regarding the dish-washing system, I personally use a sponge (cut-in-half to extend the life of the sponge) to wash all my pots and pans. The sponges can be placed in the dishwasher to sterilize them as necessary (if you don't have a dishwasher, it can be washed in the washing machine with your normal kitchen linens). 

I use my dishcloths to wipe/clean our tabletops, countertops and stovetop. I end up changing out my dishcloth every day or so depending on the work it has done in a day. I don't use my dishcloths or kitchen sponges to wipe up spills on the floor, etc. (as that would contaminate it for the surface cleaning I do in the kitchen).

I use the un-paper towels for more of the "dirty work" in the kitchen.

The "Kitchen Linen Laundry Basket" is a Beautiful Tool:

And finally, the most important aspect of this system for me (besides the abundance of napkins) has been the "kitchen linen laundry basket" (aka the designated kitchen laundry "outpost"). I keep this hamper right near the kitchen so that as soon as we clear the table, the soiled linens get tossed inside. It is also the convenient place to throw in your dirty dish towels and kitchen rags (and tablecloths if you are using). Once this hamper is full, I know it is time to put in a load of wash! For our smaller household it is only necessary to wash once a week but larger households may have to wash twice a week. Children can be in charge of folding the linens as they are so easy and this makes it super simple for dear mother. It is important to note that no other laundry gets placed in this. You want to keep it kitchen oriented so that you have control of seeing when it is time to wash your table linens AND that you can easily place everything inside your washer without needing to sort through anything. Plus, you will be treating these linens a bit different in the washing machine which makes even more sense to keep them all together.

I have no issues with mold when I place damp kitchen towels inside since I wash these once a week and it is "airy" in a hamper. However, with dishcloths that are completely wet, I leave them overnight on the sink to dry a bit better before adding to the hamper. 

I have seen some darling hampers at thrift stores inexpensively. It kills me to not buy them all and bring them home! Perhaps you can rescue one for me for this little household project?!

Washing the Linens:

Doing a large load using hot water (which I personally like to use for table linens) costs approximately $1 per load (according to some quick Google searches) which still makes this a very cost efficient system. Because there is raw meat involved in kitchen work and a plethora of spices, oils and smears (I'll stop here), I like to sanitize my kitchen linens a bit more than my normal wash loads. Once every two months, once the laundry agitates and the soap is in, I'll add some baking soda, or borax (or Oxy-Clean if it really needs it) and let the wash agitate a minute more and then stop the washer and let the mixture soak overnight. In the morning, I will press start and finish the wash cycle.

On a daily basis, I will use my lemon infused vinegar as a fabric softener to freshen things up. When I run out of my infused vinegar, I will add a scoop of baking soda to the loads for extra cleaning power. I will be honest, I do not individually treat each napkin for stains. I NEVER DO (and my napkins always "appear clean"). That would make this concept too burdensome! I strategically choose fabrics that are printed enough that a little stain here or there won't harm the overall appearance. A set of plain white napkins, for instance, would not be used on my daily dinner table (that is something I would reserve for special events). Once again, a dark or patterned napkin is the ideal choice. 

EXTRA FRUGAL SUGGESTIONS --

There are years we had to live quite lean and I had to utilize some of these concepts below. Perhaps you are at this point in your life? If so, these ideas may be helpful for you. Any sacrifice you make to stay home is worth it dear ladies!

Ideas to Reduce Wash Loads:

If constant washing of linens is a concern, consider utilizing the Victorian Era technique of using individual napkin rings. Each person should have something to distinguish theirs from all the rest (perhaps a different color per person or another form of identification) so that each person can reuse their own napkin for all the meals in a day (the Victorians would make it stretch until wash day attempting to change them at least 2 - 3 times per week). Though modern day napkin rings are more for show, you can see there was once a purpose beyond a beautiful display and that was the beauty of less laundry!

Another idea I learned from this frugal living book was to invert your "used" napkin for the next meal so that you have a clean surface to start with. If you are really thrifty, you can get away with folding one way, then the other way for the next meal and then finally place the napkin inside out. I personally wouldn't recommend going that far if you are serving sticky meals such as ribs or any other greasy food which would be less than desirable to reuse (but I definitely have done the inside out method to stretch it one more meal when times where tight!).

Ways to Save Even More Money:

For extra savings, consider hanging out your lovely linens to dry instead of using a dryer. They look so beautiful flying on the line and there are many benefits to using a clothesline. Just don't leave them out all day when very hot and sunny because the sun does bleach (which is good to some extent because it disinfects your linens)! But it may also fade your linens if you keep them out all day.

You can also make your own stain treatment spray, fabric softener and laundry detergent to save money.

And lastly dear reader, my constant reminder here on this little blog... It is not about whether or not you use cloth napkins or in the end, if you use disposable paper napkins! The most important part is that you are preparing a table for your loved ones each night, not only nourishing them with food, but with precious prayers and family fellowship. The "breaking of bread" together in the home was a significant part of the Lord's ministry and should be just as important in the ministry to your family as "keeper of the home".

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying,

This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."

~ Luke 22:19

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

~ Acts 2:42 (ESV)

"Wisdom has built her house...

she has also furnished her table...."

~ Excerpts from Proverbs 9:1-2

Have a beautiful day and please feel free to share your frugal, kitchen linen laundry system in the comments! It is fun to learn from one another and these kinds of homemaking tips are always appreciated!

Abigail's Pantry ~ A Lesson in Opportunity, Pantry & Preparedness

“Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys…”

~ 1 Samuel 25:18

Building up our pantry affordably is one of my favorite homemaking hobbies and a responsibility I feel as keeper of the home. To make sure we have provisions through the thick and thin is a part of my job. The Proverbs 31 woman was prepared in her household, she did not fear for the future. Her skills and hardworking hands kept her family warm, well fed and comfortable. The wise Abigail of the Bible even used her extensive pantry provisions to save her household (1 Samuel 25:18)! Which brings me to my story...

A few months ago, I had been processing apples to add to our pantry shelves when I received a call from my uncle offering me a bag of persimmons.

I politely declined as I was in "apple mode" at the time and was not much of a persimmon fan.

But the words that I have type many times before had haunted me, “waste not, want not.”

Here I had an opportunity to fill my pantry with free organic food and I turned it down because the timing wasn’t perfect and the fruit wasn’t a favorite! With the rising cost of food, filling the pantry inexpensively may become more challenging and everything should be viewed as an opportunity. Even the more unconventional foods should be creatively considered to meet the needs of your household.

I quickly responded back with a change of heart and was surprisingly delighted when the persimmons arrived! They reminded me of the kind of fruit you would see illustrated in a Kate Greenaway book. They had a beautiful, bright orange color and the sweetest of green stems!

But, I almost missed them.

Sometimes opportunity presents itself at inconvenient times but this is where the housewife can glean from Ma Ingalls and turn blackbirds into pie!

“During their lifetimes, every man and woman will stumble across a great opportunity. Sadly, most of them will simply pick themselves up, dust themselves down and carry on as if nothing ever happened.” 

~ Winston S. Churchill

Though this example is small indeed, I don’t want to be one of those people!

“Thrift is poetic because it is creative;

waste is unpoetic because it is waste.” 

~ G.K. Chesterton

Being creative with what is seasonally available and multiplying our resources into various blessings is something I enjoy doing as keeper of the home. These items could easily have been discarded but instead have been useful additions to the pantry. Let’s ponder on a few examples of how the homemaker can be intentional with building her provisions frugally:

- apple peels leftover from my pie filling were dehydrated and crumbled and mixed with loose black tea to make a seasonal artisan tea blend. These are expensive to buy but simple to make and would be a lovely gift when wrapped attractively. Also, these peels are enhancing the nutrients of a simple pot of tea! Apple peel is an excellent source of fiber, it boasts vitamin C and antioxidants as well. Scientific research shows that apple peels also provide joint comfort and mobility along with supporting cardiovascular health. The peel of the apple has up to six times the amount of antioxidants compared to the flesh of an apple. So a frugal project is also a health building one as well!

- the remainder of the apple peels will be ground into a homemade fiber powder (yes, they are also very high in fiber!) for smoothies, added to cinnamon oatmeal and eaten as “chips” (more ideas utilizing fruit peels are found in our ebook- 100+ DIY Projects to Make with Fruit Scraps).

- a bag of free persimmons were almost left to rot under a backyard tree (and I almost let them 😞). Instead of being wasted, they have been sliced and dehydrated as a little treat for us (nature’s version of “candy corn”). We have found them to be absolutely delicious this way! I’ve also read that when thoroughly dried, they can be ground into a natural sugar! Though persimmons aren’t something I would normally buy, the gifted fruit has now been transformed into something we all enjoy. And of course, there is always persimmon bread and persimmon cookies to entice even the leeriest of eaters!

“Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys…”

~ 1 Samuel 25:18

As an additional lesson from Abigail, if we were to look at this one verse in the Bible, we can see the many homemaking skills that were involved to make this transaction happen (the transaction which saved her household!). To have the skills to do these things is preparedness in itself.

- There was the making of "bread" and the surplus of it (two hundred loaves!) for her large household. We are fortunate enough to have the ability to make large batches of bread and freeze it for the future!

- The "two skins of wine" can be compared to other fermented drinks the homemaker can easily make such as "apple scrap vinegar" and "kombucha". These both have a beautiful shelf life when properly stored and fermenting is one more skill we can add to our learning lists (not to mention the numerous health benefits of fermented food!).

- The "five sheep already dressed" could symbolize a farm setting with food at our fingertips, or for the city dweller, it can mean having a good surplus of meat in the freezer carefully chosen at times of discount. 

- The "roasted grain" can symbolize our ability to store many grains in bulk. It is a reminder to keep building up our pantry.

- The "one hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs" are clearly dehydrated foods. This is yet another item we can all learn to do and is so useful! You can often find dehydrators (this is the one I have and love - affiliate link) in thrift stores if you don't own one. As I age, I am finding I am loving the ease of this type of food preservation as it is quite simple! I like to dice up excess garden zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and any other soupy vegetable and have them all ready for autumn and winter menus. The drying of citrus slices is also a fun seasonal project with many uses!

And that is the beauty of a Proverbs 31-inspired homemaker, she turns trash into treasure. With her care and homemaking wisdom, she turns waste into wealth. With her vast array of skills, she turns everything in her path into a beautiful blessing!

It is a poetic life indeed, Mr. Chesterton.

Hospitality During Hard Times ~ Snippets

 

"My great-grandmother used to share how difficult times were and how hard the day-to-day living was during the Civil War. There was no tea to drink, and certainly no lemons for lemonade, which was a favorite Southern drink. However, she set a fine example of gracious hospitality even then. When guests came, she would go to the well or to the spring and fetch cold water. She served this refreshment in her grand silver Tea Tipper, an ornate tea pot… The cup she offered her guest was the one without the chip on the rim. Grandma never lost her sense of giving. 

The spirit of gracious hospitality lives in each of us regardless of our circumstances. The ambiance we create for our guests is warm, genuine hospitality... not based on what we have or what we can buy."

~ Alda Ellis, The Gentle Art of Hospitality (affiliate link)

When we were living on an extremely tight income, my husband and I still desired to have company. I found that I could serve very economical food in a delicious way if I put just a bit more effort into the meal. For instance, I would slow simmer a batch of beans in homemade, nourishing stock. I would serve the beans on handmade flour tortillas with a side of shredded garden greens, freshly made tomato salsa and a bowl of hand-shredded cheese. There is something very special and delicious about a burrito (or anything else for that matter) when it’s made with from-scratch ingredients… It elevates a humble meal.

Hospitality is a beautiful component in a believer's life. So many blessings come from opening your home to others -- family bonds grow stronger, friendships are built and/or strengthened and comfort and/or joy is given to the lonely or grieving guest. These are all things that the Almighty commends.

So many people have been alienated for so long, it is time to open our doors and love one another… and be “hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy..." ~ Titus 1:8

"Do not forget to entertain strangers,

for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

 ~ Hebrews 13:2

🍞 🧺 🕯 

Here is my tortilla recipe and ideas with beans in case you’d like to host a frugal, from scratch meal…

One Thrifted Twin Sheet Repurposed into 4 Different Items

 “Industry, perseverance, and frugality make fortune yield.”

~ Benjamin Franklin

One of the things I love to look for in thrift stores are lovely floral sheets (but of course you know that if you are a reader of this little blog ♥️). However, these repurposed projects can be prepared with any style pattern you love and is a fun and frugal way to add to your household linen supply. I shared a project with this twin sheet awhile back and now I'd like to share what was done with the remaining scraps of fabric.

First off, I'm thrilled with how I was able to make 12 new napkins without the use of a sewing machine! I’m in love with this “snip and rip” process. I call them “prairie” napkins ♥️ A step-by step tutorial is shared HERE if you are interested! 

I was also able to make up some "prairie style" tea-towels!

I know these projects may seem unnecessary when you can purchase and use the plain flour sack towels... But I believe in the benefits of cultivating beauty in the home on the smallest scale and using the brain endowed by the Almighty for creative pursuits (even of the simplest kind). There must be something therapeutic when you mimic the master Creator and become a designer as well. It is also quite rewarding to do these types of projects with frugality in mind — using the scraps of what you have around you to transform and renew.

To make the set of 12 dinner napkins, it was necessary to tear off all four corners of my thrifted sheet. I then used those edges to embellish the hem of these flour sack towels. Being the edges of the sheet were hemmed on one side, all I had to do was hem the ripped edge and sew onto the border of the flour sack towel for an easy cottage style tea-towel. 

🤍🥀🪡 

“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul

than their simplicity might suggest."

~ Thomas Moore

The third project is repurposing the leftover strips of the sheet into cottage-style ribbon.

This is such an easy and fun way to use up the last of your scraps of anything really. Simply snip the fabric and tear it into strips. Pull off any stray pieces of thread and iron it nice and pretty before folding it up or storing it on a spool. This sweet ribbon will decorate gifts, tie up bundles around the house or be used in any way you can dream up! 

Obviously you make these to taste. A calico fabric or sheet would make homespun ribbon. A geometric sheet or fabric would make a modern ribbon. A larger floral print would make a romantic one.

I'll also admit to splurging on some wooden spools to give this project a little special boost (and make them a bit more gift-able). 

This is the last project made with this sweet thrifted twin sheet. Jar covers! All you need are some squares and/or circles cut to the proper size of the jar and you have a darling final use of all that fabric! These can be used for home-canned foods or fermenting projects such as kombucha, sourdough starter, etc.

“I just try to look on the bright side of things; that helps one amazingly. Why, you’ve no idea how much goodness and sunshine you can get out of the most unpromising things, if you make the best of them.” 

~ Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl

🤍🥀🪡

It kind of amazes me at how much goodness was created from one twin sheet! Imagine what you can do with a larger size. To make a dozen dinner napkins, embellished tea towels, homemade ribbon and jar covers from one piece of fabric (which all cost less than a few dollars) makes me quite happy! Do any of these ideas interest you? Do tell!

DIY~ How to Make & Can Fruit Syrups & Jelly {From Discarded Peels & Pieces} Using Just Sugar & Scraps!

"And those mysterious fruit trees trained along the southern wall. Peaches? Nectarines? Victorian plums? They would have to wait and see. Oh, the bottlings, and the dryings and the storings!" 

~ Mary Norton, The Borrowers

If you are anything like myself and are trying to stretch the fruit in your household (and add to the pantry frugally) then you will love this nifty and thrifty canning recipe (shared from our Ebook here). You see, our fruit trees are a year from being productive and so we are forced to buy fruit. Here is a way to get every pennies' worth! Simply save up all your washed peelings, unspoiled pieces and meaty pits from your preserving projects, pie creations, turnovers, etc., and you can make a delicious fruit syrup or jelly from them! This will work for peaches, nectarines, pears and plums, to name a few (perhaps even apricots!). The only other ingredients you will need is sugar and water.

Method #1 (Slow Cooker)

The beauty of this little side-project using the slow cooker is that it can be dealt with the next day after your "main project" (the one in which you created the fruit scraps in the first place) is completed. Simply toss all the leftover fruit scraps as you go (peels are perfect and even the unbroken meaty pits -- but avoiding any moldy pieces) into your crockpot and then place it in your fridge until bedtime (if you don't have a slow cooker * and want to try another method, keep reading). 

Now, add enough water to just cover the scraps and turn the crock pot on low. Let this slowly simmer overnight (about 6 - 8 hours) while you sleep and dream of sweet syrups and jelly for your pantry.

Method #2 (Stove Top)

Alternatively, if you do not want to do the crock pot method, you can also cover the peels and cast off pieces with water and slowly cook in a covered saucepan until the produce is soft and releases its juices. (Note: Begin following the remaining recipe at the straining point shared below).

Turn off the crock pot when you wake up and strain the contents once it cools down a bit (a few hours is fine as I waited until my morning routine was finished before I continued this).

To strain the juice, we lined a stock pot with a large paint strainer and dumped the cooled contents inside. You can use whatever system works for you such as a fine cheesecloth or jelly bag.

Then we gathered it up like a jelly bag and let it hang over the pot in order to drain the excess liquid. Press any remaining juice through and make sure to measure the final volume of fruit water.

Next, place your measured juice in a large enough pot and bring it to a raging boil. Now that it is boiling aggressively, add your sugar.

You will need half the amount of sugar as there is liquid for this recipe. For instance, our liquid measured out at 10 cups so I added 5 cups of sugar.

Boil this mixture rapidly until it reaches a thicker consistency. This will take some time and is a good moment to get all your canning gear in order. It is not necessary to stir the syrup continuously, just once in a while to make sure nothing is burning at the bottom (which it shouldn't).

Here is an approximate guideline to get the desired results:

For fruit syrup ~ 

Boil until approximately a third of the mixture evaporates and is to desired thickness (or until thermometer reaches about 218 degrees Fahrenheit for a nice, thick, pancake syrup consistency).

For fruit jelly ~ 

Boil until approximately half of the mixture evaporates (or until thermometer reaches setting point at 220 degrees Fahrenheit).

When you reach the desired consistency, ladle the hot fruit liquid into hot, sterilized jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rims, adjust the canning lids and process for 5 minutes in a boiling water bath. For more detailed step by step canning directions, visit here.

Alternatively, you can also store your finished products in the refrigerator and consume them within a few months.

Isn't this lovely? You get all this for your pantry with just a bit of sugar and scraps. I could cry :) Obviously, the syrup would be amazing over pancakes, waffles, yogurt, ice cream and oatmeal. The jelly version would be excellent for spreading over toast, scones, biscuits and freshly baked muffins. This would even work for our fruit and grain cereal bar recipe!

Shelf Life: Approx. 1 year

Are you ready to save your scrap pieces and peelings from fruit to create additional products for your pantry, medicine cabinet, bathroom shelves, kitchen table and more? It truly is a marvelous thing! You will find at least 100 more recipes (with matching labels) on how to use up your fruit scraps in our e-book here! Happy homemaking!

All the fine print: This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). This recipe was inspired and adapted from the Clemson Cooperative Extension Office.