Functionista

Repurposed Bulletin Board

Here's a great weekend project to spruce up a studio, craft room or kid's room.  By reusing an old bulletin or corkboard, you can add organization and creatively to a room.  And this project is very easy to remove should your style or needs for a room change. 

The following is needed for this corkboard wall rail project: 

1. An old corkboard (or you can buy new ones from Ikea - $6/each) - make sure the cork is backed with a harder surface so your pins don't go into the wall

2. A handful of small nails - around 1" long

3. Map or push pins (I found these colorful ones at Staples - $5/200)

4. Tools: Hammer, level, tape measure, utility knife and cutting surface

 

Step One:

Decide how wide you want your rail to be.  Mine is 5 inches.  Using your cutting surface and utility knife, cut your piece of corkboard into strips in your desired width.  You will also have to cut the strips to fit along each wall and around windows and doors.  I put mine on two walls in my studio and one of the walls has two windows.

Step Two:

Measure how far up the wall you want your corkrail.  Mine is right at eye level.  Start at the doorway or corner of the room and nail in your first strip of corkboard.  Use the level to make sure the strip is parallel with the floor.  Keep adding strips until you have wrapped around your desired walls or room area.  I used 4 nails for each strip, 1 at every corner.  Make sure the corkrail is secure but try to use the fewest nails possible.

Step Three:

Pin whatever you want onto the corkrail and change it whenever you want.  I chose this project for my studio since I am always rearranging color palettes and fabric swatches for whatever season I'm designing for.  I also love to hang up magazine clippings and photos of ideas for new products I want to test.

The end results:

  
Now when I step into my studio I am greeted by inspiration as well as organization! 

Another great thing about this project is when you're ready to take it down, all you need is some spackle and touch-up paint to remove all evidence of it.

 

Brilliant Bebe au Lait Bibs

These ingenious bibs from Bebe au Lait® are perfect for any Functionista parent.  Not only are they stylish, but they attach in the front via magnets.  So you can forget the hassle of snapping or velcroing a bib behind your toddler's neck while he or she sticks their hand in the pureed carrots! 

Made from 100% cotton terry, these bibs are machine washable and, because they have four different sides, they can be used twice as long as conventional bibs.  Check out all the stylish patterns and colors at: http://shop.bebeaulait.com/bibs.  They cost $16.00 each and can be purchased on the Bebe au Lait website and at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Thanks so much to a soon-to-be-mommy Functionista fan for bringing these smart bibs to our attention!  Every parent who does too much laundry thanks you!

DIY Chicken Stock

Making your own chicken stock can seem like a daunting task.  But you don't have to be a Food Network chef to follow these simple steps for a delicious stock that is made from a repurposed, store-cooked roaster.  Try it this weekend!

Ingredients:

Chicken:

I love picking up a precooked roaster from the grocery store for a quick weeknight dinner.  After using the breast and thigh meat, the rest of the chicken can be used to make stock, instead of being thrown away.  The bones and skin have lots of flavor and are perfect for stock.  Some people even pound the bones before adding them to the pot, but this isn't necessary.  You should remove some of the skin of the roaster if it is coated with too many spices.

Veggies: 

I keep a tupperware container in the freezer for halves of onions, the green tops of leeks, celery and carrot tops, etc.  I throw any leftover parts of veggies that have flavor and are washed into the freezer container to be ready for the next time I make stock.  All the veggies should be cut into similar sized sections so that flavor is evenly distributed.  Keeping leftover veggies in the stock container is another way of reusing ingredients that might otherwise have been thrown out. 

Seasonings:

The most common seasonings are salt, pepper, parsley, thyme, tarragon and garlic.  I try to use fresh herbs whenever I have them on hand, but dried herbs are fine in a pinch (which is all you should use since they are more concentrated than the fresh version).  I also use oregano and bay leaf.  I always put 3 to 4 large bay leaves into any soup or stock I am simmering for a long time.  Use salt and pepper to taste, keeping in mind any of your family members' dietary restrictions.  If you want to use garlic, throw a clove or two directly into the pot.

Cooking the Stock:

Add all the ingredients into a large stockpot.  Fill with water so that all the ingredients are covered.  Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes, then lower to a simmer and cook uncovered for 3 to 4 hours.  This doesn't have to be exact.  Just a warning: Your house is going to smell amazing and you are going to feel like the Barefoot Contessa.

Finishing the Stock:

What you'll need:

A large bowl, a fine mesh strainer (you can also use a cheesecloth if you want your stock strained even more), a large liquid measuring cup, and containers to store your stock (I use one-quart containers from my local Chinese takeout place), larger containers are great if you use stock for soups or risotto, but you can use any size containers you wish.

First, with a pair of tongs, take out all of the large pieces of chicken, veggies and bay leaves from the stockpot and put into the mesh strainer on top of the bowl.  Let these pieces drain all of their liquid and then discard.  Pour all of this stock back in with the remaining liquid in the stockpot.  Ladle the stock into the strainer and bowl in thirds, stopping to transfer the stock into a measuring cup before pouring into your storage containers.

Storing the Stock:

The finished stock should be slightly darker than the color of honey (the kind in the bear container).  If you are going to use your stock in the next couple of days then you can store it in the fridge.  Leave the fat on top until you are ready to use it.  This protects the stock from bacteria.  To remove the fat, use a spoon to ladle off the top layer.  If it going to be longer than a couple of days before you are going to use the stock, store it in the freezer. Again, leave the layer of fat on the top while it is in the freezer.  When you are ready to use, remove from the freezer and run the bottom of the container under hot water to release the solid stock from the container.  With a chef's knife, cut off the white layer of fat from the rest of the stock.  Now the stock is ready to be defrosted in a saucepan or directly into a soup base.

Making your own chicken stock is perfect for everyone who wants to:

1. Save money

2. Use ingredients that would otherwise be discarded them

3. Control the amount of salt and preservatives they are feeding their family

Have fun experimenting with this great recipe that encompasses all that Functionista believes in!

Dryer Sheet Snowflakes

Since most of the country has snow on the mind, here is a great winter project for all ages!  Dryer sheets are great at removing static in the dryer.  Now you can extend their life after they have done their job for your laundry.

Use the directions here for folding the dryer sheets and making various snowflake shapes.   To cut, use fabric scissors.  Try different sizes of squares and shapes to make unique combinations of snowflakes.  I prefer using the dryer sheets after they come out of the dryer because they have a fluffy softness that looks like real snow.   You can also use fresh dryer sheets if you want a crisper look, and they will also release their fresh scent when they get warm.

These can be used throughout the house (taped on windows, hung from the ceiling or along banisters, etc.) and are a great way to decorate after all the holiday decorations have been taken down.  Include the whole family in this creative craft and open their minds to extending materials' lives beyond their intended purpose.

iAdore Store

Functionista doesn't normally toot her own horn so here comes one long blow.  The new iAdore Store on Etsy's Functionista site is selling iPhone and iPod cases that are lined in microfiber.  Now your igadget can look good both in and out of its case.  These handmade sleeve cases make getting to your phone quick and easy.  They are also multifunctional: Sliding your igadget into the case wipes it clean of smudges and fingerprints.  If extra attention is needed, then a quick rubdown inside the case is all you have to do.  The cases are machine washable and since they are reusable, they are so much better for the environment than plastic cases or cleaning sprays.  They come in lots of vintage fabric patterns and colors.  Find one to match your personal style on Etsy today!

Crafty, cheap wrapping idea

This great idea comes from my lovely husband.  He was hanging out with me in my sewing room, playing with all the scrap material around.  He started tying scrap-strips together and came up with this great way to wrap a pretty box.  It's eco-friendly, inexpensive, and made from stuff you already have lying around.  

The above fabric strips are leftovers from serging projects, but you can also just cut thin pieces of selvage off any fabric you have around.  The more varied, the better.  It also helps when you wrap them around a great-looking box, like this Diptyque candle (their Fig scent is amazing, pricey, but worth it when you are looking to splurge).

The Undone Buns

I'm sure you have seen commercials for Goody's Spin Pin.  I am always looking for easy ways to make my hair look good, so I was intrigued.  First, it was really hard to find, and I live in Center City Philadelphia.  When I did find a box it was for blondes but I got it anyway. I finally found it at WalMart (which shows my desperation, since I usually refuse to shop here) and it was $5.99 for a pack of two.

The concept of the pin is similar to a corkscrew; you make a bun and then twist the pins in: one from the top and one from the bottom.  My hair is very fine and straight and the one bun kept falling out.  I was not impressed.

Then I tried two side buns using one on each.  This worked perfectly.  Besides being called "Heidi" by a total stranger, which is actually a compliment now that I am 30, they looked cute in a messy way, and held throughout the day.  The best thing about the pin is that it is so light it doesn't pull at your scalp.  It also doesn't leave an unattractive kink in your hair when it is removed, just a graceful curl from the bun.  

While Functionista can't wholeheartedly recommend the Spin Pin, it does have its benefits.  Try it if you like new stuff, but don't expect a miracle.

Colorful Chopsticks

So you've mastered the art of eating with two sticks.  To celebrate, upgrade the boring pale wooden takeout freebies with these colorful ones from Design Within Reach. 

These lacquered wooden chopsticks can be mixed and matched for any eating experience.  I keep them displayed in a cool juice glass on my kitchen counter so they are easily accessible and decorative at the same time.

While a little pricey, $35 for 24, which comes out to $3 a pair, they elevate any meal, and I am always happy to find reusable products to replace things that often get tossed out.  All in all, it's a small price to pay for mood elevators in a non-pill form!

Iced coffee carafe

Now that it is summertime, I love drinking iced coffee.  I still have my traditional cup in the morning, but as a little pick-me-up in the afternoon, I have it iced.  Since I like my coffee a very particular way, and I dislike spending $1.99 or more each time, I love making it myself.  One afternoon, as I was dumping out the leftover coffee from my morning cup, I realized what a waste it was to make another pot -- more electricity, another filter, and additional coffee and water.  This sparked an idea that I have been using all spring, and now summer, long.

Since I always have leftover coffee in the pot from my morning cup, I transfer it to a carafe that can be stored in the refrigerator.  This can last up to a week.  I make sure to sweeten if when it is still hot so that the sugar dissolves.  I found this carafe from Weck at Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, Calif.  It reminds me of a trip I took with my husband to Big Sur.

I also use this leftover coffee to make coffee ice cubes.  These are great for hot weather and high humidity because they won't water down your drink when they melt.  I also freeze them already sweetened so that I have the same sugar-coffee ratio.  I have found that these last about a month, but I love using them so they have never lasted longer than a week in my freezer!

I also found this reusable cold drink cup from Copco at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $9.99.  I can make coffee at home and take it on the road.  This is another great way to use less plastic in day-to-day life.  There are similar cups like this at Starbucks, Target, and Amazon.

Charcoal Cube Refrigerator Deodorizer

I always forget to change the baking soda box in the refrigerator.  I'm reminded when I open the door and the smell of old chinese food accosts me.  While watching an episode of "Food Detectives," Ted Allen introduced  me to the power of charcoal.  When I went to go buy a refrigerator version, the only place that sold it was Linens 'n Things.  Unfortunately, they were in the process of going out of business so I never got one.  Then at Christmas, guess what was waiting for me under the tree?  That's right, the Kuro Coal Refrigerator Cube.

My family thought I was crazy, but I couldn't wait to get home from my inlaws' to try it.  And it doesn't disappoint.  The fridge smell better than it ever did with a box of Arm & Hammer.  It also lasts for years, saves money (five years of the stick-on baking soda package costs $39.80), and is good for the environment.  When it has exhausted its usefulness it can be ground up and mixed into garden soil.

Here's how it looks in my fridge.

 

The Kuro Cube is $25 and can be found on www.dwr.com.