Eggshell Seed Starters

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  The first time I tried this it failed....miserably.  In fact, it failed so badly I wondered if we had to survive on anything I grew from seeds if we would make it through the first season.  Truth be told, the seeds were probably old and hadn't been stored proper- ly.  The second time with new seeds, however, worked like a charm.

One Sunday morning I was making breakfast and as I was cracking eggs in the bowl I got the idea to use eggshells as seed starters.  I've never liked the little black plastic things you buy at the garden center and certainly didn't want them sitting on my kitchen windowsill.  Little egg shells cradled in their carton would look much more cheerful.

I've always had a fondness for nasturtiums and sweet peas.  They were the first seeds I planted in the backyard when I bought my first house.  Nasturtiums never fail to bring a smile to my face when I see them and sweet peas have the most intoxicating aroma and have always attracted hummingbirds to my gardens.  As I wasn't sure how this experiment would turn out, I only planted three shells of nasturtiums and three of sweet peas.  Within ten days, the nasturtiums had pushed through the surface and the sweet peas followed a few days later.

If you want to give this a try, it's incredibly easy.  With a sharp knife, gently tap around the top of the egg.  Once you break through, carefully pick off enough of the shell to empty the contents.  From there, continue to pick off a fair amount of shell so that the opening is large enough to fill easily with potting soil.  Before you fill it with soil, rinse out the shell and let it air dry.  After filling the shells 3/4 full with potting soil, place two seeds in each shell and water.  A tablespoon of water a day seemed to be just the right amount for germination.  Simply place the shells in a warm, sunny location and the seedlings should sprout in the time indicated on the seed packet.  You may need to water the seedlings more as they grow.  As soon as they are well established, transplant to a pot, window box, or flower bed.

Nasturtiums and sweet peas in my first garden

The mantra in our home is "Grow baby, grow" as opposed to "Drill baby, drill". 

Repurposing: Jam Jars

Some people would say I'm cheap.  Others might say I'm frugal.  I choose to think of myself as "resourcefully green".  But seriously, as I've mentioned before, I love finding new uses for objects that have seemingly already served their intended purpose.

I adore repurposing jam jars.....my all time favorite being Bonne Maman jam jars.  From their little red and white gingham lids to the light they emit when used to hold a votive candle, there is something utterly magical about them.  They are scattered around our house taking up residence on tables and the mantel.  The light from the candles seem especially perfect on the nights we decide not to turn on the TV, but instead put on a Diana Krall CD and sit curled up on the sofa reading our books.

You may have noticed one of the Bonne Maman votives in the photos of our Valentine's Day dinner table.  They look equally at home....at least to my eye....dressed up with china or kicking it casual outdoors on a terrace or patio.

They also find many uses in my office.  There is always a jar filled with brightly colored paperclips and butterfly clips on my desk.  Sometimes they are used to hold pencils, pens, and markers, but I always leave the label on as I think it only adds to the charm.  Raspberry Preserves. Orange Marmalade.  Wild Blueberry Preserves.  No matter the flavor....they are all perfect full of jam or empty and awaiting their next incarnation.

I don't know what it is about the French, but they do know how to tug on my desire to repurpose with their charming jars and timeless packaging.  For casual flower arrangements, I prefer the elongated St. Dalfour jar.  Daisies, daffodils, or queen-anne's-lace look especially cheerful and cottage cute above the navy printed label.   

We throw too much away needlessly.  The next time your knife hits the bottom of the jam jar and you get ready to toss it, think about all the things you have in drawers or at the bottom of purses that might find a new home in that vessel previously occupied by unctious sweetness.  Loose buttons.  Tea bags.  Coins.  Stamps.  There are tons of tiny things that could be contained or displayed in a pretty little jam jar.

Origins Box Makeover

I often find myself ranting about our "disposable society" in which perfectly good objects are thrown away.  Mind you, keeping something with the intention of  "repurposing" it and being featured on an episode of Hoarders are vastly different things!  I'm just saying before you toss something, give a little thought as to whether if might serve another purpose.


One of the things I find especially hard to throw away are boxes.  Good solid boxes.  Shipping boxes can be broken down and reused.  Moving boxes....which we seem to use more than anyone else I know....are also easy for reuse.  But what about really "repurposing" something?

A few years ago, I received a gift of Origins products which came in a beautiful green box.  I held onto it with the intention of using it again.....for something.  I found its next incarnation after driving myself crazy every time I opened the bathroom drawer that held my toiletries and make-up.  I could never find what I was looking for, things piled up and jammed the drawer when I tried to open it, and the bottom line?  It was just plain messy.  

With very few supplies and a little time, I converted the gift box into a make-up box that fits inside my bathroom drawer perfectly.

      Supplies:
          Self-sealing cutting board
          Ruler
          X-acto Knife/Scissors
          Double Sided tape
          Pencil
          Decorative paper

I found a fabulous piece of wrapping paper at Paper Source with an antique letter motif perfectly suited to our vintage bathroom and the color of the box.  I love, love, love Paper Source!!!  They have amazing products that could get anyone's head spinning with ideas and I love their DIY philosophy.  On a side note, if you're not near one of their stores, they have a great catalogue and website.

I measured and cut the paper for the lid and bottom of the box (this measurement produced a length of paper that covered the exterior  Origins label, wrapped around the edge and covered part of the interior).  After placing double sided tape around the edge of the backside of the length of paper, I positioned the paper on the box.  When I came to the edge, I made sure to crease the paper well to create a crisp edge.  The last step was to fill the box and place it inside the drawer!

While I used this for make-up, it would work equally well to hold office supplies or jewelry.