teaching kids to recyle

Subject: Recycle Spare Clothes Buttons and yarn scraps

Hi Fellow "Tree Huggers",
Over the years I've asked my friends to donate their old holiday
cards
(the ones they usually toss in the garbage after the holiday). I use
them in my classroom with my first grade students. We keep the image
and toss the portions written on in the recycle bin. Lots of folks
responded and I am thankful.

Now I have another idea. I would like to know if anyone would like
to
donate spare clothes buttons and unused yarn scraps.
These items are fun and safe for kids to work with. In the past we
have used them to make frames, planters, holiday decoration. I've
even incorporated them in my science and math lessons. So if you
have
a bunch of stuff gathering dust in a box, please let use help you put
it to good use. All sizes and shapes are welcomed.
If you are interested in making a donation, please contact me at:
Working together we can begin to teach kids that recycle in fun and
good for our planet.

As a part of our US history -- buttons always went into a button box!
A button box was a real treasure to the women, who used and reused
buttons. My grandmother and mother, and now I, wouldn't consider
purchasing a button until sifting through the button box and being
absolutely certain that the "right" button wasn't lurking inside just
waiting to be used again. Anytime I have a worn out piece of clothing
to be thrown away or torn into rags for the rag bag, I always cut off
the buttons and add them to the button box! Grandma's button box was
a wooden box with a hinged lid, about the size of a small shoe box,
and Mama's button box was the same one Grandma had had, plus Grandma's
buttons. My sister now has the box and buttons, and I started my own
button box, which is a hinged tin.

As to yarn scraps, any that are large enough to knit a couple of
square inches are saved, and later used as color accents in knitting
projects. When I occasionally go on a clean-out frenzy I toss all
extra skeins and balls into a large bag and donate them to the local
senior citizens center, where they are turned into hats, scarves, and
mittens for needy children. (There are many members there who love
working with yarns but can't afford them, so they enjoy designing and
making things for needy folks.) Wee little scraps of just a few
inches of yarn are things I cut into pieces about 1" long, tuck into a
bag, and then toss out in the yard for the birds during nesting
season.

"Mary" wrote in message
...
As a part of our US history -- buttons always went into a button box!
A button box was a real treasure to the women, who used and reused
buttons.

It's not just US history!

My grandmother and mother, and now I, wouldn't consider
purchasing a button until sifting through the button box and being
absolutely certain that the "right" button wasn't lurking inside just
waiting to be used again.

Nor would I - but more often than not there's not exactly the right colour,
the right size or sufficient of one design :-(

I had to buy eight buttons for my waistcoat, There were only six suitable
ones in my store and it needed seven.

Mary

On Jul 11, 12:10*pm, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"Mary" wrote in message

...

As a part of our US history -- buttons always went into a button box!
A button box was a real treasure to the women, who used and reused
buttons.

It's not just US history!

My grandmother and mother, and now I, wouldn't consider
purchasing a button until sifting through the button box and being
absolutely certain that the "right" button wasn't lurking inside just
waiting to be used again.

Nor would I - but more often than not there's not exactly the right colour,
the right size or sufficient of one design :-(

I had to buy eight buttons for my waistcoat, There were only six suitable
ones in my store and it needed seven.

That always happens to me, too. However, the button tin is always
great
if I lose ONE button from a blouse.

Higs,
Katherine