Success, kind of

My two organic cotton canvas bags

The bags are a bit floppy unless there's something in them.

There's no way I could have done that detail. Mom did that for me!

A couple weeks ago when I was home for a week of vacation, my mom and I tackled my organic cotton canvas bag project. I had never used a sewing machine, but figured it couldn’t be that difficult. Right. I struggled with it. From forgetting to put the foot down, to breaking the thread, to being unable to do anything that resembled a straight line, it was not fun. Mom did the bulk of the work. I contributed some measuring and marking, pinning, and the easiest bits of sewing. When we were finished, the bags looked nothing like the pictures in the book. They are very floppy, even when I put things in them. We shall see how practical they are. I think next time I’ll shell out the extra money and just buy the bags!

A less expensive mess

Instead of spending money on more toys for Maddie to rip apart in minutes, I made a couple of my own from a pattern in Eco Dog.

My mom has some T-shirt material I wove into braids and made into a bone. It really looked neat and Maddie liked playing tug-of-war with it. Alas, it lasted just as long as the other toys she has destroyed. But at least this time, I can make another without spending another dime.

Braided T-shirt rope

Maddie plays tug of war with my dad.

At least this toy lasted a whole day.

Fabric search update

I have been a bit tardy updating my search for organic cotton canvas, but as Maddie has been an angel tonight and is currently snoozing somewhere (I’m guessing on the bed, but I don’t want to go searching and disturb her), I have time to myself and I thought I should post an update.

I found reasonably priced fabric on-line after an extensive search. I ordered my five yards (enough for three bags and some mistakes) and received it a couple of weeks ago. It has remained in its box since I got it. I decided it will be a project I do when I go home to my parents’ house the last week of March. My mom can help me with the sewing machine and the rest of the project.

I read the rest of Eco Dog this afternoon as Maddie and I sat outside and enjoyed the sunny, warm weather. I’ll have lots of projects coming up — putting together a first-aid kit and finding Maddie’s heart and respiration rates, making lavender sachets to keep the house smelling good and keep the fleas away, making several different toys from old T-shirts and jeans, and making my own household cleaning products to keep harmful chemicals away from Maddie. That’s actually something I’ve thought about doing for some time now, but never got around to it. I also want to try the massage. I don’t know how Maddie will like that, but we’ll try.

First attempt

I bought some organic peanut butter and molasses treats for Maddie on a trip to a pet store last month. Looking over the ingredients, I thought, ‘Hey, I can make these.’ And as they tasted pretty cardboardy, ‘Hey, I can make these taste better.’ (Not that Maddie cares about the taste. I’ve seen what she eats when she’s outside.)

I made my first attempt at duplicating the recipe Friday night. I didn’t quite have everything I needed in my pantry, but I had enough so I punted. The ingredient list names organic oat flour, organic rye flour, natural peanut butter, organic whole oats, whole eggs, canola oil, unsulphered molasses, and sunflower seeds. I didn’t have oat flour so I substituted organic wheat flour, and I didn’t have sunflower seeds.

I mixed everything together and it tasted rather good, even by human standards. I wanted to make them crunchier than the other treats I had made, so after browning one side, I put them back in the oven. Mistake. The extra few minutes gave them a lovely burned flavor. While that turned me off, it didn’t seem to bother Maddie. She gobbles them up every time we give her one.

The next time I go to the store, I’ll pick up some oat flour and sunflower seeds and try again.

Maddie’s Cookbook — Quick Dog Treats

I have just started exploring opportunities to make treats for Maddie. As we experiment in the kitchen, I will post our successful recipes. If you have your own recipes, go ahead and post them in the comment section, or send them to Maddie at maddie@freeoftheleash.com

Maddie and her friends on our play date loved these. I made two versions, lamb and sweet potato, and veal and peas.

Quick Dog Treats

Recipe Courtesy of Eco Dog

1 c. organic wheat germ

2 small jars organic baby food

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a baking sheet with butter or a little oil.

2. Combine the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on the baking sheet and flatten with a fork. Bake 25-30 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Variation: Try adding 2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal for a shiny coat.

Maddie’s Cookbook — Shiny-Coat Treats

I have just started exploring opportunities to make treats for Maddie. As we experiment in the kitchen, I will post our successful recipes. If you have your own recipes, go ahead and post them in the comment section, or send them to Maddie at maddie@freeoftheleash.com

Shiny-Coat Treats

Recipe courtesy of Eco Dog

1 c. organic whole-wheat flour

1/4 tsp. salt

4 1/2 Tbsp. flaxseed meal

1 organic egg

1 Tbsp. organic honey

1/3 c. organic beef or chicken stock

1. Preheat oven to 400. Grease a baking sheet with butter or a little oil.

2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt and flaxseed meal. In another bowl, combine the egg and honey.

3. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture and add stock until the dough has the consistency of drop biscuits.

4. Drop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto the baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between biscuits. Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove, cool on a wire rack, and store, tightly covered, in a glass or ceramic container for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months.

Quick treats at home

I made four batches of homemade dog treats in the past 50 minutes. They were super easy and if her joy in licking out the bowl is any indication, Maddie is going to love them.

We first made two batches of Quick Dog Treats from the Eco Dog book. They are just organic wheat germ and two jars of baby food. I made one batch with lamb and sweet potatoes, and one with veal and peas.

We then made two batches of Shiny-Coat Treats, a tad more complicated. Instead of two ingredients, these take six.

I’m going to bring the Quick Dog Treats to our puppy get-together in an hour and see how they go over. When I get back, I’ll post recipes and pictures (if they get two paws up from everyone!).

It’s not easy being green

OK, so it isn’t quite what Kermit was talking about when he sang the above lyrics, but I am certainly having trouble trying to be eco friendly.

A couple of weeks ago when I was in Iowa City, I bought a book titled Eco Dog. It offers tips on everything from making your own dry shampoo and flea powder, to all-natural dog treat and food recipes, and ways to make your own cleaning supplies that are environmentally and dog friendly.

It also has projects such as making your own dog blankets, beds and toys. The first do-it-yourself project is a canvas tote bag in which to keep all of your dog’s grooming supplies. You can use the same bag design for your first-aid kit and travel supplies.

OK, so I don’t sew, and this gives you instructions that go on for four pages. But I thought, why not? I’ve challenged myself to a lot of new experiences the past two years. If I can complete a triathlon, I can certainly sew a bag with step-by-step instructions complete with illustrations. What sealed the deal was when Rob told me he did a project like that in sixth grade. I can’t be shown up by a sixth grader, even 26 years later.

First step, make out the shopping list. Most of the supplies were easy to find. I picked up three spools of thread in three bright colors (they double-dog dared me in the book to get bright colors instead of a neutral shade. I had to do it.), straight pins, and fabric chalk. The problem came when I tried to find the fabric.

Since the book is all about being eco-friendly, the pattern calls for undyed organic cotton canvas. No store in which I looked carried organic cotton canvas. Now I am relegated to searching the internet. I have no problem doing that, I would just like to see what the fabric is like before I spend a lot of money on it. That’s the other problem with trying to be green — it always costs an arm and a leg.