The Joys of Moving - and Crafting?

Or something like that.  I'm moving hopefully as of tomorrow, and I am looking over my lists of things I need to get for my new place.  Dividing possessions always seems to leave the most interesting holes, such as forks, spoons, and butterknives - but no sharp knives.  Pots and pans, but no oven mitts.  So I survey my list of must-haves and something is rebelling against the idea of going out and buying all of these things.  It isn't like I know how to make knives or bottle brushes or can openers or serving utensils - I just hate the idea of contributing to the manufacturing machine.  So my goal is to find as many of these things secondhand as possible, but I'd also like to make a few if I can - make my new apartment feel more homey.  So the list is below, and if you know of a way to make such things or have seen a tutorial, please let me know.

ovenmitts

kitchen towels

bath mat

rectangular baskets for my many shelves

Everything else I am hoping to scour craigslist and the local goodwill for in the hopes of promoting second lives for useful, but unwanted things.  I want them, I swear!

Back . . . sort of

Hello there.  I know it has been massively long since I've posted anything here.  I'm not even sure how long its been.  I apologize for leaving my blog to languish, but have had personal issues to deal with - serious illness in the family and the end of a relationship which has lasted almost 8 years.

So I'm currently living out of boxes until my new apartment is ready, hence the sort of back.  My crafting things are waiting for me somewhere in the boxland that is my life right now.  I hope to have things back in line soon, but we'll see how that goes.  Life is apparently pretty unpredictable.

I am way behind on my christmas crafting, so hopefully I will have some updates there on ideas if not results while I am in transition.  I hope all of you are doing well, better than I, and that your holidays are joyous.