Growing up in an Asian household we ate curry on a regular basis, so I learned how to cook this favorite dish at a very young age.   Although Thai curry is very rich and complex in flavor, the ingredients and cooking directions are actually super simple.

Most of the time we have curry the traditional way, on a bed of rice.  However, for a bit of variety I sometimes like to serve it on top of bean thread noodles.

After cooking curry there are always empty cans leftover.  Here are some little keepers that I made using the cans that contained bamboo shoots.  To prep these cans all you have to do is to remove the labels (and wash them, of course.)

Begin by cutting a strip of canvas to fit around each can (1 per can,) allowing 1/3 inch overlap at the short ends.

Then cut a piece of wool felt into a rectangle to fit on top of the canvas strip and use an embroidery needle and thread to stitch it to the center of the canvas strip.

Next, sew a button to the center of the felt. Using the button as an anchor, tie and knot 3 inch pieces of embroidery thread around the button.

Once you’ve finished tying string around the button, trim the string ends, creating a flower-like design.  Unravel the thread segments to make it look bushier.

Lastly, apply craft glue to the back of the canvas strip and adhere it around the can, then let dry.

To embellish the other can I started with a canvas strip.  Then I cut a piece of organic cotton batting to fit at the center of this canvas strip.

Next, machine sew the batting (around the edges) to the center of the canvas strip.

Select a button brad (purchased from a craft store.)

With a hand awl, poke a small hole through the center of the batting and canvas, and insert the brad ends through this hole and secure the ends at the back.  Lastly, use craft glue to adhere the canvas strip around the can and let dry.

There’s something very rewarding about using what’s on hand to create something that’s cute and useful, especially when it’s also quick, easy and inexpensive.  Brook shares this love of repurposing as well as my love for curry.  Next month she turns 13…I can’t believe that she’s growing up so quickly.  I’d better hurry and get to my curry cooking lesson with her, and then afterward we can get to crafting with the cans.  Curry and cans…I hope this will become our mother/daughter tradition.

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