Shampoo and Conditioner

My family teases me that I'm part Hippie.  I have to say, I'm convinced that there are some great things attached to the Hippie name, and one of those that I really appreciate is the desire to be more "green".  When I look at the ingredient list of most store-bought items (food and otherwise), I'm appalled at the length and non-pronounceability of the words!  So when I recently started using essential oils, it was a no-brainer to seek out recipes for making my own cleaning products with just a few ingredients.  I came upon recipes for shampoo and conditioner, ran to my health food store to buy a couple of ingredients, came home, and whipped this up in lickety-split time:

My girlie likes to help with my fun projects, so I put her to work making some "bling" to go around the neck of each jar to help differentiate the shampoo from the conditioner.  (They look a lot alike otherwise!)

"C" for Conditioner

"S" for Shampoo.

I found the jars at Marshalls, and they're perfect for dispensing the products!

After washing my hair yesterday, I felt that it was a bit "heavy", even greasy feeling.  So today I made some more (just adding more to the jars, as the recipe doesn't make a huge batch), and I used less carrier oil in the conditioner, as well as a little less essential oil.  We'll see if that does the trick.  It certainly smells nice!  And I'm Hippie enough that if that doesn't do the trick, I'll stick with it anyway just 'cause I like being more "green".

Best Use of a Ball of String

I started out knitting twelve years ago with a chip on my shoulder against crocheting.  I don't know why.  Knitting looked harder, and I wanted the challenge.  Pretty lame.  So I learned to knit, and learned to pick up dropped stitches (sort of), and then I got busy with life and decided something less of a challenge would be nice.  I didn't need to stress over dropped stitches anymore.  So I started looking online at patterns, and went down the rabbit trail to Amigurumi.  Yeah, I told you I like a challenge.  I found this really cute pattern for a bunny rabbit, and picked up a leftover ball of string and a tiny crochet hook.  The pattern was really pretty easy, as it was more like knitting than crocheting (sort of), but in my driven way, I ended up with a numb fingertip due to my unique way of holding that crochet hook.  Anyway!  Here is the product of that sweet pattern, with a tweak only to the legs.  (I made them straight rather than bent like the pattern showed.)  Thanks for the sweet pattern, Askina!

Bird's Nest

A year ago,  I found a vintage picture of a bird's nest.  I fell in love with the picture.  Something about the clear blue eggs, the browns and greens of nature. 

Yesterday I decided to try it out with my own hand, pencil, ink, and watercolor.  I decided I couldn't have picked a more complex picture for a fairly novice watercolorist as myself, but by ten o'clock last night I was actually pleased and excited with the result.

I learned a lot while doing it, like why you start with your light colors.  After painting the first twiggy sticks (at the top of the picture), I did a yellowish wash over the rest of the picture.  Then a darker yellow wash, then a light brown, leaving the lighter colors showing through in various places.  Eventually I started filling in the detail.  I think this is what you're actually supposed to do, and I finally realized this and followed the directions.  (Yes, amazing what happens when you do that!)  Anyway, I couldn't be happier with it.

Now what can I try next?  :)

Happy Thanksgiving

In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holidays, we have been reading about the Pilgrims' arrival to America, their meeting with the Indians, and the first Thanksgiving.  I am always moved by this story, my heritage, my country.  In celebration of this special day, we made some peg people Indians.  We each made one representing ourself.  This was a lot of fun!  Son enjoys shooting a real hand-made bow, and he was gifted with a beautiful quiver from Africa a few years ago.  So of course his peg person had to have a quiver and bow as well.  Daughter helped him with the quiver, and I made the bow from a toothpick.  Daughter crafted the feathers by cutting down larger feathers.  Husband's fish are little beads.  We are all quite happy to stop and smile at our Indians when we walk past them on the shelf.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Butterfly

Completed! . . . That took a long time!

I've never tried stippling before. While laborious, I liked the outcome.

Candle Stands

It has been a busy summer, and it's not over yet! For one thing, we have finally painted the ugly behemoth of a fireplace in the corner of our living room. We have a long room, with the dark brick fireplace in a corner. This fact has made the long room feel terribly off-balanced. Painting it white brought so much peace to my vision. :) I LOVE this room now! (Does anyone need inspiration about what one can of paint can do?) I wish I had "before" pictures, but I have always avoided taking pictures of this thing because there has been no appeal to me in looking at it, so why would I want a picture of it?! Well, no more! I love this corner now!

But this post is not all about what white paint can do to a heavy fireplace.

I want to show you the candle stands that adorn the fireplace.

Some of these did indeed begin life as candle stands, but all but one of them got a coat of paint and a little more work. The one on the far right started out life as a brass lampstand some 20+ years ago, and was bought for $3.00 at a thrift store.

Here's how to achieve the look:
1. Re-paint with Krylon spray paint your choice of color. (This transformation from brass to -- in my case green or aqua -- is stunning all by itself. I could have left it plain and been plenty happy. But I wanted a more antiqued or textured look, so continued on with the next step.)
2. Take a dry (or slightly moist) non-shedding cloth and pour onto it some acrylic paint. I used a dab of medium brown, dark green, and navy blue. Slap it on the stand. Rub and rub and rub till you get the look you want. You'll have to work quickly, as acrylics dry quickly. If you don't like the look, take a damp cloth, rub it off, and start over. Once you're satisfied with the look,
3. Take a small, stiff paint brush and dip it in some black acrylic paint. (I used my kids' art brushes -- nothing fancy.) Practice flicking paint using your thumb brushing firmly against the tip of the brush. Paint will fly, so do this outside or with a well-protected surface. Random dots of black should cover your candle stands when you're done.
4. Spray paint at least 2 layers of high gloss glaze over your finished work. This will not only protect your acrylic layers, but will also give a nice finished look to your candlestands.

By the way, with my brass lamp stands, I removed all old wiring and weights from inside. I ended up with two separate pieces because of this. I then found (also at a thrift store) some separate brass candle bases and painted these correspondingly. I then glued (with hot glue gun) all three pieces together.

Drawing Work-in-Progress

I've enjoyed working on this butterfly over the past 6 months. I pull it out when I am stuck at home with a sick child or two. This is my first ink drawing, and I'm having a lot of fun watching it progress.

I used dots for the shading, and I really like the effect.

It's put away again for another one of those days the kids are under the weather.

Headboard Ensemble

I cannot take full credit for this one. My neighbor should seriously be a paid interior designer! She came over to my house to see a frame I'd bought several years ago for the express purpose of using it as a headboard. From there, the ideas flew, and this was the final result:

Baby Gift H

I've made and given some of these letters for baby showers in the past, but it's been awhile since I've shown you any. This is my favorite yet, I think.

Vintage Button and Repurposed Linen Pillow

I've a growing love for linen fabric. I used to despise it because it wrinkled as soon as I finished ironing it. But now I've decided comfort trumps a few wrinkles. In the past year, I've bought several pairs of linen slacks from my local thrift store, and have reveled in their comfortableness whenever I've worn them. After perusing several Scandanavian blogs (you can find them in my list of favorite blogs), I've been even further struck by the simple beauty of this fabric. It's richness in texture makes me want to touch it, and even a solid color feasts my eyes.

My living room's simple decor has been in need of a facelift for a very long time, but due to my lack of vision for what to do with it, I've done, well, nothing. But since my linen fetish fiend, I've dreamt up all kinds of ways to use this in my living room. And here's the first thing I've completed:

I repurposed a linen shirt from my local thrift store, cutting the back out and turning it into the pillow's front cover.

These vintage buttons have been kicking around the house for YEARS. I LOVE buttons, but I never knew what to actually DO with them. (That, or I didn't find the time to do anything with them.) But here I think they've been put to good use. I sewed them on with DMC floss, so it really didn't take much time at all.

Another view. I love these buttons!

For the back of the pillow, I cut the front of the shirt up, and utilized the button placket for easy removal of the cover. I quite like how it turned out.

And now, hopefully it will not be another (nearly) year before I show you my next project to spice up my living room.

Modified Dress

I bought this fabric about a year ago from JoAnn's (a light cotton). Just recently I got motivated enough to sew it. But while making it, it just didn't seem to be what I'd anticipated it being. I hate it when this happens! I didn't have enough of the main fabric for the bindings, which was just fine with me, as I wanted to spice it up a bit. Yet again the local quilt store came in handy, and I found a bold brown pattern fabric. I sewed it around the neck and sleeves. The neck seems totally droopy, though. I tried putting elastic through the binding, but I don't like it. So I put a tank top underneath the dress, and I think I like that. The wearer didn't like the "tent feel" to this pattern, so requested an elastic waistband to be added. While I was at it, I decided to sew in a slip with a ruffle for underneath. I think I like it now, but I'm still not sure about that neckline.

Pillowcase Dress

I love cotton and other natural fabrics. I also love the pillowcase dresses. -- I've wanted to make one forever! Several months ago, while at my local quilt shop, I saw this funky, "alive" fabric. It was swirly-flowery and super colorful. Colorful enough that if spaghetti was dropped on it, it would be difficult to be noticed. (We eat a LOT of spaghetti. We also wear it. -- EVERY stinkin' time we eat it.)

I didn't buy the fabric, though. Something else won out instead. But ever since seeing that fabric, I have not been able to get it out of my head. So a week or so ago, back I went to the quilt store. They'd moved things all around, so I had to do a serious hunt to find this fabric, but find it I did. Upon coming home, I went chop-chop-chop with my scissors, zipped the fabric through my sewing machine, and out came this:






I bought some dark red ribbon as well. Can't decide which one I like best with this. Any thoughts???

So Sorry!

It has been AGES (nearly 15 months, actually) since I've posted a . . . POST, and I am shamed by this whenever someone comes by and leaves me a kind comment. So very sorry! Thank you for your interest. It has been a boost that I've needed.

Life has just been busy! What can I say? I have had some things that have seriously preoccupied my time, and I realized that all my crafting needed to take a back burner. But how does something that is so vital to your life remain on a back burner forever? I found myself depressed and frustrated a LOT. So, recently, I have gotten back into sewing, and talk about a lift to the spirits!

The winter season has been long and dreary. But a trip to a local quilting store, as well as a trip to my armoire where all my fabric is stashed, has really brought some color to my soul. I have feasted, and dreamed in pools of color: red, creamy white, and bright-light blue; kelly green and dark brown; light pink and brown. And then I got busy.

See next posts.

Blue Scarf

Ta-daaaaa!! The picture uploading thingy is working! Or, rather, I should say, we finally unplugged everything out of exasperation, plugged it all back in, and NOW the picture thingy works. Technology is just the cheekiest thing around, isn't it?!

Anyway, here's a scarf in progress from a month ago. It's done now, and quite delicate-looking. It's already been gifted.

And you thought I've been doing nothing while sitting on my duff for the past six months. Humph! Well, while not having much proof otherwise for you, I have been productive. Here's a small taste of what's been happening here.

This cupcake pattern came from Julie through Little Cotton Rabbits. (See link under my favorites.) When I saw these, I fell in love! Julie kindly printed a pattern shortly after I stumbled upon her blog site, and I was one of the proud first owners. Since then, I've been busily making these yummies:
Here it is, packed for the receiver:This is also compliments of Julie's blog site. I stitched it to a T-shirt:nd, once again, another pair of felted slippers (pattern compliments of Fiber Trends). I can't make them fast enough! Little beggars are out there. -- Big beggars, too! More to follow, no doubt!
If my computer will one day cooperate with me, I do have more to show you. Computer is just being obstinate and not wanting to upload in any timely fashion.

Sewing Project

I've been whining about my church clothes for some time. Shopping with two small children has not been a whole lot of fun, nor has it often been successful. When I have found something, I don't usually try it on in the store; I just buy it and bring it home to try it on, and then invariably return it, discouraged again. Recently, however, I netted a gain of two dresses! One, though, had only spaghetti strap "sleeves". It would never do as such, but I immediately saw the potential in it if I found something to go over it. So the shopping continued, resulting in nothing. Finally, I decided to resort to an old necessity: sewing. This meant I STILL had to shop for a pattern and material. Finally, after visiting four different stores, I found some beautiful material as well as a rather chic pattern by Simplicity. (I haven't sewn anything for myself in years, and Simplicity has changed a LOT. So I had some surprises on the way, namely in sizing, and was very happily impressed with the pattern I used.) I have fabric left over, so plan to use it to make Daughter a corresponding dress. Here are shots of the finished product, which I am way too proud of. :)


By the way, I'm not sure which pleases me more with these photos: the amazing shots I got with my camera, or the outfit itself. Am I vain, or what?!

Garden Inspiration

A few days ago, Husband brought home a number of books for me from the library. Since I have several project areas going, and much to learn, perusing the books has been a wonderful education, as well as very inspiring. The following pictures are all ideas I found in these books that I think will work well in our projects. (I wish I could tell you this is MY garden.)

One of the projects I'll be working on over the next few years involves the bank area. It is steeply sloped, and I'm thinking the most attractive, as well as erosion-controlled idea for this would be to terrace the slope. Likely this will involve approximately 3 terraces, with a set of steps as well. The steps that are currently in place are scary, to say the least. They look like a metal fire escape that you see on the sides of old brick buildings in downtown areas. -- Very steep and rickety-looking. Add to this the fact that they are set at an angle, and it's scarier still. Every time I go down them, I hold my breath. They are anything BUT safe, and there is certainly no visual appeal. So, steps will be my first job to tackle.


I am hoping to harvest most of the rocks from our property, thus the "few years". I cannot harvest them till late fall, due to my recent rampage with poison ivy. -- No repeats, please! So, once the leaves have fallen, I'll be out in the woods with my wheelbarrow, combing for rocks. I want to terrace dry stacked to save a little more money.

The other areas of inspiration I found involve the garden. I was struck (again) with the idea of training vines up posts. This picture shows vegetables and fruits being trained up posts. I like the thought of putting this at one end of a small fenced-in garden on a gravel bed, with a hammock or swing beneath it.And I really liked this design for a fence around a small garden. Again, it would be fairly economical, and would help with animal control, which I suspect will be a problem here in the woods. (We can hear coyotes at night on occasion, and have seen one go through our yard at dusk, although our neighbor's donkey has greatly helped with that. But we have numerous cats around, and have also seen oppossums and raccoons and rabbits. And have I mentioned squirrels?)