Fits and Starts Craft/Gardening/Urban Homsteading/Everything Else Blog

New things up on my etsy site!!!

2011-09-26T10:26:00.000-04:00

I just put a bunch of things up on etsy...thought I'd share. My store is Mercantile de Mama Mojo . Herer are some examples of what I put up!

Quick preview of what's going up on my etsy....

2011-09-23T09:18:00.000-04:00

I had my first vending table last weekend. It was kind of an off day, but it was more of an experiment to see how things would work out. So, these will be going up on etsy this weekend. I'll post the link then!

Wow. Have I been neglectful...

2011-09-23T09:14:00.000-04:00

Life just kind of grabs me by the back of the neck and shakes me sometimes!!! I will have new posts soon, as I have some really nice reviews to get up and some info on what's being added to my etsy store. Bear with me.

Neat link-Fun project

2011-02-22T13:37:00.000-05:00

Photojojo has a really neat tutorial on making photo-realistic pouches! Note to self-must try this!
Photojojo Pouches

I am a (wanna be!) Urban Homesteader!

2011-02-21T15:31:00.000-05:00

So, as I have a loaf of sour dough bread rising, made with flour I just ground myself this morning, and as I wait for my food co-op order to come in, so i can get my new essential oil and make some soap, I came across this facebook page: Take Back Urban Homesteading. Yes, a family in California who has done great work, has now trademarked the words Urban Homesteading, and are busy having their legal team send cease and desist letters to those using the term. And this fantastic facebook page is a great way to see how other bloggers and Urban Homesteaders are fighting back, in one way or another.

While I am nowhere near self sufficient, and never will be in this city, I believe that Urban Homesteading is something I have spent most of my life learning the skills for. I am a city kid. I love cities. I also love making bread, growing my own food, working toward self sufficiency, canning and preserving, composting and worms, and learning new skills as often as possible. I may not be an Urban Homesteader right now, but life for me is about the journey, not so much the destination. Every new skill I learn is a skill I keep. Someday....someday.. I'll be closer to that life! So, I am going to claim that title.Done ranting now. Visit that facebook page! there are tons of great bloggers posting today!

Told ya I've been busy!!!

2011-02-17T18:15:00.000-05:00

I really have been making things. Just not writing about them. First are two cards, using Unity Stamps. Unity is one of my favorite stamp companies! Their stamps are great quality, very nicely etched red rubber. The designs are just great. Their Kit Of the Month Club is awesome too.

And a scrapbook layout. This is the same sketch I used in a another recent layout. I really like this sketch! Most of the papers are Basic Grey, and the embellishments are from a wide variety of sources.

My niece. I love her, and do not get to see her nearly enough!

The stamps on the background of the hexagon sort of shape is also from Unity.

More to come soon! I've been on a roll. I've found that the best way to get out of a rut is join an online crop and do some layouts and cards for challenge blogs. This has really been getting things going for me! Tomorrow I'll post some links to some of my favorite Challenge Blogs.

Be well!

New crafty pictures coming soon! But for now a great link....

2011-02-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

I really have been crafting, just not taking pictures like a good doobie. I will do that tonight.

But for now, here is a great article about journaling. It was written by Noell of Paperclipping Roundtable, one of my new favorite podcasts. It's about capturing journaling information in the metadata of your photos. Once I get a new computer (since mine is making the sounds of a death rattle every time I start it up), I am going to give this a try!

Here's the link. While you're there check out the site!! The pod casts are just great, and there is a wealth of information here. I love this podcast because they all seem like very friendly people, and it feels like you are right there with them.

How You Really Can Tell ALL of Your Photo Stories

Basic Grey Challenge 36

2011-01-29T17:29:00.000-05:00

One final layout for the day. It's for the Basic Grey Challenge, #36-Flower Power. Most of the papers are from the Marrakech line, one of my favorites.

Materials used:
Patterned paper: Basic Grey Masala Bella, Blue Nights, Green Tea, Jubilee, African Nectar, Mandarin Slice
Letters: Basic Grey Marrakech Alphabet Stickers
Flowers: Basic Grey Marrakech Element Stickers

Starting my Christmas Cards early!

2011-01-29T11:13:00.002-05:00

Well, last year I got so busy i only got 6 made! So this year, I figure I'll do 1 a week or so and by the time the holidays roll around I'll have oodles. There's a challenge blog out there called Christmas Cards Challenges, which has a different challenge every week. This week's challenge: Christmas Card Challenges: 2011 Christmas Card Challenge #8 was "No Coloring." Here's my submission.

Patterened Paper: Basic Grey
Stamp: Tingtura Designs
Rub Ons: Basic Grey
Ribbon: Close To My Heart
Buttons: Unknown

New Layout

2011-01-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick little layout I did of my sister and my niece.

Patterned Paper: Close To My Heart and Storytellers Club
Cardstock: Unknown
Shimmer Flourish: Making Memories
Snowflakes: Unknown and Marcella by K
Ritzy Ditzy Shimmer Mist
Cardstock
Brads

Submitting it to Pencil Lines Sketch Challenge.

More to come!!

No craftiness today, but some pictures....

2011-01-26T15:33:00.001-05:00

I got an iPod Touch for Christmas and one of my favorite apps is Hipstamatic. I love it. Here are a few pictures I have taken so far. The only downside I have found is their custom prints (if you want real prints) are expensive, and there's no way to get them printed properly by snapfish, etc. But the pictures come out really neat, and it's a lot of fun to play with.

The first two are where at I work, at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA. The third is in Cambridge, MA. And look at this great picture of my niece I took last month! I love how the lens and film I used make this picture look like it's one of my childhood pictures.

Their website is at http://hipstamaticapp.com/ and you can download their app in the app store. It's not very expensive, and for me it has been tons of fun.

New Year's, sort of, Resolutions....

2011-01-25T15:28:00.003-05:00

I do not usually make New Year’s resolutions. Mainly because I am way too ADD to follow through, half the time. But this is a list of some things I would *like* to accomplish this year. In no particular order:

Gardening

Get my garden up and running again. Since I disappeared last year for a while, no one here has heard the tale of what happened to my garden (unless you read my small post below, snicker). Just a few short months after transplanting everything from my old community garden plot to my front yard, my landlord destroyed all of it. There are 2 sides to my front yard, I was gardening one side. It had gotten a little weedy, but nothing like the side that belongs to my neighbors. Someone must have complained because I came home from work one day to find the entire yard stripped to bare earth! All of my container plants in a dump truck! My worms, my lovely worm bin, also gone! This was a bin I had been caring for during the last 4 years or so, and it had almost 10 pounds of compost ready to be harvested. Gone. My 7 year old tarragon, sage, lavender, etc.? Gone!

I was devastated. This year I am building a raised bed, so it is clear that there is a garden there. Urgh. Unfortunately, it didn’t get made before the snow, and there is now about 2 ½ feet of snow in my yard, so it will have to wait. But it will happen. The seed catalogs are starting to come and I am starting to plan the space a bit. I am going to get started on a new worm bin in the next week or so, I set one up for my Dad for Christmas, and I miss the little critters. Now we have an ample supply of bunny poo for fertilizer, due to Lola, the house bunny my daughter got for Christmas. I am busy collecting paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls to make seed starters. This year I am going to try potatoes and hops. The hops tie into my next goal.

Random Skills/Hobbies

Learn how to brew my own! I’ve been thinking about it forever and make very good liquors. But I want to try my hand at beer. I figure if I grow hops, by the time they are ready to harvest I will be ready to move away from kit brewing into more complex recipes. Now, just to come up with the $$ to get the start-up kit.

Start canning and preserving more. I want to start keeping my eyes open for crazy good deals on produce so I can do some more preserving. I desperately want to get a food dehydrator. I’ve been trying to get more involved with the Urban Homesteaders League Meet Up group, which has been a good way to get produce cheaply, every so often. I got an amazing deal on canning supplies at Target at the end of last season, so I am well stocked on supplies. I just joined a new CSA, and they have Pick Your Own days, so I will probably take advantage of that.

Find an online certification in Herbalism. Start saving up for it. See if I can find one that is pay as you go.

Crafting

This year I will learn how to crochet a granny square. I just need to find someone who crochets who can show me in person. I have tried and tried to learn from books and it is just not working.

I am going to enter more craft challenges online, like at Cupcake Craft (http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/). I am going to win some! So there. I am definitely trying to break out of crafters block, slowly but surely. I’ve been joining some online crops and things just to force myself to do some work. I’m also going to Maine in a few weeks to have a crafty weekend with my sister, which should jump start things.

Keep up with the Art Journal Every day. I’m trying, but haven’t been too good about it. I’m concentrating right now on getting my supplies in order more. Everything is kind of scattered.

Get my etsy shop up and running. Produce, produce, produce.

Everything Else

I really, really, really need to get my craft area more organized. It’s super small, and I can not find anything right now. Organizing in general is a challenge for me. I need to streamline things a little.

Well, I guess that’s it for now. This is more to get things down “on paper” and start moving toward goals. They’re all attainable. And I have a whole year!

A few new cards....

2011-01-24T12:36:00.001-05:00

I really need better pictures for these! I took the pictures on my iPod, so the quality is not great but, here are 2 new cards that I've made:

Patterned papers are Basic Grey Wisteria Stone Wall and Willow
Die cuts are Basic Grey Wisteria Chipboard dies

And the second card:

Fancy Pants Patterned Paper Glimmer
AdornIt Patterned Paper Fern Collection-Owl Hoot B
Prima Flower
Copic Markers

I've been busy trying to organize what little of a craft space that I have. *sigh* The perils of small space living. I really only have a 3 foot by 3 foot space to craft on, and small spaces for supplies. I'm trying to get it more workable, so I will use it more!

I made these cards for an online crop over at Memorable Seasons . A nice way to break out of scrappers and card makers block. It was fun and I got some stuff done, 2 cards, 2 layouts and 2 more layouts that weren't related to the online crop.

New Year, New Start!

2011-01-08T07:32:00.000-05:00

Boy have I neglected this place. Sorry...things all went downhill fast last year.

But it's a New Year and I have started partcicipating in a new challenge to keep me busy! It's called Art Journal Everyday and it's over at this link http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/art-j.html

So, that should kick start things.

Projects this year... I want to start home brewing. As soon as I get money for the start kit and equipment I am going to jump right in.

My landlord razed my garden to bare earth last summer. We have two front yards, one that I was working in and one on the other side of the duplex. That side got crazy weedy. I was clearing my weeds out as best I could. Someone in the neighborhood complained so i came home from work one day to find everything GONE. 7 year old lavender? Gone! I had finally gotten it to overwinter well too. 7 year old sage? Gone! Well established worm bin, with about 10 pounds of compost ready to harvest? GONE!

Needless to say I cried. But this year I am building a raised bed. So I'll get going on the garden wagon soon. I am going to have to start scouring freecycle and The Urban Homestead league to find new herb plants, but that will come.

So.... I can't promise I will post every week, or even every day. But I'll be here more often.

Indpendence Days #5, April 2

2010-04-02T13:04:00.001-04:00

1. Plant something.

Just sprouts, so far...Misha is joyfully eating them as fast as they'll grow. I'm starting my peas this weekend and will start in door seeds this weekend too.

2. Harvest something.

Sprouts!

3. Preserve something.

Nope. BUT I did get signed up for the online Food Storage and Preservation class at The Chatelaine's Keys. Very excited about this!

4. Reduce waste.

Decluttered a lot and am getting ready for a yard sale this weekend. What doesn't sell gets boxed up and and brought to Maine this summer for my sister's big yard sale.

5. Preparation and Storage.

Worked on herbal stuff for my herbal swap. Made 2 sock bunnies for a different swap. I think I am addicted to swapping.

6. Build Community Food Systems.
Talked more with my friend Alyssa about doing a huge cooking day at her house (where I usually do my big cooking days). But this way I won't be the only one buying all the food and I'll have help with preparation. It'll be BYOT-Bring Your Own Tupperware.

7. Eat the Food.

Still eating the freezer full I made a few weeks ago. Also have been on a tofu cutlet kick. Mish and I have eaten 3 containers of tofu this week! Here's the recipe, more or less...I just kind of throw things in a bowl and hope for the best:

1 package of tofu
3/4 cup of flour
1/4 cup of bread crumbs
seasoning (salt, pepper, whatever)
1/4 cup of nutritional yeast
sesame oil
vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400F.
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
Cut tofu into 6 equal sized slices. Dip into sesame oil.
Dip into flour mixture and coat well. (I do the oil-flour thing twice, because I like the crust thick)
Put a little veg oil in a pan.
Put tofu in pan and pop in over. After 10 minutes flip the pieces. Cook for 10 minutes more until they are golden brown.
Eat!

Easy, peasy. And delicious.

And Misha's been eating sprouts every day.

That's it for this week. It's been raining all week so I have not done too much.

Crafts...Garden....Decluttering!

2010-03-31T09:52:00.000-04:00

Busy week.... And finally some photos...
I've been decluttering my craft space, slowly but surely. And my bookshelves. Joyfully I just found out that my favorite used bookstore Lorem Ipsum just moved into a new space about 2 1/2 blocks from me.
Here are my bookshelves, semi-arranged by theme.

And here is my favorite part of my craft space, the peg board system I got for my birthday.

This is a tea container that I fitted with peg board attachments, markers fit perfectly.

And here's a sock bunny I made for a recent swap...I made him a little baby sock bunny too. My daughter has named him Awkward Bunny.

and finally...my new garden, in beginning stages. In the containers are strawberries, mint, a pussy willow, English lavender, and lemon balm. My lavender, sage, and tarragon are in the ground. I have blocked off an area to build a raised bed around. It's a start. It's been far too rainy to do anything to it this week.

Great looking online class!

2010-03-25T12:12:00.000-04:00

Sharon, from the blog The Chatelaine's Keys is offering an online class soon on Food Storage and Preservation. Looks great!!! Check it out..... her blog is really inspirational.
Food Storage and Preservation

Independence Days March 23, 2010-Post #4

2010-03-23T09:25:00.002-04:00

A very fruitful weekend for me! It was 70 degrees F, which is unheard of for March here. So, I spent the weekend moving my perennials from my old community garden plot to my new front yard, where I'll be doing my gardening this year.....pictures coming soon. I couldn't find my camera.

Also I am switching the categories a bit.....just so you know! They're based on the Chatelaine Key's Year Two Independence Days.

1. Plant something.

I moved my tarragon, sage, lavender-2 kinds, chives, mint and lemon balm to my new space and got them planted. I also moved my pussy willow (one of my only truly ornamental plants) and some day lilies (yummmmmm).

Also started some sprouts. I've fallen off the sprout bandwagon. They're clover sprouts. I got them last time we were in Montreal.

This week...starting seeds!

2. Harvest something.

Nothing to harvest. : ( I checked the nettles at the community garden but there aren't enough to make soup out of. Soon, soon.

3. Preserve something.

Didn't really preserve much....but I did make a ton of meals to freeze for the week. Oh...I did string up a bunch of hot peppers to dry, so they wouldn't go bad.

4. Reduce waste.

Used paper towel and tp rolls to make more seed starters. Used the food waste from my massive meal prep to feed the worms, except for the onions which they hate. Those were composted. Used newspaper that would have been recycled as new worm bedding.

5. Preparation and Storage.

Got my plot staked out. Now I must scavenge some cinder blocks to make a raised bed. This is a funny category for everything that isn't especially food related. I also worked on some herbal remedies for an herbal swap I am doing on craftster.

6. Build Community Food Systems.
Placed and received my first buying club order. Got some free seeds from someone at the Urban Homesteaders Meet-Up Group. Must get to one of their meet-ups one of these days!

7. Eat the Food.

Oh boy did I make food. Mostly from supplies on hand, I absolutely raided my pantry and made:
1 pot of veggie chili
1 pot of corn and potato chowder
4 loaves of bread
4 chickpea patties- based on the recipe here. I am in LOVE with vital wheat gluten! Good thing too, as I got tons of it in my buying club order.
2 bean patties
1 pot of black eyed peas and veg
Massive amounts of rice

Most of this is in the freezer for food throughout the week. I left some chili for my boyfriend's roommate, and left them three loaves of bread. Plus I let Tim have half the chowder so he can meat it up.

Independence Days...postponed until this weekend

2010-03-19T08:57:00.000-04:00

I'm going to postpone until this weekend, so I actually have something to report! I have a busy weekend planned with all sorts of activities. And I'll be taking pictures. So... stay tuned....

Oh wow...fun blog I stumbled upon.

2010-03-17T12:04:00.000-04:00

I love it.
Unstuffed
It has keep me entertained for a long time today. Really good info on it. It's written by a woman who did a buy nothing year, which turned into a lot longer than that. I am going to finish this post and go back to exploring. It's definitely in my bookmarks now.

Friday March 12, Independence Days Post

2010-03-12T15:21:00.003-05:00

1. Plant something.

Once again, not yet. I think next week will be the week. I have been making seed starters though, out of upcycled toilet paper and paper towel rolls.

2. Harvest something.

Nothing to harvest. : (

3. Preserve something.

Continued with the rep pepper freezing and chopping. Man, I got a lot of red peppers!!!!!

4. Prep something.

*sigh* Not much. Man, I haven't done much this week.

5. Cook something.

I made a TON of lasagna. I figure if you're going to go to all that trouble you might as well make tons, so I did. One pan for me, one for Misha, one for Tim and one for Misha's friend Guchie.

6. Manage your reserves.

*sigh* Nope.

7. Work on local food systems.

I started my first buying club order. I am psyched!!! It's due on Wednesday, the 17th. So far I've only put a few things in my cart, but this is going to be good. I've missed being in a buying club.

OK not much to report this week, obviously....

Oh! Exciting news!!!

2010-03-05T09:30:00.001-05:00

I have signed up to be a demonstrator for The Angel Company. I'm quite excited about it. They have Copic markers!!! So, if anyone reading this would like a catalog, shoot me an email at amymisha@comcast.net. I haven't got my cattys yet, but they'll be here soon I hope!

Friday, March 5-Independence Days Post #2

2010-03-05T09:19:00.002-05:00

1. Plant something.

Not yet!! Snow on the ground when I woke up this morning! I did get my seeds for making seed bombs for May 1st, International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day!
Link here!

And I got some other seeds in a swap. Haven't started seed starters yet... must get my some space first to start them. I got potting soil though!

2. Harvest something.

Too cold and snowy/rainy...nothing to harvest. : (

3. Preserve something.

I got an awesome score of red peppers, hot peppers, and other veggies at the "damaged produce" section of Stop & Shop. So I've been cutting them up and freezing them. I still have pounds and pounds to finish. Tomorrow is my day off, so I'll be finishing filling my freezer!

4. Prep something.

Same prepping as last week. But, the Frugal-Along 2010 on craftster has a theme for March of decluttering, so I have big plans for this month!

5. Cook something.

With all the seitan I made last week I made Kentucky Fried seitan, one of Misha's favorite dinners!

Here's a good recipe from Vegan Dad, one of my favorite cooking blogs.... I deep fry mine, but want to start using less oil, so I'm going to try pan frying next time. We ate it all up...so now I have to make more seitan this weekend.

INGREDIENTS

- 1/2 cup canola oil

- 2 cups bread crumbs

- salt, pepper, nutritional yeast flakes (optional)

- 6 slices of seitan, or seitan cutlets

- 2 cups plain soymilk

- 1 tsp lemon juice

- 4 tbsp margarine

- 2 tbsp flour

- 2 cups soymilk

- 1 tsp lemon juice

- 1/2 tsp salt, white pepper

- 1 tsp dried rosemary, chopped

TIP! If you don't have breadcrumbs, process some cornflakes in the blender.

METHOD:

1. Heat oil in frying pan in med-hi.

2. Put bread crumbs in a medium bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast flakes if desired.

3. Put soymilk in another medium bowl. Stir in lemon juice until soymilk thickens.

4. Dip seitan cutlet in soymilk mixture, then roll in breadcrumbs, then back in the soymilk, then coat again in crumbs.

5. Fry for 4-5 mins per side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

1. Melt margarine on medium in a saucepan.

2. Whisk in flour, and continue to whisk until light brown.

3. Slowly whisk in soymilk and lemon juice. Bring to a slow boil, until mixture thickens.

4. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add rosemary.

6. Manage your reserves.

Same as last week. My pantry is a disaster.

7. Work on local food systems.

I signed up for my CSA, for a full season which goes until December!!! June through December, yay!

And I found a local buying club. First order will be soon.... looking forward to that!!!

Well...that's my Independence Days for this week. More next Friday.

Artsy/Craftsy/Garden Goals for the year

2010-02-28T08:37:00.003-05:00

I don't do New Year's resolutions. I refuse. But goals are good, right? So...in no particular order:

1. Participate in more challenge blog fun!
2. Organize my craft stuff, esp. my stamps.... I have a great idea which I found somewhere for organizing all my unmounteds on acrylic sheets. I have a special file thingy that will be perfect, I got some acrylic sheets, now I just need to start the process. More on that later.
3. Get my damn etsy store functional again. And sell some stuff!
4. Continue "Drunken Midnight Crafting" with Rabbit and invite other people to play. It's a fun way to learn new techniques, and is such a nice bonding thing. Girlfriends, wine, crafts? What's not to love.
5. I have decided not to let these bastard bed bugs chase me out of of this apartment, because I WANT that garden space. I am getting a garden journal and am planning now. I'm going to make a raised bed or two, and grow mints and tomatoes in containers, planning, planning, planning! I'll be in Maine in a few weeks which is a great time to pick up bags of seaweed for fertilizer and I am going to ask my friend Peter to start saving bunny poo for me..... build up those raised beds!

(Side note: I must give props to Emma Cooper of the Alternative Kitchen Garden podcast for inspiration. She has a blog too... here. I've been listening to the podcast for years, and just got her book and it is lovely. And she has the nicest accent in the world. (I live in Boston. I am surrounded by the most awfullest nails on chalkboard accents you can imagine on a daily basis, so a nice lilting UK accent is like candy!) Someday, perhaps, when Mish and I go visit her dad in wales and Grandparents in Liverpool, we'll do a side trip so I can meet my kind of idol. : ))

Well...I have more goals but these will be a start. I want to be on a design team someday, but that's going to take a years work and a bit of getting published. Let's consider that one long-term....

Friday-Independence Days Post

2010-02-26T09:54:00.003-05:00

1. Plant something.

Nope...didn't get any of this done...soon it will be time but not yet. I am browsing seed catalogs though, and getting ready to plan.

I am going to start making some toilet paper roll seed starters and some newspaper seed starters. Instructions for TP roll starters can be found here: Seed Starters

2. Harvest something.

Too cold and snowy/rainy...nothing to harvest. : (

3. Preserve something.

Well....I bagged up lavender that I'd dried earlier. Again, the end of winter problem.

4. Prep something.

*sigh* I just found out last week that we have bed bugs. Our building has had them for some time, it was only a matter of time. So, the prepping I've done this week has been laundry, moving furniture, vacuuming every night, steam cleaning the carpets every night, etc. Not fun, and my whole place is in absolute shambles and I can get my mind wrapped around anything more than this. : (

5. Cook something.

I've done a fair bit of cooking. Sunday I made batches and batches of seitan. I love seitan, and we eat TONS of it. Here's the recipe I use, it's from this link: Vegetarian Resource Group

Quick Homemade Gluten
(Makes 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds or 2 to 2-1/2 cups)

This is the basic recipe for gluten.

2 cups gluten flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1-1/4 cups water or vegetable stock
3 Tablespoons lite tamari, Braggs liquid amino acids, or soy sauce
1-3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (optional)

Add garlic powder and ginger to flour and stir. Mix liquids together and add to flour mixture all at once. Mix vigorously with a fork. When it forms a stiff dough knead it 10 to 15 times.

Let the dough rest 2 to 5 minutes, then knead it a few more times. Let it rest another 15 minutes before proceeding.

Cut gluten into 6 to 8 pieces and stretch into thin cutlets. Simmer in broth for 30 to 60 minutes.

Broth:
4 cups water
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
3-4 slices ginger (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring broth to a boil. Add cutlets one at a time. Reduce heat to barely simmer when saucepan is covered. Seitan may be used, refrigerated, or frozen at this point.

Seitan is about $5 for 8 ounces in stores, and this recipe makes tons. A bag of vital wheat gluten flour is about $4 and make many, many batches.

6. Manage your reserves.

I need to get on this. My pantry is a disaster. So is everything else, so.....

7. Work on local food systems.

I got my forms for my CSA. I get my veggies from Red Fire Farm in Granby, MA. The shares are enormous!!! I end up sharing them with others. I get the full season share, June through early December. It works out to about $25 a week. I've been using them for 3 years and LOVE them so much. Each share is almost 10 pounds of stuff!! And the pick-ups aren't far from our house. Very nice, and I am very excited.

I'm also considering finding a local buying club, but right now have spent so much on the bug war my funds are kind of beyond depleted. : (

Well...that's my Independence Days for this week. More next Friday.

Here's some of what I've been up to lately....

2010-02-25T10:05:00.005-05:00

Long time, no post!!! Here are some of the crafty things I've been up to lately.....these pictures were taken by a swap partner on craftster, I forgot to photograph them before I mailed them!

Resin Bottle Cap Magnets! A fun way to use up bits of paper, and recycle/upcycle bottle caps. VERY easy and fun!

Felted dryer balls. I used some of the techniques here: Felted Dryer Balls
I used roving, rather than yarn, but I love how they came out. My swap partner said they cut her drying time by 20 minutes.... now I need to make some for me!

And my favorite, funnest project...felted soaps. I love how they came out, it was a super fun craft and I made bunches. I think I'll make them for Christmas presents this year.
I used a bunch of pages for inspiration, but here's a link to one I like: Felted Soap

That's it for now. Whew!! Finally got a post up!!! Look for my Independence Days post tomorrow.

Independence Days

2010-02-19T08:31:00.003-05:00

Well, I first heard about this challenge this week and I am so intrigued. I'm going to give it a try, and will try to post updates every Friday. The link to the concept is here: Independence Days.

These are the challenges each week:

1. Plant something. Obviously, those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere and having spring are doing this anyway. But the idea that you should plant all week and all year is a good reminder to those of us who sometimes don’t get our fall gardens or our succession plantings done regularly. Remember, that beet you harvested left a space – maybe for the next one to get bigger, but maybe for a bit of arugula or a fall crop of peas, or a cover crop to enrich the soil. Independence is the bounty of a single seed that creates an abundance of zucchini, and enough seeds to plant your own garden and your neighbor’s.

2. Harvest something. From the very first nettles and dandelions to the last leeks and parsnips I drag out of the frozen ground, harvest something from the garden or the wild every day you can. I can’t think of a better way to be aware of the bounty around you to realize that there’s something – even if it is dandelions for tea or wild garlic for a salad – to be had every single day. Independence is really appreciating and using the bounty that we have.

3. Preserve something. Sometimes this will be a big project, but it doesn’t have to be. It doesn’t take long to slice a couple of tomatoes and set them on a screen in the sun, or to hang up a bunch of sage for winter. And it adds up fast. The time you spend now is time you don’t have to spend hauling to the store and cooking later. Independence is eating our own, and cutting the ties we have to agribusiness.

4. Prep something. Hit a yard sale and pick up an extra blanket. Purchase some extra legumes and oatmeal. Sort out and inventory your pantry. Make a list of tools you need. Find a way to give what you don’t need to someone who does. Fix your bike. Fill that old soda bottle with water with a couple of drops of bleach in it. Plan for next year’s edible landscaping. Make back-road directions to your place and send it to family in case they ever need to come to you – or make ‘em for yourself for where you might have to go. Clean, mend, declutter, learn a new skill. Independence is being ready for whatever comes.

5. Cook something. Try and new recipe, or an old one with a new ingredient. Sometimes it is hard to know what to do with all that stuff you are growing or making. So experiment now. Can you make a whole meal in your solar oven? How are stir-fried pea shoots? Stuffed squash blossoms? Wild morels in pasta? Independence is being able to eat and enjoy what is given to us.

6. Manage your reserves. Check those apples and take out the ones starting to go bad and make sauce with it. Label those cans. Clean out the freezer. Ration the pickles, so you’ll have enough to last to next season. Use up those lentils before you take the next ones out of the bag. Find some use for that can of whatever it is that’s been in the pantry forever. Sort out what you can donate, and give it to the food pantry. Make sure the squash are holding out. Independence means not wasting the bounty we have.

7. Work on local food systems. This could be as simple as buying something you don’t grow or make from a local grower, or finding a new local source. It could be as complex as starting a coop or a farmer’s market, creating a CSA or a bulk store. You might give seeds or plants or divisions to a neighbor, or solicit donations for your food pantry. Maybe you’ll start a guerrilla garden or help a homeschool coop incubate some chicks. Maybe you’ll invite people over to your garden, or your neighbors in for a homegrown meal, or sing the praises of your local CSA. Maybe you can get your town to plant fruit or nut producing street trees or get a manual water pump or a garden put in at your local school. Whatever it is, our Independence days come when our neighbors and the people we love are food secure too.

Since it is mid-February, it may be a bit early for me to start planting things...we'll see. So, I will begin today! Look my post post next week on my updates!!!

OMG. I promise I will start posting again this weekend.

2010-01-28T11:29:00.002-05:00

I've actually been crafting a lot. I need to get this bloggy blog going again. Yikes. So... I'll post some my latest and greatest this weekend! Stay tuned...

Ooooohhh...Bombshell Stamps candy

2010-01-28T11:23:00.000-05:00

New Challenge Blog Coming soon!!

2009-09-08T08:22:00.002-04:00

There's a new challenge blog starting soon, and they have great blog candy to celebrate! Check them out.... Saturday Spotlight. Here's a picture of their blog candy....

OK. That was a long break.

2009-08-24T09:46:00.002-04:00

Quite possibly the worst summer ever. It included a dear friend's death, moving (twice in one week), missing out on a lot of fun stuff, a healthy dose of depression, and it culminated in 2 cars breaking down with days of each other and my favorite old kitty, Val, having to be put down.

On the plus side.... my new place has a tiny little craft room. If I can ever get unpacked I'll start using it and getting crafty. Look for pictures soon. I do have at least one ATC to share.

I have been in such a funk! So, time to snap out of it and get arty/crafty/creative again!

Thanks for bearing with me.

Sorry I've been absent....

2009-05-01T13:43:00.002-04:00

I lost a friend last Friday to suicide, and it's been a rough week. I hope to get some new posts up next week. Please be patient.

I'll miss you, Gabe.

Nettle Soup!

2009-04-18T20:38:00.006-04:00

Well, here's lunch. I based it on a recipe from http://lemonbasil.blogspot.com, but here's my version....

* 3 Tablespoons olive oil
* 2 shallots, minced
* 2 garlic cloves, minced... Read More
* 1/2 cup chives
* 1/2 pound wild nettle tops
* 1 quart veggie broth
* Salt and Pepper
* 1 cup half and half

Procedure:
1. Saute shallots, garlic, and garlic greens in olive oil. Add nettles.
2. Add broth and bring to a boil.
3. Cover and simmer until the nettles are very soft, about 8-10 minutes.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste, add half and half, and puree using blender.
5. I browned up some shallots as a garnish.

It was a bit thinner than I usually enjoy (I'm a stew girl!), but was delicious!!!

Now, to wait a few more weeks until more nettles pop up. I am now on nettle duty at the garden! Yummers.

The nettles... note the gloves. They were tricky to work with! I just used the top leaves of any given plant.

Shallots and chives and garlic. I love shallots.

The soup itself. It tasted almost like fresh green pea soup. But better. Absolutely awesome.

Now I just need to find a good purslane recipe, because that is the other weed that is absolutely rampant in the whole garden! Yay for weed eating.

With the leftover nettles bits I am making a nettle tincture (medicinal) and nettle "tea" for my garden... just soak nettles in water for 2-3 weeks, and use the resulting liquid as fertilizer.

I totally slacked on vegan eating today. But tomorrow... vegan Swedish meatballs with a vegan cream sauce.

What I've been up to today...

2009-04-18T20:29:00.005-04:00

Gardening!This is my garden space. It's at the Day Street-Roundhill Community Garden in Jamaica Plain. This will be my 6th year in this plot.

My plot, on April 18

Again, my plot. Ths is my beloved tarragon (in the back), chives and sage:

Part of my clean up duty was helping to get rid of all the nettles. Yay! Free food. I made an amazing nettle soup, which I will showcase in my next post. Yuummmyyy.

What will I grow this year? Basil, definitely. Haberneros. Radishes, because Misha loves them. Arugula. And I just got a lavendar BUSH, which is a few years old I'm not sure what else. Maybe chard.

But anyway. That's my day. Garden and cooking.

Back soon.... sorry for the hiatus

2009-04-17T09:42:00.001-04:00

I've been pretty sick for a few weeks and now I have a bloody head cold to top it off. Don't really feel much like crafting. Mostly I just feel like curling up in a small ball and crying. I hope this weekend I feel better, because I won some nice Unity Stamp blog candy and another little blog candy, and I want play with my new toys! Bleh. I owe people treats too... they are coming soon.

Paper Craft Planet Sketch Challenge Card- SK032809

2009-04-01T22:24:00.002-04:00

Another card from my lovely blog candy win. This one is for the Paper Craft planet Sketch Challenge.
Paper: Autumn Leaves
Cardstock: Close To My Heart
Flower: Autumn Leaves
Rubber Stamps: Close To My Heart (swirls) and unknown (Thank You)
Ribbon: Autumn Leaves

Caardvarks Challenge Card

2009-04-01T22:18:00.003-04:00

Well... yay! I got to use my goodies that I won in the blog candy. Oh this poppy stuff is fun to play with!! Anyway, I made this card for this week's Caardvarks Challenge. Here it is.
Paper: Autumn Leaves
Cardstock: Close To My Heart
Ribbon: Autumn Leaves
Flower: Autumn Leaves
Rubber Stamps: Autumn Leaves and Unknown

Unity Challenge Card

2009-03-26T19:14:00.003-04:00

I made this card for a Unity Stamp Company challenge. I'm OK with it. Not thrilled. I love how the Copic watercolor technique came out... it's Copic markers, direct to stamp with alcohol spritzed on it, then stamped on paper. Nice and watercolory....
Anyway... comments/input appreciated....

Credits:
Paper: Close To My Heart, unknown
Stamps: Unity Gratitude=Joy
Flower: unknown
Markers: Copic

Basic Grey Challenge 27-Texture

2009-03-26T19:07:00.007-04:00

I made this card for the Basic Grey Challenge. Sadly, the texture does not scan well... I used CTMH Liquid Glass on all of the elephants in the background paper, so they are raised. It's all Basic Grey Paper, with Close To My Heart Liquid Glass as an accent. (That's my new favorite toy!) Oh well, the scan is not great and a little wonky, but my goodness I love this paper!!!!

Credits:
Paper: Basic Grey Marrakesh
Rub-on: Basic Grey Marrakesh
Glossy accents: CTMH Liquid Glass

This card is being donated to the Spread a Smile Campaign... please check the link out! It's really a great thing!Dorothy has a huge heart, and I'd love for people to give some more support!

There's still time!

2009-03-23T11:41:00.001-04:00

To get 40% off some of the things from Close To My Heart! The sale is going through the end of the month. Click this link. Thank you!

Oh my gosh, I won something!!!

2009-03-19T14:21:00.004-04:00

I won blog candy. Really beautiful blog candy from Made for Keeps. Here's a picture. I can't wait for it to come. This made my day, when I was so bummed about being back in Boston where it's cold and missing New Orleans. Yay!

But I don't want to go home....

2009-03-17T12:23:00.000-04:00

I've been in New Orleans since Friday night, but am flying home today. Hence no posts this weekend! But... I don't want to leave. I love this town.
I'll post pictures tomorrow or soon. It pretty much rained/poured every day, so the Mardi Gras Indians parade that I wanted to see was canceled. But we saw a good St. Patrick's Day parade.
I might just quit my job and move here. (I say that every time!)

Card for Cupcake Craft Challenge #30-Spring

2009-03-11T21:40:00.004-04:00

I made this card for the Cupcake Craft Challenge #30-Spring. The papers used were from Daisy Bucket and Close To My Heart. Rub-ons were from Daisy Bucket. The brad is from American Traditional Designs.

Paper Bag Album

2009-03-11T15:09:00.009-04:00

This is a paper bag album I made as an example for a class I am teaching next week. The paper is from the Emporium Level 2 kit from Close To My Heart, as are the stickers. The ribbons are from CTMH too. It still needs a little work, but it's coming along.

Oh. My. Gosh. I want these!!

2009-03-11T14:31:00.004-04:00

Moo Cards

These are amazing. OK. I know what I am treating myself to tomorrow!!!!

Woohoo! I can blog at work. : )

2009-03-10T16:30:00.001-04:00

Usually blogger is blocked. Hee hee!

Well, the newest news is I have signed up again with Close To My Heart! I am very happy about this decision. I used to be a consultant years ago. I have a website to shop at, the address is http://amybarker.myctmh.com. Right now there is a LOT of stuff on clearance for 40% off. Follow the link on the front page.

I will be posting some artwork soon (yeah yeah yeah, heard that before). But no! Really. I just made a cute little paper bag album to use as a demo at a class i am teaching. If I could get my daughter off the computer once in a while, maybe I could actually blog at home. : )

For now, here is a layout I recently did. I used a kit from the Classy Coordinates Scrapbook Club, they have LOVELY kits!

It was for a challenge. I love this paper... love the colors.

OK... back to work. hee hee. I might make another post later, as I am too excited to be able to take a few seconds and post during the day!

This is my own blog candy...FILLED UP!

2009-03-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

OK. This is all full!! Time to start crafting!

Hi ladies and gents (LOL you never know), I saw this on another blog and I thought it would be neat to do this. The deadline for this April 3, 2009. I will send world wide....

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice! For you. (There is a possibility it will be a purchased item instead of homemade, or both).This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.... You can give it to someone else if you hate it!
2. It may be products and not handmade.... I hope it's at least a little of both.... Maybe some nice scrapbooking paper, and some cards made from said paper?
3. It'll be done sometime this year (I will want to get it done in the next month or so). I will do my very best to have it in the mail by April 15th!
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. : ) It will probably be something I've made before, or enjoy making.... hmmm.... probably not a baby blanket, probably more like cards or????
5. The catch? Oh, the catch is you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog (then come here and post) The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a handmade gift by me. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!
SO ...................who will be the first 5 people????

1. Cathy aka CatScrapsHere (Yay! Thank you for being #1)
2. Lou Collins
3. Joani
4. Elfdaughter
5. Okispice

I really am alive

2009-01-24T16:34:00.000-05:00

I have not blogged for ages, but I have just been working way to much to blog, plus blogger is blocked at worked, so I can't do anything on my lunch break! I am getting back in the crafting swing of things and will be posting more soon, so hang in there!!!! More posts, book reviews, and craft pictures coming soon.

Gimme Your Stuff! : )

2009-01-24T16:33:00.000-05:00

I have been swapping for a number of years through Gimme Your Stuff at http://gimmeyourstuff.blogspot.com/. I love it! here's my wishlist....

My name is Amy and I am a Moomintroll Addict. Little My and Snuffkin are my favorite characters. I would love to swap things from the US to people in Scandanavia and Japan or anywhere else for precious Mommintroll things. Especially FABRIC.... pillowcases, etc. Or yards of fabric. Anything Moomintroll is a good start. Stickers, scrapbook supplies (do they make them?), paper, note cards, anything.

I also am a craft freak. I do a lot of mail art, love scrapbooking, card making, ATCs, paper arts, soap making. I am in love with japanese craft and sewing books, zakka stuff, and other cool craft books from Asia. They don't have to in English!!

I love Labello lip balm and can't buy it here.

I also love fun stationary, my daughter is a Sanrio nut! She also LOVES Kawaii stationary, can't get enough of it. Fun Korean or Japanese or other countries in Asia stationary. We both love candies from other places.

I live in Boston and travel to NYC often. So.... I can get almost anything you'd like in exchange. I can send sweets, packaged food, crafts supplies, scrapbooking paper, you name it! I can also send yummy maple syrup, blueberry everything, salt water taffy. Or any goodies you can think of from Boston!

Interested? Email me at amymisha@comcast.net.

I HATE MOVING!!!!

2008-07-07T17:56:00.000-04:00

Well, I am pretty much moved. Sorry for the looong delay New job, new life, new apartment. 3 new book reviews coming soon. Right now I am getting ready for Transformus! http://www.transformus.com
More soon. Must unpack. Yikes.

A long lost friend....

2008-05-22T17:20:00.000-04:00

Wow. As I was unpacking, in order to repack (yes... I have not yet unpacked all the way from the move here.), I found my favorite and first owned Japanese craft book. This is still my favorite, it's filled with Scandinavian themed embroidery designs, and other patterns and such. The best part is a few pages of Moomintroll patterns.

My dad's side of the family is Swedish, my grandmother moved here when she was 3 or so. My great-grandmother left her jerk of a husband in Sweden and moved herself and my grandmother to New York City on her own. Can I just say that this woman still, to this day, rocks my world? I called my great-grandmother Mormor, which actually means mother's mother, but I suppose Farmormor is too much of a mouthful. Mormor was always very old in my eyes. She died when she was 99, when I was in my late teens/early 20s. She was an amazing woman, and a wonderful cook, seamstress and needleworker. I would eat meat again, if I could have her back for one day and she'd make swedish meatballs for me. : ) I've been working for years to veganize her recipe, and I am getting closer. My last batch, for my friend Randi's baby shower, were very good.

Anyway... growing up in a Swedish-y family, I grew up with Moomintroll books. I still have most all of them. I have a mild obsession with them and do lots of swaps on postcrossing and Gimme Your Stuff for Moomintrolly goodies. So this Japanese book is one of my favorites. And I am happy to be reunited with it again. It's ISBN is 4-8347-2480-8.

So, here's the front cover....

And here's a Moomintroll pattern example. The little girl sliding down a hill is my favorite character and totem. Her name is Little My. She's a brat.

The rest of the book is fabulous too, but these pages of patterns make it for me. And now that I am becoming way into needlework, they are even more of an inspiration. My mom says I have Mormor's touch when it comes to needlework. This is nice to hear.

On another nice note, I just got a call this afternoon that my friend Randi had her baby today! So she'll be able to snuggle up in the blankie I made her soon! Hurray for babies!

Little Zippered Pouch- purpleone- No Peeking!!!!

2008-05-20T22:18:00.000-04:00

the bag

the lining

So... this is the zippered pouch I made for a recent craftster swap. It's lined, the first little pouch I've lined. My partner likes seals, hence the seal image. I am stuffing it full of sewing goodies. The chain stitch on the inside looks very nice, yeah? It's actually hiding the fact that my tension was wonky and there were some loose threads popping up. I love embroidery... so forgiving.

I used the instructions located here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=22875.0

Moving again!!

2008-05-20T18:56:00.000-04:00

Yikes. So.... I am moving back to the Boston area next month. Woohoo. So, posting will be sporadic (it's not called Fits and Starts for nothin'!). No job yet, but I'm trying. I am very much looking forward to having a bigger space to craft and sew in, Winmill Fabrics, Boomerangs, and just plain city living again.

I have some pictures of a little pouch I made for a swap on craftster... I'll get them up tonight.

I Love Book-Off!!

2008-05-08T08:51:00.000-04:00

I finally got a chance to visit Book-Off a few weekends ago. Now I know I am behind the trend in my love of Japanese crafting books, but I really do love them.

Book-Off is awesome!!!!!! I found oodles of books for $1 each and a new to me Handmade Zakka book for $6. I love it, and can't wait to go back. It had a dizzying selection of books, which were organized in some fashion, but I am a non-speaker of Japanese so I just kind of pawed through them.

It's at 14 E 41st Street in Manhattan. They're open at 10am-8pm.

That is my rave for the day.

My Gimme Your Stuff Post

2008-04-30T11:36:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't heard of Gimme Your Stuff it's a website where you can make contacts to do cultural exchanges with people in other countries. The link is in my links section. Here's my post for it! : )

My name is Amy and I am a Moomintroll Addict. Little My and Snuffkin are my favorite characters. I would love to swap things from the US to people in Scandanavia and Japan or anywhere else for precious Mommintroll things. Especially FABRIC.... pillowcases, etc. Or yards of fabric. Anything Moomintroll is a good start. Stickers, scrapbook supplies (do they make them?), paper, note cards, anything.

I also would love, love, love Marimekko fabric from Finland/Sweden or really cute fabric from Japan.

I also am a craft freak. I do a lot of mail art, love scrapbooking, card making, ATCs, paper arts, soap making. I am in love with japanese craft and sewing books, zakka stuff, and korean craft books.

I love Labello lip balm and can't buy it here.

I also love fun stationary, my daughter is a Sanrio nut! She also LOVES Kawaii stationary, can't get enough of it. Fun Korean or Japanese or other countries in Asia stationary.

We both love candies from other places. I live in Maine on the weekends and Boston, Masaachusetts during the week (for now) and travel to NYC often. So.... I can get almost anything you'd like in exchange. I can send sweets, packaged food, crafts supplies, scrapbooking paper, you name it! I can also send yummy maple syrup, blueberry everything, salt water taffy. Interested? Email me at amymisha@localnet.com

Quick update...

2008-04-19T21:14:00.000-04:00

I just found a new online zine called PackRat and I love, love, love it! The link is here: http://www.packratmag.com . It's about recycled crafty stuf, and it is awesome (my word of the week). Check it out.

My baby blankie was a HUGE hit. My friend Randi loved it. It's one of teh creations I am most proud of and now I get to make a new one!

I've been pretty busy getting 2 swaps finished for craftster. I'm also moving back to Boston, so have been job hunting. I have 2 new book reviews... hopefully I'll post them this week....

That's it for now. Quickie update.....

OK...a quick book review...

2008-04-08T09:53:00.001-04:00

I just read A Page Out of Life by Kathleen Reid this weekend. Fiction that incorporates scrapbooking.... interesting! It wasn't a bad book, but the concept was better than the book itself. it had its moments, and there were a few parts that I really enjoyed, but all in all it didn't really do much for me. Some of it seemed too contrived, and the big twist was not quite believable somehow.

I also, in the start of the book, really disliked the protagonist. She seemed needlessly whiny, and a little self-involved. Towards the end I was more impressed, but it may have been a little too little, too late. The scrapbooking seemed kind of stuck in there, and didn't feel researched well. There were definitely points where everything got a bit schmaltzy.

This book will be available to purchase on April 29, 2008. It really didn't do much for me, but I am pretty picky about my fiction. However, you may love it. Sorry this isn't a more positive review. I didn't HATE it, but I didn't love it either.

Can't blog now.... too busy crafting......

2008-04-08T09:31:00.000-04:00

Yes, i have been a major blogging slacker. But I have been a crafting fool!!!!! This is my latest project, a baby blankie for my friend Randi's baby. Her baby shower is this weekend and I got it done in the nick of time. I am also still working on my burningman pendant (I have to redo it, long story...). Anyway... here's the blankie. I will have more bloggy goodness soon. I have a bunch of books to review too.

I hope that worked right. I only have dial-up now and it is excruciating.

Anyway...no sooner have I finished this, but I find out I have another friend expecting! So now I am starting #2! I've also been a swapping fool on craftster... so have been very busy with some projects there.

I'll post those pictures soon. What else? I have discovered and am in love with oil cloth! I have made a few neat bags from it. It's been a loooooong cold winter here, and I have just been trying to stay sane.

On a positive note, we are moving back to the Boston area. Hurrah. Maine is beautiful, and my time here has been healing but it is time to move on. I need me some city life, quickly!

OK more soon. I won't be such a slacker from now on. I hope!

A fun website to noodle around with...

2008-01-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

I just discovered this website and absolutely LOVE it!!! Check it out... it has tons of color trend info, a great blog, forums and much more. I haven't even explored it all yet.... it'll keep me busy for ages! http://www.colourlovers.com/

Lost Wax Casting Part 2

2008-01-25T11:28:00.000-05:00

So.... my piece came back from the casters!!! The first cast was in sterling silver. Here is a ratyher blurry photo of it, before I started cleaning it up. The next step is to finish it, both by hand and with a machine. Then it will be super shiny and gorgeous. Then it goes off to the mold maker, and after the mold is made will be cast in pewter. Woohoo! I'm getting there.

For the love of all that is good in the world....

2008-01-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

...please, please help me clean out my stockpile of stuff!!!! I am trying to reduce my material possessions by 50% and lots of that is craft supplies that I will never get around to using. So... please, if you see this, visit my ebay and etsy sites... there will be new things listed often. Thanks!

Etsy
Ebay

Lost Wax Casting... my first expiriment... Part 1

2008-01-20T18:40:00.000-05:00

Well... I have been working in a jewelry store for the past few months, selling, making jewelry, and helping with the website. The owner of the store does a lot of lost wax castings, and I was inspired to make one of my own.

I'll be going to a regional Burn this year, in North Carolina, so I decided to make a burning man themed pendant to give away as gifts there. Here are the steps......

Step 1: Come up with an idea.
I just sketched it out in pencil. It's super easy, because I thought for my first project I would start easy. Then I reduced it on the copier to 50%. Then I cut it out. Easy peasy, so far!

Step 2: Start carving the wax

OK... I cheated and didn't show my first attempt, which was much thicker wax and ended up looking like a rabid chipmunk chewed it. I then moved on to thinner wax. Much easier! I rubber cemented the image onto the wax, so I could get the details right. In general, I just used the scalpel until the very end when I had to smooth things out.

Step 3: The final wax... more or less
Pre-cleanup. I removed all the bits of paper, added a wax circle on top to put a jump ring through and smoothed it out a little. It's not totally smooth, but I can clean it up better once it is cast in silver.

Next step..... bring it to the casters. I'm doing that tomorrow. I will bring it Maine Precious Metal Casting in Brunswick, and they'll do the first one in silver. Here's their website...
http://mainepreciousmetalcasting.com/cfm/mpmc/

It's all coming together well. The final product will be cast in pewter as silver is about $16 an ounce right now, and since all of this is coming out of my own pocket, I can't really afford silver. I can't sell them, only gift them, so I have to keep the costs down.

More to come... once the next step is done.

A few book reviews for you......

2008-01-20T18:20:00.002-05:00

These reviews were written by guest reviewer, Sarah Lucas. I let her review knitting books and weaving books, because I don't know how to knit. : (
The first book reviewed is Creative Weaving by Sarah Howard and Elisabeth Kendrick. It's ISBN #978-1-60059-098-6
Though this book has a section titled "how to weave," I wouldn't start with this book as a beginning weaver.
The book is divided into colors and each example of woven fabric is presented in a beautiful format with large color photographs. The photos show both a close-up of the woven project and the inspiration (pomegranate, e.g.). Each page also includes basic directions including equipment and threading but is not terribly in depth. This book gives some ideas for what is possible when you try something a little different with your weaving.

The next review is on the book Natural Dying by Jackie Crook, ISBN #978-1-60059-222-5.
This beautiful book tells you everything you need to know to get started dying textiles in your home with natural dyes. Different directions are given for preparing silk, cotton, and wool for the dying process. The book is divided into sections based on the source of the dye- roots, barks, flowers, fruits, etc. Each page shows an example of the variation in color you can achieve, depending on which material you use to prepare your fiber. This book is beautifully presented and very usable.

At long last... I return

2008-01-14T10:34:00.000-05:00

Sorry people. It has been a horrible, awful, no good, very bad couple of months. I'm back though. And there are tons of book reviews coming!!!!!

I've been making a lot of jewelry lately, and learning wax carving for lost wax casting. I'll get pictures up soon.

My email address has changed. It is now amymisha@localnet.com.

Look for new posts soon. : )

I need a few weeks.....

2007-08-28T16:01:00.000-04:00

Well. There have been a LOT of changes here recently. I am going to be leaving Boston and moving home to Maine. It's just too hard to make it in Boston as a single mom, and I need a nice safe place to be whole again. I promise as soon as I arrive (should be the 15th, I will hook my computer up first thing and get a good blog post in. What Maine holds for me..... lots and lots and lots of crafting. I'll be living with the most crafty lady I know (my mom) and seeing the second most crafty lady I know (my sister) on a very regular basis. So... you'll hear from me soon with lots of updates and photos and good stuff.

Craft area reorganization...

2007-08-20T13:20:00.000-04:00

Well. Due to a completely out of the blue break-up, my craft area will no longer be the messiest in the country for a little while at least. I have to move EVERYTHING from the living room, where it currently lives, into the walk-in pantry, which will be the new home of my craftiness. (I will be renting the living room out, once it is converted into a bedroom) So, I spent most of yesterday hauling everything out. Now I have to organize it so it doesn't just sit in piles. I actually like the new space, my table fits perfectly in there and there is good natural light. There's enough room for craft stuff and plates, dishes, etc. I'll get pictures up soon... I seem to have misplaced my camera in yesterday's moving. *sigh* I've been thinking of putting up peg-board to hang stuff on. Like it is used here. That would work well, I think.
I could also just get rid of stuff for once!!!
Well, pictures will be coming soon. I also got a ton of Japanese craft books that I ordered before I knew I was going to be dumped and broke. At least I have something to while away the days with now! I need to get some pictures up... I hope tonight, we'll see if I can get my computer hooked up again.

Whew!

2007-08-16T09:52:00.000-04:00

Well, I am done with Bazaars for the summer. I *think* I have recovered. I am absolutely exhausted. I took 3 days off from everything to sleep and rest. Didn't get much done in the whole craft arena, but did manage to sand matte my Blythe doll, and get some new eyeshadow on her. I need to repaint her lips now and buff her a bit, but she looks a LOT better.

I will, since I have no real craft news to report, give you a link to one of my favorite blogs run by one of the nicest people I have talked to via email lately. Lava Means Love. By all means, do visit.

I also got a great zine in the mail from a mail art friends Serendipity. Just out of the blue, and very exciting. It is packed with fun stuff, mail art calls, and ramblings. Her website is here. She also has the most amazing mail art zine called Postal Press, which after a bit of a hiatus is in the planning stages for the next round! I'm excited.... Check it out.

That's it for now....

Oooh! Check this out!

2007-08-08T19:17:00.000-04:00

My sister just called me and told me about this site. It's great. Apparently this woman is crocheting or knitting everything in an old lady's house. The site is in Dutch, but the pictures are just great.
http://www.annereijse.nl/index-vries.html

Fabric yumminess....

2007-08-08T15:11:00.000-04:00

So... we had one of our Bazaars this weekend. I good a bit of fabric from one of my favorite vendors. Her business is called Mombasa Moose, and she works with Fair Trade crafts co-operatives all over Eastern Africa. One of the many wonderful things she carries is fabric from Tanzania... 100% Tanzanian cotton, and hand batiked. Gorgeous. Here are some pictures. She'll have a website soon, which I will link as soon as it is up!

Here are some pictures of what I purchased. Mostly I just got enough to start making some clothes for Blythe.

Blythe is here!

2007-08-08T13:39:00.000-04:00

Yippee. That made my day. She is just an Ashton Drake Gallery doll, but I want a good practice doll for customization, and I need a model for the clothes that I intend to make. I'm just calling her Dollie right now. No name really. My daughter is intrigued and horrified.
Here's a picture of her, begging me to make her new clothes from the lovely fabric I got this weekend. I need to sand matte her and fix her makeup too. And eventually, new eye chips. The list goes on and on. But first... a new outfit.
Without further ado.... here she is....

Chaos

2007-08-08T09:28:00.000-04:00

It's been an incredibly crazy week, but here is what you can expect posted, hopefully tonight!

* a review of this book.

* an update on my super fantastic fabric purchases this weekend, from Caroline of Mombasa Moose with pictures. I wish I'd had more $$$ as the fabric was drool worthy!

So stay tuned!!!

Also, I am so sad that no one has left comments. So... I will do a drawing. The first 3 people to leave a comment will get something handmade by me! Make sure you email me you address too, or contact info. I'm not sure what the gifts will be... probably something in the felt food variety. I just found a GREAT pattern to make cute felt cupcakes. Yummers.

More later.....

Another Donut... last one, I promise. : )

2007-08-02T17:34:00.000-04:00

This is my first donut. I won't post any more unless there is an an extremely exceptional one. This is not the donut blog. I can't write much today because I am in the throes of a Bazaar inspired nervous breakdown. More after this weekend, I guess. *sigh*

Oy. What a day....

2007-08-01T19:08:00.000-04:00

Busy, busy day at work. My full time job is working at an indigenous rights organization. I help organize indigenous arts, crafts, music and cultural festivals. They are really fun, like being in a circus really. But exhausting. We are in the midst of three weekends in a row. So, Friday through Sunday I work the festivals, Monday I collapse and sleep until 3pm usually, and the rest of the week is full of tying up loose ends from the prior festival and preparing for the next one.

Our next 2 will will in Portland, ME and Provincetown, MA. Here's the link to the info, just in case anyone reads this. Bazaars!!! I am most excited about this coming one, because my favorite vendor, Caroline, will be there. She works with a number of fair trade cooperatives in various countries in Africa and has fabric that is out of this world! I am going to get some and put pictures in this blog. Probably on Monday! She does a fabric of the month club too.... I really might sign up. It's great batik fabric that is hand made. She used to be a fashion designer and has a really great eye for pattern/design.

I have to restrain myself from shopping too much, because there are so many neat things there. I did get a great necklace at the last Bazaar, made by the San in Botswana of eggshell beads. I got that from an organization called Women's Work, and they sell lots of great jewelry.

I really need to find my camera.

Anyway, today at work was chaos entering new members and sending out our magazine. Then we had lunch with the members of a band called Indige Femme. Tash and Elena are Navajo and Maori/Samoan and they do great, really powerful folky music. It was a great lunch and they are great women.

OK. I need to relax now, because I have another full day ahead of me for the next four days. I mght get a post in tomorrow.

Another good mail day!

2007-07-31T19:15:00.000-04:00

I got some more yummy goodies in the mail from other swaps. Sadly I seem to have put my camera somewhere weird, so I can't add pictures. : ( Very sad. I'll hunt for it. Needless to say, I got about a yard of fabulous Moomintroll fabric from Finland, and a great Moomin mousepad.

I also got a great new book called Organic Body Care Recipes by Storey Publishing. I can not wait to go through it and try out the recipes. I love using essential oils and aromatherapy in natural body care products, so I know this will get heavy rotation.

Matt loved, loved, loved his donut. Now I have to make another big one for my friend Dave's puppy. Donut puppy toy!

Also, I just found that Burda has free patterns online to download. The link is here. I'm going to make the cell phone bag first.

OK. I have to go finish getting some swap packages together. I love swaps.

Donut!!!!

2007-07-30T18:00:00.000-04:00

Yay... a donut. I just made it for my friend Matt..... here it is....

Before Pics of my Horrible crafty space

2007-07-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

These are the picture of my crafting area BEFORE. My big goal is too get this area organized and usable. I am aware that there is a VCR on my craft table. That is because Tim has been telling me for four weeks that he will get it hooked up. He has one more week and then I am going to start nagging.

I will post some other picture of the other problem areas. I live in a 4 room apartment, so this space is one third of my living room. Any suggestions? Actually looking at these... now I want to cry.

Yay! Mail!

2007-07-30T11:50:00.001-04:00

I got 2 swaps while I was gone of fun goodies from Finland. I do a lot of swaps through postcrossing. I love Moomintroll books... my grandmother is Swedish and they were my favorite books growing up as a child. So I love to swap with people in Finland for Moomintroll goodies. Here are some pictures.

The first picture is some fun goodies from Tiina... bandaids, lollis, a cell phone charm, lip gloss and sweets. Yummy!

This is a great envy of goodies from Jussi. A magnet, a moomin something, really yummy licorice candy and the best of all... a Little My tea towel. I am going to turn that into a purse! I'll post the completed picture when I am done. Little My is my favorite character. My next tattoo will be an image of her. She's sort of my power symbol... feisty, strong willed and eccentric. Those licorice candies are insanely yummy.

Here's the tea towel laid out....

I am so happy. I have one Moomin purse half done, made from a pillowcase from a prior swap. I am looking forward to making this one though.

I love doing swaps. I do them through postcrossing and gimme your stuff. I have a bunch in the works right now.

Yes. I am obsessed with Moomins. I made a moomin cell phone cozy recently. It was my first attempt, and I have to redo it, but here's a pic. It's Snuffkin. It is a prototype.... needs to be redone. It's scraps from the pillowcase bag.

And finally.... I made a bird for my friend Tree on Friday. One of my felty things. I will post the patten soon. It was quick and easy and fun.

In case you can't tell, I have re-confiscated my camera from Misha. : ) Coming soon... before pics of my grizzly craft area.... sigh.... so much tidying, so little time. And some long awaited photos of my donut goodness.

I have the day off today, because I worked all weekend. So I am just hanging around watching Styleicious and other craft shows and getting swaps together for people.

Bye.....

Happy Friday!

2007-07-27T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well... for most people there is a nice weekend ahead. I have to go to Maine for work though. Not a lot of free time and fun. But I get to raid my mom's craft room and fabric stash when I stay at her house! So, there is something to look forward to.

I made a craft donut last night for my friend Sarah, I forgot to take a picture of it before I sent it down to the bazaar for her. Maybe I can get her to take a picture so I can post it. She asked for orange icing and she got it! I can't wait to find out how she likes it. I want to get a bunch of them made, but I keep giving them away as soon as I make them.

Well... I won't post anything this weekend, because I'll be working hard promoting Cultural Survival's Bazaar in Portland, ME next weekend.

I want to put more pictures up, but Misha has taken my digital camera to Maine. When I get it back I will take pictures of a bunch of things. The memory card is probably full of pictures of her... she is at the height of pre-teen narcissism.

Have a good weekend.......

Hooray. YesAsia coupon code...

2007-07-26T08:59:00.000-04:00

I have to credit a comment by Hannah on the Wee Wonderfuls blog for this... it works and is great. If you type US in the coupon code box at YesAsia, during check out, you will get $5 off your order! It's only valid until July 31, 2007, but with the free shipping it is a help! Hannah, I don't know you, but I thank you!!!!

I ordered three books. One of them is this one:

It is ISBN 4834724522 . The title is (roughly translated): 235 Small Specials Mode From Recycled Fabrics.

I also ordered 2 other books, which I will post when they come.

My bank called me as soon as I'd placed the order, because they thought someone had stolen my bank card. Heh heh. Nope. It's legit. Nice to know they pay attention though. They called literally 30 seconds after the order went through.

I just found out that my sister's school is doing a craft fair as a fundraiser in October, so I think I might get a table. Better get busy making stuff. As soon as I reclaim my living room (which is where the couchsurfers sleep). The living room in our apartment doubles as my crafty area. My craft table is a mess right now though. I'll have to do before/after pics, because that is my #1 goal when the couchsurfers head off.... get that table clean.

I also want to spif up this blog, but that will come in time. No one reads it yet anyway. : )

First post. Yippee.

2007-07-25T16:04:00.000-04:00

Well.... after becoming enamored with about a half a million other blogs, crafty and noncrafty, I have decided to start my own. Just for the fun of it. I am calling it Fits and Starts because that is what crafting is like in my life.... I do it in fits and starts.

Lately I am obsessed with making felt donuts, acquiring more Japanese craft books, and making clothes for Blythe dolls. And lots of other things. Though often in the summer I spend more time obsessing over crafting than actually doing it. I get a lot of gardening done, and I work a LOT during the summer. Fall and winter are my nice quiet down times. Summer is just chaos.

I work for an indigenous rights organization and we put on a traveling festival of indigenous arts, handicrafts, music, food, etc. all summer long. I travel from town to town, only 5 this summer, and work them. It is fun, kind of like being in a circus. But exhausting. We have three more to go, over the next 3 weekends, and I think I might collapse as soon as the last one is done.

Anyway. That's a little bit about me. I'll start adding links and stuff soon. I have to clean now because we have couchsurfers coming tonight from Germany.