Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label S.C.R.A.P. Projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S.C.R.A.P. Projects. Show all posts

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Putting it in Perspective ~ Crocheting a Blanket ~ Mini Heart Update ~ Question

I don't usually keep track of hours spent crocheting a blanket, but I did over the weekend.  I wanted to humor myself I guess, or find out the torture I'm enduring for this blanket.

I timed myself at making one color row in this blanket, which consists of 4 rows single crochet, 2 rows of double, and this pattern requires counting, skipping chains etc.  I takes 1 hour and 37 minutes to make each color section.

I measured the width, which is also something I haven't done on a blanket (never took any orders before).


It measures 53 1/2 inches  wide, and I am using worsted weight yarn with an "H" crochet hook.  It's not thick yarn, so it takes longer to make a blanket.

I counted the sections of color so far, and have 18 sections  - 29.1 hours of labor so far.  I have about 6-7 maybe 8 sections of rotating color to go.

It was a bit of a challenge, but I got the post up on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot, in regards to crocheting the mini hearts to glue on jumbo paper clips.

Also, as I was creating a new mini heart for the post, I realized they would make cute earrings.

The embellished paper clip instructions are finally posted  HERE.

Thanks for the challenge.  I first made the heart embellished paper clips in 2015.  It was a chore to not only find the ones I made to sell (which I never did, we'll talk about that another day), find the hook I used and how I made them.  Whew!  Anyway, enjoy making them!

Question:

If you were to find a crocheted random act of kindness item, left purposely somewhere in your path, would you prefer something useful, or would you enjoy a worry worm/pocket hug etc.?

I'm asking, because I feel people would be more surprised if it was useful, like a cup coaster, or the embellished paperclips I make, or a keychain?  Just looking for more ideas using up scrap yarn this summer. 




Items are placed in a bag or other protective clear packaging, with a note or rhyme etc.  Something in the realm of cheering someone up, and putting a smile on their face.  An unexpected surprise.  If you google images for "random acts of kindness" you can basically see all of what people make right now.

What I have on my list for ideas so far:

-embellished paper clips
-bookmarks
-cup coasters or mug rugs
-fridge magnet (?)
-Christmas ornaments during the holidays


Thursday, April 22, 2021

A "Getter' Done" Kind of Day ~ Homemade Neosporin ~ Lip Balm

 



I finally got a day to make a batch of homemade "neosporin" and some lemon balm lip balm.  The infused oil recipe for the "neosporin" is online.  The recipe for the lip balm is on Mountain Rose Herbs blog, but I make a lemon balm oil infusion vs. calendula.

Did some laundry, dishes, and did some tidying in the kitchen.

I finally finished making these ornaments.  The instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

Extreme clean update:  I finally found a person to pick up the scrap stained glass.  First person never showed up.  All of the craft glitter is leaving the house.  Daughter T is taking it all. One pair of sweatpants left the house too.



Took this photo the day before the snow arrived.  Dolly Carton was enjoying her dirt bath.  Just a happy photo to share with y'all.

 




Sunday, February 21, 2021

Consignment Sales~ Whoops! ~ Repairs

 


Good news!  I am looking into selling my jar openers in a smaller town with a general store.  I have to raise the price due to the percentage they want to sell consignment, but happy they are considering.



Whoops!  I did it again!  While waiting on my husband to open the wall access, I came up with another craft.  By the way a fitting came apart and yes, another water leak as we guessed.  Kitchen drain is thawed.  Two down one to go today - fix the wood splitter.

You can find the easy instructions for the mini-sun catchers on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

They are perfect as they are, or can be Christmas ornaments or given as sun catchers (random act of kindness during these uncertain worldly conditions).

Our warmer weather is arriving starting today.  It's a brisk 7°F so I am thrilled we are moving to warmer weather.  I haven't been able to put anything on the clothesline this winter.  It feels so wrong ha ha!



Saturday, February 13, 2021

from the handiwork journal . . .



. . .got more fridge magnets made and packaging them. There were more that didn't get in the photo.




. . . more recipe card holders in the making.  They need embellished with buttons, and packages up for a craft show this year.

(sorry no photo yet)

. . . finishing up the back panel and started one sleeve on the cardigan.


. . .more progress on the wine cork ornaments

. . . got the black netting cut and rolled into balls for the order I received.  It took me almost 3 hours to cut and roll the entire 10 yards, but I got it done.


. . . finished my latest craft project.  If I have enough scrap wood, I will make these to sell as well as gift.  I love it.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  I may make some with coffee packets too.  Maybe even small packages of candy or mints?  Lots of ideas for this one.  Makes a nice random act of kindness too.  While cleaning my craft supplies, I had everything already packed up to give to our daughter.  Sigh....I just couldn't help myself.  

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Bye bye "stuff"

 


Craft supplies are being purged now.  Gulp.  Sorry for the boring posts lately. The kids are grown.  I do enjoy making homemade Christmas ornaments to sell and gift, but I am letting some things go to another home.  I just found out about a charity that takes anything but items that has cloth on it (like couches, clothes).  They will even pick it up  I've taken note of that.  It may come in handy.

What I used them for - Handmade Christmas Ornaments (snowglobe)  And you can bet, I was going through craft supplies, and thinking up what else I could put inside those cute capsules as ornaments (before tossing in the box).  The capsules are only 1 1/4 inch tall, so you can imagine the work that went into that tiny snowman.


Old film containers left too.  I can't believe I still had these.  I, yes again, went to pinterest to see if I could make anything before tossing in the box.  I think I had saved them for when my husband was a leader for boy scouts.

So, is there one thing you bought during lockdown/quarantine online, and completely forgot about it? 

My husband and I were discussing the new coop.  I made the comment I would like to do it before we get really hot weather, because the way they built the coop we have now, it is a hot house in hot weather.  Then I realized, "wait, I think I bought a solar fan."  

Guess you spent the day looking for it?  It is adjustable and can even be used for camping etc.  I'm glad we had our discussion, or I'd not find it until we put flooring in the bedroom and closet.  Oye.



Sunday, November 29, 2020

Resourcefulness Tidbits ~ Wood Splitting

 


The other day I suddenly realized I got my "resourcefulness" from my Dad.  Years ago, he gave me a container of craft supplies from my Grandmother.  Somehow I was the new owner of a bag of medicine cups. I think I should have added some bird seed to that medicine cup.  Anyway,  I think this trait I inherited had something to do with my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

I was literally searching through my crafting supplies for a container I kept old keys in.  I caught myself laughing, because I realized how much I don't throw away - container of bottle caps, old jewelry, wine corks etc.  Oh boy.  Stay tuned for some future posts on my S.C.R.A.P. blog.  I have a few up my sleeve right now.


We were back to wood splitting yesterday, but we were delayed with repairs on the splitter.  We finally got some split about 1pm, after a full morning of running our for parts etc.

We are back at it today.  Snow is in the forecast for Monday.




Sunday, October 25, 2020

Scrap Fabric Cards ~ Red Onions and other Tidbits

 


Here are the scrap fabric cards I am making.  I made heart ones to gift my Mom.  I'm considering making other ones for a few other people, but gifts won't be exchanged with either side of the family this year.  I may work on them for next Christmas though.  A great way to use up scrap fabric, and I am so blessed for the people who send me their scraps too.  I don't sew a lot, so what I get is a blessing for crafting/gifting.  I have a how-to on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot too.  Gosh, I just realized I haven't posted anything on there for a good long time.  I just may get something posted soon.

Pinto beans were soaked for soup beans and fried cabbage today.  It was suitable for our current weather.  Brr.




Red onions made their way to the dehydrator.  I sometimes get into a situation during winter when I need red onions and have no vehicle or the weather is too bad to travel to the store.  Who wants to go out for one red onion in winter anyway?  It'll come in handy.

I went out to see what I could pull from the garden on Saturday and ended up bringing in (oh my heart sings) a bit of chard and collards.  I got those blanched and in the freezer.

I pulled the last of the green pepper plants and found this out there.

We sent our  21 year old to the store for a few items.  Not long after she called.  The brake line went out in her car.  My husband drove there, they switched vehicles and he drove it home.  She was too frazzled to shop, so she returned home too. No word on my car being done either.  First thing to do today is fix her car, then we start on outdoor work.



Later, she took the truck to the store and brought me this home.  It is so cute.  It lights up and blinks.  It was $2 at the Dollar General.  It's a small decoration and adorable.




Wednesday, December 4, 2019

This and That

Sam I Am (at farmgirlSam blogspot) shared an ornament that reminded me of one I made for gift giving years ago.  The crocheted edging is different, but wanted to share.



I found wooden rings at the thrift store and used canning lids (old ones) for the backs.  The directions can be found on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot if you are interested.

I will be digging through my crafting supplies to see if I have more rings to make the ones she posted.  They are beautiful!

Not much going on at our homestead right now.  


I got a few organic celery cubes frozen for winter soups.  Speaking of soups, I will be bagging my corn off the cob into smaller bags more so than the 3 cup bags, so I can use it for soups (but in smaller amounts).


I made crock pot leftover ham/veggie soup yesterday.  I left out the corn and added white beans and a small amount of lentils (shockingly high in carbs), leftover green beans etc.  I did some reading, and couldn't believe corn has more carbs (starch) than white potatoes.  Yikes.


I got my brown paper bags stamped for "shopping" bags for my customers at the craft show.


I baked my first loaf of wheat bread using whole grain Einkorn flour - no eggs, no butter or other fats.  I was a bit iffy on this recipe.  I had to wait 2 hours to slice a piece to try (what the recipe said to do).

Results?  


Surprisingly good!  According to what I am reading on the package of the flour, it is about half the carbs you would get in other (white flour) breads, and just a hair more than coconut flour (which is a low carb flour).

I'm crocheting and knitting like a mad woman.  The upcoming craft show will be the only one I'll do this year, but will work quickly to prep for next year, so I can spend my time in the garden next summer.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Homemade Reusable "Cotton Balls"

I'm on a roll with posts this new 2018 year.  I'm also on a roll in getting things done and lists crossed off.  I literally have a list that I never finished from bike week, and one to do after the last craft show.  

Well?  They are both getting crossed off. It was actually fun doing something different than crocheting or knitting.

I have been wanting to make reusable "cotton balls" for years, and just haven't found the time into making them.  I decided to hand sew them, but I'll be getting the sewing machine out soon. I needed my hand sewing skills renewed anyway.

I apply apple cider vinegar toner to my face daily, so we were going through a lot of cotton balls.

If you are not aware, I also have a blog, where I post recycled, up-cycled or scrap type projects/crafts/handiwork.  

The DIY "cotton balls" are eco-friendly, and help keep our homestead on the path to a deeper self-sufficiency.  



How I made my reusable pads:  S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot

I made them using scrap fabric and old flannel twin bed sheets.  The flannel bed sheets had been used on my bed as a child, then passed down to my own kids. The elastic is worn out on the bottom sheet, and I had kept them to use in one way or another.

Now if I can just carve out a day to dig out my sewing machine, I'll be heading into new learning territories.    I love receiving scrap fabric from those who sew, and can't use the scraps (or have too many of them).  The fabric I used to make my cotton pads with was gifted to me.  I am so ever grateful for that.



Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Got Wine Corks?



My name is....and I am a wine cork hoarder.


It's true.  I have had this tote of corks in my crafting supplies for years.  Many years.  Since before we moved here.

I have made many Christmas tree ornaments over the years, gifted many, and maybe even sold some.  I can't remember.

..... so I'm him-hawing at letting go of these corks.  Or keeping a handful.  Or not.  

Today, I decided to take you down "wine cork memory lane" (and myself) to decide if I shall pass these corks on.  They were not saved for storage over the years.   I have been a bit creative.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Homemade Walnut Butter

Note:  Blogger must be having some issues right now. I keep having trouble just signing in.  They are also posting a notice that may be showing up at the top of my blog, regarding cookies.

 
The sun is shining and the squishy ground is drying up, so out to the barn I went for a good coop cleaning.  I had to laugh.  Both goats came running into the barn and decided to have long conversations with me while I worked.  I love those little boogers.

This is a blurry photo, but since I had a lot of English walnuts, I toasted 2 cups (350°F for about 8 minutes).

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Humidity ~ Wine Cork Herb Markers ~ Goat Capers Continue ~ Dog

Anyone else on a diet of cold fruit, light salads and yogurt?  Oh, and healthy popsicles?  And iced tea?

The humidity has been so thick, and it really makes gardening uncomfortable.  I literally woke up without an appetite.  Yesterday's brunch was watermelon.  

Today however, it is only going to be in the 60's - camping weather if you ask me.  Just gorgeous.  I told Hubby we should back up the camper and play hookie.  It was tempting for a short few seconds.

Well, that's not happening.  Garden duty calls today, and I'll admit, I'd rather work in cool 60°F weather than 80°F and 86% humidity.
 
 
 
I spent a few more rainy days making

Monday, November 3, 2014

Junk Drawer Christmas Tree Ornament

Today I reveal to you the junk drawer inspired Christmas tree ornament. 

Are you ready?  I know, I know.  The suspense has to be driving you nuts.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Cooler weather ~ Dinners "on the fly"


Cooler weather means it's time to fill the jar of homemade hot chocolate.  Mmmm!   It also means I have to get laundry on the clothesline much earlier to completely dry.

Dinners here have been,what I call "on the fly."  I take whatever is in the garden and cook what ever comes to my mind.  

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Random Tidbits


I said I was not going to use my stove yesterday, but I did.  Hubby brought home some ginger root and club soda yesterday, so early in the morning I made a double batch. This is so refreshing on a muggy day too.  This is one of the recipes I most likely will have ready for when my older two are home.  They have been writing home about recipes they want me to make.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Fire Starters and Random Tidbits

There were a few requests on how I made these fire starters.  I do write another blog regarding the use of scraps of just about anything, and creating something new, useful or even art. 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Monday, November 4, 2013

Unplugged


I unplugged for the weekend.  We've undergone some stress here at the farm, and well, I would just not be a pleasant person to be around. We are undecided about how to heat this place.  I will really miss my wood stove.  Although it was work, I will still miss it.  I also feel stripped of my self-sufficiency, which I do enjoy.  It's a freeing feeling to have less bills and debt.  Now, Hubby's  co-workers have convinced him that we need to install a furnace and not replace the wood stove.   I'll update as he figures it out.  My vote is for a new (or used) wood stove.

Monday, June 3, 2013

From a Journal Junkie . . .


From the Homesteading Journal . . .

. . . made my own bird deterrent for the strawberry beds - recycled pie pan, string, and a piece of recycled tent pole.  I used what I had, considering the budget is tight right now (from the tile project).  Later in the day I saw robins snacking away as soon as the wind stopped (and the pie pans stopped banging away).  I guess I better start saving up for bird netting and supplies.  However, I did spray paint some small stones red, and placed them under the plants for now too.  We'll see if they return after pecking at a stone. 

. . . planted new curly parsley, and more tomatoes. 

 . . .in preparation for hot days, I started to save and fill empty plastic bottles with water.  They are being frozen to place in goat water buckets.


. . . the bathroom tile project continues - humidity is a huge factor in it's completion. I cannot wait to use my shower again.



. . .found a way to recycle the plastic from an old, broken portable closet.


. . . made a homemade non-toxic, herbal fusion, disinfectant.  I'm looking forward to seeing the results.  I can make it from everything in the garden, with the exception of the organic apple cider vinegar (for the recipe and others:  14 Bleach-Free Surface Disinfectants).


. . . dehydrated 2 lbs. of organic carrots (with another 2 lbs. to dehydrate) I bought on sale for $.99 at the grocery store.  The only bad part about buying these, is the leftover plastic bag.




From the Handiwork Journal. . .


. . .crocheted another rag rug.  It's made from old sheets and pillow cases. 



From the Family Journal . . .

 . . .my youngest daughter gets to spend a few days with her Grandma.

. . . my son surprised me by cleaning out the refrigerator.

. . . my allergies are flared up from spending so much time in the wind this past weekend.  I hope to get some relief today.



From the Gratitude Journal . . .

 Today I am thankful for:

~ Much cooler weather. It's nice to have a break from the heat.

~ My rose bushes blooming again. 

~ My herb garden.  It's come in use for more than just cooking and baking.

~ God's promises.

~ The quiet morning here today.  I can't hear anything, but birds, and my dehydrator.  

 


Friday, May 31, 2013

From the Handiwork Journal . . .


. . . played around with a new "flower" dish scrubbie pattern.  I am making some to sell at the next Farmer's Market.


. . . finished my 11 year-old's tablet cover.  Finally.



. . . started another pot holder set, and dishcloth.  These are my "to go" projects.  When I need to go somewhere, and I am not driving, these go with me.



. . . got around to embellishing the crocheted cat bookmark.


. . . spray painted chalkboard paint on a clip board to make a sign for Farmer's Market.  



. . . crocheted 1 rag rug for the master bath (sheets and pillow cases).


. . . crocheted another bookmark for the store/market.



The weather is hot and humid here.  I collected 70 pints of water in my dehumidifier.  We have been running it in our master bath, to help the the tile project dry completely.  Rain is in the forecast today, but you never know anymore.