Happy spring!

Things are growing!

Though over the years I have grown to really love and appreciate winter for its cold and dark days, there is something that will always be special and joyful about spring. This year it seems to have come a bit early for me in Omaha, but it seems only appropriate to recognize the first day of spring (though it was yesterday). And a spring day it is indeed! Warm but drizzly, with a hint of pollen in the air. What a treat, too, with the trees blooming around the city and flowers budding everywhere! Even some tulips that I planted in January have decided to make an appearance, poking their noses out of the soil in front of our house. The birds too, are singing many a songs of spring. My body is rejuvenated.

As with all changing seasons, the coming of spring gave me a kick to decorate. I feel like we all have such a unique relationship with the spaces that we live in, and for me, I am better able to relate to my space if it is an ever-changing extension of my feelings (bless my roommates, who put up with my constant rearranging, redecorating and repeating).

Cat mint I foraged from the riverbed of the Platte

A couple of months back, when Christmas had past and everyone else was ready for winter to be through, Farren and I were out and about and I spied a evergreen wreath on the curbside headed for the dump. Now if you know me, you know I won't pass up a good opportunity for free craft supplies! So we pulled on over and stuffed the wreath into the trunk and headed on our merry way. Upon bringing it home, I removed the branches and pine cones from the metal wreath hoop and fashioned a new winter wreath, which hung in our front window until only recently. When the outdoor temperatures reached 80 degrees and spruce needles covered our floor, I decided it was time for a change. Using the metal hoop we had foraged from the trash, it seemed only appropriate (spring is the time for new life!) to give our little wreath a new spring life.

I started by wrapping a portion of the metal frame with some pastel yellow scrap fabric I had lying around. Then, I wove branches that I had recently pruned from our fence-line around the remaining portion of the wreath. Because they were freshly cut, they were quite flexible and easily able to take any form I put them in. For a final touch, I made homemade flowers using coffee filters and some pink and orange paints. Super easy and the result is really lovely! I have written how to make the homemade blooms below.

I think the wreath turned out quite nice and my roommates have not taken it down yet... Other things that would work well around a spring wreath  would be hollowed eggs, dried flowers or some lace. Really, anything you have lying around! Its always nice to spruce up your space, and its especially nice when doing so costs pennies. In this case, I really only paid for the coffee filters. And it was a nice project to work on outside, allowing me to enjoy the beautiful weather!

Homemade flower blooms
Coffee filters (two per bloom)
Acrylic paint, in warm colors (I used pink and orange)
Water
A plate
other supplies:
A line to hang the filters to dry
Paint brush (optional; I used my fingers!)
Something to hold the filters to the line (I used bobby pins)

Start by wetting the plate with quite a bit of water. Lay a coffee filter on the plate and add paint. I used my fingers, so about a finger-dip is plenty of paint. Spread the paint around and allow it to spread throughout the filter.

Each filter will be unique, so add more or less paint to each one for different blooms! Once the filter is painted to your liking, hang to dry. The paint will drip a little, so be sure you are not hanging them over your finest linens or your favorite shoes (unless you want to paint those too!). It only takes a couple minutes to dry if the weather is warm, so you can just keep switching out wet ones for dry ones.

Once you have as many filters painted as you'd like, you are ready to make the blooms. Start by taking one filter and bunching it in the center so the edges ruffle out, and the center is pulled together tightly. Then, place the center of the first filter at the center of the second filter and softly bunch the second filter to create a flower-like bloom. Using string, tie the two filters together!

I used the blooms on the wreath but they can also be used for other things. Consider tying them to single branches and using them in a bouquet. String some together and use them as a garland. Use them for gift wrapping! Really, anything you'd like to bring some springy fun to.

Other things that are happening in my life right now:

Big Muddy Urban Farm started our seeds!

Canning with friends! 

Plants I have gleaned, are growing happily

I hope you are enjoying and celebrating the spring.
Happy crafting!

Scrub-a-dub-dub

This is a pattern I concocted over the summer time, with inspiration from my friend Annie. It has been a long time coming, but after my dear friend Alicia requested it a couple of days ago, it seemed only appropriate to include it here on the blog! 


Using repurposed citrus mesh bags (you know, the ones you get onions and citrus in at the grocery store!), some cotton yarn and a couple minutes, you can have a great dish scrubbie, at little cost. Its also much cheaper than buying sponges and they last a long time! A win-win-win, if you ask me. 

The pattern for the scrubbie is super easy:
Ch = chain
Dc = single crochet
Slst = slip stitch

Round 1: Ch 4, slst to make a loop. 
Round 2: Ch 3 to create first stitch then Dc 9 into loop, Slst into first stitch to close second round. 
Round 3: Ch 3 to create first stitch then 2 Dc into each stitch, Slst into first stitch to close third round. 
Round 4: Ch 3 to create first stitch then 2 Dc into each stitch, Slst into first stitch to close fourth round. Ch about 15-20 stitches and Slst into first Ch stitch to create hanging loop; tie off.

Then, I fold the mesh material into a hexagon shape and stitch it around, using the middle row of stitches as my guide for where to stitch. As I go around the scrubbie, I adjust the folding of the mesh so that it is more circular. 

Also, use cotton yarn because it holds up nicely and doesn't get yucky. Then you can also put it in the dishwasher, microwave or laundry to clean it! 


Happy cleaning!
p.s. have any questions about the pattern? Leave a note and I will try to make it more clear! 

Kombucha

My latest excitement in the food world: kombucha. I have been wanting to try my hand at kombucha for quite some time now, but have either been limited by time or without a mother culture. For those of you unfamiliar with kombucha, let me just say that I think it is quite a treat! However, because it is quite pricey at the grocery store, it is not the top on my list of consumption. A while back (say, 2 years or so) my dear friend Garrett started making his own. He even shared with me a lovely illustrated guide on how to make your own batch. After talking to him, I realized how simple it is to make your own, and it is very, very, very affordable! In fact, all you need is some tea of your choice, a little sugar, water and a mother culture (also known as a scoby). More recently, my dearest friend Liza has been making her own too, which she then combines with fruit juice from overripe fruits she gets at the market. The end result: a super tasty treat, to be enjoyed by all!

A little while ago, my new friend David shared with me a mother culture from his home brewed kombucha. Since I am finally settled in at my new place, and have my very own scoobie, it is time to begin the kombucha adventure. Now, I am no expert but I am trying my hand at a batch, and thought it worth while to share with you, my new fermenting adventure!

Really, like I said before, it is simple. My prior notion that I needed time to make kombucha is practically irrelevant, because it really only takes 10 minutes and a little patience. I have included Garrett's illustrated instructions, for your viewing pleasure.

(Click the photo for a larger view!)

For my first batch, I definitely didn't let it sit long enough. However, it seems that my second batch was much more matured; after waiting one week.

Kombucha itself, is quite vinegar-y in taste. Personally, I love this aspect of it, but it is not for everyone. If you are not so keen on the taste of your first batch, try changing the type of tea you are brewing. While herbal teas that have more oils are not, such a great option, as they tend to lead to contamination; there are many varieties of teas that will work great. I urge you (once your scoby has multiplied!) to experiment, experiment, experiment! My current favorite is equal parts of green and black tea, with ginger added to taste. Simple, yet tasty!

Happy fermenting!

New year, new ideas

Project Sweater-to-Sweater: Complete
Recall my sweater project that I began a few weeks earlier? Well, by golly, it's complete! And it fits like a glove.

Today, I am trying my hand at homemade knitting needles. For those of you who know me, surely you have heard me talk of my best friend (and soul sister) Liza. Let me tell you about Liza: she is a gem, to say the least. Liza and I have been friends since we were in diapers, and I predict we will be friends until the end. I am so lucky to have Liza in my life, because it seems that she is always doing the most wonderful things and has all the best ideas. And the nice thing is that we are always doing the same wonderful things. Sometimes, we will go a month without seeing or talking with each other, and then when we reunite, we have both been reading the same book or starting the same new adventure. It is perfect.

Liza and I, happy as could be

Well, lately, I have been knitting up a storm (a common theme for my wintertimes). Luckily for me, Liza has also been knitting this winter. This year however, I have been expanding my horizons with knitting. While for some, this may mean spending a pretty penny on yarns and needles, I have taken deliberate action to knit frugally. For instance, most of my yarn as of late has been "harvested" from old sweaters. Not only does this yield plenty of yarn, but you are able to feel how the yarn feels when knit and you are saving loads of money. My next step, as I mentioned previously, is to make homemade knitting needles. This idea came from Liza, who has been making needles for years. She started making homemade knitting needles at the Waldorf school she attended as a kid. Making them is really quite simple, and very cost efficient!

Homemade knitting needles
All you need is:
1 wooden dowel (depending on the size needle your pattern requires, this will vary; you can also use chopsticks!)
1 pencil sharpener
Sandpaper, 220 grit
Boiled linseed oil (you can find this at any hardware store, in the paint section)

1. Go to the hardware store, and buy: a wooden dowel, some fine grit sand paper, a pencil sharpener, and boiled linseed oil.

2. Go home, sharpen the end of your dowels (I made double pointed needles, but if you're not making them double pointed, then glue something on one end! You can use modeling clay or a bead to cap the ends). Then, sand them down really well. This is important, because otherwise your yarn will get snagged on the wood. I had to sand them a bit after I started knitting with them, because little splinters happened, but that stopped after a little while. Then, rub them with linseed oil and let set for about 10 minutes. Then, wipe off the extra oil and ta-da! you have knitting needles! 

3. Knit knit knit knit knit knit knit :) 

Also (I have been crafting a lot lately) today I made homemade candles! So simple and resourceful. Here is what to do:

Homemade candles
Left over wax from burnt out candles
Wick (which you can find at any craft store)
Chopsticks, pencils or any other item to hold the wick in place, over your container of choice
Something to pour your candle into (Careful with glass, some glass may shatter with heat; canning jars are a perfect solution!)
A saucepan (I recommend buying one at a thrift store and dedicating it to candle making)
Something to protect your counter tops (I used paper plates and a flattened cereal box)

1. Sort your left over wax by color and melt similar colors in your saucepan over low heat. Candle wax is highly flammable (hence, it is used to burn candles) so BE CAREFUL! :)

2. Prepare your candle containers: Cut a piece of wick that is a little longer than the depth of your container. Tie the wick around a chopstick and rest it over the mouth of your container. Trim the wick so it just barely touches the bottom of your container. Having a straight wick is important so that when burning the candle, the wick doesn't drown in candle wax. Place the containers on your protective surfaces (i.e. your paper plate, cardboard, whatever you choose).

3. Carefully pour the wax into the containers. Reserve a bit of wax. Allow the candles to cool completely. As the wax cools, the center of the candle tends to "fall". Use the reserved wax to fill this hole once the candle has cooled.

4. Once you have burned through the wick of these candles, repeat!

Happy New Year, and I look forward to sharing many new ideas.

knitting

There are several things that I feel are quintessential to creating a winter-y atmosphere. Those things include (but are surely not limited to):
hot chocolate
reading
warmth
cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
knitting

I have been knitting since about the third grade. I first learned how to knit from my grandma (Mema) and then continued knitting in the 4-H group in my neighborhood. I have a vivid memory of knitting my first scarf:

It was days before the state fair, and I was to enter three items: A crocheted pillow, crocheted drink coasters and a knitted scarf. The first two were completed months in advance, but for some reason, the scarf was taking much more time. As the fair quickly approached, I had come to terms with the fact that this silly little scarf was not going to be finished in time. However, my mom had a different idea-- as my mom often did (and thank goodness she did!), she made sure I completed what I had started. So, all day for two painful days, I knit that scarf. A majority of the time I was knitting, I was sitting outside in our hammock. I just recall sitting there and being so anxious to finish! So although I sat in a hammock, one of the most relaxing places to be, I was anxious. So silly, really. None-the-less, I finished the scarf, with just enough time. In fact, if I do recall, I received a second place blue ribbon for my scarf despite the fact that my scarf changed sizes from start to finish, had several holes and was made out of the most awful rainbow-colored yarn on the planet! I have been knitting ever since.

Luckily for me, I now enjoy knitting; dear mom, you don't have to force me to knit anymore!

This time, I am knitting a sweater from a sweater. Mind you, this is my first large knitting project. I have previously knit many a hats and scarves, but never something so substantial. It will truly be an adventure. What I mean by "a sweater from a sweater" is just that: I got the idea from a friend Annie's blog. Literally, I spent an afternoon unraveling a sweater I had found at the local thrift store. Now, let me just say, I have never enjoyed unraveling so much. Perhaps, this is because the previous times I have been unraveling something, I am unraveling rows and rows of my hard work. In this case, I have no emotional connection to each stitch. And, the entire process has been so rewarding so far. The yarn I got from the sweater is just beautiful.

I have already completed my first sleeve and am in the process of knitting the second! So far, in my journey, I have had to take out 60-some rows; however, I was mostly at peace with unraveling my own work. It seems silly to be upset, when you are knitting; there is simply no need.

Well, I will surely keep you updated on the progress of this little sweater of mine! Until then, happy winter and stay as warm as you can! 

The weekend journal

Two weekends ago was so jam packed with food (my Indian cooking bonanza with Val!), I could not even consider posting it all in one post; hence, the second post for the weekend. The second part of that weekend, was dominated by grapes: First, a wedding at a fine vineyard in Illinois (Jill's sister was married!) and then foraging for wild grapes with my mom on Monday (still the weekend, since it was Labor Day).

Jill's sister's wedding was hosted at the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard in Illinois. The main gazebo was on a dock, surrounded by a glass-like lake and a dome of black sky filled with crystal stars. It was really a beautiful place and Kelsey and I were so pleased to be there with Jill for the evening. Following suit, Monday was filled with grape picking and later, grape juicing! My mom and I foraged along the roadside near our house, harvesting over a gallon of grapes, which I later juiced into about 40 ounces of sun-kissed, wild grape juice. Delicious! Their season is just about over, so if you have time, head out to your local bike trail or the curb along a country road and search out the wild grape! They are free and plentiful and with two grocery bags full, I was able to juice about 3/4 of a gallon of juice. It is pretty tart so I will probably use it to make jelly or sherbet later.

To juice the grapes, I used my moms steam-juicer and steamed the grapes for about an hour. Another method you might choose, would be to boil the stemmed grapes and simmer until the desired concentration is met. Then strain and compost the juiced berries! As with any foraging adventures, be sure that you are properly identifying the wild grapes. There are many wild berries in season right now, and if you accidentally pick the wrong one... it would be not so good!

Then this past weekend, Jill, Kelsey and I plus Lauren and Lou, ventured to the great Kettle Moraine for some camping and outdoor time. Along with some day hikes and nights by the fire, we made sure to eat like queens! When you are car camping, there is just no reason to eat poorly. Our menu spread included Jill's specialty pumpkin pancakes and pita (both of which recipes will hopefully soon be making an appearance on the blog!), red beans and rice, and my contribution of homemade marshmallows.

To make your next camping trip extra special, pack some homemade marshmallows. They are so simple and just delicious.

Homemade Marshmallows
3 packages of unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of vanilla
Powdered sugar for coating

1. Combine the gelatin with 1/2 cup of water, in a bowl and set aside.

2. Next, combine the sugar, syrup, salt and an additional 1/2 cup of water. Heat over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Then, raise the heat to high and cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees. Remove from heat.

3. With an electric mixer on low, slowly pour syrup into the gelatin. Then, put mixer on high speed and whip until very thick, or for about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix.

4. Powder coat a 9 inch by 9 inch pan with the powdered sugar (using a small sifter works wonders for this step!). Pour in the mixture and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Let stand until stiff, about an hour (but sometimes more, depending on the weather! This sounds silly, but I'm completely serious... It just might take a bit longer if its humid)

5. When cutting into pieces, use the knife to separate the marshmallow, while simultaneously coating with powdered sugar. You can be generous with the sugar, as any excess can be scooped up and re-sprinkled elsewhere.

* If you are taking these camping, I would cut them up before hand... its a bit messy and takes a little patience, but it is completely worth it!

Trust me, our camping experience was just lovely, and making more than plain 'ol pb&j (which don't get me wrong, I love a good pb&j) made the trip even more of a delight!

Happy eating (and camping), from the girls in the garden unit!

Spring gardening in the Garden Unit

Last night, Jill and I were in the mood for spring. So what else better to do, than craft some springy decorations?

We made some great recycled flower garlands that are really simple (so simple that you can successfully make them, with a glass of wine in your hands...)

Here is our step by step project:

Recycled Flower Garland

Several colors of scrap fabric (we used old t-shirts!)

Scissors

Needle

Thread

Ribbon or long strip of fabric (for the garland)

To make one flower:

1. Cut fabric into circles, using the spool of thread base, as a pattern. You need between 6 and 8 circles per flower.

2. Fold the circle in half. Fold in half again, so the circle is folded in quarters. This creates "petals".

3. Sew through the pointed corner of the fabric circle, and do this for each circle, until you have all 6 circles (or more), folded in quarters, and on the thread.

4. Pull the thread tight, bunching all the petals together. Tie the thread tightly to secure.

To make garland:

Make about 10-15 flowers, depending on the length of your garland. Tie each flower onto garland about 10 inches apart. Then, its ready!