The Mint Needle

Just sharin' some more of this bee's busy work. Check out some fresh creations that are heading down south to Simply Vague.              And for the sake of saying it....  I'm going to try really, really hard to make some seasonal items for The Mint Needle. Just a heads up that even though you may not spot fall themed patterns or candy canes with Santa here,  I'll do my best to get some holiday colors flowing. Happy Trails Readers! And on a totally different note: I can't believe we have roses in full bloom at the end of September!!!   

  Oh...thank you silly, overpriced stores for displaying that beautiful, rustic table runner on your 'fall tablescape.' It made me realize what great project potential it had.  So here we go! Take a look at this super easy project. It's guaranteed to give your table an autumn lift!        I used four coordinating fabrics. Even though they differed in color, they all had a similar tone, (which is why I think they go together so well). I cut various sized strips. They were all 19" in width & varied in length.   I serged them together, (the 19" sides), but you can use a regular sewing machine. No one will see the reversed side because it will be lined.   Assort your colors as desired. You don't have to create a pattern. Odd placement of your color strips are more likely to make it unique & aesthetically pleasing:).....this part being the 'good tip' from the silly overpriced ...

A vintage linen towel with a beautiful wheat motif.  Happy Autumnal Equinox! The season that engulfs our senses has arrived. From the crisp colors of red & yellow to the scent of pumpkin pie or apple cider.  I can never seem to get enough.  I adore it for the significance it has with nature as well as our spirit. Everything starts to slow down & rest. The leaves begin to change & the nights are much cooler. Soon we will indulge in the smell of a fresh lit fire to keep the house cozy. But for today's post, let's indulge our senses with that of taste & make a toast to Fall with a recipe of Homemade Wheat Bread. Take a look & a try! 4 cups warm water 2/3 cup wildflower honey 2 Tablespoons of dry yeast 5 cups of 100% whole wheat flour 2 1/2 cups of white flour non-stick spray to coat your pans  Lightly mix your warm water, honey, & dry yeast till the yeast b...

    Hey readers! Take a look at my super vintage find. I came across this 1947 seamstress guide to dress making and knew I had to have it. It's got everything and more than I pictured. The book starts off with an introduction that's based around the idea that 'now everyone can sew like the experts while at home'. The book goes through the basics, covering tools, sewing essentials, and the importance of pre-shrinking all garment fabric before working with it. It even touches on children's clothing and how to make those adorable raglan sleeve dresses or bishop dresses. I gotta mention...the most entertaining part was hearing the view point from that time. For example:   " Six school dresses and six pairs of undergarments are none too many for a little girl to begin a school year with."     " Many women exclaim regretfully when they see machine stitching on a baby's garment. But there are no regrets if one ta...

Throughout the centuries, sage has been known as a wondrous & spiritual herb.  Used for it's healing, cleansing, & aromatic qualities, everything about this plant is amazing. Packed with Vitamin A, it's known to be good for your teeth, bones, & skin. Steep it as a tea to ease tension & anxiety. Or...use it as a gargle for sore throats. Either way, you'll reap the benefits of this great herb that comes from the mint family.   Pick your sage in the morning or afternoon, but never during the midday heat. Give it a good shake to loosen any bugs. Tie with a thread or twine & hang upside down in a place that has good air circulation. Don't over cramp & bunch them too much. The moisture of being squished together will give a perfect environment to turn your sage moldy. I know some people like to wash their herbs, but I don't (for sage) unless I use it raw.  Two reasons, my sage grows where no animals have access to it & unless...

  Every end of summer confirms the presence of an amazing thing that grows in the field behind our house.....the Giant Puffball or Calvatia Gigantea. This giant mushroom is so huge & resembles a white ball in the middle of the grass. I just had to share it with my readers. Take a look at these pics.   Yes...these are edible but only when they are young. And no.....I've never tried to cook with them nor do I plan too:) To be quite honest, I tell the girls not to get too close because after a certain amount of time, they start to rot & trillions of spores can become poisonous. So....instead we admire these beautiful, interesting puffballs from a distance & leave them to decompose. To finding the unique things right in our backyards! P.S. I promise more crafty posts coming up soon:) I'm just enjoying the natural elements before they deplete! 

 It's officially 1 week into September & I'm already getting the gardening jitters. Ya know....when you realize you only have 'yay' amount of time to switch, move, & transplant those items before the cold winter sets in. I'm referring to that spot in our yards where a particular plant was sworn to thrive & never really quite did. You ask, what do I do? Well to say I wait till Spring would be a lie. For all those do it yourselfers, this is about the time my 'fall of gardening' kicks in. I start whipping out our perennials & dividing them. I plot out next years to do list & try to knock off as many things as I can. Now...in this odd Ohio heat....I should probably wait till the temperature drops. Anything below 70 is ideal for transplanting. Here's a few things we should do before moving those plants to their new winter homes: 1. Dig out the new plant site first.~ Make sure to include depth & width. 2. Always ha...

Today marks a pretty special day. It's Simply Vague's opening in Tuttle Mall (Dublin, Ohio) & guess who's items are there?.......You guessed right! The Mint Needle along with a bunch of amazing Ohio artisans are partaking in a wonderful store, Simply Vague , created by Nate & Andrea Archibald. The store has an eclectic mix, ranging from jewelry & clothing to furniture & food! I'm so excited that I got to participate in such a positive movement for local crafters. This is the store's second opening and it's pretty exciting! People will get to browse & shop more  one of a kind items. So....when my blog's August posts lacked anything & everything about sewing, that doesn't mean I wasn't busy stitching away.  Take a look at a few items that haven't made it yet to the Etsy shop.     I'll be busy sewing away again so stay tuned for some more items.   Happy Trails till then!