The Mint Needle

    For some odd reason when I thought of summer, I thought of endless sewing, new craft projects, gardening the yard to a mint. And the truth is, I've had little time to do any of those things. I've been on the constant move of trying to keep the girls busy and organized. Summer break, so far, has meant an overhaul of misplaced items and "let's not try to make a mess anymore". The girls officially have a specified craft table out on our porch that allows them to spill paint, get the chairs dirty, and get down right creative. Result ~ the house...stays clean that much longer:) So what sewing did I get done? Well, I share with you three lovely girls skirts I made for a dear friend and her daughters. I used a blend of hip fabrics and lined the band and inside with the oh sooo soft rayon jersey knit. Take a look!     On another note, everything has bloomed. Which means....my dining table and kitchen are currently the drying grounds of lavender...

  Can you say summer cleansing? In the most natural way. Yup, that's what I've been up too...... and it's sooo hard. I don't think anyone realizes how many sweets & dairy products they eat until they start to count. I'm taking a two week period to try to  rid my body of toxins.  I'm really digging soy milk, apple cider vinegar (with ice water), and teas! When I made this tea concoction, I immediately knew it was worthy of sharing:)   All you need are: ~2 cups of water ~2 whole cloves ~a pinch of ginger ~1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon ~2 pieces of lemon peel ~5 fresh or dried mint leaves   Bring your cloves, ginger, & cinnamon to a boil. Add your lemon peels & mint leaves. Boil only for an additional minute and remove from heat. Cover your pot and let it steep for 8-10 minutes before drinking. This tasted soo good I didn't even feel the need to add a sweetener!     On another note, I hope...

 Hello Mint Needle readers! There's so much to talk about. A wonderful couple days off from work has felt like a mini-vacation. The yard is in full bloom which means we're spending more time outdoors rather than in. I've uploaded a handful of aprons to the etsy shop, thanks to some late night sewing. The smell of wild phlox coming in through the open window in the evening was dreamy and kept me stitching! Strawberries are getting picked and my girls have taken action trying to pick the mulberries before the birds eat them all. ~ But they're not completely ripe yet. Nothing a little sugar can't fix.  I love this tree and can't imagine our backyard without it!           And a walk after the rain subsided....   If you look to left, under the tree, it's my younger daughter on a small path. I just loved these pics so much, I had to add them to this post! After the rain, th...

    June.... you come so quickly! I've decided to do a mini post about something I love to keep handy in the warmer months. Cool packs! Not to be confused with ice packs. These little babies are filled with lentils:) You can make them into different shapes and sizes for those upcoming bumps, scrapes, & bee stings. The rectangular shapes are my favorite. They're the perfect size to cool the eyes or head on those hot summer days. Just make sure you place them in Ziploc bags before they get put in the freezer:)       On another note, we've been buzzing about the garden! Everything's planted except the watermelons. I'm going to try them 'again'. The girls have 2 more days left of school which means I'll have extra helpers most of the time ;) There are a ton more things The Mint Needle has been aching to complete but time is limited and I must use it wisely:) I can't believe I've had 4 aprons completed and h...