The Mint Needle

Hello friends!  Every late spring, for weeks on end, I'm busy outdoors picking herbs, flowers, and different types of grasses to dry for teas, tinctures, and rubs. Why pick in the spring, when I have all summer? Because I like to get to all the goods before the bugs do!  And I feel the grasses are more potent at that time, instead of picking during the hot summer weather when most plants begin to wilt and weaken. So, I wanted to share with all of you, my tested ways of drying herbs! But first things first! To wash or not to wash?  Yes, you read that correctly! Believe it or not, not all herbs and flowers need to be washed prior to drying. My rule of thumb - if it's in an open field, high of the ground, (yarrow, St. John's Wort, Elderflower), you don't need to wash it. Plants like Chamomile are very sensitive to being washed in anything but the rain. So, if you're going to plant Chamomile for tea, make sure it's in an animal free area, high off the groun...

Hello Friends! A quick trick for all you quilters starting your own designs! As some of you know, my latest obsession is with pattern making. With it, comes a ton of trial and error. So I wanted to share a little something special that helps me figure out 'block size', especially for those that don't have specialty programs that do the configuring for you.  I think all the beginner quilters or visual learners with REALLY love how easy this will make your projects run! So.... take a look at this pic. What I was trying to do, was figure out what size of fabrics I'd need for the center block in the shape shown..... Here's how it works.  Start by measuring the empty space and add 1/2" to that size if you are using 1/4" seams.   This block needed to be 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" trimmed, not sewn. Create a paper template to size.  Draw in the 1/4" seams on all sides first. Then draw the ...

My favorite pair of jeans ripped. And I'm not talking about the purposeful rips I bought them with.  An unfortunate bout with cleaning (since there is so much of it going on being quarantined) is all it took to snag the 'already' made fashionable tear into a very unfashionable 4 inch vertical slit. Ouch. But I knew it was fixable. And what a great time to give my already adored pair a quick makeover. Here's how I did it! The first thing was to seal up the vertical tear by stitching it closed.  After measuring the rectangular size needed, all edges were ironed inward so that fraying wasn't a possibility. I placed my patch over the rip and stitched 2 parallel lines. My machine was not small enough to be able to stitch the sides to the denim so I used witchery stitch to fuse them together. In the photo, you can still see my jeans are wet in that area!  Next I started working on the new floral hem. Start by snipping into the seam vertically.  ...

It's 7:27 a.m. The house is quiet. Everyone is asleep except for me and our dog Charlie. I love mornings like this when I can reflect and listen to the calm. I know that everyone is safe, asleep, resting...What a good feeling it is to have in these days and time. Part of me still can't believe what's going on in the world. I feel like I'm living in a crazy dream that's lasting over a year long. In this home, like so many, we were in shock for quite some time. Then reality set in and in our case, the weight of responsibilities shifted again . As some of you know, July will be one year since my chemo and radiation. That means a low immune system. Yuck. My husband gets his wonderful job back of grocery shopping and running errands along with continuing to work since he is a first responder. Add teenage hormones into the mix and well... you get the picture. Like everyone, we keep busy during the day, renovating, working on new projects, school work, until night fall. ...

Hello National Quilt Month! What better way to start off March than with a post that inspired me to begin my quilting journey! When I stumbled across the Amish art piece (above) on Pinterest, I was mesmerized.  The contrast and color choices were perfection. It was bold, beautiful, simple, and minimalist. It's no secret that the Amish are well known for creating some of the most aesthetic quilts around.   I love that you can take a plain white sofa, throw this quilt along the back side and immediately, you've transformed the whole room.  Even though  my efforts couldn't replicate such a stunning piece, I thought I'd give it a try anyway!  Take a look. Completed in a school days work, it's about the size of a twin quilt or large throw. Finding a pattern is often overlooked because of the mere fact that they are quite simple to make.  If you look, it's very similar to a 'log cabin' method. This fits into that.... work from t...

It's here! It's here! It's finally complete! I am beyond excited that The Children's Apron Pattern and Tutorial is ready for instant download at the Etsy shop! The 21 page tutorial comes with descriptive pictures, a PDF computer generated pattern, sewing supplies list and fabric requirements! Now... all you lovelies that have fabrics laying around can put them to good use for the little people in your life:) I wanted to create a pattern for sizes 3-5, which is what I usually carry in the Etsy shop. But the wonderful thing, from this tutorial, you'll learn the way each piece fits into the other, which means there's no stopping to the sizes you can create! Hooray!!! The PDF pattern is actually not even needed if you have a cutting mat with grid and rotary cutter. I just wanted to add them for people who didn't carry those sewing supplies.       So what else is in the works you wonder?  Well... Currently I have pattern testers working on The Surv...

Hello friends!  I feel like it's been forever since my last post. I suppose some might even say I've been spending nearly all my time on the forefront of creative madness along with trying to continue healing. Holy smokes! Chemo and radiation will change a person forever. I'm continuing my healing journey, and staying hopeful that I'll remain in the 'clear' for a long time. It's odd, the way you feel, when everything you've gotten accustomed to: the running around, working day to day, rushing here and rushing there.... how quickly it changes when it's no longer a necessity. Yes, I am extremely thankful that my spouse supports and pushes for my healing time, omitting nurse life as it was, but like I told my girlfriend the other day, "how many craft projects can a girl possibly do?" ..... Well let me just tell you..... A LOT! Today's post will revisit some Instagram pics, (in case you don't follow along) with some of my most recent...