I am still struggling with the desire to do some kind of scrapbooking but I can’t get myself to move forward on traditional scrapbooking. I am toying with the Project Life idea and really like it but I have been seeing really cute Smash Books around and that piques my interest too. This example from Shaunte at Crafts Unleashed is really laid back and seems like this could be a fairly stress-free way to scrapbook. I love that she just taped (with really cute tape, of course) the receipt in the book. Surrounding that with pictures dresses it up and gives it context. Now I have to think about this one too!

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Isn’t this a lovely way to store food? I may have to create a place for this! This amazing design was found on Ana White’s website. She offers all kinds of plans for home projects and furniture – lots of free ones too! You can search by skill level, room, even materials cost. This sweet little tent was a freebie plan that I found. What are you gonna make?

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I have fallen in love with a new book called Simple Crocheting by Erika Knight. It is so beautifully and simply done that I can’t stop looking at it. Because I don’t crochet very often, I have to go back and refresh myself whenever I do. This book makes it easy (with straightforward projects) to get right back into the stitches. I created the tablemat in just a few hours (while corralling Malcolm with school stuff). I used Creative Linen yarn from Rowan. It is a lovely natural yarn.

This blanket may be my next big project. It is natural and elegant. After a few more tablemats…

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Malcolm had a rough Monday (attitude and lying) and lost all electronics for the whole week. We don’t do many electronics any more. Just a little video during lunch and he can play DS in the car when we are running errands. However, no electronics at all creates lots of time for other pursuits. I have never seen Malcolm draw so much and make up interesting play scenarios so much as this week. Oh yeah, he lost his Legos too. Did I mention it was rough?

The Lincoln Log village is merely the latest in the long line of creativity that I am seeing this week. And I am loving it!

Updated: This is what I woke up to this morning. A new village and snow! Can you see that Malcolm is pulling out batting so that it is snowing? This is so much fun!

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I am very excited about the addition to my extra-tiny backyard. It is a retractable clothesline. I love the idea of clothes drying in the sun and breeze. Plus, saving money by not using the dryer can’t hurt. It is just starting to be warm enough here to hang the clothes outside. However, if it is still too cold where you live you can save money another way…

These felted dryer balls  keep your clothes moving around better in the dryer and will save you money. You can also put a drop or two of lavender on the balls and make your clothes smell really pretty. There is a great tutorial on One Good Thing by Jillee to make your own dryer balls. It only requires one skein of yarn that you can get at JoAnn’s. This is on my list to create when it is too cold to dry outside.

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I was really surprised this worked! I read about popping corn this way on 100 Days of Real Food and just had to try it. This trick puts you in complete control of what is on your microwave popcorn. Nothing more than exactly what you want.

All you do is put 1/4 of a cup of popping corn (preferably organic but that is not what I had on hand) in a brown paper lunch bag and fold the top over a couple of times. Lay it down in your microwave and set the time for about how long it takes to make regular microwave popcorn. A couple of minutes later… voila! Popped corn! I have to admit that I burned the first bag of popcorn. I went by someone else’s time suggestion and I think my microwave was cooking hotter. Bag number 2 was very tasty though! We melted vegan butter over the top and sprinkled sea salt and we were ready to go. Try it!

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I am so excited to get back outside and into the garden. We have 5 little plots now that needed TONS of TLC.  Malcolm helped me dig out all the grass that was encroaching and break up the topsoil. We have 3 ready to plant so far and were able to put in 4 little tomato plants. We are just doing a little every day that the weather is nice so that we don’t get overwhelmed.

We also planted several little herb plants in pots to help season our veggies when they are ready. In the coming days we will be putting in potatoes, onions, more tomatoes, and probably different squashes. We are not sure about all the veggies that we want to grow yet. Oh, we have buds on our little lemon tree too! Fingers crossed we will actually have lemons this year.

Any garden plans for you? I would love to hear about them!

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Begin with 2 rectangles approximately 12.5″ x 14″. I cut these out of denim for strength. It is for a very active 8 year old boy and I wanted a strong fabric. The measurements are my own. If you want a bigger or smaller bag then simply make adjustments to the rectangles. Put right sides together and stitch around three sides of the fabric like a pillow case.

The next step is to make the box corners. This is hard to explain in words. Open the corner so that it is not laying flat. Match the seams from the side and the bottom so that there is a triangle created. Stitch across the corner then trim the excess fabric off the corners. Press your seams open.

Do the same thing for the lining fabric. Same measurements and steps apply.

Yes, Malcolm really did stitch this bag. I was a guide and helped him keep things straight but except for topstitching, he sewed the whole thing. I was so proud of him for sticking with it!

Here are the corners for the lining.

Now the pocket that should have been the first step (!). Stitch an accent fabric to a solid fabric, rights sides together, but leave a small opening to turn inside out. Press flat.

This is one of the places that I stitched for Malcolm. Topstitch the pocket to the bag. You can hand-stitch this too. Placement is completely up to you.

Straps are next. I use woven straps for most of my bags because of their strength. These straps were about 26 inches long and I think were a bit too long but I wanted plenty of room for Nolan to fill it and put it on his shoulder. I pinned them in place on the outside of the bag about 3 inches from the side seam. You can baste them in place if you want to but I just pinned them.

Slip the outside bag into the inside bag, right sides together, and pin the tops of the bags together matching side seams. It is very important that these are pinned flat so that you don;t get puckering around the top edge.

Stitch all the way around leaving an opening large enough to turn the bags inside out. About 3-4 inches wide. Turn the bags inside out.

Push the lining down inside the outer bag and press the top seam flat making sure that you get the open edge even. Topstitch around the whole top edge and your bag is complete. This bag is actually a reversible bag so be creative with your choice of lining too. Have fun making your own!

And now for Malcolm’s finished product… Taa Daa!! We filled the bag with homemade (vegan) chocolate chip cookies and Malcolm made a card to go in the pocket. He was very proud of his finished product.

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Planting potatoes

Earlier this week we were fortunate to join in a field trip to Freedom Harvest Farm. (Facebook page here.) The owners of this farm are working to grow all of their own food. They also sell any surplus they have at the local Farmer’s Market. It was great to see what they have growing and how it is laid out. Malcolm especially like the animals. Thanks so much to Aislynn for giving us a peek into her world!

More potato planting instruction from Aislynn.

Baby Broccoli

Lovely Beets

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I have been working on a new skill – canning. It is a little scary since you are storing things that will not be eaten until weeks or months in the future. However, it is such a great way to take advantage of our little garden and any produce on sale I see throughout the year. So far, I have canned 2 different times. The first time was pickled green beans and, to my delight, they are still sealed! This next session I used the book pictured above, Food in Jars, Preserving in Small Bathes Year Round by Marisa McClellan. It is a great way to can small batches of many different kinds of foods. It is full of great recipes too. I made the Spiced Applesauce and canned it. There was enough for 3 1/2 pints (it was supposed to be 4 but I think I snacked a little too much while I was cutting apples. The applesauce tastes great and so far they are sealed! Yay! Give it a try!

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