Just for Fun.....a pattern called Beans the Kitty, then an Amelia Earflap Hat

926/14 - Well, after getting the knitting needles out for the red hat.......I found another pattern to do just for fun. It is called Beans the Cat and is offered as a free download on Ravelry.  I use Ravelry and have some of my past projects listed  here. 

Since this little cat project went so fast, I am starting another called Amelia Earflap Hat.  I am using stash yarn, so my hat is going to be in brown.

Selling Online

September 25, 2014 - There isn't much going on in my world right now.  I have been busy trying to list and sell some items on Ebay and my Artfire site.  Right now this ID plate for an Empire Phonograph manufactured by the Empire Talking Machine, Co or Chicago, Illinois has an active bid. My last batch of listings ended up with a non-paying bidder for a Plymouth key ring.  I opened that case today in order to get my seller fees returned.

 I thing I will take another stroll through the barn and look for items that could be used by people into steampunk. I saw a pair of spats listed for over $50 in an Etsy shop.  I know there are some of those in the barn somewhere.  A lot of the other items are around here might fit into that category also.  Maybe the old battery charger................ I'll write something up on that item and get it listed as a piece suitable for a steampunk project.  Stay tuned!

Baby Hat Patterns

Here is a picture of the little red hat I chose to make and a link to the pattern.  This one is Knitted Hat Pattern 2. 

Sample patterns for baby hats can be found here:

• Crochet Baby Hat Pattern                 
• Crochet Preemie Hat Pattern             
• Knitted Baby Hat Pattern        
• Knitted Hat Pattern 2
• Knitted Preemie Hat Pattern
• Knit Baby Bear Hat Pattern

A friend who belongs to the Knit 'N Bitch Club here in the Anderson area brought my attention to this cause.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmhurst/community/chi-ugc-article-knitters-crocheters-babies-at-edward-elmhu-2014-08-12-story.html

Little Hats Big Hearts



To raise awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart disease, the most common type of birth defect in the U.S., volunteers for the American Heart Association (AHA) are celebrating American Heart Month by knitting red hats for all babies born at Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals in February 2015.
The project is called "Little Hats, Big Hearts." The AHA, and Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals are inviting knitters and crocheters to participate by donating finished baby hats (in newborn and preemie sizes) and/or yarn.

The completed hats and donated yarn must be red, cotton or acrylic, medium to heavy weight, and machine washable and dryable. Hats should not be made with buttons or bows because they pose a danger to babies.

Hats and yarn should be dropped off at Edward Hospital - North or South Lobby Information Desk, 801 S. Washington St., Naperville and Elmhurst Hospital - Main Entrance Guest Services Desk, 155 E. Brush Hill Rd., Elmhurst. The deadline is January 15, 2015.
For more information, visit www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts.

To the left is the actual hat I made.  I purchased the little basket from The Woolen Yurt, 1435 N Kennard Rd W, New Castle, IN 47362.    My knitting friend, Lynda Wilkinson, recently opened this shop. www.thewoolenyurt.com   The basket is a Fair Trade item handwoven in village co-ops in Ghana, West Africa. Handle is reinforced with rubber from a recycled bicycle tire.

Seeds for Sharing

I visited the Henry County Public Library while taking care of some more title business on Thursday, September 11.  That is a really nice library!  I ran across an area called Shared Harvest.  It contains a skillfully crafted cabinet made by the Hoosier Woodworkers Guild that contains packets of seeds for sharing with the public.  How it works:

Borrow – select seed packets from the seed library (Please limit your family to five packets per month).

Grow – Plant seeds in your garden.

Return – Harvest seeds from your mature plants.  Return new seeds in original Seed Library envelope. 

Well, I got a few packages although I know it is too late to plant them this year.  I have read that Basil seeds stay good for as long as 8 years, so hopefully the seed packages I have will grow next year.   

I have the following seeds:  Dill, Tree Mallow, Nasturtiums, Mustard, Fennel, Fenugreek.

 

Some great gardening websites were given that I plan to visit often in the coming months:

www.nchcpl.org/seeds - the library website with information about seed-saving, how you can volunteer, and helpful gardening information

www.hoosiergardener.com - Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp is considered the foremost authority on gardening in Indiana.  On her site, she provides “an informed, yet personal take on natural gardening in Indiana and other dirty topics.”

www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/garden_pubs.html - This link from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture provides articles about everything from houseplants to landscape management.

 

 

Wasted Rummage and Resale Day on Tuesday

 9/10/14 - My preparation for the rummage and resale event was a waste of time.  After setting up, there was only one drive through to even look at my items.  There were a couple other people who stopped to pick up things that were sold on the website by the administrator and that was it!  I will say it has given me the spark to start preparing things for sale.  I also have this idea that herbs and plants are the way to go.  Of course, anything plant related  - planters, wind chimes, flower objects, essential oils, soaps, handmade paper from plants - the list is endless.


 

Here is a plant I heard called "kiss me over the garden gate."  I need to look up the proper name for this one.  Flowering tops and seeds are available for sale from this plant.  It is a prolific plant and always reseeds and comes up on its own.  There is a good crop of Sweet Annie out by the barn, too.  In fact, I think this area would be a good place for a small garden next year.  It is close to the water and in full sun.

To the left is a wreath I threw together to take to the flea market in hopes that it would inspire some shoppers to buy my perennial plants.  What customers!!!!!! At least I am on a path now.  I still love my stone planters above.  Since I made them, these along with plants, would qualify for participation in the local farmer's markets.  Like I said, I am on a path.  Oh, and jewelry!  Especially my goddess jewelry if it has a name perhaps linked with nature or flowers or moons.  Just thinking out loud here.

NOTE:  I am having a terrible time getting multiple pictures to end up where I want them so I can add text.  I guess I will learn.  That is one reason I do a blog - to keep up on some editing/layout skills.

Lilu - the cat

9/8/14 - I knew this would happen sooner or later - a cat!  I've been pet free for a couple years and quite content not to own an animal.  Then, my renter in the woods was forced to move.  He tried to find a home for this critter but everyone had a cat, or a dog, or two cats, or animals weren't allowed at his new place.  Well, he just left her....I brought her to my place.  Not at all the kind of cat I would have chosen but I couldn't let her starve.  You know how it goes....sometimes they choose you. 

This cat cannot hide from you.  Every time you walk by she starts purring.  She is the purringest cat I have ever seen.  And, she likes to lick.  Lick feet, lick arms, lick hands, lick, lick, lick!  Then, she discovered how to slide the patio screen door open to let herself in.  That wouldn't be so bad if she would close the door behind her.  She doesn't.  Who knows what else is going to come in behind her...????  I was told she is about 10 years old.  I was also told a lot of people have their cats 18 years!  In that case, she could outlive me!

She had the name Lilu from her previous owner.  I looked it up on the computer.  The first definition I found was:  A lilu or lilû is a masculine Akkadian word for a spirit, related to Alû, demon.    That definition made me a little nervous so I kept looking at meanings.  Next was: While a definitive record hasn't been produced for the actual meaning of Lilu, many believe it's the name of a Chinese psychopath.   Not a lot better!!!!  Then I found the "urban dictionary" and a meaning I am comfortable with: Lilu, the girl of your dreams; all that you could ever hope to ask for 

More Plants and Comments: Okra & Common Wormwood,

9/7/2014- OKRA:  To the right is a plant I would like to have more of next year.  It is an Okra Plant, also called Lady Fingers.  I do not eat Okra but enjoy its beautiful yellow flowers. I think I read that it was an aphid deterrent also.  And, if you are tired of your distressed hair, try using okra to get that bounce back. Boil okra with some water and the transparent mucilage that you get can be used to get your bouncy hair back.  The same mucilage can be used as hair conditioner. Wash your hair and squeeze out excess water. Massage the watery mucilage through your hair and rinse thoroughly with water.  Okra is an excellent moisturizer for your dry and itchy scalp. It leaves your hair feeling soft and isn’t harmful like other cosmetics available in the market. It is great for people with unruly, curly and lifeless hair.  Okra improves the overall scalp condition and fights dandruff. It moisturizes your scalp and keeps dandruff away.  Okra, when used as a hair rinse, gives great shine to your hair. You can give your regular conditioner a miss once in a while and take care of your hair the natural way.  I haven't tried this yet.  I originally wanted Okra to dry the pods and use them for a craft project!

Common Wormwood:
Here is another plant growing out by the apartment.   I finally took the time to pay some attention to it and have discovered it is common wormwood.  It has a pleasant odor, I think, but can be used to keep moths away.  Here is some more info on this herb.      I got my original plant when I attended a workshop on medicinal herbs in Brown County Indiana.  Susan Clearwater, RN was the facilitator.  I will have to look her up on the internet and see if she is still working with herbs.  My workshop was before 1995.  Another plant I received at this time was the comfrey, barely visible to the far right in the photo.  Comfrey is another medicinal herb.                                                                                                                    

 

Sacred Tobacco - Nicotiana Rustica

9/6/14 - I was late getting things planted this year and was afraid my tobacco plant would not have enough time to mature and make seeds.  Looks like it is going to make it! 

I do not plant a lot of tobacco but I like to keep some growing on the farm.  I received my first seeds several years ago. Below is the info passed along to me at the time.  Of course, the internet is full of additional information on Nicotiana Rustica.

Sacred Indian Tobacco

The seeds from the sacred tobacco plant have been passed down for 5 to 6 hundred years.

Start as you would any plant - the seeds are very small.  Transplant to a sunny location.

If you want to produce taller plants with more leaves you will have to remove the flowers that form on the plant.  You can remove the flowers several times but you should stop removing them long before frost is due in order to let the seed pods develop.

If you choose not to remove the flowers the plants will be shorter and have fewer leaves.

In the fall remove the leaves from the stalk, dry thoroughly, then crumble.  Store in and air tight bag or container.

The tobacco is very strong and not suitable for smoking.  It is best to use the sacred tobacco as an offering to honor the Creator.

Yard Sale Find: West of Santa Fe Jacket

 September 4, 2014 - I stopped at a neighbor's yard sale today and found this coat.  Granted, it would look a lot better on someone about 30 years younger, but I had to have it anyway!  My neighbor said she had gotten it at a casino in Las Vegas.  I checked the label online and sure enough West of Santa Fe was a store in the Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas for 18+ years.
I just loved the beadwork, leather fringe on the shoulders, gold buttons, piping. . . . well, just everything about it. 

In May of 2010, after nearly 20 successful years  the Forum Shops and West of Santa Fe parted ways.  West of Santa Fe closed its brick and mortar doors, staying open only online. After the founder Al Vendegna's death in 2011,  Al's wife, children and the rest of the West of Santa Fe family announced in 2012 that they would honor Al's wishes by opening a brick and mortar store once again.  West of Santa Fe is now home in it's birthplace at Golden Eagle in the historic Nob Hill community of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  While this is a new chapter with an Albuquerque twist, you can still see the same exquisite , unique and extravagant collections proudly showcased in Las Vegas. More Info on West of Santa Fe

Once a Junker, Always a Junker

 
 
 
 

On the Junkin' Trail Again

September 2, 2014 - I set up with the ANDERSON RUMMAGE AND RESALE GROUP.  I use the term "group" loosely -  only 1 other lady showed up.  I made about 3 sales.  If you consider we only had approximately 10 stoppers and lookers, a 33% sales rate isn't that bad.  I just need to find a market with more customers in order to make money. Right now I am just playing with testing the market, what sells, etc.  I did get a brand new yard sprayer for $1 and did some profitable listings on ebay because of my renewed interest in junkin'; therefore I consider the first 3 setups successes!