 Foraging is a beautiful way to embrace seasonality and appreciate nature’s small wonders as you wander. With some fiber art supplies and power tools, a handful of acorns you’ve gathered on a sunny fall walk can be transformed into cozy ornaments for your Christmas tree. To do this project, you’ll need:
 1. Remove the kernel of an acorn from the cap. 2. Do the following to make a beaded hanger: A. If the acorn cap doesn’t have a twig attached to it: i. Drill 2 holes through the acorn cap. Be sure to use safety goggles for this step. Use clamps to secure the acorn cap to a stable platform. Run the drill slowly and with light pressure until a hole forms. Apply pressure in a straight line aligned with the bit while holding the drill securely with both hands to control its motion until a hole is drilled. ii. Cut a piece of DMC Diamant metallic thread that is at least 10” long. Using a size 5 DMC embroidery needle, string 50 size 11° seed beads on the thread, centering them. Pass each loose end of the thread through a hole in the acorn cap from the outside. Tie the loose ends of the thread into a knot inside the acorn cap, forming a beaded hanger. B. If the acorn cap has a twig attached to it: i. Cut a piece of DMC Diamant metallic thread that is at least 10” long. ii. Wrap the thread around the twig 3 times and knot it, leaving 2 loose ends. iii. Using a size 5 DMC embroidery needle, string 25 size 11° seed beads on each loose end. Tie the 2 loose ends together and knot them securely, forming a beaded hanger.  3. Select a felt ball that fits inside the acorn cap. Using a sashiko needle, embroider the felt ball with DMC Diamant metallic thread.  4. Use E6000 Permanent Bond Glue to glue all the embroidered felt balls inside the acorn caps. Allow 24 hours for the glue to be cured. 5. Cut at least 9” of silk ribbon. Thread the silk ribbon through the beaded hangers of several acorns. Tie an overhand knot with 2 loose ends to secure the bundle of acorns. Tie another knot about 3” above the first knot you made to create a hanger for the acorn ornament. Trim the loose ends of the silk ribbon. You’re all ready to deck the halls! Merry Christmas and happy holidays, my dear readers. I wish you all the best things in life!      
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 With a little creativity and a few simple embroidery stitches, your old clothing can turn over a new leaf! Transform an old pair of jeans and a worn-out flannel shirt into a cute pumpkin picture that imbues your home with warmth and pumpkin spice latte energy all fall! To do this project, you’ll need:
1. Cut a 5” X 8” piece of denim from the jeans. 2. Cut a pumpkin-shaped scrap of flannel that is about 2.5” wide X 2” long. 3. Pin the scrap of flannel to the center of the piece of denim. 4. Using 3 stands of embroidery floss, secure the flannel to the denim with blanket stitch.  5. Insert the denim into a 5” diameter embroidery hoop with the pumpkin in the center. Use a disappearing ink marking pen to sketch lines to segment the pumpkin. 6. Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, sew the lines to segment the pumpkin with split stitch.  7. Use a disappearing ink marking pen to sketch the stem and vines. 8. Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, fill in the stem with long and short stitch.  9. Using 3 strands of variegated embroidery floss, sew the vines with split stitch.  10. Iron the pieces of denim and felt if need be. 11. Trim the denim around the pumpkin to a 4.5” X 4.5” square. 12. Cut a 4.5” X 4.5” square of orange felt for the backing. 13. Embellish the denim with a few vintage buttons. 14. Using 6 strands of embroidery floss, stitch the denim and felt layers together with blanket stitch.  15. Insert the pumpkin picture in the wooden clipboard stand. Your project is ready to display. If you don’t have a wooden clipboard stand on hand, you can create a twine hanger or use a hot glue gun to attach magnets to the back of your pumpkin picture to display it. Have a cozy, creative fall! With Love, Christine   Midsummer brings an abundance of fresh produce. Extend the shelf life of cucumbers by pickling them. These pickles are zesty yet refreshing! I adapted Mrs. Williams’ original recipe for quick pickling, a more modern technique. Quick pickling is easy and doesn’t require any canning equipment, which makes it ideal for beginners. The original recipe makes such a big batch of brine that you could pickle an entire garden of cucumbers. I’ve adjusted the scale of the recipe to be smaller. The original recipe also uses teacups as a unit of measurement. I used a vintage 1920s teacup to convert this measurement into tablespoons.  To make this recipe, you’ll need: - 2 large cucumbers, peeled and sliced - 2 16-ounce Mason jars with lids and bands - 1 pint apple cider vinegar - ¼ cup water - 2 tablespoons salt - 2 tablespoons ground mustard 1. Fill the Mason jars with cucumber slices. 2. In a saucepan, bring the apple cider vinegar and water to a boil for 5 minutes. 3. Once it has cooled, add salt and ground mustard to the liquid and stir. 4. Pour the brine into the Mason jars, covering the cucumber slices. 5. Close the Mason jars and refrigerate them. Allow the cucumber slices to pickle in the brine for 24 hours. Your sour cucumber pickles are ready to snack on or use in your favorite sandwiches, salads, and light summer fare! Store quick pickles in the refrigerator for up to a month. Take this recipe and make it your own! Experiment with pickling other types of vegetables along with cucumbers and adding fresh herbs and spices. Have a beautiful, flavorful summer!  Spring is the season of renewal. Refresh your outlook by embroidering a hoop that brightens your day every time you look at it. Choose a meaningful word or phrase and get stitching! To do this project, you’ll need:
1. Cut a piece of denim from the jeans that is large enough to insert into the embroidery hoop. 2. Use a permanent marker to draw a small oval in the center of the denim and color in the shape. After the marker has fully dried, iron over the drawing without steam for about 3 minutes to set the ink. You’ve created the background for the lettering you’ll stitch later. 3. Place the fabric in the embroidery hoop. 4. Write a word or phrase of your choice on the Magic Paper. Make sure the lettering will fit within the oval background. 5. Remove the backing from the Magic Paper and apply it like a sticker to the surface of the fabric you’ll embroider. It’s sewing time! 6. Use backstitch to embroider the word or phrase of your choice with two strands of embroidery floss in a color that contrasts with the oval background. 7. When you’ve finished stitching the lettering, dissolve the Magic Paper in cold water according to the instructions. Allow the fabric to fully dry.  8. Insert the fabric in the embroidery hoop again. Further embellish the denim with fabric remnants cut into shapes and straight stitch. Use different colors and types of thread and sew in different directions to create visual interest. I used both embroidery floss and sashiko thread for this project. If you can’t find sashiko thread, pearl cotton thread is a great substitute. Add beads, buttons, crystals, and other found items. 9. When you’ve finished your design, cut a 4” diameter round piece of felt to tuck into the reverse side of the embroidery hoop. Use a few drops of hot glue to attach the felt to the inner hoop. 10. Trim the denim about 1/2” bigger than the outer hoop. Work a running stitch around the edge and pull the thread to gather it. Knot the thread tightly several times.  11. Create a hanger by tying a silk ribbon to the screw fitting of the embroidery hoop. You could also use twine or a thin piece of lace to create a hanger. Your project is ready to display. Enjoy your daily dose of inspiration!     Being able to sweep your hair out of the way is a must in summer! Repurpose scraps of fabric and denim to refresh a claw clip with a pop of color! To make this project, you’ll need:
 2. When you’re happy with how your project looks, seal it by brushing a thin coat of Mod Podge Fabric Waterbase Sealer, Glue, & Finish onto the fabric. Gently work the glue into the cloth as you go. Allow the glue to fully dry. Enjoy your new accessory!  Transform a candy cane surplus into a sweet treat that will set hearts aflutter! To make peppermint candy hearts, you’ll need: - 8 candy canes - A mortar and pestle - Colorful sprinkles or sugar crystals - A silicone candy mold - A 12-ounce bag of Sweet Tooth Fairy Meltables in red or pink - A spatula  1. Snap the candy canes into pieces. Use a mortar and pestle to further crush the candy into fragments. 2. Pour a layer of sprinkles into the silicone candy mold.  3. Following instructions on the packaging, microwave the candy melts until they liquefy. Stir in the candy cane fragments. 4. Fill the mold with the mixture. If need be, smooth the backs of the candies with a spatula. 5. The candy will solidify after resting at room temperature for about 20 minutes. Pop the individual candies out of the mold. It’s time for sweets to the sweet!  As the holidays approach, bake a sweet seasonal treat that fills your days with comfort and joy. A bonus is this retro recipe makes your entire house smell like cinnamon goodness! To make this recipe, you’ll need: - ½ cup sugar - 1 cup molasses - 1 teaspoon ginger - ½ teaspoon cinnamon - 1 cup sour cream - 3 eggs - 2 cups flour - 1 teaspoon baking soda - ½ cup chopped raisins (optional)  1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Grease a 9” by 5” bread pan with butter. 2. Mix the liquid ingredients together. 3. Add the spices. 4. Mix in the dry ingredients. 5. Pour the dough in the bread pan. Bake it for about 65 minutes. The gingerbread is ready when you can insert a toothpick into the loaf, and it comes out clean. 6. Allow the loaf to cool for at least 10 minutes before you remove it from the bread pan. Enjoy this treat!  Fall is the season of gothic romance. Cast a decorative magic spell on craft pumpkins with a piece of lace and some spray paint! I used a thrifted lace curtain panel as a stencil for my pumpkins, but a tablecloth, doily, or any large piece of lace would work well. To make this project, you’ll need:
1. Cover a craft pumpkin’s stem with masking tape to protect it from the spray paint. 2. Wrap the craft pumpkin with a large piece of lace, securing the fabric under the pumpkin with a rubber band.  3. Following all safety and usage instructions on the canister, spray paint the pumpkin. To clearly transfer the pattern of the lace onto the pumpkin, be sure to spray the paint directly over the lace, not at an angle under the lace. 4. After the spray paint dries, remove the lace and masking tape from the craft pumpkin. 5. Following all safety and usage instructions on the canister, spray the painted pumpkin with a coat of Mod Podge Matte Clear Acrylic Sealer to protect the design. Experiment with using different types of lace and a variety of colors of craft pumpkins and spray paint. Enjoy this project and make it your own!  Brighten up your phone case with this denim do-over! Destruct the jeans you love to hate and give them a new lease on life by embellishing them with straight stitch. To make this project, you’ll need:
1. Cut a piece of denim from the jeans that is large enough to insert into the embroidery hoop.  2. Trace the outline of your phone case onto the denim.  3. Place the fabric in the embroidery hoop.  4. Embroider the denim with straight stitch. Use different colors and types of thread to create visual interest. I used both embroidery floss and sashiko thread for this project. If you can’t find sashiko thread, pearl cotton thread is a great substitute. Here’s the work in progress: 5. Remove the denim from the embroidery hoop. Cut out the design you’ve traced. Trim any excess fabric so the piece of denim fits snugly in your phone case without blocking any buttons or ports when your phone is inserted.  I had never heard of Boston cookies before I noticed the recipe in Mrs. Williams’ recipe book. This New England dessert was first noted in cookbooks in the late 19th century. Several versions of this recipe exist. I’ve added some missing information and updated this retro recipe for the modern kitchen. To make Boston cookies, you’ll need: - 1 cup butter - 1 ½ cups sugar - 3 eggs - 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 ½ tablespoons of hot water - 3 ¼ cups flour - ½ teaspoon salt - 1 teaspoon cinnamon - ½ cup currants - ½ cup chopped raisins 1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Grease a cookie sheet. 2. First, whisk together the dry ingredients. Then, mix in the wet ingredients. Finally, add the dried fruit. 3. Drop dough onto the baking sheet by the spoonful one inch apart. 4. Bake the cookies for 12 to 13 minutes or until they are slightly browned. 5. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool. It’s cookie time!  |
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