Neckscarves and horse bags or purses ....

I also made some earrings today. Some for me :)..and some to sell on my barterpage.. http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/

Doesnt this hula hoop look like fun ? Maggie from prairieland herbs sent it to me today.... I was like OMG!!!!!!!! I have So been wanting one of these. It is too cold to really jog for exercise . This will do the trick for me for sure. Those pesky pounds on my hips hopefully will go away this winter .... I need LOTS of practice. I spent more time laughing at myself today than actually getting it to stay on my hips.

I am going thru fabrics to put together some new projects to work on. I have alot of stuff that needs to be handsewn and winter is a good time to do these projects while i curl up on the couch and watch a movie . The plaid fabric was enough to cut out 4 long neckscarves . One for me and 3 to be sold or bartered. The horse fabric is fleece and i plan to make beaded or fringed bags from them .I had enough other fleece to cut out 8 neckscarves. I like to hand hem them and then use embroidery thread and blanket stitch around the edges.

Upholstery fabric pillows

I had some scrap of upholstery fabric left in my fabric stash....so i whipped these pillows up yesterday ... I enjoy rich color and unusual textures in fabrics. These will be perfect on my wicker furniture . The fly fishing one is a gift for a friend to go with his lapquilt I made this fall.

Making Bath Salts early

I use an old roasting pan to mix mine all in. The 2 main things to remember is to not use any utensils that are still damp with water and mix well . Also to use fragrance OIL... water based will not work with these and will melt the salts.. I use a 3--2--1 ratio ..3 cups epsom salts..... 2 cups sea salt....1 cup baking soda . I like this mixture the best. There are many bath salt recipes online so take time and browse them and see what you like the best. For fragrance i use 2 oz per batch.But i like a heavy scented fragrance in my salts. I add a tiny bit of oxide to color my salts. It only takes a few sprinkles of it. It also helps me to see to mix the fragrance oil in well . You can store in jars ..or plastic baggies..... Some of these will be xmas gifts this year .

I spent yesterday scrubbing cabinets inside and out..then started on the living room hardwood floors to get the old wax off and new on....ssssoooo I didnt get to make any soap yesterday or probaly today. Still have to finish the last of cabinets and part of living room floor today before i do anything else.... oh well.Tis the season to scrub and clean :) BUT.... I jumped out of bed this morning and had cuppa chai tea about 5 am so could make my bath salts up for presents. Bath salts are one of the easiest things to make. I use mine actually for a foot soak.. Now all that is left to do is wrap them up all pretty and make cute tags for them .... I scented the lavender salts a "sun kissed rasberry" and the blue ones are "blueberry".

Now to have breakfast and get to scrubbing the floor....... If i get everything all done i will be able to make soap tomorrow. Tuesday the bathroom floor is being replaced so this is my last chance to make soap for few days

Cast Iron Pan Candy

http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/12/11/cast-iron-pan-candy/ I just love sharing this ladys blog and all her recipes with everyone... She shows alot of the steps she goes thru making all the goodies..which is a big help to me. This is one i want to try in next few weeks.

LOVE my lye soap for everything !!

I spent yesterday running around town trying to get lye for my soap...first off. NO ONE believes you make soap with it...they think you are just a well dressed drug dealer. When you try to educate them on how lye is in soap..they just say.. oh no .. "glycerine is what is in MY soap "....GRR!!! people.. glycerine is a by product of it all.. OH WELL . I have my lye... I can make soap now . I took the solid green and the light purple bars i hade made few weeks ago.. I cut them in smaller pieces and added to the lye when i poured it in the mold. That gives me the confetti soap ( thanks bonne for the idea) . I set my mold in a warm oven (preheated to 170 degrees and then turned OFF ) and let it set up overnight . It sets up quick and the bar is very hard.Ready to use after a few days of setting so it can completely dry out. I used mulberry scent in the purple and green soap....a sandalwood in the green confetti soap . I sell and trade some of my soaps ..some i use for gifts..then others i keep JUST for me ! Bonne started me on the path to using only handcrafted lye soaps...... i used hers for several years and then she talked me into making my own. I wont go back to store bought soap again. The shea butters and other oils in my soap..along with the herbs i add... my skin thinks it is in seventh heaven .It has never been softer . I even save the ends and pieces from a leftover bar...cut in small pieces..add to a spray bottle of water..once it sits day ot two to get all mushy .. i use it to clean the whole house. I dont use shampoo anymore either. The handmade soap is great for my hair. It has never been stronger or shinier .

How To Make Corn Husk Angels...

http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/12/01/learn-how-to-make-corn-husk-angels/#comment-54694 I just love these corn husk angels from Suzanne's blog. You could turn them into faeries for your tree also..take a minute and visit her blog and check these out along with all the many adventures she has been up to with Clover and her animal friends....

Chickens In The Road Blog

I enjoy this ladies recipes on her blog..she has tried each one out herself .and that is a BIG deal to me !!!!

http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/ A fun and really informative blog you ought to check outy. I love to read her every day that i can ....the pics and the animals are just too much fun .

More dog treat reccipes.....

TUNA BISCUITS
Ingredients:
1 can 8 oz. Tuna in Oil
2 C. Cornmeal
2 C. Flour
3/4 C. Water
2/3 C. Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp. Salt

Mix, roll out and cut out with dog bone cutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool and serve. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.



PEANUT BUTTER TREATS
Ingredients:
1 1/2 C. Flour
3/4 C. Oatmeal
1/4 C. Wheat Germ
1/4 C. Peanut Butter
1/4 C. Salad Oil
1/4 C. Honey
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 C. Water

Combine all ingredients and mix on low until mixed. Make into 1 Tbl. size balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten balls to 1/4 inch using fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Yield: 20 cookies



OATMEAL WHEAT GERM BISCUITS
Ingredients:
3 C. Whole Wheat Flour
3 C. Oatmeal
1/2 C. Reg. Wheat Germ
6 Tbl. Melted Bacon Drippings or Margarine
1/4 C. Molasses
1 C. Evaporated Milk
1 C. Water

Mix dry ingredients together. Add remaining ingredients and blend until well mixed. Dough will be stiff. Chill for 1/2 hour. Take rounded tsp. of dough and roll into balls. Flatten and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour.



CHEESE TWISTS
Ingredients:
2 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 C. Cornmeal
1/2 C. Parmesan Cheese
1 Egg
3/4 C. Water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all ingredients except 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Knead until thoroughly mixed. Roll dough into quarter-sized balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll balls into pencil-shaped 'sticks' in Parmesan so the sticks are coated. Flatten with rolling pin or by hand. Twist each about 6 to 8 times and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake approximately 30 minutes. Cool on pan. Store in sealed container. Yield: 18 sticks



GARDEN VEGETABLE BAGEL SMAGEL
Ingredients:
1/2 C. Wheat Flour
2 1/2 C. White Flour
1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
1 Egg
1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 C. Chopped Carrots
1/2 C. Chopped Spinach
1 Tbl. Minced Garlic
3/4 C. Water
Garnishes: Sesame Seeds, Minced Dried Garlic or Poppy Seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and then wet. Mix, then knead by hand. Form into ping pong ball size pieces. Flatten, then poke hole in center. Form into bagel shapes. Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes. Cool and serve. To garnish, spray finished bagels with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds, minced dried garlic or poppy seeds



TUNA BALLS
Ingredients:
3 C. Cake Flour
1 Egg
3 Tbl. Cornmeal
1 6-oz can Tuna (water drained)
1/4 C. Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbl. Oregano
1 Tbl. Vegetable Oil
3/4 C. Water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients and roll into quarter sized balls. Place on cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool. Should be soft after cooking.



BOXER BROWNIES
Ingredients:
1/2 C. Shortening
1/8 C. Honey
4 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 C. Carob Powder
1 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 C. Carob Chips

Cream shortening and honey together thoroughly. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat well. Bake in a well greased 15 x 10 baking sheet at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

FROSTING
12 oz. Cream Cheese (non fat) room temperature
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Honey

In a small mixer, add all ingredients and blend. Spread frosting over cooled brownies. Cut into 3-inch squares. Cut out a paw print out of paper. Hold paw print over each square and sprinkle with carob powder. Remove stencil carefully. Yield: 12 pieces



BABY FOOD SOFT DOGGIE COOKIES
Ingredients:
3 2-1/2 oz. each jars of Baby Food: Either Beef or Chicken
1/4 C. Dry Powdered Milk
1/2 C. Wheat Germ

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Roll into small balls and place on well greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with fork. Bake in pre-heated 350 oven for 15 minutes or until brown. Cool on wire rack and store in refrigerator...also freezes well. Notes: Cream of Wheat can be substituted for the wheat germ. Cookies are soft and chewy.

HAPPY SOAP MAKING DAY!!!!!!

I am thankful for my "family of my heart" and the care and understanding they bring to my life !!!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE .





I am spending today making soap . 2 of the 3 batches are ready and have been unmolded and cut and set to cure. Here is the chamonile and oat batch in setting up.. I very lightly scented these 2 batches. In the winter time I dont like a heavy scented soap . I concentrated more on healing properties to the soaps than scent in these 2. The 3rd batch is a heavy scented one of watermelon scent. In a few days i will have some of the bars up for sale on my other page. Checkout http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/ in a few days if you wish to buy some.....

Homemade dog treats / biscuits

I was looking for recipes for homemade dog bisccuits this morning for a dear friends doggies ..this one sounds good. I think it will be cuter to roll out the dough and cut it in shapes ...

Bacon Flavored Dog Biscuit Treats
Homemade dog treats are fun to make and healthier than many of the store-bought versions.
I N G R E D I E N T S
Yield: 40 dog biscuits

5 cups Whole wheat flour
1 cup Milk
2 Eggs
10 tablespoon Vegetable oil or bacon fat

1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Cold water
1 tablespoon Vegetable oil to grease pan

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Grease cookie sheets.

Mix all ingredients well. Pinch off pieces of the dough and roll them into two-inch balls. Bake biscuits at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Let them cool, then store in an airtight container.
Originally from the Humane Society of Santa Clare Co., Santa Clara, CA.

Giving and recieving for holidays or anytime

Here are 3 of the necklaces being made today for pine ridge. I have one left to finish and then will mail out first of next week. These are simple to make. The band is single crochet and then you embellish the bands with beads. I use some lampwork glass horse beads . purple brazzilean agate , and carved jade I had .

NO matter how much money you have ..you can always help out somewhere . Believe me..there are ALWAYS people in worse shape than you are. One can always donate their time if not a gift . I have worked in health care field for years now and the "old are truly forgotten " Call a nursing home close to you and see what you can do to help out . Call a local community center or church and say "hey.. i have 2 hands to help with.. can i help serve a meal or clean up" Love animals ?...even helping can be something as simple as putting scraps out for birds or a bowl of food and bowl of fresh unfrozen water out for a poor stray kitty that has no home.

It is holiday time again and I enjoy creating gifts for others around this time. For several years now I have chosen to make and send gifts to Pine Ridge Reservation . This year has been bit of a challenge since I lost my job . Thank the goddess for a well stocked craft room and friends who like to barter with me and those who have just said "here .. I have these that need a home..create with them " :) Pine ridge has an on going need year round so if you cant help now ..maybe later in the year you can. There are always so many drives going on to help the children and elders . I plan to work this winter using up my small scraps and make barbie doll clothes that can be sent for later drives. Right now i am doing jewelry . I finished up the consignment order last night for the hispanic crosses so i will start work today on the new pledge for pine ridge I made. Take a moment and visit the web page for Pine Ridge and look at all that is going on right now. http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/2009_Christmas_Gifts_for_Little_Wound_School.shtml

Morning musings...

I am working on wild horses today. These harlequin color ones are a mare and foal set. The foal is meant to be used as a pin cushion . They also can be used for decoration. they are not meant as a childs toy however.. If you are interested in purchasing they can be found in my etsy store .

I couldnt sleep last night and i finally gave up about 4 am. I got up and fixed a cuppa chai and finished a library book . I am in for the weekend ..Tuesday I will go out job hunting again.. This week was the same "if we need someone we will call you" ..and used up 2 tanks of gas on top of it.. The sun is out bright and it is to be a beautiful weekend . Mother nature is inspiring me to work with vibrant colors today...hence the "wild horses" ...
I went thru and cleaned where i keep soap supplies..didnt have enough lye or coconut oil for a batch of soap but i did take the shea butter and whip it up and add a rasberry scent to . Now i have about 2 lbs of it whipped..i will add herbal oils to some as i need it for pain rub this winter . Arnica and st johns wort is great for a pain rub and then just the st johns wort by itself is a heal all for everything i have found. . I wont waste a drop of the whipped butter on the tools..will use it over the next few days on my skin..right off the tools :P

todays fun.....

I made a couple of new bracelets up before breakkfast this morning.. Now i am working on wild child pincushion dolls ..all in my etsy store..

More necklaces i have designed

New designs using jade

New designs for my collection .....

After last several days of job hunting ..i am unwinding and working on a couple of designs for my personal collection. I have some sweaters that will look good with these .. I have used jade in both these necklaces. Then one has moonstone stone chips and a piece of agate.....and the other opal stone chips. I LOVE the opals !!

I have used a purple jade teardrop stone here and the other has a large vintage crystal bead .Will look nice with jeans ..



The colors dont come thru in the pics of this piece like they should. . I have used crystal beads and moonstone . I love the energy in all the new designs i made ...

thoughts of holidays ....

I had a great jog this morning.,,the air was cool and the sun peeking over the horizon was beautiful. Now tis dark and gloomy out ..typical November day. I am SO proud of me . Yesterday i did my first floor pushups..I made it to 9. My reward was one hershey caramel kiss.... it was SO good. I had been doing wall pushups for last several weeks and was time to step it up a notch. I can't describe how good i feel physically and emoptionally since losing almost 60 pounds . My energy level is way high...my creativity is brimming over with new ideas for jewelry designs and other items . One of my new ideas is advent calenders that are meant for the horse owning gal. Perfect for the barn or home. I just started on this one ..not sure how it will turn out yet. The idea is to add peppermints to the little pockets i will be creating that will be numbered... Dec. 24 and 25 will be on the actual horses themselves and will feature a piece of horse themed jewelry tucked in the pockets. The base is heavy upholstery fabric and the horse will have either embroidered or beaded bridles ..havent decided which yet. I am SO having fun with it. I have to keep it to where it will cost 25 or so to buy though.....

The finished piece will look alot more festive than the work in progress :P I figure i will make this one for a horse and riider.....then maybe one for a dog or cat owner. I am using fabric up i already have ..trying not to invest alot of "new" cash into projects right now . Here is my first gilted frame ...NOT acceptable at all to me.. But as a first frame i can deal with it. The idea is to be NO lines or crinkles. I havent figured out yet how to get in the crevices of the frame correctly either. I have a LONG way to go learning this . I will figure it out though.. One day i will look back and laugh at how this frame turned out...

These are some jade necklaces I made for a dear friend of mine's daughter . I think his daughters will like them :P I really like the freshwater pearls along with the jade in the designs.

jogging...oh my!!!!

I have had a fun day creating jewelry and then actually jogging twice today...yes...dont faint. Last night i went and made it jogging a whole 13 minutes. I got up this morning determined to do alot better than that. I did a mile and half this morning and then again this evening. I had been walking several miles a day for last 2 months as it was. IF you have pain.....totally recommend making a saleve with arnica and st john wort oil. I keep this on hand all the time and works wonders.

Lampwork horse necklace ....

Starting on some pieces for the holiday season either to sell //barter or trade. This one is over on my other blog.. http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/

I am so drawn to blues in stones. I just finished this lampwork glass horse necklace . I used reconstituted turquoise and blue jasper round beads. I got sidetracked this afternoon with watching Dresden Files and then Blood and Chocolate ( werewolf movie) . Since it is october..must watch some spooky movies...but not too spooky