Waiting on the chai tea to kick in :)

I went thru my pics and printed out some vintage postcard ones i want to mat and frame .. and then i had several small art posters that i will do the same with. Gotta wait till i have the money for the mats and frames... maybe i will get a few more hours at my PT job at Rupp .... Who knew i would be so happy working a concessions stand :P . .... The hunt scenes with the little girl are just way adorable.... Last Saturday i volunteered with a friend to help at the Lexington Art League Event ..was alot of fun. I saw some interesting stuff. Photography wasnt allowed .. soooooo no pics to show ya. :(

I just had to take yesterday off from painting the house to read. I enjoyed a morning of sitting in the sunbeams in my rocking chair and reading "my wicked vampire" by Nina Bangs. I like her series alot..... Then i spent the afternoon working on legwarmers from recycled sweaters and several piece of jewelry .

Busy busy this last week or so

I enjoy making my own business cards for my blog where i sell my artisan jewelry and soaps .. http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/. It is very relaxing for me to make them :PThis is my sunday morning fun...... I would so much rather be making jewelry instead . Once the kitchen cabinets are done though ..will make world of difference in the kitchen ... Soon as i finish all the house painting i will be having a giveaway to celebrate .:)

This will be the room where i can work on water gilding projects. I hope to arrange to go to TN in March for 2 days of lessons... I am so excited about this.I have 2 long ..8 ft tables set up for projects. Right now it is bare..but that will change soon. I like the fabric i made the curtains out of also. The wicker settee will be perfect to curl up on and study. I will eventually make a lapquilt to put on the back of it in blues and greens..



I have been trying to get the house all painted inside so i can start on new projects I have been thinking about .. I have 2 bedrooms ..utility room and kitchen cabinets to do. I meant to have them all done...but my back muscles arent co-operating .

Helping others in need....Pine Ridge Reservation ....

ON MY SOAP BOX..SO TO SPEAK..It seems compassion for others is in short supply .We are all busy doing things for "us" and turning a blind eye to the "rest" . I am FIRM believer no matter how little money you have ...you can always help out another in need. If nothing else..think of it as good karma ! SO i hope that those that drop by my blog will take time out to help another person. Whether it is simply shoveling snow for a person who can not.....taking a few canned goods to a neighbor you know is out of work .... or even take your daily newspaper to a neighbor who maay love to read it and cant afford the subscription. instead of throwing it in the trash .

I am using up fabric scraps and yarns and making warm items to send to pine ridge. It isnt alot a month as i dont have a full time job at the moment .. and YES..I do make scarves and hats and sell also ..i depend on my interent sales to make bills... but i can send a small package every month as a gift to help others. It makes me happy to know that it might make a difference that someone will be a little warmer this winter. I am not typing this so people go...oh look.. she is patting herself on the back for doing this .... I am writing this to hopefully show you that even one item .. no matter how small can make a difference in a persons life. http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010/jan/11/native-americans-reservations-poverty-obama This is an interesting article on Pine Ridge Reservation and the poverty and misconceptions people have about it... This is the link that will show many ways to help out with a drive at Pine Ridge Reservation

http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/

Pink sweater into lots other stuff....

Time for bed here in minute.. but i just finished the pink leg warmers with the ruffled bottoms ..they are so warm and i just love them. I have enough sweater left for 2 more pairs ... maaybe work on them tomorrow. I HAVE to paint woodwork in kitchen and living room tomorrow. I was suppose to do it today ...

I finished the hat this afternoon. Came out adorable . Who knew taking apart a sweater could be such fun. I have a pile of more sweater fabrics to work with ..but not tonight .

Just finished the pink hat..it is for sale at http://tribalbarter.blogspot.com/2010/01/ladies-bubble-gum-pink-winter-hat.html .

I took a hooded pink sweater in sz 3 x ..it had hole in shoulder.. i have cut the hood off and I am crocheting around it...then the arms will be leg warmers..that leaves me a huge double sided piece from actual body of the sweater.. I will probaly get 3 at least more pairs of leg warmers from the sweater body.. Some of the sweater stuff I make will be sold and then some will be donated to a drive at Pine Ridge reservation

http://www.friendsofpineridgereservation.org/ Take a minute or five and check out the webpage for them. There are many drives that one could help with ...

Painting on a snowy day ....

I am Way tired of all the snow this last week and the cold. So i started painting the kitchen. It is a warm gold color called "ginger palm". I wasnt sure about it at first. I dont normally paint dark colors but i find I really do like it. I just had to add a lace curtain. I may paint the cabinets next week or two also. I need to finish painting the rest of the inside of the house first. I have the living room painted also this week. It is a "bermuda sand"..which is a light sand color with a hint of lavender to it. Very relaxing color .Today I will have to get the trim and doors in both these rooms done. Then on to the hallway ...I want to try to have the house finished up with the painting in a week or two. Then i can get back to crafting and making soap and jewelry .. Don't forget I have my handmade artisan soap and jewelry right now at clearance prices for January.. it is at http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/

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