Weeds and more weeds.....

I am building small areas for my salad garden crops. I have chives in one and green onions in another. Then lemon balm in another . I am using scrap lumber pieces . I need to round up some more still. I decided to move where i had started the new strawberry beds. That is the areas with the bamboo frames and plastic laid out. The frames are a broken Papa San chair frame that will work just great with it .You can see the side of the 2nd one of left of the picture .

I am getting weary of chopping 100's of weeds every day so I am going back and laying newspaper down around the rows ......then I am covering the papers with mulch and dirt. Newspaper works great ....just makes a truly UGLy garden area :) All the neighbors have maple trees which means mant thousands of maple seeds that have fallen in my yard and they all spring up and have to be pulled up... I dont use poison in my yard....but this fall I am going to have to spray for poison ivy. It has taken over so much of the fence rows

Rain and More Rain ....

Little too much rain overnight. I had just planted the corn Friday.....it is in the area way in back of yard.. cant see it too good in these pics .. Hope it doesnt wash my seed away :(

I love my turquoise fox necklace I made this weekend . The red beads are a red dyed agate .

This is a babyquilt i was making for a barter . Just have to tat it up and off it goes :)

These are barettes I whipped up. I cant find nice barrettes here anywhere for work. They are all cheap plastic or for kids or big funky bows..pssfft! Micheals Craft Store carries the blank silver barrettes and then add just a little bit of hot glue and some fabric or trim ....

The wild children ...

The wild children of the world :) Just finished 3 of them today..I love to make these primitive dolls . I dont think i could make a pretty and cutesy type doll.... they would be just too boring. I see these as scruffy medeval kids ... I got alot done in the craft room today.... I had some pillowcases to sew up and then I have been working on cutting several hundred strips of wallpaper to be turned into beads .. By using the wallpaper they are quite sturdy and alot can be done with them far as adding paint for textures over the colors. My camera is acting up tonight so maybe tomorrow when I have more patience i can get some good pictures of them . I got the backyard cut . Still feeling tired ...this BP medicine sucks the life right out of me. I have 2 weeks left of it on this cutting back dose and then will be off of it . I will be SO happy believe me .....

Recyling Candles today

I enjoy nice smelling jar candles like yankee candles.....but you always end up with about 1/3 left in the jars. Sometimes i use a candle warmer for them but i really enjoy the glow from candles themselves..So i take the old ones and heat them up to melt the wax...then i use the wax to create new ones. For these i have taken glass bowls that tealights will fit in....then i pour the hot wax in the bowl to just level with the wick in the tea lights. This way i dont have to buy wicks and create new candles at the same time. In the one picture..... You can see where i have taken a rectangle glass dish that holds 4 tealights and i have just started pouring the used candle wax around them. You could be elaborate on how you swirl colors with the old wax also...

Primitive Viking Dolls.....

Before you say... gosh..what UGLy dolls.. I have created these dolls based on primitive viking figures. The dragon headed one is made to resemble a viking ship figurehead and the other is a primitive viking girl with a cloak. They arent meant to be cute :) These are to be consigned to some folk doing the Shelbyville Ren Faire this summer....

Bobbi's Article On Plantain

Interesting article on Plantain..... check it out :) http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.examiner.com%2Fx-14263-Lexington-Gardening-Examiner~y2010m4d19-The-miracles-of-Plantain&h=f3915 I use it in salves . Never tried in salads but i may toss a few leaves in my next one. I have plenty growing in the yard

Life Changes....

So many things going on in last few months...most lately involving "life changes" I did decide to "undelete" this little blog. Though i did go back and take off the last 2 years worth of stuff. Figure it was too far back and no one actually read all that part. though once i deleted it ..wish i hadnt. should have printed it all out first..I could have put it with my journal :) I am back on my diet as a life change. My body doesnt do well otherwise. Lots of yummy salads now twice a day . Eating like i was....grabbing a sandwich at McDonalds 2 times a day was NOT a good idea on my part.. Doing that for 5 or 6 weeks lead to me being not healthy. On a good note ...since i was so sick last wednesday.. i have ate really well. and even lost a bit. I can wear few more pairs of my pants i was saving . Course when i started this diet last fall... i meant to be in a sz 12 right now...not a sz 16 .. considering i was wearing a size 20 in pants and 22 /24 in a shirt back then.. i am very grateful to be in 16's now .

Gargoyles ...

I have always found medieval architecture fascinating. I love the sculptures and statues and the gargoyles most of all. I found these collage sheets of gargoyle images and knew i would have to combine my love of jewelry design with the images. I have started a new page today for designs of this nature. http://www.1craftylady.com

Cold and snowy weekend crafting

It has been a busy week. I have been building the new webstore at http://www.1craftylady.com/ I have been sorting craft projects in piles to finish up . Each one needs one craft item i need to buy next week :) I am starting on lapquilts also. I will be doing those off and on thru the summer. I love this sailboat fabric one i pinned together today. The colors are jsut so bright and cheery. I have 3 large pillows I am making that will go with it too .Tomorrow I will start tatting it together and the handsewn binding .. I meant to work on it this morning...but ended up shoveling half a foot of snow instead . Then was time to go to work ..



I liked the way this neckalce turned out yesterday. I based it on a Native American Spirit Shield. I am enjoying using the feathers i traded for in my designs...

I liked this plaid fabric for potholders. It has beautiful white embroidery in the design. I ended up with couple doz of these to eventually stitch up and put away for gifts. They will look cute in a kitchen gift basket come hoilday time

Dollmaking .....

Started work on the first of the dolls i plan to create over next couple of weeks. This is a "horse spirit "doll. To see more of her go to .. http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/ She also is up for sale . Felt good to be sewing again . The freshly painted sewing room feels good . I have dozens of ideas running thru my head for dolls..cant wait to actually get them all created ....

A productive day ......

I finished painting the craft room and got most the stuff moved back in there...now time to play with the beautiful feathers from Billie jo's "Easter Egger " chickens. They are perfect to create the mane for this horse necklace. I added some quartz and amethyst stones for a southwestern look. It will be over on my sale page at http://www.tribalbarter.blogspot.com/ i hope to start working on dolls the next few days and then first the week to get some new artisan soaps poured.

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/