Branch Out Craft Club

Quilt Week: Basics: Batting

2011-11-15T14:34:00.001-08:00

Thank goodness for people who know more than me! LOL Kidding! EVERYONE knows more than me about this type of stuff. I'm a Jane-of-all-trades but not an expert on anything. I found this really awesome site that explains EVERYTHING you need to know about quilting. So you don't have to rummage through the site, I've transferred the info useful to us this week on here. BUT, please do go take a peek if you want to. It's a really neat site!

Batting is the gushy stuff that goes between your fabrics to make the quilt nice and warm and cozy!

Bonded batting vs. Needle-punched Batting

Commercially available battings are held together in one of two ways:

Bonded batting has the fibers bonded together by a glue-like bonding agent.
Needle-punched batting has the fibers mechanically felted together by punching them with lots and lots of needles. They are firmer and denser than bonded battings. Their density can also make them harder to hand quilt.

If you’re hand quilting, you may want to avoid needle-punched battings. If you want to avoid chemicals in your quilt, avoid bonded battings.

Cotton Quilt Batting

The most popular choice among serious quilters, cotton batting is soft, washable, and can accept very detailed quilting stitches. It is the batting of choice for quilts that will be entered in shows and competitions. Cost level: More expensive than polyester, less expensive than wool, bamboo, alpaca, or silk. Recommended quilting distance: varies by brand, up to 8”.

Pros

Breathable, cool, and comfortable to sleep under. Absorbs some moisture, but not as much as wool or alpaca.
Drapes well, keeps its shape after initial shrinkage.
Softens with age, washing, and use.
Good for machine quilting-its clinging quality helps keep the fabrics from shifting while you quilt, and minimizes the chance that you’ll quilt puckers into in the finished quilt.
Shrinks and wrinkles the first time you wash it, which makes cotton ideal if you want your quilt to have an antique, puckered look. Use a different batting if you prefer a sleek, modern look.

Cons

Needle-punched cotton batting isn’t desirable for hand quilting-it can be hard to push the needle through the dense mat of cotton fibers.
Conventionally grown cotton carries a heavy load of petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, and in some cases, bleaches. Choose organic cotton or bamboo batting if you want reduced environmental impact.

Cotton/Polyester Quilt Batting

Somewhat loftier than 100% cotton batting and more breathable than 100% polyester. Shrinks less than cotton batting. Cost Level: Similar to all-cotton batting. Recommended quilting distance: 2” – 4”

Pros

Combines the stability and easy handling of polyester with the breathability of cotton.

Cons

Petroleum-based polyester and conventional cotton are both environmentally unfriendly products.

Polyster Quilt Batting

The loftiest batting – it packs well and makes a lightweight, puffy, cozy quilt. Comes in a variety of weights and lofts. Cost level: Usually the least expensive batting option. Recommended quilting distance: Varies by brand.

Pros

Machine washable and dryable. Springs back to shape no matter how many times it’s washed.
Lighter than cotton batting.
Non-allergenic.

Cons

Doesn’t breathe like natural fibers do.
Polyester’s natural loftiness can make it hard to handle while machine quilting. If you have trouble with this, use a thinner batting or try tying the quilt instead.
Has a greater tendency to "beard" (work its way out through the weave of the fabric) than battings made from natural fibers.
A petroleum-based product, not renewable like organic cotton, wool, hemp, or bamboo.

Wool Quilt Batting

Light, warm, lofty, and resilient, wool regulates body temperature better than any other fiber, keeping you from getting too hot OR too cold while sleeping. Cost level: More expensive than cotton, polyester, or bamboo, less expensive than alpaca or silk. Recommended quilting distance: up to 4”.

Pros

Quilts like butter—a hand-quilter’s dream, and good for machine quilting too.
Recovers better from being compressed than any other fiber.
Keeps you warm even when wet. Wool can absorb a third of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp.
Naturally flame-resistant. This makes it an excellent choice for quilts for infants and children.

Cons

Can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Must be protected from moths.
Needs very careful washing and drying—will felt and shrink if agitated when you wash it. Never put a quilt with wool batting in the dryer—the heat and tumbling motion will ruin it.

Alpaca Quilt Batting
Extremely light and warm, alpaca is a very high-quality and expensive kind of wool that makes a quilt exceptionally warm for its weight. Available online from Pacafill battings in alpaca/cotton or alpaca/wool blends that are needle-punched and contain no binders or resins. Cost level: Expensive. Recommended quilting distance: up to 8”.

Pros

Extremely warm and lightweight. Alpaca fibers are smoother and less oily than sheep’s wool.
Hypoallergenic.Because it’s less oily than wool, alpaca seems not to cause the same allergic reactions.
Like wool, alpaca stays warm when wet, but alpaca doesn’t get the unpleasant “wet sheep” smell that goes with wet wool.

Cons

Needs very careful washing and drying—will felt and shrink if agitated when you wash it. Never put a quilt with alpaca batting in the dryer—the heat and tumbling motion will ruin it.
Must be protected from moths.

Silk Quilt Batting

Lightweight, thin, and supple, silk batting is favored by many quilters for making quilted garments. It’s available from Hobbs under the name Tuscany in a 90% silk/10% polyester resin-bonded blend. Mountain Mist’s Cotton Blossom batting is 95% cotton, 5% silk. Cost level: expensive. Recommended quilting distance: 3½”.

Pros

As warm as down, yet lighter weight.
Supple and more drapable than any other batting.

Cons

Shrinks more than other battings: about 5% on first washing.
Needs very careful handling when washed.

Bamboo Quilt Batting

Bamboo is an extremely fast-growing plant that needs no pesticides or fertilizers to grow, so is much more environmentally friendly than conventional cotton. The bamboo batting currently available from Fairfield is 50% organic cotton/50% bamboo. The company recommends it for machine quilting. Cost level: Expensive. Recommended quilting distance: up to 8”.

Pros

Producing bamboo batting uses many fewer toxic chemicals than conventional cotton or polyester.
Needlepunched, so it contains no glues or binders.
Breathable and cool, like cotton.
Naturally antibacterial.
Machine washable (estimated shrinkage 2-3%.)

Cons

Not as widely available as some other battings.

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

Welcome to Quilt Week! Week 1: The Basics

2011-11-15T13:56:00.001-08:00

Hello fellow crafters! My friends and I were chatting today because I have a really big itch to make a quilt! So, we have declared the 2nd week of every month Quilt Week! This way, you only work on the quilt for this week and by the time a new month comes around it feels like a fresh project and you don't get burned out. But, by all means, if you're not crafty ADD like we are, feel free to finish your quilt and there will be fun NEW stuff every month to try!

So, today, I wanted to post about sizes:

Lap quilts. Like wall quilts, lap quilts can be whatever size you choose to make them. A drag-around quilt for a small child could be as small as one yard square, or 36” x 36”. (You can make a super-quick whole-cloth quilt by cutting a 36” square of cute children’s fabric, adding backing and quilting it.) A 40” x 60” lap quilt will comfortably cover an adult for a nap on the sofa. You may want to make your lap quilt longer or wider to accommodate a particular set of blocks.

Table topper quilts. These quilts are made to add a decorative touch to a table, and their dimensions depend on the size and shape of your table. Some popular table topper sizes:

Square card table: 36” x 36”: Table topper size 36” X 36”. Turn the quilt on the diagonal when you put it on the table.

Dining table 42” x 54” (seats six): Table topper size 13” x 48”
Dining table 42 x 72” (seats eight): Table topper size 13” x 72”

Size Considerations for Bed Quilts Making a bed quilt the proper size involves a number of factors:

How big is the mattress? If possible, measure it exactly. When measuring isn’t possible, use the mattress size chart below.
Will the quilt be a “topper” that fits entirely on top of the bed, or will it hang down over the edge? If so, how thick is the mattress? Standard mattresses are 8-12" thick, but new extra-thick mattresses with pillow tops can be up to 20” thick. Is there a box spring to cover also? Will the quilt just cover the depth of the mattress, or will it sweep the floor like a bedspread? Be sure to add enough extra width to make the overhang as deep as you want.
Do you need to allow space to cover pillows? If so, how deep are the pillows? If you can’t measure exactly, add 18” to the quilt’s length for pillow coverage. If it’s possible, make up the bed with a bedspread over the pillows, then use a tape measure to measure from the tuck of the spread underneath the pillows, up and over to the back of the pillows. Add this measurement to the quilt’s length.
Does your design feature a central medallion or pattern? You may need to adjust your measurements to keep the central pattern from hanging over the edge of the bed or getting hidden by pillows.
How densely will you quilt this top? Quilting shrinks a quilt top. The more heavily you quilt the top, the more it will shrink. Allow up to 5% extra room in both width and length for shrinkage. Adding a slightly deeper outer border is a great way to do this.

U.S. MATTRESS SIZES

Crib 28” x 52”
Cot 30” x 75”
Twin 39” x 75”
Long Twin (common at colleges) 39” x 80”
Double 54” x 74.5”
Queen 60” X 80”
King 76” x 80”
California King 72” x 84”

U.S. QUILT SIZES

Commercial Comforter size (minimal overhang)

Crib 36” x 54”. 45” x 60” is large enough for a “toddler” bed.
Twin 65” x 88”
Double 80” x 88”
Queen 86” x 93”
King 104” x 93”

Bedspread Size (longer overhang)

Twin 81” x 107”
Double 96” x 107”
Queen 102” x 112”
King 120” x 112”

I hope this helps! I'll post some more later! For now, I gotta go do dishes since the little one is asleep!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

How to be a Better Wife: A Series: Intimacy after the honeymoon phase

2011-11-14T10:39:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband and I have been married for just over a year and I think I can finally say that the 'honeymoon phase' has ended. I can't say that I'm sad about it either. I'm kind of excited about the next step in our relationship.

I have been praying a lot lately for and about my husband and after a few days, God pointed me to Proverbs 31:10-31 "The Virtuous Wife".

Yesterday, I was doing some research and my husband looked over said "Whatcha doin?"
I said "Learning how to be a better wife." And he laughed at me! It almost made feel silly for thinking this. He then said "I don't think you need that..." Which made me feel better.

I don't think I'm a bad wife. In fact, I think I'm a pretty decent wife (despite the fact I can't cook worth beans) but that doesn't mean I can't be a better one, right?

So, as of today I am on a mission to be an overall better wife. Over the next few weeks, I'll interject our crafty biz with my How to be a Better Wife series.

So, today, I want to begin with the tough topic first: intimacy. Since our 'honeymoon phase' has ended, my first goal is to not lose our spark. I know that happens a lot with couples who are together for a while: life just gets in the way. Well, even if you have to write it on your planner, make time to have some alone time with your significant other.

Even the Bible says "The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have athority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
-1 Corinthians 7:4-5

Of course, for my time to increase intimacy, Aunt Flo also decided to show up. So, now I get to get creative. I am going to try things like giving my husband a nice back rub after he gets home tonight. I'm going to try to kiss him more often. And not just a peck like when he goes to work, but I mean a nice, long, both arms around the neck, up against the wall kind of kiss. Then, maybe, just maybe, a pinch on the butt on the way out, just for good measure.

Something small like this everyday can keep the spark alive and it only takes a few seconds.

In a week or so we will retouch the intimacy issue. Until then, enjoy touches and smooches!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

UCreate with Me!!

2011-11-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

U-Create Crafts has a monthly craft-along and this months is so cute I wanted to extend the party!! Here are some of the examples she posted! After you are done you can either submit them to me and I'll pass them along or email them straight to UCreatecrafts@gmail.com and make sure you title it Create With Me so she knows!! Have fun!

Branch out and Be Creative!!

Waiting for Christmas has never been harder!

2011-11-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

So, I wanted the iPhone 4 pretty bad. My mom got one and the only thing I miss about having one is the video camera. (I still have the iPhone 3)

Then the iPhone 4S came out. I want one of those with a passion of a thousand burning suns!! Check out this hysterical website about what Siri has said!!

Actual Screen Shot from someone

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

Upcycle those coke cans!!

2011-11-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

So, I found this wonderful blog a while back and I just love everything she posts!

Check out Positively Splended

Once you've done that...check out THIS link for a really great tutorial on how to make these!

So I know some of you guys that follow my blog are not from Texas. When I say coke cans I mean soda cans in general. It doesn't have to be coke (although hers are Diet Coke)

Here in the south, coke means soda. So when when someone asks you if you want a coke and you say sure they are likely to say "what kind?" Just be ready!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

NaNoWriMo: Day 3

2011-11-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Another 1,824 words down.

4759 total words.

I did hit my daily goal but not my total words goal. Tomorrow should be a fairly slow day around my house in the evening so maybe I'll be able to hit the goal. Also, they're having a write in at the local bookstore in the morning that I'm thinking about trying to go to so I should be able to get caught up!

Tomorrows goal: 6,664 words total!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

NaNoWriMo: Day 2

2011-11-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

Another 1268 words down.

2,935 total words.

I know I didn't hit my full 1,667 words today but Madeleine is having some pretty bad allergy symptoms so I figured I'd better go to sleep. Plus, I'm tired. I will have to work extra hard tomorrow!

Tomorrows goal: 4,998 words total!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

NaNoWriMo: Day 1

2011-11-01T22:08:00.001-07:00

1,667 words complete! It's midnight, everyone in the house is asleep, but I fulfilled my first days goals. Tomorrow: 3,332 words!

If you haven't done so, check out National Novel Writing Month and sign up! It's not too late to start the book you've been dreaming of writing!

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 31

2011-10-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

So, being as that I was out of the house all day today, my craft isn't really relevant at 9:50 after everyone's done Halloweening. But because it's still freakin cool, you can make one and store it for next year!

You can buy one here for twenty bucks. it includes the curtain and the rug. Or you can make it with dollar store curtains and rugs and red paint.

Perhaps a fabric medium for the rug though. Don't want to have to re-warsh your feet!

Anyway, Happy Halloween! Time for NaNoWriMo!!! YAY! See you all in a month.

Branch out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 30

2011-10-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Praise be to God what a fantastic service today! Pastor Warren was there and we had a dedication service for M&M!! It was super sweet and my parents were both crying and me and hubby were up there hugging while Pastor Warren prayed over her. I wanted to keep up this wonderful feeling of joy I have in my heart and focus today's wonderful crafty-biz on these Red Letter Words. They are scripture based subway art that I just love!! I can't wait to either buy it or try out my own. I know cutting out the letters from vinyl on my Cricut and then spray painting canvas is one way to do the art. Maybe I'll do it old school and hand draw the letters and paint the canvas or wood. I'm so excited to see this project come to fruition.

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 29

2011-10-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

So, I've been really into watching Gossip Girl (Silly I know) and I just watched the Christmas episode!! YAY CHRISTMAS TIME IS NEAR!!! I was so interested in it that I seriously thought about getting the tree out now...but I'm sure my husband will not really go for that till after Thanksgiving.

BUUUT, since I can't get the tree out, I'll go ahead and start working on other decorations!! I found these! Beautiful and green! It's a great thing to do with all those old wine bottles I've got in my fridge from the last wine tasting I went to with my mom.

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 28

2011-10-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here is something cool that seems pretty easy to follow and can be completely customized for any cool pictures you have!

Branch out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 27

2011-10-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

Now, I never want to be one to rip off someones hard work and creativity but I'm also an artist who loves a good challenge! I found these and I just HAVE to try it! Especially when the totally awesome dollar flippy floppies come around at Old Navy!! Plus I have three pairs of Yellow Box that no longer fit me around the foot because of my pregnancy and my permanently swollen foot.

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 26

2011-10-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

So, I've been on a big "Quite Book" kick. Little did I know they're super popular. I have been wanting to start a church quiet book since our church doesn't have a sunday school currently and before I know it M&M will be too big to nap on my chest during the service. So I googled it! I found these::

Photo Credit: Marta-Mojepasje

I LOOOOVE the butterfly page! I want to have an angel in there somewhere with full of different textures. :-) I can't wait to start this. The best part is you can add in all kinds of mediums onto the pages and totally get away with it!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 25

2011-10-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

So, I have this friend. Her name is Casey. She's pretty much the shit. Yes, thats right, I cussed. She's that awesome...anyway...

Casey has this group on facebook that's also the shit because they cook....a bunch! This month she decided to make it Pumpkin Month (which I love) and was asking for some savory dishes because it's all too easy to find sweet punkin treats.

Well, my dear friend, I have one to contribute!

Rigatoni with Roasted Pumpkin and Goat Cheese

Freakin delish! The leaves are sage--the recipe has steps to roast the pumpkin as well. The whole thing has 4 steps. That's right, 4 steps. The roasting bit takes a little bit of time but it's super easy. So put it on and browse around on Casey's Group Page for some more wonderful ideas!!

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 24

2011-10-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

My wonderful hubby and I have been watching this show called the Colony which is about a group of people trying to rebuild after an apocalypse. This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately because we have been talking about becoming more self sufficient and going much Greener since he started his job at Whole Foods. So, in honor of that, I found these which will not only just be handy but much cheaper and totally resuable! They are available on Etsy or you can use your creativity and try to make your own. I'll try once I get some fleece and perhaps I can post a tutorial of sorts!

Anyway, as always,
Branch out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 23

2011-10-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

So, we've covered Paper Crafts, Fabric Crafts, Knitting/Crochet, and Gardening! This week I want to touch on things that kind of put all of it together! Starting with THIS beauty!

She used pieces of leather she had around her house from bags that were destroyed and actual book pages for the books.
Then, a headpin through the middle of them all and a chain and voila! Beautiful necklace! It was inspired by Anthropology and they wanted $165 for it. She made it for around $4.00! I have someone I know that would love something like this for Christmas. Hopefully she doesn't see it! :-)

Branch out and Be Creative!!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 22

2011-10-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

I found this really great pattern for the Rhiannon Bag online and I just thought it was adorable! I love that it's pretty cheap and would be adorable in just about any color!

I was beginning to think about my compost bucket (that I'll be making today since it's lovely outside!) and I had some potato shards that I wanted to put in it but I wasn't sure what was allowed or not....so I looked it up for everyone if you're having the same questions I was!

NEVER COMPOST:

Bread products: This includes cakes, pasta and most baked goods. Put any of these items in your compost pile, and you've rolled out the welcome mat for unwanted pests.

Cooking oil: Smells like food to animal and insect visitors. It can also upset the compost's moisture balance.

Diseased plants: Trash them, instead. You don't want to transfer fungal or bacterial problems to whatever ends up growing in your finished compost.

Heavily coated or printed paper: This is a long list, including magazines, catalogs, printed cards and most printed or metallic wrapping paper. Foils don't break down, and you don't need a bunch of exotic printing chemicals in your compost.

Human or animal feces: Too much of a health risk. This includes kitty litter. Waste and bedding from non-carnivorous pets should be fine.

Meat products: This includes bones, blood, fish and animal fats. Another pest magnet.

Milk products: Refrain from composting milk, cheese, yogurt and cream. While they'll certainly degrade, they are attractive to pests.

Rice: Cooked rice is unusually fertile breeding ground for the kinds of bacteria that you don't want in your pile. Raw rice attracts varmints.

Sawdust: So tempting. But unless you know the wood it came from was untreated, stay away.

Stubborn garden plants: Dandelions, ivy and kudzu are examples of plants or weeds which will probably regard your compost heap as a great place to grow, rather than decompose.

Used personal products: Tampons, diapers and items soiled in human blood or fluids are a health risk.

Walnuts: These contain juglone, a natural aromatic compound toxic to some plants.

NEVER RECYCLE

Aerosol cans: Sure, they're metal. But since spray cans also contain propellants and chemicals, most municipal systems treat them as hazardous material.

Batteries: These are generally handled separately from both regular trash and curbside recycling.

Brightly dyed paper: Strong paper dyes work just like that red sock in your white laundry.

Ceramics and pottery: This includes things such as coffee mugs. You may be able to use these in the garden.

Diapers: It is not commercially feasible to reclaim the paper and plastic in disposable diapers.

Hazardous waste: This includes household chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze and other liquid coolants. Motor oil is recyclable, but it is usually handled separately from household items. Find out how your community handles hazardous materials before you need those services.

Household glass: Window panes, mirrors, light bulbs and tableware are impractical to recycle. Bottles and jars are usually fine. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are recyclable, but contain a small amount of mercury and shouldn't be treated as common household bulbs. For ideas on how to handle them, see 5 ways to dispose of old CFLs.

Juice boxes and other coated cardboard drink containers. Some manufacturers have begun producing recyclable containers. These will be specially marked. The rest are not suitable for reprocessing.

Medical waste: Syringes, tubing, scalpels and other biohazards should be disposed as such.

Napkins and paper towels: Discouraged because of what they may have absorbed. Consider composting.

Pizza boxes: Too much grease. While some compost enthusiasts steer clear of adding pizza box cardboard to their pile, others report no problems. It's that or the trash.

Plastic bags and plastic wrap: If possible, clean and reuse the bags. Make sure neither gets into the environment.

Plastic-coated boxes, plastic food boxes, or plastic without recycling marks: Dispose of safely.

Plastic screw-on tops: Dispose separately from recyclable plastic bottles. Remember that smaller caps are a choking hazard.

Styrofoam: See if your community has a special facility for this.

Tires: Many states require separate disposal of tires (and collect a fee at the point of sale for that purpose).

Tyvek shipping envelopes: These are the kind used by the post office and overnight delivery companies.

Wet paper: In general, recyclers take a pass on paper items that have been exposed to water. The fibers may be damaged, and there are contamination risks.

Branch out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 21

2011-10-21T20:56:00.001-07:00

I'm tired.

Good night.

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 20

2011-10-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Yay! We're on to actually crocheting something! Huzzah! I found this lovely thing while browsing around and I wanted to share it with you all. This one is not free but it's very in expensive and would make really great gifts! Good luck!

The other day we were talking about raised garden beds. I really love this idea since I'm all about utilizing space. They turned the pots around the edges into herb plants! Perfect and fragrant!!

Branch out and be creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 19

2011-10-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

Boy we are just truckin along here! It's already day 19! Yay!

Today is Learn to Crochet day here at Branch Out Craft Club! YAY! I honestly think Crocheting is much easier than knitting and it only uses one needle! So, to start, go HERE! It has a video plus step by step illustrated instructions that are pretty darn easy to follow! Don't try them all in one day- Just remember: Crafts are for relaxation and fun! Not frustration!

I want to touch on one of the major problems with gardening: critters. Bugs mostly is what we're covering today. I wanted to have a garden so I could have my own somewhat organic veggies but I can't seem to grow squash without buggies gettin in the vines. So, luckily there is this!

Homemade Pest and Disease Remedies

Insecticidal soap, rotenone/pyrethrum liquid spray, and diatomaceous earth for horticultural use (silica particles from the skeletal remains of sea creatures that penetrate the bodies of insects on contact-sold as a dust) are good store-bought natural pest remedies. Follow the directions on the labels.

Alcohol spray for Aphids
Mix ½ to 1 cup alcohol with a quart of water. Do not spray the entire plant until you have done a test leaf. Spray one leaf. Wait a day. If it shows signs of burning, do not use alcohol on the plant. Never use in the heat of the day in the sun.

Beer Traps for Slugs
Put some cheap beer in saucers. Place the saucers every 3 to 4 feet around the plants that are being eaten. The slugs will crawl into the beer and drown.

Chamomile Tea for Damping Off
Spray seedlings with a hot water infusion of chamomile tea to prevent the disease.

Citrus Spray for Aphids
This is a good spray for aphids or any other soft-bodied bugs. Boil 2 cups of water in a glass or stainless steel pot. Remove from the burner and add the peel of one lemon or one grapefruit. Cover the pot and let steep overnight. Mix ½ water and ½ citrus liquid. The spray must come in contact with the insects' body to be effective. Spray as needed.

Eucalyptus Liquid Soap (found in health food stores)
Add ½ teaspoon to a quart of water and spray for insects

Horticultural oil
These sprays have a petroleum distillate carrier for natural botanical insecticides. Never use them on a sunny day, and be sure plants are watered well before spraying.

Insecticidal soap
Sold under the Safer brand name. You will find it in any garden store. The concentrate is a better buy than any others.

Liquid rotenone/pyrethrins spray
Bonide is the brand. Follow directions on the label. This spray is very effective, especially if not overused.

Molasses Spray for Rusts
1 cup sulfured molasses
1 cup powdered milk (optional)
1 gallon water
1 cup seaweed powder (optional)
1 cup rock powder (optional)

If you are using only molasses, stir into water and use. If using all ingredients, mix molasses and powders and make into a paste. Wrap 1 cup of the paste in a panty hose. Put in the water, and let sit for 2 to 4 hours. Strain and spray.

So good luck with your gardening!
Branch out and be creative!'

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 18

2011-10-18T20:34:00.001-07:00

Hopefully you understand now how to follow a knitting pattern. The next step is to actually knit something! So, here is something useful and adorable! McLaughlin Designs: Cowl/Headwrap

Today in the Garden, tiny spaces can be fruitful also! Check out THIS really cool idea for an herb garden on your counter! Really great if you live in an apartment and only have window boxes!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 17

2011-10-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

So, now that you have some kind of grasp on how to work the needles, the next natural step would be how to follow a knitting pattern so you can make something more than a scarf! So, since I didn't know a thing about how to read a pattern I looked it up and found this! It seems pretty easy to follow. Since knitting is so far away from where I started (scrapbooking) it's taking me a little longer to learn than other crafts. Maybe in December we can come back to knitting and focus some undivided attention to it.

Yesterday we learned how to prepare our gardens for both the raised versions and in ground versions. Today I wanted to touch a bit on composting. We eat a lot of food in our house which means we have a lot of waste! Egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels and scraps are all outstanding materials to add. The benefits of composting here in Texas are pretty fantastic. Especially if your backyard is anything like mine and consists of pure rock. Yay south Texas... Anyway, adding it to your soil or your potting soil that you've purchased will loosen clay soils and help sandy soils retain water. Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. So, I know where all of our scraps will be heading now! Have fun!

Photo Credit: Young House Love: Compost Post :)

Branch out and be creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 16

2011-10-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

So, last night I totally didn't realize it was Saturday thus starting a new hobby week. So, I've been going back and forth on what I should do: Knitting/Crochet or Gardening. I don't know that gardening is a craft but it's a pretty popular hobby and one that I'm interested in starting so I think I'm going to do both. (Next week is reserved for Holiday kid activities). So starting today I'll post things about how to knit and how to prepare a raised garden bed! Have fun!

The Knit Stitch Video!
Note: when I started knitting, I picked a lovely grey yarn and got the needles that it suggested on the paper wrapping. I started with a straight scarf so I could get the rhythm down and then introduced patterns. Check out this link for a getting started in knitting detail that will help you get your bearings.

This amazing website called Sprout Robot lets you enter your zipcode and tells you what plant you should plant and when. Like a digital Farmers Almanac. It also has some pretty great illustrated tutorials on how to do just about everything in the garden. Below, you'll find the pictures on how to do a raised garden bed. It's terribly simple!

also, below that, potting soil basics!

Click HERE to see their website and how to do a bed if you don't want it raised...ya know, like ones directly in the ground...**REQUIRES DIGGING** :)

Plus, their little Sprout Robot is adorable!

Branch out and Be Creative!