Re- Maine Wicked

Using My Powers for Good: A Tutorial

2011-01-19T13:15:00.000-05:00

I have a love/ hate relationship with fleece and a very volatile relationship with velvet. I am a notoriously staticky (I know that's not a word) person. I always pull my sleeves over my hands, before I attempt to touch metal of any kind. Grocery shopping is nightmare. Every can I touch produces a shock. I've even been shocked by a zucchini! A zucchini, for god's sake. When vegetables attack, you know you have a problem. If my mate is shopping with me, he always opens doors for me. People observing, probably think he's a gentleman and I'm a stuck up bitch. They'd be half right (I won't tell you which half is right). I will tell you that it's not because of old fashioned values that he opens doors for me.

Let me set the scene for you: Two people approach a door. First one stops, shakes her sleeves down over her hands and then makes many false starts at the handle, jerking back right before contact. Person behind, then becomes impatient at standing outside. He then circumnavigates first person and opens door leaving an opening under his arm pit for smaller person to dart in.

So back to fleece. I can not wear fleece or velvet (or wool, cotton, polyester...) but especially fleece and velvet. If I were a superhero (which maybe I am... I can shoot lightning!), these fabrics would be my arch nemasis. They create such a charge that lightning bolts shoot from my fingertips and on occasion.... my lips. Imagine going to kiss someone and instead of a pleasant experience, you are shocked with lightning. My daughter flinches, when I lean in to kiss her. That's another one of my powers.

Anyway.........
This morning, I decided to use my powers and accomplish several things in the meantime.
Here is a tutorial on how to eliminate evil fabrics and turn them into something useful, while also being a moral lesson on how to use ones powers for good and the benefit of others.

Fleece Duster

Supplies:
scissors, needle and thread,
about 36 - 48" of fleece and velvet: any color (I used an old pair of my daughter's fleece PJ's and the bottom of her velvet skirt
stick, handle or wooded spoon

This is not an exact science, but measurement of first piece is about 24" long and 7" tall

simply roll around the stick, stitching as you go.

I twisted the velvet gradually up the stick

cut fleece just a little shorter than the velvet

wrap and stitch

should look like this

add next piece of fleece the same way as first

secure fleece end

now you have this

randomly slice strips of fleece and velvet

Spray with eco friendly dusting blend and beat the dust!

Before: Gross, I know!

After: Sweet!

And I only knocked one thing off of the shelves!

Best Mother's day ever

2011-01-18T09:52:00.000-05:00

Yellowstone National Park 2010

Repurposed Messenger Bag Tutorial

2011-01-04T11:49:00.001-05:00

This bag is made from repurposed clothing (2 t-shirts, 3 pairs of pants)

and left-over upholstery fabrics.

The first thing to do, when making this bag
is to cut out all of the pieces.
You will need:

*1 front 16'(W) x 11"(H)

*1 back/flap 16"(W) x 18"(H)
*1 bottom/sides 4 1/2" (W) x 39" (L)
* (cut out these same sizes for the lining pieces)
2 large pockets (plus 1 for the lining) 16" (W) x 8" (H)
1 strap 5 1/4 " (W) x 44" (L)
2 Overall type straps 3 1/2" (W) x 3 1/2" (L)

^Hem all large pockets (2 outer - front and back,

And 1 inner -out of your choice of liner fabric

^Sew jean's pockets to front pocket.
I simply cut the pockets out of my daughter's, to small
and rather worn corduroy pants.

I simple cut out to pants pockets and zigzag stitched rick rack around the edges.
I left the pocket edges raw. This is sewn to the large front pocket.

Sew velcro pieces to inside of large front pocket and line it up with the front of the bag.
Mark where the vecro will go and sew opposing velcro to bag.
Line up pocket carefully and stick to front of bag. You are now ready to pin the bottom/sides
piece to the front. Pin all three layers together (front, pocket, and bottom/sides).
Stitch around bag, removing pins as you go.
Repeat these steps to secure and sew the back pocket, back and bottom/sides.
The only difference, in this bag is I used two buttons on the back pocket.
I sewed the button holes in first and sewed the buttons on after the bag was finished.
You now have the outside shell of the bag.

Sew the lining, the same way as the outer shell. I only added one pocket, to the lining and I stitched it to the front piece, adding the velcro to both sides, before I attatched the pocket, front and bottom/sides pieces. Once you have both the shell and the lining complete, turn the lining inside out, and stick the shell into it. The right sides of both bags will be facing. Pin all around the flap and top of bag, leaving about a 5" space in the center/front of bag. This opening will be how you turn the bag right side out. Stitch around flap and top, making sure that it all lines up perfectly.

Trim excess fabric.

Once the lining and the bag are stitched together (minus the opening), pull bag and lining through the hole, turning the bags right side out.

It should look something like this. The shove the lining down into the bag. Also make sure that corners are pulled out. Then turn the opening edges, under and pin. I also like to pin around the whole area, before I topstitch. Other people like to iron these seams.

Fold open edges under and top stitch

Top stitch around whole flap and bag opening. Starting at the bottom of the flap, and continuing around flap, sides and front of bag.

To make front closures, cut out two pieces of 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". Since I used t - shirt material, I wanted to strengthen the straps abit, so I cut out a thicker fabric insert. The insert is a little smaller than the finished piece.
Here's what I mean....

I stitched up the open sides (with right sides together). Then I cut a piece of fabric to fit inside. Then I folded one end under and hemmed it. The other end I left open, because it will be hidden under the strap. I topstitched along the entire r piece.

I then stitched the overall closures in, using a zigzag stitch (this is the edge that I left raw).

I stuffed the bag with grocery bags, to see the natural shape of the bag, and then I pinned the overall straps to where they should be.

After I pinned them, I stitched them on using a zigzag stitch.

The upholstery fabric that I wanted to use for the strap, wasn't quite long enough, so I pieced jean fabric onto either end of the straps. I then appliqued the peace sign (t - shirt fabric) to it.

Fold strap in half, right sides together, length wise and seam along the open side. Then turn strap right side out. A yard stick helped me abit.

Hem ends of strap and topstitch around the whole strap. I also ran a seam down the middle of the strap too. Line the ends of the strap up with the top middle of the sides. Pin and securely stitch.

Finished Bag!

Inside lining

Controlled chaos

2010-12-31T12:13:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite spots in the garden

First, I'll give you a brief history of me. That way you can have an idea what to expect from this blog. I am currently, living in a passive solar house, built in the 70's by a 'Back To The Land Mover'. I am nestled in the woods of Maine, with my 'Fiance', (this is kind of a family joke, because he is the Father of my three kids; ages 13 yrs, 12 yrs and 4 months) our 3 kids, 4 dogs and 6 chickens. Before we moved here (6 months ago), we lived in Wyoming for a year (I'll save that story for another time).

Rain Trellis
When it rained the water would cascade down and around
this trellis. We used this instead of a down spout.

climbing peace rose

Before the year in Wyoming, we lived on Nantucket Island. On Nantucket, I ran my own organic gardening business in the spring, summer and fall. During the winter, I had a variety of random jobs. The one I did most often, and enjoyed the most, was being a decorative painter. Some of the other jobs I had (which generally all ended badly) were: Baker, office assistant, writer for one of the local newspapers and magazines, Pizza chef and taxi driver.

baby black zucchini

This garden was only on a half acre, but I managed to create several garden rooms full of grapes, hops, blueberries, medicinal herbs, apple, pear and pomegranate trees. Along with several rooms for just vegetables and other ones for cut flowers. I built trellises from sassafras trees, for my roses, beans, gourds and morning glories.

sassafras supports for tomato plants

apple tree

Amish speckled lettuce, with seaweed mulch

This is one of the things that I miss most about Nantucket

. Since we've come to Maine, my mate has tirelessly worked to clear me some gardening space. For Christmas, the only thing I asked for was seeds. Guess what I got? So in the upcoming months, I will be planning my new garden, building a greenhouse (we still haven't decided on a quick hoop house or a permanent slip form stone one... We are waiting for the tax man to get back to us on what the taxes will be on a permanent one).

Shed with sassafras trellis
and old fashioned blaze rose

fairy rose

golden hops and concord grapes on copper arbor

These are some pictures of my, much missed, Nantucket gardens. Hope these bring you fond memories of summer, to get you through the long winter months. In a few months I hope to update my garden pictures, with my new Maine gardens!

Loaded blueberry bush

Okay, all I really talked about, in this article, was gardening. Rest assured, this will not be my only subject. I hope, to have some eco-friendly tutorials on this blog soon. Along with tips on how not to clean your house and what should and shouldn't be put in the compost. Also you can expect some drunken ramblings on life with 4 dogs and 3 kids.

FYI, this week I am the feature artist on Ecoetsy.com! Yeah for me! The article is about how I started my shop on Etsy.com. Plus it has some pictures of a few of my creations. My shop is comprised of clothing, accessories and housewares that I make from repurposed, recycled, upcycled, vintage and/or organic fabrics.

Check it out at blog.ecoetsy.com and my shop at

remainewicked.etsy.com

PS. thank you for reading my ramblings! Stay tuned.

Potato Pancake Recipe

2010-12-31T09:15:00.000-05:00

Potato pancakes are one of my favorite foods. They can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Today (New Year's Eve) I am making them for a party, because they are also the perfect grab and go snacks for young and old alike.I purposely make extra mashed potatoes just for these yummy little savory cakes. I think one of the best ways to serve these is with an over easy egg put right on top and a side of deli mustard, for dipping. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

This recipe is ever changing. I've given you the basics, but I don't think I've ever made them the same way twice. Sometimes I add cheese to the tops after I've flipped the pancakes once. Sometimes I add pesto, sometimes I add chopped red bell peppers, sometimes I add some cayenne pepper, for some spice, etc. Use your imagination.

Left over mashed potatoes (about 4 or 5 cups)

2 eggs

1 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar, pepper jack or Monterrey)

1 cup frozen corn kernels

enough flour to make a thin dough

salt and pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients together. Heat up an iron skillet, on medium, with 1 T olive oil or butter.

Drop dough, by tablespoonful, onto hot skillet. Cook approximately 3 minutes per side, flipping only once. Keep warm in oven, until ready to serve.