Merry Makes

Make your self a merry little Christmas. 24 days of gifts and makes to create a frugal home made Christmas.

  

DAY ONE:

Apple Napkins

Materials:

Fabric Paint:

Green Paint

Red Paint

Dark Red Paint

Brown Paint

White Paint

I used acrylic paint and Jo Sonja’s Textile Medium.

Flat Sponge (Type used for washing up)

Fabric at least 16 ½ inches square. You can use pre-made napkins. I used old sheets, Pillow cases, table cloths, from other projects for my napkins.

Small paint brush to add highlight.

Medium stiff paint brush to paint colours onto sponge.

Fray edges of napkins and Top stitch around the napkins using sewing machine or hand stitches. The Top stitch is like a seam but without turning under any edges. It will stop the napkins from fraying further when washing.

Use the template to cut out your apple shape. (Always be careful when cutting). Cut away all the sponge you don’t want to paint.

I painted my apple leaves green. The stem brown. I then painted the apple in a dark red. Then I used a light red to sponge over the top. Lastly I added in a highlight in white. Iron and wash, then iron again.

Template to cut your sponge

They are very easy to make and you can whip up two, four, or more in no time.

Add your favourite recipe card and a wooden spoon, tie up with twine and they make a really nice gift too.

See also:
Serviette Rings from a paper roll

The graceful and peaceful home

home made wrapping paper

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

New Blog name: A Peaceful Homemaker

Summer is making it's presence known even though summer hasn't yet officially arrived. There have been late afternoon storms with not much in way of rain. The surrounding towns around us have had a few wild storms but our town hasn't received anything to speak about. The heat is defiantly here though. 

I've been pottering around at home trying to stay cool. I started up embroidering a pair of pillow cases from a set of vintage embroidery designs I have. The pillow cases are thrifted and cost a dollar for the pair. The vintage designs came from a lot on Etsy and cost very little as it wasn't a complete set. I coloured the bows in using Crayola crayons and they cost about $3 a packet. To learn more about crayon tinting embroidery I have a lesson: Introduction to crayon tinting.

I think these pillow cases will be a very pretty and frugal make when finished. 

I've also made a slight change to my blog. I've been at my blog now since 2012 and used Vintage Papery for that long. My blog originally was just going to be used for paper crafting, over the years the focused has changed towards more home based living and crafting. I still do paper crafting but not as much. I think this blog has out grown the name Vintage Papery and was time to change the name.

All this means is I decided to have a different blog name to be more about the post I currently do. My blog is now: A peaceful Homemaker and the URL is: http://www.apeacefulhomemaker.blogspot.com.au/

I will have to change my links below the banner so they will link properly. 

If you have been following me under Vintage Papery, you'll probably have re-follow me under a peaceful homemaker for my posts to show up on your feed.

I thought it much better to change the url than start up a whole new blog.  I think the new name suits now. 

I hope every one is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Creating at home

The weather has been hot and outside is not really the best place to be. Although I did venture to town to have a look at the CWA mini market. Surprisingly I never brought anything, probably because I have been working on projects at home. I did enjoy having a browse through the tables.

I've finished up face washers for my driving instructors mum who wanted them for the grand kids. We picked up a dozen cute face washers for next to nothing and the yarn cost very little, around $4. I don't know about anyone else, but I always liked a face washer and a  piece of soap for a gift. Very useful I think. I'll give the instructions for the edging in another post. Speaking of driving, apparently I can try for my drivers licence in February.  Where did the year go?

With the projects I had to do, I haven't had much of a chance to catch up on sending out my mail. I've received some fantastic letters from around the world: America, Canada, Hungary, and here at home. I really enjoy snail mail, does anyone else send letters?

I've also been neglecting my painting, the last art I did was these miniatures for necklaces. It's time to pull out the paints again.

In the garden, we've had a bumper crop of red onions. I think it's time to try out red pickled onions.   

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Sweet and Simple things

Summer is definitely approaching, we’ve had some hot days and late thunder storms. All of which seems to be adding up to a very hot and wet summer. The hot days have been good for drying tea towels. 

On Saturday I attended the last event for this year of the Simple Living Toowoomba group. There were plenty of workshops to entertain the small group that arrived for the day and there was enough breeze blowing through the open hall doors to keep the heat away. 

We were taught how to make gift bags from paper. And there was lessons on how to make a reuse able gift bow. Nanna Chel has the instructions over at her blog: Going Grey and Slightly Green. 

There was also lessons on how to make some easy felt ornaments. Which I really enjoyed making.The felt ornaments look sweet on a little table top Christmas tree. I intend to make more to send in snail mail.

After the workshops we had our secret Santa. 

I come home with a rocket plant and a knitted dishcloth in a gorgeous shade of green, the yarn was made from some kind of recycled fabric and dyed. Lovely. Dad loves Rocket so it is now planted happily in a new home in the garden.

The day was really enjoyable and I  learnt  new things for the home. I am looking forward to next years events.

I hope every one is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Vintage hat potholder

 Crochet Hat Potholder:

Super cute and easy to make. These do up quickly and would make a very nice gift for Christmas when added with tea towels. You could also stuff the hat with potpourri and make as a hanging sachet for your linen cupboard.

4 Ply  100% Cotton (Lincraft in Australia has a 100% crochet cotton in 4 and 8 ply brand using their name 'Lincraft' and is reasonably priced. It is the brand I used.)

(American crochet stitches): Click here to see chart for translating stitches into Australian crochet stitches.

Chain 4. Form into ring.

Chain 1

12 double crochet through centre of ring.

 (Pull tail to make centre smaller).

Sl St to close round.

Chain 1

Half double crochet into Sl St.

One half double crochet in every stitch.

(Turn out to form crown of hat) Sl St round closed.

Chain 1

Half double crochet . Sl St round closed.

double crochet x 4 in same stitch around row.

Sl St round closed. Chain 1.

Double crochet x2 in same stitch. Sl St closed.

Tie off and weave in ends.

Weave yarn between the last half double crochet and double crochet to make a ribbon for the hat.

Tie off into a bow. Add a rosette flower if desired.

I've also decided to start making printable pages of my blog posts from the lessons, tips and recipes! Save these and print them out, then add to your home keepers binder. Click on the image and it will go to the original size. Right click, save, and print off when you need it.

Blue Geraniums - Rozanne

I hope every one is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Link Up

Easy peasy leftovers fritters

Ingredients:

3 cups self-raising flour

2 1/2 cups milk

2 eggs, lightly whisked

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Sift flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center. Whisk together the mil and eggs in a jug. Whisk to gradually stir in milk mixture into flour.

Chuck in what ever left overs you have: Veges, mash, meat, tomato, onions, ect.

Fry in shallow hot oil.
Really that easy.

Serve up with steamed veges or eat straight in the hand cold the next day.

Tips:

Halve batter and make apple fritters. Or Potato scallops.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Daily moments

"Never let yesterday use up too much of today." - Will Rogers.

Flower Days

We had really lovely weather today, there was a slight breeze and with out it I think the day would have been much warmer than it was. You can feel the change in the air as Spring is fading to make way for early Summer. 

I took a drive with Dad to one of our local nursery's as Dad wanted to by some more yellow roses. He said this local nursery is one of the better one's for price and for the fact the plants are out doors. He doesn't like buying plants in stores. 

I came home with a Tansy plant. I have a few potted plants for my self for a dyer's garden I hope to have and use eventually. Tansy gives gorgeous shades of subtle green and yellow. The Tansy I brought is the common Tansy, the herb. Not the harmful Tansy Ragwort which is very different in appearance.

The roses have been blooming and I've been picking flowers and drying them. I am playing around with making tea blends. This one is Green tea, Calendula, Roses and Jasmine flowers. I know these plants haven't been sprayed so I am okay with drinking them. Always be cautious about ingesting plants, no matter how benign. Be especially cautious when pregnant, taking prescription drugs, around pets, and small children. In short: Be safe.

There's been some slow work on the crazy quilt. It's a slow thing, more slower now the weather is warmer. This is a good winter project.

I've been working on a different technique with my art, using coloring pencils. If anything it is relaxing to do.

I also changed my blog look and added new links to the pages beneath the header. 

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

The little things

The sewing machine and my paper stash is in the corner and there's my flower press dad made for me

We've been having some nice weather of late. There was a late thunderstorm the previous few days and that seemed to cool things down, although you can feel the heat.

I was asked in comments to show my stash...I'm not sure what kind of impression I am giving when I talk about buying bits and pieces, I hope it's not a hoarder impression...although, I could reach that level.

So let me take you through a tour of my room. As most of you know I am now with my parents caring for them which meant when I moved out of my last home a lot of my things were placed in a storage shed. So I do have a house hold full of things in a shed packed up as well as craft stash. I've been with my parents for about eight years (?) or so. And over time I have decluttered and changed this room around heaps of times. I have a love/hate relationship going on with it.

The desk was a recent purchase. I needed it and as you know me I never paid much for this, it was $50. The desk is actually a child's desk but because I am hobbit size this suits me just fine. I have things mostly organized...baskets at the top for fabric scraps and paper scraps and potpourri. Magazines next shelf. Stuff in jars and bowls for potpourri and my stamps in boxes where the art is hanging ( I have that there to see how it looks as I just finished it.) Under neath the desk is a small drawer set for stickers and folders for my stamps. The other shelves and drawers have more arty stuff. Near the bottom corner you can see my crazy quilt rolled up waiting to be worked on.

Turning around is the other side of the room. Under the bed is the hard back books (I recently rearranged this) and a few plastic boxes with fabric. My computer where I am now.The pink plastic drawer thing is filled with tea towels, pillow slips and such for embroidery on top of that is a draw full of ribbons and laces. The bed side table has plastic containers for embroidery thread and the drawers for hair slides, brushes, my brooches, and such. I'm not really a makeup/clothes gal, in short very low maintenance I just get what I need to do in the bathroom and go from there. If things get too cluttery in my room I generally do a clean out, either a chuck, a trip to the thrift stores with the stuff or I pack up a box of stuff I really want and send it to the storage shed.

On my desk is some ACEO cards and zines getting made up.

And then there's what's happen when I get a bee in my bonnet to deep clean and rearrange.

So there's my tour of my tiny room and stash. Oh, the cupboard has some clothes and more fabric material.

Moving stuff around

I hope every one is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Market day

I've been quiet of late pottering around at home and have been a bit neglectful of my poor blog, but I hope to fix that and post a bit more.

The weather of late has been a mix bag of warm and windy which is not a good combination for the fires that have been around. But at least the wind has been keeping the days mostly cool. I think summer is going to be a hot one.

Last week I received an email to let me know about the new workshops for the Simple living group, the co-coordinator, Margy, also sent information about a mini homeschool market held at the Range Christian fellowship on the week end. My aunt and I headed off early to have a look around at the stalls. It was a good day to wander around to look at the stalls as the day before was so windy! It was still windy but not as windy.

I came home with two pressed flower bookmarks, yes I know I could make them my self but I like to help kids who are making their own items to sell. The book marks have scriptures on them with spelling mistakes :):

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, scince (since) what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

I can do all things through Christ which (who) strengtheneth (strengthens) me. Philipians (Philippians) 4:13

I also brought some clay charms from When Laura Meets Clay: Whenlaurameetsclay.etsy.com. The book marks and the charms items will go well in snail mail letters.

I've also been pottering around in the garden and preparing potpourri mixes from the dried flowers I already have dried. My room smells like a flower garden.

There's been a lot of snail mail happenings too. I made some cards and postcards out of old magazines for a swap.

My art desk also has a lot of paintings going on. Just small ones for now.

We had a lot of produce from the garden too. We pickled beets. Picked silverbeet and more kale too. Over the last year or so dad has been planting out a few small garden items to grow in beds. The old favourites most kitchens like are being grown. We have three raised beds that are giving us plenty to use in the kitchen. Which proves you don't need big to start with.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Spring Bluff

My aunt and I took a little trip to Spring Bluff. It's a Queensland railway station not too far from where we live. The rail station is part of the Carnival of flowers events held in town. The weather was great for the trip with some storm clouds hanging around, but we only got a bit of rain on the way home and the rest of the day was cool with sun.

It's possible to take a steam train from town to Spring Bluff.  We drove up instead and took a wander around the place.

The rail station does a really lovely job of creating the gardens and there's a great view from the station as well.

Every flower seemed to have a bee on it. There was masses of flowers in a cottage formal style and some native plant area included as well. Overall, I really enjoyed the day trip and hope to take another visit again.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Cottage Potpourri

Cottage garden mix

1 cup dried lavender flowers

1 cup dried rose petals

1 cup dried pinks (Dianthus)

1 cup dried scented geranium leaves

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp ground allspice

1 tsp dried grated lemon peel

2 tbsp orris-root powder

3 drops rose oil

3 drops geranium oil

Mix ingredients together in a covers container, and set aside for six weeks. Stir daily to distribute the fragrances.

 Sweet spring floral mix

1 cup dried lavender flowers and leaves

1 cup dried rose petals and leaves

1 cup dried jasmine flowers and leaves

1 cup dried alyssum flowers

1 cup dried heliotrope flowers and leaves

1 cup of dried rosemary

3 drops of lavender oil

2 tsp orris-root powder

Mix ingredients together in a covered container, and set aside for six weeks. Stir daily to distribute the fragrances.

Orris root powder is the dried powdered root of sweet flag (Iris). Orris root is used to keep in the scent of the essentials oils which evaporate over a couple of days. You don’t need Orris root powder to keep the scent of your essential oils in your potpourri fragrances. A few suitable alternatives are suggested below:

  

Gum benzoin

Myrrh and Frankincense (you can crush up incense sticks or cones)

Cinnamon powder or sticks

Cumin, coriander, and angelica seeds

Vanilla pods

Oak moss

Chamomile flowers

Geranium roots                    

Sandalwood oil

Cornstarch 

(Avoid essential oil contact with textiles, wood surfaces and painted surfaces. Keep away from pets and children)

Useful link: Potpourri 101

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.