tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50823907754910303692024-03-14T01:46:22.212-07:00sew grownsew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-66636163286720381872015-05-13T17:50:00.000-07:002015-05-13T17:50:19.674-07:00Sew Grown Has Moved. Hi friends,<br />
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Just a heads up that Sew Grown Blogspot has moved to <a href="http://www.sewgrown.com/">www.sewgrown.com</a>. We look forward to hearing from you at the new site!sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-35293772231197109342015-02-28T19:49:00.001-08:002015-02-28T19:53:02.086-08:00 Essential Oils Clutch Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are doing a giveaway for <a href="http://www.sewgrown.blogspot.com/2015/02/essential-oils-clutch.html" target="_blank">this</a> Essential Oils Clutch on Facebook! To enter to win post a comment on the facebook post stating which oil you won't leave home without, like the Sew Grown facebook page/ share the post. I will be picking a winner Friday, March 6 at 3:00p.m!<br />
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Here is the link to the facebook post. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sew-Grown/144360399063953?fref=nf" target="_blank">Sew Grown</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sewgrown.com/" target="_blank">Sew Grown Shop</a>sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-10229725125322434572015-02-08T17:18:00.000-08:002015-02-08T18:14:56.003-08:00Boys' Nature Study Bag Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For Christmas this year I decided it was time to make the kids larger nature study messenger bags. They were still using their teeny tiny train totes that I made for them 4 years ago. I can't believe it has been that long and I can't believe my little boys are now big kids! For so many years I felt like I had a brood of babies and a blink later I had 3 big kids. As much as I would love to have them stay little and use their first scavenger/messenger bags forever, it was beginning to look a little silly when they would grab their tiny little bags to head out on an adventure.<br />
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The new bag is made exactly the way the tutorial describes except I eliminated the piping around the top flap and just did a top stitch. I also didn't add all the pockets. I made these on December 23rd so I went for quick and simple and I think now that the boys are getting older they appreciate this simple style more. I did add a padded pocket to the inside for their cameras. The Embroidery designs were a purchased file from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/189631425/double-arrows-machine-embroidery-design?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=arrow+embroidery+design&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery" target="_blank">this</a> Etsy site. The fabric is a green tinted burlap. I love this no fuss simple design for boys!<br />
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This was one of their main gifts this year. Inside the bag they found new cameras, a monocular, nature journals, colored pencils, clear top containers for collecting items, and some extra treasures like a stamp collecting book and coin collecting book. <br />
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Baby girl also received a small bag using the original sized pattern. It was fun to follow my own pattern. <br />
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To make a larger Messenger bag you will take a piece of construction paper and lay it horizontal. This piece of paper will be the body of you bag. Next you will take two sheets of construction paper and lay them over lapping each other vertically on top of the horizontal sheet making the width of the 2 sheets together the width of the horizontal sheet. Tape them together after you get the width correct. Once your vertical pieces are securely taped and match the width of the horizontal sheet you are going to cut off 1" from the bottom. Next fold the taped sheets in half length wise and make a rounded edge along the bottom right corner. I free hand this part but you can use a bowl to get a nice curve if needed. This piece will be you top flap. Next you will cut a strip of paper 2 3/4" wide by the width of the horizontal paper. This piece will be the bottom of the bag. And for your last piece you will cut a 2 3/4" strip of paper that will match the height of the horizontal sheet. This will be the pattern for the sides of your bag. Once all these pieces are cut you can follow the original tutorial <a href="http://sewgrown.blogspot.com/2011/02/scavenger-bag-tutorial.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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I hope you enjoy this tutorial! I know your kiddos will enjoy the final product! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.<br />
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Happy Sewing!</div>
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<br />sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-44141446675816581402015-02-03T18:45:00.000-08:002015-02-03T18:45:12.244-08:00Essential Oils Clutch <br />
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Hi friends! Sorry it has been awhile. We have been creating and learning so many new things on our little homestead and I can't wait to share them all with you! One of my favorite new projects is this clutch for Essential Oils.<br />
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I created this clutch after trying other options available on the market and being disappointed. I found the cosmetic style bags to be floppy with little support and were hard to carry around alone. I often just want my oil clutch and don't want to have to carry a separate bag. I had resorted to just tossing oils into the front seat of my car and into random bags or my pockets. After loosing one of my favorite oils I decided it was time to create something that would not only be functional but also something that would offer added support and be beautiful to carry. It took a few tries to get it just right but I finally did it and I'm so pleased with the final product! <br />
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The clutch is approximately 4.5" deep by 11.5" wide. It securely holds 12 bottles all sizes. There is also room for small spray bottles. It is triple padded for extra protection and sits upright when closed and open which allows for easier viewing. There is room in the middle for lip gloss or other items like small sample bottles. It's an eye catching silky cotton voile with lace and velvet trim. <br />
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The official Sew Grown online store front is up and running! We are offering free shipping until the end of February! <a href="http://www.sewgrown.com/">www.sewgrown.com</a>sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-66439004731332093212014-11-22T17:44:00.003-08:002014-11-22T17:44:22.953-08:00Garden Fairy Costume<br />
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I finally found a few minutes to edit some photos from Halloween. I'm in love with these pictures of my beautiful garden fairy princess! This year I needed a little sewing therapy so I went all out for Madeline's costume. She really had no preference on what she wanted to dress up as so I took advantage of what could possibly be the last time she doesn't have an opinion on the matter.<br />
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The dress pattern is from this <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-11910-childs-costumes-and-costumes-for-18-doll.aspx" target="_blank">Simplicity pattern</a>. I can't give a review on this pattern because I only used it for the bodice and sleeves. This was a night before Halloween project and reading through a pattern would have added too much extra time. I created the tulle skirt by cutting long strips of tulle and serging the edges with a rounded edge. The fabric is duponi silk, a BIG splurge, but it was totally worth it to get these photos of my beautiful daughter. The shoes and wings came from the second hand store and the flowers I found at a thrift store. The shoes are sweet pink jellies with a large flower glued to the top. </div>
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The boys created their own costumes. They picked out everything they needed at the thrift store. Although they are a scary scarecrow and headless scarecrow, I love their innocence in this costume choice. They are actually No Noggin and Noggin after he got his head back from Curious George's Halloween Story. <br />
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Precious memories with these little treasures the Lord has blessed me to raise! sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-11805197010612721532014-10-25T18:13:00.003-07:002014-11-14T14:18:50.608-08:00Permaculture Garden with an English Cottage Garden Twist.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIolt9us765O5-xk2BhM3jyL-dVu8E3uU3QZuVlSGB80e_0YaZKnUjIEgFWh3DGZDYIqST5cFYqI43ofC403U8lb-_Vb40y0O2S165arzSOmrsHARzdQr6Qq7dkVTc2yY6RQtki1D8eo/s1600/10711115_10204256613311554_3887748037191758293_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIolt9us765O5-xk2BhM3jyL-dVu8E3uU3QZuVlSGB80e_0YaZKnUjIEgFWh3DGZDYIqST5cFYqI43ofC403U8lb-_Vb40y0O2S165arzSOmrsHARzdQr6Qq7dkVTc2yY6RQtki1D8eo/s1600/10711115_10204256613311554_3887748037191758293_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peppers protected by the coverage of an olive tree with volunteer sweet potatoes covering the ground around the base of the tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3OhVVKoKA7o2JL31aXe-aGvbsDmUueKW2pfIlPkce6y8exkQGmwgNhfkiil28UT4gR2tpbK1Gh6s2oarKCDtLPjxEUuUJ9yyK33BJbxAKiWLcdBlfn55CYys0_C6dFBLPoqZSy2oDXk/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3OhVVKoKA7o2JL31aXe-aGvbsDmUueKW2pfIlPkce6y8exkQGmwgNhfkiil28UT4gR2tpbK1Gh6s2oarKCDtLPjxEUuUJ9yyK33BJbxAKiWLcdBlfn55CYys0_C6dFBLPoqZSy2oDXk/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of seeds planted and giant crooked neck squash almost ready to harvest. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lettuce garden for daily picking. Sweet potatoes taking over on the left and new pepper plants sprouting up on the right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_HoNeCWFUmmMpFXFvPuiynPKLDmHMMHPbrg48qsxebuL_lzyMojw3d_QeYZ1WtcpSuBA0OJd6IE4GLiCYjpL4uUM8QfJDt5bHgeXuqJbXx4USDbFHGUSD34UaTj4fG5TaY-LR382zxI/s1600/IMG_2430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_HoNeCWFUmmMpFXFvPuiynPKLDmHMMHPbrg48qsxebuL_lzyMojw3d_QeYZ1WtcpSuBA0OJd6IE4GLiCYjpL4uUM8QfJDt5bHgeXuqJbXx4USDbFHGUSD34UaTj4fG5TaY-LR382zxI/s1600/IMG_2430.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boxwoods framing out the kitchen garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanilla Ice cream banana.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly planted boxwood framed kitchen garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A common breakfast from August to mid October. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfXp3vsYIxxrmAZnOoGA71hw-7UV5IldUy5dtu3Eu6xnV-qO9ju521lxsFj5HWZ0ZX1-rxm0kcVX0uOU6HUtB9yk-wEPPl7WbxnhD2Q2i_SK5BgR3yPbza8Xj6Sq-K2BI7giZCnZ1pTA/s1600/10710788_10204256614351580_3335298126334472194_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfXp3vsYIxxrmAZnOoGA71hw-7UV5IldUy5dtu3Eu6xnV-qO9ju521lxsFj5HWZ0ZX1-rxm0kcVX0uOU6HUtB9yk-wEPPl7WbxnhD2Q2i_SK5BgR3yPbza8Xj6Sq-K2BI7giZCnZ1pTA/s1600/10710788_10204256614351580_3335298126334472194_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gift for a neighbor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick harvest for dinner and one of many cow pea harvests to store up for later. The dried peas are stored in jars and the fresh peas blanched and frozen. </td></tr>
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My goal in this post is to give an overview of my garden and start a journal where I can share my gardening techniques in the future. A lot of people ask me for help in this area and I have found that it's difficult to explain in a brief conversation. I usually just get this blank stare back from the listener followed by a comment like "can I just hire you to plant my garden". Gardening comes easy to me and I create systems and habitats in my garden without a lot of planning. I read a lot about plants in my spare time and when it's time to garden that information just all comes alive for me. I want to be able to share that information with others in a way that is approachable. <br />
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When I started my garden 2 years ago I would have described my vision of the space as an English Cottage Garden with a Permaculture Twist. Our front yard at the time was a 150' wide by 80' deep weed meadow with a lonely young palm tree in the middle. I was planning and dreaming of the garden I was going to create in the back yard, because that is where you plant gardens, when I received a quote of $5,000 to re sod the front yard. Yikes! That didn't include landscaping or the monthly cost to water and pour chemicals on the lawn so it would remain grass and not become weeds again. Everything in me knew there had to be a better way. I was eager to start growing food and setting up the garden I was envisioning for the back yard was going to require a lot of time and hard work so I resolved to having the hubby build some large raised beds for the front yard that I would plant an English cottage style garden around. I started growing vegetables in the raised beds and shortly after a friend introduced me to <a href="http://www.backtoedenfilm.com/" target="_blank">the film Back to Eden.</a> This film changed my life! It all made since after watching this video and so began the front yard Permaculture garden. <br />
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A few weeks after watching the film I heard a tree grinder grinding up a tree at my neighbors house. Oh the excitement! I was sitting on the back porch reading and as soon as I heard that glorious sound, how I knew what a tree grinder sounded like I have no idea, I grabbed the kids and went running down the street barefoot in our pj's to find out if we could have the wood chips. They were delivered a few minutes later and I could not have been happier. I felt like the Lord had delivered the best gift ever right to my front door. If your not a gardener I'm sure you are thinking I'm very strange right now......<br />
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Since that morning almost 2 years ago I have shoveled 17 full truck loads of wood chips into my front yard and have converted 80% of the space into an edible landscape. I still have a little left to convert and I have learned many other permaculture techniques that I now use instead of just wood chips. It has been a process with lots of initial labor but as we head into year 2 I can see how this method of gardening has a huge payoff over time and requires very little work after it is established. Now what was suppose to be an English Cottage Garden with a Permaculture twist is a lot more Permaculture with an English cottage twist. Permaculture gardening works. It's beautiful and functional. It grows without watering and is free from pesticides and artificial fertilizers. It's climate changing and habitat forming. And the best part is it allows you to grow tons of food in a small space. Before falling down this rabbit hole of Permaculture I feared that planting more than 3 or 4 trees in the front yard would shade out all my plants and I wouldn't be able to grow food. Now I know how wrong I was and I currently have over 20 fruiting trees in this space with many other nitrogen fixing trees to support them and plans for at least 10 more before my design is complete. <br />
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Did I mention it's BEAUTIFUL?! At least I think so. <em> Job 12:7-9 But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?</em> <br />
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Linkup over at <a href="http://thehomesteadinghippy.com/living-self-sufficient-lifestyle-farm/" target="_blank">The Homesteading Hibby</a>sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-35049103944600552012014-10-01T19:15:00.000-07:002014-10-01T20:18:30.022-07:00Plant Terrarium With Tropical Exotics.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have recently found a new passion! It's no secret that I love plants but surprisingly I have very few of them that I allow inside our home. I will do seasonal plants throughout the year but will eventually place them outside in the garden. The reason is I haven't found many that match the look I'm going for with our décor. The family and I recently took a trip to Deland, FL to look for antiques and a friend recommended we take a visit to <a href="http://www.efgorchids.com/" target="_blank">EFG Orchids</a>. What a treat! I could have spent hours inside this family owned green house full of tropical exotics and orchids. I have now found many species that would look amazing inside our home. Many of these plants are good for air purification and removing toxins inside the home which is another benefit aside from their amazing beauty. I was only able to snap 2 photos with my phone before the battery died.<br />
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I could only bring a few treats home on this trip so I decided to get the largest variety I could with my small budget. I chose the tiniest plants they had with the plan of using this terrarium I have had tucked in the closet for years. All of these plants are easy to propagate so it gives me a good base of tropical exotics to start my collection. I chose Miracle Grow potting mix with equal parts Peat Moss mixed together and filled my terrarium with the soil mixture to approximately 5" high. I then added my plants to the design I felt looked attractive. I also added an orchid that I have had for 7 years that I'm hoping will come back to life and a small orchid that I rescued from the Lowes clearance rack for $1.00. Once my plants were in place I covered the exposed soil with a few varieties of dried moss. The orchids are attached to wood chips and I added a few rocks to help hold in moisture. <br />
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Here is the list of plants I chose for my terrarium going from left to right and top to bottom:<br />
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Top left I don't have the name.<br />
<a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5462654_care-goldfish-plants.html" target="_blank">Goldfish plant.</a><br />
Pink Lady Orchid.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyscias_fruticosa" target="_blank">Ming Aralia</a>.<br />
Birds nest Fern.<br />
Dwarf Caladium.<br />
<a href="http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/babys-tears.html" target="_blank">Baby Tears</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.ehow.com/way_5787321_fittonia-plant-care.html" target="_blank">Fittonia white vein.</a><br />
Fig Vine (This is the tiniest little fig leaf I have ever seen and I haven't been able to find out much about it.)<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella" target="_blank">Selaginella.</a><br />
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I originally placed the terrarium on the fireplace hearth temporarily and moved it to this table to take a photo because the fireplace lighting was poor. I had no intentions of it staying on the fireplace or this table but later in the evening Tony asked me where the terrarium went and when I came back in the room I found it back on the hearth. It seems this little terrarium has made a big impression on the hubby so for now it will stay on the hearth where he can enjoy it's beauty. <br />
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I hope the fall season is bringing you much inspiration and creativity!<br />
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<br />sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-38675534026205738262014-09-19T18:45:00.002-07:002014-09-19T18:45:55.332-07:00Purl Soho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl" target="_blank">Purl Soho</a>. Ah, <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl" target="_blank">Purl Soho</a>. When my husband invited me to join him on a business trip to New York City my first thought was <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl" target="_blank">Purl Soho</a>. Wow have times changed since my previous trips to New York City but that is what motherhood and maturity will do to a women. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberty Fabric Wall</td></tr>
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For me this trip was about enjoying some much needed alone time with my husband, long walks through Central Park and <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl" target="_blank">Purl Soho</a>. I had no interest in perusing the endless shops of New York City but instead wanted to get my hands on some of the soft textiles that can not be found in this lovely city in which I live but are available in abundance in this quaint store. <br />
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When we landed it started to snow. Then it snowed and snowed and snowed some more! Those long walks through Central Park ended up being a quick hop out of a cab for a picture and a blistery moment taking in the beauty of the still white wilderness. </div>
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For some the temperatures below 10 with wind chills below zero would have ruined their trip but for me it made it all the more majestic. I have been to New York City many times but to see it when the streets were nearly abandoned of cars and people was surreal. We stayed in Times Square and it was almost impossible to find a taxi at times. I found out later from one of the taxi drivers that they all stayed home because they didn't know how the new Mayor was going to handle clearing the roads. </div>
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So here it is 8 months later and I am embracing the warm and cozy feeling that comes with knitting as the seasons change, thankful to have my hands on some of the lovely yarn that I purchased that day. A great reminder of that special break from our day to day routine. Oh, how these photos of <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl" target="_blank">Purl Soto </a>inspire me!</div>
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sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-53369200185814759242014-09-03T19:40:00.000-07:002014-09-03T19:42:26.516-07:00Raising Poultry for meat on an Urban Homestead. <em>Warning! This is a homesteading post about raising poultry to eat and there are some unpleasant details.</em> <br />
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Hi Friends, Sorry it has been so long. I "need" to do a blog makeover and tackling such a task stresses me out so instead of diving in and accepting the challenge I stopped blogging all together. Thank you to those who have given me the push to start writing and sharing again. As for the blog makeover, well that will just have to wait.<br />
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Over the past few months I have been busy trying to do what I set out to do when we first purchased this home, find ways to stop relying on others for the things we need and start producing those things ourselves. We hatched Black Copper Maran birds to raise for meat and layer hens and purchased Heritage broiler chicks. Overall it was a success although as I type this the many challenges are flooding my mind. Our first challenge was it was HOT! Caring for a large flock of birds in the dead heat of the summer was not my brightest homestead idea. I'm grateful now as I pull dinner from the freezer with ease but at the time it was wearying. We ended up with 17 birds after processing but I believe we started with 24. After surviving the untidiness of so many younglings in the early stage of raising the birds, I was excited to get them into the front coop where the mess would be unnoticeable and they would have room to roam. It is smooth sailing when they can free roam......right? It turns out there is this period of adolescence that I failed to acknowledge. The first day I had them in the front coop the hawks were swarming. Let me just add that hawks do not need speed and space to swoop down and catch their prey! I was taught that in Prague a few years back at a live bird show and that person was exceptionally wrong. The hawks around these parts.....hehe.......like to land on the coop and take their time devouring their pray right there in the run. We lost a few to the hawks and 1 or 2 were smothered in the commotion so I had to keep them locked up in the coop for a few more weeks which meant more mess. I put them in our coop on stilts that has 1 inch rabbit wire and I thought that we would be predator free for awhile. It turns out I was very wrong. Something was ripping the toes off the birds through that tiny wire at night......sigh. <br />
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I solved the issue of unprotected toes and as the birds grew things got easier. My plan was to set up an electric netting fence at the far end of our property so they would be out of the way and have plenty of room to forage but they ended up having more than enough space in our front yard run that is about 20'X30' and they played nicely with the silkie hens that share that space so I never did get the netting. It was overall a great learning experience and it made me realize that you can produce a lot of free range meat in a small space. We butchered them at a friends farm with another family who had raised birds and shared the work load. We are blessed to have a friend willing to help us on this journey so we can be a little more self reliant and know exactly where our food comes from. This is a video of the defeathering machine. The birds are bled out in a cone first then dipped in hot water until feathers can be plucked by hand easily. I don't love this part of the chicken raising story and could easily live on an all vegan diet but my family wants to eat meat so I'm doing what needs to be done to provide them with the healthiest most humane option. <br />
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We have also been incubating silkie eggs and have mamas sitting and hatching out silkies to sell to cover the cost of feed for our newest flock of Freedom Ranger Broilers that are arriving this month. We love our silkies! They are the best "pet birds", fertilize the garden without destroying it, and make great mamas so we can keep life multiplying on our little homestead without an incubator if we choose. If you want a backyard hen for a small urban yard, this is the bird. You won't be swimming eggs but they are quiet and much cleaner than your average layer. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDXrBMBJ_Bac5rxH1MuU5X0oE-w7RcqBjKFMAIqHfVelkJ33X-bYcXMqapRYDtL23CbJXvWDPeUXyHqPIPVai42GO4jmsizdvj_SvNm4upLvyKbHBAVXy7cAAQLH9MCwf-QrV6G7O6UI/s1600/Homestead+photos+8-29-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDXrBMBJ_Bac5rxH1MuU5X0oE-w7RcqBjKFMAIqHfVelkJ33X-bYcXMqapRYDtL23CbJXvWDPeUXyHqPIPVai42GO4jmsizdvj_SvNm4upLvyKbHBAVXy7cAAQLH9MCwf-QrV6G7O6UI/s1600/Homestead+photos+8-29-14.JPG" height="640" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite girl with my favorite hen Francine.</td></tr>
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I'm glad to be back sharing our adventures. I would love to hear of your successes and failures of raising poultry on a small urban farm! </div>
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<em>Genesis 2:15 <br />The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.</em></h3>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em><br />sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-28638577826829929112013-12-26T17:39:00.000-08:002013-12-26T17:39:24.080-08:00Homemade biopod for Black Soldier Fly Larvae.I finally took the plunge into raising chickens without commercial feed. It was always my goal but my flock grew fast and commercial feed seemed like the only option. Over the summer however we lost several hens to wildlife and the flock that was left decided they no longer wanted to stay in their blocked off 2 acres but would rather be up near the house causing lots of mess and damage to the gardens. I locked them up in the coop for a month and went to work on solving the problem and during that period of eating only commercial grain feed I saw a huge change in our eggs as well as the behavior of the birds. The eggs yolks quickly went pale yellow and 2 of my older birds seemed to age very quickly. One even died during that period. It may be a coincidence that my older hens started showing real signs of old age at that time but either way it felt very unnatural to me so I ditched the feed and started down a new path.<br />
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I'm now feeding the chickens what we have available and supplementing with food from the kitchen when there isn't enough in the garden or with resources in the yard. We live on a creek so I have been blessed with the ability to feed them bait fish that are very easy to catch and duckweed which is high in protein. The duckweed is all full of snails, minnows, and lots of other water creatures so the chickens love the excitement of finding treasures when I toss a net full into the coop. The other sources of food are from house scraps and garden scraps. I recently harvested most of the sweet potatoes and all the ones that were too damaged for human consumption were boiled up and bagged to feed the chickens for the next several months. When we are busy and scraps are light I have been supplementing with things like oats, flax, chia seeds, rice, rye seeds, and quinoa. Sometimes I add a little water to make the portion larger. The chia is great at expanding and acting as a filler to this homemade feed. It has only been about a month but the cost seems to be reasonable so far. I purchased these items in bulk at Costco for my family to eat and have used very little so far. I have had to supplement a bowl full about every other day for 10 chickens. <br />
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This is all an experiment so I'm learning as we try this out but so far our egg yolks are back to a dark yellow color and that is with just a small amount of outdoor space, that is mostly dirt, to roam since the chicken run is still under construction. I am however foreseeing a problem in the near future with a protein source as the weather gets colder. The bait fish and duckweed will be gone soon so I'm trying out a new vermaculture technique that I read about online. Raising Black Soldier Larvae for chicken feed. It seems to be popular in the aquaponics community but could also be a cheap and easy source of protein for chickens as well. <a href="http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/" target="_blank">Here</a> is one site all about the Black Soldier Fly. <br />
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I made a quick video instead of pictures to show you how I created my biopod for Black Soldier Fly Larvae. I will keep you posted on how it works! <br />
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<a href="http://%3ciframe%20width=%22420%22%20height=%22315%22%20src=%22//www.youtube.com/embed/IpHktFB3ALE%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IpHktFB3ALE" width="420"></iframe></a><br />
<br />sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-45615178004631963402013-12-18T18:27:00.001-08:002013-12-18T18:27:23.974-08:00Pillow Case to Market Tote TurtorialThis Christmas I wanted to make market totes for friends and family but I am strapped for time so I needed something that I could whip up quickly. It was important to me that they still be beautiful and well made however. This is what I came up with.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5sJjd7_67Y/UrIGiexniLI/AAAAAAAAERQ/RWajX2BoPjU/s1600/IMAGE_02BA8FAA-0E7C-4DB4-AFCA-463DEC0413C0.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5sJjd7_67Y/UrIGiexniLI/AAAAAAAAERQ/RWajX2BoPjU/s640/IMAGE_02BA8FAA-0E7C-4DB4-AFCA-463DEC0413C0.PNG" width="550" /></a></div>
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Here is a quick tutorial if you want to make your own Market totes. <br />
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What you will need:<br />
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<b>Pillow cover: </b><i> I purchased these burlap like covers from Hobby Lobby for $5.99-$6.99 and was able to use the 40 % off coupon. </i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcyPiyb3hQQ/UrH7DwHUG-I/AAAAAAAAEN4/tdJYj_GSjI0/s1600/IMAGE_CBF2285E-535D-42E7-B7A5-78983923104B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcyPiyb3hQQ/UrH7DwHUG-I/AAAAAAAAEN4/tdJYj_GSjI0/s320/IMAGE_CBF2285E-535D-42E7-B7A5-78983923104B.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</i><b>Pre made flowers or fabric scraps to make your own flowers: </b> <i>I purchased some pre made flowers and decorative grommets to add to my homemade flowers from Hobby Lobby. I chose to do homemade flowers with most to keep the cost down. </i><br />
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</i><b>Trim for straps:</b> <i>The ruffled burlap with diamond trim came from Hobby Lobby, you can use any durable trim.</i><br />
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<b>Good glue: </b> <i>I use E6000 anytime I'm gluing fabric</i>.<br />
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<b>Step 1: </b>Open the zipper and flip the cover inside out. Using a seam ripper, carefully pull out the seam along what you want to be the top of the tote. <br />
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<b>Step 2: </b> Cut off the side housing the zipper about an inch along the entire side or bottom removing the zipper and cutting a seam along the entire side that is even. Keep the zippers! You can reuse them! <br />
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<b>Step 3: </b> Sew the side where the zipper was removed using a 1/2" seam allowance. I surged all the sides for extra reinforcement since these are designed for the market but that's not necessary. <br />
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<strong>Step 4: </strong>Create the bottom corners by pinching the<strong> </strong>side seam down to the<strong> </strong>bottom seam and stitching across about 1.5" from the corner. This will square off the bottom corner.</div>
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<b>Step 5:</b> Create the top seam. Since I was going for the rustic look I serged along the rim then folded over and ironed flat. For a cleaner look or if you don't have a Serger then you will want to fold over and iron the top 1/4" then fold over another 1/4" and iron flat. This will give the top a clean finished look. <br />
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<b>Step 6:</b> Pin and sew straps in place. I didn't take enough photos on this but after you pin your straps to the wrong side you will want to sew them in place using a double stitch or making two stitch rows so they will hold up when weight is added to the tote. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a picture of the top finished with the trim sewn to the inside of the tote.</td></tr>
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<b>Step 7:</b> Top stitch along the entire top rim. <br />
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<b>Step 8: </b> Add flowers, bows or anything else you feel is beautiful to the front using the E6000 glue or hand stitching them in place. <br />
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To make flowers: I took fabric scraps and frayed them and used vintage lace and trim scraps to make my flowers. I make flowers by adding a gather stitch then while I pull the thread and gather I work the fabric in a circle. To hold it all together I put it under my machine for a quick stitch in the center. If it didn't come out the exact shape I was looking for I hand stitch it to shape it a bit. I then took off the metal grommet parts of my decorative grommets and glued the decorative front of the grommet to the middle of the flower. My goal was quick and rustic chic so there was no need for perfection with these totes. If you are interested in more details on making flowers <a href="http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2012/08/how-to-make-20-different-fabric-flowers.html" target="_blank">This</a> is a great tutorial and the flowers are beautiful! <br />
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I hope this tutorial allows you an easy way to bless loved ones with your gift sewing!</i><br />
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<em>Merry Christmas</em>sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-86832337578424827462013-12-09T17:23:00.000-08:002013-12-09T18:25:07.459-08:00From the garden to the table. We are back in a season of having food to harvest from the garden daily. This is what makes gardening so addictive for me and keeps me moving along in our plan to turn our 150' by 60' front yard into a completely edible landscape. The more food we harvest and eat the more food I want to plant. Snacks like roasted radish disappear as busy hands walk by and grab a few as a snack leaving me back in the garden planting hundreds of seeds so we can have these delicious snacks everyday! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Sweet potato rings, fresh eggs, grapefruit, and orange juice. A common breakfast this time of year.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are luffa gourds.</td></tr>
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The garden is still in the early stages of soil fertility but the food is growing. I use an all wood chip covered garden plan and work in chicken compost, worm compost, and follow the permaculture idea of chop and drop to increase soil fertility. I'm not sure if it's the best method and I know there is debate on wood chips but we grow food, alot of food considering I started this garden just a year ago and don't water or use any synthetic fertilizer or pesticides. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">green beans, oregano, peppers, eggplant, romaine lettuce, icicle radish, cabbage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oregano and green beans.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broccoli, collard greens, lemon grass, and tea roses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luffa gourd ready to harvest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZp0d0P97Hk/UqZdQSa7kZI/AAAAAAAAEMc/UPxM4A16N_8/s1600/IMAGE_364AF5CD-4EBF-4564-B795-F79A55F9D7A6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZp0d0P97Hk/UqZdQSa7kZI/AAAAAAAAEMc/UPxM4A16N_8/s640/IMAGE_364AF5CD-4EBF-4564-B795-F79A55F9D7A6.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">butterfly plant covered in aphids keeping the aphids from harming food.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmnlienZ6Gk/UqZdSK3R1nI/AAAAAAAAEMk/y6Z2nVNKmo0/s1600/IMAGE_DB1140D9-35BE-425F-ACC0-3CE3F2358356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmnlienZ6Gk/UqZdSK3R1nI/AAAAAAAAEMk/y6Z2nVNKmo0/s640/IMAGE_DB1140D9-35BE-425F-ACC0-3CE3F2358356.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super sized navel oranges.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5jB3SUvSVbQ/UqZd4YoYJ_I/AAAAAAAAENc/iXwi38aDdC8/s1600/IMAGE_038F1422-89EB-416C-8115-CE029EF59875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5jB3SUvSVbQ/UqZd4YoYJ_I/AAAAAAAAENc/iXwi38aDdC8/s640/IMAGE_038F1422-89EB-416C-8115-CE029EF59875.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to tell the oranges from grapefruit.</td></tr>
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Cooking is not my favorite activity so the things I create with our food are simply no recipe meals but they are still delicious! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5w75XXD7jk/UqZdUeOYZUI/AAAAAAAAEMs/c17Yzy6sqOo/s1600/IMAGE_DB702840-5DF8-4E2E-B743-FAC3907380E6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5w75XXD7jk/UqZdUeOYZUI/AAAAAAAAEMs/c17Yzy6sqOo/s640/IMAGE_DB702840-5DF8-4E2E-B743-FAC3907380E6.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted radish; cut radish and oregano, coat with olive oil, cook 425 until lightly brown.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k8xjM6Rqk1o/UqZdXA-HWvI/AAAAAAAAEM0/Z0nXDhKX6LI/s1600/IMAGE_9D9E79CA-0736-45AE-97B3-A0F20C4626D1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k8xjM6Rqk1o/UqZdXA-HWvI/AAAAAAAAEM0/Z0nXDhKX6LI/s640/IMAGE_9D9E79CA-0736-45AE-97B3-A0F20C4626D1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow peas cooked in with quinoa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNLGZ-W3WP8/UqZdZlConCI/AAAAAAAAEM8/04cRobJcjIo/s1600/IMAGE_AA5FB125-A33A-43BA-865A-EF72E4BF628B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNLGZ-W3WP8/UqZdZlConCI/AAAAAAAAEM8/04cRobJcjIo/s640/IMAGE_AA5FB125-A33A-43BA-865A-EF72E4BF628B.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">quinoa with herbs, parsley, onion, tomato, and broccoli. A garden medley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKqoWNcLl2I/UqZdzoiDpdI/AAAAAAAAENI/4-XbCI6nIn8/s1600/IMAGE_90FE97C4-43C6-4C29-A53F-3938E2A06189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKqoWNcLl2I/UqZdzoiDpdI/AAAAAAAAENI/4-XbCI6nIn8/s640/IMAGE_90FE97C4-43C6-4C29-A53F-3938E2A06189.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted peppers, potatoes, and sausage.</td></tr>
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Happy gardening! <br />
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<i>Job 12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;<br />And the fish of the sea will explain to you<b></b></i>.sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-8349064468777117492013-11-16T21:09:00.000-08:002013-11-16T21:38:07.280-08:00Making Memories <br />
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It has been awhile since I have taken the time to share our lives. Mostly do to a season of busyness but with some recent illness we have been able to slow and enjoy the fall season, our home, and each other on a more intimate level.<br />
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This summer as we finished our fireplace I was certain I would be going all out with fall decor. I enjoyed reading and viewing lots of other blogs with beautiful inspirations and was ready to run out and stock up but then something changed in me. I'm not sure if is just a side effect of life with young children and everything this home of ours requires or if it is something deeper but either way my heart changed. I no longer desired turning my home into something from a magazine but instead felt I needed to go outside and bring in what autumn in our area truly had to offer. I made the dried floral arrangements from my flower stash. <br />
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This change has been a theme with me lately. I originally purchased this English antique plate rack to decorate with items that would "decorate" our home. As you can see, now it's decorated with books and notes from my children. I couldn't love it more! <br />
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The kids have also started working on Christmas decorations and gifts. Nate made the Christmas tree ornament on his own and daddy and Mason made this cottage that will be decorated as a Christmas cottage and displayed in the house. This was all Mason's idea but I was so excited when I returned from errands and found what he made. I have the perfect vintage Christmas supplies to help him make this the Christmas cottage he is envisioning.<br />
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Aside from all that we continue to garden and harvest foods weekly. I'm anxiously awaiting my string beans, snap peas, and brocoli! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMjQw6vB5Q8/UohDXVXZoDI/AAAAAAAAEJY/WUE2Cl3JFLg/s1600/IMAGE_A0433D68-EBC6-4CB6-810A-08A8C5F22687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMjQw6vB5Q8/UohDXVXZoDI/AAAAAAAAEJY/WUE2Cl3JFLg/s640/IMAGE_A0433D68-EBC6-4CB6-810A-08A8C5F22687.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bWJnQ7592p0/UohDaVfwMMI/AAAAAAAAEJg/jNiWvMKy2gQ/s1600/IMAGE_26019AA2-6E35-4066-953A-B4505991BB81.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bWJnQ7592p0/UohDaVfwMMI/AAAAAAAAEJg/jNiWvMKy2gQ/s640/IMAGE_26019AA2-6E35-4066-953A-B4505991BB81.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DClnsEzL4A/UohDoPkpIFI/AAAAAAAAEKI/nIQYhEVNoIQ/s1600/IMAGE_91D66F63-9D98-4810-91E2-0800A4869344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DClnsEzL4A/UohDoPkpIFI/AAAAAAAAEKI/nIQYhEVNoIQ/s640/IMAGE_91D66F63-9D98-4810-91E2-0800A4869344.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrBUTHtNDoA/UohD754JKsI/AAAAAAAAELY/RoDOWxIvWGM/s1600/IMAGE_223A426C-ED6F-450F-A481-54FDF012C6D3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrBUTHtNDoA/UohD754JKsI/AAAAAAAAELY/RoDOWxIvWGM/s640/IMAGE_223A426C-ED6F-450F-A481-54FDF012C6D3.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_sTvDeHNdE/UohD5aH0AUI/AAAAAAAAELQ/XOzNGISM6Jg/s1600/IMAGE_7B5884E3-3DF6-4100-8C66-B29294C81EA8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_sTvDeHNdE/UohD5aH0AUI/AAAAAAAAELQ/XOzNGISM6Jg/s640/IMAGE_7B5884E3-3DF6-4100-8C66-B29294C81EA8.JPG" /></a></div><br />
That's it for our life on a little urban homestead right now. Time together making memories......<br />
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sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-70029489737152889262013-10-28T19:05:00.002-07:002013-10-28T19:05:44.343-07:00Fall Outfits. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88BjvyKgp8M/Um8S7b98_aI/AAAAAAAAEH4/wT6QwYKTrYY/s1600/IMAGE_4FFEA2B5-EDF7-4987-8A8C-8925884BB5CA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88BjvyKgp8M/Um8S7b98_aI/AAAAAAAAEH4/wT6QwYKTrYY/s640/IMAGE_4FFEA2B5-EDF7-4987-8A8C-8925884BB5CA.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We recently went on a little mom and kids retreat to the mountains to enjoy the changing season and I whipped up some fall attire for the kiddos. It's one of my favorite seasons to sew "matchy matchy" clothes for the kids. <br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIWId3k1nVg/Um8Sr-jYrCI/AAAAAAAAEHM/heB-Yv6yYRc/s640/IMAGE_F516AFB1-B409-40C0-B2B3-E3F6EF999A54.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cxvrQZ_HDtA/Um8SulvWRuI/AAAAAAAAEHU/AcfRrj8nKZs/s1600/IMAGE_840E4CDF-8C5B-464E-B76E-902F1234C85E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cxvrQZ_HDtA/Um8SulvWRuI/AAAAAAAAEHU/AcfRrj8nKZs/s640/IMAGE_840E4CDF-8C5B-464E-B76E-902F1234C85E.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvkSdyaRFs0/Um8SyYHrC2I/AAAAAAAAEHc/nerDrzvkCFI/s1600/IMAGE_65BCEDD8-837B-4493-B4A0-165DDF169626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvkSdyaRFs0/Um8SyYHrC2I/AAAAAAAAEHc/nerDrzvkCFI/s640/IMAGE_65BCEDD8-837B-4493-B4A0-165DDF169626.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88BjvyKgp8M/Um8S7b98_aI/AAAAAAAAEH4/wT6QwYKTrYY/s640/IMAGE_4FFEA2B5-EDF7-4987-8A8C-8925884BB5CA.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwT1scy5H8g/Um8S9pIg5_I/AAAAAAAAEH8/TNYQSNy1-24/s1600/IMAGE_B455ABED-A298-4E70-A353-D8ADD5DCC4F1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwT1scy5H8g/Um8S9pIg5_I/AAAAAAAAEH8/TNYQSNy1-24/s640/IMAGE_B455ABED-A298-4E70-A353-D8ADD5DCC4F1.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxWoOA1bcis/Um8S_I9P1OI/AAAAAAAAEIE/N1oN5oZF5gk/s1600/IMAGE_C6F63A5D-8579-4AB1-9273-9B58F645EED0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxWoOA1bcis/Um8S_I9P1OI/AAAAAAAAEIE/N1oN5oZF5gk/s640/IMAGE_C6F63A5D-8579-4AB1-9273-9B58F645EED0.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDkNeWwPBR4/Um8TCTepTzI/AAAAAAAAEIM/y04ZIG9tDg4/s1600/IMAGE_64DE5782-4A06-4D45-96AD-11831422AC18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDkNeWwPBR4/Um8TCTepTzI/AAAAAAAAEIM/y04ZIG9tDg4/s640/IMAGE_64DE5782-4A06-4D45-96AD-11831422AC18.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1m_Gz50AjBw/Um8TEwCzqGI/AAAAAAAAEIU/cnixIDe-MgY/s1600/IMAGE_153B7C0F-3A2C-41DD-8A5D-024ABB5302BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1m_Gz50AjBw/Um8TEwCzqGI/AAAAAAAAEIU/cnixIDe-MgY/s640/IMAGE_153B7C0F-3A2C-41DD-8A5D-024ABB5302BB.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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It's not my best sewing work but I got it done in time and they looked so sweet together. I used a pattern I created that is my go-to for Madeline's dresses these days and for the boys there was only time for a simple pant. The embroidery design was downloaded from Embroidery library and although I don't enjoy doing machine embroidery work, it did make the dress perfect for the season. The front apron was made from a vintage <strike></strike>crochet curtain.<br />
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A perfect trip creating memories with friends and my little ones. <br />
sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-55017951700753998702013-09-26T19:05:00.002-07:002013-09-27T05:59:12.746-07:00Homestead happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMa94EOW4Mk/UkTeLQhReAI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/j9Rcp1VKKmw/s1600/IMAGE_895AB785-F6C8-4A5B-8127-05DDB8679FF7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMa94EOW4Mk/UkTeLQhReAI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/j9Rcp1VKKmw/s640/IMAGE_895AB785-F6C8-4A5B-8127-05DDB8679FF7.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j-4ncG-VrPg/UkTeL6lzHhI/AAAAAAAAEGY/wOhsZGpcAdA/s1600/IMAGE_AA7D0275-3AB4-4ED4-B144-09E3C5B2482E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j-4ncG-VrPg/UkTeL6lzHhI/AAAAAAAAEGY/wOhsZGpcAdA/s640/IMAGE_AA7D0275-3AB4-4ED4-B144-09E3C5B2482E.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We have been busy the past month. We processed 2 of our roosters for meat. It was much less traumatic than I was anticipating thanks to a friend with a good system and our coop is so peaceful now that the 2 roosters are gone. They were very aggressive and loud. I "chickened" out of killing our older hens. We have decided to let them retire on our little homestead for now. Raccoons have actually taken out a few of the trouble makers so things are good in the coop. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5KwJJZh7nw/UkTeIrYOMxI/AAAAAAAAEF0/clIupksGr1c/s1600/IMAGE_B0F1052A-0B18-41FC-9899-19F4B0B75592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5KwJJZh7nw/UkTeIrYOMxI/AAAAAAAAEF0/clIupksGr1c/s640/IMAGE_B0F1052A-0B18-41FC-9899-19F4B0B75592.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We have some new layers in the coop. I decided to compare the yolks of our new layers with a store bought organic egg. What a difference! I have trained these layers to be good foragers by holding back grain feed during the day. They have access to feed in the coop at night and early morning hours then get sent out to free range during the day. Once they get to laying age they get moved into the larger coop and have more access to grain but are still all over the yard most of the day. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8XUxdz9uBI/UkTeJdfusYI/AAAAAAAAEGE/gS60AYO8_tg/s1600/IMAGE_D3C4917E-C21D-4CF6-8820-D214ADF20CFD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8XUxdz9uBI/UkTeJdfusYI/AAAAAAAAEGE/gS60AYO8_tg/s640/IMAGE_D3C4917E-C21D-4CF6-8820-D214ADF20CFD.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gU_ZISeuKk/UkTeKNiUasI/AAAAAAAAEGI/bqYTGJgXfcI/s1600/IMAGE_CFB9DF01-855B-4DFF-9255-42DEFC3DE57E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gU_ZISeuKk/UkTeKNiUasI/AAAAAAAAEGI/bqYTGJgXfcI/s640/IMAGE_CFB9DF01-855B-4DFF-9255-42DEFC3DE57E.JPG" /></a></div><br />
My wonderful husband picked up a new coop for me. It needs a little makeover to give it character but I love the size and functionality! This one is in the front yard and will one day be a cottage garden retreat. For now I just need the chickens to get busy clearing the weeds and grass. <br />
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And my favorite scripture for the month:<br />
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John 8:36<br />
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So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.<br />
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sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-48060945243211784722013-09-12T18:52:00.001-07:002013-09-12T19:00:13.284-07:00Cottage Fireplace make over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-07piEYIVdCo/UiU0OxrIKqI/AAAAAAAAECo/vP8YTZq7zgk/s1600/IMAGE_DDF9BDEF-03F6-4CDF-AEFA-D2DE8E9E040A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-07piEYIVdCo/UiU0OxrIKqI/AAAAAAAAECo/vP8YTZq7zgk/s640/IMAGE_DDF9BDEF-03F6-4CDF-AEFA-D2DE8E9E040A.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3YGAaKqB4Y/UiU0QmCEs5I/AAAAAAAAECw/c2O6hHADL34/s1600/IMAGE_E2D2A813-3F97-4BFF-B4ED-87B7E3A6F7BF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3YGAaKqB4Y/UiU0QmCEs5I/AAAAAAAAECw/c2O6hHADL34/s640/IMAGE_E2D2A813-3F97-4BFF-B4ED-87B7E3A6F7BF.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwRhzQjcbE4/UiU0UvDtXcI/AAAAAAAAEDA/7lf0Ka7oePQ/s1600/IMAGE_63E32E1B-3062-4555-93F5-A2C424818DCC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwRhzQjcbE4/UiU0UvDtXcI/AAAAAAAAEDA/7lf0Ka7oePQ/s640/IMAGE_63E32E1B-3062-4555-93F5-A2C424818DCC.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnyFpeRGKxw/UiU0WMmuIGI/AAAAAAAAEDI/i5Hj6LnThN0/s1600/IMAGE_DD187A95-8311-4C63-AFC5-3F4BF61F6EDA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnyFpeRGKxw/UiU0WMmuIGI/AAAAAAAAEDI/i5Hj6LnThN0/s640/IMAGE_DD187A95-8311-4C63-AFC5-3F4BF61F6EDA.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHq7Cxq9YL8/UiU0YAT1w4I/AAAAAAAAEDQ/_m0szczt228/s1600/IMAGE_F662729A-D829-40DD-8E8B-088D280E2DA5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHq7Cxq9YL8/UiU0YAT1w4I/AAAAAAAAEDQ/_m0szczt228/s640/IMAGE_F662729A-D829-40DD-8E8B-088D280E2DA5.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhahx48LmGo/UhbM-nJt-YI/AAAAAAAAECU/foi0zwpSppQ/s1600/IMAGE_51A0DFB5-6807-426A-B30E-918C298A07E6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhahx48LmGo/UhbM-nJt-YI/AAAAAAAAECU/foi0zwpSppQ/s640/IMAGE_51A0DFB5-6807-426A-B30E-918C298A07E6.JPG" /></a></div>The before photo.<br />
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The fireplace renovation is complete! Wow, what a difference! I barely remember our home looking this way. This room is far from complete but we are getting closer! Next we will lay pickled wood floors over the damaged popcorn ceilings and update the banaster to the loft. <br />
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Tony started this project December of last year and after a week or so of working on it we would both become tired of the construction and put it off for awhile starting again once we recovered and felt we could handle the mess again. This was not a hard renovation but a very detailed one which required a lot more time than anything else we have renovated in this home. I honestly wasn't expecting to work on it again until this Holiday season so the fact that it is finished in time to decorate for fall is such a blessing! I will go into the DIY details of this renovation in another post but for now I just wanted to share the final product. I'm in love! sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-55618482528539723632013-09-07T19:16:00.000-07:002013-09-07T19:16:33.554-07:00New cash or coupon clutch design. Here is my latest design. Every clutch I make is a little different because I use what I have in my sewing room that inspires me. I can make 4 of this design. I had hoped to get my Etsy store up and running by now but there hasn't been time. I have had several requests via e-mail so I'm going to just go that route until I have time to get enough inventory made to put on Etsy. If you are interested in purchasing this clutch shoot me an e-mail and I will send you a PayPal invoice. $55.00 for the clutch and $6.50 shipping and handling. Thank you to all those who have contacted me with interest in my clutches! You are a blessing! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ0EPx7Pm9E/Uivc6TXDE5I/AAAAAAAAEFM/vzOXwdGPuGQ/s1600/IMAGE_FD0F794D-B8DE-45D8-9BF1-CD9737D761D4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ0EPx7Pm9E/Uivc6TXDE5I/AAAAAAAAEFM/vzOXwdGPuGQ/s640/IMAGE_FD0F794D-B8DE-45D8-9BF1-CD9737D761D4.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YrhDkcNgAM/Uivc8aORRdI/AAAAAAAAEFU/k5hfdFvj0FI/s1600/IMAGE_A2A3B6A2-9F9F-465F-90EE-4C1AF20E680A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YrhDkcNgAM/Uivc8aORRdI/AAAAAAAAEFU/k5hfdFvj0FI/s640/IMAGE_A2A3B6A2-9F9F-465F-90EE-4C1AF20E680A.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ODQWFxDi_g/Uivc3PUz-mI/AAAAAAAAEE8/_u5CuhGsqsc/s1600/IMAGE_A69D145F-21E1-4807-835A-56AD6C61E283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ODQWFxDi_g/Uivc3PUz-mI/AAAAAAAAEE8/_u5CuhGsqsc/s640/IMAGE_A69D145F-21E1-4807-835A-56AD6C61E283.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGjOdOZ2yAg/Uivc43eKf3I/AAAAAAAAEFE/IF7Ci05WKGI/s1600/IMAGE_509EE266-D146-4609-8419-4DC8919FA052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGjOdOZ2yAg/Uivc43eKf3I/AAAAAAAAEFE/IF7Ci05WKGI/s640/IMAGE_509EE266-D146-4609-8419-4DC8919FA052.JPG" /></a></div>sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-9134711884157746742013-09-02T18:19:00.001-07:002013-09-02T18:19:19.788-07:00Cash system or coupon clutch for Dave Ramsey followers. Here is the newest clutch. I hope to have it on etsy this week. This is a high quality linen fabric with a fun, eclectic, design. The bottom photo is my clutch filled so you can get an idea of the size. It holds a phone, wipes, lipstick, and a few other small items. <br />
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There are so many different projects happening on our little homestead right now. We are finishing up 3 major renovations. The back deck only needs a few more boards then will get a tin roof. Off the end there will be a courtyard garden that I will put in this fall when it is cooler out.<br />
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The fireplace renovation needs a few more trim details, paint, stain, and decorating but it is getting close! Just in time for the fall decor. The last photo is the before picture. <br />
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Madeline's room is waiting on the arrival of more wallpaper. Tony did a fantastic job on all the trim work and after the paper goes up he will finish up the last details and add crown. The bed was originally painted antique pink but was just not bold enough so it is Benjamin Moore's Royal Fuchsia now. The closet was painted to match the wallpaper background. <br />
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I finished the final Dave Ramsey Cash Clutch design and have been using it for the past 2 weeks to see if it needs tweaking. It is perfect! I hope to get a few in an etsy store soon for my other cash carrying sisters. I love using a cash budget and I'm pleased to have created something beautiful and functional. <br />
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On the "micro" farm things are challenging. In Florida the summer is hard with excessive heat and humidity, pests, low food production, and increased agitation in wildlife. This past month we lost a rabbit and a racoon ripped a hole through the chicken coop devouring one hen and injuring another. I have also noticed several turtle nests that have been dug up and consumed by wildlife. On a positive note, the sunflowers are still working to keep the squash bugs busy and off delicate plants. Most sunflowers in the garden look similiar to this one, covered in squashbugs. <br />
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And now it's time to go back to work. Hopefully I will be sharing finished pics soon! <br />
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<i>Proverbs 27:23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds</i>. sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-48951737055590889502013-08-15T18:38:00.000-07:002013-08-15T18:40:02.418-07:00Keeping it real. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AagDqea9Rc8/Ug2AJ9W6IAI/AAAAAAAAD_o/yMvgejbPrjo/s1600/IMAGE_B6C547F6-AED8-4ABA-A4D0-DC653197F7FB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AagDqea9Rc8/Ug2AJ9W6IAI/AAAAAAAAD_o/yMvgejbPrjo/s640/IMAGE_B6C547F6-AED8-4ABA-A4D0-DC653197F7FB.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mkdTusiDZoQ/Ug2ALOyVSYI/AAAAAAAAD_w/-XpUkX_n5SA/s1600/IMAGE_3C2A85BA-2E61-4BF2-BE73-35335E4E75EB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mkdTusiDZoQ/Ug2ALOyVSYI/AAAAAAAAD_w/-XpUkX_n5SA/s640/IMAGE_3C2A85BA-2E61-4BF2-BE73-35335E4E75EB.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2clV2gkAKc/Ug2AMD5wp5I/AAAAAAAAD_4/WPLDulpewsA/s1600/IMAGE_E248694B-9629-46BC-8A99-8E6DE17F7B9C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2clV2gkAKc/Ug2AMD5wp5I/AAAAAAAAD_4/WPLDulpewsA/s640/IMAGE_E248694B-9629-46BC-8A99-8E6DE17F7B9C.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKOfnYjYaBg/Ug2ANs2c4zI/AAAAAAAAEAI/iCDjgtQx8H4/s1600/IMAGE_98F823F5-D515-456C-8333-219CEDE2AE90.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKOfnYjYaBg/Ug2ANs2c4zI/AAAAAAAAEAI/iCDjgtQx8H4/s640/IMAGE_98F823F5-D515-456C-8333-219CEDE2AE90.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNTQpC9ZCE4/Ug2AMyL0MGI/AAAAAAAAEAA/UI6JqrIttUE/s1600/IMAGE_81AFD774-A602-4B5C-BC88-66DD7EC1DCF4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNTQpC9ZCE4/Ug2AMyL0MGI/AAAAAAAAEAA/UI6JqrIttUE/s640/IMAGE_81AFD774-A602-4B5C-BC88-66DD7EC1DCF4.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Cooking is not my favorite thing to do and living as free from processed foods as we can is exhausting at times but it does feel good to watch my family consume the things that we have worked hard to produce together. <br />
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Farm fresh eggs, fresh picked watermelon, freshly ground spelt biscuits, homemade orange/lemonade, sautéed peppers, hand whipped butter, and fresh picked flowers. So beautiful! I just wish it would hold off their hunger for more than 2hours. <br />
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Happy Homesteading! sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-2563554802592406572013-08-06T21:12:00.000-07:002013-08-06T21:12:17.651-07:00Dave Ramsey Envelope Clutch Wallet. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buwXIQNg4hQ/UgHFTbZN4II/AAAAAAAAD_U/UUSy65zK0pc/s1600/IMAGE_3DA3C2E7-EB4E-4625-922C-CE6A7C179101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buwXIQNg4hQ/UgHFTbZN4II/AAAAAAAAD_U/UUSy65zK0pc/s640/IMAGE_3DA3C2E7-EB4E-4625-922C-CE6A7C179101.JPG" /></a></div><br />
In our home we follow the Financial Peace model from Dave Ramsey. There are so many wonderful things about the budgeting plan but the thing I love most is I finally feel we don't waste money buying wasteful things. I spent most of last year throwing away bag after bag of items wondering where they came from. Moving to this system helped me to realize how many things I purchased that we didn't really need or that could wait a week or two allowing me time to really think over those purchases first. I will get more into Dave Ramsey on another post. Today I wanted to share a few photos of the clutch I created for those following the cash system plan. <br />
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This design has lived in my brain for about six month and now that my paper envelopes have almost disintegrated I decided it was time to put it together. <br />
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It needs tweaking still but I'm so excited about the overall concept! I want to shorten the dividers and the change purse about an inch and add a true credit card/Id card divider pockets. Other than that, I'm in love! It has extra dividers for coupons and receipts, the change purse hides the evidence of several envelopes of cash, and there is still plenty of room for my phone, lip gloss, and other items. <br />
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This is just the first draft so better pictures coming soon! sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-19536269417741516112013-08-02T18:23:00.000-07:002013-08-02T18:26:23.691-07:00God, how did you think of a star?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnIiAbxbluc/UfxRQ6ilG4I/AAAAAAAAD9M/A_IAn6gQ08I/s1600/IMAGE_E637DCDA-A56E-4D31-A180-8DADCCEA260E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="626" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MnIiAbxbluc/UfxRQ6ilG4I/AAAAAAAAD9M/A_IAn6gQ08I/s640/IMAGE_E637DCDA-A56E-4D31-A180-8DADCCEA260E.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The deer have knocked down all the wild grasses making their way to the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fallen Tree from one of the afternoon storms that come to visit daily.</td></tr>
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I should have spent the late afternoon hanging wallpaper but instead I decided to walk the property and enjoy some much needed quiet time in nature. <br />
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God the Artist <br />
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God, when you thought of a pine tree,<br />
How did you think of a star?<br />
How did you dream of the Milky Way<br />
To guide us from afar.<br />
How did you think of a clean brown pool<br />
Where flecks of shadows are?<br />
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God, when you thought of a cobweb,<br />
How did you think of dew?<br />
How did you know a spider's house<br />
Had shingles bright and new?<br />
How did you know the human folk<br />
Would love them like they do?<br />
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God, when you patterned a bird song,<br />
Flung on a silver string,<br />
How did you know the ecstasy<br />
That crystal call would bring?<br />
How did you think of a bubbling throat<br />
And a darling speckled wing?<br />
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God, when you chiseled a raindrop,<br />
How did you think of a stem,<br />
Bearing a lovely satin leaf<br />
To hold the tiny gem?<br />
How did you know a million drops<br />
Would deck the morning's hem?<br />
<br />
Why did you mate the moonlit night<br />
With the honeysuckle vines?<br />
How did you know Madeira bloom<br />
Distilled ecstatic wines?<br />
How did you weave the velvet disk<br />
Where tangled perfumes are?<br />
God, when you thought of a pine tree,<br />
How did you think of a star? <br />
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Angela Morgansew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-60475244837447039812013-07-24T19:42:00.001-07:002013-07-24T19:42:45.410-07:00Little Girls Room Renovation. We finally started baby girls room renovation. This is very past due and, if I'm being honest, I would have put it off longer if others in the family were not so motivated. I dreamed of being the mother to my sweet girl and decorating her room but life is busy! It's too late to go back now however so I'm moving forward and this room when done is going to be amazing! <br />
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<br /><img alt="Designer Selection Vintage Ditsy Floral Wallpaper Teal / Pink" height="350" id="product_medium_image" src="http://images.ilovewallpaper.co.uk/images/products/medium/1363695600-90134300.jpg" width="350" /></div>
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I started removing the wallpaper and realized it was going to take way too long so now I'm having bead board installed along the bottom half and I will re-wallpaper the top. I found this fabulous wallpaper online. I'm not a huge fan of wallpaper but I can see this working perfect with the look I'm going for.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old bed.</td></tr>
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I replaced her Pottery Barn Kids bed that was the boys with a vintage cast iron bed. My mother in law purchased the sweet vintage table to the left and I have 1 more vintage bedside table picked out. All 3 will be painted but I'm not sure what color yet.<br />
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A window seat with storage is being built-in under the bay window. She has a beautiful view of the water and backyard so I'm so excited to have a special place put in for her to enjoy that view and read. All of the trim and base boards will be updated to match the rest of the renovated rooms in the house. She will finally be getting doors too! This room did not come with doors when we bought the house for some reason.<br />
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We want to surprise Madeline on her 3rd birthday with an amazing room so the count down begins. I have some extra surprises planned for her and I'm praying we can put it all together in time! sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-12455460885327234712013-07-14T21:00:00.000-07:002013-07-14T21:00:16.746-07:00In The Garden The garden has been moving into a new season over the past 3 weeks. The tomatoes and cucumbers were over taken by caterpillars and have been cut back while the field peas, watermelon, cantaloupe, and other heat tolerant foods have found their place and are moving in with full force. The insects have also started to change and take on different roles. Squash bugs are dissipating, caterpillars are everywhere, and the ants that were once a killer of new squash and cabbage plants are now an asset to the garden as they consume aphids on the field peas and other plants. I'm learning that even with a very diverse companion strategy, I still may need organic additives from time to time to help things along. For the ants in the spring it was Diatomaceous Earth and now it's Thuricide for the caterpillars. For a first year garden, things are going pretty good.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squash pouring over the walking path.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cantaloupe, parsley, firecracker plant, lemon grass, and salvia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okra sprouting next to eggplant.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinapple Guava with Malabar Spinach growing along the bottom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries, watermelon, and oregano.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Almond Bush to attract pollinators. There is a pollinator on the the left I haven't been able to identify.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watermelon growing at the base of a young apple tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some plants thriving while others produce seed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My busy boy putting some of his energy into shelling peas.</td></tr>
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Happy Gardening! sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5082390775491030369.post-68727121723994831602013-07-08T19:38:00.001-07:002013-07-08T19:38:43.824-07:00Merging Chicken Flocks and Making Plans for Heritage Meat Birds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past week I merged our flock that we hatched into the main coop. This is my 3rd flock merging and was the easiest so far. There was the issue of the flock flying over the fence looking for their original home the first few days and I was dreading having to give them a hair cut so they couldn't fly. Not because I think it would be hard but it's just another thing to do on a list that's pretty long already. I put them in lock down and didn't allow them to free range for a day and it has helped. They are still flying over but not as frequently so I'm hoping the problem will resolve on it's own as they become comfortable with their new space. I have found the easiest way to merge flocks with our set up is to do it with equal or close to equal size flocks and to allow the birds to meet for the first time in free range yard then when it's sun down and they are mellowing for the night put them all in the coop together. This method worked really well this time around with mild pecking. <br />
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Now I'm in the planning phase of what I want our lives with chickens to consist of. We currently have 18 birds. 2 are roosters, and only 9 are laying age but out of that nine my egg production went from 7 eggs a day to 3-5 a day. One is a Speckled Sussex and is a terrible layer of small eggs that seem to fall out as she's walking so if we find her eggs it's usually by stepping on them. My Americana's are great layers and in their prime. They are a very neurotic bird but good layers so I'm happy with them. The others are Rhode Island Reds that are moving into eggopause. We acquired these birds during their prime and got a good 6 months of egg production but they have decreased in production by 50% over the past 2 months. <br />
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What I have learned from all this so far is I have zero interest in raising chickens that don't serve a purpose. We plan to raise "pet" chickens in the front yard and they will be silkies that will serve the purpose of entertainment for the kids and incubation for future birds. With the backyard chickens however they need to serve the food needs of our family in order to justify the cost. I feed my chickens organic feed which is more than double the cost of GMO feed so every bird who eats and doesn't produce is a drain on our grocery budget.<br />
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I have had a hard time getting useful information on the best way to raise meat birds, the way I envision raising meat birds, which is free range heritage birds that will first produce eggs before being processed for meat and will fill the coop with extra layers during the winter months so we can maintain a 7 a day egg plan. I'm leaning towards Delawares with a 2 cycle a year rotation. I'm still unsure how long I can raise them before jeopardizing the quality of the meat however. With my current flock I will turn the Rhode Island Red into fowl which will make for great slow cooked meat for chicken pot pie and dumplings. The younger flock will become our egg layers while I work through this new plan of mine and will later become fowl as well. <br />
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I know this post is a rambling but I wanted to share in the hopes of starting a conversation on the best way to raise heritage birds that can provide the largest production of eggs before providing meat while enjoying a healthy free range life. If you have advice or ideas, please share!<br />
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<br />sew grownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17818822114896374706noreply@blogger.com0