At any given time I have a brainless knitting project going, something to work on while I’m watching Lucy play, or chatting with a friend, or just taking a brain break. Knitting that is easy to not mess up AND easy to fix if I do. This is my favorite […]
crochet - destash - journal - patterns & tutorials
This is the biggest milestone project of my crafting life!
What a mouth full. But it’s true. Have you wondered why all my writing, sparse though it’s been, has been about cooking and gardening? Well, because I haven’t finished crafting anything in FOREVER. Well, about two years. Whoa. To write it out like that makes it feel real. And surreal. […]
journal - little woods homestead
Gardening Gains
It’s been a long time coming, but I think this year, maybe just maybe I finally have it. I created a bed just for the strawberries and plopped the strawberry tower of power in the center. I planted strawberries all around it in the hopes that the runners would propagate […]
journal - little woods homestead
Home, home on the range…
I wrote this musing on gardening back in May, then completely failed publish it. As it happens, I have the first results of gardening this year documented and written up. Read this, then on Monday next week (I had to go out of town for fam stuff), I’ll post that. La la […]
book review - journal
The White Whale of Foraging for Morels
When I was a kid my dad and I would go foraging for morels every spring. We had a “spot”. I had no idea what a treasure it was. What a family heirloom. Since moving away to college, those elusive morels are no longer a part of my spring diet. […]
journal
so long Job. hello leftovers.
Being a mom has been wonderful. I like Lucy more than I thought I could ever like any kid – even my own. But post birth has been hard on me. I wrote awhile ago about getting my gallbladder out. Well that was unfortunately not the end of it. After […]
journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials
Free Pattern: Elda’s Knit Pin Cushion
A common problem when working from the stash, is having only a small amount of each type of fiber left. How can you successfully combine cotton and wool in the same project? How can you combine acrylic with silk? Should you? Would you? Could you dare? (Yes, I totally stole […]
crochet
Crochet Sun Tea Spot: Free Coaster Pattern
Materials Needed :: Cotton worsted weight yarn – at least 5 three yard lengths :: Size G Hook :: Sun Tea with Ice and Straw Finished Size 3 3/4” (9.5 mm) diameter Notes All stitches are worked through both loops. For one of the first times this year I sat outside […]
little woods homestead - thrift kitchen
Macho Tacos with Fresco Verde Macha
My friend Aimee and I always say we should get together some Sunday and cook a big meal. And we really haven’t. Well this weekend all those “shoulds” became reality and we crafted together the most delicious meal: Tacos! But these aren’t just any tacos. These are traditional-heritage-mexican-american-just-like-her-grandma-makes-them-tacos!
nosew - patterns & tutorials
Notepad Girdle Box
This little box is a great way to keep all your note paper in one place. Cut mis-prints and other scrap paper into quarter sheet size and slip it right in. Grab it when you need it, store it when you don’t. Cover it with fabric or paper and […]
journal - thrift kitchen
Meal Plan: Mapping out a week of delish
Sunday nights find me nestled between stacks of my favorite cooking magazines and books. Pen and paper ready I delve through to find that just so perfect dish to try. Some weeks I’m ambitious and try out a new recipe for every meal. Other weeks find me a bit more […]
thrift kitchen
Getting my Thrifty Barrings
Originally published on: Jun 20, 2012 @ 13:59 Last week I talked about where I was, so this week I want to focus more on where I want to be and, the big one, why. At some point I realized that I had to Want a change. Really want it. […]
thrift kitchen
Shop n’ Ride and Eat! Free Sewing Pattern
Last week I told you about my search for a new lunch box. I took a look around with *cough* what’s on hand before I ran to the store to purchase new fancy lunch box supplies.It turns out that when I really hunted around, dug things from the freezer, and […]
journal
Finally, crafting!
It’s taken months. Potentially a whole year. I finally finished a craft project: I started these convertible mittens well over a year ago. And nearly had them finished. And then I got pregnant. One would think that a nesting urge might set in and I would get super crafty. Not […]
journal - patterns & tutorials - stitching school
Stitching School: The Knit Stitch!
It really made me happy all the nice comment you gave me on the Cable Cast On How To, so I decided to follow up a little ahead of schedule with why it’s so great to use, especially when just learning. Like I said, the cable cast on is such […]
journal
And again and again… Surgery and Pain killers
What a ride. So much for “getting back on track with writing for Craft Leftovers”. I was really hoping my next post would be harolding that elusive next issue of the Craft Leftovers zine. Not to be so. Instead, I’ve got a crazy story to tell you of how I’ve […]
journal
Oh Baby: Meet Lucille Lynn Shaw
I’ve been trying to figure out what to post about as my first post back from my birth experience and I keep stalling out. So I’m going to just post a picture of the little lady and get moving. So many fun projects in the mix. Where’s my camera! […]
little woods homestead
First Harvest!
There is nothing better than cucumbers and radishes fresh from the garden with Tarragon Apple Cider Vinegar! Hooray to first harvests! (SO good in fact that I chowed down the whole bowl before remembering to take a pictures). I grew my cucumbers and radishes using this picture over on Inside Urban […]
destash
De-Stash: Attempt 3405
Okay, so maybe not my three thousand, four hundred and fifth time attempting to de-stash, but it sure does feel like it! I swear, a few times a year I really get fired up about it, then fall a little short of where I had hoped on the de-stashing success […]
little woods homestead
Spring Chicks on the Little Woods Homestead
Saturday was pretty action packed. While I was at the local American Sewers Guild meeting giving a presentation on Mend it Better (more on that when I get some pictures from the organizers), Jason and our friend Mike was picking up our order of chicks!