Homemade Christmas Garland

This post was orginally published last Christmas but I thought it was a fun one to share...quick and easy thing to do with the kids while they enjoy their break!  Also a great way to use up your scraps!

This is a simple NO SEW project, great for beginner.  To make this garland you will need: 

Fabric (Christmas prints and solids)

Natural twine

Scissors

Step 1: Gather your fabric (scraps will work).  Cut small slits into the fabric at about 1 1/2" intervals.  Rip fabric from slits.  This will give you a frayed edge.

Step 2: Cut your fabric strips into 5" long sections.

Step 3: If your twine is thin twist multiple pieces together. 

Step 4:  Tie your strips onto the twine.  Make sure to knot the fabric well.

Step 5: Make loops end each end of the twine and hang from your place of choice.

I hope you enjoy crafting a homemade Christmas!!

Moving...

HSM is moving to a new blog...this is neccessary for my sanity.  I can't keep up all the commiments I have so I am combining my farm blog and my crafting blog into one.  You will still get the same great craftiness but with a great deal of agriculture thrown in...so come on over and sit a spell at the new site The Farm Wife.  I hope to see y'all soon!

Teaching Tuesday

Teaching Tuesday!

Teaching is like therapy for me.  I love being in the classroom (hence the reason I am returning this fall).  However teaching isn't just about delivery information to someone.  It is about the relationship you build as you help someone learn a new process, skill or knowledge set.  There are so many things about teaching I love.  I am going to use this feature to TEACH you a little about what I love...Family Farms...

(My sister, cousin, & I at my Grandparents farm in GA with my Granddaddy.)

Agriculture is what my life thrives on....I love the fact that my husband is a full time farmer.  We raise sheep, beef cattle and dairy cattle plus we have a few horses.  Let me clarify...because for many out there you might think we have a few head of each.  We raise about 50 head of sheep, 300 head of beef cattle and milk 115 head of dairy cattle.  We are a family farm and proud to say that we are American Farmers. 

America's farmers are the world's most productive. Today, each U.S. farmer produces food and fiber for 155 people in the United States and abroad.  That's a lot of production for a small percentage of the population. 

The number one question I get when I talk about farms is aren't all farms factory farms now??  And the answer is NO NO NO!!! I am not a factory farmer and neither are the majority of farms in the U.S.  You might view us as a corporation because due to taxes and liability we are Nance Farms, LLC, but we are family owned and operated just as most American farms are! Today 98 percent of all U.S. farms are owned by individuals, family partnerships or family corporations. Just 2 percent of America's farms and ranches are owned by non-family corporations.

These two simple facts are the two most important facts farmers and their families need American Consumers to know.    I realize that many times in the media we (Farmers) are betrayed as the bad people, we use chemicals on our crops and antibiotics for our animals. 

 And yes we use fertilizers on our fields to help our land produce better crops, however we also leave behind plant matter to decay to improve our soils and no longer have the erosion issues of a generation ago. 

And yes if we have a sick animal they receive antibiotics just as you do if you go to the doctor.  Healthy animals produce faster, better, and more meat and milk for consumers. 

We are teaching the next generation to grow up and become stewards of the land and environment.  We spend our days working and our nights researching the last news about our industry.  I can't believe how many people don't realize that to be an American farmer you must have:

 

Faith in God, confident, and a desire.  I hope you all have learned a little about Family Farms in America.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask! 

Monday Munchies

To kickoff our new feature I thought I would share with you one of my all time favorite appetizers.  Let me preface it by saying I grew up in Georgia, not far from a little town famous for a particular vegatable...some of you might have heard of Vidalia onions...they are the sweetest most decilious onions in the world.  I can eat them like an apple everyday of the year (granted my husband probably wouldn't want to kiss me but they are worth it....maybe not).  The recipe is simple enough to make during the week for a quick appetizer, but great for parties.

Bloomin' Onion

Ingreditents for batter

1/3 cup cornstarch

1 1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoon mince garlic (fresh works best)

2 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper 

1 (24 oz) can of beer (choose one you don't mind drinking)

4 Vidalia onions

Ingredients for seasoned flour mixture

2 cups of flour

4 teaspoon paprika

2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon of cayenne

Directions

1. Mix cornstarch, flour and seasonings until well blended

2. add beer, mix well, (don't drink too much)

3. cut about 3/4" off the top of the onion and peel.

4. Cut onion into 12-16 vertical wedges DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!

5. remove about 1" of petals from the center of the onion

6. separate petals to coat thoroughly with batter

7. mix all ingredients for the seasoned flour mixture together

8. dip the onion into the seasoned flour mixture and remove excess by shaking

9. gently place in fryer basket and deep-fry at 375-400 degrees for 1 -1 1/2 minutes

10. Flip over and fry an additional 1 1/2 minutes or longer until golden brown.

11. Drain on paper towels.  

12. Place onion upright in shallow bowl and remove center core wiht circular cutter or apple corer.

13. Serve with dipping sauce of choice. (below is the recipe for my dipping sauce).

Chili Sauce:

1 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons chili sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Blog Redo...Take 2

For a while now I have been talking  about how to change up my blog(s).  Do I want to combine them?  What should I talk about?  You know the deal.  Last night while laying in bed...attempting to sleep in 90 degree weather I came up with a plan.  I won't blog each day of the week however 5 out of 7 days is my goal.  And no I won't be combining the 2 blogs.  I have assigned a title to each day I have chosen to blog on so that I have a guide on what to blog about.

HSM Blog Schedule

Monday Munchies-

      Mondays will be geared toward sharing recipes, also snacks, meal planning etc.

Teaching Tuesday-

      Tuesdays will be used to teach...it could be a sewing tutorial, a classroom lesson, a WIC lesson and much much more..

Wear it Wednesday-

        Wednesdays will be devoted to clothing.  Clothing that I have made...what you have made...what my son is or isn't wearing that week, my weekly wardrobe...maybe even a few good deals

Farm Friday-

         Fridays will be giving you a glimpse of the farm life.  Since this is such a major part of my life I would like to share the experience with each of you. 

Sewing Showcase Saturday-

          Saturdays will be my link party.  Showcasing all of your sewing creations for the week. 

I am excited that I have finally discovered a setup that will work for me.   We will begin our new venture on Monday!  So check back I can't wait!

Ummm...what about that sew through a book thing???

So I just realized that I was suppose to start a new blogging series LAST WEEK!!!  My plan was to sew through a semi-newly released book and discuss the pros and cons...Well two things have hindered that process...

1) I checked out 15 semi new sewing books from the library and could decide on which book to choose.  I had narrowed it down to 3 and still could make a final decision....Who Wants to be a Millionare would not be a good game for me (I take a REALLY REALLY long time to decide anything). 

2) 2 of the 3 books had patterns that needed to be used to construct the items...well I could have made copies on the plotter at work but not everyone has that access plus I really prefer to cut up my orginals and use them (I know, I know...don't lecture me about the irrationality of that statement). 

So what am I going to do instead??? I am not really sure (SHOCKING, LOL).  I have a few ideas but still trying to determine what would be best.  I do have some projects from the 3 books that didn't require patterns so I plan to make those for you...and discuss the pros and cons...the book idea is coming just not yet...

In other news I am heading to Washington, D.C. in July and need some advice.  I have a limited amount of site seeing time...have you been to D.C....what was the best sites...anything CAN'T miss???  I will be in a workshop most days from 8:30 until 5.  But hopefully I will be more prepared to discuss the agriculture way of life with you after this training...

I hope you enjoyed the random pictures...

BTW...what are you interested in hearing about...my sewing adventures and misadventures...pattern reviews...farm life...mom life...all of the above???  Leave some comment love...Thanks!

Trimmed with love contest!

So I had BIG BIG plans on what to do for the Trimmed w/ Love contest Melissa was having and as usual my plans crumpled like a bad term paper.  With VBS beginning tomorrow, the in-laws heading out of town for a week, work, birthday parties, playdates, and my domestic duties I ran out of time to create a new and amazing craft.  So I entered two of the projects I finished this week.  They aren't my best work but they are nice.  One was the Lil Blue Boo dress I made for a cousin's daughter and the other was my book cover.  Both were made for a special reason.  So even if I don't win (or even place) it will be ok.  BTW after looking at all the other entries I don't think I will be winning this contest.  Ok so head over to Melissa's page and look at all the wonderful entries.  I hope everyone has a very blessed week!