Household

We get tons of emails from our readers. Sometimes they have questions, sometimes their kind words make us blush, and sometimes they simply WOW us! This falls into the category of WOWing us!

I got this email from Jane:

I thought you might be interested in the blanket I made as a Christmas present for my eight year old granddaughter. I made it with your free appliques on fleece. It turned out beautifully, and have had rave reviews. I'm very proud of it!

I used one block for my "personal signature". I took a piece of my daughter's wedding dress lining material, cut it into the shape of an unrolled scroll, sewed it onto the blanket, then used a permanent marker to write a personal message, write the year, and signature from Oma & Opa.

For fun, I also put a "secret code" in the blanket from me to my granddaughter:

Cupcake = You add sweetness to my life

Stars = You brighten my life

The last row, I sewed together person/heart/person and then the scroll. The person/heart/person stood for "Oma loves Mikayla". She seemed to enjoy the idea.

And after we asked for permission to share this on the blog, we got this response:

After all the months I worked on this blanket, I would be honored to have you share it with your readers! I'm so pleased you think it worthy. There is one hitch, though. I'd like you to tell me when you have it posted so I can see it "on the web!" and read any comments you receive. No, I don't have a blog.

By the way, I had never appliqued or embroidered before. Nor had I ever made a quilt. This was all new to me. The computer was my teacher.

If the blanket wasn't impressive enough, the fact that Jane has NEVER appliqued, embroidered OR made a quilt before should be sufficient incentive for any beginning crafters that are apprehensive of tackling big projects!

We are very grateful that Jane took the time to share her project. We get so many emails from people saying they love our appliques but are looking for ideas on how to use them. Well, if you are ambitious enough, here is a lovely idea. A beautiful, heirloom quilt, filled with love, and sure to be treasured by one lucky little lady for a lifetime! 

If you have any comments or questions for Jane, please feel free to leave them. I'm sure she would enjoy hearing from you!  

My mom made a request, actually it was more of a passing comment... she wanted a Wee Folk Art tote bag to carry around some of her crafty supplies. So I went off and designed a logo to have printed on a tote bag for her. Before ordering the bag I ran it past her just to make sure it was what she had had in mind. Well she loved it and also needed a coffee mug and a mouse pad and a sticker for her guitar case... see where this is going. LOL. No problem, I can do that!

So with that in mind I set up a Cafe Press Shop: Wee Folk Art Gnomes featuring our "Gnome Love" banner on a variety of gift items including tote bags, coffee mugs, SIGG water bottles and a variety of organic t-shirts. If you share our love for all things Gnome we thought you might like some Gnome Love too.

Please note, we have not received our order yet... so we have not yet seen the finished product in person but (we just got the stuff and it looks great... photos to come) we wanted to make sure we shared the link in time for anyone who wanted Gnome Gear for Christmas. We will share photos once we get our items.

This article was first published at One Generation to Another February 5, 2008. Read through it and on the other side are directions for turning used potpourri tarts and candle stubs into beautiful, new candles.

Close your eyes…think of the smell of your elementary school cafeteria…the ocean…a baby’s neck. What about your grandmother’s house, a bonfire on a cool October evening, or your first boyfriend (or first girlfriend if you are a Renaissance Man reading this blog…btw…kudos to you!) Helen Keller, blind and deaf since near birth, once said, "Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived.” Smells are some of the most intense memory joggers and the first, and sometimes the last, impressions we have of people and places. To me, HOW your house smells is just as important, maybe even more so, as how your house looks. The smell of your house can make people hungry, put them at ease or make them wish they were wearing a gas mask. Do you bring an objective nose to your house?

Truth be told, I have the nose of a bloodhound. “Can you smell something?” or “What is that smell?” are as common colloquialisms for me as “Have a nice day.” or “Gimme a call.” I truly believe it was my overactive olfactory nerves that saved my life and the life of 3 of my friends. (Actually, 1 boyfriend, 1 brother and 1 future sister-in-law…but I digress!) Before retiring for the night I kept asking everyone, “Do you guys smell something?” to which I got weird looks and dismissive comments. Later, snuggled on the floor in a makeshift bed, I was running through my mental data base of catalogued smells. As curious as concerned, I couldn’t quite place the smell, but couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something “Not quite right”. Finally, I turned on the lights and went on a quest to track down the perplexing odor. Ah, so that’s what smoldering foam rubber smells like! Apparently, a fugitive spark from the fireplace burrowed into the cushion of an old armchair. By the time I made the discovery, it had melted through the foam and was igniting the wooden frame. My brother and boyfriend were able to successfully throw the antiquated chair into a snow drift just before it burst into flames! Frankly, I think my nose should have received some accolade for superior sleuthing, when in fact all it got was a bad cold…probably from standing around outside barefoot, in the middle of winter, watching an evaded disaster burn! If only we had had a Singapore Sling. (Sorry, inside joke here!)

I suppose I’m overly sensitive to smells, but it’s amazing the mood altering effect scents can produce for most people. Understandably, we want our houses to smell appealing, but how do we get our houses to smell, well “homey” and inviting? Have you ever gone into a store and asked a clerk, “What smells so good?” Chances are she’ll tell you it’s this potpourri, that candle, or those essential oils. You expectantly purchased “it” with the hopes of creating the same aroma in your house. You are delighted on the car ride home because you’re slathered with wafts of fragrance, producing a delightful aromatic ambiance. But, upon getting the new scent home, it only takes minutes before the scent is lost. What happened to the fragrance you bought? To answer that question, let’s back up. Put your candle back in the bag, get in the car, drive in reverse, and walk backwards into the store. Take a look and smell around! First, you know that candle that smelled so good in the store? Well, they have 20 of them on display, each giving off a small amount of fragrance! And, right next to it is 30 bags of potpourri. And, oh, look over there, sachets and aroma therapy diffusers are pumping mega doses of aromas in the air. Your sense of smell is on overload, and your brain is unable to discern individual scents, and, in reality, that jumbled smell is what you are trying to duplicate.

Let’s state the obvious…you cannot afford to buy out the store’s entire scent assortment. So, given that fact, how can you replicate a good smell that doesn’t dissipate in 5 minutes or empty your wallet? Here are a few suggestions:

:: I have found scents activated by heat pack the biggest punch. My preferred method is using wax tarts and an electric “melter”. There are many on the market, ranging from small ones that heat 1 tart at a time, to larger ones, which I use, that can hold 3 or more at a time. There are also potpourri pots that use liquids, warmers that you can set whole glass encased candles in, and “diffusers”.  There are also many yummy recipes for stove top potpourris using citrus rinds and spices, that can simmer right on your stove and use inexpensive, and often discarded, ingredients found in your kitchen.

:: Learn to “reuse” scents. For example, after I’ve “used up” the scent in my tart warmer, I pour it off into a candle mold. Because I melt different scents, they are usually in different colors, and this creates a beautiful striped pattern. And although the fragrance is not intense, it still gives off a lovely, subtle scent. My eldest son has absconded with these candles for years! (Directions for how to do this can be found at the end of this article.) When dried potpourri’s fragrance has waned, simply add a couple drops of essential oils, mix, and ta-dah, good as new. Throw room sachets into clothing drawers when they’ve lost their punch. Although they can no longer influence an entire room, they can still produce a lovely effect in a small, closed in area like a drawer or closet!

:: Location, location, location. Place your fragrances in areas most commonly used and in areas most likely able to contain the scents. Rooms with high ceilings seem to lose their fragrances easily…I’m sure they have a tendency to drift upward, enhancing the ambiance for domestic ceiling spiders, but doing little for visitors. Also, stay away from open windows, and other areas that can draw the scent away from the room. On the other hand, a basket of dried potpourri, placed near a heat register, can throw the scent into the room whenever the furnace kicks on.

:: “Fragrances” can often be expensive. Become a “scent sleuth” and keep your eyes…well, your nose…open for the unexpected. For example, many common bath soaps have wonderful fragrances, but let’s face it, who wants to set a basket of Irish Spring in your living room? Solution...unwrap the soap, cover individual bars in a cotton print that coordinates with your room, and place in a decorative basket or bowl. For a fraction of the cost of designer fragrances, you’ve given your room a delightful “bath”! (As an added bonus, when the scent begins to fade, use them in the shower. Let’s face it, between your shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and perfumes, who’s gonna miss a little scent in their soap?)

:: Create “scentsational” environments. Although it is okay, even desirable to “mix” scents, your house should not be a nasal battleground. I like to use “families” of scents. In the fall I like to use “spicy” aromas that remind us of mulled cider and falling leaves. Around the holidays I lean toward evergreen and cranberry scents. Spring is the only time when I allow “flowery” fragrances in the house. I prefer jasmine and lavender, however, be careful not to allow the scents to become so intense that your house begins to smell like a Brothel! Then, in the summer, I just look for soft, subtle, powdery scents; the idea is to create a “cool and calming” environment.

:: Finally, and this is certainly a subjective comment…don’t be a tease! Experience has taught me to stay away from scents that smell “good enough to eat”. Although “Buttered Cookie”, “Fresh Apple Pie”, and “Chocolate Brownie Fantasy” may smell yummy, that does little to console a hungry child or enticed mate, when they come home and start foraging for the delicious treat they are smelling! If you generate a hunger stimulating scent, make sure you can follow through with the food! BTW, nothing makes your house smell quite as good as the real thing! So, for the best scents, bake!

One day a friend told me, “Every time I go into a store that sells home fragrances, I think of you.” I took that as a lovely compliment! Although all scents smell a little different, there is commonality in all of them. We work hard at making our houses look good; we labor over paint and furniture selections. We clean, ah, usually, and rearrange, in hopes of making our houses not only lovely to look at, but comfortable. I believe “scent” is just as important as any thing else you do in your house. Take a good “sniff” around. How does your house smell?

RECYCLED CANDLES
After a couple of years of melting aroma tarts in a potpourri pot and pouring off the wax when the scent began to wane, it occurred to me that I was simply wasting the wax. I set off to our local craft shop, bought a candle mold and wicks, and returned home ready to "waste not, want not". From that time one... oh perhaps for the past 20 years, I have been making candles, 1 inch at a time. Although the scent is not as potent as the original tarts, they still give off a lovely, subtle smell. I also began to melt down other candle stubs, and adding them to the candle mold. The results are beautiful, lovely candles; the only cost being the pennies for the wicks.
 
Materials:
scented wax tarts and candle stubs
potpourri pot
wicks
wooden skewer
candle mold

Melt your wax tarts or candle stubs in your electric or candle heated potpourri pot.



To prepare the candle mold: wrap the top of the wick around a wooden skewer so the base of the wick touches the bottom of the mold. The wick should be in the middle, and the skewer should be long enough to extend the sides of the mold, holding the wick in place.


When the aroma from your tarts or candle stubs is mostly spent, pour into prepared candle mold. Do this on a heat resistant surface. If any wax gets on your counter, allow to cool completely. It is then simple to slide a spatula under the wax to remove. Place the cooled wax back in your potpourri pot to be remelted the next time you use it. Do not move the mold while it is cooling. After cooled, store until the next time you have wax to pour off.

Continue this procedure until the wax is near the top of the mold.

Hold the candle by the wick and remove from the mold.

Trim the wick to about 1/2" and, tah dah, a beautiful, unique candle!

I remember as a little girl going through my mom's and grandma's drawers. I can't remember if I was given permission to do this or if it was a covert operation done on the sly. What I can remember was how fascinated I was with the contents of their drawers. There were bras and merry widow corsets, and a plethora of gloves in assorted colors and lengthens. There were hankies with lace and beautiful embroidery; and then there were the always intriguing girdles and garter belts. Fortunately, with the arrival of the mini skirt in the 60s, girdles and garter belts gave way to pantie hose, so I was never subjected to the horror of slipping into a girdle! But I remember their smell well... they smelled like an old rubber ball that the dog had been playing with! It is a small wonder that another thing I found in their drawers were sachets.

Sachets were a great little invention that predated by grandma by hundreds of years. These little bags, stuffed with good smelling herbs, flowers or spices, have a scent that permeates the clothing around it. Although sachets are not nearly as common as they use to be, they really are quite delightful and practical to use. Not only do they give a lovely scent to a closed up drawer, if using the right herbs and flowers in a sachet, like lavender, they also deter moths. So keeping a few lavender sachets in your sweater drawer is a great idea. I also keep them in with my yarns and roving. Maple, from North Star Alpaca, always tosses in a little lavender sachet with her orders. Not only do they smell good, they serve a purpose.

Making our sachets is super easy and identical to our Lavender Beanbags... only smaller and filled 100% with lavender. For a sweet little gift, stack three of them and tie with a ribbon. And, for your own use, toss in drawers, and keep some with your wool yarns and rovings. I LOVE lavender and enjoy the smell whenever I grab my knitting!

Materials:
fabric in assorted colors (great use of fabric scraps)
matching thread
dried lavender flowers

Directions:
For each sachet, cut two 4" squares.

With right sides together, sew 3 sides of the square, pivoting at the corners, using 1/2" seams. NOTE: Make sure to back stitch at the beginning and end of each seam. This will stop the seam from opening allowing lavender to come out.

Clip the corners on a 45 degree angle being careful to not get too close to the sewn seam. This will help reduce the bulk in the corner.

Turn the sachet right side out. Turn the top edge down 1/2" toward the inside of the sachet. Iron the bag making sure the turned down seam lays flat.


Fill your bag with 1/4 cup of lavender.

Pin the bag shut.

Sew the seam shut by top stitching 1/8" away from the edge. Make sure to back stitch the beginning and end of the seam. Clip the loose threads and you have a sachet!


SUGGESTION: If you store the sachets in an airtight container before using, the lavender scent will last longer.

A couple of months ago we were contacted by Rhythm of the Home and asked to submit a project for their Autumn Edition. We were very excited to participate since we so enjoy the publication. If you are not familiar with Rhythm of the Home, here is a description from their website:

"Rhythm of the Home is a quarterly online magazine. Our focus is to unite a readership which is interested in Waldorf or Montessori education, or simply living intentionally and hoping to incorporate a rhythm and reverence for the natural world in the lives of their children. Each edition will publish seasonally, with articles and projects dedicated to incorporating the upcoming season into the family’s rhythm."

The hard part was trying to decide what to make. We decided to share something that anyone could use to celebrate the season. Michelle and I love to use wreathes in our decorating. The wreath, a symbol of eternity, reminds us of the circle of life; of how one season flows into another, only to return again and again. So, we designed the Autumn Oak Leaf Wreath, combining sewing and stenciling. To get directions for this wreath visit Rhythm of the Home.

And while you are there, pay a visit to their blog. As an extra bonus, they are hosting a giveaway featuring handmade goodies from some of this edition's contributors. They asked for a giveaway that directly related to the submitted project, so we created two over-sized Maple Leaf Potholders, using the same fabrics and stenciling techniques as our wreath. You can sign up to win our potholders or any of the other giveaway items being offered from Rhythm of the Home blog.

It has been a lot of fun crafting and contributing to another publication. You can now visit Rhythm of the Home to find our tutorial for the Autumn Oak Leaf Wreath and check out all the other wonderful crafts being shared to help us celebrate this beautiful season!