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Photographer, Shelly Boyd
Showing posts with label crafting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafting. Show all posts

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Beading Adventures.....Love it!

Now, for anyone who knows me sitting still really is not my thing. I like to be busy and on the go! I realize that now my pregnancy is coming close to the finish line that maybe just maybe I need to relax.....
 
But that does not mean being a lump on a log in front of a screen zombie like.....
So this beading is such a relief for me! I am learning to do something that is not only creative, productive, beautiful but also makes me feel complete. Makes me feel accomplished. Artful and joyful intertwined. Like I always was meant to learn how to do this. Like its in my blood!
 
I love sitting down at the end of the day, putting a video on (usually a teaching video, a sermon or on the days my brain just won't work out so awesome, I put in a silly dvd to listen to!)
 
And I sit and bead for hours! The hours slip by with out knowing. The time is a time of serenity and calmness. Where the quiet is washed over me and I am in a zone!
 
Below are my works from a period of a week long effort to practice with beading!
 
This is only the second try!
 
Below I did together, so I did both of the black outlining first and then the color and then the outsides.
 
Below is all five of the completed Poppies!
I did the last two in a night for my son and my hubby!
 
 
 
I chose to try the poppies for Remembrance day. So we can have a beautiful piece that we can wear without falling off and that look awesome!
 
I have to say I am truly in love with Beading! This is opening up a passion that I never knew existed!
 
 


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Loving Moisturizing Bars Home Made


Homemade is one of my true passions. I love making and creating. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, a sense of “I really did that!” I really can do that. I don’t know about you but I really love that feeling. Even if no one ever saw or uses anything I make, I still am excited and feel accomplished that I created something.

Sometimes as mothers, wives, home makers, chef’s, menders, defenders of all that is right in your children’s world, chauffer’s, maid, laundress and pretty much jack of all trades, and it’s a 24/365 a year career, we forget to treat ourselves to a hobby.

I am talking about a bonified only to do something that is for you, hobby. For me, researching and creating things for my family is mine. Making clothing for my children, making soaps and crafts. All of this is my hobby. Learning to do new things is like a much need fix of fresh ocean air for this busy mama.

Making the time, is a real mind warping conundrum sometimes. I don’t always get to do it every day or even once a week. When I do, it’s like an amazing rush of amazement and content ness.

Now I am not saying by any means that I am not fulfilled completely by my husband or children. But if you’re a mama you can on some level understand what I am talking about.

I have extremely sensitive skin. Most moisturizers burn, itch, or make my skin red and blotchy. When I am pregnant this is magnified and my apprehension for chemically laden products is heightened. Thus, my search for a bar or lotion I could make myself with ease and not needing a bunch of ingredients (some or all I cannot pronounce). Lol!

I happened upon www.frugallysustainable.com and saw her recipe for the bars. Although as you will see in the recipe of my I omitted all but bare minimal of ingredients. I only had four ingredients on hand so I used what I had. I have to say with my eczema and sensitivity I am in love and will never go back to traditional moisturizers again. Although I will share with you what I will do differently next time around!

 

Recipe

ÿ1 ½ cup bees wax

ÿ2 cups Extra Virgin Coconut oil

ÿ1/3 cup dried dandelion leaf

ÿ½ cup dried chamomile flowers

You will need:

ÿa two quart slow cooker (using for this purpose only always)

ÿmeasuring cup

ÿplastic stirring spoon

ÿmolds for your bars

1.   place coconut oil, dandelion leaf, and the chamomile flowers into the slow cooker

2.   infuse for 1 hour on high (make sure you are frequently stirring and watching it)

3.   once the oil and the flowers are melted but it on low for 1 hour

4.   switch to warm and leave overnight

5.   in the morning switch to high and add your bees wax.

6.   This is extremely important that you are watching it closely, bees wax can catch fire if to hot

7.   When all bees wax is melted pour into your molds

8.   Let sit on counter for one hour then move into fridge until completely set

9.   To use rub between hands and the heat from your body will melt the bar enough for you to distribute evenly onto your skin.

The reason I used Dandelion Leaf is because of the healing properties specifically for psoriasis, eczema, dry skin and dry scalp. The reason I used Chamomile flowers is because it to has the healing properties and a natural pain reliever.

Now, although I love these bars and that my skin is soo soft now. It is June and in our neck of the woods starting to get warm and dry. Which means cracking and bleeding usually already for my poor hands. I have not cracked or bled yet. I am so in love with my bars.

This is what I would change with my next batch;

Firstly, I would strain out all my flowers prior to adding the bees wax. The reason for this is that when applying the bar to my hands the flowers are extremely tough and ouchy.

Secondly, I would add vitamin e pure essential oil to the mixture just before pouring into the mold. The reason for this is to add to the healing and strengthening of the elasticity and immunity in my skin.

Lastly, I would use square or rectangle molds instead of pretty molds for myself so that it is easier. Although, I would still use my pretty molds for giveaways!

Overall, I am completely in love with making this for myself and for others! So this recipe was a complete success!

 

I have to say that when researching on the internet, I found the frugally sustainable website (I am in no way being paid or anything and all is my own opinion) is extremely helpful. The author gives step by step instructions, recipes and for those who do not have time to make it on their own, she sells her products as well.

 

Praying that this post was encouraging, and that you can take something new learned!

Praying that you have a spaztastic day!

Stacey Homemaker
 
(purchased our bees wax from, amazing quality)
(where I found original recipe)
(where I purchased my extra virgin coconut oil)
 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013


 


Meet Stacey Homemaker.

Stacey is married to a wonderful man of almost five years. They met at age of 6 and hated each other. Lol! After moving, living and life separated the two; they reunited at 23 and through a very short, but intense three weeks of dating were engaged. After a seven week period were married.

                Stacey is a blessed mama of three amazing and gorgeous children, and is currently pregnant with baby number 4. She also is homeschooling her children and keeps them quite busy.

                Stacey is a crafty woman. She loves to create things out of old things (she uses the word “upcycle”). Her passion is to sew and create lovely things for her children and for her family. This year she frustratingly took on the task of trying to knit (don’t worry it will be a post soon) and she is currently teaching herself to plastic canvas.

                Stacey is always making sure that our family is cutting costs where we can by making things from scratch, in order to put the money into things that really need it. For example, food, educations, and family day field trips.

                This year she also was able to learn some of her heritage and the traditional ways of making; moccasins, yarn bags, ribbon shirts, ribbon skirts and even a wee bit of beading.

                Currently, she is working on becoming bilingual in her traditional language of Nyselxcin. That will be a post as well, it has been a blessed journey to learning her heritage.

 

                As a family we believe that through Jesus Christ we are able to have a relationship with God. That in order to have the beautiful gift of salvation we must believe in the literal miraculous conception, birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

                As a family we use the King James Bible, and respect that each person has their own reasons for the version in which they love to tell of God’s beautiful word is their own decision.

                As a family we believe that each child is a gift and a blessing from the Lord. We believe that it is our divine appointment to have the amazing blessing of being gifted a child to raise, teach, and guide into adulthood and furthermore into eternity.

                We hope you enjoy Stacey Homemaker’s blog. We want you to be encouraged and want you to enjoy our blog and all of the wonderful posts coming your way.

                Although we respect others opinions and advice, if you leave slanderous, rude, vexing language your comments will be deleted. This is a blog to strengthen, encourage and share knowledge together. It is not for hate speech and things of that nature.

 

                May you be blessed each day by our posts. Thank you.