Spring Makeables

I have been busy making cute things to sell at some upcoming spring markets in our area and thought I would share some with you.

A little hanging bird's nest.

I made this bird's nest using old rusty tart pans, a little store bought bird's nest, rusty wire, small tags and eggs cut off an Easter wreath from the dollar store.  I glued the eggs in the nest, fashioned the wire as a hanger and stamped "spring" on the tag. I tied the tag on with some twine and glued it in place.

Decorated jars

I get a lot of my craft supplies off Ebay from China.  I bought 300 little tags for $1 and 200 little metal keys, on the "dream" bottle, for $1.25 all with free shipping.  I like getting things delivered right to my home, so that I have less things to shop for when we do make it to the big city.

Framed keys on burlap background.

Rebekah wood burned garden markers. I hope she doesn't sell them all, because I'd like to buy some.

That is a little sample of the things I've made.

This post is linked up to: Vintage Charm   The Everyday Home

2015 Canning Goal

I'm sorry to bore you all with my canning goal list for this year, but I'm afraid I'm a little disorganized when it comes to record keeping and at least now I can look back to stay on track.

I must say, this last few months we have almost completely depleted all of our home canned goods. We are down to just a couple of jars of strawberry jam, chokecherry jelly, zucchini salsa and pizza sauce. Oh, and 1 jar of mixed veggies (pure gold!).

This is what I hope to put up this year;

60 pints mixed veggies - onions, celery, carrots and green beans
30 pints apple sauce
28 quarts apple juice
12 pints & 12 1/2 pints strawberry jam
20 pints & 12 1/2 pints crab apple chokecherry jelly
6 pints & 12 1/2 pints chokecherry jelly
12 pints THM bumbleberry jam
42 pints dill pickle beets
21 pints zucchini salsa
35 pints stewed tomatoes (with zucchini)
14 quarts rhubarb pie filling
14 quarts sliced potatoes
21 pints pickled green beans
21 quarts dill pickles - (if I can grow cucumbers, which I have never been able to)
21 pints peaches

Now, I have to plan our garden accordingly. It's still covered in snow, so I have a couple of weeks before I need a hard fast plan. 

I have started the tomato, pepper and sweet potato plants and have the rest of the seeds at the ready. Although, I am waiting for my celery seed to come in the mail. It's hard to find here, because apparently, you can't grow celery here. But last year I grew beautiful celery, so I hope I can do the same this year.

Crocheted Headband Tutorial

I have been having lots of fun crocheting these headbands lately. Now that winter is almost over here in Central Alberta:) BUT, I'll be ready for next winter.  These headbands whip up so fast! Just an hour or two. And the flowers only take a few minutes!

Before I start to TRY to tell you how to make them, please remember I'm not really a crocheter, so I might not be able to use the proper terminology. And if you know a better way, please share with me!


To start I chained 12 or 13 for adult size or 10 or 11 for child size. (Leave about 8 inches of tail yarn length for sewing it up later.) This will be your width.  Then, chain 3 more. This is the first double crochet stitch.  Now, starting with the next chain over, double crochet in each stitch to the end.

I don't know if you can see my finger peeking threw the stitch next to the 3 chains. That's where you start the double crochet stitch.

Chain 3 and turn your work. Starting in the next stitch, double crochet in each stitch to the end. Chain 3 and turn your work. Repeat this until it is the desired length. You want about 2 inches overlap to sew together.  I think for adult, mine were about 20 inches long and child size was about 18 inches long.  But if you are making it for yourself, just keep wrapping it around your head until it is the right size.

I like the way the chain 3 along the edges kind of makes a scallop edge.

When it is the right length, cut the yarn to about 10 inches and pull through the last stitch.  Using the tail ends of yarn, I sew the headband together, making sure to line up the edges. There will be about 2 inch overlap here.  I don't stitch right along the edge of the top overlap. I stitch about 3/4 of an inch in.  I try to make both strings end up in about the same place at the back to tie them together in a knot. But don't cut them, you can still use them to sew on your flower or buttons.

Now, onto the flower. I like making a two layer flower and again, it's just using the double crochet stitch.  For the smaller one, chain 7. Then slip stitch into the first chain. This makes a circle.

This is the slip stitch. Put the hook through the stitch, yarn over with the yarn and pull through.

Now, just like the headband, chain 3. You're going to double crochet right into the circle.  Double crochet 3 times, chain 3, then slip stitch into the circle again. Make sure you are working away from the yarn tail. Repeat 4 times to end up with 5 petals.  Snip the yarn to about 6 inches, then pull the yarn through the last slip stitch.  Tie the 2 yarn tails together.  Then I sewed each tail through the back of one petal and snipped the yarn.

The large size flower is made the same way, only start with chaining 11 and making 6 or 7 petals.

I first sewed on the large flower, then the small flower, then I sewed on the button in the middle.  And this is the finished product;

My personal preference is just sewing on 2 buttons like this;

These headbands are great because they don't use that much yarn. I just used some scraps I got from a lady from church.

That is how I crochet headbands.

This post is linked up to; Happy and Blessed Home  Thrifty Thursday The Dedicated House