FABRIC.  I have some problems with hording.  There, I said it.  One of my biggest weaknesses is FABRIC.  THE POSSIBILITIES ARE PRACTICALLY ENDLESS is what I say to myself as I carry bags and bags and bags into the car, and into the basement in huge piles.  What can you NOT make with fabric?  NOTHING.  So I always say YES! What am I supposed to do, let it all ROT in a LANDFILL?  Hecks no.

Last year I contacted a local upholstery business and asked for discontinued fabric sample books to make crafts with.  The lady was so sweet, and had me pick up a carload. Which would have been plenty, but months later she called me and said she was liquidating EVERYTHING and DID I WANT IT??   YES I DO!

4 Carloads later my entire basement was full.  Cut to this past week, I am sorting through it all (this was not my only free fabric supplier either, for shame, for shame...) and giving much away.  But I kept some outdoor fabric sample books for a little project....


Outdoor Pillows! I cut the samples out, matched 2 sides that had similar color stories but different patterns,  sewed them up, and stuffed them with old pillow stuffing.  Some neighborhood girls were a huge help stuffing! TADA!

The fabric and stuffing were all upcycled/reused so the project was a free one, minus the time.  I am planning on gifting many, using some, and selling what is left over.  They are water resistant, and all different, so they will be a great little kitchy addition to our back yard monster project (that's a whole other post!)

My hope is so teach some of the girls here how to use a machine, and let them go hog wild with all the free fabric- why not? It was FREE!  But I have had a really hard time finding the energy and time to actually do a sit down lesson.  They come over after school, when both kids are up from nap, and it's time to make dinner.  NOT the best time for a lesson involving needles.  Someday, maybe someday...

My soap box lesson during the stuffing times was that you don't have to have a lot of money to live well.  (It does help, not gonna lie)

The girls had to hear me rail for a while. Do they realize that not every kid in the world gets a free education?  That if their parents cant afford school, they just NEVER get to go? ladies, are you taking advantage of your free education?  I really believe in public schools- I learned a lot in high school.  I learned painting basics, and now I fill our house with silly art.  I learned how to use a sewing machine in home ec. class, after that you just need to look things up and work it out- Making things for yourself does not have to be intimidating.  I think feeling comfortable and fluid in learning and practicing new skills needs to be really really normal for kids at a young age, when they are willing to jump in a get dirty.  Before the insecurities and peer fear immobilize them. I watched my mom fearlessly tackle vacuums on the kitchen table, I am not kidding, that stayed with me.  I saw her jump in with screwdrivers, so I jumped into things with screwdrivers.  Thanks, Ma!

 I worked in public schools, I know they are not perfect.  But if we teach our kids to be curious and try and glean everything they can from what is available, they might be shocked later on to see how many tools they have in their tool belt.

The non Violent Hostile land Takeover of 2011


I can't stand ugly, disorganized, inefficient spaces.  You would never know this is you look at my house.  BUT here is an example of something getting MORE pretty, efficient, useful and great! Last (2011) Spring, I asked my friend, who's dad owns the property next to mine, if he would mind me taking over the great expanse of crabgrass that he owned and making it a community garden.  He didn't mind- YAY!  So my sweet brother in law Philip took a pick ax to it for days, and some neighborhood kids and I set out to separate the evil crabgrass from the innocent dirt- no small feat.  TJ and Ben did most of the work...

Success!  We then planted lettuce, Swiss chard, tomatoes, peppers, basil and kale, and had enough to share with neighbors for the summer!  The kids were such a great help, very curious and willing to jump in.  We saw lots of insects and creepy crawlies.  We talked about what it means to care about where you live, and why we should want to keep the neighborhood nice.  Don't they think they deserve to live somewhere nice?  I sure do.  God sure does. And as always, i gave a lecture on littering, par for the course.  

Glo helping last spring

 The Summer came and went, and there was lots of extra produce that the kids helped to distribute around the neighborhood- Success!

Kale 

Swiss Chard

This spring (2012) the kale was still looking great.  I showed the kids how to pick, wash, oil and salt the kale leaves to make KALE CHIPS!  They devoured wave after wave of kale chips.  Apparently they taste like kettle corn.  I dont really agree, but I was so happy they were stuffing so much kale in their sweet little mouths- they can say it tastes like Leprechauns for all I care.  YAY KALE!  Do you know how healthy that stuff is???  VERY! 

(holding up kale chips, in triumph) 

This spring we planted red and green lettuce, multicolored carrots, and a hefty perennial herb garden (mint, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary).  Pics to come once things grown in a bit and look pretty.  The markers were a steal from http://www.studiogblog.com/plants-natives/kitchen/rustic-french-diy-garden-tags/   They were easy to make and came out great!  I recommend.

We are hoping for a bumper crop and a lot of sharing and growing together.  I am so proud of the Coatesville Garden Club Mini Farmers-  YAY! 

 

HI!

Hi, I am Jen.  I do alot of things without keeping track or memories, and this is my attempt to share what I do with those who are interested, as well as keep a neat and tidy record for myself and my kids.  I like to explain how I feel in percentages.  I think that 96% of my brain is thinking about what's coming up, 3% lives in the present, and 1% remembers the past.  Fortunately, I have a few life long friends who remember most of it for me.  The past, or what I remember of it, was super fun and great!  But not nearly as interesting as what will be!
   I will probably be sharing about my family, our little urban garden and city beautification plans for our lively city of Coatesville, Pa, our CSA farm and wonderful Farmer Karen, church, God, Jesus, food, marriage, wheat allergy that is annoying the bejesus out of me at present, living with chronic pain,  friends, fun, brilliant ideas I steal from others, trash picking, fixing things up, art, kids, questions and observations.  I am, as usual, a good 10 years late to the technology party.  This is the blogging those kids keep screamin' about!  TADA! Thanks for reading!