Pretty and sweet, what more could you want?

Read it here – page #28

It’s the middle of winter, temps are freezing and there’s less than 7 hours of daylight each day, but it’s still possible to eat fresh local green stuff everyday. “How?” you ask.

Sprouting

and not just bean sprouts either. You can sprout all kinds of seeds to get your fresh local green fix and it’s really inexpensive too! Here’s a list of some of the seeds we’ve sprouted:

mung beans (pictured above)
alfalfa
broccoli
clover
radish
lentils
chia

It’s really simple too. All you need is a glass jar with several lids that have different sized holes (to accommodate various sizes of seeds as well as the different growing stages of the seeds).  Basically, you start off soaking your seeds  for a period of time, after which you transfer them to a mason jar. You will rinse (and drain) them several times and day for a period of time (depending on the type of seed), the average length being 3 days. Keep your jar indirect sunlight (mung beans can actually sprout in the dark) until the end when, if you want green leaves, you can stick it in a sunny window.  Just follow the package directions for the type of seeds you are using for soaking and sprouting times. How easy is that? Plus, it doesn’t get any more local than your kitchen window, right?

I get my seeds & supplies locally, but if you don’t have a natural foods store around, here are some online sources:

Mountain Rose Herbs
Handy Pantry Sprouting
Mountain Valley Seed Company
High Mowing Seeds

Times are tough, the penny continually needs to be pinched, and the economy isn’t showing any real signs of improvement. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t bust out some seriously rad handmade gifts for a little less than you expected this year.

Giving handmade doesn’t mean schlocking together a pine cone wreath for Aunt Nelda, and it doesn’t have to break the proverbial bank. Here are some DIYs that I like to call “scrapbusters”. Get rid of some inventory, create something amazing and save a few bucks in the process! Golden.

Replay Ground’s shirt cuff wallet is the ultimate in upcycling and lends itself well to a bit of customization. Bonus points if you make it out of a special shirt that is too worn to wear or doesn’t fit anymore. Your giftee will love it!

The jump rings, pin backs and clasps you need for this elegant upcycled earring necklace from Doe-c-Doe are pretty cheap and it’s possible that you have the rest of the materials and tools lying around your house. All that this project requires is just a little re-purposing, a smidgen of glue and a bit of finesse.

Confession: I have a bag of dusty tshirts stowed away in a closet awaiting some crafting epiphany that I’m sure I’ll have in the future. I’m almost certain some of you do too, and this Ruffles and Stuff sassy apron tutorial might just do the stash-bustin’ trick!

You only have to do a little thrifting (or burrowing into the backs of your kitchen cabinets) to find some really beautiful, or chintzy, cups and saucers for this gift-giving DIY. Kate’s teacup candles are so pretty and delicate, incredibly useful and would be such a sweet surprise to receive as a gift. Personalize it with the scent of your choice, wrap it up all purty and you’ve got yourself a gift.

Just as cheery to make as they look, and a fab use of fabric scraps, Vanessa Christenson’s colorful bunting garland banners are amazing decoration for a nursery, bedroom or any room in need of a little pep. They can be made in holiday-themed colors and fabrics, or with random swatches of fabric for a whimsical look. My festive wedding banner tutorial is along the same lines… these things have so many uses!

Every house has a cook… or at least someone who does the majority of the cooking. In my house, fortunately, it’s my lovely and ever-talented husband. These oven hand mitts by The Idea Room would be a super gift for any home cook. Mix up the fabrics and get a little crazy an see what you come up with!

Don’t see a project that suits your DIYin’ fancy? Keep reading savvy crafters…

1. Little Birdie Plush
2. Zippered Throw Pillow – You could totally get fancy with this and add some embroidery, felt shapes or pom pom string around the edge!
3. Fabric Covered Beads – Necklace or keychain anyone?
4. Sweetheart Pin Cushion
5. Fabric Pumpkin – Door stop? Holiday decor?
6. Drawstring Bag – Give it a theme: overnight bag, shoe bag, wedding accessories bag… oh the possibilities.
7. Needlebook
8. Dad Tie
9. Rolled Hem Handkerchiefs – Darling!

About the contributor: Shrie L. Spangler is one of the latest Indie Fixx interns. When she’s not doing story research, coordinating projects and coming up with posts, Shrie writes over on her blog, Lo & Behold. She also writes at guerrilla candy and at another rainy saturday. And she’s got her own Etsy Shop. She’s one busy lady.

Here’s a roundup of free cute and clever DIY printables from the interwebs. They run the gamut from oil & vinegar bottle labels & paper bobbins for embroidery floss to thank you cards & gift tags. Please enjoy and happy making. Do share if you end up using any of these. You can even share your results over on the Indie Fixx Flickr group.

Printable Cards for Embroidery Thread ~ How About Orange

Stamp House/ paper houses ~ Just Something I Made

Printable Bunting and Cupcake toppers ~ Creature Comforts

Granola jar labels and recipe ~ La Belle Bride

Lemon Recipe cards ~ Isly

Owl Gift Box ~ Nini Makes

We’re All in This Together Printable Poster ~ Sunny Fiona

Vintage Oil and Vinegar Labels ~ eat drink chic

• Printable Notecards ~ Ginger & George
• Ice Cream Printable bookmark ~ Wild Olive
• Geek Stationary: exponential Function of Love ~ Cottage Industrialist
• Stitched Map Love Art ~ Kind Over Matter
• Grow Indie Plant Markers ~ Grow Indie
• Assorted Printable Labels ~ Salt & Paper
• Modern Branch Stationary ~ Parsisi
• Thank You cards ~ Ali Foster Patterns
• DIY Grow Bubble Onesies ~ Daffodil Design
• Coloring Sheets ~ Vale Design
• Bunting Invitations ~ Nonpareil Magazine
• Candy Colored Gift tags ~ Hello, Good Gravy

Assisted living meant cleaning out his apartment though, which was full of stuff that he and my grandmother had collected over their 30 years in the Air Force and which was NOT going to fit into his new space. But, we all pitched in to help and in the process we discovered treasures that we wanted to hold onto. Things that held sentimental value for us.

For me, it was the molas they had collected from the San Blas Islands in Panama in the 1950’s. I already had a few that my grandmother gifted me one birthday many years ago, but now I have 2 more to add to my collection. I look at them and I remember the stories I heard about bugs as big as your head, Quonset huts, the monsoons and more.  My grandmother was an especially good story teller….she was also a writer and a librarian.

In addition to memories they evoke for me…

I love the colors, the themes and the technique of the molas. They are made by the Kuna Indians, who utilize a multi-layered reverse applique technique. Usually 2-7 layers are used and the more layers, the more involved and beautiful the mola turns out.

I am fascinated by reverse applique and someday (when my sewing skills progress beyond sewing on buttons and hemming pants) I will tackle my own project. In the meantime I thought you might be interested in trying your own reverse applique project. Don’t worry these are not as complex as the mola!

Reverse Applique Tutorials

1. Reverse Applique Thanksgiving Placemats at The Purl Bee
2. Embellish A Tote With Reverse Appliqué at Lazy Girl
3. Zippered Pencil Case with Reverse Applique at Sublime Stitching
4. Reverse Applique Pillow at Martha Stewart
5. Reverse Applique Quilted Heart Coasters at Sew, Mama, Sew!
6. Reverse Applique Beret at Crafty Stylish
7. Reverse Applique Tote Bag at Crafty Stylish
8. Mend using Reverse Applique at Craftzine
9. Reverse Stars & Skull T-shirt at Alabama Chanin
10. Messy Ribbon Reverse Appliqué at Sew a Straight Line
11. Loved Reverse Applique T-shirt at Crafty Stylish
12. Bow Reverse Applique T-shirt at Mad Mim

Here are some images of molas to get you inspired. The 1st 3 are my own.

by lathem.jenkins

by rodrigo gambassi

by gabriel kalup

by r0maing

by TravelsWithDan

Eco Travel Food Lid from Allyson Hill

Faux porcelain with recycled bottles & puffy paint from design*sponge

Wire Basket Pendant Lamp from Ashely Ann

Recycled Placemats from Craftzine

recycled reusable sandwich bags from noodlehead

chalkboard labels from the inadvertent farmer

DIY notebook lunch bag from design*sponge

Make your own Ketchup from Craftzine

custom mug cozies from Hazelnuts

Learn to make this tote with some Ikea fabric, basic sewing skills & an appliqué tutorial from TreeFall Design.

I can’t help you with the free time you need to make it though…you are on your own there.