Unprocessed Kitchen Merit Badge, Expert Level

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,558 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,822 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life 

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Unprocessed Kitchen Merit Badge, I was upping the ante and earning Level III. That’s right. The sequel to end all sequels. The coup de grace. The ending of a delicious trilogy.

The advanced EXPERT Level.

Gosh, I gave myself chills. I haven’t been so excited since the shoe sale at the outlet mall.

And if I thought Levels One and Two were fun, I was in for a real treat with the final installment. A dinner party. Who gets a badge for a dinner party? Farmgirls, that’s who. You could say it rocks to be us.

But not just any dinner party, of course: an Unprocessed Dinner Party. And when I say, dinner, I of course mean, dessert.

Evidently, my friends have sweet teeth beyond compare. The point of this party (besides having a blast, naturally) was to introduce them to unprocessed foods, find out their weaknesses, and then help them brainstorm ways to make those unhealthy treats into wholesome foods.

Real foods.

No food-like ingredients here.

No unpronounceable ingredients. (Although I have a heck of a time pronouncing acai and/or quinoa).

No 37 lists of chemicals in one, single, solitary slice of bread, no siree.

No pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, preservatives, food colors, additives, or otherwise frightening additions.

Just, plain, amazing, mouth-watering food. The kind that makes you weak in the knees and breathless. The kind that fills your house with a salivating inducing aroma. The kind that …

Whew! Is it getting hot in here or is it just my dark chocolate lava cake heating up the kitchen? Let me just use my cocktail napkin to fan my face for a sec here. That’s better. Onto the list my pals and I came up with!

  • S’mores (Can you imagine this delight with organic, fair-trade chocolate, a homemade cinnamon marshmallow, and perhaps a gingersnap cookie in place of the graham? Or a spicy version with chili-laced chocolate, a vanilla marshmallow, and a chocolate graham? Or maybe a peppermint marshmallow with a white chocolate square and a homemade Snickerdoodle cookie? The possibilities, folks, are endless.)
  • Homemade coffee-house drinks and creamers! I thought this one deserved an exclamation point, because who doesn’t love to sip on a frothy, creamy mug of goodness? But a lot of that goodness is filled with unnecessary calories, corn syrup, and fake foods, not to mention a painful blow to your wallet. Better to make your own, and so we did. We slurped (uh, I mean sipped) on homemade Hot Cocoa, Butterscotch Coffees, Hazelnuts Mochas, and Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
  • Popsicles! This is another one where the possibilities for flavors are practically endless. We came up with all sorts of varieties, but our favorites included: watermelon basil, green tea with honey, coconut and lime, peach and strawberry sangria, honeydew cucumber, and Greek yogurt. Mmmm.
  • The above-mentioned Dark Chocolate Lava Cake with homemade ice cream.
  • Homemade Twinkies. Yep.
  • And finally, enough cookie and cake ideas for us to open our own bakery.

Have a hankering to make your unhealthy vice more organic and homemade friendly? Do tell. Share!

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    I completed the beginner level of this badge so maybe the challenge for me is to keep going upward!! I found it is harder than you think it will be because each direction you look, there are things that must be changed.

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Hear Ye!

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Terry Steinmetz!!!

Terry Steinmetz (Farmgirl Sister #3600) has received a certificate of achievement in Outpost for earning a Beginner & Intermediate Level Glamping Merit Badge!

“I started out by finding all sorts of things for glamping in my home. I found a basket to put some tea things into for traveling, doilies, and a small table. Then I went to an auction, where I purchased more doilies, a tea kettle, and dishes. Then I went on the Pack-n-Trail as the nurse with our wranglers from Bible camp for a week of “roughing it” in a tent. While there, I decorated for comfort! I posted on the Farmgirl Connection some info and pictures.

I read Glamping with MaryJane as soon as my copy came! What are dreams made of? Glampers & glamping! I invited my grandgirls to an overnight stay in my glamper parked on the back part of our property. We dressed up, had a tea party, blew bubbles, went for a nature walk, and enjoyed the day and night! I made cucumber sandwiches, carrots & celery sticks with berries & chocolate cake for dessert. Our tea was Arnold Palmer tea—half iced tea with half lemonade. I gave them each a recipe card to take home to Indiana.

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The tea party was a great success. We all love to dress up & have some fun. The grandgirls even dressed their dolls & brought them to the party. I loved to watch their eyes as they checked out the whole thing. Their love of the outdoors is refreshing for me to watch in them! We spent the night in the glamper, with a thunderstorm. The youngest one is 5 and all she asked was “Is it safe to be in here, Moosey?” When I told her “yes,” she promptly rolled to her other side & went back to sleep until the morning. I am so glad that I could share my love of glamping with the girls. They still talk about it with me. I really have always loved to camp. Adding the glamp to camping is an added luxury that is fun & great!”

Terry, I love the fabric you chose for your curtains! MaryJane

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Terri, this sounds so fun! Congratulations on getting your glamping on!! Last weekend I had a chance to see the new Mary Jane glamper fabrics at my friend’s house. They are just the cutest ever. Then, we went out to RV lots and looked at small trailers that she could pull with her mini van. Man are they so cool inside! There are so many conveniences now and lots of easy ways to just get a trailer and hit the road.

    The wonderful memories made with your grandchildren are so precious. Who knows, another glamping farm girl just might be in the making from this experience!!

  2. Ruth says:

    How fun is that, and with precious ones you love! Memories ! Remember days like that at the camp on the creek at aunt and uncle at the end of grandma Mac’s farm.
    Ruth

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Hear Ye!

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Megan McIntyre!!!

Megan McIntyre (#5220) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner, Intermediate & Expert Level Blogging Merit Badge! Great job on knocking out all three levels, Megan!

Beginner Level

-Read Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal: A Guide for Crafters, Artists & Creatives of all Kinds by Tara Frey – Check!

-Choose your topic. Pick something you are passionate about. Check! Ramblings and Creations: coop to craft. hive to home.

leaves OH anne sized

Intermediate Level

-Start your blog. Find a blogging host that works for you, or host your own. Started Sunday September 9, 2012.

-Pick out a name, and publish your first post. Odds & Hens (after an exhaustive week of word play), next blog idea “Ravenous Me”…

-Don’t forget to add your blog to MaryJanesFarm’s GirlGab.com. Done! 

Expert Level

-Learn how to add pictures and customize your blog. Complete nearly every post! My most recent customization is the Book Review Library

-Publish at least 10 posts along with photos. Now up to more than 170 posts and several photo galleries

-Network! Create a blogging circle by visiting other blogs, writing comments, and leaving your blog’s address so they can visit you, also. Remember, building a blog and finding readers takes time. Be patient and have fun. Started, but will never complete! I also attended a local blogger’s summer camp so I didn’t get so lost in the virtual nature of blogging.

I have loved the experience of blogging. Learning about myself, being a better person, tapping into my skills and entertaining people. I plan to keep on blogging and gaining followers and traffic. Where this will take me? Nobody knows, but if this became a bigger part of my life than it already is, that is ok with me! I keep reading articles about SEO and other blog management topics. Have employed some of them and seen results. My first guest blog opportunity is coming up in the next several months.”

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Way to go Megan!! The thought of doing a blog totally intimidates me because it is a lot to learn. Plus having something interesting to talk about each time has got to be difficult after a few posts. This badge is a huge accomplishment and I wish you the best going forward!!

  2. Terry Steinmetz says:

    I agree with Winnie; blogging is intimidating to me! I’m glad though that you are able to do it!

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Horse Dreams Merit Badge, Intermediate Level

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,558 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,822 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life 

For this week’s Garden Gate/Horse Dreams Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I delved into and researched one of my favorite animals: horses.

I must admit, my knowledge of horses didn’t run deep up to this particular point. Oh, I could categorize them, all right:

Pinkie Pie

Rainbow Dash

Applejack

Fluttershy

Twilight Twinkle

Rosedust

Sea Shimmer

etc.

But  … turns out there are more to horses than the oh-so-majestic My Little Pony. Hey, gotta cut this farmgirl newbie some slack: I spent half my life in a toy store, you know.

Anyway, I lugged home a stack of library books the size of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, each and every one regaling the merits of equestrians and their noble steeds. To earn my Intermediate Level Badge, I only had to pick one.

Just one.

But that’s like picking your favorite child! (Which I totally was, right, Mom?)

I had to narrow down my choices, but how? While I was pondering over the intimidating list of my new four-legged friends, I dribbled a small bit of yellow mustard from my pita sandwich on the image of a golden Palomino, effectively highlighting it, you could say. I took it as a sign.

The Palomino would be the source of all my horse knowledge from here on out. I polished off my pita, took a napkin to the mustard-hued page, and began to learn about everyone’s favorite blonde, the grand and splendid and delightfully pretty Palomino.

Incidentally, Applejack, I do believe, was a Palomino. She was a good friend; remind me to ring her up soon. She’ll be impressed with all my Palomino facts.

Like:

No one knows for sure how old the Palomino color is, or where it originated from, but it’s mostly believed Queen Isabella of Spain is responsible for bringing them to America since they were her personal favorites. Thanks, Izzy!

Pegasus, the winged horse from Greek mythology, was a Palomino.

So was Mr. Ed (of course, of course).

So was Mr. Rogers’ horse, Trigger (and Trigger, Jr.).

In order to be registered on the Palomino Horse Breeders of America list, your Palomino must be as close as possible to the “color of a newly minted U.S. coin” and have a white or silver mane and tail. No brunettes or strawberry blondes, I’m afraid.

A Palomino is not a breed, it’s a color. Palominos can be many different breeds, actually: American Quarter Horses, Arabians, Morgans, Missouri Fox Trotters, Thoroughbreds, Tennessee Walking Horses, Morabs, Quarabs, Paint Horses, and even some solid-colored Appaloosas (that one surprised me, I confess). Applejack was a Hasbro. Haha! Get it?

Sorry. Back to research.

I fell in love with the adorable and spunky Palomino.

This badge did nothing for the little girl inside me who really, really, REALLY wants a pony.

I can see me now … hair blowing in the breeze as I ride through the meadow on the back of my Palomino … I shall name her Buttercup.

We’ll find one another someday. You can’t stop destiny. In the meantime, I’ll see if I can find Applejack’s phone number.

 

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    When I was a very young girl, Palomino horses were the epitome of beautiful and perfect. Like you mentioned, Roy Rogers had Trigger and Mr. Ed was on every Sunday night at 6:00pm. What was not to love about Palominos? As I grew up and did have the opportunity to learn to ride, my biggest loves were a dappled bay and a grey. Lessons were learned, risks were taken, new heights were jumped, and first Fox Hunts were ridden on these two colors. It was the bay and the grey horses that saw me through my teens and first year of college. They were the ones who raised yet another horse crazy young girl!

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Farmgirl Gratitude Merit Badge, Intermediate Level

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,558 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,822 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life 

For this week’s Each Other/Farmgirl Gratitude Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I threw myself (with reckless abandon, I might add) into the Thanksgiving spirit. No, not the mashed potato and cranberry sauce spirit (though I do throw myself into those with—you guessed it—reckless abandon) but the real Thanksgiving spirit.

Giving thanks.

In real, tangible ways, too, not just in passing. I settled down with another few chapters of the book, The Book of Awesome, which is required reading for this badge. And before you ask, no, it’s not my autobiography.

*tee hee

Anyway, after I closed the book with an ever-so-satisfying thump (Am I the only one who loves the final thump of a most excellent book? Yes? Hello? Anyone?), I pulled out my stationery set, the monogrammed one with the matchy-matchy envelopes, and my favorite set of colored pencils, markers, crayons, Sharpies, pastels, and fine-point pens. What? So I go a little crazy on Black Friday at the office supply store … if that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Another part of earning this badge was to write a letter to someone in a service industry in my town. I nibbled on my #2 pencil as I thought about who to send my thank you letter to. I usually left muffins and goodies for the mail person and the garbage man the week of Christmas, and just the other day, I brought a latte to my favorite nurse at my local doctor’s office, so I thought I’d better spread the goodwill around, you know? Who hadn’t I thought of?

And then I had it! The fire station. Under-appreciated and overworked, I just knew they’d love a little pick-me-up in the form of a well-penned letter from Yours Truly. They’d probably thumb-tack it up on their bulletin board and read it lovingly every time they passed by on their way to jump down the fire pole and save humanity. I was getting warm fuzzies just thinking about it.

Dear Sirs and Madams of the Fire Department,

Thank you, brave ladies and gentlemen, for the tireless and brave work you do to keep my little town safe. Day in and day out, you put your life on the line (and keep a fantastically shiny truck, to boot). I always rest assured that every blaze is under control when you’re around. My heartfelt appreciation and thanks for getting through the wildfire season, and also for coming to the aid of my elderly neighbor when I thought she had fallen to her death, even though it turned out she was only doing yoga in her front yard (sorry about that).

Also, on a personal note, thank you for responding so speedily that time I sort of, accidentally, very nearly burned down half the town. I am always very careful to remove my potholder collection from the stovetop now, and I only light scented candles on very special occasions and with witnesses who can remind me to blow them out.

Stay safe out there!

Sincerely,

Jane.

Now to decide whether to address it to Mr. January or Mr. April …

 

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    I am back on square one trying to do a gratitude journal daily. It is actually harder than I thought it would be because I forget, and then my mind goes blank when it comes to listing without being repetitive. I am better at random acts of kindness but I think I really need to get this gratitude thing down so I will keep at it!

  2. Karlyne says:

    Definitely Mr. April…

  3. I bought a pretty notebook with a art nouveau peacock and flowers on it about the size of my hand. I leave it on my bedstand so I can’t miss it and jot down what I am grateful for. Its all about thinking what you are grateful for. Some difficult days its hard to feel that .Thats when I just repeat the basics I am thankful for like a roof over my head, my healthy pets, food in the cupboard, things like that. Believe me, there have been times in my life when I didn’t even have that much. It’s ok to repeat the good things. I also jot things down on a hand made calender that a friend makes up each year of his wonderful photos. Usually it is nature pleasures, birds I spotted, wildlife signs, flowers that bloom , what’s happening in my gardens, etc. It takes just a moment and at the end of the year it is like a simple diary to reread and remember all that great little moments you tend to forget.

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Hear Ye!

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Daizy Bailes!!!

Daizy Bailes (#1093) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning a Beginner Level Recycling Merit Badge!

“I am in a rural area, so I take my recycling when I have to go to town for other reasons. My drop-off location for papers, plastic, and cardboard is about 45 miles away, so I have a bunch when I go. I have to send my glass to another city that my sister visits. Metal cans go to the local recycling center that takes only metal. I send aluminum cans to a bin that the animal shelter collects and sells for expenses like dog and cat food and vet supplies.

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I try to repurpose all my glass jars with lids. They make great gift containers. I try to repurpose my papers and cardboard for fire starters in the fall and winter and for vegetable garden paths with mulch on top. Metal coffee cans with plastic lids hold kitchen & craft & bathroom items … also dog treats.”

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Wow, Daizy, you made recycling not only purposeful but beautifully organized!!You are an inspiration for ways to accomplish this green everyday task for anyone who lives in an area that makes recycling difficult.

  2. sharon d. says:

    Great way of recycling Daizy and oh so cute too! 🙂 I love that you bring your cans to the animal shelter.

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Pay It Forward Merit Badge, Intermediate Level

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,653 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life

For this week’s Farm Kitchen/Pay it Forward Merit Badge, Level Two, I was excited to keep on keeping on with my own personal vendetta against hunger! Maybe I can’t change the world, but I can sure change a day in someone’s life, so that was my plan. Baby steps, girls, baby steps.

I got my bossy pants on (pinstriped, wide legged, look aMAYzing with heels) and set out. My plan for helping my corner of the planet and for earning my Intermediate Level Badge was simple: Collect as many canned goods as my little arms, boxes, reusable shopping totes, and car could carry, and donate to the same dear food bank I donated my handful of change to the other day (when I was earning Level One). Now the goal was to collect at least 50 items, but I just knew I could blow that number out of the water. I mean, let’s get real here, ladies, I could probably find almost that much in my own pantry (well, there was a sale on pineapple a couple months back … sometimes I get concerned that I won’t have the ingredients to make an emergency homemade, midnight Hawaiian flatbread pizza, you know? No? You don’t have homemade, midnight Hawaiian flatbread pizza emergencies? Huh. Curiouser and curiouser).

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So, I parted ways with 12 cans of diced pineapple (reserving a couple for said emergencies) and went on a little manhunt.  A canhunt, actually.

HAHA! Get it? CANhunt? I know, I know! Wipe the tears of mirth away, my friends, and keep reading.

Naturally, I tried to let a few pals know I was coming (so as not to become a Canned Foods Mafia or something) and I was pleasantly surprised to see them getting into the swing of things, too. We were really in the spirit.

The farmgirl spirit.

In fact, they wanted to come with me in my collection rounds, but my seats were full of a case of water chestnuts, a flat of French sliced green beans, lots of soup, some unopened jars of spices, tons of bags of pasta, a box of Turkey jerky, a dozen home-canned jars of peaches, and the bumper crop of my neighbor’s zucchini.

Yeah, I’d say 50 items was going to be a piece of cake.

Everyone I met was happy to give something, even if it was just a tin of tuna or a carton of powdered milk. At Midge’s house, she was in the shower, and since the kids know me, they let me in and were only too happy to donate all the vegetables they could find! Sweet kids. Very generous, I thought.

I rounded out my afternoon of nonperishable food hoarding and drove the booty to the food bank. Together with the volunteers, we unloaded my car (which was sagging under all that weight!) and made the cook very, very happy.

Turns out HE has homemade, midnight, Hawaiian flatbread pizza emergencies all the time.

I knew I wasn’t the only one.

 

  1. Faith perrino-DuBois says:

    Love-Love the enthusiasm & inspiration! Thank you for continually inspiring others to be their best selves – & please be sure to let us know when you start marketing some of that energy!

  2. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Hahahahaha!!! Great badge told in a hilarious story!! Hawaiian flatbread pizza? I never considered such a luxury at midnight. What have I been missing?? Hehehe!!

  3. Krista says:

    Such a cute story and wonderful push to help others complete the Pay it Forward Merit Badge. It’s a good reminder to be thankful of others and remember to give to those in need, especially at this time of year.

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Hear Ye!

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Sharon Demers!!!

Sharon Demers (Calicogirl, #5392) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Level Backyard Farmer Merit Badge!

“A friend that raises La Mancha Goats taught me how to milk. It is not as easy as it may appear. I know it is alot of hard work and I can only imagine how much milking it take to milk a cow.

My husband and I started raising hogs this past July. We did alot of research through the internet and books and finally decided on a breed we would like to raise. We chose Large Black Hogs originally from Cornwall, England. This breed is considered critically endangered. We chose the Large Blacks because of the critical rating but also because of their docile temperament, great mothering skills and their dark color. We live at a higher elevation and were concerned about sunburn.

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We LOVE raising hogs and I never knew how much fun they would be! Endeavour is our boar and his girl is Trudy. We plan on breeding to keep the breed going but also for meat. Just today after feeding them I asked who wanted to cuddle and Endeavour came over and started rubbing his face against me 🙂 (The photo is from an earlier cuddle time.)”

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Pigs are very smart , indeed. Our neighbor had a pot belly pig that lived in a pen beside our driveway. His name was Barnie and he would “sing” along the fence line each morning waiting for me to bring him a bowl of veggie scraps and give him a good scratch behind his ears! I think when they are raised with human contact, they become very tame.

  2. When we raised pigs oh so many years ago, they became way too tame and when we sent them to be butchered, we couldnt bear to eat them. I couldn’t eat pork for years, although I do now. They used to like to have us scratch their backs with a rake and when we tried to stop they backed us into the electric fence. They are very smart.

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Cross-Stitch Merit Badge, Intermediate Level

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,518 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—7,653 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ

Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life 

For this week’s Stitching and Crafting/Cross Stitch Level Two Merit Badge, you may think I’m preoccupied with autumn going into winter.

And you’d be right.

Sewing is the best when done in the autumn, with a mug of something warm, a blanket over your cold toes, your pet of choice snoozing next to you, and the fall lineup of your favorite shows just starting. Autumn is when I get all my best crafting done, winter is when I reap the benefits, and spring and summer are when I attempt to get my lazy patootie off the ol’ couch.

I may have to cross-stitch that mantra on something.

One of the best things about cross-stitching is it that gives you the excuse to really go nutty in the embroidery-floss aisle at the craft store. Those twisty loops of rainbow thread are almost better than a fresh box of crayons. And that, my dears, is saying something, ‘cuz there ain’t nothing better than a fresh box of crayons—am I right?

You know I am.

Add to my floss addiction (No, dear dentist of mine, the other kind. Don’t get too happy with me; I still only floss after eating corn on the cob and five minutes before my check-up.) the addition of a coupon and a fun, little box for organizing my new collection, and I was a golden girl. I don’t think there’s a time commitment requirement for this particular badge, but if there was, I would have fulfilled it just lovingly arranging and rearranging my embroidery flosses. They were as happy as clams at high tide in there, and I beamed every time I opened my box.

But seriously. Time to get cracking. And stitching.

I educated myself on the fabrics of cross-stitch: Aida or Evenweave. Or as I like to call ‘em, Sunday fabric.

‘Cuz it’s holy.

Get it? Holey?

Just a little cross-stitch humor there. Ahem.

Now, Aida and Evenweave come in various sizes, depending on how many stitches per inch you’d like. I know, I know, we’re sneaking some math in here. Badges are sly like that: You never know what you’ll end up learning.

Not being one to ever overestimate myself (ha!), I went with the most common and standard of the cross-stitching fabrics: a 14-holes-per-inch Aida.

What are you making, Jane, you might well inquire at this point? Well, I’m glad you asked. I’m making a Christmas stocking.

What? I like to get a jump on the holidays.

Also, my old stocking got a little too close to the roaring fire I was roasting chestnuts on last year. (It’s okay, it was too small, anyway. Santa knows I’ve been VERY good this year, and I’m expecting some serious loot. I mean, look at all these Merit Badges I’ve been earning all year. He has to be pretty proud, and I’m sure that will reflect in the amount of dark chocolate in my new stocking on Christmas morning.)

Of course, I had to choose my most Christmas-y of colors out of my floss collection, and I spent a merry afternoon cross-stitching.

The only drawback is putting my new creation away until Christmas Eve.

Suddenly, I’m in the mood for chestnuts.

  1. Elizabeth says:

    I’m sure this is something I should know how to do but have not mastered even the Basic Level:-( I’ve re-read the embroidery section of your kin folk~MaryJane Butter’s~book;-) & even copied the embroidery pages I wanted to try my hand at but alas the results were dismal at best.

    On a cheerier note: I too enjoy doing various craftsy things when Autumn begins each year. Basic hand sewing is one of my favorite (Zen-like) things to do on a drifty Autumn day; believe I’ve already patched-up/sewed the holes & tears in our quilts at least a dozen times this Fall. Recently made several pairs of leg warmers & tried to crochet my first pair of baby booties; they don’t look too bad but they are orange…which is just my practice color yarn…although I could convince myself that since the baby is due this Fall that those flaming orange booties would still be a practical gift…considering the season;-)

    I love the idea of making Christmas stockings now. And to try to tie this into one of MaryJane’s;-) previous posts; I feel homemade gifts are the best. Some of our most treasured (kept & not eventually recycled, re-gifted or discarded) gifts are the lovingly handmade gifts, given to & made for us from the heart. Several of these most cherished gifts have been uniquely crafted specifically for us. Crafted gifts just seem more personal & sincere so it makes them warming to give & receive. True gifts are usually difficult to part with because they are often made & given from the heart…this can often be said for self made gifts too;-)

  2. Winnie Nielsen says:

    Twenty years ago, I was cross stitching all the time. I did a few samplers, many small pillows and seasonal designs plus lots of Christmas ornaments. But somehow, I just lost the love and grew tired of it. Several times, I have picked up patterns and flipped through magazines and considered getting back into it only to scrap the whole idea. Cross stitching makes a long lasting and beautiful design and there are so many types of thread and yarns today to make elegant things.

    Making homemade Christmas gifts is a great option for someone who appreciates such handwork. Cross stitching a Christmas stocking is one idea for a baby gift to a child who can use and enjoy the work for many years to come. And, there are so many quick and easy ornament patterns that make perfect low cost gifts for friends, family, co-workers and teachers.

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photo-of-the-day

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  1. Elizabeth says:

    This is a wonderful path picture. Feels like I’m climbing the Autumn decorated stairs as well.

  2. Winnie Nielsen says:

    I love this photo too! There is something so peaceful and beautiful about a carpet of colorful leaves.

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