Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Rebecca White!!!

Rebecca White (Beccalou, #6430) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner, Intermediate & Expert Level Quilling Merit Badge!

“I have always admired quilled projects and decided that I should learn this wonderful art form. I purchased a beginner kit from one of the craft stores and started working. Buy the time I had finished, I had two books and more kits on order.

I made several cards and gift tags that I really love. Some of my fellow sisters in the card swap may be seeing them soon.

I saw a certain photo of something on Facebook and I thought that it would be neat to do with quilled flowers. I painted the canvas with different colors of gold and copper and then drew on the silhouette with dark paint. I then quilled the flowers and added it to the canvas.

I really loved how it turned out. I have it hanging in the studio/barn where I do most of my craft work. The flowers add a bit of definition to the hair, and the hair itself is quilled.

I decided that I really wanted something that showed lots of flowers and needed something for my studio to put up that would make me happy. So I designed a plaque. I took a wooden 10/10 board and covered it with scrapbook paper, and then printed the word BLOOM on it, then I decorated it with all the different kinds of flowers that I could think to make.

I think that it turned out better then I expected. It is very cheery and I love the bright colors of the flowers.”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Emily Hack!!!

Emily Hack (alterationsbyem, #2951) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Expert Level Entrepreneurial Spirit Merit Badge!

“After joining the Farmgirl Sisterhood a few years ago, I was able to research opening my own business. Well, nearly a full year out of my craft business, and I am so pleased. I have been able to take my farmgirl love of reduce, reuse, and recycle and make home décor and usable items that people love.

Best sellers: Golden Girl wine glasses! Emily Hack’s Inspired Collections range from Repli-Kates to custom wedding gowns, while my home series has personalized wine glasses and cutting boards. I have branched out to doing craft shows all over my home state of Pennsylvania.

It has changed my life and allowed me to have a creative outlet from my new day job as an accountant. Some days, juggling my family, school, work, and the small business feels like I am in a full tornado. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … April Tovar!!!

April Tovar (Dreamer42, #7038) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Level Herbs Merit Badge!

“I planted 2 herb pots for outdoors on my patio, as my garden space is small and full. I also planted a 3-potted herb pot in my kitchen window. I planted basil, sage, cilantro, and parsley. I added a green onion to my herb pot even though it’s not an herb, but the bulb starts came from my great-grandparents’ farm back in Michigan, which has recently sold outside of the family. The onions are the only part of the farm I have left.

Looking good so far! This is the 3-plant pot in my kitchen window. The middle basil plants were starts I rooted from my mother-in-law’s plant; the other two, basil and parsley, I planted from seed. I have already harvested basil for my basil lemonade and the cilantro for enchiladas.”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Cristy Marxsen!!!

Cristy Marxsen (#6637) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Aprons Merit Badge!

“I made an apron! The apron is adorable. I found the fabric and pattern on a quilt run this past weekend. I think the attached dishtowel is just too cool!”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Natalie Garcia!!!

Natalie Garcia (#7004) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Community Action Merit Badge!

“I’ve been aware for a little while that my town does not allow for the keeping of backyard chickens. The city council is responsible for this law and I spent about an hour looking into the city ordinances. What I found was that it is unlawful for any person to keep any chickens, ducks, pigeons, or other fowl in the city limits unless the same are at all times kept confined in proper pens or enclosures. No animals are permitted to be kept within the city limits, including those described in this section, unless allowed by any applicable zoning ordinance pursuant to Title 15 of this code. All pens or enclosures required by this section shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and shall not be placed or maintained within seventy five feet (75′) of any dwelling. Further zoning information revealed that residential areas are zoned for household pets (defined as: Animals or fowl ordinarily permitted in the house and kept for company or pleasure, such as dogs, cats, or canaries, but not including a sufficient number of dogs or cats to constitute a “kennel”) and lofts for racing pigeons only. I could keep one cow, though. 12-7-5: KEEPING MORE THAN ONE COW PROHIBITED; PERMIT REQUIRED TO KEEP ONE COW.

There is a local group that is pushing for a change to these rules, to allow urban backyard chickens. It’s called the Ogden Chicken Alliance, and there is a corollary group called C.L.U.C.K. (Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping) and there are Facebook pages. OCA is Ogden Chicken Alliance and CLUCK is Ogden CLUCK I do belong to both pages and have attended my first meeting.

Many nearby towns DO allow chickens, but not here. There are semi-monthly meetings and the group has gotten a booth at the local farmers’ market, where we will be selling t-shirts and handing out informational flyers. Fingers crossed.”