Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Cyrie Wilson!!!

Cyrie Wilson (Pixiedustdevil, #6941) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Level The Secret Life of Bees Merit Badge!

“I read the book. I was surprised to find that bees were not colorblind. Well, maybe not surprised, but I hadn’t really thought about it till I read the book.

There is a small shop in the next town over that sells raw, unprocessed honey. Most of it is local or from other places in the county. I have a jar of unprocessed, unfiltered honey and a jar of raw, filtered honey.

Some of the benefits of raw honey: it’s naturally anti-fungal, antiviral, and antiseptic. Supports healing, regulates blood sugar levels, promotes digestion, lowers cholesterol, and helps build your immune system. I sometimes use it for allergies.

I have to admit, while researching the health benefits of raw honey, I found some information that got me angry. I understood that store-bought honey didn’t contain pollen, but I didn’t realize how bad it was. A lot of the honey in stores is from China and India and is imported illegally, and it is so denatured that it’s bad for you!”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … RubySlider!!!

Ruby Slider (#1663) has received a certificate of achievement in Make it Easy for earning a Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert Level Collect It! Merit Badge!

“My passion is antiques and one of my favorites is my Chambers stove. The one I have was made sometime between 1949 and 1952 in Shelbyville, Indiana. People are passionate about these jewels, so information on them is easy to find. Mine was my mother’s before she came to me and she is a Deluxe Model C Style 90 in pastel yellow. It has 3 burners, a deep well for soups, stews or baking, a griddle and broiler. The oven(s) are so heat-efficient that I can turn them off 1/4 to 1/2 thru cooking and everything comes out perfect.

I inherited a partial set of Franciscan dinnerware in the desert rose pattern. I have since added the serving pieces as I can locate them. I haven’t been able to locate any pieces locally, I purchased some pieces online and I’m always on the lookout for additional unique pieces. All of my collection was made in the USA. I keep finding pieces that are from Portugal.

As far as value, the prices I find are all over the place. For instance, I found a gravy boat in excellent condition for $9 and have seen the same piece for as much as $40. I have a total of 62 pieces. My wish list contains pickle dish, a three-tier platter, egg cups, and the crescent salad plates.

I’m not in any hurry to grow my collection. The happy surprises of finding a piece when you least expect it are the best!

I keep my antique Franciscan collection safely tucked away in a china cabinet, I also store my collection of cordial glasses in there (that I have been collecting since I was in my 20s). I have two small built-in display cabinets that house small vintage crocks, a glass hand-crank butter churn, and various kitchen implements. All are estate sale and flea-market finds. My favorites are the butter churn and a 1954 Art Deco Toaster that sits on the kitchen counter and works perfectly.

My collections are safe from dust and accidental damage, but also on display. As they should be; why have them if you can’t admire and use them?”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Rachel Enlow!!!

Rachel Enlow (#6992) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning a Beginner Level Gaining Ground Merit Badge!

“Last year, I made my first compost bin from a 50-gallon Rubbermaid tub. I researched what to put in and not put in, drilled holes for air and moisture flow, and got a rake tool for turning it frequently.

This spring, I bought a second tub because I couldn’t use my compost fast enough. I am pulling out of the old tub for this year’s garden and contributing fresh organic matter to the new tub. Next year, I will reverse that. I am already seeing some lovely decomposition in this new tub and really look forward to next year! I am hoping that this two-bin system will serve me well for many years.

In the picture are my two tubs, which I moved to be near my garden.

It worked out so well that this year, I had a lot of compost to use in my garden, nearly 30 gallons. That’s a lot for a small garden like mine!

The only “problem” I’ve had is that I must have thrown a cucumber in with it because this year, I am getting cucumber sprouts everywhere I used the mulch!”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Krista Butters Davis!!!

Krista Butters-Davis (MaryJanesNiece, #528) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning an Intermediate Level Crochet Merit Badge!

“For my Intermediate Crochet Merit Badge, I chose to make a diaper cover that included a matching hat. I then chose to make some baby booties. I gave four sets of booties away for baby shower gifts and made a pair for my son. When I was working on the baby booties, I invited my friend over so we could crochet together. She spent her time making her son a new blanket.

The diaper cover turned out a bit too large to fit my son, but should fit in no time. I enjoyed making the diaper cover because I learned how to do increases and decreases. The matching hat was a perfect fit and looks adorable on him. I really like learning how to make a hat because it taught me how to work in the round. Making the baby booties were my favorite. My first set turned out too small, but I soon picked up on what size hook I needed to achieve the correct size. Aside from that, the booties have turned out so cute and have taught me how to use multiple stitches as well as learn how to sew straps and buttons on with a larger needle.”

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Debbie Klann!!!

Debbie Klann (#770) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner and Intermediate Level UFOs Merit Badge!

“Making a list of my UFOs was enlightening … and a little shocking! I am one of those that LOVE the excitement of starting a new project … but there’s that in-between time of starting and finishing when I can get bored.

I made a list of all of my started projects by category. I have them all separated with all of the supplies I need for each one.

I had been planning on working on just what I had at home as a New Year’s resolution this year, but I was so excited when finishing your UFOs was made into a new merit badge shortly after the beginning of the new year. I have gotten into a routine of working on projects during the day if I have free time or in the evenings. I have made it a personal challenge to not buy or start any new projects. It’s now become as exciting to FINISH a project as to START … and such a satisfying feeling to keep crossing projects off of that list!

Here is a photo of a small tabletop-size quilt that I finished right away. I won’t tell you how long it’s been waiting to be finished!

In making my UFO list and going through each project, I did decide that I didn’t have an attachment to some of the projects anymore. Those I donated. This left me with what I had to finish for my Intermediate badge.

I had this quilt top that I knew needed something special to really make it stand out. I sent it to my quilting friend to finish on her long arm.

I also had an applique quilt that needed the quilting finished … I had put it off and put it off … now was the time to just get it done!

Eva Marie did a beautiful job, just like I knew she would. I was so pleased with her work!

I cannot believe that the pink quilt is FINALLY done! I had posted pictures of both quilts on the chatroom thread for UFOs. I said that after so long, when that final stitch was complete, I felt like one of my children had left home! It feels so great to have it done!”