I am truly amazed what I have learned this year alone. I have taught myself more techniques in sewing, gardening, canning, cooking, baking, and crocheting than I would have ever dreamed. I have also learned how to make my own vanilla extract, soap and lotion.
I have been researching even more about other toiletry products and am excited to now teach myself how to make peppermint extract, toothpaste, sunscreen, massage oils, and deodorant. I am also just discovering all the wonderful things you can do with coconut oil and also bentonite clay.
Bentonite clay in an amazing and versatile powder.
Here is what I found in my research so far.
For a clay mask: Using glass, pottery or wooden container, (do not use metals) combine bentonite with sufficient liquid to make a pasty gel. Let it sit 2 or 3 minutes. Using fingertips, spread a consistent layer to fully cover the skin ( avoid getting clay in mouth, eyes, ears, nose.) Sit, if possible, and relax, think some healing thoughts, and allow the clay to become dry. (4 min. for more sensitive skin and 10-12 minutes for normal skin.) As it tightens, it is working and removing impurities. Wash thoroughly and gently to remove the masque. Follow with a natural toner and moisturizer.
Alternatives to water in the clay masque-paste are almost endless: apple cider vinegar, essential oil waters (just a drop or two), herb tisanes (peppermint, chamomile, comfrey, calendula, ginger, lavender, etc.) Powdered herbs can be added to the clay before mixing (marshmallow, orange peel powder, slippery elm bark.
Clay facial masques, poultices, and baths remove toxins directly through the skin (the largest organ of elimination of the human body.)
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Taken internally, Bentonite can absorb pathogens, viruses, mold, pesticides, herbicides,remove radioactive residues and more. Bentonite’s drawing properties and ease of elimination facilitate the removal of intestinal toxins. Deep cleansing optimizes the body's natural healing abilities. Detoxification improves organ function and optimizes cell and tissue repair and provides resistance to infection.
Clay can help eliminate cysts, improves intestinal regularity, relieve chronic constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and ulcers. remove parasites removal from the intestines, provide allergy relief, and provide a positive effect on skin problems and anemia and acne. It reduces heartburn and indigestion by absorbing excess stomach acids.
Bentonite clay, alone or mixed with herb powders, can be applied as a paste for use on sprains, bruises, plant rashes (poison oak, ivy, stinging nettles), and on insect bites.
For splinters, tiny embedded plant objects, pimples, boils, etc., mix a teaspoon bentonite clay with enough water to make a thick paste. Spread on affected area and bandage overnight.
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I am planning on using the clay in the deodorant I am planning on making and as a facial mask. If you do use it internally, you must make sure it says for internal use. There are 2 different kinds out there, but have not researched much into that area yet.
I also wanted to point out that I research every ingredient before I use them. If you are pregnant and/or nursing, please research essential oils especially to make sure they are safe to use around you and your children.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Favorite fabrics
Well, to follow up on my favorite patterns, I need to let everyone know where I purchase my favorite fabrics.
Of course, most of the time, I shop at Jo Ann Fabrics because of the coupons and homeschooler's discount and other awesome sales they have. My favorites are the Calico fabrics.
The next place is eBay. You can find some awesome deals if you look hard enough. I did find a seller I like very much and she runs sales at her eBay store every few weeks. Her fabrics are quilting store qulaity, which means they are heavier and will last longer.
I also look at a few other websites. I have gotten a couple fabrics from Gehman's, a little more than I like to pay, but well worth the price.
There is also a fabric store I have been hearing about in Berlin, Ohio, Zinck's. Just looking at the website I get a headache though. It is just so much fabric piled so high. I can't imagine it taking under 3 hours to look through everything.
Of course, most of the time, I shop at Jo Ann Fabrics because of the coupons and homeschooler's discount and other awesome sales they have. My favorites are the Calico fabrics.
The next place is eBay. You can find some awesome deals if you look hard enough. I did find a seller I like very much and she runs sales at her eBay store every few weeks. Her fabrics are quilting store qulaity, which means they are heavier and will last longer.
I also look at a few other websites. I have gotten a couple fabrics from Gehman's, a little more than I like to pay, but well worth the price.
There is also a fabric store I have been hearing about in Berlin, Ohio, Zinck's. Just looking at the website I get a headache though. It is just so much fabric piled so high. I can't imagine it taking under 3 hours to look through everything.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Favorite patterns
I thought I would write today about my favorite web based patterns. These 3 websites offer patterns on REAL paper, not the flimsy tissue stuff you can use maybe once from pattern makers such as Simplicity or McCall's.
First there is Amy Ringger. I bought dresses and skirts from her before I started teaching myself how to sew. She actually has made it quite easy for the beginner sewer to learn, especially with the prairie skirt pattern.
The patterns I have bought from her are the prairie skirt, peasant blouse, and the bloomers/pantaloons.
With the prairie skirt, it is very simple to add length to make it maternity. With the peasant blouse I have made a maternity shirt and nursing nightgown for me. Tabitha has 2 nightgowns also from this pattern. The bloomers/pantaloons pattern Tabitha has a pair of bloomers that make wearing dresses for a very active 5 year old a must. Grady hasn't been left out. I have made him 2 pair of night pants out of the b/p pattern, you just don't put elastic on the bottom hem and they are straight pants!
Second is Common Sense patterns. I just recently made the drawstring dress pattern into a maternity / nursing dress with very few alterations, but if you are not pregnant or nursing, the dresses without alteration would still be wonderful.
Finally, I have not had a chance to buy any patterns from King's Daughters yet, but they also have real printed paper patterns and I am hoping to eventually have most of my children's wardrobe made from these patterns. I especially like the dresses with the pinafores. The pinafores are like a apron and help to keep the under dress nice and stain free. I am planning on making the pinafores out of broadcloth so that if they get too stained they are very inexpensively replaced. The dresses I am planning on using calico and quilting weight fabrics to make them last. I also like that they have infant sizes also. The dresses are just adorable and I have never seen a pattern anywhere else that you can make cotton knit leggings which are unisex, so that baby's legs stay warm in cold weather.
I'm not saying that I haven't bought other patterns, I just prefer the heavy weight paper to the thin tissue that is sent in commercial patterns. I do have a pattern I am currently working on that has infant knit gowns and accessories from preemie to 18 months. I am slowly cutting out every size so that if we are blessed with more children, I can make any size gown in about 2 hours.
On a side note, I find that infants wearing gowns are the most convenient for all those diaper changes, especially if they are not crawling yet and more frequent diaper changes with cloth diapering.
Some may say it is too expensive to buy each pattern for every size, but that is where a little planning come in. I buy felt at Jo Ann Fabrics when it is 50%+ off and then (yes it takes a little more time) I start cutting out each pattern biggest to smallest, so that I have every size that pattern has at my disposal when ever I need it, basically forever. I don't have to worry about a wrinkled or ripped pattern. I also label every piece I cut so that if they ever get out of order I still know what it is. I also keep separate pattern pieces in Ziploc bags to keep them together along with the pattern instructions. In the long run, making felt pattern pieces will save you tons of money, especially if you use it quite a bit. Plus there are no pin holes to worry about either!
First there is Amy Ringger. I bought dresses and skirts from her before I started teaching myself how to sew. She actually has made it quite easy for the beginner sewer to learn, especially with the prairie skirt pattern.
The patterns I have bought from her are the prairie skirt, peasant blouse, and the bloomers/pantaloons.
With the prairie skirt, it is very simple to add length to make it maternity. With the peasant blouse I have made a maternity shirt and nursing nightgown for me. Tabitha has 2 nightgowns also from this pattern. The bloomers/pantaloons pattern Tabitha has a pair of bloomers that make wearing dresses for a very active 5 year old a must. Grady hasn't been left out. I have made him 2 pair of night pants out of the b/p pattern, you just don't put elastic on the bottom hem and they are straight pants!
Second is Common Sense patterns. I just recently made the drawstring dress pattern into a maternity / nursing dress with very few alterations, but if you are not pregnant or nursing, the dresses without alteration would still be wonderful.
Finally, I have not had a chance to buy any patterns from King's Daughters yet, but they also have real printed paper patterns and I am hoping to eventually have most of my children's wardrobe made from these patterns. I especially like the dresses with the pinafores. The pinafores are like a apron and help to keep the under dress nice and stain free. I am planning on making the pinafores out of broadcloth so that if they get too stained they are very inexpensively replaced. The dresses I am planning on using calico and quilting weight fabrics to make them last. I also like that they have infant sizes also. The dresses are just adorable and I have never seen a pattern anywhere else that you can make cotton knit leggings which are unisex, so that baby's legs stay warm in cold weather.
I'm not saying that I haven't bought other patterns, I just prefer the heavy weight paper to the thin tissue that is sent in commercial patterns. I do have a pattern I am currently working on that has infant knit gowns and accessories from preemie to 18 months. I am slowly cutting out every size so that if we are blessed with more children, I can make any size gown in about 2 hours.
On a side note, I find that infants wearing gowns are the most convenient for all those diaper changes, especially if they are not crawling yet and more frequent diaper changes with cloth diapering.
Some may say it is too expensive to buy each pattern for every size, but that is where a little planning come in. I buy felt at Jo Ann Fabrics when it is 50%+ off and then (yes it takes a little more time) I start cutting out each pattern biggest to smallest, so that I have every size that pattern has at my disposal when ever I need it, basically forever. I don't have to worry about a wrinkled or ripped pattern. I also label every piece I cut so that if they ever get out of order I still know what it is. I also keep separate pattern pieces in Ziploc bags to keep them together along with the pattern instructions. In the long run, making felt pattern pieces will save you tons of money, especially if you use it quite a bit. Plus there are no pin holes to worry about either!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Lying to the children
It seems to be a weird and confusing fact that a lot of Christians seem to lie to their children.
First about all the holidays that grown-ups feel they need to "have a wonderful childhood" and "to create happy memories".
Then there is the fact about death. I keep coming across this in the Bible. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that when a person dies they go up to be with God, right then and there. It actually says that the dead are in a constant state of sleep, until the rapture occurs. I just don't get it. Children can handle the truth. So when the next child asks you why someone died, please tell them they are just in a very deep sleep and waiting for God to come back to get all of us to take us to heaven with him.
People also further the lie, that when someone is discouraged, they tell them that that dead person is looking down on them, so they feel comforted. That is an absolute lie, and if you really are Christian, wouldn't you want to be reasssured that God was looking down on them and that should be their source of comfort?
Please, let's stop all this lying to the children. I know we don't like it when they lie to us and God calls lying, deception.
First about all the holidays that grown-ups feel they need to "have a wonderful childhood" and "to create happy memories".
Then there is the fact about death. I keep coming across this in the Bible. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that when a person dies they go up to be with God, right then and there. It actually says that the dead are in a constant state of sleep, until the rapture occurs. I just don't get it. Children can handle the truth. So when the next child asks you why someone died, please tell them they are just in a very deep sleep and waiting for God to come back to get all of us to take us to heaven with him.
People also further the lie, that when someone is discouraged, they tell them that that dead person is looking down on them, so they feel comforted. That is an absolute lie, and if you really are Christian, wouldn't you want to be reasssured that God was looking down on them and that should be their source of comfort?
Please, let's stop all this lying to the children. I know we don't like it when they lie to us and God calls lying, deception.
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