Book Club- The Help

                                               Tonight was my night to host book club.

It was a great book to be hosting for.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is wonderful.

There is a movie.
I haven't seen it yet but hear its as good as the book.
A book with this much exposure makes hosting a theme night possible.

I love any excuse for a party, especially when I get to spoil my favourite Peeps!!

I spent the morning baking up a storm.

I got the bourbon ready and  made mint syrup for the mint juleps.

I found all the songs from the soundtrack, (but we ended up staying in the kitchen the whole time and never even listened to it).
Still a good soundtrack though.

For anyone who read the book.....some Chocolate Poop Pie!

Devilled Eggs Finger Sandwiches.

Minnies Caramel Cake....delish!!
And Coca Cola.

Abilene said Crisco was good for so may things, a candle being on of them.
Great for a conversation piece and added just the right touch for ambiance.

Oh and of course, Pecan Pie!!

Re-Cycling Bike Tubes.... to Make Purses!!

I am so excited to show you this.

I saw someones messenger bag... made from bike tubes.
                                         I freaked at the potentials!!

Lucky for me old friend of mine owns a bike store.
He willingly gave me a huge box of blown tubes destined for the trash.

I see a whole lot of rubber projects in my future!!

First I cut them open and cut out the valve stem.

I washed and rinsed a few to get the white smelly powder off, 

Then hung them on the line to dry off.

(The smell is almost all gone.)

                       I took a tube and cut it into 3 pieces and just started sewing.

I had no real plan but knew that something would take shape once I started sewing.
After a couple broken needles testing out how thick I could go, I got a good grasp on it.

                                               I decided I would sew a simple clutch first.
                     Something I could use right away and a project to showcase the potentials!!

                                             I am so happy and bursting with ideas!! 
                                       This is the start of a long love affair with re-using rubber.

 This clutch has a simple pocket inside for little extras that I always seem to tote around.

                                    This proves that recycling can definitely be feminine too!!

Fresh Home-ade Apple Cider

I have the BEST friends ever.
Today I got a jar of the most delicious, freshly pressed apple cider!!
HHMMMM!!
Thank you Farm Family!!!

Re-cycling Crafts-Beer/Soda Can Bracelets

 This idea comes courtesy of of Pinterest.......again!!
http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/11/cool-at-home-project-soda-pop-can-bracelets/


 I feel kinda awkward but the only cans I found in our recycling were cider/beer cans.
But the colours are pretty for a bracelet.

Pop cans might be more sturdy, not too sure, but these worked quite well anyways.
I cut the top and bottom off and split it up the centre to start.

 Then I shaped it into the fashion of cuff I wanted and left 2 centimetres on each side to allow for folding over.

                                              Its not as sharp as you think it would be.
I easily bent the edges over with my finger tips then crimped down with pliers for a tight edge.

 I bent the edges over once more which made the cuff a bit more rigid and again this was quite easy to do.
The tin is very pliable, forgiving and easy to work with.
Crimp one more time for crisp edging.
Mine is not sharp in any way.

I think I will try to embroider on some beads and bling but for today this is a good enough start.
This might be a difficult  craft for kids to do unattended.

5 Kids and Lots of Paper = Creativity

Paper Flowers

Re-purposed Trays into Chalkboards

 A cheap, quick and really effective way to spruce up dull, old school/craft trays.
A can of black spray chalkboard paint and fresh, bright cans of spray Rustoleum paint.

Spray even coats, I did 3 for good measure.
Then let the sun cured them in a few hours.

Loving the results.

A pretty chalkboard for schooling.
And 2 colourful trays for everything from beans, beads and magnetic things for learning.
Makes teaching fun!!

Dairy Farm Tour (photo journal)

Books on my Shelf This Month

There are far too many books I want to read.
I have about 20 in waiting for those "one day" reads.
But with piles like these I never get to those and both piles seem to keep growing.
I wonder if there will be a time in my life where I could and would sit all day and just read.
My little version of peace in the world.