Putting the Pieces Together: Mosaics

Debbie is making a candle holder from emerald colored glass blobs.

This was one of those meetings when we sort of changed from our original plans. We were supposed to do gifts in 30 minutes or less, and we did look through books Cheryl sent for ideas, but we also completed mosaic candle holders. Ella was our instructor, and she shared many different ideas for application of mosaics. She also told us about the different mediums people use including glass bits, porcelain pieces, pebbles, and glass blobs. We used glass blobs because there is less danger of getting cut than with glass pieces, although Becky was brave and tried the glass strips. To make the candle holder, you must use a clear caulk or any kind of glitter glue. This is to ensure the transparency of the holder. Glitter glue adds a little extra sparkle. There are many things you can do with mosaic such as bird baths, stepping stones, flower pots, etc. The candle holder project is fast, easy, and a good introduction to mosaics. To make a more professional piece, you can also use grout to finish it off. So go break some old plates and get started.

Candle holder using glass strips.

Candle holder using glass blobs.

Basket Making

Members work intently weaving and tucking.

In June, we had our biggest crowd ever for a meeting of Kounty Krafters. Even men showed up to make little tote baskets. Joann ordered kits and instructed everyone how to assemble the baskets. The approximate completion time on the instructions says two hours, and some finished even before that, but most took a bit longer. It was one of the quietest meetings I've ever attended because members were so lost in concentration. It was a lot of fun, and learning the basics of basket making can help you progress to different projects.

Even the men got involved.

The finished product!

Homegrown Eating

Rob Hawk tells how to plant and care for this evergreen seedling.

In May, Cheryl presented a program on homegrown eating. Not only did she provide homemade biscuits and jam, along with pickled beans, she gave us valuable information about the importance of growing one's own food and purchasing locally grown foods. In today's economy, shipping costs are ever-increasing. If you purchase produce from local growers, you are not only supporting your community, but saving yourself the shipping costs. There have been many food recalls in recent times. If you know who grows the food you eat and how it is grown, you don't have to worry about food-borne illnesses. It is also very rewarding to commune with the earth and to reap the benefits of your work. Even if you're limited in space, you can grow salad items such as tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers in containers. You can grow fresh herbs year-round in a sunny windowsill. As a special treat, Rob Hawk came with Cheryl and brought us all fresh Norway Spruce seedlings. He spoke about the planting and care of evergreens, as well as the importance of teaching young people to care about their environment. He encouraged us to make the tree planting a family project. He really liked Cheryl's biscuits, too. I could tell.

All of us got several seedlings to take home and plant with family members.

Garden Baskets

In March, after a presentation about organic vs. natural foods, to keep with our gardening theme, for our craft time, we made baskets stuffed with garden implements, seed packs, and bug repellant soap. Members brought pots purchased at the dollar stores, garden spades, gloves, fertilizer, waterers, and decorations. We assembled them by first placing styrofoam or floral foam in the bottom of the pot. Then working from back to front, we placed the heavier items like the spades in the back. The gloves hang out over the rim of the pot, so the more colorful, the better. Then we placed the soap on wooden skewers and placed toward the front. We had bugs and flowers to choose from which I had made ahead of time from a melt-and-pour glycerin base with citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon grass, cedarwood, and peppermint oils, and colored with either vegetable dyes or natural mica powder. This scent is pleasant, yet seems to deter bugs, so it is great to bathe with especially during summer months. We made seed packs from pre-designed templates which I downloaded free on the internet. We stuffed them with seeds purchased at the dollar store as well. Then we arranged the other items and seed packets in the pot and filled in blank spaces with colorful shreds. We finished the project by covering them in cellophane wrap and embellishing with colorful ribbon. Each club member had a unique take on how to design the baskets. but they all turned out great. These baskets make wonderful, functional gifts.

This is a "dirt" cake which Ella made for refreshments.

Organic vs. Natural Gardening: Is There a Difference?

Yes. According to most experts, the range in the definition of natural can permit both pesticides and man made fertilizers to be used on these products. If you truly want toxin free foods, you should look for 100% organic labels on foods. They are sometimes a bit more expensive, but they are safer for consumption. For more information, contact the Extension office.

Reuse Old Wine Bottles

Ornament made with glass blob.

Ella melted these wine bottles in her kiln. They make unique and functional cheese trays. She took some little green Tabasco bottles I had saved and made some wind chimes. She also cuts the bottles into pieces to use in stained glass projects. It's another way to reuse and repurpose things that would ordinarily be sent out with the trash.

Here is a stained glass window Ella made.

Magic Place Mats

Joann shows us how to sew the place mats.

Ella watches Mary sew.

In February, we made magic place mats. They have four different faces which can be changed out by folding the place mat a different way. Many people use seasonal or holiday fabrics. Joann, who is a sewing whiz, demonstrated how to do it. We cut the pattern from brown paper bags, and there is a special technique for sewing the place mats. To get further instructions, contact Cheryl Beck.

Tell us a Story

When ECA director Rob Hawk came to visit our club, he shared with us all the services available. He is an Earth steward and likes to help others become one. He stresses spending time with young people teaching them cultural heritage as well as stewardship and conservation. Hawk does many programs at schools and camps for young people. During his visit with the Kountry Krafters, Rob read us a story by Maile Meloy entitled "The Ice Harvester." It was about adapting to an ever-changing environment and a person's place in that environment. All the members thoroughly enjoyed being read to by this handsome gentleman, but most of all, they took his message to heart. We look forward to working with Rob throughout the years.

Pie Wheel

Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy?

Joann gave each of us an ingenious little device that she called a pie wheel. She designed the back to show the ingredients and cooking temperature. The front piece looks like an actual piece of pie with a wedge cut out. The example shown here is for a cherry pie. She laminated both pieces and attached them together with a brad. On the back, she attached a magnet. It makes a great reference tool and a unique refrigerator magnet. Joann said that she got the template from Martha Stewart in the 1990's.

Spicing Things Up in the New Year

Long, red cayenne peppers drying in the sun

She passed around a basket full of different kinds of spices and asked us each to choose one. "Let's spice up ECA this year," said Cheryl Beck, Jackson Co. North Carolina Extension and Community Association, Inc. (ECA) Agent who led our planning meeting on Nov. 2. She explained as we made our various choices a little bit about each spice. Cumin dates back to Old Testament times. It comes from the parsley family and can be used in meat and poultry dishes. Cinnamon was originally used in love potions, and has now been discovered to have many benefits including stimulation of weight loss. Pepper was once rare and valuable. People took great risks to find it. It stimulates gastric juice and is also the main ingredient in capzasin, an arthritis treatment. Paprika is made from sweet, red peppers and can be used in most anything, not just as garnish. Oregano is Greek for joy of the mountains. It is easily grown in these parts.

We have made plans for an exciting new year. Our meetings will continue on the first Tuesday night of the month at 7 p.m.  We are still congregating at the fellowship hall at the Tuckasegee Wesleyan Church up on the hill. To see our schedule, look at the sidebar to the right. These plans are not set in stone, however. We may change our minds and tweak the schedule a bit, but we'll be sure to let you know here on the blog in plenty of time to adjust your plans. We are looking for new members to join the fun and fellowship. Come join us at our first meeting on Tuesday, January 4, where we will meet Rob Hawks, the director of ECA.

Peppermint Tree

Peppermint Tree with Lighted Glass Block

I tried my luck with another one of the candy grams, the peppermint tree. First, you take a cylindrical styrofoam cone and a couple of bags of individually wrapped peppermint candies. I got them at the Dollar Tree for a dollar a bag. You need a box of pins with the little round heads on them. Starting at the bottom of the cone, go around sticking the candies in a ring. Continue with layers until the entire cone is filled. Embellish with ribbons. I discovered that you need longer pins for the ribbons. Also, it would be better to use a taller cone so that the graduation is more apparent. I used a 12 inch tall cone for this. I just experiment until I get the best design. A couple of things to remember are that if you give them as gifts, people need to be aware of the hazards of sharp pins around kids and pets. Also, and I learned this the hard way, if you are transporting candy grams, be sure to keep them at a cool temperature or they will melt. I was delivering some one day after work, so I put them in a basket in my car where they sat all day in September temperatures. When I arrived at my destination and began taking them out of the basket, to my dismay, they had softened and melted. I was out about $50 in supplies. Vintage candies like soda poppers and root beer candy are expensive, unless you plan to make a lot of candy grams and can buy in huge bulk. Even jolly ranchers can add up if you are only using one or two colors per bag. That's one reason I really like the peppermint tree. It is relatively inexpensive and cute and functional to boot. I have mine here with one of the glass block lights I made. I used teal to match my Christmas tree.