Americana Rag Wreath DIY

Summer is almost here and while it is time for all kinds of celebrations it is also time for remembrances too. This Americana Rag Wreath is a great way to show off your Patriotism from your front door! It's simple, fun and brings lots of charm to all of your outside (or inside) get togethers this summer.

What you'll need:

1 14 Inch Foam Wreath

3/4 a yard of 6 different fabrics* (Mine were 44 inches wide) 

*You can pick more or less depending on your design groupings, but take into account how the colors and patterns look together. Complementary colors are best, I went with a Star theme and added a few stripes to give it more interest.

Start by cutting the fabric into 1.5 inch strips 14 inches long. Strips can be wider or longer, but this is the size that worked best for me. I liked the fullness of the longer strips, and a 1.5 of a inch width made a substantial knot. 

Once you have all of your strips cut you'll start tying them on to your wreath, by sliding the strips  under the wreath and tie on top using a double knot.  I alternated colors randomly and the location of the knots for aesthetic purposes as well as the way it "filled in" the wreath.

As you are tying the strips on, be sure to push them together so that it gives it a bunched appearance and ensures that the wreath is completely covered.

You can trim the lengths to make them more uniform or leave them as they are. I snipped a couple that were a bit out of hand..

The back is just as pretty as the front! 

You can see how I pushed  the strips them together for a fuller look. 

You could also add a short piece of ribbon or wire for hanging.

 This a great summer craft, it is even kid friendly. 

This would work for any season or holiday with a corresponding fabric.

Thanks for stopping by and I wish you and your's a very happy Memorial Day and a wonderful Summer full of Crafts and Sunshine.

If you love this idea but just don't have the time to make one for your home, This wreath or a version of it is available in my Etsy Shop, Farm2Ewe.

  

Bookish Tuesday- Sky in the Deep

I'll start with saying that I will pick up a young adult book not really knowing what to expect, some are really good and some are okay. This one while short was a truly great read. I admit, I'm a viking fan, I watch the shows and I enjoy the storyline. When I saw this on goodreads getting up and down ratings I figured I should check it out. I seriously read it one day. And can I say as much as I loved it, I'm sorry that's its a stand alone novel. I'd love to see more of the Aska and Riki clans.

The story line follows traditional viking processes; family being very important, battles to the death and sacrifices to their gods. The Aska and the Riki are two clans that share an area, one in the mountains and one on the coast, and a history of a god fueled war. Every five years they meet in battle  and everyone fights. Men, women and young teens are trained in the warrior lifestyle and honor to your clan is everything.

In Eelyn's first battle season her brother, Iri is wounded and left for dead, however he is rescued by his adversary's family and nursed back to health. Five years later, Eelyn again back in battle sees her brother and is captured by Fiske, the person who caused her brothers injuries and also saved his life.  As a captive she learns much more about herself, her brother and the war that has plagued the clans for centuries.

The interactions between characters is well written and feels true. Eelyn's feelings of betrayal from her brother, the animosity between the clans, the shame of being caught and losing honor. The world building makes you feel like you could visit this spot and see the beauty and simplicity of the way they lived. Day to day tasks involve you in the life of the clan, it's battles yes but it's also the coming home and building lives after the battles.

Over all it's a fast read that moves along smoothly, while it starts with a battle and ends with a battle, there is so much more in between. I give four stars only because I wanted more, of the story line towards the end. Wonderful building of the process and then the addition of another enemy but the change to fighting together was a bit sudden. 

Bookish Tuesday- Lola by Melissa Scrivner

For a debut novel, crime with a strong female protagonist non the less, this book was more than I expected and I'm hoping for a series.



While this isn't a book I would have normally gravitated towards, it was recommended to me by a friend, It was well worth the recommendation and I hope you'll give it a try too.

Lola, is a twenty six year old girlfriend of Garcia the leader of the Crenshaw Six, or is he? The rough and violent gang is up an coming one on the streets of south central LA. For a small group they have managed to build quite a reputation in the area, and are working to expand their territory. But it's not Garcia with all of the ideas and drive it's Lola.

She's a brilliant strategist with a passion to succeed, but due to her situation she would never be taken serious, so she plays the part of the submissive girlfriend while protecting the gang from betrayals and violence. She's torn between helping herself, and doing whats best for her neighborhood and family. She is responsible for a younger brother ,who tests her at every turn and endangers himself and others.

The Crenshaw Six becomes involved in a drug transaction that isn't at all what it seems and then they are pressured into making it right, when it wasn't right to begin with, It's a series of cat and mouse transactions between big players with this small gang in the middle. The situation spins out of control and while Lola is trying to keep the gang alive she is also protecting a neighbors child from the realities of her own childhood.

I'd warn readers that there is violence, quite bloody violence, and language but don't let that keep you from picking up this book. It's gritty and not a feel good read but it is worth your time.

Bookish Tuesday -Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Amazon B&N Kobo

I am of a generation before Beauty and the Beast was a Disney Fairy Tale, the version was I given as a child had the snarling dangerous beast, even the pictures scared me, let along the story. However it was one I wanted to read even if it caused nightmares and made hide under the covers at every strange noise outside my window.

This story is of the older version of the tale with a Russian influence. The details are gritty and very true to the time frame. While it does have a romantic flair but closer to the original tale than the watered down version we are giving our children today. I had picked a rainy cool day to read this book and it was the perfect setting for this tale. I almost read it one sitting and hated that I had other things that had to be done, I was so wrapped up in the storyline.

It is a young adult novel but it reads like a fairy tale. Beauty is a strong female character and not so winsome as Belle. She's been allowed by her father to break out of the stereotypical female role, by being allowed to hunt, think for herself and expect a sutor that will treat her as an equal.  Yeva, who's nickname from her father is Beauty, is faced with a the dilemma of staying with her sisters, who aren't the typical evil sister of Disney, or venturing into the woods for her missing father. She chooses the woods to find her father and he fathers killer. She find not exactly what she is looking for but more than she would have expected.

The storyline is filled with duality, Man or Beast, Woman or Hunter, Dragon or Lady, what is expected to make you happy or what will really make you happy. If you are interested in folklore, fairy tales or strong female leads, I'd recommend you add this to your list!

It's good for all ages, some blood and gore but nothing exaggerated and no "adult content", totally suitable for younger readers.

A to Z Challenge Reflections for 2018

Wow, what a ride April was! I actually managed to do all 26 posts and on time non the less! Haven't gotten the shirt yet, (as pictured above) but I think I should! 

I will start by saying that I've put together a few events in person and I can't imagine trying to put something like this together, something of this scope and all on the Internet! The A to Z team did a great job, as usual and I commend them! 

This was my first start for blogging A to Z in April, two with another blog. One I finished and one I almost finished, so when I decided to do it this year I had a some experience as to what I should do to make it a success at least in my mind. I jumped in but with some planning. I did my research and wrote and scheduled posts at least a week in advance just in case something came up. That taught me a valuable lesson, planning is everything and I'll continue to do that in the future, see you can teach old dogs new tricks!

I had blogged on reusing/upcycling and I used the "craft" category for most of it because I think that is almost were it fit in. Although I would consider the ideas as crafty, the category may have not resonated with others. If I were to do this again, I'd do something more out of the box...maybe.

I can say I found lots of new blogs to read! I need to update my reading list on the blog so that hopefully I'll introduce someone else to these great reads. After all that's what it's really all about right? I learned about Hungarian folktales from The Multicolored Diary and saw lots of wonderful craft and vintage ideas too. So many ideas and so much to read, I'll be following up with all of the ideas this summer during the "road trip", too.

To everyone that stopped by, THANKS and I hope that you had as much fun as I did with the A to Z Challenge. This was my attempt to get back in to blogging and I think it will encourage me to keep on track and continue to share our stories! Have a great summer and I'll talk to you soon.

Week 44 Year of Projects

The weather has been so nice this week, that I've been working outside until late after work so that doesn't leave much time for crochet. But I do have a finish on a special request.

A while back I had finally finished up a set of play vegetables. One of them was a beet.

My daughter and her best friend who are vegan immediately requested a beet pillow! I've got a couple of other items on the hooks but then I heard that Jessie is opening a vegan store! I was inspired to go ahead and start those pillows! It took me a bit to get the right shape. I was trying to start at the bottom  like I had done with the turnip and beet above but I just couldn't get a shape I was happy with. So I switched to the top and it finally came together! Now I just have to duplicate it again. I think I'll write it down this time so I can make more in the future for the shop, along with some other vegetables. 

The really fun, cosmic alignment part is that while I was working on these secretly of course, They were supposed to be a surprise for them. Jessie sent me a message and said she had finally come up with a name for the store... Up_Beet Market! So now I really have to get this out to her before the store opens! 

It's raining and the lighting is horrible but I just had to share these..lol

I think they'll love it, now I just have to dive back in and get the second one completed. Working with the bulky yarn is a work out, at least I'm getting some exercise today!

I've got a couple more layers on my rainbow ripple and a couple of squares joined on the peach blossom blanket. no pictures but hopefully a finish or almost finish for next week.

Be sure to check out the other Yoppers on Ravelry or join us each Sunday for updates.

Bookish Tuesday- Hold Back the Dark

Kay Hooper's Hold Back The Dark is number 18 in the Bishop/SCU series and it was wonderful until it wasn't. I'm a fan of Kay Hooper and have read all of her books and the Bishop Novels are seriously my favorites. Kay Hooper lives in North Carolina as do I and many of her books are located in the western part of the state, imaginary towns but they have the feel of the area. The Bishop novels can be read as stand alone but to get a full understanding you'll want to start at the beginning. The author does include a great appendix that gives information on the characters and their abilities which helps but to really understand some of the issues you'll need to start from scratch.

Hold Back The Dark starts out with a bang, almost a literal bang, and ends with a thud. Another hundred pages wouldn't have hurt either. We're introduced to a great new cast of characters and brought up to date on our old favorites, then the story really gets good or gruesome, depending on your point of view and then it's over. Just like that, it leaves you wondering how many pages were cut and why. It doesn't have a cliffhanger, there is a conclusion and a set up for the next part of the series but nonetheless it wasn't as satisfying as a normal Kay Hooper novel.


The basis of the story is that something horrific is happening in the town of Prosperity, that results in an all out call for help from a mysterious source to psychic all over the United States. Bishop and his team, plus new characters are responding to the call. Once they arrive there are quickly a series of murders. done by the most unlikely of killers. Tragedy strikes in the small town, one after the other and the team has to move quickly before the town is taken over and the evil escapes.

I'm hoping that there are new books in the works with more details and that the new characters are brought back for more cases. It's worth the read if you're a Kay Hooper fan but as a stand alone, not so much.