How to make a Toothbrush Rug

I have been busy exploring rugs!  I have been using old bed sheets purchased at thrift shops and yard sales to make a tooth brush rug.

A toothbrush rug is a rug is an ancient form of Nålebinding, a Danish word meaning “binding with a needle”. It pre-dates knitting and crocheting.

The original complex technique was brought to the United States by immigrants long ago. It was modified during the 1930's to the easy method that we use today.  This is thought to have been done by WPA workers in Minnesota.

It became popular in the USA during the depression and during World Wars when fabric became scarce and expensive. The tool then was made from the handle of a toothbrush. It takes approximately 9 yards of material to make a 2 foot by 3 foot rug.

Here is why they are better than braided, or crocheted rugs.

● They last for years, 20-30 years

● They will not unravel if it develops any holes

● They are machine wash and dry. I lay mine down

when they are slightly damp so they air dry flat.

● They are reversible, meaning you can get twice as

much wear before cleaning.

● They are made from re-cycled fabric, they will not shrink

fade, or distort when washed

● Eco-friendly, practical and beautiful  

Here are some rugs I have made

If you are interested in making your own Toothbrush Rug, I have made a video to get you started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K4snhQdum0

Things I make

I had to compile an overview of what I make to apply for a juried Arts and Craft show, so I thought I would  share a bit of what I have been up to recently.

It all started with cans.....Aluminum cans.  I quill them.  Long ago (in the 70's) I got a kit to make chairs out of tin cans.  I retained the skills I learned and started creating other things.

I also started exploring using Plastic Grocery bags.  It is called Plarn for plastic yarn.  I have to cut many many bags up to create just one of these items  I make purses, rugs, and baskets from it.

I have also added recycling cotton sheets I get at yard sales and Thrift shop.  I  make pie cozies and cake dish cozies, and toothbrush rugs.  

If you are wondering what a toothbrush rug is, I will explain.  They were popular in the olden days, when money was tight, and fabric was hard to get...like in the depression and during the world wars.  Women would make these rugs with a "needle" made from the handle of a toothbrush.  They are also called Amish rugs, although I have never seen any sold here from our Amish.  They were wonderful, because you could create them from material scraps, and you didn't need to knit or crochet, but rather knot a rug together.  They would last years and year.  I have heard from many of my customers that they still use the ones their grandmothers made.  They are machine washable, and dryable, and reversible, so you get twice the wear.

As you can see I also use recycled bed sheets to make baskets

Lastly, I finally started to make the original chairs out of tin cans...soup, and veggie cans.

All of these can be found in my Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA

DIY Keurig Pod Holder from Ice Cream bucket

My daughter got a Keurig Coffee brewer for Christmas, and before I knew it, there was an explosion of coffee pod boxes on my counter.  I needed something rigid, waterproof and dishwasher safe to store a nice selection on the countertop.

An  Ice Cream bucket came to the rescue!

This holds a selection of 12 cups to choose from, it is lightweight, so easily carried to the table to help someone choose. It is waterproof, dishwasher proof, an it can easily be spray painted and decorated.  The other side is flat so you can paint or glue a witty picture or saying to it.

First I took the handles off the bucket, and cut a straight line from the far edge of the handle up the bucket to the other side.  I cut it with a box cutter, and scissors on the edge.

Next I cut a 2 inch circle template out of poster board.  I found the center of the curve, and the center of the sides and put a light dotted line with a sharpie. You can clean up the sharpie marks afterwards with rubbing alcohol.  I traced 12 circles on the bucket, and put an X with the box cutter in the center.  I used scissors to cut the circles out with.

You can see I experimented with attaching the circles, but found it made no difference in the fit, and actually diminished the structural integrity of the bucket

I turned it on it's side to make an arch of pods.  If I stood it upright, the pods didn't stay in well.

After that, It was off to the counter.  I will paint mine later, after I finish cleaning up the kitchen!

Enjoy and recycle!

Picture frames

With the announcement of twins along the way, and weddings in the air, I have focused on Photo frames.  I have been creating these, and hoping that they will sell well.  These can be found in my shop Ridgerunner Collections on Etsy.http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA

Cthulhu Hat

It was an interesting Christmas season.  I started making Cthulhu hats right after Halloween this year, and never got to put down my crochet hook all season!  These hats are so much fun!  They are rather intimidating trying to talk to someone with one on though, because you only can see their eyes.  There is a mouth whole that you can eat and drink from while wearing the hat.

I will posts pictures of my hats.  Of course  they are available on my Etsy shop.  If they aren't there, just conversation me what you want and I can get one out to you within a day or so.

Here is the link to my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA

Here are the hats.

I don't know if this video will play, but try it http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=157055167675954

Paid Experts

I just checked weather for tomorrow.  Now mind you, we are talking of weather only 24 hours in advance, so we aren't talking about a great leap of meteorological magic...
The results:
Tomorrow it will be a cloudy 59 degrees (According to Accuweather)
Tomorrow it will be a partly sunny 55 degrees (According to WNEP 7 day forecast)
Tomorrow it will be partly cloudy 71 degrees (According to Weather.com)

How is all this possible?  Aren't these folks the "experts?" There difference of 16 degrees tomorrow. It will either be mostly sunny or cloudy.

Just like the rest of the world...even the experts, paid to predict based on their knowledge, cannot agree what it will be like in 24 hours.  This is true of weathermen, Investment bankers, security experts, business consultants and a whole range of  paid "experts."  Yet we continually look to these folks with the mistaken belief that their information can make problems go away.

I am a firm believer in education, and research.  But it is still important to gather information, and then use the common sense you were given to base your decisions.  Do not rely on "experts" to make your decisions, they are for you to make.

I ran into a T-shirt in a magazine yesterday.  It said in essence:  Trust your instincts.  The Arc was built by novices, the Titanic by experts.

UPDATE:  The weather turned out to be sunny, 66 degrees.  They were all wrong.

That will teach them that cops don't like to walk!

This little gem was found in our local Williamsport Sun Gazette.

 Police chief issues at least 90 parking tickets

By R.A. WALKER rwalker@sungazette.com

POSTED: April 17, 2010

Gregory Foresman apparently took it to heart when Mayor Gabriel J. Campana ordered "all" city police officers to walk city neighborhoods for at least 30 minutes of every work shift. The directive included command staff.
After Thursday night's City Council meeting, Foresman was asked about his neighborhood visits so far.
The chief acknowledged as accurate reports by Pennsylvania College of Technology students that he had been seen on foot and issuing tickets on Vine Avenue this week.
He said he also visited the neighborhoods around Lycoming College and reported finding too many violations in the residential neighborhoods with permit parking around both schools.
Violations of permit parking carry a $25 fine, and Foresman said he issued at least 90 tickets just in the first four days of the new policy.
The mayor and police administration began the mandatory neighborhood walks last year but curtailed them over the cold-weather months.
When he revived the effort last week, Campana said he wanted officers to spend time getting to know the city's neighborhoods and their residents. He urged officers to talk with residents whenever possible.
The mayor also said officers were to be given their foot patrol assignments at the start of shifts, and the assignments would be determined by neighborhood needs and crime trends.

Influence of Fathers

I was settled down for another episode of  "Undercover Boss" and started noticing a trend on this show, which was, how much people speak of their Fathers.  Some of these men were moved to tears just thinking of dear old Dad.  Then I started to think about other reality based shows, where people can speak from their hearts.  Guess what they speak of?  Yup, their Fathers.

What was really amazing is that it doesn't seem to matter how dastardly their Father was, or how admirable...These men's lives were directly influenced by the actions of their Fathers.  They all seemed to want to prove something to their Fathers, although most of them had lost their Fathers years ago.  Their Father's influence on their lives had not diminished at all!  It also seemed that the older the men were, the more they reflected on their Fathers,  They finally got to see life from their Father's eyes.

I have often cringed with how Fathers are represented on television, usually stupid, inept, far inferior to their wives.  They need molded and changed by women to prevent them from a life of their own stupidity.  I have known all along it was not the case, but can't help but wonder if part of the problem in this country is the fact that we present Fathers in such a terrible light on television.

We really need to repaint our picture of Fatherhood.  A Father's love, and work ethic and attitude on life will impact a child throughout their lives.  My generation did not get to see their "Dad" much.  He was expected to go to work, and not get involved in the trivial family matters.  Mom took care of the day to day things.  He wasn't encouraged to show emotions, but rather "take care of things."  Maybe it was this absence that caused us to miss how very important he was.

I lost my Father when I was only 16.  I never lost his impact on my life.

It is funny how that works out.

My Aluminum Can Project

I have been creating things from Aluminum Cans for decades. (Yes I am old.)  I thought I would share some pictures.  Most of my work can be purchased at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA

Enjoy!

Great detective work Lou!

Here is a report of a new species of  lizard being discovered.  

No, it wasn't found on a remote island.  It is heavily populated and largely deforested Luzon Island of Northern Philippines.

It isn't small and obscure.  It was a 6 foot, 6 inch freaking long monitor lizard.

It wasn't heavily camouflaged, as it is brightly colored.

It was even unknown.  The locals regularly eat them!

But yet, the  discovery of the monitor lizard was described as an 'unprecedented surprise' by scientists.

Great detective work there Lou!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1264010/New-species-giant-lizard-discovered-Philippine-forests.html#ixzz0kTNLA95y

Coronary Disease in the Heartland

Recently, I was scanning through the radio stations, and came upon a station touting that they were in the "Heartland of Pennsylvania".  I never really thought of our area as that, but geographically it could be true.  If that is the case, I think Pennsylvania might have coronary disease. 

I have always been aware of the low pay scale in our area.  The medium income is about $37,000.  That means half of the folks here earn less.  Most that I know earn much less.

I have always been told that the cost of living is so low, that the low wages is all relative.  I never could figure that out, as I pay the same for fuel, cars, medical tests,  clothes and household goods as the city folks.  We probably pay more for food, as our options are limited, and it has to be trucked in. The only thing I can see is our houses cost less.  But it costs the same to repair and build those houses...but we get less for it.  I pay more for my water and sewage as the small communities are socked with the state mandates, and have less of a customer base to pay for the upgrades.  I pay mightily for taxes for our schools, as the salaries of the teachers are negotiated using national average scale.  I don't see the lower costs.

What I see are fewer options.  Instead of cultural events that are offered, I can go to the mountains.  Instead of museums and live performances, I can go to the mountains.  Instead of vacations in warmer climates, I can tent in the mountains.  I wouldn't think of taking my laundry to the cleaners, or having someone else cut my hair, or fix my house, or car.  People who live here do it themselves, not because they can, but because they can't afford to pay someone else to do it. Whenever I see live performances, or cultural events, they are all funded heavily by grants and subsidies of the government.  The people in the cities are paying to keep the masses in the center entertained. 

What I am amazed at, is even though we live in an area with such low pay scales, is that we are still losing jobs.  Companies don't to move here, because there are even lower paying areas out there, for example in the south.  They don't even have to pay the higher taxes, nor the energy costs that they do to be in Pennsylvania.  So the cycle will continue.

Don't get me wrong, I love my mountains.  I chose to raise my family here.  I also chose to encourage them all to get a good education and get the hell out of here.  If you stay, you will be trying to raise a family in an area that lives on 12 hour shifts...a couple of day on, a couple of days off.  The drop out rate at the local school is 30%.  Every year, it is those 30% that stay, locked in by poverty and lack of education.  The population is declining.  The smart move on.  I once was told by a friend who went off and got a law degree, and came back to practice.  He said "You know what people think a good lawyer is?  Any lawyer from outside of the area."  Even the native perception is, if you are smart, what are you doing here?

It is sad, but I guess it is the way of all rural areas.  But is is like a disease.  The area is getting poorer, less opportunities for making good wages, the smart ones are leaving.  How many generations until the old heart just gives out.  Just like coronary disease.  The extremities of the body may function and look good for awhile, but eventually...

Science News Today

Today is science day.

The Hedron Collider managed to successfully smash two atoms together, and the earth didn't get sucked into a black hole.  My daughter claims she feels like she has, but I assured her that is was only Tuesday.

Secondly, Toyota has called in NASA Engineers to study the sudden acceleration problem. So who knew it was rocket science all along?

Third, The courts have ruled that sections of DNA cannot be patented.  The judge says it is commendable that companies have managed to identify certain sections that indicate cancers, or such but essentially those sections can be found in nature anywhere, therefore, not patentable.  I guess I will have to remove my application for the fresh air I discovered when I stood on my porch today.

What Country? Gift Shop

I recently stopped at a local "Country Gift Shop" that was new to the area that I live.  It is an area that has gotten thousands of taxpayer money to create a rails to trails bicycle pathway through beautiful scenic mountains.  An Area that is promoting itself as "Pennsylvania Wilds."

Since I  make a  variety of homemade items, that are rather unique.  I have been making the rounds of the local gift shops to see if I can place a few of theses items in their shops. 

What is amazing, is not one of the local shops sell local arts and crafts!  They all look like cookie cutters of each other, and exactly like what you can find in any mall across America. They all have cookie cutter patchworks done in shades of browns and greens,  created in the Philippines, or China.  Nothing produced locally.  They are are scented with candles made in another country.

What Country are we decorating from?  I will be truthful...most of the stuff in these places neither look artistic, nor real.  If you place them in a home, it doesn't say, I love my country, and it's rich history, it says "Look, I can get hoodwinked by local merchandisers!"

Seek out your local artisans.  Support the shops that support local craft people.  Put down that punched tin ornament made in China, and go find the real thing!  It is worth the effort.

 Oh, and if you are curious, here is where my Central Pennsylvanian crafts can be found. It certainly isn't here in Central Pennsylvania.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA

How to make a garden fence out of sticks

I needed a fence because my dogs have a habit of running without looking where they are heading.  So, I didn't really need it to be strong, rather to have a visual impact to the dogs, so they stay out.  I am also an organic gardener, so I wanted something that looked natural.  The only cost to this fence is for cotton string to bind the intersections.

This is how I did it.  I use 4 main pieces, about 2 1/2 feet long as the legs to go into the ground.

 Next, I use two smaller pieces of study twigs between each of the 4 longer ones.  Then I took long sticks (these are the sucker branches that we trimmed off our apple trees this winter) and threaded them over and under these sticks.  I would start and stop wherever there seemed to need bracing.  I only would do about 4-5 sticks in each intersection.  Then I tied each intersection.  Here is the first row done.

I would loop around each side an then knot it at the bigger sticks, as they are the main supports, but just criss-cross tied the intersections of the smaller sticks.  Here is an example of the knots.

  I added two more rows of sticks, making sure each intersection is tied.  I tried to keep them straight as possible, but wasn't too upset if it varied, as I liked the look of a "natural fence"

Here is the finished fence, I used a hammer and pounded the longer sticks into the ground to make it secure.

I hope this gives you ideas on how to use natural materials to help around the garden.

It's Friday! Happy Spring!

OK, it is a little early, so maybe we can force the issue a bit.

St. Patrick's Day

They say on St. Patrick's day, everyone is Irish!  Many people people think green and beer when thinking of St. Pat's Day.  Others think of Corned Beef.  When I think of St. Patrick's Day I think onions! 

This was the traditional day to plant onions in my Italian neighborhood.  Here in Central Pennsylvania, what the weather will be like on St. Patrick's day is pretty much a crap shoot, but I have managed to plant onions on this day every year.  I have gone out and poked through the snow to frozen ground and dropped the onions into little indents with the belief of Spring, and have never been disappointed!  My husband has laughed at me all bundled up out there trying to find ground to plant the onions, but low and behold, when the thaw finally hit, there were lines of delicious onions ready to serve with the dinner.

This year, like last year, was exceptional in the fact that I was able to actually turn the onion patch over before I had a chance to plant it.  Already there is a promise of Spring out there, the crocuses, and pussy willows are already accepting the gift of warmth and sun.

It doesn't take much, just go to a local Agway, or seed store, and get some onion sets.  Onions aren't really picky about the soil, but they like sun.  If you can't even prepare the soil it is OK.  Just poke some holes in the ground a couple of inches deep, and drop the onion sets in.  As I used to tell my children when they were little...just make sure the fuzzy side is down.  In a couple of weeks, you will have wonderful spring onions to serve in salads, or greens to chop into almost any meal, or just on the dinner table ready to dip in salt and eat fresh!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Some Other Planet

I have begun to wonder if perhaps, there are two earths.  I know I am supposed to be here on the earth, In the United States, in the heart of Pennsylvania. Then I watch Television.  I saw on the news yesterday, where several women were being treated for problems associated with the injection of silicone caulking into their buttocks.  They thought they were getting approved buttock enlargements.

My brain began to try to digest all of this information laid out so randomly at once..."What would silicone caulking do to the body?" Then, it sprang into action with "Why would you allow someone to inject caulking into your butt?  "People want to have large butts?"  "Who thought this was a good thing to do?"  "Why are women so stupid?"


I must be on another planet.  Don't get me wrong, I feel it is a good thing to want to look good. I thought we were in a recession.  People still have money to invest in their butts?   Maybe the we haven't gotten poor enough yet.

I have read about earlier American women and corsets.  They were so anxious to have an hourglass figure, that they allowed their corsets to alter their bone structure.  The reason fainting couches were so popular, was because the corsets were so constrictive that they couldn't breath properly, thus fainting was common.  I thought that was behind us....but I guess stupidity and the quest for beauty has never left us.  I guess that the only thing behind us is caulk.

 

Smile it is almost Friday!

Sex Addiction

I saw on the morning news that Tiger Woods was going to be released from a clinic that was treating him for Sex Addiction.

Today, Sex - a basic biological function, is an addition.  Which means it is a disease.  We already have  drug addiction and alcoholism classified as diseases.  He didn't need a clinic.  He needed a Jewish Mother. Send him to live with a real Jewish Mother for two weeks.

For two weeks he would be told how dirty he was, how disgusting these women were, how horrible his wife has been treated, how messed up he has made his children, and future generations from his children.  More importantly, how embarrassed he made his Mother!  How she was so ashamed to go to religious services, or the grocery store, or worse, the beauty parlor!

I bet two week with a very talented Jewish mother, and Tiger Woods would have such a complex, he wouldn't be able to get it up for three years!  What addiction?!

I caught a commercial (one of my favorite topics) for a weight loss program.  It starts "I eat when I am lonely.  I eat when I am stressed out".  Guess what?  Eating is another biological function....we eat because we need to do so to survive.  So, although it is not an untruth to say that, everyone eats, and probably everyone has eaten in almost any emotional state you can name.  I eat when I am hungry.  I can't seem to control that.  And yes, we have food addicts.

So I have decided I am a breathing addict.  Yes, I know I should be able to control it, I just haven't been able to stop.  Maybe I can go to counseling or take some time off work to see if I can stop this habit.  I wonder if they have developed a patch for it.

Being "Rich"

Dictionary.com defines"Rich" as "having wealth or great possessions; abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds; wealthy: a rich man; a rich nation."  If you ask most people if they want to be "Rich"  they will say "Yes!"

I have spent considerable time defining what "Rich" means to me.  I thought this was an important thing to do because once you establish what "Rich" is,  it helps you determine what you are willing to do to get  "Rich"

Here it is:  "Rich" is not holding your breath when they total up your groceries.

Yup, simple isn't it?  I have had money, and I have been really poor.  And the point at which I think I feel good about where I am, is the point that I supply the basic needs of myself and my loved ones.  That's it.  Everything else seems to fall into place when you define it this way. 

I have seen a whole bunch of unhappy people, define what they think is "Rich" by dollars, possessions or status.  As soon as  a person defines what "Rich" is,  it also defines what they are willing to do to get to "Rich".  Since I have set my goal for "Rich" it makes me question how hard I work to keep my job, my time, and my interests to fit the definition.  I am forced to question "Is this really necessary for me to do this in order to be "Rich?"  It has served as a steady rudder for me.

I have always been amazed what others have set up to consider themselves  "Rich."  The saddest thing is, how many are unhappy with their lives until they feel they have reached that level. 
So I guess I am asking you the reader, to ponder what it is that makes you "Rich", your answer may surprise yourself.  Once you clearly define "Rich" by dollars, status, friends, relationships, possessions...then ask yourself how much of what you do actually contributes to that goal.

In the meantime,  according to my gauge, I am "Rich", and very thankful for that!