How To Make A Square Knot Hemp Bracelet

Making Square Knot Hemp Bracelets Are Easy

A simple square knot, and a bracelet for Sidney!

Hemp braclets are pretty, eco-friendly, vegan and very easy to make! Depending on how complicated the pattern is, how many beads you put on or your skill level they can either take a few minutes, or be more time consuming.

If you're up for it, here's a short tutorial on how to make a square knot bracelet - the easiest and most simple kind.

1. First, you need to cut your hemp string to the right length. You'll need two strings, one long piece at 80 inches and one short piece at 35 inches. I have a larger wrist (about 7 inches around), but it's better to have too much than too little. Eventually you will know exactly how much you need so you don't waste your hemp.

2. Then you have to find the middle of each string and tie a knot, making sure it's the right size for the bead you want at the end.

3. Now that you have it started I recommend using a clipboard to hold it still. Then you can start your knots. It can be a little tricky to get the swing of things when you're first learning, but halfway through you'll probably be a pro!

And to try and give you an idea on how it goes, my lovely illustration!

4. Hopefully you can see it, but basically your two short pieces hang down the middle.

5. Then you use your long pieces to tie the knots around them.

6. One long piece goes over top of the short middle pieces (above: the red one), then under the other long piece (above: the blue one). And you pull them tight until there is a knot. Now you switch it; the blue one goes on top and the red one goes under. Repeat.



7. Once it's your desired length you pull all four strings through your bead, and tie a tight knot right up against your bead so it doesn't come off. To make sure your knot never comes undone I recommend putting some epoxy glue on the knot.
 

8. Now you can cut off the excess string, leaving about 5 mm to 1 cm. And you're done!

Making hemp jewelry can be really fun, especially once you start adding beads, charms and pendants and exploring different colours.

I hope this was easy enough to understand and that you can make your own square knot hemp bracelets now!

Thanks,

Delicious Stew Recipe from "Vegan Lunch Box"

Healthy Simple Recipe For Vegan Stew

One of my favourite vegan fall dishes is from the awesome book Vegan Lunch Boxes: Around the World by Jennifer McCann. I call it butternut squash stew, and changed a few of the ingredients around to my liking, but this is what Jennifer McCann calls it and her recipe:

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"Moroccan Tangine

Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, peeled, halved, and cut into half-rings
• 1/2 medium yellow, orange and red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 to 7 cups)
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 2 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/2 golden or regular raisins
• Salt, to taste
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Measure out all the spices into one small dish and set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent, about 7 minutes (adjust the heat as needed to keep them from browning). Add the bell peppers and all the spices and cook, stirring, for another minute.
3. Add the diced tomatoes with all their juices, the butternut squash and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and summer, covered, for 20 minutes or until squash is almost tender.
4. Add the chickpeas, zucchini, and raisins and continue to simmer, covered, for another 10 minutes, or until squash is tender. Season with salt. Garnish each serving with parsley just before serving." - Taken from pages 97 - 98 from Vegan Lunch Box Around the World by Jennifer McCann.

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Now, I love this recipe just as it is! However, one day I decided to play around and added diced potatoes and carrots, putting them in when the squash goes in. I also took out the peppers because I like peppers fresh, not cooked, but that's just my preference.

In the book, McCann suggests serving it over couscous or quinoa. I also enjoy it over basmati rice.

I've served this particular meal to plenty of my friends and family and so far only my mom didn't like it, but she's pretty picky when it comes to food.

So, there it is! My favourite fall dish. And surprisingly easy to make! It seems like it would be a lot of work because of the lengthy ingredient list, but it's mostly spices, a few cans and then only a few vegetables that need to be prepared. Best part is, this makes a huge amount and can be freezed for a future meal!

Thanks, 

You can find Jennifer McCann's blog Vegan Lunch Box HERE!!

Play Time is Over

Sidney - December 29, 2012

Winter break is finally over and I am so glad! I’m not the only mom who feels that way, right? ‘Cause that might look bad. But as much as I love my daughter and spending time with her and my nieces, I am all kid-pooped-out and can’t wait to get back into a more “work”-like routine.

I have a lot of things I plan to work on now that I have some time to myself. There are items I want to get up on my Etsy shop; Little Shop of Treasures. Which means cleaning them, taking pictures and editing, researching, writing descriptions, titles, tags, coming up with a price and then advertising. There’s actually quite a bit of work to this side project but because it’s so much fun I don’t mind at all and even look forward to it.

I also just want to mention that over the holidays we got up to 13 sales! It’s such a great feeling seeing the number of sales and money we’ve made. I hope to get up to 50 sales this year for my vintage shop, or more! That would be wonderful.

My other shop is coming along nicely, too. I’ve been busy making bracelets, and am pretty sure I can get it up and running by the weekend. I hope many people will take the time to check it out, and that they like what they see.

Most importantly though I want to take the time to write more. Plan out better posts for my blog, and take the time to write for myself - short stories, poetry and my novel. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a novelist, or at least a professional (as in paid) writer of some sort.

Well, that’s it for now!

Thanks,

Cole

　

Tuesday Treasury - Cobalt Blue

'Cobalt Blue' by shemonster31

Boxingday sale, Blue kn... AndyVeEirn $140.00	Photo Earrings, Blue st... gintta $20.00	Vintage Deep Cobalt Blu... TheRealmCollec... $39.99	Small Glass Octopus pen... EmergentGlassw... $30.00
100 1/2 Inch Cobalt Blu... ktulip11 $4.99	Ceramic Dinnerware Set ... clearmountainc... $150.00	Little Girls Necklace, ... LittlePeepsEmp... $19.00	Sapphire Blue Typograph... CursiveArts $3.50
Set of 2 Enamel Cobalt ... vintagejunque $8.00	Abstract Painting Citys... artbytrudy $29.00	Cobalt Blue Leather Bra... JuratesJewelry $42.00	Cup Cozy - Cobalt Blue madeinlowell $14.00
Cobalt woolen jacket, b... Fanfaronada $175.00	BLUE Button Lot 39 Coba... ChickieVintage... $1.00	Lacy Cobalt Blue Hemp B... controversial $12.00	SALE- Cobalt Blue Bottl... FrannyRoseAnti... $20.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Happy New Year! 2013

Happy New Year!

It's officially 2013 today! Which means it's time to reflect on the year that has passed and plan for the year ahead.

Just the other day I was thinking to myself, "How would I rate this year? Good, or bad?"

Because every year I either title it as a year that was overall a good year, or a not so good year. So of course my mind started racing. Is a year considered good if more good moments happened? And vice-versa? Is it based on how many good things have happened over bad things? Can one good moment outweigh several bad moments? How do you tell if a moment is bad or good?

Then I thought to myself, how can an entire year be good or bad? There is no such thing as a good or bad year.

I had to stop myself from thinking into this too much, because it's just one of those things that doesn't actually have a real answer.

I did end up reflecting on certain things that have taken place in my life over the past year that have shaped me into a better person, or lead me in a better direction. I feel as if I am finally becoming the person I was always meant to be. Truthfully, I think this is happening because of all my "failures." Like having to move out of our apartment, the job hopping, having to wait to go to college, etc.

It's almost like, when there's nothing to lose you feel more confident in chasing your dreams.

And that's what 2013 has in store for me.

I'm forcing myself to be brave, to try new things, new adventures and to swallow my fear of failing and just go for it! In fact, I've already started this in the past couple of months.

In 2012:

• Graduated high school.
• I started my first blog.
• Submitted a short story for a contest (never heard back, but the point is I sent it!)
• Opened an Etsy shop.
• Started being creative again.

My 2013 Goals:

Personal:

Health - Over a year and a half ago I was a much healthier and fitter person. I ate really good, exercised routinely and took care of myself. I don't have any good excuses for why I let myself slide back into bad habits (eating out a lot, being lazy), other than it was a rough couple of years financially. So this year I want to make a conscious effort to lose weight and get in shape.

Parenting - I used to do a lot more with Sidney. We were always going out and doing things but in the past few months we haven't been until just recently. Partly because I was working a lot before, and then when I wasn't working we didn't have much money. Since we've been busy most days over winter break, it's reminded me how much fun going out is, and that yes it's worth the extra effort and money. Also that there are tons of stuff to do that is free, or very inexpensive. So in 2013 I want to do more, to go out more and be a better, funner parent.

Growth - I want to simplify my life. Declutter my belongings, re-organize my room and start practicing mindfulness. I feel like this will help me to grow as a person. I'm also doing The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, but instead of blogging about it I'm just keeping a journal for now. There's also a course called Seven Paths to Freedom by Curtis Rivers I want to follow as well, maybe after I have completed The Magic.

Professional:

Blog - I would really like to expand my blog and make it better. It's been a good experience so far and I'm enjoying it a lot. I have a lot of ideas I want to do. Add recipes, crafts, maybe even do a series of interviews with other teen moms. I have a feeling this will be a good year for my blog.

Etsy - I opened my vintage shop on Etsy in October and since then have already made 13 sales. I am having so much fun on Etsy and it's proving to be a profitable venture. I have a lot of hobbies and I hope to turn some of them into Etsy shops as well. In fact, I'm working on a new shop right now and will be selling hemp jewelry. I hope to open it in about two weeks. I might even look into participating in craft shows.

Writing - Writing is a passion of mine. I don't put as much time into it as I would like to, or should, but my blog has been helping me get back into the habit of writing every day. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a novelist. And for the past five years I have been kicking around this one story idea but have been too scared to write it. I've always just thought that I had to write it perfect so that others would enjoy it. Now I've decided to just write it for myself, the way it should be. This year I want to at least start my novel.

College - Once winter break is over and Sidney goes back to school next week I have to go find out about funding and apply for college. If everything works out, and it should, I will be attending college (finally!) this fall! This is huge for me.

Work - Again, once winter break is over I need to start looking for a part time job to help bring in some money. Unfortunately there aren't too many places hiring but I feel confident I will find something within the month.

So that's it. My plans/goals for 2013.

What resolutions or goals have you made for 2013?

Thanks,