Today we set up a geocache and released two travel bugs. What is a travel bug you ask? You may even be asking what is a geocache ... Well here is the story. A few months ago I attended a Texas Parks and Wildlife class about geocaching . I was at my second BOW retreat (becoming and outdoors woman) and it was one of the offered class. I had heard of geocaching , but when I walked into the classroom I had no idea what to expect... I had no idea that this would become a new obsession for me and my family. What I found out was that geocaching is outdoor treasure hunting using a GPS device. It is done on a very large scale. People from all over the world hide containers, small and large, all over the place and then log the coordinates online for other people to find. You probably walk right by geocaches every day and have no idea that they are there. A travel bug is an item, any item, that you attach a special tag to that allows you to track it's progress (using a trac...

This is simply a smaller version of my Spring Break Frisbee . I wanted to make something small that would fit into medium size geocache containers and yet still fly. This is what I came up with. You can use two strands of any worsted weight yarn. I made my sample projects with cotton, but feel free to experiment with other fibers. This cute little flyer fits into the palm of your hand and can still fly as far as it's big brother. It is a fast little project... and if your dog won't fetch it... it would make a fine beret for a smaller breed. You can make this in a single color by holding two strands of the same color together, but I prefer the look of two color. It is also an excellent way to remove the cob webs from those hard to reach corners... just aim and let it fly! For this project you'll need: Size K hook 2 worsted weight yarns. Tapestry needle for weaving in the ends Round 1: Holding 2 strands together and using the K hook use the magic ring method to SC 6 int...

For Makeover Monday I made a gift basket for a friend. I whipped up a couple of cool natural beauty aids in the kitchen: Oatmeal bath, lavender linen spray, lavender bath powder, and an herbal massage oil. I then designed this quick little pattern for a facial scrubbing pad based on a washcloth pattern that I'm fond of. I simple combined single crochet stitch with the triple to create a textured surface... Here is what I did. Use an F or G hook and worsted weight cotton yarn. Round 1-Make a magic ring and then crotchet 6 into the ring. Round 2-SC and TR into each stitch around for a total of 12 stitches (6 single and 6 triple). Round 3-( SC into next stitch, SC twice into next) repeat all the way around for 18 SC. Round 4- (SC into next, TR into next, SC and TR into the next) repeat all the way around for a total of 24 (12SC and 12 TR) Round 5- (SC into next 3 stitches, SC two stitches into the next) repeat all the way around for a total of 30 SC. Slip stitch into next two SC...

I love to knit and crochet... but I've always been a bit challenged in the braid department. I decided that since my little one is so in to the princess thing I was going to learn to do hair as part of some mother daughter quality time. As I write these words she is tapping on my shoulder armed with the braid book we got at the library... she's ready for more... So here are some cute photos of our first attempt at girl style... Now I'm off to braid some more.

For Makeover Monday I made a spa basket for a friend. I filled it with scented soap, a washcloth , a scrubbie , and a facial cleaning pad (you'll need to be signed into ravelry to follow the pattern links). I also made the basket by combining several patterns that I found on Ravelry. My friend and I had intented to sit back with a mud masks on our faces and watch the kids play. Sadly the closest we got to a mud mask was rinsing my 3 year old (caked in mud) off with a hose in the yard. We had fun attempting to chat while chasing the kids around, however. I also made this cute bath toy/ scrubbie for a give away on my Worth a Fig blog ... Check it out!

I have been trying to makeover my wardrobe lately on a budget of $0... so I have been making my own new accessories to add a little something to my drab style. I made this beaded skinny scarf/belt. I think it very colorful and cute... but I don't really know how to wear it. The picture in the book looked really nice... but I just feel like a dork with a scarf tied around my waist when I try to wear it with my jeans. It looked a little better around a colorful t-shirt paired with one of my hippy skirts... but my sense of style is seriously impaired. I also made a number of headbands to replace my daily bandana kerchief... they look ok... but they really look more like something someone who is about 12 years old could pull off... and not my 40 year old self. Oh well... I'll keep trying. Jenn Anyone have some patterns for some cute knitted, or crochetted accessories that I might like? Jenn

This past weekend I went to a BOW retreat in Brownwood, Texas. BOW stands for Becoming an Outdoors Woman. In the state of Texas TPWD (Texas Parks and Wildlife) sets up these events twice a year at different locations around the state. They offer classes in outdoor skills... to read about my experiences at this event and the other one I attended in the fall just follow this link . As a fund raiser they had an auction that featured sporting goods and a few handmade items. I made my first basketry sale at the event. I also volunteered to teach or assist the current teacher in the basketry classes at the next BOW event. I am now feeling inspired to make more baskets. Perhaps it is time for me to volunteer to teach a class at the public library and see how it goes. Cheers, Jenn