I was featured on Craft Gossip!!!!

http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/etsy-stalking-gifts-for-men/

Does your Gift tell a story?

Does your gifts tell a story this year? Do they speak from your heart? Or are they plastic and from some foreign country?
Buy Handmade and let your gift tell a story!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5YKQZMJF_Q


www.thegreenmum.etsy.com

Buying HANDMADE Online and where

Since I have started my campaign of BUYING HANDMADE this Season, people keep asking me, " If I was to buy HANDMADE ONLINE where do I go" So I wanted to make a list up for where to go and some of my favorite places.

1. www.etsy.com Etsy is a Online Community of Crafters all over the World.

2. www.shopopensky.com With a 365 Return Policy and a Statement of ANY PRODUCT, ANY REASON, ANY TIME

3. www.artfire.com A Community of Suppliers and Crafters

4.www.smashingdarling.com an Upscale Community of online Handmade Products....very new and making waves on the Handmade Online Scene

5. www.handmadespark.com Is an online Community that is supportive to Sellers and an avenue for shoppers!

I love this Article I found while writing this...check it out

http://www.craftster.org/blog/online-venues-for-selling-handmade-goods/

I hope this Season you make an effort and buy some handmade gifts, if not all your gifts this Holiday Season. Its helping the Environment, your keeping your money local, your doing your part of helping with Global warming by buying local and the product hasn’t been shipped half way around the World. Every item you purchase from a local artist or crafter it strikes a small blow to the mass production factories.

And most importantly the giver of a handmade gift has avoided the dreaded long lines of BIG BOX Retailers, they have dealt with someone who has put forth love and care into an item and they are pleased to help you with your purchases. And that item is something that is meaningful and is one of a kind. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is missing in the world of mass production.

I really like the idea of ONE OF A KIND or as the Crafting Community calls it OOAK…..you know for all certainty that when you walk down the street with your newly fashioned Market Bag that has been made with love and care, that not one person on this Earth has the same bag…..how does that make you feel….pretty darn special!

I hope I have inspired you to rethink your Holiday Shopping this Season and enter the World of Handmade and give a gift that is one of a kind. Made with tender loving care, by the hands of an Artisan. I challenge you, to take a pledge….BUY HANDMADE!

Happy Holidays

Teachers Gifts

The Green Mum Cabochon is a PERFECT answer to Teacher's Gifts this Holiday Season. Whether its so for a THANK YOU or Christmas, my jewelry is affordable and adorable!

I have new things in the Shop all the time and if you dont see what you want ask, I love Special Orders!

Hair Clips, Rings, Earrings any teacher would love and HANDMADE Gift!

www.thegreenmum.etsy.com or contact me directly at ukestad5@att.net!

Happy Holidays

Hat Season is here

Hat Season is here and my fingers have been going a mile a minute crocheting! Order Early for the Holidays! PLUS if you order a hat this week from me I will add a FREE Vintage Chic Bobby Pin!!!! www.thegreenmum.etsy.com

BedHead

I found this little blurb on The Green Mum:

http://crushable.com/style/make-your-own-bedhead/

A Handmade Christmas this will be!

I have made an announcement this year....NOTHING will be store bought for Christmas this year, and everything that everyone receives this year will be handmade by me or a friend of the handmade World!

I'm on a mission of sorts to promote handmade and the crafter's who create them! A girlfriend of mine in Australia has been doing this for some time now and I love seeing the creations she comes up with. And her family is in love with her ideas and gifts. So I thought to myself I'm going to do this too and promote HANDMADE for Christmas!

WHY, you ask? For one I feel the USA needs to fall back on its own creativity and not that of China's for gifts. Also it is helping those who are trying to make a living off of their crafted goods. And lastly there is so much love and time that goes into ones goods and they are special and what better way to tell your loved ones....I love you and I'm passing on someone elses love to you.

YES it may not have all the sparkles and bells and whistles that China can give you but oh the JOY to open something special that someone else made and love went into that item.... TENDER LOVING CARE! Crap from China has no love in it just sweat from children who should be out playing and enjoying life and poisoned plastics and lead of which will be recalled in 6 months! SERIOUSLY!!!!

In our house, we are Little House on the Prairie FANATICS.....and I think back to the first Season and it was their first winter on Plum Creek and they didn't have money for gifts so everyone joined forces, worked hard and made something special for everyone......Pa made Laura a saddle for her horse, Ma made Pa a new plaid shirt, Laura made Pa a beautiful knitted scarf. The JOY they all felt and pride of giving handmade gifts it was a special day for them and I want my Christmas to be special for my family as well!

So I challenge you, do you think you could do a HANDMADE Christmas? Would your kids be upset with NO bells and whistles, NO sparkles and spinning princess'? Open your mind to the possibility of HANDMADE and surprise them with a gift from the heart NOT CHINA! Go to the Thrift Store and re purpose something, RECYCLE an oldy to a new re purposed piece of furniture, picture frame. THINK OUT OF THE BOX, open yourself to new ideas, pick up a magazine and let your creative juices start to flow! HAVE FUN and make it a HANDMADE CHRISTMAS!

And if you need help with ideas just email me I have a thousand leads to beautiful people with loving hearts and handmade goods!
www.reddinghandmade.com www.etsy.com www.handmadespark.com www.smashingdarling.com


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cooler Weather is settling in........

Let me keep you and your loved ones warm! I love this changing of Seasons makes me feel renewed!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/36801057/harvest-festival-earflap-oranges-reds

Take care of your teeth you only get one set!

This was instilled in me by my Grandparents who had false teeth at an early age......41 years old and not one cavity! Thank you Lord!

Now my husband on the other hand got home from an emergency visit to the Dentist today and informs me he has to has about $2000 out of pocket costs done to his teeth!

Remember to go to your bi-yearly appts and brush FOR GODS SAKE!

Oi Vey!

Good Night!

Whats new in my Etsy Shop....we are getting ready for the Fall

Etsy thegreenmum

Homemade Veggie Burgers from an article on Etsy

1 plump clove of garlic, smashed and peeled
1 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, cooked
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup, cilantro and/or parsley leaves, plus their stems
1/2 medium red onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, roughly chopped
1/4 cup zucchini, chopped fine
1 1/2 cups bulgur, cooked
2 eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Dash of Tabasco sauce
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Place the garbanzo beans, garlic and olive oil in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Puree until uniform and completely smooth.

Transfer the garbanzo bean puree to a large mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix well to thoroughly combine.

With clean hands, form six patties out of the mixture and set them aside to rest for at least 10 minutes. Don’t make them patties too thick or they’ll be hard to flip and will crack.

patties2.jpg

Add a good amount of olive oil to a large skillet, enough to amply cover the base, and set it over medium-high heat. Once hot, lay the patties into the pan. Lower the heat to medium and cook until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and sear the other side, until golden brown, an additional 3-4 minutes. If adding cheese, after flipping, lay thinly sliced cheese over top of the seared half. Then cover the pan with a lid. Once the cheese melts, remove the lid and cook an additional minute.

Serve veggie burgers on a platter with grilled bread, foccacia or buns and a choice of the following fixins’: mayo, ketchup, sliced tomato, mustard, avocado, sliced onion, greens.

From the Garden to the Table in 5 minutes

I stepped outside in the garden picked 5 Green Zebra Tomatoes 1 red some basil and a cucumber.....came inside and shopped and dressed it with red wine vinegar and EVOO....look what gorgeous creation I made:

See whats new on the Green Mum

Your one stop shop for being GREEN and Earth Savvy!

Check out this Treasury I put together on Etsy for being kind to our Mother Earth!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5198e611178eefd6ae8af5/be-kind-to-mother-earth?index=0

Please if you have a chance go check it out!

Zucchini Muffins

This is an awesome recipe for zucchini muffins....ENJOY!

3 cups of whole wheat flour
1 3/4 brown sugar
2 organic eggs
3/4 oil
...1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 tsp cinnamon
3 cups a shredded zucchini

Makes 24 muffins Bake at 350 for 25 minutes

Need to muster time to get back to BLOGGING!!!

I have been so bloody busy with my jewlery and doing shows and 3 kids! I DONT HAVE TIME to be here! I need to make time! I found a couple BLOGS I want to follow...so I better come back!

HAPPY WEEKEND and I will be back!

Think you dont have good soil for a garden.....THINK AGAIN

Its time to get our brains rolling for gardening. But I can just hear you I dont have good soil, I dont have enough room...BLAH BLAH BLAH.....

Check this out: GARDENING IN PLASTIC BAGS!!!!!!

Mother Earth News is MY FAVORITE MAGAZINE and Website for everything GREEN!
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2008-06-01/No-Dig-Garden-Beds.aspx

DIRECTIONS:
Go to your local Gardening Center

Depending on your space purchase as many bags of soil as you think you may need

puncture holes in one side for drainage

the other side slit the top open to plant your plants

Have fun and plant whatever you want.

This method is really AWESOME for people who live in an area where the soil is really bad! HAVE FUN and HAPPY GARDENING!!!!!!!

Vegan Minestrone Soup ala Crockpot

Today was a good soup day!!! So I whipped up some DELISH Vegan Minestrone!!!

8 cups of water
1 cube of vegan vegetable broth (concentrate)
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce ( vegetable of course)
1 cup of diced onion
3 garlic cloves diced
1 can of garbanzo and kidneys beans drained
3 large carrots diced
2 small zuchinni diced
1 cup of mushrooms chopped
1 large pototo cubed
salt and pepper to taste
ALL OF THIS IN THE CROCKPOT and either do on LOW for 8 hrs or on HIGH for 4 hrs
30 minutes before you are ready to eat, taste for seasonings and add 1 cup of dry pasta of your choice......and close the lid and let pasta soften....and serve!

EXCELLENT way for the kids to get their veggies and it is so healthy! We had it with 10 grain whole wheat french loaf!!!!!

ENJOY!!!!!!!

Winter Garden Update

Today I planted 18 Swiss Chard plants.....I love this stuff!

Also since the last time posting about the Garden, I have had to put down SLUGGO......Im not sure why BUT we have a terrible problem with little black slugs about an inch long and they really got my cabbage and BrusselSprouts.....so I sprinkled SLUGGO all over I hope this helps...after this BIG rain we are gonna get this next week Im going to put down Diatimatious Earth to ensure they are gone!!!
CHECK OUT THIS Earthworm......he was 4 inches long and as big as round as my pinkie! The biggest worm I have ever seen!!!!!

Here are some PIX updates!

Biggest Loser......

OK what is this about you ask.....a GF of mine invited me and some other women who we have all been friends for 5 years together....on a weight loss challenge VIA Fatbet.com

I agreed on 15 pds in 3 months.....

Part of my New Years Resolution was to excersise EVERYDAY.....so this can fit in to this whole "challenge"

Im tired of being FAT.....its ugly its uncomfortable and IM DONE...Im serious this time! SO today I weighed I wasnt too unhappy I didnt hardly gain anything over the Holidays I was really careful!
BUT I have alot of weight to loose...ALOT! So this is going to be a long journey but I will do it and succeed!!!!!

Today I rode the recumbent bike 4.3 miles, walked and cleaned house normal stuff.

But tonight I made some YUMMY Vegan Potato Leek Soup...safe for me and safe for my daughter who has milk allergys!!!

Recipe:
8 cups of water in a stock pot on medium high heat
1 cube of veggie broth concentrate
4 cups of cubed potato ( which ever kind you prefer)
4 large leeks ( split down the middle and soak in water, be sure to rinse really WELL!!! lots of sand and grit in leeks)
4 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup Olive Oil

Set pot to boil add veggie cube
put in pots, leeks and garlic salt and pepper let boil till tender
Use a eletric hand mixer AKA Boat Motor and WHIZZ this till smooth and add the Olive Oil and taste your seasonings.....serve with crusty bread and VIOLA!!!!!

So in addition to everything on this BLOG we will jounrey together on weight loss...why not everyone else is too RIGHT???

Peace out!

I found out my oldest has a Milk Allergy.....

For months now I have had some concerns and I have been making notes and writing reaactions down to certain things. Well for sure we found out today she has a milk allergy which is totally different than lactose intolerance.....the difference is she is allergic to a protein in the milk...either the caseins, or whey or the curds etc..... which is harder to treat than lactose intolerance.

I found a GREAT website that offers GREAT advise and I have a friend who her kids have the same kinds of allergys so I can pick her brain....but if anyone out there has any advise Iam open to hearing your methods of madness!
Food List to AVOID:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/milkallergy_cutout.html

Good Article:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/nutrition/diets/milk_allergy.html

Well this is my findings for the day....whether Im talking to myself or I have a new found friend...thanks for listening!

Organic Choices for Gardening safely!

If you are curious about products to use that are organic and safe for your family and pets....this is what I use!

Neem Oil I use to spray as a dormant spray for the fruit trees and works well for a aphids!

Saf T Side is a good PEST CONTROL

SLUG GO is good for snails and slugs....which are in abundance this year for some weird reason, this is KID and PET SAFE!!!!! Very important!!!!

Meet Mr Fuji Apple and Miss Elberta Kim Peach

Well I went out today and bought my Mutsu's Apple Mate Mr Fuji....and while I was out I bought a JUICY PEACH!

In my last post I wrote I had found out my Mustsu Apple needed a pollinator....one choice was a Fuji....so I got one of those!

PLUS I want to show off my pruning techniques I learned yesterday at my class I went to, so all the trees are pruned and sprayed with dormant spray......and I dont know if I mentioned this but I garden organically.....for the safety of my family and my animals!

Winter Veggie Garden 2010

Im doing alittle project this year, partly as a New Years Resolution and trying to be a better Gardener...and a article in Mother Earth News they asked for people all over the US to log how much produce they can grow.....so I took the challenge.

January 6th 2010
The kids and I planted Part 1 of the Garden:
18 cabbage plants (2 varietys)
12 brussel Sprouts (2 varietys)
approx 24 Yukon Gold Gourmet Potaotes

I planted late because we have had some really bad frosts....one snap was 2 weeks of 14 degree weather.

So when we planted we tucked all the plants in hay to help protect them!
Things to come in the Winter Garden:
Carrots
Beets
I wanna try Fennel
Spring Salad Mixes
Spinach

Today I went to a "How the prune your fruit trees" Seminar....it was good but alittle long and my butt hurt sitting for so long! LOL I was quit dissapointed to learn that my Apple tree I have ( Mutsu) needs another apple tree to help with the pollination process....and I was under the impression that my tree was a self pollinator!!! So I have to do some rearranging and buy a Fuji Apple Tree to help its friend the Mutsu!

Fruit Trees I have:
Mutsu Apple
Kuboda Fig....which I dont like and Im pulling it out and replacing it with a Mission Fig. Kuboda Fig is a white fig with a yellow flesh and has a honey taste.... NO LIKEY!
And I have a French Prune
Im getting a Fuji Apple and a Elberta Kim Peach


I also bought 18 Swiss Chard plants to plant in the garden bed!!! I LOVE SWISS CHARD!

Here is some pictures of January 6th first planting:

My Etsy Shop is stocked full of wonderful hats

Are you getting ready to go on a ski/snowboarding trip and dont have a hat to keep your noggin warm.....I can help you with that! I do all kinds of cool SK8er/snowboarding hats; earflap hats with braids, POM POM's whatever your style I can design it for you!

Come visit my shop and lets create something just for YOU!

CHEERS!