The Last Harvest

Like I said before - no farmer here! Let me introduce you to my carrot harvest:

A sad, sad site. I didn't pay much attention to my carrots this year so my harvest reflected the effort I guess. I looked up some carrot growing tips to keep in mind for next year:

1) Plant your seeds about 3/8 of an inch into the soil

2) Cover seeds lightly with mulch. Once seedlings emerge, add more mulch around the plants. A layer of mulch about 3-4 inches deep is recommended after the seedlings emerge.

3) Once the carrot seedlings begin to appear, thin them out to approx ¾” between plants. As the carrots mature, thin them out to about 3-4 inches between plants.

4) If you want to have carrots throughout the growing season, you can grow a new batch after the first carrots have grown for about 3-4 weeks

5) Want a fall crop of carrots? Give yourself at least 2-3 months before the first fall frost. This will ensure that the carrots will be ready to harvest before a hard frost hits.

6) When to pick your carrots? This can be hard to judge. The tops of the carrot will show at the soil line and you can gage when the diameter looks right for your variety. If the diameter looks good, chances are the length is fine too. But you will need to pull one to be certain. Carrots can be left in the ground once mature. A light frost is said to improve and sweeten the carrot’s flavor.

A Handmade Wedding

I had the pleasure of attending my friend Ethel’s beautiful & intimate wedding a few weeks ago and I wanted to share some of the ways she pulled it all together. She is one clever girl that Ethel - she did the majority of the wedding decor herself, by hand, along with the help of family and friends!

Ethel’s Dad made the ceremony arbor in his lil'workshop and Ethel decorated it with white sheets purchased at IKEA and dollar store flowers.

She did all of the flower arrangements herself (centerpieces, bouquets and boutonnieres, etc!) by ordering bulk from a local flower market and using recycled jam jars as vases.

The invitations, seating chart, table numbers and seating cards were all done by – you guessed it – Ethel!

And who needs to hire a DJ in this day and age? Ethel and Dave (the groom) created a play list and used Dave’s Mac book at the ceremony and the reception (and may I say – the music was the best – no cheesy typical reception music allowed.)

Ethel had a local dressmaker make her gorgeous wedding dress which echoed her dream $6000-ish designer dress. You like the veil right – well guess what? She made it herself! I’m not kidding you. Ethel also made her garter, which I am sure the groom enjoyed. She didn't make her earrings, but they were handmade and purchased from Etsy.

The mini pie favors were made by Ethel and her maid of honor and then sent off to the Ethel’s mother and aunt for baking and packaging. Ethel designed & printed the box labels and ordered the boxes and bakers twine online.

So there you have it. A gorgeous wedding can be had - by hand. All the best to you Ethel and Dave - you crazy kids!

Red is Her Colour

Bonnie is now available in red! See in store for more info.

A Little Recycling

I don't know about all of you, but I like to keep my favorite recipes in one of those little recipe organizer boxes. I find them very handy. When I find a good recipe online or in a magazine I rip it or print out the page, fold it up and stuff it in my recipe box until I have time to sit down and write it out on a recipe card or cut and paste it to a card at least.

I sat down to do that yesterday and realized I was out of the little recipe cards. Urgh! Just when I had the motivation to do it! While I was sitting at the dinning room table contemplating going out and buying more cards, I looked over at my Martha Stewart magazine (I know what you are thinking, but i can't help liking that Martha - she is so wise in the world of homemaking.....~sigh~). Sticking out of the magazine was one of those subscription cards that we all find in multiples in our magazines. Ding-ding-ding! I had an idea.

Those subscription cards are the same size as recipe cards! What a great way to reuse them. I gathered them all up and started cutting and pasting. Voila! recycled recipe cards and free!

Wow - I just re-read that...I sound like an old granny. Whatever.

Friday Finds - Zombie Dishes by soule

I was so excited when I found these dishes perfect for the weeks that ramp up to Halloween and of course for Halloween itself.

These Zombie Dishes are the work of 'soule' based in Seattle. Each dish is hand painted with a gloss black Zombie and each Zombie is unique. How cool is that?

These dishes will be a hit with your kids and also the talk of your adult friends at your Halloween soiree.

Not into the zombies? No worries, Soule has lots of other good stuff in store that have nothing to do with monsters. You can find these goodies at soule's Etsy store here.

Using It All Up

Once I have made a bag, I often have good pieces of scrap fabric leftover. I have been saving it all in my 'scrap fabric bin' and finally got around to figuring out a way to use some of it. Why waste perfectly good fabric right? So here is what I came up with:

The Simple Spectacle Case is 100% cotton canvas protective pouch for your reading glasses and/or sunglasses. This case features a big pocket for your sunglasses and a smaller outer pocket for your reading glasses or tissues, etc. Well made, lined with soft fabric to prevent scratches and reinforced for stability.

Also included is a pen slip for that ever elusive pen and a loop for attaching the case to your purse or anywhere else for easy access!

A great stocking stuffer (sorry- I had to say it, I know it's still early for that sort of talk!) or a cool way to wrap up that gift card for someone you care about.

More colours on the way! For more on the Simple Spectacle Case click here.

NEW - Bonnie Bag - Storm Grey

Bonnie is now available in 'Storm Grey'!

This pretty bag is made with a heavy, durable cotton canvas in ‘Storm Grey’. Interior of bag is lined with durable medium weight cotton. This bag is built to last. Pleats on the front and back of bag add interesting detail in addition to the square metal hoops and up cycled leather strapping on the front of the bag.

For more click here.

The Lone Pepper

Well, I can tell you one thing - I would certainly not succeed as a farmer...well at least not at this point. While I thoroughly enjoyed my first veggie garden this year and had some successes, I also had more than enough failures. Exhibit A: The Lone Pepper:

This little guy was the only pepper who survived long enough to be eaten. Looks good right? Look a little closer:

Please note - that is a dinner fork in the picture. A bit on the small side no? And besides that, he is supposed to be a red pepper.

I could blame my pepper failure on a lackadaisical attitude when it comes to gardening, or on my bad planning skills resulting in my giant tomato plants blocking most of the sun from my little pepper plants, and everything else for that matter - but no - I choose to blame my pepper failure on those dang slugs.

Slugs are greedy little things. They eat EVERYTHING!!! I found them on my peppers, on my tomatoes, on my zucchini and even on my basil. Who needs a dog for left overs when you have slugs (by the way - Sew Mo' does not endorse feeding leftovers to dogs.)?

So my plan for next summer is to prepare for the slugs and find a way to trick the little buggers without killing them. Helen and Sarah at Toronto Gardens have a humorous method to control slugs - for more click here.

And before I leave you, I must share this. While I was washing the mud off of the other veggies I harvested this morning - lookie, lookie what I found in the bottom of my sink:

Don't worry - I didn't eat him - I set him free after his photo shoot.

Friday Finds - Halloween Decor Part 1 - Scary Decor

Have I told you that I love Halloween? It is my favorite time of the year. The only thing that stinks about Halloween is that it is all for the kids. I'm going to change that this year and enjoy it as an adult. H.H. and I plan to decorate the exterior of the house to terrify all of those little ghosts and goblins...muahahaha. So evil...

Here are some items to inspire your Halloween decor, whether it be inside our out.

Vintage Halloween Gothic Blood Red Glass and Silver Dish - for Potions or Candy

This is so scary I wouldn't want to touch it, let alone open it - Vintage Metal Case for Halloween Decor

What is Halloween without a good skull? Rooster Man Joker Man Skull

I picture these in a powder room at a Halloween party...nothing like doll eyeballs staring at your guests while they try to do their thing - Vintage DOLL EYES

Frame this photo up and hang it in your haunted house - Where Ghosts Sit Photo

This needs no words - Terrifying Haunted Family Portrait Set

Doll heads = creepiness - Vintage doll box with three large doll heads very creepy and disturbing

OK, I'm scaring myself. Not so scary Halloween decor coming next Friday...

Good News!

I have some exciting news! Wanted to let all of my Toronto readers know that you can now find Sew Mo' bags at 'Fresh Baked Goods' in Toronto!

Fresh Baked Goods is a funky little boutique in Toronto's famous Kensington Market. Going strong for over a decade, the shop is home to all kinds of handmade goodies made by various local designers. The shop is owned by by 'Laura-Jean the Knitting Queen' and is the base for her clothing line, Fresh Baked Goods. Laura-Jean's line includes fabulous and funky sweaters, cotton print dresses, tops and skirts as well as other types of clothing and accessories.

I'm pretty pumped about this, so in celebration I am offering 20% off of Sew Mo' bags in store at Fresh Baked goods to my Facebook fans. To become a Sew Mo' Facebook Fan, click here. Once you are a fan just shoot me an email at mmoe21@hotmail.com and I will send you a coupon.

Thanks to everyone for all of their support to date and enjoy the coupon!