Organic Needle

Meet the New and Improved Organic Needle Tea Bag with Tagua Nut Tag

I am finally ready to put my tea bags up on Etsy after thinking over my test piggies’ comments and making some design tweeks.


*First I made the bag a little larger. It is still small enough to fit nicely in a mug, even a travel mug, but now has a little more room for loading and cleaning. (Thanks Arduous!)


*The second change was I added a small wooden bead over the cording to allow the bag to be cinched closed to prevent any tea leaves from escaping. (Thanks Joilie!)

Price wise I am thinking $4.50 per bag, or 4 for $15. They are actually quite a bit more labor intensive than a regular produce bag.

I am still working on a simple pouch that could hold the bags and some tea. I have some great organic Harmony fabrics that are beautiful and would make for a very nice gift presentation. Trying to keep it simple to keep the cost down. My goal is to make organic gifts practical for any budget. Not always easy.

Put a Cork in it…And Make it a Real Cork Please.

Yesterday I reminded all of you that homemade holidays take a little bit of planning if you want to avoid giving everyone those, albeit lovely, last minute ziti noodle on a string necklaces. They really do go with everything, but perhaps a flavored vinegar, vodka or oil may say you actually care about someone a little better. (Or maybe the ziti necklace says it all.)

In the comments of yesterday Chile brought up an excellent question…how do we get the greenest supplies possible to store our delectables?

Bottles…any bottle that can be sterilized and corked, lidded, or capped can be used for bottling your creations. The aesthetics are up to you. Obviously clear bottles allow you to see the infusing herbs inside a vinegar or vodka, but darker bottles would be better suited for preserving the longevity of oils…and also if what you have created is tastier than it is pretty.

Where to get bottles…If you drink wine or use vinegar you probably have a few good bottles kicking around the ol’ recycly bin already. If not, start snooping through your friends’ and neighbors’ bins. Put the word out with your peeps as to what you need so they remember to put the goods aside for you. If you want something a bit fancier, check thrift stores, yard sales, free cycle, etc.

If you don’t find what you are looking for try buying recycled glass from SKS.., which makes basic medicinal looking bottles or Traders & Company which have a more artsy, and expensive, flair. Who wouldn’t love homemade raspberry vodka in this bottle with these recycled shot glasses?

Corking Your Hole…Once you have picked your vessel you will need to be sure to have an airtight seal. The SKS bottles come with screw on caps which may or may not be to your liking depending on whether or not you are making an edible or a smearable. The logical choice for hole plugging is a cork. A REAL CORK! Responsible cork foresting is actually a good thing for people, animals, and the environment. If you are crazy about corks read more here. To buy corks check The Widget Company or Crazy Corks.

As far as what to put in your bottle.. oils, vinegar, and vodka can pretty much be infused with anything. I have linked to the basics…but be creative. Use your garden and your local markets as your inspiration. Feel free to leave a list of your favorite flavors in the comments to give others some ideas. If you make a raspberry mint infused vodka and you aren’t sure it tastes quite right, send it to me and I will taste it for you. Over and over and over. I can do that for you. I’m such a giver.

Vodka Infusion Basics

Vinegar & Oil Infusion Basics

Handmade Holidays

That’s right. I’m talking about the holidays already. Here’s the deal. What happens every year? You think..”Oh it would be so great to get out of the consumerist grind of big box stores and actually make authentic gifts that come from the heart.” Yes..you think this. On Dec.22nd, 23rd perhaps? Well…NOW is the time to start creating a holiday strategy that works for your ideals.

First…take the handmade pledge yourself. After all…do you really need another automatic banana peeler from Aunt Babs?

Second…make a list of people you want to create for this year and start planning. Be realistic!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have 400 people on your list you will NOT be crocheting each a matching maroon pant suit no matter how dedicated you are.

I have created a wee list of the world’s easiest and well appreciated handmade gifts just to get our little jingle brains a movin’.

1. If you have a garden you have one of the best tools ever to make someone feel special…a taste of summer in the winter. Check out Crunchy’s Jam recipes, or ….Chile’s Blueberry Pickles. Whatever you’ve got…there is a way to preserve it. I know anyone I’ve ever met will be getting 3 dozen zucchini breads this year. And of course…if all else fails…chuck it in vodka. Nothing lubes the yule tide cheer like a little homemade limoncello. The bonus here is once you jar these babies up you can put your feet up and knit yourself up something snazzy while everyone else is doing the joyous gift scavenge,

2. Knit a scarf…really basic…you can even make your own pattern. Use organic cotton yarn, or bamboo… which is very silky. Most basic craft stores carry both now. Go in and give a good feel up before buying! There are even some natural animal fibers that might make things interesting. ANYONE can knit a scarf, beginner or expert. Check out Aboutknit.com for pointers.

3. Napkin Set- fancy or whimsical. Sooo easy to sew these up. You can use any material that works for the recipient. It is the gift that not only says I care enough about you to help you wipe mustard off of your face…but it also encourages people to put down the disposables in the least naggy way.

4. Lunch Set - How about a few sandwich mats or bags? Reusable drawstring snack pouches? You could even sew up a little matching lunch tote if you really like the person.

5. Shopping Bag Set…Tote bags are very easy to make. Depending on your skill level you can even go a little fancier by adding pockets for cell phones, coupons, money. Even if you give a conventional gift, how about creating a nice little tote for it. A reusable handmade bag beats the snot out of one time use wrapping paper any day. For more bag ideas check out Heather’s Make-A-Bag.

A yard of fabric, a ball of yarn and a little of your time can go a long way in showing people how much they mean to you. And hell, if you truly are all thumbs, or simply have more people on your list than you can sew for, then let someone over at Etsy do the homemade jobbies for you. We promise not to tell.

Meet My Diva’s Backup Band:Taming the Sewing Jabba Part I

Now this one is a big feat for me. A few months back when Crunchy started calling for pads I made a sincere attempt to create my own pattern and produce something cycle worthy. What I produced resembled a strap on dog bed. (At least I know I have a backup career as a designer for lazy pets should the need arise.) So…the project got tossed into the Jabba-like heap known as the sewing basket.

Fast forward a few months. Now I have ventured into the land of the Diva and am overall quite happy. There are days, however, when the Diva …well…acts like a Diva and I need a little reinforcement…a backup band if you will. It seemed silly to have to buy disposables to back up the thing that was supposed to replace the disposables…so I got off my lazy needle and took a good look at a sample pad Burban kindly sent me. Rummaged through my repurposable bag of stuff, more on that later this week, and found exactly what I needed: one crib wee wee pad, 100% cotton baby blanket, & pack of sew-on-snaps. I traced the outline of the pad onto the wee wee pad and the back of the cotton blanket. Sewed the two together. I then cut and hemmed a rectangle long enough to reach around the ol’ underoos from the same blanket material. Sewed that baby onto the back. Sewed on the snaps and walaaaaaaaaa.

Now these are suitable for Diva backup performances or a ditty kind of day. For the big show, I would adjust this by adding a layer or two of toweling.

I still am a turd and haven’t sent any actual pads to Crunchy because I am assuming I need to use all new materials for strangers who-diddly-whos. (I, of course, have tons of cotton fabric but no brand new wee wee pads to offer.) Now that I have cracked the diabolical pad code…I will be sure to buy one next time I am in the baby aisle and stop being such a wiener. This is an easy one. Add booking a backup band to your project list. The earth and your who-diddly-who will thank you. Although I have come to realize, with a just a touch of bitterness, that neither are particularly great at sending Thank You notes. Ingrates.

To Hell in a Sewing Basket: A Little September Challenge

The school year is upon us and the teacher in me is feeling the urge to be productive! Now…I am what some people, who shall remain nameless…but live with me & I didn’t give birth to, may call organizationally challenged. I prefer to think of it as extreme multitasking. It’s a skill. The problem is when too many tasks are floating about not a whole lot seems to actually get done. Also…trying to be a reuser and a declutterer at the same time doesn’t often help matters. So…in an effort to be a better business woman and further my efforts to declutter and squeeze the most out use out of everything before shipping it off I have decided to tackle the beast of beasts…the sewing basket. (I use the term basket lightly…entire house would be a more accurate description of the vessel that contains my sewing projects.) My plan/your challenge comes in two parts.

Stage 1. Get those clothes that are actually salvageable back into circulation. Mend, darn, rebutton, bedazzle… whatever it is that needs to be done to make those things wearable again. (Do it before fall/winter shopping. All summer I had been nagging at my husband that he needed a new pair of shorts. Guess what little ol’ Needle found in the heap…at the end of summer of course? Brand new shorts that were missing a button.) I will also be reclaiming into the land of the living the following: 1 very cool skirt, 2 pairs of super hero PJs, 1 pair of very expensive dress pants. Do a realistic evaluation & say farewell to what can’t be saved. Move the duds into the great fabric afterlife….the rag bin.

Stage 2. Get moving on those..”I’m gonna make my own….” projects. Whether it be shopping bags, produce bags, girly pads, macrame bras, etc. Actually do it and clear out that heap of materials. Having plans for great projects is great, but when I get too many on the back burner it gets overwhelming and just becomes a Jabba like pile with no purpose but cluttering up my house and annoying He Who Shall Not be Named. Since I have a ton to do, both personal and professional, I have made myself an actual schedule…including a list of what is being used for what. One major project per weekend. This past weekend I FINALLY made a few girly pads out of an old cotton baby blanket and a wee wee pad. More information than you probably need or want coming tomorrow. Next weekend I will be focusing on my son’s lunch & snack bags. And of course…I have 101 Organic Needle bag plans.

Now…I am not one to hand out challenges. Quite frankly life is usually challenging enough without your computer telling you you got more to do. But I may just have one for you today. See that heap of clothes in the corner…the “sewing pile.” Make September your Get-Your-Crazyass-Projects-Under-Control month. In addition to sharing every stitch I make ad nausium with you, I will also be highlighting other’s really nifty so-easy-anyone-with-fingers-can-do sewing projects throughout the month to try to inspire you… and myself. Get cracking. You may just discover that old matching windbreaker suit with bedazzled flame embellishment that needed a crotch reinforcement has has come back in style full force. Just make sure your macrame bra doesn’t clash. You don’t want to be tacky!

Patches Hide the Shame & the Crazy

Now my plan for today was to write a brilliant little piece about greening up the back to school shopping. Well…I got my kid’s school list…and …well…noooooot so much. Besides maybe buying a ream of recycled paper over a ream of virgin paper, they don’t give you a whole lotta options. They demand specifics right down to the brand name. !2 plastic tubes of glue, plastic folders, plastic markers, etc. etc. Will I be the crazy mama making a stink about the choice of supplies? No. It is going to be stressful enough for my little guy who much prefers to be at home pontificating with mama than in a room full of kids who may or may not appreciate his full length lectures on the complexities of a spider’s digestive system. I figure I can pretend to be sane for the first year. (Then balls to the wall nuts from there on out kid.) Instead I will find quite little ways to support things we care about without making him a social pariah…yet.

One thing my little brain has come up with is the idea of patches. My son won’t be getting a spanky new hard plastic techno colored bag. He will be taking his pre-K bag or the ol’ family Eastpak…which has survived through about 48 years of college use…I hope it can make it through a month of public school. Now I am not a heartless wench that doesn’t get the excitement of the new stuff for the new year. I’m a heartless wench who realizes that a little goes a long way with a 5 year old whose expectations have been sufficiently whittled down. To make the bag his and special I will be sewing on patches of pure evil…Darth Vader and two Stormtroopers. (He insisted that Vader wouldn’t travel with just one. By insisted I mean looked at me with pure contempt that I could even suggest that Vader travel with such little protection. I think my allegiance is under serious question.) The great thing about patches is that they can be changed should he suddenly want to leave the dark side. If you don’t have a bag and need to get one, spend a little more and buy a good quality canvas based one instead of the plastic, which will crack if you sew on patches. It should hold up to years of being crammed into a locker and can handle a few patch swaps. And stop sniveling about not knowing how to sew…they make iron-ons for the thread challenged.

Single Tea Bag Reviews: My Test Piggies Have Spoken

My Single Tea Bag with Tagua Nut Tag inspectors have spoken. Great feedback guys. Now I was hoping all of you would write me telling me how your lives have been forever changed; you are making more money, your teeth and eyes are shinier, your neighbors no longer scurry away when they see you coming etc. etc. But I guess I will settle for…they brew tea without exploding. There is definitely some tweaking that needs to take place.

Allie’s Review:

I’ve been using the tea bag you sent and LOVING it!

I thought it might leave a lingering taste in the tea, but it didn’t seem to at all. I think my metal grabby tea spoon thingy actually alters the taste of the tea more. It’s easy to clean out — actually easier than the metal steeper, because the tea doesn’t get stuck in the holes at all. I just rinse it and hang it out. It gets doused with boiling water every time it’s used, so I figure that keeps it clean and sanitary. Some tea got caught in the corners, but it wasn’t hard to get it loose.

The weight works nicely and is so attractive.

The first time I used it, there were a few threads that found their way into my tea (from the fabric, not sewing thread), but hey, extra fiber! And it didn’t happen with following uses.

I drink tea that has fairly large leaves. I’m not sure if a finer tea would fall through, but if it would, it would on my metal steeper as well. I’m guessing if you drink fine tea you’re used to a little silt at the bottom of the cup.

1) The mesh fabric can fray along the seam. I have ways of dealing with such disobedient threads…don’t you worry.

2) Excellent point about gunpowder teas seeping through. (For you non tea drinkers…gun powder is not actually made from ammunition.) As a big leaf gal myself, I forgot about that. I will definitely put a note explaining that in the description on Etsy. But like you mentioned…the holes are finer than a tea ball…so….

Joilie’s Review:

I like it a lot. The only possible room for improvement I can see is that it sometimes comes open when I don’t want it to. Maybe I’m not cinching or tying the top tight enough? I love the shell/bead thingy!

Excellent observation. I originally intended for it to be tied by looping the nut through the string but thought that might be a pain to do and undo. However, that would totally prevent the escaping of the tea. I could either go with the original tying idea and include a handy-dandy diagram…or maybe a bead. If I put a bead on the 2 strings together it could be slid up and act like cinch. I will have to think about this one. It would have to be a natural material and not take away from the simplicity of the design and not actually poison my customers. I find 9 out of 10 tea drinkers DON’T enjoy being poisoned. I do my research.

Arduous Review:

Freezing My Niblets Off For Winter

I’ve aways lived a slightly crunchier than average life (hippie parents)…nothing extreme. Grew up not wasting stuff or energy, buying used, recycling, eating primarily grains and veggies, etc. etc. (Isn’t it funny how “greenness” comes hand in hand with being poor?)The basics were there…just needed fine tuning. However, the whole local eating thing is fairly new to me and a wee bit of a challenge. My mother was taught to cook by her Mexican stepmother and she in turn taught my brothers and I to love the flavors with a passion. (Hence my insane avocado addiction. Blame her.) Also…my childhood was heavily influenced by the flavors of Norway and Poland. Now I’m married to an Italian. And all these cultures demand a voice in my cooking…and don’t care that the ingredients can’t necessarily be grown locally. Now…whereas I am not willing to give up my little green creamy pods of joy or smoked fish, nor my husband his olive oil and “real” pasta, I can’t say Omnivore’s Dilemma was completely wasted on me.

Even with the best of intentions, I do have a major issue though. NYC is not the easiest to go local. Especially year round. This summer we have made huge strides with the CSA. My out-of-area produce list has been reduced to lemons, bananas, and creamy pods of joy, and apples, which do grow here but not organically….but more rant on that later in the week. But come November we are done with the sweet ride. (Yeah, yeah, CA…stop shaking your winter tomatoes in my face. I know all about your extended growing season.) So will I just give up over the winter? Well, probably…but not without a half-assed attempt at goodness. I’m going to let some summer goodies spend some time with my buddy Bumble. I’ll be freezing zucchini, carrots, rhubarb, & corn. (Maybe berries if I can stop piling them into my trap before they even get out of the CSA box.) What else is easy to freeze? I mean easy. Like a cat could do it if you drew detailed enough pictures easy. And not a very bright cat. With a touch of narcolepsy. And perhaps a missing toe.

When the World Gives You Lemons…You Pick Onions and Make Some Zucchini Bread

Okay…we can’t all be Hallmark writers, now can we? Well, last week, for the 2nd time in about 6 weeks, my husband was shipped out of town last minute once again at the whim of one of his bigger clients, let’s call them Snike to conceal their identity and protect my husband from running into the wrong end of a rouge sneaker. So off to Portland he went while I scrambled to think of entertainment for the wee folk. What to do…what to do…..when will I get to poo? Hey maybe I should write for Hallmark.

I have an aunt, we call her Aunti, who lives about 1&1/2 hours north of the city who has a fairly liberal open door policy, a big yard, and a lot of farming friends. Perfect. Off we go. First we unleashed the little city boys on the black dirt.

They had a ball pulling onions for Daddy’s welcome home gift and getting dirt into nooks and crannies they didn’t even know they had. (More on the owner of this farm later in the week.)

Oh…and did I mention that my CSA has been providing a disturbing amount of zucchini? Well…that was the other reason for my visit…get my hands on THE RECIPE. When I called Aunti sniveling about the woes of a fridge full of zucchini that my kids were not digging roasted or sauteed, she laughed out loud at me. Make zucchini bread Dingbat. Tough love in my family. So I packed the 87 zucchinis and took them for a ride to her oven. With a little help from my gremlins I managed to tranform the inedible veggie drawer filler into scrumptious little wonder loaves. And because no one should have to suffer zucchini season alone…I will share.

Aunti’s Zucchini Bread

• 3 eggs
• 1 cp oil (I think 1/2 apple sauce would work well in this one. I’ll keep you posted)
  
• 2 cps grated zucchini
• 2 1/2 cps sugar (Yikes! I know….I am going to tinker with this over the summer with reduction and honey.)
• 2 tsps cinnamon (I think nutmeg might be a tasty addition too.)
  
• 1 tsp salt
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1tsp baking powder
• 3 cps flour (The original calls for all white but I think it could handle some ww swap.)

350 for an hr in 2 loaf pans or a bundt.

****Options**** 1 cp choc chips, raisins, walnuts….you get the idea. The chocolate is really goooooood.

Thanks to that little recipe I no longer fear the seemingly endless zucchini season. In fact I have been grating and freezing the extra in 2 cp bundles so I can enjoy it even post season. It is amazing what a little chocolate can do to even the dullest of veggies. The kids were right all along.

Benjamin Moore’s Aura VOC Free Paint Review

The positive? I spent a day in a small room painting and didn’t get high. The bad news. I spent the day in a room painting and didn’t get high. Seriously…no fumes. (VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds…little nasties for just about everything.) This stuff is fantastic…easy to work with, beautiful color, and the eggshell is not noticeably shiny but washable.

This is the color of the boys’ room. In real life it is a little bluer looking. When the whole shabang is done, I will post actual room photos.

The only downside….$60 a can. Yep. $60.