Coconut fiber shredding

On By CarynIn Craft

My coconut husks ended up soaking for three days until I could get back to the project. I took the bucket outside and used my hands to tear open the clumps to free the husk particles from the fibers.

Photo description: shredded coconut fiber next to the soak bucket

After pouring the soak water over garden plants, I put the shredded fiber back in the bucket and rinsed it several times. There is still some particulate matter, but the majority rinsed away. I spread the fiber out on a drying rack hanging inside.

Photo description: coconut fiber spread out on a mesh drying rack

I have to note that the coconut fiber and husk has no discernible smell to me, even after soaking for three days.

Throwback Thursday: Best DIY card holder

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

In December 2015 I made my youngest a playing card holder from thin card board and duct tape.

Photo description: card board and “Minion” duct tape card holder sitting on my knees holding thirteen playing cards

The concept is simple, a slot made from two folds of card board, the back fold slightly higher than the front, then a wide base so the cards stay steady. The duct tape holds it all together. I left the card board exposed where the cards are inserted, so the cards will slide in and out easily.

Photo description: side view of the same card holder ten years later, looking a little worn, but still perfectly functional

My youngest can use this to play Uno, even when the hand has nearly thirty cards. I am amazed that it is still working well ten years after I made it, and that it gets frequent use.

Late pumpkin carving

On By CarynIn chickens

Full disclosure, I bought pumpkins before Halloween, but we didn’t get round to carving them until after. I think this might be the second year this has happened, maybe the third. Hm. I specifically bought pie pumpkins so they could nourish the chickens after carving. The large carving pumpkins are stringy and the hens don’t care for them as much. Since at least one pumpkin was going straight to the chickens, I had to give it a horrified look.

Photo description: small pie pumpkins carved with a open mouth showing square teeth, one round eye, and one eye hanging out of the socket

I hung the pumpkin up for the chickens using a carabiner clip. Last year I remembered to cut the bottom out to scoop out the seeds so the pumpkin could hang from its stem. I forgot this year, but it looks a little like the pumpkin is horrified that it lost it’s lid, or that a hen is coming.

Photo description: pumpkin hanging in the coop with a Black Star hen approaching the lid on the ground

Fun with pumpkins and chickens.

Unexpected result

On By CarynIn Craft

I wet down my recently nålbound hat with soap and water to do light fulling (locking wool fibers together in fabric) and was quite surprised when the stitches relaxed and the hat lengthened.

Photo description: nålbound hat before fulling and blocking
Photo description: same hat after lightly fulling and blocking

I intentionally made the hat larger because I know that wool hats shrink with wearing because of the natural fulling process from moisture and movement. I agitated the hat in the gentle soap and water to deliberately start the felting process, not expecting that much change with the Oslo stitch I used. I wanted the hat to be a slouch hat with folded brim, so really it came out remarkably well, serendipitously.

Pose

On By CarynIn Cats

Today I present Thor the gray tabby as he posed on a bench.

Photo description: large gray tabby with white face, chest, and legs laying on a storage bench with one leg hanging down

He’s a pretty boy, scared of everything, except mice and bugs, which he brings in from the catio, sometimes still alive.