Spurtle

On December 18, 2021December 14, 2021 By CarynIn Craft

I’ve been combing Pinterest for ideas on things to turn on my lathe, and I came across the Scottish Spurtle. A turned rod used for stirring porridge and stews, a spurtle is special because it doesn’t gather a wad of foodstuff like the bowl of a spoon. I really liked that some of the designs mimicked the Scottish Thistle for the handle. I made this spurtle from apple wood from my Dad’s wood pile, sanded it down to 400 grit, then painted a small apple on the end of the handle (not only to mark the handle end, but to identify the wood). I finished it with many coats of tung oil, since it is a food safe finish.

Spurtle with apple painting before the finish was applied

I love the beautiful grain on this spurtle. I have to disclose that this is aged apple wood. It has sat in my garage for years, and sat in my Dad’s wood shed for years before that.

Adding a book to a binder

On December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 By CarynIn Life Hack

It really helps my youngest to have all her supplies for each activity in one bundle. It means we need to have some duplicates, such as multiple pencil bags, but it also means that music books can’t be placed in a backpack away from the coronet case, and have any hope of being remembered. To keep the book safely with the other music, I added small loops to the fold of the single signature. I opened the book to the center, marked spots for a three-ring binder, and used an awl to poke holes.

I then used some 20 gauge copper wire to thread through the holes from the inside out, make a small loop, then go back into the book, repeated for all three holes. I curled the ends of the wire over the top and bottom of the fold, just to keep them out of the way.

New loops hooked into a three-ring binder

The wire holds well!

Early present

On December 16, 2021December 13, 2021 By CarynIn Craft

I picked up an early present from my husband, as he ordered his early present for delivery. We’ve been married awhile. The wood turning book I’m reading recommends getting high quality hardened stainless steel tools, so I figure I will start collecting. Pictured below are a roughing gouge, a square edge scraper, and a bowl gouge. Let the wood chips fly!

Scarf section for Bronto

On December 15, 2021December 11, 2021 By CarynIn Craft

I learned that Dinosaur Valley State Park was looking for scarf section donations to bedeck Bronto the brontosaurus sculpture at the park. This was done in conjunction with a toy drive! So I went through my stash and found some yarn that I was using to experiment with making crocheted leaves. I didn’t really have a plan for the leaves or the yarn, so it seemed like a great thing to turn it into a scarf section! I crocheted a 10” wide strip using the double crochet stitch (American notation), then used some metallic gold and silver yarn to attach the leaf motifs.

Crocheted scarf section with leaf motifs

The scarf made it in time to be stitched in with the other submissions. This was such a popular drive that they had enough sections to give their T Rex a scarf too! My section shows up about six wraps down from the top of Bronto’s neck.

Bronto’s scarf (photo credit to Dinosaur Valley State Park), arrow is mine

Camouflage fail

On December 14, 2021 By CarynIn Cats

My neighbor has a beautiful cat that likes to wander our woods. He (?) is a striking long-haired flame point with blue eyes. He also sticks out like a sore thumb.

One of his siblings is black, and that doesn’t do much better for hiding during the day, watching chickens.

Black cat getting caught watching my chickens

Now scroll back up to the first photo. Did you see her? There is a calico in the background. Did you miss her the first time? Don’t worry, I accidentally half cropped her out on the first go. Calicos have the best camouflage; the black base isn’t as good as a gray-based calico for this area, but it is still pretty darn good.