I’m calling you out!!!! On a roll … call, here’s where you can read about the amazing accomplishments of Sisters who earn Merit Badges. “Hear YE!”
The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 6,102 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,722 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ
Wondering who I am? I’m Merit Badge Awardee Jane (MBA Jane for short). In my former life …
For this week’s Stitching and Crafting/Nellie Will-Do Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I was excited to kill two birds with one stone, figuratively speaking, naturally. The first bird: earning a new Merit Badge with my crafty, sewing skillz. The second bird: bulking up my fashionista closet.
Eva Rinaldi Photography via Wikimedia Commons
Now those are two things I can get behind. Can I get an Amen?
I’d been hearing a lot about re-fashion. Like up-cycling, and re-cycling, you might say, but this type of doing good for your planet makes US look good, too. Win, win! How can you, too, earn this badge and look at clothing differently? I’m so glad you asked.
Photo by Ricardo peralta solis via Wikimedia Commons
Who knew, am I right? The possibilities are fantastic, and so is the fashion!
Winnie Nielsen says: I love all of these ideas for re-purposing clothing items. When I see old things, I just see old tired stuff, but then you see the results of those with “new eyes”, it is transformation. You idea of using an old pull over sweater that is too big and making it into leg warmers and a wool skirt is my favorite suggestion. When I was reading about the Women’s Land Army movement in Great Britain and the US, they used to offer these classes on how to repurpose clothing into all sorts of remakes for family members. They also taught mending, darning, and similar skills for keeping the old clothing still usable. It was considered patriotic to repurpose and a big necessity of life with many households living on meager incomes.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Kristie Bulla!!!
Kristie Bulla (#3679) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning a Beginner Level Farmgirl Gratitude Merit Badge!
“My mom had sent me a seriously blinged-out blank journal with my initial on it. This thing was so silly and shiny and sparkly, it made me giggle. I didn’t know what I would do with it until I read through some of the merit badges and saw the part about keeping a gratitude journal for the Farmgirl Gratitude badge. How perfect!! I was not in a position to purchase The Book of Awesome, but I did read a lot of entries from the Amazon site, and I read from www.1000awesomethings.com when I ran out of things to read from my first source.
On the day I started working on this badge, our oldest dog, Dakota (our practice kid right after we got married), passed away. Although heartbreaking, I was able to find a gift in that he went peacefully in his sleep with no suffering. Just last week, my purse was stolen while shopping with the kids, and I was yet again able to find the gifts and lessons in that less-than-positive experience. I think actively focusing on gratitude really helped me through both scenarios and then some.”
Winnie Nielsen says: Krista, what a beautiful journal to create a place where you can list the things you are grateful for and other thoughts as often as you choose. Ten years from now, it will be like a treasure trove of days and tidbits of your life!
Krista, I have kept a journal all my life and about 10 years ago switched to a gratitude journal to focus on the good things only. It really helps, even to write just 3 small things each day that you are grateful for. I rec’d a lovely “Gardener’s One Line a Day” journal as a gift recently from a friend ( you know who you are !) and it is, during the winter months when I am not in my gardens, turning into my gratitude journal. Keep it up Krista ! Also I send my condolences for losing your dear dog Dakota.
Oh, and my favorite quote about gratitude :
” There shall be eternal Summer in the Grateful Heart ”
– Celia Thaxter-
poet, gardener and author of ” An island Garden”
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Linda Van Ausdell!!!
Linda Van Ausdell (#4347) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Intermediate Level Recycling Merit Badge!
“I have been recycling for many years. When we had our kitchen redone, I put in a recycling center. I take my recycling every 2 weeks or so, and we only take in one garbage bag a week.
I works great and I don’t mind the extra time it takes. It’s worth it.”
Winnie Nielsen says: Great idea Linda, and so very convenient for everyone to use! I love that your solution is located right in the kitchen so you can toss without having to go outside to the recycle bins in the garage.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Sherrilyn Askew!!!
Sherrilyn Askew (Sherri, #1350) has received a certificate of achievement in Make it Easy for earning a Beginner Level Make It! Merit Badge!
“I obtained a used toolbox on wheels, cleaned it up, and stored my tools inside, making sure I labeled the drawers with the types of tools within.
I also made a planter out of cedar.
Having the tools on wheels is very handy, as projects are often done based on space available.
I also learned that cedar is a soft wood that will split if you put the screws in too deep, but the drill has speed settings. Once I slowed the drill down, things went much better. (Drilling holes first did not stop it from splitting.)
My daughter and I made the first one together, then I made the second one. I am going to line them both with plastic, then plant my garlic in them.”
Winnie Nielsen says: Sherrilyn, congratulations on your cedar plant boxes for your garlic! They turned out really nice and will be perfect for next season’s gardening. I think they would also be pretty with lots of pansies and petunias in them as well. The cedar wood will age well too.
This week, I was thrilled to get a box from my dear friend and fellow farmgirl April Choate (Sister #658, sonshine4u). Enclosed were supplies for a project, a video CD, and the following handwritten letter:
Dear MaryJane and Meg,
I’m sitting on the floor in my craft room, buried by my current project of making aprons. It’s a glorious place to be! Thread bits and fabric cuttings, hissing iron and shiny shears. I’m having a blast!
The reason I’m writing has nothing to do with aprons, but it does have to do with being a farmgirl. You see, I have had this special project in various stages for over a year. In fact, I was inspired a month after I saw you in Kansas. Anyway, I finished it and can now share it with you.
I made a video tutorial for you, and have some of the supplies for you in the package. The rest, I’m pretty sure you’ll have around the farm. Open the package to find out what the fun is!
Much love,
April
I first met April a few years back when I was asked to be the keynote speaker at the Creative Connection Event in Minneapolis. After the event, Megan and I took a hired car and drove for about 45 minutes to April’s house, where she hosted a farmgirl chapter get-together that included Farmgirl Beer served by her husband! (I had no idea there was such a thing so I brought my bottle home in my suitcase.)
Here’s a video of the festivities. (But don’t get distracted from making it all the way to the bottom of this post to watch April’s surprise video:)
And now … here is April’s farmgirl genius video so you can see what all the henquarters cackling is about.
Winnie Nielsen says: Wow, what a delightful morning to “attend” the Farmgirl celebration at April’s house!! This is just the sweetest video of everyone sharing aprons and telling little stories. And Bonnie had quite the Red Tractor hat on!! What I most love about this clip is that it takes a special moment in time and tells the story of a woman from Idaho who found a way to meet people, just as they are, and embrace them for the skills and love they live everyday with their families and friends. This is why we love you, MaryJane. You were the first person to open the door that ordinary women, in the home, had something important to share with the world by making it a better, healthier, and more loving place to be: one garden, one fresh backyard egg, one embroidered apron at a time! Thanks so much for sharing this.
And that FArmgirl Beer??=D!! I love hand crafted beer, but that label is, hands down, the BEST!!
Love this post! The clock is VERY clever! YAY for April! I love the apron stories video . . . every time I think of Diane making that life-size mockup of me I chuckle!
Thanks you so much Mary Jane for all you’ve done for us farmgirls!
CJ
Wow, first of all I was so excited by the music, I was soooo sure it was Jean “Django” Reinhardt, the famous improvisational gypsy musician. I inherited some live recording French 78s from my jazz musician step-father but alas they were stolen. I’ve since compiled a nice collection of Django’s work. I will have to look for Gadjo Manouche’s album from the video. The song he played “Swing 42 ” was one of Django’s classic compositions.
April , Neat neat idea for the clock too!
April says: MaryJane – I’m so glad you enjoyed your surprise! I hope you have fun crafting your own! Thanks also for the trip down memory lane. Some wonderful farmgirl memories!!! ~Hugs 🙂
Lisa – The music/band was a discovery when my husband and I were in Croatia touring the famous Dubrovnik City Walls. Gadjo Manouche was a street band that was nestled into a section of where a guard might have been stationed and the acoustics were amazing. It was a beautiful moment that we will never forget. We stood there and just soaked in the amazing Gypsy Jazz! Just beautiful!
CJ – I too giggle every time I look at pictures of Diane and “you!” Such a funny memory!!!
Winnie – It was a super fantastically sweet occasion for all of us farmgirls. I’m glad you got to “visit” that fun event too! 🙂
April, what a sweet travel memory ! Many years ago, I was supposed to go to Dubrovnik by sea but there were pirates ( yes pirates!) and we had to turn back and go on to Greece. Thanks for sharing . Oh evidently Gadjo is the Romani term for a non-Romani- so I’m curious about that band’s name. I have a bit of Hungarian gypsy blood from my Grandfather’s side, must be why this music so speaks to me.
Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)
Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)
My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … CJ Armstrong!!!
CJ Armstong (ceejay48, #665) has received a certificate of achievement in Cleaning Up for earning an Expert Level Home Insulation Merit Badge!
“Our home is not in need of different or replacement insulation. We have, however, replaced weather stripping around doors due to sun damage or because our former cat tore it all to pieces.
My sister, who is handicapped, and her hubby built a nice enclosed sun porch on their house and I assisted in installing the insulation in the ceiling and around the windows and doors in that room. I’m envious of this room, as it’s wonderful.
I have also assisted my daughter in utilizing curtains, blinds, etc. in her home to help insulate. She lives in the Arizona desert, so the main thing there is the blazing, three-digit, summer heat.
It’s always good to reassess insulation issues over time due to things wearing out, etc.
I’m glad our house is still in “good shape” regarding insulation in the walls, ceiling, and floor and we have insulating “honeycomb” blinds on all the windows, which makes a huge difference.”
Winnie Nielsen says: Yay CeeJay! Between insulating homes, you have been tearing down an old camper into scraps. That must qualify for Expert level in clean up!! What a bunch of interesting projects you have been working on lately. Just leave it to a Farmgirl to figure out how to fix something!
Good for you CJ ! I have heard and am considering for the upper spare rooms, (aks storage rooms- not lived in)- using the bubble wrap insulation idea I read about in I think Grit magazine. Using bubble wrap right on the windows, lets in some light, great for recycling ,but kinda too ugly to use in my downstairs rooms. I definitely am gonna seal up a lot more windows in this old farmhouse this winter. Last winter was soooo brutal and I feel we may be in for another hard winter ( at least that is what the ” wooly bear” catepillars are saying)
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
She is quite elegant with her milk glass gown and silver buckle purse!