Grow your own garlic

There’s no need to wait until the shortest day (mid June in the southern hemisphere) to plant your garlic bulbs. Get them in the ground now to get them off to a good start. Although tradition says to plant garlic on the shortest day and harvest it on the longest, you can plant them as early as April and harvest around the new year. The earlier you plant, the quicker they’ll establish roots before the ground cools down. Then come spring, plants can focus their energy on leaf growth and bigger and better bulbs. Buy seed garlic from garden centres or use organically grown bulbs from fruit and vegetable shops. Avoid imported garlic, which is fumigated to stop sprouting. Break off the individual cloves and use only the fattest ones (you can eat the rest or plant the smaller cloves in another part of the garden and harvest the leaves as you would spring onions).
Plant about 5cm deep, with pointy end up, in a sunny spot in fertile, well-drained soil that has plenty of compost dug in.

Make a puzzle

Photo puzzle blocks are easy to make. It’s simply a matter of cutting wood into cubes and gluing on pictures. Use pictures from old, damaged books or print an image from your computer. You can cover all sides of the blocks with different images, or leave a couple of sides bare. Our blocks measure 450mm x 450mm each.

1. Choose images that are about the same size as your finished block puzzle (or reshape images on your computer), then print onto semi-gloss photo paper and allow to dry. When dry, trim to the same size as your puzzle when it’s put together. 
2. Position the blocks and place a rubber band around them to hold in place. Apply glue to the blocks (we used a spray adhesive) then place the image on top and press down. Let the glue dry completely, then use a craft knife to cut the blocks apart.
3. Scramble the blocks, then remake your puzzle!

Make a wooden Train

 You’ll need:
• 400mm x 250mm x 25mm piece of wood
• 8mm dowelling (for wheel axle)
• 15mm dowelling (for chimney)
• Hooks and eyes
• Jigsaw
• Power drill
• Hole saw

Classic toys such as wooden trains are ever popular with children. Save money and build your youngster one with our easy step-by-step instructions. We used pine for the body of the train and rimu for the wheels to provide a slightly different colour.

1. Print out template, cut out pattern, then trace outline of train onto wood. Cut shape out with a jigsaw. Use a hole saw to cut out the windows.
2. Cut out 12 wheels using hole saw. Drill two axle holes on each carriage, 5mm up from bottom edge. Drill the holes just big enough for the dowelling to fit snugly. Drill holes in wheels.
3. Cut 6 pieces of 8mm dowelling, each 50mm long. Push through axle holes, then fit wheels. You may need to hammer the wheels in place.
4. Drill a pilot hole into one end of chimney, and the top of train where chimney is to go. Cut off the
   tip of a nail and insert it into the hole on the chimney. Hammer the chimney into place. Fix hooks and
   eyes to train and carriages.

Make a cake stand

These DIY cake stands are so easy and so cheap to make you’ll be whipping up dozens of them for fancy gifts. They’re the perfect cake stand for high tea parties with their lovely vintage designs.

1. Pop down to your local charity shop and buy a collection of vintage plates and small glass vases. You’ll need three different size plates (a dinner plate for the bottom, a cake serving plate for the middle, and a side dish for the top), plus a couple of glass vases. The vases do not have to be matching. Small glass candlestick holders work too.
2. Then simply glue the plates and vases together. You need a strong adhesive that bonds glass and ceramics. We bought ours from a building supply store. If making just one tier, place the vase at the bottom. For two tiers, the large plate goes on the bottom. Allow to dry, then serve fresh cakes!

Fabric pots

This DIY project couldn’t be easier. It’s simply a matter of gluing some pretty fabric onto a pot. Use a reasonably thick fabric otherwise the glue will show through. We used a spray adhesive, but any craft glue will do. You can pot these up and present them to Mum, but we suggest placing a slightly smaller plastic pot inside these terracotta pots. 1 hourproject

1. Cut a shape from your fabric, as shown, on the bias. Cutting on the bias gives the fabric some give when stretching it around the pots.
2. Spray or brush adhesive on both pot and fabric, as per manufacturer’s instructions. Stretch the fabric around the pot and press down firmly. Fold edges over the rim of pot and at the bottom. Smooth out any bubbles, pressing the fabric down until it sticks to the pot

Blooming delight

Love flowers? Then you’ll love this blossom-covered pincushion.

MATERIALS

• Felt (lilac, pale yellow, green, grey)
• Embroidery thread (pale yellow, mustard, olive)
• Cardboard
• Cotton stuffing

 Cut out pincushion pieces using the template. Using pale yellow embroidery thead, stitch largest flower to one of the round circles, as shown. Stitch veins on the middle-sized flower as well.

1. Position middle flower on top of bottom flower and stitch in place. Position smallest flower on top of that and stitch in place. Position small circle on top and stitch in place. Then sew French knots in the centre of the flower using pale yellow and mustard embroidery thread.
2. Take a petal and pull the bottom corners together. Stitch to hold. Repeat for remaining petals. Then join two petals together to look like an opening bud. Wrap a small piece of pale yellow felt around the bottom of the two petals and stitch to hold in place. Sew the three buds to the pincushion band.
3. Using yellow and mustard embroidery thread, sew French knots onto the yellow felt beneath the petals. Using olive embroidery thread, sew a stalk right around the band, using backstitch. Cut out 6 leaves from green felt and sew in place.

Lavender hearts

Reinventing the arts of needlepoint and cross stitch, Cath Kidston’s delightful book Stitch! is an inspiring reference for today’s crafter.

No book of needlework projects is ever complete without a lavender bag! This aromatic posy sachet is a great beginner’s project, which introduces some basic hand-sewing skills. It requires only a small amount of thread and fabric, so you’ll have enough materials left over to make a few more for your friends.

MATERIALS
• 15cm square of 14-count cross-stitch fabric
• DMC stranded embroidery thread in the following colours: ecru (ecru); mid-pink (603); brown (840); green (954); lilac (3042); dark pink (3804)
• cross-stitch needle
• 10cm square of light-weight iron-on interfacing
• 15cm square of backing fabric
• 30cm narrow lace edging
• tracing paper and pencil
• matching sewing thread
• dried lavender

1. Fold the cross-stitch fabric lightly into quarters to mark the centre point. Starting with the flowers and working out to the leaves, sew the motif using two strands of embroidery thread.
2. Trace or photocopy the heart template, and cut it out. Place the template on to the interfacing and draw around the outside edge with a sharp pencil. Cut along the outline.
3. Position the heart centrally over the back of the completed embroidery, with the adhesive side downwards. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines, iron it in place. (This will prevent the lavender working through the holes in the fabric).
4. Now tack the template directly over the interfacing and trim the cross-stitch fabric down to an 8mm margin all round. Snip into the fabric at top of the heart.
5. Turn back the margin and tack it to the template, easing it round the curves. Press from the wrong side and remove the template.
6. Fold the lace in half to find the centre. Starting with this point tucked behind the tip of the heart, slip stitch the lace along the right edge of the heart. Tuck the loose end down between the two curves at the top and stitch in place. Sew the other edge in the same way.
7. Tack the template to the backing fabric, then trim and tack the edges as you did before to make a neatened heart.
8. With wrong sides facing, pin and tack the front to the back.
9. Stitch together around the end, passing the needle from front to back and through the lace. Leave a 3cm opening along one edge.
10. Fill the bag with lavender, a teaspoon full at a time, pushing the dried buds right into the curves. Close the gap with neat slip stiches.

stargazer beaded bead

Enjoy the light captured within these delicate-looking hollow beaded beads. The crystals connecting the four-pointed stars seem to hover in midair, providing maximum sparkle. This is the third design in Beadwork’s

15th Anniversary Beaded Bead

Contest (see box on p. 21).

TECHNIQUES
right-angle weave variation circular netting
See p. 94 for helpful technique information.

PROJECT LEVEL

See p. 4 for project-level information.

MATERIALS & TOOLS
3 g dark sage matte metallic size 15° seed beads (A)
3 g copper matte metallic iris size 15° seed beads (B)
4 g dark sage matte metallic size 11° seed beads (C)
4 g copper matte metallic iris size 11° seed beads (D)
2 g denim matte metallic size 8° seed beads (E)
24 brown 4mm crystal rounds (F)
24 light sapphire 4mm crystal rounds (G)
Crystal 4 lb or 6 lb braided beading thread
Scissors Size 12 beading needle

1) BASE. Stitch an inner structure for the beaded bead:

• Stitch 1: Use 4' of thread to string 1F, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1F, 1E, 1F, and 1G; pass through the beads again to form a circle, leaving a 6" tail. Tie a square knot and pass through the first F strung (Fig. 1, purple thread). 
• Stitch 2: String 1E, 1F, 1G, 1F, 1E, 1F, and 1G; pass through the last F exited in Stitch 1 to form a circle. Repeat the thread path again to reinforce. Exit from the first F added in this stitch (Fig. 1, green thread). 
• Stitch 3: String 1G, 1F, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1F, and 1E; pass through the last F exited in stitch 2 and continue through beads to exit from the last F added (Fig. 1, blue thread). 

• Stitch 4: String 1E; pass through the nearest F of Stitch 1 so the 4E at the center form a square. String 1G, 1F, 1E, 1F, and 1G; pass through the last F exited in Stitch 3 and the first E added in this stitch. Weave through beads to exit from the fourth F of Stitch 1 (Fig. 1, red thread). 
• Stitch 5: String 1G; pass through the nearest F of Stitch 2. String 1E, 1F, 1G, 1F, and 1E; pass through the last F exited in Stitch 1, the first G added in this stitch, and the nearest F/E/F of Stitch 2 (Fig. 2, blue thread). 
• Stitches 6–8: Repeat Stitch 5 three times, connecting Stitches 2 and 3, 3 and 4, and 4 and 1 in the same manner. Weave through beads to exit from the F/G/F of Stitch 5 (Fig. 2, red thread). 

• Stitch 9: String 1E; pass through the nearest F of Stitch 8. String 1G, 1F, 1E, 1F, and 1G; pass through the nearest F of Stitch 5, the first E just added, and the nearest F/G/F of Stitch 8 (Fig. 3, purple thread). 
• Stitch 10: String 1E; pass through the nearest F/G/F of Stitch 7 (Fig. 3, green thread). 
• Stitch 11: String 1E; pass through the nearest F of Stitch 6. String 1G, 1F, 1E, 1F, and 1G; pass through the nearest F of Stitch 7, the first E just added, and the nearest F/G/F of Stitch 6 (Fig. 3, blue thread). 
• Stitch 12: String 1E; pass through the nearest F/G/F of Stitch 5. Note: The beadwork should resemble a bowl with 2 flaps (Stitches 9 and 11 form the flaps). Weave through the beads at the “rim” of the bowl to exit from the nearest F of Stitch 7 (Fig. 3, red thread). 

• Stitch 13: Turn the work to view it from the side, with the flaps pointing up and the working thread at the front. String 1G; pass up through the nearest F of Stitch 11. String 1E; pass down through the mirror F in Stitch 9. String 1G; pass through the next F of Stitch 8 (Fig. 4). Weave through beads to exit from the nearest F in Stitch 5. 
• Stitch 14: Repeat Stitch 13 to complete the other side of the beaded bead, joining the other sides of the flaps (Stitches 9 and 11) to Stitches 5 and 6. Secure the thread and trim.

2) OVERLAY. Work circular netting to embellish the base: Round 1: Start 4' of new thread that exits from 1E of the 4E at the top of the base. String 1A and pass through the next E; repeat three times to add 4A. Repeat the thread path once to reinforce. Exit the second A added (Fig. 5, green thread). Round 2: String 2A, 1C, and 2A, then pass through the next A of Round 1 to form a net; repeat three times to add 4 nets.

Weave through the nearest F and G (Fig. 5, blue thread). Connector: String 1B and pass through the nearest G; repeat twice. Pass through the nearest F and E (Fig. 5, red thread). Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 on each 4E face of the base and repeat the connector on each 3G face of the base. Exit from a B.

Round 3: *String 2B and 1D; pass through the C at the tip of the nearest Round 2 net (Fig. 6, blue thread). String 1D and 2B; pass through the nearest connector B (Fig. 6, red thread). Repeat from * three times to complete the square face. Weave through beads to exit from an open B of a 3G face. Repeat this round five times to complete all 6 square faces. ✦

Artist’s Tip
Since this bead is open and hollow, a beading wire passing through this bead would be visible. Consider stringing this beaded bead on a strand of seed beads to add texture and hide the unsightly wire. Use larger beads on each side of the seed beads to loosely trap the beaded bead in place.

CHOCOLATE TOOTHPASTE

To its fans, fluoride added to tapwater is one of the most effective ways of achieving dental health and provides poorer children’s teeth a chance to sparkle like those of their more privileged counterparts.
To opponents and sceptics it is forced, mass medication, the benefits of which may pale in comparison to the uncertain consequences – which are said to include cancer, cot death, eczema, infertility and Down's Syndrome.

Health officials in countries that place fluoride in tap water maintain it can help dental health by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay. They also assert that it reduces the amount of acid that the bacteria on your teeth produce.

However, when fluoridation was halted in parts of Finland, East Germany, Cuba and Canada, tooth decay actually decreased. The first ever lawsuits against the US 's atomic bomb programme, the Manhattan Project, concerned fluoride, not radiation.
Another alarming fact is that the first health tests for fluoride were designed to establish how much industry could afford to release into the environment without damaging human health. So one thing that we definitely do know is that fluoride is toxic – in fact it’s so toxic, that in 1984, the makers of Colgate, Procter & Gamble, reportedly admitted that a small tube of their toothpaste "theoretically at least, contains enough fluoride to kill a small child."

At best, the jury is out, but despite the uncertainty surrounding its safety, finding toothpaste that’s fluoride free is very difficult, however making your own is incredibly easy.
Here’s a recipe for chocolate toothpaste which may sound silly but in actual fact research done by Tulane University supports claims that cacao fights cavities, hardens tooth enamel, and helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Its benefits, studies say, are very similar to that of fluoride. Of course if the idea of cleaning your teeth with chocolate flavoured paste sounds as crazy as a box of frogs in party hats you could replace the cacao with mint, wild fennel, clove or spearmint.

CHOCOLATE TOOTHPASTE
3 tablespoons organic coconut oil
½ tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
½ tablespoon bentonite clay ( if you cant
find this add more bicarbonate of soda
1½ dessertspoons 3% hydrogen peroxide
1-2 dessertspoons organic cacao
1 teaspoon stevia ( this will sweeten the toothpaste)
or a few drops of alcohol free vanilla essence

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a spatula until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn’t be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush.

stitch pro { LOOPED FRINGE }

Jean Campbell

You love it straight, kinked, and branched, but have you tried it looped? Looped fringe is not
only easy to stitch, it makes a very full, very versatile fringe. Here are four of my favorite ways
to use looped fringe.

SIMPLE LOOP
These long, draping loops are a great way to edge the bottom of a bag or to romanticize the bottom of a necklace. I’ve shown it here with seed beads, but this type of fringe looks great with other beads, too, such as fire-polished, pressed-glass, crystal, or pearl. And don’t forget the drops and daggers; they look great at the center of this fringe.

String 15 to 30 beads, skip 2 to 3 beads on the edge of the work, and pass through the
next bead; repeat to add large loops along the edge of the work.

TIGHT LOOPS
This technique is the same as above, but because you’re working with a smaller number of beads and making the stitches closer, they naturally twist, especially when you use tight tension. This is a great embellishment for any place you need a full, fluffy fringe. Though seed beads work best to achieve the twist, don’t underestimate the fun of a drop, pearl, or crystal at the center.

String 10 beads and pass through the next bead along the edge of the work; repeat down
the edge of the work, allowing the loops to twist on themselves.




LAYERED LOOPS
This is looped fringe, too, but might look more like a tight edging. This is a great way to finish the straight sides of peyote or brick stitch since it covers those unsightly threads at the edges.

Exit up through an edge bead. String 5 beads, skip 1 bead along the edge, pass down through
the following edge bead, and up through the previous (or skipped) edge bead; repeat along
the edge of the work, taking care to always pass in front of the previous loops.

INTERLOCKING LOOPS
This is an eccentric fringe, but especially fetching at the bottom of something round (such as a cylinder bag) because the internal twists become sculptural, much as a cable on a knitted fisherman’s sweater. You’ll want to add more, rather than less, beads in each loop of this fringe; you need more beads per loop to interlock them.

String 20 or more beads, skip 1 to 2 beads along the edge, and pass through the next edge
bead. *String 20 or more beads (the same amount as the last loop), pass through the previous
loop, skip 1 to 2 beads along the edge, and pass through the next edge bead; repeat from *
across the edge of the work. Note: Take care to pass through each of the previous loops in the
same direction so the twists are all oriented the same way.

Mother's day gifts

 Handmade Mother’s Day gifts can be super stylish. Check out these classy craft ideas for Mum.

Scan your flowers

Got a scanner at home? Make a pressed flower picture with a modern twist. Press a few fresh flowers in a book, then place them in an arty position under your scanner. Scan, then print onto photo paper. Or take your digital file to a local printer and have them print your artwork onto a large sheet of glossy paper. Choose a fancy frame to match.

5 things to do with kids’ art

At a loss as to what to do with your budding Picasso’s collection
of artwork? Here are some ideas.

1. Sort the scribbles from the fine art and save the best in a scrapbook. Buy a folder with plastic pockets to store the artwork, or glue the pieces to an A3-size scrapbook.
2. Make a puzzle. Glue the artwork to a piece of cardboard, turn it over and draw puzzle shapes on the back. Cut into pieces, and the fun begins.
3. Use them as wrapping paper. Aunts, uncles and family friends will appreciate your little artist’s expertise. You can make cards too by simply cutting them to size and folding in half.
4. Send them away. Grandparents, especially, will love receiving artwork. Send them a selection of drawings to proudly display in their own home.
5. Photograph them. Take snapshots and create a digital photo album on your computer, or a coffee table book for visitors to peruse. Snapfish can turn your snaps into a book for little cost.

gardening

Now is the time to dead head daffodil and tulip flowers, about one inch down the stem from the flower head. Resist the temptation to tie up the leaves – allow them to turn yellow – that way the goodness travels down to feed the bulb for next year. 

ᴥ Carry on removing weeds and moss from borders, paths and patios. Little and often is the best course of action. It’s a good idea to use a proprietary systemic weedkiller on patios and paths but do be aware that it will kill any plant it comes into contact with so use with caution! Spray the foliage on a dry day and you should see the weed wither within a day or so. Dandelions are a terrible problem at this time of year. If you can’t weedkill them at least chop their heads off to prevent them from flowering and setting seed all over the garden.
ᴥ The best time to water plants is in the evening once the sun has set and the day has cooled. In these times of hosepipe bans remember only to use a watering can.
ᴥ Continue to spray roses regularly with a systemic black spot and mildew preventative treatment even if they show no signs of trouble. Prevention is much easier than cure.
ᴥ Stake delphiniums, lupins and other tall perennials before they collapse. You can either use good old fashioned garden canes, staked around the plants with garden twine