QUILTS, QUILTS, QUILTS.

I was a quilter, I would love to be a quilter once again.  I love the process, the learning and the finished product, so what happened?  Well I stopped teaching quilting, I became so busy with my homebased business and family that I simply put it all aside.  For 3 years now I haven't made a quilt and I miss it.  Yesterday I pulled out some unfinished quilts and I wondered if I could stamp out some time each week to get creative again with patchwork.  My hobbies take time, they are not quick creative fixes and I do tend to jump from one to another, I've tried stopping one and obviously that hasn't worked as I want to do it over all my other crafts!

Let me show you some quilts that I had hidden in a wardrobe, there are different styles and fabrics because I love so many different things when it comes to quilting, I love bright modern quilts but I also love batiks and vintage fabrics.  I've never had a style as such because there are so many options out there and depending on the day, I just fall in love with a certain pattern or fabric and just want to make something from it.

It's time to get those quilts out of the wardrobe and on show.  I picked up this wire basket from Kmart for $9 and it fits 5 or 6 six quilts in it, I'm not sure where it will sit as yet but I love the look.

ARE BLOGS DYING OUT?

This is something I have pondered for a couple of years, so many of my favourite bloggers have stopped writing and instead use Facebook or Instagram as a substitute.  I can't say much as I too have neglected my blogs time and time again, it can be all consuming trying to keep up with social media now days.  I've tried to come here frequently but seem to get swept away with Facebook and find myself using it to promote my business more and more.

I'm not sure who comes here anymore but I have decided to keep blogging for the year if only for myself should others forget I exist like I have done to so many other blogs.  I want to start not only reading blogs more but commenting and getting involved again.  I think blogs have an important place within creative lifestyles and I don't want to see any more disappear and that includes my own.

LETS VAMP THIS PAGE UP A BIT!

Boy oh boy have I neglected this blog.  I feel like I spend so much time in front of my laptop already that by the time this blog enters my mind, I really don't feel like saying much.

I do think that blogs are still a great tool even with all of the other social media outlets out there.  I think blogs are important especially when so many people don't access Facebook or Instagram but still want online interaction so for all those who still love to read blogs, I'm vamping up my entries and really hope I don't spend forever online doing so.

I run my little home business Eco Aarde mainly on Facebook so there's a challenge right away for me to utilise my time better between there and here.

PRODUCE BAG SHOPPING KIT

I'm so excited to show you all Eco Aarde's new product for this month. It's a produce shopping bag kit to pop in your bag to keep all your reusable bags together.

The produce bag kit contains 3 produce net bags, 2 x 100% cotton muslin bags and 1 zippered pouch with carry handle to store your bags in, all for $32.

The poly net bags come in a small, medium & large size and are perfect for your fruit, vegetables and nuts. These bags have a 100% cotton drawstring ribbon for closure.

The 100% cotton muslin bags are a small and medium size, fantastic for those bulk seeds, grains and spices. These close weave bags have been double stitched with no raw edges and are so easy to toss in the wash to remove any trace of food. The bags also have a 100% cotton drawstring ribbon for closure.

The 100% cotton drill unlined zippered pouch is the perfect way to keep your bags together, there is plenty of room to add to your collection and the pouch comes with a handy carry handle.

The pouch is also sold seperately for convenience for those that already have purchased produce bags for $14.

This kit makes the perfect gift for yourself or others that are conscious about reducing one use plastics.

The pouch

Net produce bags in three sizes

 100% cotton muslin close weave produce bags in two sizes

Plenty of room for more produce bags in the pouch

I love this new kit and hope that you do to.

KOMBUCHA GOODNESS

Last week I went to a workshop held by my lovely friend to learn about kombucha.  I have tried and failed in the past with my own so it was really helpful to see someone making it and giving lots of tips.  Well last night I got to pour off my yummy goodness into smaller bottles.  I made an apple/ginger and a plum.  I actually got a tummy bug a couple of days ago and was thinking how good this probiotic drink would be but it wasn't quite ready.  That's what I thought anyway until my kombucha guru said to open a bottle and drink some anyway, so this morning I tried the apple/ginger with soda water and is was delicious!  So excited to add such a healthy drink to my daily routine.

Some other things have been happening here on Brown's Hill, the vege patch has given us an abundance of zucchini, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes,  My spaghettti squash is nearly ready and I picked the bush beans I have been drying for seed today.

Gormet Delight

Cherokee Wax

Last week I also went foraging with a friend for blackberries and though it was a painful experience (one I remember from my teenage years) it was so worth it.  After we spent a few hours with the blackberries, we went and picked mulberries.  It was a huge day but I ended up with 14 jars each of blackberry and mulberry jam.