Wild Moon Cottage is a small working homestead in the pristine Ozark Mountains. We have dairy goats, poultry, organic herb and vegetable gardens, a start of a tiny fruit orchard, several black walnut trees, wild berries and fields of wildcrafting goodness. We raise our own milk, our own eggs, much of our own medicine and food. I do laundry by hand, make my own vinegar, candles, soap, bread, cheese ........ For a living I am an artist and herbalist. My goal for myself and our homestead is to be as self sufficient and self sustaining as possible.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Handmade Holidays

Every summer I try to pick up nice baskets or tins at yard sales and then fill them with homemade things.

Sometimes I paint the tins on the outsides, I just rough up the outside with a little sandpaper and clear coat it before and after. Never paint the inside if it's meant for food :)

And then fill them with things I make myself. Candies, breads, cookies, teas, bath salts or scrubs, soaps, candles, little handmade pillows, sachets, little purses and bags, handmade napkins, little painted things, juju dolls, handmade jewelry, hairsticks, handmade incense, prayer beads, handmade painted bookmarks, sun dangles, muffins, little cakes, painted blocks, herbed things, like salves and balms, butters, vinegars, oils, herbed honey, herbed sugars ....

I'm a single work at home Mom and I homeschool and homestead so actual money is very hard to come by. In the summer I try to find sheets and materials at yard sales or the like to use for sewing. Old basket and tins to turn into gifts, candles and soaps to melt down and remake, lovely bottles to fill with the oils and vinegars, little jars and so on and so on.

If the people have a pet they really love I add little handmade simple cat toys or pet beds :)

Whatever I can and have the time for. Sometimes throughout the year, if I'm making cat toys or little purses, I make an extra one or two to put back for gifts later. That helps a lot as well.

9 comments:

Peggy said...

I am going to try the herb turkey for our family weekend. I think I have being frugal downpat and you come and give me more ideals! :)

JoyceAnn said...

Wonderful ideas , I plan to give my family and friends herbal gifts this year.
Love your idea of buying and painting old tins. I've been saving infant formula cans , have been thinking about how I was going to decorate them , now I know . I'm going to give them a gesso coat and paint them.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. Hope your weekend is Blessed !

~ Sweet Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

Joan@CopperCreeker said...

Juli, I hope you realise how much inspiration you are to all of us who visit. Thank you for letting us into your homelife. I loved your pictures and thoughts.
Blessings!

Dana said...

You are very gifted, I admire that. I didn't see any of the other things you mentioned for sale at your Etsy shop:(

Dana said...

I see it on the side:)))

Elizabeth said...

That's such a great idea! Ditto what J said, you are an inspiration!

Unknown said...

wow. i know i'd take one of those tins/baskets over some "bought from the store" gift any day.

Granny Sue said...

I made an herb-roasted chicken based on your description of how to prepare the turkey. It was incrdible; even my picky grandson could not get enough of it. And the bird lasted us for 3 dinners!

Your ideas are so down-to-earth and beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Mrs.Garcia said...

Juli, I have received your Lovely Stocking Gift to my Family and I.
I will be sending your stocking out soon. I hope you and your son will like it.
Mrs.Garcia