November 14, 2020 Look for your regular Mistletoe Market vendor ads
2
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
Mistletoe Market
canceled in 2020 due to pandemic
BAD AXE — After 11 years as a staple of the holiday season in Bad Axe, this year's Mistletoe Market is the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic, as the Tribune has made the tough decision to cancel the event this year. "Because of all the concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to do our part and be cautious and keep everyone healthy," said Tribune Advertis-
ing Director Renee Willis. "It was very disappointing to have to cancel. We had plans on how to add to it for this year and make it even more of a fun event for families, and now we have to wait to do it next year." This would have been the 12th year of the event, which has been held at the Bad Axe Middle School. The event typically draws around 100 vendors, and
over 1,200 people attended it last year, not counting children. While the event will not be held this year, Willis said the Tribune is putting together a special section to help showcase some of the vendors and others who might want to be included. Mistletoe Market will return in 2021 and Willis said the plan is to have it be even bigger and better.
"Our plan is to have a fun event with 100 vendors again," she said. "We are moving it to the Bad Axe High School to allow for even more vendors and not be so crowded. We will have the shopping bags again that we had for the first time last year. They were very well-received by all the attendees. It was fun to see a 'sea' of red shopping bags filled with items in the crowd."
michigansthumb.com
Mistletoe Market
Cross-Stitch:
old craft, new attitude
Cross-Stitch: Old Craft, New Attitude Most of our grandmothers had a cross-stitched sampler somewhere on their walls. Colorful threaded Xs marching across fabric to create a homey saying or scene are common. Modern cross stitch, however, often combines this older art with a more snarky attitude. Fabric Most cross-stitch is done on a fabric called aida, which is sized based on the number of squares to the inch. For your first cross-stitch, consider getting an aida with larger squares (fewer to the inch) so you keep your sanity and your eyesight. Cross-stitching can also be done on linen or evenweave, but those squares tend to be smaller. Aida is stiff and all of these fabrics tend to fray, so bind the edges of a cut piece with masking tape or sew it with a zig zag stitch or serger. Thread Think of this as the paint for your canvas. You won’t be using regular sewing thread, though. You’ll use a type of thread called floss. Floss comes in skeins in every color of the rainbow. Each skein is a coil of floss that consists of six strands. Depending on your cross-stitch pattern, you’ll use all six strands at once or split it into fewer strands.
Chart or Pattern This is the map you’ll use when you’re stitching. It tells you what kind of stitch to use and which color. Each color with have a symbol or, well, a color, assigned to it on the pattern. There should be a legend to help you out. Each square on the pattern represents a single cross stitch. Hoops or Frames Before you start working, you’ll stretch the fabric into a hoop or frame, depending on whichever is easiest to hold.
Plastic hoops are more expensive than the bamboo hoops you see in stores, but they hold the fabric better. Consider starting out with a plastic hoop for working and a bamboo hoop for framing or finishing. Needles You’re not going to use regular sewing needles, either. You can use embroidery needles or tapestry needles for your project. Both have larger eyes, but tapestry needles have blunted ends and embroidery needles have sharp ends. Needles are also sized; the larger the number, the smaller the needle (and the eye). Your pattern can tell you what size needle to use, but it usually corresponds to the size of the fabric. More squares per inch means a tinier needle to make those squares. Tapestry needles with their blunt points may be more friendly to the beginner. Get Started Start stitching from the center of your fabric. Before you put it in the hoop, fold it in half one way and then the other way, pinching and creasing at the center. When you unfold the fabric, place a pin in the center and put it in the middle of the hoop or frame. Cross stitch is usually worked from left to right and usually doesn’t include knots. Find the color you need to start and the number of strands, then thread your needle as you would for sewing but don’t make a knot. Starting from the back, bring your needle up to a hole in the front, leaving about an inch in the back. Hold it as you go, you’re going to stitch over it to secure it. Pass the needle diagonally over the square and down through the hole at the corner. Make several more of these stitches in a row, then work back the other way, closing the X. To end, pass the needle under three completed stitches on the back and trim it off.
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
3
4
Mistletoe Market
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
michigansthumb.com
Hill Top Nursery Handmade Wreaths & Grave Blankets! Fresh Handmade Wreaths from Door Size up to 5 feet! Grave Blankets from pillow size up to 4 feet!
LocaL DeLivery avaiLabLe New this year: Evergreen Porch Pots Coming Soon: Fresh Cut or Cut Your Own Christmas Trees Nov 27, 2020
For more info, call us or check out our Facebook page! 989-269-8721
Gift Certificates Available
3574 Sand Beach Road, Bad Axe 6 Miles East of Bad Axe on M-142 in Verona
Open by Appointment thru Thanksgiving • Christmas Tree Hours beginning Nov 27 Fri, Sat, Sun: 10am-5pm • Mon-Thur: Noon to 5pm
Hope to see you all at Mistletoe Market in 2021!
michigansthumb.com
Mistletoe Market
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
5
Knitting Vocabulary Knitting is another old skill that’s experiencing a boom right now. If you’re ready to figure out the ins and outs of knitting and purling, learn these words before starting out. Alternate: Meaning every other row. Arm Knitting: Where the knitter uses their arms instead of knitting needles. Arm knitting is best done with very bulky yarns and with larger projects, like blankets.
Revamp your old
Furniture
If quarantine has you looking at your furniture with revulsion, save some money and try out some trendy new finishes. Here are some tips for giving your old furniture a brand new look.
Step 1: Clean It Remove your furniture to a well-ventilated work space that’s also well-lit. Give it a good scrubbing with some oil soap and water, making sure you get into the nooks and crannies. Take out any drawers and vacuum hard-to-reach spots. If you’ve got excessive wax build-up, attack it with fine steel wool. Step 2: Make Repairs While you’re cleaning, look for any spots that need repair. You might need to glue some laminate or tighten or replace screws. Fill in cracks with wood putty. If you’re changing out hardware, you want to take the old hardware off now and fill or drill any holes you’re going to need or not need. Step 3: Sand It This is the hard part. To refinish the piece, you’ll first need to remove the old finish. The
easiest way is through a combination of chemical strippers and sanding. Start with the coarsest sand paper and work up to the finest paper. If you’ve got a solid wood piece, consider staining it over painting. Once you’re done sanding and stripping, it’s time to clean it again. Use a damp cloth and a vacuum for best results, and make sure you get up all the dust. Step 4: The Fun Part This is where you apply your new finish. Don’t be afraid of staining, especially for higher end pieces. There are great acrylic stains out there that clean up easier than the old oil-based ones, but be aware that they won’t last as long. Other trendy finishes right now are colored stains, chalk paint and distressed finishes that start with a lighter color under a darker color, which is then deliberately scored or dented to show the lighter color underneath. Research the types of finishes you want to use carefully and get everything you need before starting. For many of these processes, you have to finish what you start all in the same go or you risk having to start over on the project.
Intarsia: Colorwork knitting that creates blocks of color without strands hanging in the back. Knitwise: Inserting your working needle in a way that puts the leading leg of your yarn on the right side of your needle. Lifeline: Yarn or string inserted into a previous row to hold those stitches in place in the event you need to frog your work. Live stitch: Unworked stitches that are still on the needle.
Backstitch: A technique for seaming that doubles back on itself to strengthen a seam.
Niddy noddy: An H-shaped tool that allows you to easily wind skeins of yarn.
Bind off or cast off: Ending a row of stitches.
Purlwise: Inserting your working needle so that your leading leg is on the left side of your needle.
Blocking: Any method of setting the stitches and gauge of a garment, including wet blocking and steam blocking. Circular knitting needles: Two separate needles attached with a cord, allowing you to knit larger pieces in the round. It also works well for large, flat items that are too wide for regular, straight needles.
Roving: Yarn that is not completely twisted or plied during spinning. It’s often used to create extra bulky projects, like those blankets you’ve seen on social media. Slip stitch: A stitch slipped from the non-dominant needle to the working needle without being worked.
Dropped stitches: Oops! This refers to stitches that have fallen off the needle during the knitting process.
Stitch: This can refer to two things. Individual stitches are made with the needles. Stitch patterns are formed from individual stitches.
Frogging: Undoing stitches by ripping them out. You then continue from a previous row.
Wale: A column of stitches.
Gauge: Refers to the number of stitches per inch. Yarn, needle size and stitch pattern all affect gauge. The bigger the yarn and the bigger the needles, the less tension your stitches will have.
t a e r G e k Ma s Gifts! Christma
Worsted: One of the most popular yarn weights for knitters. It’s usually weight 4 yarn and is great for scarves and more. Yarn over: A method of increasing stitches in your work that creates a small eyelet in the fabric.
Carol Mazure
Hand Woven Rag Rugs machine washable
Assorted lengths & colors Available Nov. 15-20 of 2020 and after May 1, 2021 Please call me for directions & hours at
989-479-6652
6
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
Jeanette’s Boutique LuLaRoe Clothing & accessories, personal shopping available in boutique.
Bad Axe Appliance & The Amish Country Crafter
$3 off bird houses & Feeders, leather belts & wallets, and Amish rugs. Create an Amish food gift basket with candy, jams & popcorn. Checkout the Amish Furniture and Appliances.
Jeanette Hooper LuLaRoe Fashion Consultant/Owner
amishcountrycrafter.com and on Facebook.
810-404-2204
www.shopjeanettesboutique.com
625 N Port Crescent in Bad Axe 989-269-7531 baappl@att.net
Did you know?
Broadening one’s horizons through crafting can be a worthwhile pursuit. Crafting can serve as a relaxing pastime and provide an opportunity to learn rewarding skills. Learning to crochet is one way for men and women to combine creativity and practicality. Crochet is a form of handwork using yarn and a crochet hook. According to the Crochet Guild of America, there’s no way to know just how old the art of crochet is. However, crochet expert Annie Potter has said the modern form of the art originated in the 16th century, primarily in France and England. Others surmise crocheting traces its origins to Arabia before it spread westward through various Mediterranean trade routes.
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
Sunny summer days beg for outside activities. What’s more carefree than flying a kite that you made yourself ? Make a pretty mosaic kite in this activity from Good Housekeeping. Materials • A roll of clear adhesive shelf paper • A ball of string • Straws, two for the width and three for the length • Scissors, for the tissue paper shapes • Tissue paper • Ribbon Instructions 1. Tie the straws together at the center with sting. You should have a plus sign made from four straws with a ball of string in the middle to secure it. 2. Cut the adhesive paper into a diamond shape. Peel the backing off and place sticky side up, then fit the straws to the diamond and press down. 3. Cut and stick tissue paper shapes all over the contact paper. Go for a stained glass look or create a whole
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Go fly a kite
scene. 4. Cut a second diamond from clear adhesive paper that’s the same size as the first and stick over the top. 5. Loop string around each corner, then tie them together to make the bridle. Add a ribbon tail.
Kite Safety Even a little kite like this can turn into a safety hazard. Don’t fly kites near people, roads and especially power lines. You also want to avoid electric signs and any sort of aerial antennae or satellite dish. Don’t fly kites in stormy weather or in very strong winds. Watch out for dogs, rocks and holes while
running with your kite. If the kite gets stuck in a tree or on wires or a telephone pole, cut it loose and call the appropriate authorities. It’s less of an issue with a little kite like this one, but if you want to fly a larger kite, wear gloves while handling them and never leave them unattended. Don’t let children fly large kites
alone and check your lines for fraying and wear before flying. Believe it or not, there are even FAA rules regarding kites. You can’t fly a kite that weighs more than five pounds and you can’t have a line longer than 500 feet. There may also be local ordinances, probably again pertaining to the bigger kites. But check before you go flying.
Har Jo’s
Ben Franklin Craft & Variety
Now accepting orders for Christmas Delivery. To view some of our previous creations - search for Stuffed Animal Zoos on Facebook To order – please call 989-768-8241
7
Scrapbooking Supplies Stamping Goods Yarn • Beads • Fabric Health & Beauty Office & Art Supplies General Crafts Sewing Notions Housewares
Shop in for all your supplies for your Christmas DIY projects!
www.harjosbenfranklin.com Call 989.453.2323 for current hours of operation
9 South Main St. Pigeon • (989) 453-2323
8
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Beautiful grave blankets and crosses for sale
Contact Cathy at 989.912.0329 (Call or Text) Special orders available!
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
Did you know? Children have long been drawn to expressing themselves through art. According to developmental experts, coloring stimulates creativity, contributes to better handwriting, teaches color recognition, and can promote hand-eye coordination. Coloring books can help children learn to recognize boundaries and structure and develop spacial awareness. Adults, too, have recognized the benefits that coloring can bring, which includes stress reduction and improved focus.
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
9
How to sew a
Face Mask
If you’ve got a sewing machine sitting around in your closet, now would be a good time to break it out and get to sewing some face masks to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Patterns are everywhere, just be sure to pick one that fits your materials and your skill level with the machine. Why Mask Up? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that COVID-19 spreads mainly through respiratory droplets. These droplets can land on nearby people, infecting them. To reduce the spread of the virus, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in crowds, and many states and cities have now mandated the use of face coverings. Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth and make sure it fits snugly against your face. Wash your
face covering after every use.
Materials Most DIY masks are made from cotton fabric, either quilters cotton (no stretch) or knits (stretchy), with elastic ear loops. You want to the fabric to be thick enough that it doesn’t easily let light through when you hold it up to a bulb. One study shows that two layers of quilters cotton turned out to be the best in terms of stopping COVID-19 transmission, but more work needs to be done. Using your Sewing Machine If you haven’t gotten your machine out in a while, you’re going to need to do some maintenance first. Remove any old thread and bobbins and replace
it with new. Dust the machine well, including the bobbin case and the area in and around the feed dogs. Pick out any dust or fluff that’s stuck with a needle or a stiff brush. Try to avoid blowing the dust deeper into the mechanism. In addition to any old thread, you’ll want a new, sharp needle. Make sure you use the size and brand recommended by your manufacturer. On older machines, you may also need to lubricate the mechanism. You can do this by opening the case, usually by removing a couple of screws. Newer machines may not need lubrication, so check your manual for the proper instructions. Only use sewing machine oil and not other kinds of oils.
Handmade Wooden Toys & Kitchen Utensils by Lynn Maust
Katy McGrath Independent Consultant katyloumac77@gmail.com www.paparazziaccessories.com/388572 989-582-0699
Connie Willis
...
Young Living Distributor #15579794
$20 back when you purchase a Premium starter kit. Free gift with a $50 order.
989-550-8671
jcnnwlls@gmail.com
989-225-9465 | ldmaust46@gmail.com
10
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
Did you know? Located on the Village Green, Port Austin.
Gail Schember 989-551-4405
gailann22@yahoo.com www.pamperedchef.biz/gailann22
Cash & Carry available!
Shop Fri Dec 4th 3-8PM & Sat Dec 5 10-12:30PM Gifts for the Whole Family, even your dog! Holiday aprons, fleece hats & mittens, hand warmers, stockings & more! Mason jar gifts: soup, desserts & bread mixes! Fresh baked sweetie pies & hot spiced cider.
Contact for Pre-orders!
mumziesllc@gmail.com • facebook.com/mumziesllc
Consumers who want to support local businesses should know that positive product reviews can be a great and effective way to do just that. According to Business2Community.com, 88 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. In addition, customers are likely to spend 31 percent more on a business with “excellent” reviews, while 72 percent of consumers say that positive reviews make them trust local businesses more.
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
11
Quick crafts for
Kids
During the long weeks of quarantine or homeschooling, you probably had a whole lifetime’s worth of “I’m bored.” Next time cabin fever sneaks up, here are some DIY activities to keep the kiddos out of your hair. Scavenger Hunt Have the kids find items that match a color, a letter, a sound and more. If your kids are on the mischievous side, you might want to set some ground rules such as no live animals.
Painting Rocks Next time you’re at the garden store, pick up some river rocks that are big enough for your kids to work with but small enough for them to pick up themselves. Let the kids loose with craft paint and see what they come up with. Encourage them to make up a story or to paint the rocks in cheery colors and themes. For extra fun, coat them in sealant and hide them around the yard. Doodle Art Grab some copy paper and markers. Let the kids create a single-line scribble using the
black marker, then fill the shape with different colors of markers or crayons for a fun abstract piece.
Bake to set the dye and you’re ready to go. Let the kids make their own pictures and sort the colors.
DIY Stress Ball Fill a balloon part of the way with cornstarch. Tie a knit and let the kiddos decorate their new homemade stress balls. These are great for road trips and fidgety kids.
Make Ooblek That’s fun word, isn’t it? Ooblek is a gooey substance somewhere between water and slime. Make it by mixing two cups of cornstarch with one cup of water and, if you’d like, food coloring. Mix to combine. Your ooblek should be solid if you apply pressure and melt back into a liquid when you let go. If the ooblek is too wet, add a little more cornstarch and mix again. Too dry? Do the same with water.
Rainbow Rice Put uncooked rice in freezer bags, then drop in a few drops of gel food dye. Shake and mash the rice and food coloring together – this is fun for the little ones – and then pour each color onto a baking sheet.
Ridge View
Rug Weaving
Lisa Esch
Independent Consultant Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski northernbling@yahoo.com Facebook: Lisa’s Northern Bling touchstonecrystal.com/lisaesch
Washable • Line Dry
Nancy Schweinsbergen
Edna Miller
Consultant
5439 Patterson Road, Snover, MI 48472 (989) 658-2084
810-908-9263
nstinker653@aol.com tastefullysimple.com/web/ nschweinsbergen
12
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
Mistletoe Market
michigansthumb.com
Coloring A popular adult hobby
SJ Designs
Handmade Soap & 100% Soy candles! Inspired by nature!
989-453-2103 • Made in the Thumb of Michigan! 4839 S Lakeshore Road Harbor Beach, MI, 48441
(989) 864-5634
www.etsy.com/shop/ElainesCraftsDesigns
Unique & unusual wreaths and designs brought to you by Elaine’s Crafts located at Franks Place just south of Harbor Beach Michigan. I have various designs including: a Nautical a Animal a Seasonal Décor a Custom orders Some wreaths feature lighting while others are without but I can make to suit if you prefer it with lights! Stop by and say hi and lets work some crafting magic!
Coloring books are no longer just child’s play. In recent years, adult coloring books have flown off of the shelves at craft retailers and bookstores, turning what was once a niche hobby into a popular and lucrative trend. Studies show that coloring can have calming and therapeutic effects. In fact, researchers at Johns Hopkins University suggest coloring as an alternative to meditation. This form of art therapy can relax the mind and help a person learn more about oneself in the process. All types of coloring can stimulate a person’s creative juices while simultaneously strengthening his or her mental well-being. Experts who study the impact coloring has on adults have found coloring involves both logic and creativity. This activates the areas of the cerebral cortex in the brain involved in vision and fine motor skills. The relaxation that coloring provides lowers the activity of the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls emotions. Participants who color can find tranquility quite easily. Marygrace Berberian, a certified art therapist and Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Graduate Art Therapy Program at New York University, has said, “Coloring definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring about more mindfulness.” Adults interested in coloring have a substantial catalog of adult coloring books at their disposal. Start with something relatively easily by coloring mandalas, or circles filled with other geometric shapes. Intricate designs are hallmarks of adult coloring books, including fine art and design-themed coloring books. Therefore, it’s best to invest in a quality set of colored pencils for a greater level of precision.