You know that I always fond on plants, right?
Well, other than trying to move those plants and grow them inside the house, I am also interested with recycled-container gardening. Well, I believe that I have a hoarder in me, a dark side that I am trying to suppress as much as possible. That side, has the tendency of reuse and recycle things, not wanting to throw out stuffs, no matter how bad the condition is. So... there I am.
So far, I'm still trying not to buy anything new for my garden, and if I buy, I try to limit the expenses and the frequency to once or twice a month. THAT is a big thing for a person with hoarding tendency like me. I'm learning to throw stuff too. It was difficult at first, but now... I believe I am getting better.
Anyways...
Previously, when I was still in Taiwan, owning a huge window and enough sun every morning, I used glass container (They were bottles for chicken essence and herbal medicine for women). Since I can't make any hole on the bottom, I used crystal gel to grow the plants, and I was satisfied with the result.
Now? I have expand my planting media to soil, which is more tricky. I like them though, since I can grow pretty much everything. The problem is, if I use soil on fully closed non-aerated glass container, it would cause problematic root growth. So... I am now using plastic container, which I can punch or burn holes by using simple tools.
Again, to prevent my hoarding personality resurface, I limit my project into 3-5 projects at once, depends on how big the project is. I am currently doing the mango and lemon semi-bonsai. Incoming, mung beans maybe? And still trying to make sure that my Longan grows nice. The soil is the biggest problem I am facing right now (other than the lack of sunlight).
Well... See you on the next posts when I update you on the results.
Sunday 23 October 2011
My potato grew...
I can't believe that my potato grows!
About one and a half month ago, my sister gave me a potato that already sprouted some buds. I decided to grow the potato. But since I don't have any good (deep) planting pot, I used something from IKEA.
So... use a very simple soil mix, I added some fertilizer pellets in the almost top of the soil surface. I made a hole in the middle of the soil, plant the potato, and then close the hole with the soil mixture, add the fertilizer pellet and add more soil. Make sure that the potato is under the soil.
Water regularly and give sunshine as much as you can.
And... this is 1.5 months later.
In my case, the potato suddenly showed up after 2 weeks. I was a bit worried, but apparently it grew ok. So... no worries. If you want to plant the potato and make them produce more potatoes, then you need a deeper pot (maybe about 15 inches?, mine is only 4 inches). Plus... you need to put them on a very good-lighted place. Mine is so small and I just want them to produce leaves. I want the plant to be semi-indoor plant that I can put on my desk.
So, if you have a potato that already sprouted new buds... don't throw them away. Plant them in your yard, or in a container, and have fun! :D
About one and a half month ago, my sister gave me a potato that already sprouted some buds. I decided to grow the potato. But since I don't have any good (deep) planting pot, I used something from IKEA.
So... use a very simple soil mix, I added some fertilizer pellets in the almost top of the soil surface. I made a hole in the middle of the soil, plant the potato, and then close the hole with the soil mixture, add the fertilizer pellet and add more soil. Make sure that the potato is under the soil.
Water regularly and give sunshine as much as you can.
And... this is 1.5 months later.
In my case, the potato suddenly showed up after 2 weeks. I was a bit worried, but apparently it grew ok. So... no worries. If you want to plant the potato and make them produce more potatoes, then you need a deeper pot (maybe about 15 inches?, mine is only 4 inches). Plus... you need to put them on a very good-lighted place. Mine is so small and I just want them to produce leaves. I want the plant to be semi-indoor plant that I can put on my desk.
So, if you have a potato that already sprouted new buds... don't throw them away. Plant them in your yard, or in a container, and have fun! :D
DIY waxing
Hello hello...
I'm still busy with my craft after moving to the new place. Plus, there's a new baby at home (not mine) so... basically, it's a bit hectic lately.
Anyways. I want to add an entry, which actually not really related with craft, but when I made this blog, I was going to write home-related things too. Well, especially DIYs. So, our current topic is waxing, and to be specific, brazillian waxing.
I am using the instant waxing strips from Body Shop. Why did I buy it? My consideration was because it is very practical, which means that I don't have to heat the wax prior the process. Most of the time, I will cut the strips to the size that I need. But, I think my method can be applied to most of the waxing product.
What we need:
- Instant waxing strips
- talcum powder, I prefer the ones with menthol to 'calm' my skin
- hand held mirror, but if you have small standing mirror, it would be better
- tweezers, use different tweezers if you also pluck your eyebrow. But, if you're okay, just wash the tweezers after each use.
- common scissors, to cut the strips
- small comb
- soap, water
- towel or a very good tissue
Let's do it!
1. first, I usually wash the area I want to wax with warm soapy water. It would be better if you use non-sodium liquid soap so that your skin will not be dry. But, if your daily bath soap does not dry-out your skin, then just use it. I personally use Johnson's pH 5.5 liquid soap.
2. Dry the area with a towel or tissue. It is important that you don't leave any fiber on the area, so careful with your choice of towel/tissue. If you feel you need too, comb the hairs downward. If you don't have comb, just use your fingers.
3. Cut the strips. I usually cut them without changing the original width of the strips (the narrowest side), so the size will be about 8 cm (width) x 2 (length) cm.
4. Peel the instant waxing strips. Since both sides are usable, remember to put the unused strip safely away from you. You don't want to have them stick to your hands or any other place when you accidentally touch them. Put the sticky side up. Hold the peeled strip on your hand. I'm not a lefty, so I hold it on my right hand by using two fingers only.
5. Stretch the area that you want to wax by pulling the skin upward using your other hand (I'm using my left).
6. Stick the strips downward carefully. Downward here means that they are following the direction of the hair growth. Do not let go of your stretching hands (here... my left).
7. At this stage, the original width of the strip (8 cm) will be sticking downward. (... please use your imagination). Or... the 8 cm will be the vertical length.
8. Still using the other hand to stretch, use your hand to improve and distribute the stickiness by gently press and rub (once or twice is sufficient) in downward direction. Body Shop suggest that you can warm the strips by rubbing them prior to use, but I prefer to just put my hands (so... don't be cold handed) for about 15 seconds on the sticking strip.
9. Get ready, and pull the strip upward.
10. Repeat the process from 2 to 9, with combing the hairs if necessary. Repeat until the area that you need to wax are mostly stripped, and the majority of the hairs are gone. Once you reached areas that are difficult too see, use the mirror.
11. In my experience, the wax from the strips will usually sticks hard to the hairs. The first pull usually have weakened the hair roots. So if you have hairs that are so difficult to remove, even after you use the strips multiple times, handle this problem by gently pull them using your fingers. They supposed to be pulled off easily.
12. Using tweezers, pluck the hairs that are hidden or grow at a difficult area. Tweezers can also be used to shape the area if you have any pattern in mind.
13. Apply the talcum powder to remove stickiness and to find hairs that haven't been removed.
14. Once you are satisfied, wash the waxed area with warm soapy water, rinse, and apply the talcum powder again.
It usually takes 20-30 minutes of my time, depends on how much hair I want to remove.
.... that's all for now. :D
I'm still busy with my craft after moving to the new place. Plus, there's a new baby at home (not mine) so... basically, it's a bit hectic lately.
Anyways. I want to add an entry, which actually not really related with craft, but when I made this blog, I was going to write home-related things too. Well, especially DIYs. So, our current topic is waxing, and to be specific, brazillian waxing.
I am using the instant waxing strips from Body Shop. Why did I buy it? My consideration was because it is very practical, which means that I don't have to heat the wax prior the process. Most of the time, I will cut the strips to the size that I need. But, I think my method can be applied to most of the waxing product.
What we need:
- Instant waxing strips
- talcum powder, I prefer the ones with menthol to 'calm' my skin
- hand held mirror, but if you have small standing mirror, it would be better
- tweezers, use different tweezers if you also pluck your eyebrow. But, if you're okay, just wash the tweezers after each use.
- common scissors, to cut the strips
- small comb
- soap, water
- towel or a very good tissue
Let's do it!
1. first, I usually wash the area I want to wax with warm soapy water. It would be better if you use non-sodium liquid soap so that your skin will not be dry. But, if your daily bath soap does not dry-out your skin, then just use it. I personally use Johnson's pH 5.5 liquid soap.
2. Dry the area with a towel or tissue. It is important that you don't leave any fiber on the area, so careful with your choice of towel/tissue. If you feel you need too, comb the hairs downward. If you don't have comb, just use your fingers.
3. Cut the strips. I usually cut them without changing the original width of the strips (the narrowest side), so the size will be about 8 cm (width) x 2 (length) cm.
4. Peel the instant waxing strips. Since both sides are usable, remember to put the unused strip safely away from you. You don't want to have them stick to your hands or any other place when you accidentally touch them. Put the sticky side up. Hold the peeled strip on your hand. I'm not a lefty, so I hold it on my right hand by using two fingers only.
5. Stretch the area that you want to wax by pulling the skin upward using your other hand (I'm using my left).
6. Stick the strips downward carefully. Downward here means that they are following the direction of the hair growth. Do not let go of your stretching hands (here... my left).
7. At this stage, the original width of the strip (8 cm) will be sticking downward. (... please use your imagination). Or... the 8 cm will be the vertical length.
8. Still using the other hand to stretch, use your hand to improve and distribute the stickiness by gently press and rub (once or twice is sufficient) in downward direction. Body Shop suggest that you can warm the strips by rubbing them prior to use, but I prefer to just put my hands (so... don't be cold handed) for about 15 seconds on the sticking strip.
9. Get ready, and pull the strip upward.
10. Repeat the process from 2 to 9, with combing the hairs if necessary. Repeat until the area that you need to wax are mostly stripped, and the majority of the hairs are gone. Once you reached areas that are difficult too see, use the mirror.
11. In my experience, the wax from the strips will usually sticks hard to the hairs. The first pull usually have weakened the hair roots. So if you have hairs that are so difficult to remove, even after you use the strips multiple times, handle this problem by gently pull them using your fingers. They supposed to be pulled off easily.
12. Using tweezers, pluck the hairs that are hidden or grow at a difficult area. Tweezers can also be used to shape the area if you have any pattern in mind.
13. Apply the talcum powder to remove stickiness and to find hairs that haven't been removed.
14. Once you are satisfied, wash the waxed area with warm soapy water, rinse, and apply the talcum powder again.
It usually takes 20-30 minutes of my time, depends on how much hair I want to remove.
.... that's all for now. :D
Saturday 1 October 2011
the blanket... 3 months after
So... I started to knit a blanket for my (was) soon-to-be-born nephew last June. But, well... all the activities and I was so totally busy to knit since I have to finish my thesis and prepare the thesis defense. It was exhausting. I rarely sleep and knitting is something I can't afford (time-wise).
I left school after graduated 2 months later, which was late August, and I run away to Singapore, at my sister's place. And... 10 days after I stayed in Singapore, my sister gave birth of her first son, 3 weeks earlier than her approximate due date. The blanket was still 20% finish.
I'm using Pierrot Yarn Tre, made from cotton, and the color is my fave color: green. I was going to make a block blanket, but after I think about it, a whole blanket without connecting the blocks would be much easier and convenient for me. I did a trial to make a basketweave pattern, so I can predict the approximate stitches I need to make a new chevron lace pattern. The pattern was a 12 sts repeats. Or to be more exact, it is a 11 +1 repeat. I make 12 chevrons in one row, and added garter st at 9 st on each side. This garter st is to make the blanket flat.
Right now, I think I've already reached about 60% of the total length I wanted, and I can't wait to finish this project, since I want to start another projects: scarf for my friend who helped me a lot in Taiwan, and a doily for my teacher.
So far, I like the project, I enjoy knitting the yarn and the yarn is surprisingly "clean". It's easy to work with, and the fabric fell gracefully, even before blocking. I think the yarn is recommendable for lace.
We'll see what's gonna happen.
I left school after graduated 2 months later, which was late August, and I run away to Singapore, at my sister's place. And... 10 days after I stayed in Singapore, my sister gave birth of her first son, 3 weeks earlier than her approximate due date. The blanket was still 20% finish.
I'm using Pierrot Yarn Tre, made from cotton, and the color is my fave color: green. I was going to make a block blanket, but after I think about it, a whole blanket without connecting the blocks would be much easier and convenient for me. I did a trial to make a basketweave pattern, so I can predict the approximate stitches I need to make a new chevron lace pattern. The pattern was a 12 sts repeats. Or to be more exact, it is a 11 +1 repeat. I make 12 chevrons in one row, and added garter st at 9 st on each side. This garter st is to make the blanket flat.
Right now, I think I've already reached about 60% of the total length I wanted, and I can't wait to finish this project, since I want to start another projects: scarf for my friend who helped me a lot in Taiwan, and a doily for my teacher.
So far, I like the project, I enjoy knitting the yarn and the yarn is surprisingly "clean". It's easy to work with, and the fabric fell gracefully, even before blocking. I think the yarn is recommendable for lace.
We'll see what's gonna happen.
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