won't you be my neighbor?
Here are some DIY ideas for improving Jackson one person, one neighborhood at a time.
As we are thinking about the upcoming elections and the changes we want to see in our city, state and world, I think that we should follow Gandhi's famous advice (and my favorite quote): "You must be the change you want to see in the world." This may not be a tangible DIY project, but it is both fun and important.
better than lincoln logs
Welcome to FlyBlog, home of the hip and handy, the fun and funky.
My interest in carpentry and building probably began in the womb, since my father is the ultimate handyman. When I was growing up, he helped me design, construct and build beds for my American Girl Dolls. But it wasn't until my senior year of high school, when I won my own toolkit in a raffle, that I was ready to try constructing things on my own. Most of what I do these days is probably what most of us do: nailing picture hangers into the wall, drilling holes, screwing towel rods onto the bathroom door. But small home maintenance projects do not fulfill my secret desire to build my own house. I wasn't sure that my skills would ever be up to such an ambitious project, especially since there are some basic tools that I am afraid to use. That was before I heard about cob. The basic concept of building with cob is molding a mixture of dirt, water and straw into a house or other building. This is a gross oversimplification, I'm sure, but it still doesn't sound too hard. One of the coolest things about cob buildings, besides their environmental friendliness, is that they do not have to have right angles. Check out the ultimate hobbit-style
Music to Set the Spooky Mood
Say you have trick-or-treaters coming to your house this year. You have a nice outdoor speaker system and would like to really set the mood for all the little pirates, ballerinas and Harry Potters who come around begging for booty. Or maybe you are planning to pretend you're not home and are looking for a way to scare the crap out of anyone who comes within a few feet of your door. Allow me to give you a few suggestions for a soundtrack that will be just right for All Hallows' Eve.
Cocktails That Make You Go ‘Boo!'
To scare up a formidable Black Cat, pour 1 ounce vodka and 1 ounce cherry brandy into a highball glass over ice. Fill with equal parts Coke and cranberry juice.
Halloween Party
When you're looking for items to decorate your space for Halloween, pick a handful of pieces around which to center the rest of your décor. For my space, I picked skulls. Skulls are easy to find, and the number of variations and styles makes them easy items to accent. Also, they have an avant-garde style that pairs well with a lighter touch. Try filling a skull with a bunch of red roses for centerpieces, or personalizing each skull with accessories like bowties or homemade felt hats.
Sculpting the Gourd
I have carved pumpkins since I was a child. As kids, my sister and I carved the typical triangles and jagged mouth for a traditional jack-o'-lantern. A few years in a row, we painted the outside of the pumpkin instead of carving it, in hopes of preserving the fruit a bit longer. Then I discovered these wonderful things called carving kits. I purchased one at Target, and for just two or three bucks I got several patterns and some tools for carving: a couple of tiny saws, some hole-punching tools and a scooper.
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