Jam Project

Two Bags of Frozen Raspberries

3 or 4 Plums, Peaches or Pears.

One box of Sure Jell Pectin

6 Pint Jars (they come in packs of 12, so we can split them)

Lots of Sugar (but not too much, we are doing low-sugar jam)

One orange or lemon for juice and rind

Estimated cost:

Raspberries $8

Pears/Peaches/Plums $2

Sure Jell $2.50

Sugar $3

Orange/Lemon $1

Jars (if halved) $4

Total: about $20

Put berries in a large pot and break them down. Cut up other fruit and add it and sugar. Once boiling, add pectin and lemon juice bring again to a boil. When the mixture has reached a "syrupy" consistency, and coats a metal spoon, then it is ready to be canned. Pour (Carefully!) into the sanitize jars till 1/4 inch from the rim. Wipe rims and put the lids that have been warmed in almost boiling water then tighten the ring to ALMOST completely shut, leave a little wiggle room. Put the jars into a boiling water bath till they are submerged, and leave for 25-30 min. Carefully- remove jars and tighten lids. When you hear popping, you know the lids are sealing correctly. Jam has a shelf life of 2 years, and if opened and refrigerated, 2 weeks.

Bracelet

I did this all summer long. Some bracelets I got the ideas off of Craftgawker, and others I just plain made up. This one, (shown in blue above) is made up. Here is how to do it-

1. Cut a line of hemp that is three times as long as the length you want your bracelet around your wrist. Pick 2 or 3 colors of embroidery floss and cut them 2 ft long. fold in half, so the loop of hemp becomes the top (and later to be the button hole) and make sure the embroidery floss is even. Tie a knot at the top, and make sure it fits around your button.

2. Keeping the hemp lines parallel, weave the embroidery floss in and out, from one side around to the other. You'll feel like you are braiding, except not- because you are weaving the floss around the stationary hemp lines.

3. As you go, squish the thread up so the hemp is covered, and keep going.

4. When you get to the length you desire, tie the bottom in a knot, then snip the ends of the embroidery. Then, thread the hemp through your button, knot, and cut. Now your bracelet is removable. And you are quite finished.

note- some of the bracelets on my wrist above, I didn't squish the thread on, and left the hemp visible. Just for contrast.