Cleaning and setting up my craft room

It was allot of fun setting up my craft room...
Know I can go and "Happy Crafting"

Tree Scrap Book

Christmas Tree scrap book. Great for Christmas Gifts. It has 6 pages. $7.00 plus tax/shipping
SOLD

Mitten Scrap Book.

Great for Christmas Gifts . You decorate it inside. $7.00 plus tax/shipping
SOLD

Week-end scrapbooking!

My daughter and I had so...much fun this week end. Doing up mini scrapbooks for gifts and for our craft fairs. Here is some pictures of the ones I gotten down.

All Around Tote

Great Hand Bag! $20.00 each
SOLD

Goat Milk Soap

I just love making Goat Milk Soap! It is rewarding and at the same time makes the house smell so good.
The scents I have: Pumpkin & Clove; Lavender & Basil; Rosemary & Peppermint;
Happy Camper or another name "Bug Off" great for bug season.;
All soap Cost is $5.00(3-4oz.) bar/or three for $12.50  except Happy Camper"Bug Off" that is $3.00 smaller bar and it is a seasonal.

Also if you have a special scent you would love I will make a batch. But remember it will take 4-6 weeks for it to cure.

Granny Square Dishcloth

These handmade dishcloth makes a great gift. All colors! $2.75 each

Jean Pocket Note Holder

Handmade Yo-Yo's Great to put on your frig. $7.00

Quilts

I also make handmade quilts with I tack each one. This is one we bought the fabric in Alaska and I handmade it for my hubby.
If you would like a quilt made and what kind please contact me and I would be happy to make one for you. Cost on quilts will determine on style and pattern.

Table Runner or wall hanging

This is so much fun to make. The close up one is my son's engagement pictures and made this one for their engagement party. They just loved is and don't you agree they make a beautiful couple! Second: We went to Alaska for our 30th. anniversary and wanted to make something to remember are trip by for many years to come.
You send me pictures you would like in it and I can make a Great Memory gift for you.
Along with the theme. cost is $85.00

Wool Felted hand bag

This hand bag is , hand felted with wool fibers. $25.00
Special order please contact me.

Pin Cushion

Canning Jar Pin Cushion $8.00
Few pins included

Cute Decor for your Country Home

Snowman great to put on your Christmas tree or just hang around in your home.
Hearts have scented oils in it. Great for in your home or car! $3.00 each

Recipe Holders

Wood burning by me! Great for note's as well. $12.00 each.
If you like something special wood burned on, just contact me and I can see what I can do for you.

Rustic Signs

This signs are made out of wood. Hand painted by me. I can do special orders as well.
cost is $15.00-$20.00 each.

About Gift Shop

Welcome to Sunflower Critters...
When ordering there will be sale's tax and shipping added on to the price of purchase.
All my crafts are handmade by me in Maine! I do all kinds of crafts/hobbies.
Things I make or do : Wood burning,Painting rustic signs, knitting, crochet, wool felting, quilting, sewing to aprons, hand-bags, baby bibs, vests, etc., Mini albums, cards, water color cards/pictures and Goat Milk Soaps, lip balm, and I can do so much more things.
So Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions on my product or have something in mind for me to make for you special. My am is to make all my customers happy the best I can!

All Around Tote

$20.00 each. Sunflower and check also do Special orders .

Mini Album

$15.00 each plus shipping/tax

MaryJanesFarm Recipe for Roasted Dandelion Root "Coffee"

Roasted Dandelion Root “Coffee”

When brewed properly, dandelion root coffee closely resembles the rich flavor of traditional coffee, and it contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals.

1. Gather:
   One 5-gallon bucket of dandelion roots (to yield about 10 gallons of coffee).
2. Prepare the Roots:
   To wash the roots, fill the bucket with water and agitate the roots with your hands. Pour off the muddy water and repeat this process a few times until the water runs clear and you have a pile of luscious golden roots. Don’t worry if there’s still some dirt left on them—you’ll wash them again after chopping. With a sturdy knife, cut the roots into chunks. Put these into a large bowl (or sink), fill with water, then rub the roots and rinse until clean. Drain until fairly dry or pat with a towel. Chop about 2 cups of root chunks at a time in your food processor until they’re chopped into small, coarse bits.
3. Roasting the Roots:
   Spread the coarsely ground roots on cookie sheets about 1/2-inch thick. Place as many sheets as you can fit into your oven, set at 250°F, and leave the oven door slightly ajar to let moisture escape. The roasting process takes about 2 hours. Stir frequently and rotate the cookie sheets occasionally to ensure even drying and roasting. As the roots dry, they’ll shrink and darken to a rich coffee color—but be careful not to let them burn. Cool completely and store in glass jars. Flavorful additions such as anise, cinnamon, ginger, and carob can be added if you like.
4. Brewing the Coffee:
   You can either grind the roots in a coffee mill and brew in a coffee pot, or you can place the coarsely ground roots in a tea infuser and boil in a pot of water. Use 1 tablespoon of roasted roots for each cup of water (1/3 cup per quart of water). Adjust to your taste if you like it stronger or weaker. Add a dash of cream and sugar if you like, and enjoy a steaming cup of Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee!

Dandelion & Dandelion Coffee

by Rosalee de la Forêt

Before we get to the dandelion coffee, or should I say dandelion "coffee," let's learn a bit about dandelion.

Volumes could be written on the many uses of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – indeed they have been!

This common weed is often hated and poisoned by those preferring a “weed free” lawn, while those of us in love with dandelion and its many uses happily support it taking over our lawns.

This plant was purposefully brought to North America by Europeans not wanting to leave this valuable resource behind. Every part of the dandelion can be used as food or medicine, making back door herbalism simple and easy, as it should be.

When the first spring leaves pop up out of the ground they can be harvested heavily and eaten fresh with salads, made into a delicious pesto, or dried for tea.

The leaves are highly nutritious, containing large amounts of vitamin A, calcium, potassium, and many more vitamins and minerals. The French call this plant pissenlit, which alludes to its strong diuretic properties.

A tea of dandelion leaves is a great way to flush excess water from the system. (Of course, before using this effective remedy we always want to make sure the water retention is caused by a non-serious condition like sitting on an airplane too long.)

When eaten with meals, the bitter taste of the leaves helps to promote digestion by stimulating bile to relieve indigestion and other digestive disturbances.

The root is a great ally for the liver. It can be tinctured or eaten fresh in a variety of recipes. We'll see below how to make dandelion coffee. Dandelion root can help clear up acne and other skin disruptions with the root cause being a stagnant liver. Most herbalists agree that long-term use of dandelion is needed for best results.

The flower can be eaten in salads, or fried up as fritters. An oil made from dandelion flowers is warming and can be applied externally to relieve arthritis and other aches and pains.

Lastly the latex, or sap, from the dandelion stems can be used topically on warts. Apply several times daily for best results.

My favorite way to enjoy dandelion is by making dandelion coffee with the roots. This beverage doesn’t contain the caffeine found in coffee, but does have a rich, dark taste similar to coffee.

Like burdock, dandelion’s strong diuretic activity makes it an inappropriate choice for someone with low blood pressure or excessive urination.

Now, on to dandelion coffee...

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Dandelion Coffee

Prior to decocting the dandelion root, roast the dried chopped root in a cast iron pan until it is fragrant and has changed color from being off-white to light and dark brown.

For each 8 oz of water you are making, use 1-2 teaspoons of the roasted root.

Add the root to simmering water and continue to simmer while covered for 7–15 minutes.

The resulting brew will be darkly colored.

Try dandelion coffee with cream, and many people enjoy adding honey as well.

I can not wait to try it out this week. I'm also going to try the dandelion greens for supper tonight. What I like about this is: it is good for your health. My liver count is always up and down. So it will worth it all if it does help my liver, as the info says. Found this information at www.learningherbs.com/dandelion_coffee.html

Another place you can find a recipe for dandelion root coffee is in Mary Jane's Outpost book (p. 203)

So yesterday my hubby dug up dandelions root for me. Last night I washed, and this morning I will be chopping and roasting the roots...

With coffee going up what a great way to save on making your own coffee and the best thing of it all dandelion coffee is so much better for you then the one's in the store. I roasted some this morning and it has a sweet aroma, like screw pine. (used in Asian cooking). Or the next closest scent would be like baked vanilla or a fresh croissant.

I will get back to you on what it taste like!

In a few days I will post dandelion Jelly/Jam...

If it is good for our health , why not try it out.

My Son's Wedding!

Bride: Mrs. Crystal Swan
My son: Joshua Swan
Grooms side
Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Swan

Wedding Cake

My Son's Wedding!

April 30th. at 4 pm my son Wedding Day!
What a wonderful day and beautiful Bride and handsome Groom.