Tag: craft

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About that App…(and How to Find Southern Illinois Info)

Once upon a time, there was a free app that correlated with info on A Slice of Southern Illinois. Eventually, with the original app development company, it became too difficult too keep up with changing requirements for common app stores. So, I disabled the app–for now. I would eventually like to create a new one, but I am taking my time to jump into that process. 

Meanwhile, I still have pages accessible through the menu on this website for annual events, local  food  things to see, and more. I try to update these from time to time, but they are not likely going to be as current as the Facebook page.

As many of you know by now, my health is somewhat of a rollercoaster ride since covid did a number on me. (Yes, Long Haul Covid is a real thing, and I don’t wish it on anyone!) I am also doing some jewelry-making and crafting  now that are actually therapeutic for me. When possible, I participate in farmer’s markets and other venues. However, I have to do a lot of prioritizing and “energy budgeting”  for my health. With that being said, knocking myself out to keep the events page current as well as other changes can’t be my priority at this time. There is only so much energy, and after the whole near death/ventilator experience, I have a new perspective. Living life is a priority.

SO, I am attempting to make it easier to search on the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page. Hopefully, a series of hashtag terms (below) will help you to find info by town or type within Southern Illinois. It won’t be perfect (brain fog is real too,) and I may forget obvious hashtags and miss some things, but it’s a start. Even if no one else uses them, it will help me…

This is the link to the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/asliceofSoIL?mibextid=ZbWKwL

This is how you use hashtags in the search bar to seek info or types of posts:

If you are seeking info on a Southern Illinois town, try searching the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page with a hashtag. (Example: #Carbondale )

The hashtags below are to seek out posts with the types of info listed:

SIbreweries breweries

SIclosures closings

SIcares good deeds, service and volunteer opportunities, good news

SIcoffee coffee

SIentertainment entertainment

SIevents regional events

SIeventvenue event venues

SIfurbabies pet related

#SIhistory regional history

SIkids for children

SIlodging local cabins, B&B’s, etc.

SImarket Farmer’s Markets & locally made products

SIshopslocal locally owned shops & businesses

SItastes restaurants, food trucks, food-related

SItea tea

SIthingstosee things to see in our region

SIweather weather-related post

SIwineries wineries

WatermelonFalls (by A Slice of Southern Illinois) handmade jewelry, upcycles, & giftables

These search terms are currently pinned in a post on the A Slice of Southern Illinois Facebook Page. It is always a work in progress…

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A Photo Display for All Seasons

I’ve been going through a lot of photos and trying to retrieve what I can from my social media accounts. Many were destroyed this past winter when our old residence was burglarized, ransacked and apparently trampled. This has caused me to really want to see some of my photos more often. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that it might be nice to have some photos, or even art work by the kids, switched out seasonally.  As a kid,  my mom replaced some regular decor and photos with Christmas decorations as she carefully decorated our two story house each year.  I would like to do a bit more of that again myself.

An easy craft project to make for practically free is a photo frame to easily change out and display multiple photos.  They are perfect to keep a photo wall refreshed in a house, easily change out photos in a dorm room or rental, or even serve as a recipe card holder in the kitchen.  Make one or a few for yourself or even to gift.

Most of us already have a photo frame that has broken glass that we can no longer use.  You can also usually find frames of all sizes in thrift stores and second hand stores.  I went with a frame that I purchased for about a dollar in a second hand store.  Initially, it was going to be part of room decor.  Then I managed to break the glass and had to revamp a bit…

I already had chicken coop wire on hand, so that was basically free, and I had mini clothespins that I had picked up earlier in the year on clearance at the big craft store.  I also had some leftover 12 x 12 scrapbook paper from another project.  I originally planned to use fabric, but since the paper was the exact size of my frame and very neutral, I went with that. 

The basic process is:

  1. Clean your frame. You will not need the glass. Save it for another project…
  2. Cut your chicken coop wire (you can even get small amounts of this now at some craft stores) to be just slightly larger than your frame. If you look at the chicken coop wire, you will see that it is made up of single and twisted wire. It is easiest to cut the single wires. I used the craft wire snips. Previously, I used regular scissors, but it was a bit harder that way.
  3. Place the back if the frame down on a flat surface and cover the front side of the frame back (just not the side with the picture hanger on it if it is not on the frame itself…) with the paper or fabric.  I taped my paper to the frame.  If you use fabric, you may want to staple it in inconspicuous spots.
  4. Place the chicken coop wire down on a flat service. 
  5. Place the covered frame back face side down onto the chicken coop wire. 
  6. Very carefully (try not to stab yourself with any of the wire…) bend the ends of the overlapped wire behind the picture frame back using pliers or your wire snips.
  7. Place the picture frame back into the frame with the chicken coop wire. You may need to do some additional wire bending to make it fit.
  8. Clip a few mini or regular clothespins to the wire, and you are all set to add photos, cards, recipes, or whatever you choose.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  It is recommended that you wear gloves (or at least have a current Tetanus shot…) as the wire can be sharp and scratchy.  Please be careful!

Fall…

Christmas

Valentine’s Day

Recipe Holder