"Cuor di Bue Tomato," © 2005 Dominik Hundhammer, CC Attribution-ShareAlike license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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1.) Okay, this first step isn’t so much about laziness as effectiveness. You’d think it were a carefully guarded secret, as few people know it, but it is really key to growing tomatoes. Start tomato (and pepper) seeds in flats with heating pads. A lot of people report that they have trouble getting tomato seeds to sprout, especially earlier in the season. The reason for this is that the soil needs to be about 75 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure a good germination rate. (Germination rate is the percentage of seeds planted that actually sprout.) Little kits are available at gardening stores with a pad that heats to just the right temperature and a plastic enclosure to hold the heat in. These kits cost maybe $30-40, but I’ve gotten years of tomato plants from mine; and with good seeds, the germination rate is very, very close to 100%. Furthermore, you’ll have transplantable seedlings within two weeks or so. Totally worthwhile investment!

"Tomato Seedlings," © 2008 Stephanie Vacher, CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en

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2.) Start hardening off your seedlings right away, and all at once. (Hardening off is when you start exposing your baby plants to the elements: sun, rain, wind.) I have read a lot of articles and books that recommend exposing very young seedlings to sunlight only at first (in a window or under artificial light), and then waiting a week or two (or longer) to begin placing them outside in the elements, starting with an hour or two of exposure and gradually working up to all day. I’m lazy, and I disagree! If you use a nutrient-rich potting soil (which you should, because that increases germination rates too), then your tiny plants will grow so fast that by the time you get them outside, they’ll be tall and unstable. (Forcing them to reach for a window will also encourage that kind of growth.) It is important for tomato and pepper seedlings to get sunlight as soon as they emerge from the soil, so I just go ahead and start putting them outside all day long as soon as they peek out of the soil. The elements will kill a few, but those were probably weaklings anyway, and now you don’t have to do all that babysitting. As long as it is above 55 degrees (F), those plants can be outside, no matter the conditions (unless it’s the storm of the century or something).

3.) Prune your tomato plants. Or don’t. I have tried both, and I do find that I get bigger (but fewer) fruit from pruned plants. If you live in an area where tomatoes are prone to fungal disease, such as blight or anthracnose, pruning may keep your plants healthy for longer (like a week or two, maybe). Our plants get anthracnose every single year, and my solution is to just plant lots and lots of plants, harvest a ton while they’re healthy, and preserve them by canning or freezing. That said, I think the plants have hung in there a little longer in the years when I’ve pruned them. I’m not sure it’s wise, though, because I’m so much more heartbroken to lose plants that I’ve worked hard to save, and it doesn’t seem to buy enough time to make it worthwhile. I guess the lesson here is: If you’re a pruner, prune. If you’re lazy or prone to emotional attachment like I am, don’t bother.

The most common fungal disease, late blight, should not be confused with blossom-end rot, which is often a calcium deficiency or moisture inconsistency (either way, it's curable, unlike blight). ©2011 Downtowngal, CC Attribution-ShareAlike license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

4.) Tomato cages are worth the time and money. You’ll spend a lot less effort with cages than you will with those dumb ol’ sticks. (You have to keep re-tying the plants to the sticks as they grow.) Instead, just place a cage over a small plant, and forget about it. If you don’t support the plants somehow, you’ll lose a lot of them to wind and gravity casualties, plus increase the odds of those pesky funguses taking hold!

The cone-shaped cages toward the far ends of the bed are better than the homemade, cylindrical ones you see closer to the camera, because they have stakes that stick right into the ground. The cylinders, on the other hand, have to be secured to something so they don't fall over. (Thanks to my dad back home in Parma for the classiest pink flamingos this side of the Mason-Dixon.)

5.) It doesn’t matter how much water your tomato plants get, as long as it’s consistent. (Or not. Whatever.) Watering them every day that it doesn’t rain is the safest bet. That way, when it rains for the entire second half of July, your tomatoes won’t crack from growing so fast. If you decide to do this, can I recommend some soaker hoses or something? Then, all you have to do is walk outside and turn on the spigot. Plus, your plants will be less likely to get those fungal diseases I keep talking about if the leaves aren’t getting wet. (Soaker hoses sit in the garden bed and water at the base of the plants.) Anyway, remember how I said I’m lazy? Well, if you don’t water consistently, the worst thing that can happen is you end up with cracked tomatoes that will eventually rot on the vine if you don’t harvest immediately. Or, sometimes the cracks will scab up. Hey, cracked and rotting tomatoes in the garden this year = volunteer tomato plants next year (assuming you don’t bother tilling, like me)! And those scabs? You can just cut them off and enjoy the rest of the tomato!

And to answer the question you may or may not be asking yourself now, “What is a lazy gardener to do with all the extra tomatoes?”

6.) Throw some back into the garden (or just let them fall off the plant like I mentioned a second ago), and you’re sure to get at least a few volunteers next year! This is an excuse not to till. I know you were looking for one.

7.) Make sauce, but don’t bother blanching and peeling the tomatoes. Here’s how I do it: Chop and core them, and then simmer them in water (covered) for a day or two on the stovetop, checking the level of the water every eight or ten hours just to make sure it doesn’t get too thick and burn. Turn off the heat and let it cool, AND PUT AN APRON ON. Stick an immersion blender in there and blend it all up. If you’re worried about skins and seeds, just pour the sauce through a strainer after blending. If the sauce isn’t thick enough, simmer it uncovered until it is. Add herbs and stuff at the end. Or whenever you want. Or not at all. Maybe you want this sauce to be a blank slate so you can pull it out of the freezer months from now and decide then whether it will be gazpacho, pasta sauce, chili, or a bath for your dog who just got too close to a skunk.

8.) Don’t bother canning if you’ve got some freezer space. Canning is hard. Just pour your sauce into freezer-proof jars, leaving more head room than you think you should, put the lid on, and freeze. I usually put mine in the fridge for a few days first so the flavors mingle.

Learn how to use a combination of origami and kirigami techniques to create 35 paper dogs that are three-dimensional, freestanding, and full of expressive details, from a graceful Greyhound to a roly-poly Pug. With illustrated step-by-step instructions for every project and a Basics section that explores the tools and materials you’ll need, Hiroshi Hayakawa guides you through the processes of cutting, scoring, and folding paper to create these pups. Just photocopy any of the book’s full-size templates onto cardstock and follow the assembly instructions from start to finish, including the personalization of your pup with simple paint embellishments. In addition to 35 projects, Paper Pups offers readers eight dog accessories including a Best in Show ribbon, a sweater for the Chihuahua, a doghouse, and more. With Hiroshi’s guidance and only a few tools, you’ll find dozens of ways to turn paper into heartfelt, friendly pups, sure to get your tail wagging. Check out some of the canine craftiness below!

Since we’re crafters here, we decided to share our love of Star Wars be scouring Etsy for some fabulous finds on our favorite subject. Who wouldn’t love an R2D2 quilt for cuddle times? Show which side you are on with some rebel or empire jewelry. We even found a fantastic Yoda stained glass panel!

Enjoy, and…

From left to right:

Han & Leia Rings by SpiffingJewelry

Master Yoda Amigurumi by SoulSundries

Imperial Insignia Necklace by sudlow

R2D2 Pixel Art Quilt by GoodwinsCustomCrafts

Ewok Miniature Plush by wishwithme

Storm Trooper Vans by ShoesBySmiley

Boba Fett Amigurumi by MCraftCreations

Darth Vader Embroidery by OccasionallySubtle

Felted Mini AT-AT by famished

R2D2 Earrings by petiteVanilla

Chewbacca Plush by peludossa

Rebel Alliance Ring Sterling925Silver

LEGO Light Saber Earrings by emmadreamstar

Yoda Stained Glass Window by TerrazaStainedGlass

Star Wars Converse by ThoseInFavor

R2D2 and C-3PO Art 3D Pop Artwork by PopsicArt

This is me with my mom, and I was careful not to put any recipes in this post that she would not like. I might be 500 miles away, but my step dad's not! (Ahem. Hint.)

Momelettes!

Moms have come to expect breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, and they should get it. Your mom has probably prepared at least 12,317 meals for you, approximately. If you are a grown-up and don’t live with your mom, and don’t want to break into her house early in the morning lest you get shot, then you might just have to plan the breakfast thing instead of surprising her with it. She’ll still appreciate it, I bet. Anyway, how about a momelette?! I am going to just give you some delicious ideas because I know you can figure out how to make an omelette.

• Bacon, fig, and goat cheese make a delicious omelette filling. Cut your bacon and figs into small, bite-size slices and fry them separately–the bacon until it’s crisp and the figs until they’re saucy. Put your crisp bacon and saucy figs inside the omelette along with some goat cheese and maybe some rosemary? Mm-mm. (I might even consider blending the rosemary into the egg mixture in my food processor.)
• Sweet potato and kale: Peel and cube the sweet potato, and then fry it in lots of butter or coconut oil with a dash of salt, and maybe some sage. Did I say use lots of butter or oil? Sweet potatoes need oil, and your mom needs good cholesterols! Unless she doesn’t. Cut the kale into bite-size pieces first. I cannot express how important this is, and dudes don’t seem to get it. So dudes, cut mom’s kale! And then sautee it in some butter or coconut oil with a dash of salt too, but you will likely need to add a bit of water. (Kale does not seem to have a lot of its own moisture.) I think for this one, it will be important to add the filling before the egg in the omelette is completely cooked, because sweet potato is soooo much better when it’s embedded in egg. I also would be willing to bet the farm that some swiss cheese would be a perfect finisher! And salsa? No, that’s crazy.
• Smoked salmon, capers, and cream cheese. This sounds fancy, but it’s very easy, because you really don’t have to do anything to the fillings before putting them in the omelette. You might add some very finely diced red onion too, depending on how mom feels about onions and onion breath.
• Yard foods! If mom is an adventurous eater, try making her momelette with dandelion greens and chickweed, maybe garnished with some violets to make it pretty. Or perhaps a plain cheese omelette garnished with cucumber, chive, and mint relish? Just peel and dice the cuke, chop the herbs, and mix it all in a bit of apple cider vinegar and salt, and just a dash of brown sugar.

Mom-nom-nom! (Image used under Creative Commons from juanelos.)

Not Your Mom’s Pot Pie

Er, yes your mom’s. You are her sweetie-pie, but savory pie will make an excellent dinner! This chicken pot pie is not your standard boxed clump of ice flipped upside-down on a plate, and I would even venture to say it’s better than your average homemade chicken pot pie. This here is springtime comfort food from the rustic kitchen of the one and only Ashley English. You can find this and 59 other delicious pie recipes in her beautiful book, A Year of Pies. First, you’ll need to use one of these basic pie crust recipes. <– That’s your secret weapon. Next step, get your pot pie on!

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Seriously Sinful Chocolate Cake

What? Wow, if your mother is on a diet or anything, just skip this part. I mean, this thing is decadent, and it has lard in it. I know this is not for everyone, but if you’re into this sort of thing, you know how delicious it is! This recipe comes from Cake Ladies, authored by Asheville’s very own cake entrepreneur, Jodi Rhoden. Aside from the recipe, I feel compelled to share the story of the recipe’s creator, Dye-Scott Rhodan (no relation).

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Now for the horrible, terrible, delicious recipe!

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And finally, don’t forget the flowers! But you don’t have to buy that $40 dozen of roses! Last Mother’s Day, I walked around my neighborhood for about 20 or 30 minutes and was able to put together the most beautiful bouquet for my mother-in-law with all the wonderful wild and, um, feral flowers that were in bloom! I’ll share pics as soon as I find them…

Ah-ha!

Mountain laurel, daylily, poppy, corn flowers, red clovers, oxeye daisy, holly leaves, a green onion blossom, buttercups, and peace lily leaves made a lovely Mother's Day bouquet!

We are thrilled with the publication of our new book Paper Blooms. As you may have seen in our recent Inside Peek post, it is overflowing with creative and beautiful ideas for transforming paper into gorgeous floral designs. I recently had the opportunity to interview author, Jeffery Rudell, about his experiences on the book.

Q: When did you start working with paper, and paper flowers in particular? What attracted you to the craft?

A: I have been working with paper since 1970 when, as a second grader, I made myself a typewriter (I’d asked Santa for a real typewriter but he decided winter boots were a more suitable gift). The thing was made from an egg carton, a paper towel tube, some cardboard and a manilla file folder. I’ve been hooked ever since. Professionally, I’ve been designing paper props and window displays for the past fourteen years. Paper flowers grew out of a project I did with Tiffany & Company back in 2004. Flowers come in an inexhaustible range of shapes and colors so I never run out of things to make. Best of all, making them is fun and sharing them with others never fails to bring a smile to the face of whomever receives them.

Q: How did you go about designing the flowers in Paper Blooms?

A: I designed these flowers much the same way as I design most of my work, I sat down with a stack of paper, a pair of scissors, and a glue gun, and I started experimenting with different ways I could achieve the shapes and textures I needed in order to capture the look and feel of real-world flowers. With a book of this sort, the designs needed to not only look like actual flowers but they also had to be easy to make. It was a process of trial and error…and I made a lot of errors. A few times I went so far as to take actual flowers — Daffodils are one example — and take them apart, petal by petal, leaf by leaf, using an X-acto knife and studied the way they were made.

Q: How difficult are the flowers in Paper Blooms to make?

A: My editor and I worked hard to make sure that all of the flowers were quite easy to make. The book begins with some very beautiful flowers that are super simple to make. The second section of the book takes advantage of simple circle and star-shaped paper punches that are readily available at craft stores. The final section of the book builds on the skills covered earlier in the book and while these projects can be a little more time-consuming, they still are not difficult to make. If a person can use a scissors, a craft knife, and a hot glue gun, they have all the necessary skills to make every one of the projects. As with most crafts, readers really need only two things: a little patience and a willingness to make a mistake or two along the way.

Q: Do you have any tips for beginners who have never made paper flowers before?

A: When it comes to most craft projects I find that beginners often worry about doing things “the right way.” However, when it comes to flowers, the key ingredient for making your flowers look real is to avoid perfection. Real flowers are crooked; their leaves are often bent in odd places; their petals are sometimes droopy. I always encourage beginners to celebrate any imperfections they happen to create since these will ultimately make their flowers look more like the real thing. Oh, and remember, flower stems are rarely perfectly straight; a curved or arching stem is the fastest way to add life to a paper flower.

Q: I know it’s hard to pick among so many beautiful options, but are there any flowers in Paper Blooms that stand out as personal favorites? Why?

A: Picking a favorite is nearly impossible since I’m in love with them all. However, I remember when we were making the book, I was working with a photographer who was taking a picture of a bouquet of carnations I’d made. He was arranging them in front of the camera and as he was doing so he bent down to inhale their scent. Everyone in the room just stopped what they were doing and looked at him for a moment. When he realized what he’d done he let out a laugh, a little embarrassed I think, and said, “They look so real I forgot that they were paper.” I will always treasure that moment.

Q: Where would you like to take your paper art and career now that your book has been published?

A: While I was writing Paper Blooms I had to set aside a long list of other projects and ideas. Now that the book has been published, I’ve gone back to my sketchbooks and begun working on some of those ideas that I’ve had on hold. I’m very excited by what I’m doing but I’ll have to wait and see where this work takes me. Maybe there will be another craft book in my future but for now, I’m just enjoying the process of taking a sheet of paper and seeing what I can turn it into.

Author photo credit: Virginia Sherwood

In the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson, inspired by the grass-roots momentum and energy behind anti-Vietnam War demonstrations known as “teach-ins,” announced the inception of a day devoted to a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate.  The event soon took on a life of its own with 20 million demonstrators and participation from thousands of schools and local communities.

Earth Day has done so much to bring environmental causes into the spotlight and to motivate people en masse to take action. While it remains a wonderful way to have an annual check-in on our progress and push citizens and government to take further action, shouldn’t we consider giving the environmental a permanent spotlight in our thinking? In today’s rapidly changing world when the urgency of large-scale shifts in our modes of thinking and behavior are required, it seems useful, even necessary, to consider every day Earth Day.

As crafters and DIY-ers, I think it’s important to bring these practices into our creative processes, from the materials we use to the projects we make. Lark is a strong proponent of eco crafts with a variety of books that provide a wealth of inspiration to look at your crafting in a new environmentally-minded light. Check out the following books: Buildling Green, Candlemaking the Natural Way, Soapmaking the Natural Way, Eco Craft, Fantastic Recycled Plastic, and Eco Books. Projects from these books can help better connect you (as well as your crafty friends and family) with the need to view your crafting materials with new eyes.

Right now, hundreds of Lark books, including most of the books mentioned above, are included in a 50% Off Spring Sale on BN.com

In his new book, Paper Blooms, Jeffery Rudell demonstrates how to create 25 simple but extraordinary paper flowers. Jeffery, an accomplished and versatile paper artist, guides readers through how to construct flowers in his signature style—polished, pretty, and modern— utilizing numerous step-by-step photos to visually illustrate how to construct the various flower components: stems, petals, and foliage.

The flower varieties are constructed from materials including purchased papers, glassine, vellum, coffee filters, and paint chips. The paper selection helps determine each flower’s aesthetics—opaque to gossamer, bold and striking to understated elegance.

Beautiful inspiration pages give readers ideas for the many ways the flowers may be used—as a whimsical cupcake topper, a decorative element for a place card or package, or a more elaborate room decor element.

Right now, hundreds of Lark books, including a wide array of journaling and bookbinding books, are included in a 50% Off Spring Sale on BN.com

Journal It!

Making Handmade Books

The Decorated Journal

Eco Books

Mixed Media Books

The Weekend Crafter: Books & Journals

500 Handmade Books

Lark Studio Series Handmade Books

Masters Book Arts

Cover to Cover

Making Books That Fly…

Mixed Media Journals

Artful Journals

I’m guessing you know someone in a similar situation. So why not make a handcrafted unique gift for the mom in your life this year, something wearable that she can show off and that gives her a little extra flare. Who wouldn’t be more appreciative, right? And who isn’t more deserving? You’ll have so much fun making her feel loved, beautiful, youthful, individual, and all those other things that sometimes get neglected when she’s busy being mom.

I will help you! I have chosen some of my favorite wearables (totes do count) from a selection of Lark Books. Yes, I’ll be sharing this blog link with my husband—he could always hire someone to knit me that gorgeous vest! And to his credit, he could totally pull off a wire necklace using some of his “shop” tools.

 These projects (from left to right, and top to bottom) are all part of Lark’s Spring Sale at BN.com.

1. Newkirk Intarsia Vest from Sock Yarn Studio. Page 134.

2. Bittersweet Necklace from Necklaceology. Page 99.

3. Springtime Francie Earrings from Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! Page 32.

4. Cages from Chains Chains Chains. Page 39.

5. Mod Boots from Mod Podge Rocks! Page 16.

6. Coffee-bag Tote from Eco Craft. Page 42.

7. Lake-Scene T-shirt from Making an Impression. Page 95.

8. Unrequited Love Recycled Belt from Steel Wire Jewelry. Page 105.

Go MAKE your mama proud!

Spring has sprung, friends! Whether you’re planning to learn a new craft this new season or looking to use all the craft supplies you hoarded over the long winter (guilty!!!), celebrate with this bounty of free projects…and a spring sale! Right now (until April 26), all of these featured books are on sale at 50% off their list price at BN.com.

Pretty Stamped Stone from Making an Impression

Blooming Flowers Bracelet from Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk!

Crocheted Leaves & Berries (a bonus project from Crochet Garden)

Easy Paper Marigolds from Paper Blooms

Mushroom Terrarium from Stash Happy: Felt

Lavender Sachets from Heart-Felt Holidays

Here’s a link for more info…and the full list of books in the sale!