Have you ever played one too many computer game or watched one too many old rerun? You just can’t get into another mystery and you just feel flat? Maybe you are suffering from boredom, that familiar accomaniment to our automated, precooked lifestyles. If so, you need to check out these...

For people who would like to do more gardening but live in a short growing season area, a hobby greenhouse is the answer. A hobby greenhouse is not large enough to produce vegetables or flowers on a commercial basis. It will, however, give you a place for a tomato plant or two and some fresh...

The radical change in our coinage that was taking place in the early 20th century was not quite done by 1916. With the new Lincoln cent and Buffalo nickel now in circulation, and changes to gold coinage, it was now time for a change in silver, specifically, the dime, quarter and half dollar to...

The year was 1915 and there was a movement afoot to change the remainder of American coinage. With the changes to the $10 eagle, $20 double eagle, the cent and nickel, it was now time for changes to the dime, quarter and half dollar. Under 1890 law, changes could not be made to a coin design...

In 1887, Mint Director James P. Kimball noted in his annual report the inferiority of our coinage compared to other advanced nations and that in his opinion, the coinage of the U.S. was out of date and should be changed. At the request of Kimball, Senator Justin S. Morill introduced a bill...

Embroidery is an age old art form that has decorated clothing, bedding, and household goods for hundreds of years. Using colored threads to create patterns has dated back to the time of ancient Egypt, when women sewed metallic threads into clothing for decoration. The trend caught on with...

Who invented the candle?

Candles were invented independently in many countries. The Egyptians and Cretans made candles from beeswax, about 3000 BC. In the fourth century BC there were clay candle holders in Egypt. Qui Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC) was the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty...

If you are looking for a handicraft gift idea to make for someone special, perhaps that person would like an apron. When we think of aprons, we often think of mothers and grandmothers in the kitchen, but men can often benefit from having an apron as well. They often enjoy barbecuing, for one...

From the time quilt making came into existence, a well-accomplished hand quilting stitches have been adored and envied. There is a feeling of veneration among quilters when they see a good hand made quilt.

Many of the quilters dont use hand-quilting techniques because they are not sure...

Now that you have all of the tools you need quilting thread, thimble, quilt hoop or frame, and most importantly the quilt you are ready to begin.

Thread your needle with a strand of thread about 20-24 inches long. Usually it works best to thread the needle just as the thread comes...

Do you have a collector in the family? If you are like the majority of families someone is an avid collector of some sort. One of our family members collects crystal figurines, one collects Precious Moments figurines and another collects dolphins. My own personal favorite is...

One vivid memory of my very early childhood back in the 1960s was of driving to church on Sunday mornings with my family. Since my grandparents lived close to us, Dad would always swing by and pick them up, and wed all carpool together. It was the job of Little Danny (as I was affectionately...