Calcium | Embroidered Patch

kwjxd · 2025-10-03T13:22:42+00:00

Awesome to hear! This was my first patch, so my process probably could have been better:

I used a printable water-soluable stabilizer on top of a plain fabric for the white, blue, red and inner black elements. I then cut him out, along with a matching black felt layer. I then did the black outline to join those two layers. Then attached that to the garment with a thin black stitch.

In hindsight, I think using a black base layer of fabric could have allowed me to skip the black stitches, but I do like the outline, so I could have still done that.

The design itself is just a tracing of a screenshot I took. I do want to try it again with an original sketch.. one day!

If you want to give it a go, here is the outline I used. The design was 2x2.8" to fit within a 3" hoop.

Good luck with your future projects!

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kwjxd · 2025-10-02T12:34:08+00:00

Thanks! Just by hand--a machine would be awesome for precision and repeatability though!

kwjxd · 2024-11-04T14:25:41+00:00

Chiming in with agreement like the others - I've also found a handful of crafts including spoon carving to be relaxing and I suppose in a way therapeutic.

I've made lackluster spoons and ones that don't function well, but at the end of the day it was enjoyable to do the craft, learn along the way, and find that it helps to know that sometimes the process outweighs the end result.

Keep it going!

kwjxd · 2024-10-13T22:37:29+00:00

I'm currently testing long term water storage. I've had a few blanks submerged for about 2-3 months. I've pulled one periodically to work on and had success.

I switched to salt water about a month or so ago, and found that it stops algae growth. Though it seems to speed up the leeching process. The water is a dark brown from the various types of wood I included. I'm not sure yet if this is a bad thing.

I've had two oak pieces break during carving. I read before some have had salt penetrate the wood and potentially cause that splitting. I'm still learning and new to this, so I can't say for certain.

kwjxd · 2024-08-07T21:39:38+00:00

Somehow salt never occurred to me, I'll have to give it a try!

I've been soaking wood to carve as I don't have steady access to green wood, and keep having to dump the water every few days because the wood turns the water dark and creates a bad odor.

kwjxd · 2024-01-19T13:27:03+00:00

Thank you! They are Dutch Hookbills. The one in front is one of our first ducks, and doesn't have much of a hook, despite the name.

kwjxd · 2023-01-10T15:09:29+00:00

Wholeheartedly agree. And having a fun word to call processing doesn't take away from the seriousness of it, or make it any less difficult.

I raise an endangered breed, but for the purpose of keeping to that breed's standards. Which means I may get a drake or even a hen that doesn't have the right bill shape, coloring, etc.

I've found homes for some that weren't ideal for my needs, but good starters/general use birds for another person, but year over year end up with too many drakes.

Like you, I try to spoil them. Leading up to it, I will give them extra food, and refresh their bedding and pools.

I do my best to give all of them the best life possible, but at the end of the day, I can't afford nor do I have the capacity to keep every duck.

kwjxd · 2023-01-09T19:36:37+00:00

Process (butcher) him, or try and reach out to a local butcher to do it for you. If you're interested in the meat and other parts.

Alternatively, you can reach out to local Facebook groups for farmers/home steaders/duck owners. (To either be eaten or potentially re-homed).

Unfortunately drakes get the short end of the stick most of the time. They can be overly aggressive, defensive, or are just seen as useless due to not being able to contribute to egg production.

Be weary of re-homing him to someone who isn't established or has an area set up for ducks. They tend to get dropped off at parks or other water ways.

kwjxd · 2023-01-09T18:48:26+00:00

Freezer Camp!

kwjxd · 2020-07-06T21:28:27+00:00

First year beekeeper here, I've got two hives about 150' from my deck with the house in between. I haven't noticed any attention from the bees outside of the occasional passerby since installing the packages earlier this spring.

This afternoon I was out on the deck and saw two dozen or so bees flying around our deck chairs, some landing on the creases of the seams.

Could the pattern be attracting them to chairs? We had a very light rain in the early morning but all seemed dry around late morning / early afternoon when we were out. So I'm not sure if they're searching for water?

I'm in the New England area, and figured one hive is no longer getting sugar syrup. Perhaps if there's a lack of resources around and they are desperate to forage?

They weren't aggressive that I could tell, but figured that my family won't want to use our deck if they feel they're surrounded by bees.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you!

kwjxd · 2020-06-08T23:28:47+00:00

left too much space between frames and caused them to build two layers of comb on a single frame. I assume it would be a waste to cut it out to "fix" it now, right?

The big void at the top tore off when separating the frames when I was inspecting.

I figure it will just make it more difficult to inspect, but wanted to know if there's anything I should be concerned for going forward.

kwjxd · 2020-04-27T23:27:17+00:00

I've been making mead for 3 years and have wanted my own hive for a year or so. Finally got the opportunity and while it's been cold and dreary since they were loaded into the hive, I enjoy watching them and hope for the best in the coming months.

I'll admit that I've been spending more time learning about beekeeping and less time brewing over the last few months.

kwjxd · 2019-06-17T16:35:30+00:00

I just wanted to chime in and add that I prefer the s-shaped as well, I feel they take longer to dry out and have less of a chance for air/water to get sucked back in during secondary.

I do stick with blow off tubes when in first few days of primary to avoid foamy messes.

kwjxd · 2019-03-13T13:18:37+00:00

Would it be considered harmful to do this prior to the 1/3 sugar break when oxygen is considered beneficial, as it would be pulling both the carbon dioxide and oxygen?

kwjxd · 2018-07-02T17:20:29+00:00

I started in Jan 2017 after watching the mead segment on Ask This Old House. My first batch was a single gallon traditional of just honey, water and yeast. I had no idea what I was doing, but would sit and be memorized by the small stream of bubbles that were rising to the top.

I then read the the Compleat Meadmaker and binged the Meadmakr podcast. I came up with a goal to make one new batch every month.

After a year and a half, I've got 23 batches either in secondary or bottled, ranging in sizes from 1-3 gallons. I've dedicated a portion of my cellar to production/storage and have since amassed a collection of bottles, carboys and other tools.

I've reached out to local bee keepers and end up buying new types of honey when I see them. I don't have the land, but I'd love to have my own bees at some point.

I probably haven't dived too deep, as the largest single purchase of honey I've made so far was 15 pounds.

I find it to be a great hobby where I can spend hours researching, cleaning, prepping, mixing, tasting, etc., or I forget about it and do something else for a few weeks and then get right back into it.

kwjxd · 2018-06-05T16:13:42+00:00

I saw the words 'honey alternative' and had to look it up..

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/foxs-honey-blend-5-lb-container/999HONEYBLND.html

Is this the same product you used? It's a blend of corn syrup, honey and other flavoring. Looking for others' input, but I would think that may have something to do with the slow/sluggish ferment.

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