Waxed Canvas Tutorial

 Have you ever heard of waxing canvas? My mom and I have talked about it for years. It’s a method of infusing wax into canvas fabric to waterproof it. I thought one had to dedicate a whole clothes dryer to the craft of waxing canvas, so I had never tried my hand at it. 

I had a flight coming up and I have the perfect zip canvas tote that fits under the seat in front of me. I know because I measured. I wasn’t checking a bag, so I needed every inch of space. 

So even though it was the perfect size, it was off white and black canvas and all I could think of was how dirty it was going to get on the floor of the plane. 

So I thought if only I could waterproof that bag…

But, I don’t have an extra clothes dryer dedicated only to waxing fabric…

Surely someone, somewhere has a way to wax canvas without a clothes dryer…

Sure enough! The internet came through,  so I’m passing along to you what I have learned and say to you, do it! If you’ve been waxing and waning, just go for it!

Start by melting beeswax pellets in a double boiler. You can microwave them as well. I started with the double boiler and then to speed it up I microwaved it and then kept the wax warm in the double boiler.

 

Then I brushed the melted wax into and onto the canvas bag making sure to get the seams and stitching as well.

Then once it’s brushed on I used a hair drier to incorporate the brushed on wax into the actual threads of the canvas. It was very satisfying to watch it happen. 

Much easier and practical than having a clothes drier dedicated only to one thing.

The canvas was yellowed by the yellow beeswax, but that was to be expected. You can use white beeswax if that’s not the aesthetic you’re going for. I thought about running to the store, but was curious how it would look with yellow wax.

Others use additional wax like paraffin, but I chose to keep mine all from the bees. 

It’s stiffer than normal canvas, waterproof and wipe-off-able and I love it!

I have other canvas items that are in the queue to be waxed. 

Have you tried this? Let me know your experience!

Strawberry tips

 When we moved from the country to the city we went from 5 acres to a small city lot, and as a result, the gardening isn't even close to what it was in years past and last year, it didn't happen at all.

 But, I want to continue to grow things. 

For mothers day, I was gifted something that I'd been talking about since we moved in three years ago-

12 Ways to Use Isopropyl Alcohol

 

12 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol

from Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things

1. Remove hair spray from mirrors
When you are spritzing your head with hair spray, some of it inevitably winds up on the mirror. A quick wipe with rubbing alcohol will whisk away that sticky residue and leave your mirror sparkling clean.

2. Clean venetian blinds
Rubbing alcohol does a terrific job of cleaning the slats of venetian blinds. To make quick work of the job, wrap a flat tool — a spatula or maybe a 6-inch (15-centimeter) drywall knife — in cloth and secure with a rubber band. Dip in alcohol and go to work.

3. Keep windows sparkling and frost-free
Do your windows frost up in the wintertime? Wash them with a solution of 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to 1 quart (1 liter) water to prevent the frost. Polish the windows with newspaper after you wash them to make them shine.

4. Dissolve windshield frost
Wouldn’t you rather be inside savoring your morning coffee a little longer instead of scrape, scrape, scraping frost off your car windows? Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz the car glass. You’ll be able to wipe the frost right off. Ah, good to the last drop!

5. Prevent ring around the collar
To prevent your neck from staining your shirt collar, wipe your neck with rubbing alcohol each morning before you dress. Feels good too.

6. Clean your phone
Is your phone getting a bit grubby? Wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. It’ll remove the grime and disinfect the phone at the same time.

7. Remove ink stains
Did you get ink on your favorite shirt or dress? Try soaking the spot in rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before putting the garment in the wash.

Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide

 HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Here is one of my favorite tips.  Hydrogen Peroxide is one of those things that I couldn't do without.  I soak all our toothbrushes in it to disinfect them and I know it makes a difference. We don't get sick as much. If I get a canker sore I swish my mouth with it and it's gone the next day.

One day my little son face planted and got a major bloody nose. 

Homemade White Bread

 HOMEMADE WHITE BREAD

Recipe:

6 cups hot water
3/4 cup shortening or vegetable oil
6 heaping Tablespoons sugar
3 scant Tablespoons salt
1/2 cup warm water
2-3 Tablespoons yeast
5 lbs. flour

Mix yeast in 1/2 cup warm water, let bloom.  To your bread mixer add hot water, oil, sugar, salt and half the flour.  (I have a Bosch and love, love, love, it.)  

Mix with the dough hook until it looks soupy, then add the bloomed yeast.  After the yeast is blended, add the rest of the flour. 

 Let mix about 8-10 minutes.  Let rise, punch down, let rise again, punch down, shape for loaf pans. 

 

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. 

Makes 4-6 loaves depending on size of loaf pans.

Bread and Butter Pickles

 BREAD & BUTTER PICKLES

8 cups sliced squash, or cucumbers
2 medium onions
2 sweet peppers (one red, one green)
1/4 cup salt
Mix squash, onions and peppers together, sprinkle w/ salt (un-iodized) mix well, cover with water and ice.
This is important to keep the veggies cold.
Let sit for 1-2 hours.
Rinse, drain and set veggies aside.

Brine ingredients:
2 1/4 cups cider vinegar
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons mustard seed
1 teaspoon turmeric

Mix brine ingredients in a stainless steel stock pot.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly, let boil 3 minutes.  Add vegetables and bring back to a boil for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and fill jars to within 1/2 inch of top with mixture.  (Important: liquid must cover vegetables and be within 1/2 of top.)  Place sterilized rings and lids on jars finger tight.  Process in steam canner, or boiling water bath for 5 minutes.  Adjust time accordingly for elevation.

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

 DUTCH OVEN PEACH COBBLER

Recipe:

1 box cake mix (white or yellow)
ingredients cake mix asks for except for water (i.e. eggs, oil) in place of water, use peach juice from canned peaches.

1 large can sliced peaches
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

Mix cake mix in separate bowl.
In  Dutch oven melt butter and brown sugar and stir over heat until bubbly and they have caramelized. Remove Dutch oven from heat, layer drained peaches, and mixed cake mix.
Put lid on Dutch oven, place directly over hot coals with 5-6 hot coals on Dutch oven lid.  Cook approx. 15-20 minutes or until done.  Remove from heat.  Cut the sweetness with whipped, or ice cream as it is very rich.

Peanut Butter Chocolate No Bake Cookies

 NO BAKE COOKIES

This is a time tested family recipe. This recipe is perfect all year round, but especially in the summer if you don't want to use your oven.

Recipe:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal

Instructions:

Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter in sauce pan on medium heat until it boils.  Let boil for one minute (1!) (not more or they are dry and crumbly).  Remove from heat stir in peanut butter, salt, vanilla and oats.
Drop by tablespoon on wax paper.  Let cool.
This is a tried and true recipe.  Believe me, we have tried it over and over and over and over...

Minute Fudge Frosting

 Minute Fudge Frosting:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (2 oz.) cut up
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients except vanilla in saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate and shortening melt.  Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Boil 1 minute. (220degrees).  Remove from heat and beat until lukewarm (120 degrees). Stir in vanilla.  Beat until a smooth consistency.  Enough for two 8 or 9" layers or 13x9" oblong cake.

Fudge Brownies

 FUDGE BROWNIES

1/2 cup butter 
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan; set aside.  In a medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat.  Remove from heat.  Stir in eggs, sugar, and vanilla.  Using wooden spoon, beat lightly just till combined.  Stir in flour and nuts.
2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Cool in a wire rack.  Cut into bars.  Makes 24 brownies.