The Art of Sadeli Mosaic

November 20, 2017

Design

...by Sneha Sarang showing Indian craftsman creating the intricate decorative art called Sadeli mosaic. Used to adorn small boxes in India, the Middle East and Iran, the technique is similar to the way “slice and bake” cookies and European “rock” candy are made. Narrow triangular strips of wood, metal or plastic are cut using a jig on a table saw: The strips are gathered into bundles: sliced: and applied to a wood backing: It looks simple but I’m sur...

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A Homemade Mattress?

Mrs. Homegrown

March 15, 2013

Design, Domesticus

164 Comments

...ess from heavy human bodies. Yeah, that will work out well. I swear, their articles should be labeled “For Entertainment Purposes Only.” 5) Here’s an article from the Seattle Times about mattresses in landfills and the problem of recycling conventional mattresses. It will give you strength to continue your search. Anyway, I need to give this mattress business some more thought before I order a truckload of wool. Or decide to open my own wool mattr...

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Chair Troubles

Mr. Homegrown

January 29, 2026

Design

7 Comments

...weaving process really didn’t go well. I probably had five or six false starts, getting about a quarter of the way in only to see the strands drift off course and then having to completely unweave and reweave. On one of the first weaving attempts I noticed a lack of glue in the side rails and I had to stop, reglue and reclamp. I finally finished weaving the seat, was not happy with the results, and the rails came loose again. I think the chair is...

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Is the Urban Homesteading Trend Over?

Mr. Homegrown

December 14, 2015

Thoughtstylings

26 Comments

...r. Root Simple is going to, defiantly, keep covering these topics because we believe that the DIY ethos is important in both good and bad economic times. We value the ability to do things with our hands, hearts and minds. We’re not preparing for some end time, we’re realizing the good times in the here and now. What do you think? Have you seen a decline in interest in homesteading topics?...

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Non-Toxic Cleaning for the Home

Mrs. Homegrown

May 20, 2019

Cleaning, Domesticus, Miscellaneous, Tidying up

11 Comments

...ey to clean windows is drying them thoroughly. Very dirty/greasy windows (particularly outside windows which have collected layers of dust and diesel particulate) might benefit from a quick preliminary rinse with plain soapy water to cut the grease and make it easier to polish them up. Dishes Handwashing: Dishwashing liquids are specially formulated to cut grease and leave dishes spot free and shiny. This ease of use comes with some cost, as most...

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