I was a web designer in the web 2.0 era (pre-twitter), and after having twins in ‘07 I started Olive Manna as a way for me to continue designing but not be glued to a computer screen writing code. Originally from southern California, I now live in southern Indiana with my husband and three little women. I also write a little poetry.Tumblr (3.0; @natalie)http://blog.nataliejost.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/bc920d07a1dc4a112eac599db6ae2661/tumblr_mn9izoQFoS1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A neighbor of mine once showed me how to carve a watermelon and I’m grateful to her for the time she saved me.</p> <ol><li>Cut into four wedges</li> <li>Cut 1” slits across the width down to but not through the rind. </li> <li>Cut again down the length</li> <li>Slide the knife from the point toward the center along the rind. Turn it around and do it again from the other point to the center. </li> </ol><p>Use a smaller knife for the inside, for safety and precision.</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/51159545128http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/51159545128Thu, 23 May 2013 12:52:36 -0500watermelontipssummer“Necessity is the mother of invention, but desire is the mother of great inventions.”http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/51150078125http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/51150078125Thu, 23 May 2013 09:51:57 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3ac75e98a50847a83b26ab0f81a3c201/tumblr_mn7vxwFOzh1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/fae0dab588ea16fefae1ab0c8394a0ff/tumblr_mn7vxwFOzh1qz5sr1o2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Homemade Hot Cocoa</p> <ol><li>Bring 4 cups milk to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low.</li> <li>Whisk in 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa + 1/2 cup sugar (or to your taste)</li> </ol><p>Whipped Cream</p> <ol><li>In a small bowl, pour 1 cup heavy cream + 2tbsp sugar (or to your taste)</li> <li>Whip with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft.</li> </ol>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/51092159347http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/51092159347Wed, 22 May 2013 15:37:08 -0500diyrecipes<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/3851ae4347bf9d984223de669826ed62/tumblr_mn3ugfrePS1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>#roses are in bloom. Added #hosta leaves for interest. The compote is handy for roses with short stems. They rest lying in a shallow pool. #fuzel @fuzelapp</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50913650899http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50913650899Mon, 20 May 2013 11:14:39 -0500roseshostafuzel<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/afd22059770edd94a56dd55c06243a70/tumblr_mn0aknSSfh1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I’ve been clipping these dainty purple flowers from my sage stalks for weeks, and they keep coming. My favorite things in life are as useful as they are beautiful.</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50744844117http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50744844117Sat, 18 May 2013 13:12:23 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a9f96994038f836c1af575333fdf7449/tumblr_mmwvndqaTf1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Rosemary & Red Potatoes</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50603899455http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50603899455Thu, 16 May 2013 16:57:13 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9c3532edd9313c980efde583692a37e7/tumblr_mmv4i6NrWH1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Hard boiled eggs…in the rice cooker. I set the rice, then ten minutes in I add eggs and slightly thawed frozen broccoli. The eggs should cook about 30 minutes. Then run cold water over them. They peel SO easily.</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50532161879http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/50532161879Wed, 15 May 2013 18:13:19 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/23650efda84d2a6844079807530c0753/tumblr_mme4guWhaf1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><h2>DIY wax warmer pods</h2> <h3>Supplies</h3> <ol><li>Scented candle in glass container or just a candle with no container</li> <li>Knife</li> <li>Optional tongs to reach inside a jar</li> <li>Small condiment cups, often found with kitchen extras like wood skewers and salt and pepper shakers. Mine are from Walmart. </li> </ol><h3>Instructions</h3> <ol><li>Melt candle in the microwave, in the jar, or in a microwave safe container if using a plain candle. It may take several minutes depending on the size of your candle. </li> <li>Pour into condiment cups, about 1/4” deep. </li> <li>Freeze for about an hour. </li> <li>Gently tap the little cup upside down to release the wax. </li> <li>Place in a wax warmer and enjoy!</li> </ol><p>Store extras as you would your other wax. I keep mine in the fridge in the warmer months so they don’t stick together.</p> <h3>Chunks, not pods</h3> <p>If you’d prefer the natural chunks instead, here’s how I get those.</p> <ol><li>Freeze the candle instead of melting it. Freeze for a good couple of hours to make it solid. </li> <li>Now, working fast before the wax warms, use a knife to cut the candle from the top down, in a rough pie shape. Break pieces apart inside the jar and use tongs to pull them out. Or if your candle is not inside a container, continue to the next step. </li> <li>Now cut pieces into smaller chunks, about an inch in size. </li> <li>Store in a paper or plastic bag at room temperature or in the fridge if your house gets hot like mine in the summer.</li> </ol>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49789151311http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49789151311Mon, 06 May 2013 13:53:18 -0500diy<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/6d48e4dc3a25ab6c2e0ca528c0a8d9da/tumblr_mm6pnm6wVT1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Finished the chevron stripe blanket I started last year. The most unusual pattern. It works diagonally from one corner to the other and makes a square. The original was designed with lots of colors and it made little squares. By using only two colors and going two rows with each color instead of one, I was able to get a zig zag effect. Now considering adding a border. Thoughts?</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49450792816http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49450792816Thu, 02 May 2013 13:50:10 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/120b0f88b20c4a43272448f7164eecd9/tumblr_mm1flgIUEQ1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Done! It’s part doily, part mini tablecloth. Each square is just under 4”, the whole piece is about 17x17. I estimated about a half hour for each one, and 25 squares means at minimum wage it cost me about $100 just for my time. In case anyone wonders why I don’t sell things like this in my shop, I don’t have time to make these on a regular basis. However, I do the occasional custom request. I have time for just 2-3 per year depending on the scope. #olivemanna #crochet #tablecloth #diy #grannysquare #yarn #bakerstwine #colors #colorful #rainbow #bright #happy #crafts #homemaking #customcrochet</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49209024773http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49209024773Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:24:52 -0500rainbowbrightcolorfulgrannysquarecraftscolorsyarnhomemakingcustomcrochetbakerstwinediycrochettableclotholivemannahappy<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/51697fd9f91c8cdfd9df90555d7f32cf/tumblr_mlxcs6LJvz1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Using #olivemanna #bakerstwine to #crochet a #grannysquare #tablecloth or #placemats or #runner. I haven’t decide yet. :)</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49020134217http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/49020134217Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:33:42 -0500grannysquarerunnerbakerstwineplacematscrochettableclotholivemanna<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/1ebcc9359bde2baca1ef5c77c6c6090d/tumblr_mlvf63eOQu1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>#crochet #doily #coasters with #linen and #cotton #twine for #olivemanna</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48935895437http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48935895437Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:30:03 -0500twinelinencoasterscrochetdoilyolivemannacotton<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c8e14a95d59c4bc658cdf811050c9e24/tumblr_mlou6ygNz71qzdzbuo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://theniftyfifties.tumblr.com/post/48788328826/beauty-cosmetics-fashion-clothes-shopping-health-fitness" class="tumblr_blog">theniftyfifties</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>Nancy Berg wearing a sweater with a pearl necklace collar, September 1952. Photo by Nina Leen.</p></blockquote> <p>Remind me to crochet this collar one day.</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48798475803http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48798475803Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:15:18 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/8849469f35c8624d8634748f6855d2a9/tumblr_mlpv6xgFPC1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The twins want applesauce with lunch and we don’t have any—so we make some.</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48700088578http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48700088578Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:30:33 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/be6e9f68199fc6e237270f739041bc5e/tumblr_mlm0iu6b5L1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Didn’t know what to do with that unfinished #vintage #doily and didn’t feel I could do it justice to finish it. So, I finished the one round and sewed it onto my wallet. So cool to carry around a piece of craft history. And as always, if you’d like something similar commissioned, I do custom orders for crochet work. I can use vintage or crochet something new for you in vintage style. #olivemanna</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48525595585http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48525595585Sun, 21 Apr 2013 09:35:18 -0500doilyvintageolivemanna<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/434e856ab803b702c8d69b461f765ae1/tumblr_mlkwfiOPw91qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Look what just came in!!! I always want to keep dishes for myself but never so much as I do these. 8+ sizes of dishes and service for 10-16 available for most of them. Platters, steak plates, gravy boat, sugar bowl and lots more, will be listed soon. Email me through the shop if you want dibs!</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48480016821http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48480016821Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:09:18 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/e4107243792a3ea3c911407c4c575fdc/tumblr_mlk5amJ1n71qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Sourcing new stuff for the shop (my favorite part of this job)!</p> <p>A) ruffled ribbon<br/> B) big crochet ribbon<br/> C) small crochet ribbon<br/> D) thin lace<br/> E) denim ribbon<br/> F) premium baker’s twine in new colors <br/> G) paper twine</p> <p>Which ones do you like best?</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48438175048http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48438175048Sat, 20 Apr 2013 09:23:09 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9b358a84bf13f4de50b7ab2731cee769/tumblr_mliodlyj6B1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Spring! So thankful for the changing seasons, reminding us the world moves on.</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48373062425http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/48373062425Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:20:08 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ebfbb985387f697d8c90ac6749135ccf/tumblr_mkydjcp5rT1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Did you ever think that when our grandmothers were making doilies, they weren’t actually grandmothers yet, but young women, some mothers, homemakers, possibly even a few socialites? (at Howell Park)</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/47477170550http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/47477170550Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:13:59 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/e0e07e9adb4c1efaa143d9cb3a3d8ae3/tumblr_mkwfc8Un3k1qz5sr1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>How much more valuable are you!</p>http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/47387060387http://blog.nataliejost.com/post/47387060387Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:57:43 -0500