Two Cotton Bugs

Last weekend we did some gardening and I decided to empty the three pots of now dead cotton I've been growing for about a year. I managed to harvest less than a kilogram of cotton from the three plants, but I haven't done anything with it. I had imagined I would spin it, but I've since realised that will be very time consuming and difficult to produce something that will hold well enough together to make something with. So I've kept it, possibly to use in art and craft activities with Thomas when he's older, its still got the seeds in it. When I went to remove the last of the cotton from the dead plants, I found these two distinctive looking large stink bugs on one cotton boll. They were quite content to stay where they were, not being disturbed by me when I went very close to get these photos. My husband found them on google images, they're called Harlequin cotton bugs, and are also attracted to hibiscus plants which I guess is why they are in the area, as I don't imagine there are many cotton plants around here! There aren't any now that mine are emptied into the compost spot of our garden!

a harlequin cotton bug

these cotton bugs were quite content to stay undisturbed where they were

My first cotton harvest

I've collected a bunch of cotton from my 3 cotton bushes, which are about 4 feet tall. The bolls were a bit scrawny, I think I need to give them more feed. I've been feeding them worm tea and organic power-feed. I removed the cotton from the bolls, these still have the seeds inside. There's 46g in this first bunch. I guess when I collect a bit more I will separate the seeds and give it a spin. Yet another thing to learn!

my first cotton harvest

My Very First Cotton Boll

I'm so very excited to report that my first cotton boll split open today, and here is the photo to prove it! My husband gave me cotton seeds for our 2nd anniversary last October, and just in time for Valentine's Day they have produced the first cotton!

my very first cotton boll split open today

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with this now, but I will find out! This is all a new learning experience for me, but I will share my adventures with you as I go along. Apologies for not posting much this month. I usually post about 4 or 5 times a week, but I've been very distracted these last few weeks with house hunting. I hope very soon these cotton plants will be able to move from pots into the ground of my very own garden!

My First Cotton Flower

Yesterday, my first cotton flower bloomed, its so exciting I need to share it with you right away!

inside my first cotton flower

I also got a shot inside the flower which is special I think. I can't wait to tell you how this turns out, it shouldn't take too long for this flower to develop into a cotton boll!

this is my first cotton flower which bloomed on Sunday 9th December 2012

First Appearance of Cotton Bracts

My eldest cotton plant is nearly 3 months old, and is look very happy. So much so that the first of the bracts have appearred! These are the blossom buds, which will develop into cotton bolls. I can't wait!

this potted cotton plant is almost 3 months old

the first bract has appeared

and here is the second bract, which will grow into flowers and then, hopefully, cotton bolls

I had high hopes this would work, but I'm kind of surprised these have appeared. I hope they go all the way into growing into bolls of cotton!

2 month old cotton sprout

I planted out my eldest potted cotton plant to its larger pot this weekend, as its now 2 months old. Here are some photos of this plant which I took a few weeks ago. I have two other cotton plants but they're not looking as robust, I think perhaps because I didn't prepare the soil with enough fertiliser like blood and bone.

2 month old cotton planted out into 30cm pot

6 week old cotton sprout

5 week old potted cotton sprout

4 week old potted cotton

Here is a picture taken today of my potted cotton, the eldest sprout is 4 weeks old today. I now have 3 potted cotton sprouts, I planted 3 seeds a week ago but only one of those has sprouted.

3 potted cotton sprouts

 The 4 week old sprout is already showing signs of pest damage, I knew it would be bad but I didn't think it would show this soon. I was hoping to grow organic cotton by removing the pests by hand, but now I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that.

4 week old potted cotton sprout with pest damage

I wonder what this adventure will bring? Will it be a success, or just a bundle of useless fluff? I guess we will just have to wait and see ...

Natural Cotton Doily

I made this doily on a whim, using what looks to be naturally coloured pure cotton thread. This doily is not made for any purpose or for any one in mind, I just made it to see how the cotton would make up.

a simple doily made with naturally coloured cotton and a 2mm crochet hook

I followed the same pattern I used for a pair of small green doilies, as it is easy to memorise. My 2mm hook seemed the perfect size for this yarn. I'm now thinking I could do a small rug in the same pattern with some large cord I have here, I wonder if that would work?

reclaimed natural coloured cotton

My mum gave me this natural cotton, she says she found it at a garage sale and it still has its labels on, which says it was made in China. I think this yarn will make a great string bag ...

2 week old potted cotton sprout

Here is an update on my potted cotton. The first seed I planted is now two weeks old, and I have planted a second seed which has poked through the soil today!

3 day old potted cotton sprout

I planted the second seed on Sunday 9th September 2012, at a depth of about half an inch, but it still poked through on Monday 17th which was day eight. Although though the packet says 5 to 7 days, both cotton seeds poked through on day 8. I planted the 1st cotton seed on Sunday 26th August and it poked through on Monday 3rd September.

4 day old potted cotton sprout

5 day old potted cotton sprout

The weather is started to warm up here now, and its still very dry, it hasn't rained in weeks. They get a little water every day, and their 4 inch pots are sitting on top of saucers. They are in a spot that gets afternoon sun, it seems this is the perfect time to plant, so I shall plant more. I think for this 1st season I'll plant 3 more seeds, and see how we go.

one week old potted cotton sprout

It so very exciting for me, I wonder what this next adventure will bring ...

two week old potted cotton sprout

My First Potted Cotton Sprout

I am so very excited to see my first potted cotton sprout appear! My husband gave me 20 cotton seeds for our 2nd wedding anniversary, which of course was the best. present. ever. I planted the first seed last weekend, and it finally poked through Monday on day 8 after planting.

my first glimpse of my first potted cotton sprout

After some reading, I planted the seed less than an inch under the soil, which was rich compost in a 4 inch diameter pot. It's in a sunny position that gets some good afternoon sun, and cotton does prefer the warmth. The pot has a saucer, because cotton also likes a good drink every day and doesn't like it's roots to dry out too much. Now winter is suddenly over and any chance of any chill resembling frost is long gone, it was time to plant the first seed. I decided to just plant the one seed to see if it would sprout. I'd love to try and see every seed sprout, but apparently not all the seeds will germinate.

my first 2 day old cotton sprout

I was beginning to worry when the sprout had not appeared by day 6 so gently scrapped away a tiny bit of soil, and then I did so again on day 7. Then on day 8 she finally appeared, one day late! On Tuesday, I could see her first leaf. I will plant another seed very soon, I hope to maybe plant 3 to 5 seeds for this first season. Next time I won't plant so deep, maybe half an inch.

a 2 day old potted cotton sprout in a warm, sunny position

I won't plant all my seeds now, because I'm still learning and I could waste them all. Also because, on the other hand, they might turn out wildly successful, and what then could I possibly do will All That Cotton??? hehehe!

Scented Bean Bags

I'd already decided to make these to use up a bunch of dried basil flowers, and cut up the squares last Thursday afternoon. This project turned out to be a way for me to practice my embroidery, and I'm pleased with how that's coming along.

Scented Bean ags numbered sides

On Friday morning I was looking through the Transformation Thursday's party link and found number beanbags at Lemon Tree Creations. I'd already planned my bags, so the ones at Lemon Tree are slightly different, but it's still good to see how they do theirs.

After I sewed the bags on my trusty Husqvarna 2000, I stuffed each one with three tablespoons of old lentils and dried basil flowers. I put 15 tablespoons of lentils and a big heap of basil flowers into a bowl, and then a spoon of lavender oil, so these bags smell lovely. A little aroma therapy there for the kiddies!

reverse sides of the scented bean bags

I planned to do my stitches in thick contrasting coloured cotton. When I went to embroider the "D" on a hanky for David, I had a vague memory of my mum teaching me a chain stitch and tried to replicate it but had a lot of trouble. So for this project I did some research and looked up images of basic embroidery stitches and found a very helpful page at Tipnut. The chain stitch in particular came back to me easily. I also found some youtube videos on how to make a lazy daisy and a french knot.

For this project I used the following embroidery stitches
running stitch
blanket stitch
cross stitch
chain stitch
lazy daisies
french knots